Songs In The Key Of Life Tour

My mom and I got to enjoy one of our favorite artists, Stevie Wonder, in Chicago this past weekend.  It was fun because we got online as soon as we heard about the show, bought the cheapest tickets, and arrived to be in the back of the back of the very top row of the United Center.  Our seats were directly across from the stage and we sang our heads off! 

Every now and then we'd chat during a song we didn't know ALL of the words to (haha) but most of the time we wiggled in our seats and just saaaang, saaaang, sang!

So beautiful. 

One of the beat nights of my life.

Best Meal of 2015

Sometimes you just have an amazing meal and in your brain you strategize about how to have it more often, who else to eat it with, ways to celebrate things around said meal.. That happened last night at Chicago's Fig & Olive on Oak St.

My mom and I have established a date night every month and we kicked it off with F&O. (Next month is dinner + the Stevie Wonder concert and we are PUMPED!!!) Just a few days before, their Fall Menu went in to play.  They do four menus a year and each changes with the season, is Mediterranean based, and they rotate a few wines in and out of the menu as well.

I did preview the menu in advance and set my eyes on the Riviera Salmon or the Rosemary Lamb Chops.  I went with the salmon because of the broccolini and the cauliflower puree.  We also got a few crostinis to share.  The white wine was decent, my mom's dish was delicious, and then came the dessert.  We ordered the carmalized cheesecake.  I won't describe the whole dish, but it's not only tasty, but fun (with the right company). 

Jason was great to us and we went around 5PM on a Sunday so the crowd was minimal as was the traffic on Oak St.  According to people this is a very "sceney" restaurant.  If you're not in to that then I guess that would matter to you.  If you want good food, thorough service, and something fresh, go for it.  If it were mediocre I'd totally say go if you wanna say you've gone.  But it's so good, I just want you to go and wiggle around in your seat while you chew like I did.

Where should we go for dinner before the Stevie Wonder concert next month??

Holler,

Melissa

Warrior Weekend

So I decided Thursday night that I'd use three of my SoulCycle classes this weekend because I've been traveling so much and having to skip my weekly Sunday morning ride with @homosweatual.

It was a delight to learn that this weekend is  "Warrior Weekend"!  It means that between Friday and Monday, I take three classes and I get a hat.  Haha!  Why am I so thrilled about this hat? 

I obviously booked my Sunday, I want my boyfriend to experience all that is @mcclainstrong on Monday, and I had a toss up for this morning between @blocey7's 5:45A and 8:30A.  It would be my first" rooster class ", so I decided to make my first ride happen with a new crew.  Obviously class was awesome.  (These three are truly my favorite instructors at SoulCyle Old Town in Chicago.).

I'm not a clique hype, but SoulCycle obviously has a tribe-like feel to it.. And it's real.  It's just an all around quality experience from when you first walk through the door and when you get your parking validation.  I'm really proud of the two women who started this fire.  Excited to see it grow.

Happy WARRIOR WEEKEND world! 

Spifster

Love my nails by @spifster.  Book with Style Seat here.  Chicago, NY, and Miami.

Home Essentials

There's a shop called Blue Mercury that I love to get my makeup and a few skincare products from.

They carry the Diptyque brand and although I'm a big (actually--huge) fan of luxury, I typically lean toward long laying products to invest $$ in.  So.. I love the Diptyque scents.. actually,  scents and really amazing skincare products are my exception to the 'long-life luxury' rule.

So I'm in Blue Mercury to pick up some Dermologica face wipes for my gym bag and I wander over to the scents and candles and just creep on the packaging.  I'm not smelling anything yet.  Just lingering and admiring the boxes and bottles and labels and font.  I like when brands get super simple with their presentation.  I tilt the boxes to get and understanding of the price point and continue scanning the shelves.  Calculating the ingredients (soy vs wax, etc) compared to the price, and I'm liking what I'm seeing.  So now I have three big candles in my hand ready for checkout and suddenly the thought strikes me that I may not actually like the way these things burn!  What if it's too strong, too weak, the wick gets all weird?? (These are important questions when you are about to spend almost $100 on candles .. or are at least considering it.)  I notice that Nest and Tocca have these travel sizes of their signature scents. The point of this whole post!

Same great shaped glass containers and everything.  (I opened the box to make sure that they weren't tin cans.)  What a treat to be able to test these amazing scents for a few weeks before diving in for the whole thing.

