Wow, you guys are AMAZING. I am blown away by the response and how many of you are in for the 26 acts of kindness. It’s looking like we’re going to have 4-5 groups of 26 and that is awesome! I cannot wait to hear about all of the things that we all go out and do. It’s going to be pretty incredible. Stay tuned for your group assignments and more information on the challenge and deadlines. I’ll work on getting it all organized this weekend.
I am so happy to see the arrival of Friday. Today was a long day to end a busy short week…which actually wasn’t that short for me. I worked every day except for Tuesday. I opted to sleep in until 7:30 instead of go to early morning yoga because I wanted to catch a later class with another teacher.
Breakfast when I got to work was overnight oats in a TJ’s peanut butter jar and black coffee.
I taught yoga at the gym and then did some computer work before heading off to Grace Morales’ Power 2 class at Charlotte Yoga. I just needed a Grace class today. I was so busy at work and almost didn’t leave for class but I’m so glad that I did. Especially when she said to us, “There is nowhere else you need to be right now.” Grace is ultimately responsible for Charlotte having the strong yoga community that we do. She’s trained almost all of our best teachers, some who have now gone on to open their own studios.
Today we worked into the Eka Pada arm balance. I just love her classes and the intelligent way that she sequences us into pivotal poses. It’s a welcome break from my normal routine.
I came home and made a big salad for lunch. I can’t even remember the last time I made a salad at home. It’s been a while. This one featured spinach, mushrooms, bbq tempeh, candied pecans, carrots, dried cranberries, avocados and goat cheese with honey dijon balsamic.
Relaxation time after work. I highly recommend Columbia Crest Grand Estates for an affordable but delicious cabernet. You would never know it was an under $10 bottle of wine. It’s a staple around here and pretty widely available so you should be able to find it where you are.
And dinner was an easy pasta dish. I made a quick marinara sauce with mushrooms, spinach, sundried tomatoes and sundried tomato chicken sausage and then tossed it with spinach penne. Red wine + pasta = a good Friday night. Add in catching up on Top Chef and you’ve got one happy girl.
Hope the first week of the new year was a good one for you! Have a wonderful weekend!
Do you have a favorite budget-friendly but delicious wine?
Today I tried my first yoga class at a real yoga studio! I remembered your post from a while ago about just trying it, going for it, as well as the point that teachers love new students, and everyone has to have a first time. I tried a level 1/2 vinyasa class because I’ve taken classes at the Y and done yoga videos at home, but it was SO different. It was just hard enough for me, a challenge, but I didn’t pass out. Thank you so much for your posts about it! I will definitely be going back!
Sorry this post had almost nothing to do with yours..
Abby, that’s awesome! I’m so glad you went and had a good experience! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
I’m taking my arm balance and inversions workshop tomorrow! I’m so excited 🙂 🙂
Yaaaayyyy!!!! Cant wait to hear about it. You are going to love it!
Your eats look delish! Where’d you get the BBQ tempeh? Also what about the salad dressing? Just would like to recreate :). I went to UGA as well – live in CA now (take yoga from Dice and Bry) . Love your blog!
We get that wine pretty frequently too. Or pretty much anything at Trader Joe’s is a good choice.
ha, super small world, I’m just now realizing that you live in Charlotte, NC too!! I have heard great things about Charlotte Yoga…currently, I’m a member at Be Yoga.
You pasta dish looks delicious, hard to believe that it was an “easy” pasta dish.
xo, jin
That salad looks amazing- you are inspiring me for lunch today!
I’ve been going to a new hip opening yoga every Friday and we’ve been trying arm balance poses. I was intimidated at first but I’m going to go ay my own pace and set my intention to perfect the pose in the next few months with some practice.
I love eke pada koundinyasana! I love that there’s different variations of the posture and some days I can sail into one easily with another being a struggle, and other days its the other way around. Yoga truly teaches us to be present and adapt to what’s going on in the moment. Happy New Year 🙂
You are so lucky to have such a great yoga community in Charlotte! But I want to know – how on earth did you get a picture of yourself in eka pada?! I don’t think I could get myself there in the span of a self-timer — you’re awesome!
Love that pose and want to learn that variation so badly! One of my favorite budget friendly wines is Alamos Malbec. So GOOD! Cupcake also makes some good white/red budget friendly wines! Looks like you had a fabulous night and enjoy the weekend. 🙂
Red Diamond merlot is one of my favorite reds, and it’s also under $10. That salad looks incredible!
Thanks for the wine recommendation I picked a bottle up at Publix last night, it was delicious. My new favorite red!