[Super Duper Fantastic] ISFP/INFP. 4w5. World Explorer. Super Hero. Rose-colored Glasses.

Through two group purchasing sites, I’ve managed to accumulate 90 days of yoga.

I’m not sure what came over me when I clicked the BUY! button, but that’s enough yoga to get me through the rest of the year. Impulse shopping is dangeous when all it takes is one click! At least this impulse has healthy benefits.

I spent $30 for 30 days at Asta Yoga [think it's ashtanga] using FreshGuide and $30 for 60 days [bikram] using Living Social. One expires early next year, the other half a year later, but I am going to try to get through them soon!

If I attend class EVERY day [doubtful], that comes down to less than 67 cents per class. Wow!

The more realistic goal is 2-3 times a week, which would still be less than $2.50 per class.

I see yoga-related shopping [mat, towels, clothing] in the near future! Suggestions welcome.

I’m planning on getting a mat and was looking at longer ones. I’m 5’11″ and tired of my limbs sticking off the mat. Do I get a mat for ME and risk messing up the rows in the studio?

It is hot in San Francisco today. Not an understatement, as it is just under 100 degrees! That is unusual for the area, considering it was in the 50s here just weeks ago. In this heat, my only complaint – there aren’t any frozen bananas in my freezer!

Last night, I experimented with banana soft serve! I only wish today that I had saved up those bananas for this evening. There are TONS of variations on the recipe out there, but this is what I did:

I started with 2 frozen bananas in the food processor. Once creamy, I added 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 1 tablespoon raw almond butter, 1 tablespoon chia seeds [No added flavor, just an extra source of Omega-3s and fiber!], and a splash or two of almond milk. I pressed the magic button a few more times to get it all blended and VOILA!

Yummy and refreshing. We topped it with some chocolate syrup for a peanut butter / chocolate / banana combination! :)

Before making this culinary discovery [thanks to the Healthy Living Summit], I didn’t like to eat bananas once they were out of the JUST RIPE [completely yellow with a tinge of green] phase and in the FULLY RIPE speckled state. Stina had reassured me that if I added other ingredients, the bananas would just take on those flavors, and I’m glad I tried it!

Now I’m feening for some banana soft serve!

Not too long ago, I was approached by Clothes Out Sale to review the Rothco Heavyweight Classic Messenger Bag. Only after doing a quick search on the internet did I realize that I would be reviewing the Jack Bauer bag. Any 24 fans out there know which bag I’m referring to? Well, to save you the trouble of doing an image search, here it is, as modeled by RV:

Okay, and here’s one from 24:

In all honesty, when I first saw the bag, I thought to myself, Hmm, that bag is a little big [15" x 11" x 6"] for my needs, but it would be perfect for RV!
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I visited China with my family one summer. I don’t remember exactly how long ago, but it was quite some time ago.

The quickest way to get around in the city we were visiting was on the back of a motorcycle. At the time, I was not sure whether my fear was of being transported by a stranger [and potentially kidnapped and sold on the Chinese black market] or if it was just being transported on a motorcycle.

Maybe it was a little bit of both…
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Eating: I started the day off with breakfast: some berries, Thomas’ Bagel Thins topped with a cream cheese mixed any way you liked. I opted for something savory and packed with goodness: salmon, cucumber, capers, onions, and green onions.

I took a photo:

And a photo was taken of me taking that photo:

More Eating: After packing up my belongings and all the Healthy Living Summit swag and checking out of the hotel, I went down to breakfast for round two. No photos this time! I found out about a group heading to get some deep dish, so I jumped on board for that. We walked up to Gino’s East:

Some of us ordered the vegetarian and spinach ones to share.

I’m not big on pizzas, but being in Chicago, I HAD to try the deep dish. There was little more crust than I liked, but in terms of flavor, yum. I like that it’s a milder sauce that doesn’t make your face scrunch up from how sour it is!

Drinking: After the tasty deep dish experience, I parted ways with everyone else and made my way up to Goose Island Brewing Co.. When I asked the hotel for directions on how best to get there, the concierge mentioned how far it would be… It was NOT that far! I bought a day-pass for the public transit, so it was a quick ride and walk.

For $8, you can sample four of the beers on tap. From left to right: 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Nut Brown Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Matilda.

Per Melanie’s suggestion, I also tried just a sip of their Bourbon County Stout. Yum, but strong! After the four-beer sampler, I wasn’t about to order a full glass of this one.