I walked away with Grapefruit and Moroccan Amber and am loving them SO much at home.  I decided to put Grapefruit in the bathroom to burn in the morning while I get ready for work and M.A. on my bedside table to build up the calm before bed at night.  These babies are so amazing that even without burning them, they add such a great aroma to the sky--of the room they're in.  (Haha.. the sky)

I'm so happy that I was able to have my cake and eat it too!  These will probably last just over or under the month and I'll be back to get the big versions when that time comes. :)

THANKS Blue Mercury!   Nice candles, NEST!

Enjoying them and the service.

Til next time

Melissa

Life

Just some snaps shared on my instagram page.

This morning I made myself a fancy lil breakfast.  This is my second big experiment in the kitchen this week.  The other day my boyfriend and I made a Caribbean dinner.  He made jerk chicken and sweet fried plantains, I made Jamaican cabbage and haitian rice and beans.  This morning I decided to satisfy a craving for quiche!

The ingredients (minus half & half and eggs) were about 15 dollars.   Got the recipe from Pillsbury and used a pre-made pie crust. (GOAL: Learn to make pie crust homemade for quiche and my famous apple pie!)

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The morning before our caribbean dinner, the boo and I stopped by the Garfield Park Conservatory.

It's free and was a lot of fun. A lot of the space is under construction so I bet it will be really cool by the summer next year! 

I'm going to make sure to visit regularly so that the space is supported.

I love that every part of Chicago has so much to offer.

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One of the cute dining spots in Lincoln Park is called Blue Door Farm Stand.  It's a restaurant that features seasonal dishes that gets most of its grub from Indiana to plate and serve here in Chicago. 

The other day I went in to order lunch and noticed that they now have a "Build Your Own Four Pack" offer.  So for the Bears game that night I popped in and had the guys build a pack for me. In it there was Two Brothers, an Off Color Brewing, a Lazy Magnolia (Southern Pecan--my second favorite) and the pictured Hopothesis (Oatmeal Amber Ale).  This stuff was so good! Kinda fruity (to me) + totally delicious!   And by kinda fruity I don't mean that in a Seagrams/Mike's Hard kind of way.

This company is Chicago based!   See!  This city is just so dope.

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Last but not least!

On last Friday I got to participate in the lululemon athletica Chicago region's Metta Movement event called #100miles100smiles event with lululemon athletica Ambassador, David Coligado, and Smile Train.

Dave C took on the challenge of running 100 Miles in 24 hrs to raise $25,000 to provide cleft pallette surgeries to 100 kids through the Smile Train organization. 

The store where I worked had about 10 people come in and run on our treadmill (donated by Equinox) in Lincoln Park while Dave ran on a treadmill at the Rush & Walton location in downtown Chicago. 

The coolest part is that he finished in just under 21 hours!  WOW!!!!!  We kept the Rush & Walton store open for 24 hrs and offered comedy, fitness classes, libations, and nibbles all throughout to keep him encouraged. 

Dave is such a great guy and it's so beautiful that he took the time it takes to take a stand for hundreds of people who can't do it for themselves. 

It's almost a week later and everyone is still buzzing about the accomplishment. Unreal. Thanks for showing so much love, David!

 

New Gear

I decided to treat myself to some fresh new gear to workout in. Check it out:

105F Tank in Inkwell
All Sport Bra in Black
Journey Crop in Black

Today I broke a sweat at the new Flywheel spin studio that opened in Old Town.  This morning's class was subbed by Kyla B.  I've never done a spin class that does the upper body work at the end.  It was really tough even though the weights were only 2 and 4 lbs (with the option of combining the two to make it 6).

The space is super sweet and not as intimidating as I had thought it would be.

But let's talk about this gear!

The 105F Tank is dope because it's "stink free".  And I'm not putting it in quotes to say as if.  It's just the term used to describe how the shirt won't ever stank!  I also like how breathable and relaxed-fit it is.  At one point I actually wiped sweat with it instead of my towel because it seemed like towel made me feel hotter.

The All Sport Bra is my favorite bra from lululemon athletica, this is actually old, but I did buy a new patterned one.  Great support and wicks sweat quickly so you don't feel heavy on runs (or in a bootcamp or spin class).

The Journey Crop is a piece I missed out on last year and just bought yesterday.  It's three panels of fabric and is extremely versatile for most sweaty endeavors.

There's the classic yoga fabric, the staple run fabric, and a panel of mesh down the back of the leg.

I felt so cute and ready! Haha. Sometimes you really do need a boost in your workouts that can only come from a fresh crop of gear in your drawers.

I'd never had the 105F Tank before this and it's definitely one of my faves now.  Covers the butt and doesn't stick to the skin. YESSSS!

