Top

Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Fun Subscription, Membership and Experience Gifts

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!



I’m a big fan of giving experiences and subscriptions as gifts. Many of us have people in our lives who own so much stuff that you don’t know what they could possibly want or need. Giving classes, tickets and memberships won’t add to their clutter and will instead create fun memories or help them achieve a goal. I like subscriptions as well because they are a nice way to try out products and don’t necessarily need to be recurring; even a monthlong subscription can be thoughtful, unique and appreciated.

Some recent memberships, subscriptions and experiences that have caught my eye:


Yogi Surprise: I tried this yoga-themed subscription box earlier this year and I enjoyed trying new products. Yogi Surprise offers both lifestyle and jewelry boxes. The prices for each include shipping and are as follows: $24.95 for the jewelry subscription box and $44.95 for the lifestyle box. The lifestyle box I received contained six full-size yoga-lifestyle inspired items. The jewelry subscription box contains two handmade (and fair trade) pieces and an organic treat. The retail value of each lifestyle box is $70 or more, while the jewelry box has a value of $65 or more. I found the box to be a nice trial of many yoga brands. (Read about my box here.) You can also get $25 off your first box with code YOGI25.

Newspaper or magazine print/digital subscription: Friends/family who are obsessed with current events, a particular subject or popular culture may appreciate a subscription to a news outlet or magazine. I gifted Graham a New York Times print and then digital-only subscription for Christmas last year that we still have. He reads articles throughout the day and appreciates being informed.

Headspace: I started using Headspace over the summer when I was feeling overwhelmed and needed a change. You start with just three minutes a day of meditation and the sessions sometimes include animated videos on how to meditate. It’s a nice way to start the day or regain peace of mind during the workday. A bonus: Gift a meditation subscription and a subscription will be given to someone in need.

Audible: I love my Audible subscription! I have listened to many self-improvement books this year that I highly recommend. You can gift three-, six-, or 12-month subscriptions to the bookworm in your life or anyone with a long commute. I also like listening to books sometimes during workouts. (Read more about them here.) 

ClassPass membership: Fitness fanatics would love the ability to try different classes in their city, from yoga to crossfit to boxing. It’s a great way to try out new studios before deciding to commit to a workout. Or they can just keep switching up their workouts! It’s a good idea to check how many studios are available in their area first, though. Other fun options: Rock-climbing gym passes or trapeze school gift cards!

BumpBox: I had never heard of this subscription until it was gifted to me by my friend. I loved the idea! The first trimester box I received contained items to alleviate morning sickness as well as other cute things. It had Preggie Pops, a nausea bracelet, a bath bomb, a ginger drink mix to help with nausea, belly stickers for photos, and a water bottle. I love the idea of gifting this to a friend who is expecting just to show you’re thinking of her. (I mentioned this in a recent favorites post.)

Museum/zoo/attraction membership: Especially in a city like Chicago that has a ton of attractions, a membership to a museum would be so thoughtful and would help the recipient(s) stay entertained while saving cash. This is perfect for people who just moved to a city, newlyweds, families — anyone!

Dabble gift cards: I used to be a Super Dabbler, aka ambassador, because I love Dabble.co classes so much! I still do. You can buy gift certificates from $20-$500 so that your friends/loved ones can experience knife-throwing, terrarium making, sushi rolling, photography and so much more. Find links to my Dabble class experiences here and get 10 percent off (while promo still works) using my ambassador link. (I am not compensated for signups through this link; I just want to save you cash!)

Have you tried any of these memberships/subscriptions? Would you give any of them as gifts?

Our Little Secret

Abigail Joyce Photography |  Third anniversary photos at Montrose Harbor, Chicago

Toward the end of summer I started to lose my motivation and focus. I felt lost and uninspired, and I wasn’t sure what to do next. I shifted my priorities, gave myself a break and now I can happily say that I’m starting to gain some of that drive back, in large part because of some upcoming, exciting changes heading our way.