While sipping on the beer, I struck up conversation with two guys [Aldo and Juan] sitting next to me. Juan was from the area, so in addition to giving me his souvenir glass from the brewery tour, he also kindly offered ideas on where to walk around before my evening flight. I didn’t take a photo with them, but they do have my blog info, so if you happen to be reading this, HI ALDO! HI JUAN!

Walking: He had suggested Wrigleyville, so after finishing the various beers, I headed up to Wrigley Field.

I loved how easy it was to get around. If it wasn’t so hot and humid the rest of the weekend in Chicago, I probably would’ve gotten out there and explored more. With a little bit of time leftover, I hopped back onto the train towards the Loop.

More Drinking: I stopped in at Intelligentsia as I’d heard others raving about it. Now that I’ve checked out their website and found their multiple locations [including CA], I’ll have to ask my LA friends about it.

I ordered an Iced Mocha, which was quite tasty.

With the walking, the heat, and later the carrying of all the luggage to the airport, I’m sure I burned off whatever I consumed during the day. I highly suggest those 1-day, 3-day transit passes for anyone visiting Chicago. It makes the trip a lot easier on the pocket [less than $6/day when a trip is usually $2+].

I am absolutely in love with this.

Jenny Beorkum also has designs for other cities!

Despite the various festivities on Saturday evening [core fusion yoga class, boxing class, Zumba class, Chicago food tour, which I was late on signing up for], I decided to join a small group for dinner at Brasserie Jo. It was a nice walk, only about half an hour long with comfortable temperatures. If Chicago was that way all day long, I wouldn’t have wanted to leave!

French cuisine and delightful company – it was great to break off from the larger group setting and into a much more intimate one!
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Before the day officially began, I joined a group of gals for a morning stroll across the street through Millenium Park. My camera battery was still dead, so I had to make do with the phone’s camera.

It was early, and the fountain wasn’t quite up and running yet.

Not sure why the water seems to be spraying the statue in the face… Hehehe. We also walked by Saturday morning tai chi in the amphitheater.

Here’s the Bean again. Since it was early in the morning, it was not so busy, and I managed a shot with no bystanders.

And a group photo taken by Jennifer [pictured above, taking the photo]!

And this one is from Jessie – photo of me taking one of the photos above:

Since it seems that as of late, I’ve been dealing with some issues, I thought that I would revisit the advice I found almost two years ago. It’s still relevant and useful.

from the Enneagram Institute…

* Do not pay so much attention to your feelings; they are not a true source of support for you, as you probably already know. Remember this advice: “From our present perspective, we can also see that one of the most important mistakes Fours make is to equate themselves with their feelings. The fallacy is that to understand themselves they must understand their feelings, particularly their negative ones, before acting. Always remember that your feelings are telling you something about yourself as you are at this particular moment, not necessarily more than that.
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I arrived in Chicago on Friday morning with Stacy, the friend from Milwaukee with whom I had been staying. The train only took 1.5 hours, so it saved on the stress of driving in and potential traffic. From the train station, it was a walk through downtown with my luggage. I stopped along the river to pose for a photograph. I look happy here because I’d not yet trekked through the heat!

After dropping off my luggage at the hotel, we grabbed lunch at India House Restaurant. I am usually not a fan of Indian buffets, but this one was better than decent! There were plenty of dishes to choose from, and for the most part, what I tried was delicious.

After escaping the heat by going to lunch, we wandered around Chicago on foot – mostly checking out the Magnificent Mile and then Millenium Park.

I took a bunch of pictures, which is probably why my camera battery died in the afternoon. I’d forgotten to juice up in between trips! Stacy’s friend, Jim, and Astrid, one of my #HLS roommates, joined us for a quick jaunt to Chinatown for some drinks.

At about 5pm, we parted ways and got ready for the OpenSky cocktail party at LaSalle Power Co. The roommies and I shared a cab up to the party, which was fun. It was a casual spot to meet people – both bloggers I followed and ones I’d not heard of until that day. The party ended at 9, and since we had an early day ahead, we just headed back for the hotel. No extended after party for this old lady. :P

Rather than stay at the Congress Plaza, I decided to use hotel points accumulated. Three girls stayed with me inside a decently-sized room with two bathrooms.

Thanks for sharing the room with me!

Pictured from left to right: Me, Kristie, Astrid, and Mindy [photo credit]