*If you aren't aware, I do work at lululemon athletica, so this post isn't sponsored and I do take more of a liking (more like loving) to their product.

Yoga Six

Yoga Six is the newest wave of studios to hit Chicago.

I am a big fan.

My favorite part is the environment.  By now I've done a handful of classes at Y6 and I have to say that for a national chain, they're pretty cool.  But don't tie much to that.  There is nothing wrong with being a chain of yoga studios the same way that being 1:1 doesn't make a stu more soulful. (But any time a chain exists you have to wonder about the consistency and authenticity of your experience.  Here I have no doubt that these peeps are on top of their game and can say that the Yoga Six instructors are in it for the love.)

This space is just so chill.  In my experience the desk encounter is always a little quirky since they are brand new here, but once you're in the space you're in the zone.  The bathrooms are superb.  Dope shower area, razors, and this cool "air shower".  The air shower blasts you down after your flow to bring your temperature lower which is especially great for us Chicagoans headed in to wintertime elements aprés savasana.

  

There's a lot of orange and I wonder if it's because the color reps warmth, enthusiasm, and happiness. (?)

The studio floors are probably the greatest in the game.  They're padded and have parking spots on them.  That means that someone went through with a ruler and made marks to ensure that the class can fill comfortably. It's so freaking cool.  They borrow out towels and (Manduka) mats to those who forget or travel light. Personally, I'm a big fan of The Mat by lululemon athletica for all things hot yoga.

From what I understand the classes are formatted from corporate and then instructors just add their own flare from there.  (Which, so far, hasn't been disappointing.)  They also offer warm and hot classes as well as slower pace, deep/restorative, and the power/sculpty style.  The play lists are cool and I'm assuming created by the instructor as well.  (I've heard that chime stuff, the Super yoga chant music, and some Bone Thugs n Harmony).

Check em out!  Currently they are in Lincoln Park (Clybourn), the South Loop (Roosevelt Collection), and Gold Coast.

Lululemon Athletica Halsted is partnering with the Lincoln Park Yoga Six studio to offer free classes at 7:30PM on Tuesdays at their Clybourn studio. 

The welcome to Y6 South Loop!

Camel at Lincoln Park

Here with Jesi (friend & Y6 manager) after a 6AM class at the newest South Loop location.

Dear White People

This past weekend I had Saturday off.  After I was finished with teaching my classes I went to see the movie: Dear White People, at the Harper Court Theater with my mom.

I knew a bit about the film starting maybe a year (perhaps a year.5) ago.

I didn't follow it closely.  I think I just wanted to see it and not get so committed to it that I set myself up to just be too tied to the movement and it be a flop.  Also.. I consider myself to be a black person so I kind of knew the plot and could suspect most of the twists that came up.

So I walk into the theater and this little place, with a seating capacity of 60 or so, began to fill up fast.  It's a small theater in Hyde Park (HP) that has picked up since the University of Chicago renos over in Harpers Court have happened.  We strike up conversation with other guests and wait.  There's an old white couple there (totally NPR listeners--a radio station on which this film got a lot of press), some dudes/bros (total Black fraternity type connection), a lady who loudly admits that she loves to pay for one ticket and then sneak around movie theaters, and the U of C black kids.. maybe Black Student Union or all the engineering majors (I really couldn't tell--but one of the girls was HILARIOUS.  That I know for sure.)

So we sit and wait. 

Remind the manager to start our movie (woops!). 

And just enjoy.  

In the group that came out before us, one of the viewers exclaimed that it wasn't what they expected.  However, I really enjoyed it.  Dear White People touched on so many parts of my life:  White people, black people, institutions, cute white boys that you date, and gay people*. There was enough comedy at th expense of all the characters.  There were handsome people. A message of hope. And a few storylines to follow.  It literally was the perfect indie film.

That kid from the TV show, Everybody Hates Chris, really held it down, too.  He was definitely my favorite character + the white boy that the lead character Sam shares most of her screen-time with.

For the first time in forever, I really recommend a film for everyone to catch.

Dear White People went nationwide on the 24th so should be within 100 Miles of about 3 million people on the internet.  Go out and show support to a great cast, project, and just NOT another Hollywood motion pic from Tinsel Town.  (Sometimes you really just gotta be like that.)

*In no particular order and no show of weight of relevance.

:)

Melissa

First Run

So I officialy kicked off my 100 by December today.