First, my family will have more time together now that the craziness of baseball season is behind us. (If you’re new here, my husband Graham works in the industry, so March-November can be busy.) Now we will have the time to prepare for our next big adventure: Pregnancy!

We’re having a baby!

Graham, Victoria and I are thrilled to share the news now that I’m starting my second trimester. We all attended my most recent ultrasound together, and V was excited to hear the heartbeat and see the baby in my belly.

We’ve slowly been spreading the news to our family and friends, which was a little tricky since they are out of state. We would have loved to share the news in person, but we just couldn’t wait any longer, and we weren’t sure when we’d be able to travel to see them. (Also, keeping this secret was extremely difficult. Graham’s coworkers found out immediately!)

Questions I’ve already been asked:

  • Do you know the gender? Not yet.
  • When are you due? April 30.
  • Do you have names picked out? We have discussed possible names in the past, but we haven’t made a decision since we don’t know the gender yet. Also, we won’t be sharing the name until the baby is born.

Questions you didn’t ask:

  • How will this affect your blog? I already blog about our toddler sometimes, so I am sure I will also blog about our new addition. I don’t foresee this becoming a blog solely about parenting, since I am interesting in so many things, including running, yoga, gardening, travel, etc.
  • How did you tell Graham? We kind of knew I was pregnant. When I finally took the test to confirm, I texted him a photo of the results. I wanted him to know immediately since we had this feeling and he was always at work. I don’t think he minds that I did it that way.
  • Is this why you didn’t run your half-marathon? Maybe no one noticed, but I had trained for a half-marathon all summer only to not run it at the last minute. The last long run I completed was 12 miles when I was about six and a half weeks pregnant. I didn’t know for sure that I was pregnant at the time because I put off taking a test. The following week I was scheduled to run another long run of about 10 miles. I had our babysitter scheduled and was about to get dressed for my run when I had a little fainting incident. When I realized what had happened, I saw (and felt) that I had bitten into my lip so hard that my mouth was full of blood. I had also hit my head and bruised my hip. After this episode, my doctor advised me not to run the half-marathon because it was going to be 90 degrees that day (and because of what happened). After that week I didn’t run for about two weeks because I wasn’t feeling well, but lately I’ve been trying to get back into the gym. My goal is to exercise or practice yoga as much as I can.

Winter Vacation Update:

Winter is the only time we can travel for longer than a weekend. This year we had originally discussed Belize as our vacation destination, but we later changed that to Puerto Rico because a passport is not necessary to travel there. (We still need V’s passport with her new name.) After Hurricane Maria and the pregnancy confirmation, we knew we had to change our destination, though we still plan to visit the island at some point in the next few years. So where are we going now? We don’t know yet! Where should we go? Leave your recommendations in the comments!

Saying Yes to My Well-Being

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WellYesMoment #CollectiveBias

 

I’ve always considered myself to be a motivated and driven person. I am always saying yes to new classes, activities and opportunities, sometimes to my own detriment. I say this because in trying to do too much, I have sometimes neglected my own physical and emotional well-being. I came to this realization recently in my Moment of Yes.

This summer I woke up in the middle of the night in a panic about all the things I had to do. I had a never-ending list because I was taking on too much and trying to put on a one-woman show. I was trying to put out content almost every day of the week, I was trying to be a present mom who also works from home full time, I was trying to train for a half-marathon, and I was trying to explore and do as much as I could in Chicago. I was also trying to make plans with friends, go to yoga, take care of my plants — the list goes on.

I tend to set many, many goals for myself to the point where it becomes overwhelming. This moment of panic and the feeling of being constantly exhausted taught me that there’s a certain Yes I need to be saying: yes to my well-being.

This yes means more time without worrying about my to-do list. Yes to canceling plans if needed. Yes to giving my body time to rest without forcing myself to go out and do something, or to do another workout simply because I feel guilty about not doing it. Yes to really listening when my husband and daughter speak to me without thinking about something I should post on social media, something I need to finish at work, or something I need to get done that day.

Yes to the following ways to take care of myself:

  • Eat well.
  • Simplify.
  • Practice self-care.
  • Prioritize.
  • Be present.
  • And most important: Do less, relax more.

The moment I experienced reminded me that I need to feel nourished in all ways, including what I put into my body and how I spend my time.

So what changes have I made? Well, I am saying yes to things that are good for me and make me happy.

Yes to hiring a sitter when we need a date day/night or I need a break.

 
 

Yes to more yoga and taking care of my body.

 
 

Yes to more journaling.

 
 

Yes to eating delicious meals.
Enjoying a Well Yes!® Minestrone and Kale Soup

As part of my effort to be more mindful in all aspects of my life, I have been loving Well Yes!® Soups.

I’ve been making more of an effort to log off the computer to give myself time to enjoy my mealtime. The soups I’ve been loving include Well Yes! Minestrone and Kale, Tomato Carrot Bisque, Black Bean with Red Quinoa and Cajun Red Bean and Vegetable. Well Yes! Soups are flavorful and delicious and they’re made from real, non-GMO and nutritious ingredients. The soups are crafted with care so that they contain no artificial flavors or colors. The can packaging is made with a non-BPA lining, too!

 
 
 

As a vegetarian, I am a big fan of soups with beans and lots of vegetables. I love easy-to-prepare meals even more, so Well Yes! Soups have been a win for me.
Cajun Red Bean and Vegetable Soup

Sometimes I enjoy my Well Yes! Soup on the patio for a nice change of scenery.
Black Bean and Red Quinoa

With plenty of Well Yes! varieties, you can switch up your favorite flavors and never get bored.
Tomato Carrot Bisque

Have you experienced a similar feeling of needing to find more balance? Also, have you tasted Well Yes! Soups yet?

 

Don’t forget to enter the #WellYesMoment Sweepstakes in the widget below for a chance to win up to a $500 Visa gift card! It’s as easy as clicking, logging in, and sharing your Moment of Yes story! If you win, think of all the ways you can use the prizing to achieve your Moment of Yes!

#WellYesMoment #Sweepstakes (10/14 to 11/17)

Connect with Well Yes!

 

Fitness Favorites and Ways to Find Low-Cost Workouts

Lately I’ve been all about finding ways to sweat at home, whether it’s trying a workout I found on YouTube or practicing yoga on my own when I can’t make it to class. Life has been crazy lately, which means running has taken a backseat. My most recent long run was almost 12 miles a couple of weeks ago, and it will likely be my last major distance for a while. My plan is to instead focus strength training and yoga, and to be kinder to my body.

My current fitness favorites:

Whitney Simmons’ YouTube channel: I like that her videos are short and sweet, and she often shares workouts that can be done at home. I appreciate at-home workouts for days when I can’t make it to the gym during child care hours or days when I just don’t feel like running but want to sweat a bit.

Resistance bands: I bought these because I’ve been doing the workouts on Whitney Simmons’ channel. She often incorporates these into her training. I bought the red and purple bands, but I have been mostly using the red. I underestimated the resistance and probably didn’t need the purple yet. I like that they enhance simple movements such as squats and lunges.

90 Degree by Reflex clothing: I recently became an ambassador for 90 Degree by Reflex, which means I was provided complimentary outfits. I already owned some yoga leggings, but I was excited to try more of their athletic clothing. It came at a perfect time, because I want to transition into focusing on yoga over running in the months ahead.

Carb Boom! Energy Gels: I first used these energy gels to train for the Chicago Marathon in 2016. I loved that they taste so much better than other gels I used to purchase. They never upset my stomach, a major win! They don’t contain artificial sweeteners or flavors and are made from real fruit purees/concentrates. My favorite flavors: Grape Pomegranate, Raspberry and Strawberry Kiwi. I stay away from the Banana Peach, Vanilla Orange and Apple Cinnamon because those flavors tend to gross me out during runs. I prefer fruity flavors. I typically order a sampler pack; you can select your flavors. While I won’t be running long distances much, I wanted to mention these because they have helped me through multiple rounds of half-marathon and marathon training.

Sources of free or low-cost workouts:

I love finding workouts for free or at a lower cost, especially now that I often have to pay for child care to work out. I find that in a city like Chicago it’s easy to find free classes or events.

Some methods I’ve used to find free/affordable workouts:

  • Many fitness YouTubers include their workouts in the description bar or on their Instagram captions. I screenshot them and see if I can do any of them at home.
  • Search for free community yoga classes in your area. Many studios offer at least a free class per month or week. Other studios offer a pay-what-you-can class each week. I recently bought a Groupon for a yoga package at a nice discount.
  • Other fitness studios also offer a free first class. Search EventBrite or Facebook events for free fitness classes. On EventBrite, enter your location and fitness (or bootcamp, running, yoga, etc.) in the description and then narrow results by Price (Free vs. Paid).
  • Search Pinterest for at-home workout ideas.
  • Join a running group for meetups or track workouts.

What’s your favorite workout right now?

My Go-To All-Levels Yoga Session

One of the top goals right now is to reconnect with my yoga practice. At one point yoga was a key part of my life. I made it a priority: I enrolled in a 200-hour yoga-teacher training in 2013 and I taught for the following year. But once we once to Chicago in 2015, my practice became inconsistent. It was partly because I didn’t connect with my local studios as much as I did with the one I went to in Phoenix, and it was partly because my life changed immensely with the move. Right now I need yoga more than ever, though, so my priority is to practice as much as I can. I began bullet journaling in September to track such habits as practicing yoga and meditating, and I hope this will continue to hold me accountable. So far I’ve been successful at squeezing in my practice, though it’s only been a few weeks.

Note: Yoga Journal and Yoga International are great resources for learning to do the poses.

My typical yoga session*:

Supta Baddha Konasana
Rock back and forth
Tabletop and cat/cow
Downward-facing dog
Forward fold, sway
Rag doll to stand
2 half sun salutations
2 full sun salutations
Forward fold
Downward-facing dog
Downdog split (right leg), hip circles
Runner’s lunge
Anjaneyasana B, one arm up, switch arms
Half split
Downdog split
Chaturanga, upward-facing dog, downward-facing dog
repeat on other side (left)
Child’s pose
Downward-facing dog
Downdog split, hip circles
Warrior A
Warrior B
Side Angle
Triangle
Reverse Triangle
Reverse Warrior B
Runner’s lunge (windmill hands down)
Downdog split
Flip dog
Downward-facing dog
Chaturanga, upward-facing dog, downward-facing dog
Repeat on other side
Downward-facing dog
Malasana
Crow (optional)
Child’s pose
Chaturanga, upward-facing dog, downward-facing dog
Walk up to standing fold
Inhale and roll up
Tree pose
Dancer
Runner’s lunge
Chaturanga, upward-facing dog, downward-facing dog
Repeat on other side (left)
Downward-facing dog, split
Runner’s lunge
Pigeon/king pigeon, downward-facing dog split
Repeat on other side

Cooldown:

Child’s pose
Table to seated
Baddha konasana
Twist
Boat
Bridge/Wheel
Plow
Shoulder stand
Happy baby
Twist
Savasana

*Some poses listed in Sanskrit; others are not.

Child’s pose

Tree pose

Pigeon (folded forward)

Half-split

Supta Baddha Konasana
Savasana

Pin this yoga session:

Related post:

** The yoga pants in this post were courtesy of 90 Degree By Reflex as part of its ambassador program.

August Goals

Yet again I am shocked by how quickly time passes. Will that ever stop happening?

In June I set an intention to invest in myself and my blog, and in July I continued doing that. As you might have noticed, I had several collaborations that came about because I set that goal. I also invested any earnings from Floradise blog back into tools that will help me continue to improve it. I enrolled in Instagram for Success, a course by Helene of Helene in Between that you may have heard about if you’re a blogger. We also made an exciting purchase last weekend: We bought the DJI Mavic Pro drone! I wanted to improve my footage of our travels, which will enhance both this blog and my YouTube videos. I also made other investments throughout the month and have more planned! My goal for the blog is to be a resource on travel, balancing fitness with everyday life, and being more intentional in general.

Before I share my August goals, I want to check in on how I did in July:

July Goal Check-In

Family:

  • Finalize plans for our Canada trip. We booked our hotels and some activities, but we’ll probably wing the rest. Have any recommendations for Toronto? Share them with me in the comments!
  • Go on a date night. We had two in one week: Chicago River kayaking and a murder mystery date night. Both were courtesy of their respective companies.
  • Plan activities for my nephew’s upcoming Chicago visit. We had a fun week of showing my nephew around the city, including the Tilt attraction at 360 Chicago and Navy Pier.
Fitness:

  • Start marathon training. Run at least 25 miles this month. I accomplished both of these, though I was only able to attend one group training so far. I ran 29 miles.
  • Go to two yoga classes. I didn’t make it to any studio classes.
  • Film a yoga video. I did this on the last day of July.
Blog/Career:

  • Surpass June’s sponsored/freelance income. I accomplished this with my work on four sponsored posts this month. I would have loved to space them out more, but the deadlines worked out the way that they did. 
  • Film five YouTube videos. I posted eight videos on my YouTube channel this month. Would you check them out?
  • Post consistently on my blog and social media. I posted consistently but there’s room for improvement on Instagram and Facebook.
Travel:

  • Find accommodations for our winter trip. I haven’t done this yet.
  • Explore two new places/activities in Chicago. I tried Chicago River kayaking, the Tilt at 360 Chicago and a murder mystery dinner show, in addition to checking out XO Marshmallow in my neighborhood. I also became a mermaid for a day with AquaMermaid!
  • Add to travel fund. I saved more thanks to a bonus from work, and we added a new trip destination to our list, so I need to get more serious about saving.

August goals

Family:
  • Be more present during family time, which means dedicating blocks of time to each category of my life: blog, work, fitness, family, self-care, etc.  This also means a renewed focus on single-tasking over the illusion of multitasking.
  • Go on two date nights. Re-prioritize our marriage. When we brought V home, a lot of our attention and focus shifted to adjusting, and I (and we) need to get back to making our marriage more of a focus. 
  • Enjoy a mom’s night out. This is already planned: I’m going to the Lady Gaga concert at Wrigley Field this month!
  • Continue working through my decluttering list. More posts on this coming soon!
Self-Care:

  • Meditate for 5 minutes a day.
  • Listen to two Audible books. I’m currently listening to “The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have With People You Don’t Like Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do.” I also plan to read “Present Over Perfect.”
Fitness:

  • Start tracking meals again. I stopped doing this recently and started eating whatever I want. I told myself it didn’t matter what size I am and that I would rather enjoy my food and life. But now I don’t feel comfortable or confident in my clothing. I want to track what I’m eating to hopefully cut back on mindless snacking and get back to feeling great in my clothes.
  • Go back to the gym. Besides the treadmill, running outside and light yoga at home, I have not been strength training at all. I want to feel strong again!
  • Film three yoga videos.
  • Continue half-marathon training.  I am running the Chicago Half on Sept. 25. 
Blog/Career:
  • Learn how to use the drone! I’m so excited to share more videos this month!
  • Match my July freelance/blog income.
  • Plan and write more posts in advance. I want to use the time-blocking method more to write in batches. 
  • Work through the Instagram for Success course modules. I’ve already learned about some helpful tools that I previously had not heard about. 
Travel:

  • Add to our travel fund. This will continue to be a goal.
  • Plan a weekend trip to D.C. to visit my best friend. I miss her and it’s my turn to visit.
What are your August goals? Do you have any fun trips or events planned?

Related posts:

Kayaking on the Chicago River

** Wateriders of Chicago provided a complimentary kayaking tour. All opinions are my own.

One of my Chicago summer bucket list items this year was to kayak on the Chicago River. I have wanted to do this the past two summers, but we have not been able to do so yet. Chicago summers are a dizzying blur of events and happenings, so it’s easy for time to escape without being able to cross off everything on your wish list. Not this year!

I set an intention to finally try this and to have more date nights with Graham, and Wateriders helped me accomplish that by inviting me on a sunset kayak tour on the Chicago River. We had the option to do a fireworks tour (Wednesdays and Saturdays during the Navy Pier fireworks in the summer), which I still want to do sometime, but the sunset option worked best for our schedules. They also offer a Ghosts and Gangsters tour (among others) that looked interesting.

Don’t worry about finding parking near the river. Wateriders validates parking at a nearby garage. (We paid $5 to park for a few hours, but you could also try Spothero.) You can also use the restrooms at the East Bank Club before the tour. The dock is located behind the club, so you just walk toward the bridge and there’s a sign next to the stairs leading to the dock. When you check in you can grab a plastic bag if needed, as well as store your belongings if you don’t want to bring them. You also need to grab your life vest and hear the safety training and rules of the water. It’s super important to stay to the right when kayaking on the Chicago, because you’re sharing the water with lots of other water vessels. Also, you can request either a single or double kayak, depending on your preference. Graham and I went with the double.

Getting into the kayak is nerve-racking for me, but the guides hold onto it for you so there’s no need to worry. From the moment we got on the water, the views were incredible. It’s a completely different angle of the city that you don’t get to see often. We just soaked it all in and took it easy on the paddling. We took a sort of T-shaped route along the river before returning, and the entire kayak tour lasted about two hours.

My favorite views were when the sun finally set and you could see more of the lights.

View of Merchandise Mart from the kayak.

I highly recommend this sunset kayak tour; it’s been one of my favorite experiences on the river so far. Watch my video below to see more of the tour!

What to bring: Clothing that you don’t mind getting wet, a jacket if you get cold, water, and a waterproof camera (such as a GoPro) if you want photos! Be careful, though, if you do bring any electronics, as you risk losing them.

kayaking, Chicago, sunset tour, what to wear
Have you done a kayak tour? Be sure to add this activity to your list if you live in or visit Chicago!

Half-Marathon Training, Week 2

 

Half-Marathon Training, Week 2

So far, so good. Week 2 of half-marathon training for the Chicago Half Marathon was successful in that I trained four days out of the week and increased my running mileage by 10 percent. That percentage is my goal for increasing mileage each week of the 12-week training process. Week 3 will be tricky because my oldest nephew, who just graduated from high school, will be visiting us in Chicago for a long weekend, so I will be busy showing him around the city. My short-term goal is to stay on track while making time for family. I also need to get back on track with strength training.

Here’s how last week went down:

Monday: 2-mile treadmill run. It was muggy and I didn’t want to run outside.

Tuesday: Stretching.

Wednesday: 2-mile run on the treadmill. It was another rainy and busy day, so I had to fit it in somehow. I did incline intervals to challenge myself. I missed group training this week because we needed to run some errands regarding our condo repairs and that was a priority for me.

Thursday: 2-mile run on the treadmill. Again, I fit it in where I could.

Friday: Rest.

Saturday: Rest. I had planned to run my 5-miler this day but I was exhausted from running errands that morning and was recovering from some back pain I felt on Friday. I did 30 minutes of yoga that evening.

Sunday: 5 miles. It was a beautiful day in Chicago and the temperature was ideal for running. I felt great and motivated, though that wind kept slowing me down. I had a delicious meal of breakfast tacos earlier so I had tons of energy to burn.

Week’s mileage: 11

Reflections:

It’s amazing how much more inspired I’ve been feeling simply by knowing that I can do this and I have the tools I need for success. When you invest in yourself, you can have the confidence to know you can accomplish your goals. I have invested in child care, running coaches/a training schedule and time for myself, and I know it will pay off.

I hope that if you’re reading this and you have a goal, whether it’s running a race, hiking a certain trail, or feeling better in your clothes, you just have to put that intention out there, focus on it, act on it and it will happen. Feel grateful that the results are coming and you will be rewarded.

Quote for your day: “The inspiration you seek is already within you. Be silent and listen.” -Rumi

Previous Recap:

Half-marathon training, Week 1

Life Update & Favorites

** This post contains affiliate links. I make a small commission on purchases made through these links. 



Today I’m sharing a compilation of thoughts that wouldn’t really compose an entire post on their own. We’ve had a ton going on lately, and sometimes I struggle to keep up. Planning has helped immensely, as has simply writing things down in a journal or blog to let these thoughts out. I’m trying to release the worry and remind myself everything will be OK. I just know it.

Here’s what’s on my mind:

It’s been raining in Chicago for a million years. The storms wake Victoria up and she thinks the thunder is a monster. Also, this is messing with the lighting I need for blog photos, which frustrates me because I like to bring my A game and I feel like it’s preventing that. #bloggerproblems

I am considering doing another round of decluttering. In 2015 I did a 30-day decluttering challenge because I was preparing for a move and Victoria’s arrival. Adopting a child has meant bringing in tons of stuff into our home (via gifts, hand-me-downs and our own shopping for her) and I have reached the point where I need to declutter again. Would you be interested in reading about the process?

We are checking out a preschool tomorrow. The whole idea of finding a school, day care/preschool for Victoria overwhelms me. The system here in Chicago seems so complicated and often involves a wait list.

Paletas are my favorite, specifically the lemon flavor. They are my favorite thing to eat in the summer, ever. Last weekend Victoria and I walked to the park specifically to look for a vendor who sells them.

I bought a Super Suit to protect our GoPro Hero 5 and I love it. The GoPro is supposed to be waterproof, but we don’t want to take any chances. If you’ve been here before you might know that we lost our GoPro in Costa Rica and it was found a year and a half later by someone who was snorkeling. The SD card still worked! To prevent losing another GoPro we bought a Floating Handle Grip and the Super Suit. We also have a floating case. Yes, these accessories are a little pricey, but so is losing a GoPro!

We recently had a leak in our condo in Phoenix that damaged the entire kitchen flooring. My mom has been living in it without flooring for a month. It’s been a challenge finding a contractor to fix it from afar, plus my mom’s English is limited. We finally hired someone, but we decided to replace the flooring we had with tile to match the rest of the downstairs. Unfortunately, that tile is sold out in Arizona — we checked every Lowe’s in Phoenix — and it apparently isn’t an option to have it shipped from another store (we asked!), so we are doing something insane and having it shipped via freight, which involves talk of pallets, lift gates and docking facilities. Also money. Oh, joy! (We have insurance but we still had to pay the deductible plus this shipping cost.)

We have tomatoes and strawberries growing! If you follow me on Instagram you may see that I constantly post garden updates. I am excited to finally be able to grow tomatoes, even if I only really like them in salsa.

I fully believe in manifesting and I feel like I’m being rewarded for my gratitude and trust. This hasn’t always been the case. Earlier this year I kept questioning why certain things kept happening to us, specifically after Taylor died and we had some unexpected expenses and setbacks. Lately I’ve been trying to change my mindset to believing we are going to accomplish what we want as long as we make moves and trust, and it’s paying off with new opportunities. I just kept thinking “It will happen.” and things immediately started to come my way. This in turn makes me more motivated to take action. Do you practice manifesting?

I have some fun brand collaborations coming up next week. I pursued them because they made sense for what’s going on in my life and hope you enjoy them. Thanks for understanding that collaborating with brands is one way I make my travel dreams come true. Also know that I try to accept sponsored posts that I think would be helpful in some way, whether by letting you enter a promotion or giveaway, learn about a great product, try something new, etc.

My plans for the weekend: Take care of business (tile shipping, sponsored posts), plan upcoming road trips, eat some delicious food, and film a yoga video!

Quote for your week: “What you think you become. What you feel you attract. What you imagine you create.” -Buddha

Hope you have a fantastic weekend! Please share with me what you’ve been up to or thinking in the comments below!

Related posts:

GoPro Favorites**:

nullnullnull

Becoming a Mermaid With AquaMermaid Chicago

 

** Thank you AquaMermaid Chicago for hosting me for a mermaid class. All thoughts are always my own.

Mermaid Class with AquaMermaid Chicago
Photo taken with a GoPro, so quality of image differs from my other posts.

Note: Airbnb did a feature on the class I attended. Read it here.


I’ve always been a mermaid at heart. Haven’t we all dreamed of being a mermaid? AquaMermaid helped me make that dream a reality at its mermaid class over the weekend at the UIC Sports and Fitness Center. What a Sunday Funday!

I was a little nervous before the class on Sunday, but I’m not sure why. A fellow student quickly put me at ease with her kindness. I didn’t know anyone else in class, but by the end we were all chatting and having fun together.

We began by getting outfitted with our fins and tails. You first put your feet in the fins and then zip up (in my case, Velcro) your tail up. Then you pull the tail up the rest of the way. That was the trickiest part, but I found that if you lie down it’s a lot easier. If you’re wondering about the fit of the mermaid tails, AquaMermaid has a size chart on its website.

First, what to bring to the mermaid class:

  • Towel
  • Waterproof camera (I bought my GoPro in its new Super Suit.)
  • Googles
  • Swimsuit
  • Moisturizer and lip balm for after class (I wish I had brought these because I found that my skin felt so dry after class.)
  • Lock, if you plan to use a locker
  • Friends!
Once you get in the water, you learn the basic mermaid moves, which we practiced in groups of three. One of them was the mermaid hello, which meant bringing your knees to your chest and waving your tail. The class I attended was for teens and adults, but classes for children 7 and older are also available. Our class had people in their teens to their 30s and 40s. (By the way, AquaMermaid Chicago classes are also available in Ottawa, yPhoenix/Scottsdale, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec, Kitchener-Waterloo and Norfolk County.)
Among the tricks we learned: swimming sideways, swimming in groups holding each other’s shoulders, handstands, etc. It was a bit difficult to swim with the tail on at first, but by the end I was getting the hang of it.

After we learned and practiced the basics, we could move on to the deeper end of the pool to learn more tricks. We also at one point did ab work: Placing our elbows at the pool’s edge, keep our bodies and legs straight and lifting our tails up to the water’s surface, then back down slowly and with straight legs (as in a leg lift). I found it difficult to get the tail up to the surface. We also participated in a relay race, but by then I was beat. (This is when you will need your goggles. You also need them if you prefer to swim underwater.) The class is definitely a workout!

Mermaid Class With AquaMermaid Chicago
Photo by Airbnb

 

The class ends with enough time (about 10 minutes) to take photos, so don’t worry. The instructor knows just what poses to do, too, in case you’re stuck. It’s also a fairly Instagrammable event, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Also, if you find that you fall in love with the class, you can become a member and buy a mermaid tail of your own!

A mermaid class would make a great outing for a group of friends, especially for a birthday. I could see doing this with a few friends and then going to brunch afterward, because you most certainly work up an appetite. A gift card to AquaMermaid would also make a unique gift for an adventurous person in your life. I’d love one! My biggest tip for mermaid class is to have fun and enjoy the laughs!

Questions I received when I shared a post about my mermaid class:

  • Is it hard? In the beginning it can be a bit difficult, but it gets easier. I felt it the next day.
  • Am I too old for this? NOPE! We had teens up to middle-age students in my class.
  • Are men allowed? Guys can certainly attend. Mermen are welcome, too!
  • Can I actually become a mermaid? If you’d like to become a professional mermaid, you can take training via AquaMermaid! How cool is that?!
Also: Parking for the Chicago class was easy to find on Taylor Street, just a short walk from the center. (And it’s free on Sundays, when these classes were held!)

Have you ever considered taking a mermaid class? Doesn’t it sound like fun?



Video: my mermaid class experience:

); ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); ga('require', 'linkid', 'linkid.js'); ga('set', 'anonymizeIp', true); ga('send', 'pageview');