I ran 3.1 miles in 35 min or so (this picture includes a 5 min cool down after the goal was reached).  I figured that I should run a 5k since Thanksgiving is coming up.  This way I'm geared up for a Turkey Trot come Turkey Day morning! :)

This run felt pretty good considering how long it's been since I've done a run on my own.  I walked 3 laps of 12 but still went 100% the entire time.  I was surprised at how much I actually ran.  I thought I was going to split after one mile.

My focus is not just on the marathons in 2015, but also in re-fulfilling the vision I had a long time ago of being a runner in my 20s.

I love running. I love the endorphin high and rush you feel mile after mile.

This was a great start for me and I know that this slow build is going to help me run powerfully in May at the Chicago Spring Marathon!

:)

Yay!

Melissa

Life

The last few weeks have been filled with a lot of delight.

I checked out the Greenline Coffee in the  Woodlawn community in Chicago.  The company is an extension of Sunshine Ministries that employs youth with job training skill and knowledge.  My favorite part is seeing them flex their customer service muscles.  I had a Nutella waffle with berries + bacon and eggs on the side of.   They use a pearl sugar (which could be a normal sugar--but I'm not connoisseur) and the sweetness is just right.

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I've also been exploring what health & fitness means to me.  So I've decided to transform my regimen around my goals and less about being fit or strong. 

What's resulted is having my toosh in yoga classes almost three times a week!  I've had a goal to be able to do a handstand (starting with a wall-free forearm stand) for a long time now and just realized that a yoga class here and there won't get me to that experience.  #duh #shouldHAVEhadAv8MELISSA #headKNOCK

The bending and stretching gets easier and more challenging by the day!  And I am finding the beauty in: staying in your own lane.  It's a practice that means that I don't bend or flex to impress anyone.   I just do what makes me feel strong and beautiful.   Yes I will push myself to a pose I've never tried or want to perfect or even know that I cannot do.. but "standing forehead to knee" pose just gives me attitude when I even think about it.  So I stand strong in my single-leg mountain pose "thing" like a freaking BOSS!

But you better believe I'm taking wheel.  And I'm doing one leg and then the other!  Wheel is my JAM!  I like to say that I'm just "a wheelin' and a dealin'", laugh at my cornyness, and move on.

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I realized this morning that I'm plugged in with some industrious and socially tuned in people and had to share about my friend Lydia's production projects: 18th And Bronzeville & The Armoire From.   18th And Bronzeville is a full production house with Lydia handling the biz, her friend Staci making the art come alive, and Akeea getting the buzz out on behalf of the artist.

The Armoire From is their first production mini-comedy-series about a man who is struck with amnesia and is trying to navigate a situation or two having lost his short-term memory.  The idea of it is hilarious and from what I've seen, the process of getting it done is successful!

On Monday, 18th and Bronzeville did a kickstarter fundraising event at North Bar in Chicago and not only was it great to meet some more dope people but I've reconnected with some great friends and associates from 10 years ago (or more).

In that pic it's myself, Lydia, and Morgan.  We started kindergarten together and all graduated from the same high school!

It's so funny because we used to laugh at our parents saying: "I've known so & so for 20 years!"  Back then that seemed so long and impossible.. and yet here we are!

Click this link to get your give on.

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X
Melissa

Title Boxing Club Chicago -- Lincoln Park

I've always wanted to be a boxer.  Pretty badly.

So I went to Title Boxing Club Chicago in Lincoln Park and got busy getting after my dreams. (Haha.)  Our Coach,  Emanuel, was amazing.  He got us super pumped up and excited for the workout and helped the first timers shake the jitters out.

I was too busy dying to really get the format, but from what I can recall, it was:  a 15 min warm-up; eight, five minute "rounds" with active recovery in between; and 5-1,000 minutes of core work to seal the deal before your deep stretch.  In summation it was AWESOME.  I went with a few friends and we were all totally beat at the end.

I actually felt so relieved of stress and anxiety.  I went in thinking that I would take out frustration and aggression on the bags but Emanuel's coaching had my mind focused on getting the combinations right and giving my all when the Burpees, sprints, or frog jumps were assigned to the team.  So at the end I said to my friend: "I feel like I just did yoga!"  I was relaxed and just felt so clear.  Yesterday, I felt invincible walking out of the doors and today I feel sore (and ready for more).  Haha!

I happily want to share that as soon as the warm-up began, I looked to my friend and said: "I feel like I'm going to hard out the gate..I just know I am." lol  And I definitely did.  What's funny is that I now want to practice enough that I can just go hard from the beginning to the end.

Thanks to Title Boxing Club Chicago - Lincoln Park and especially Jacob for gifting my crew free wraps for the workout.  I chose rainbow and dark blue and I felt so bad ass wrapping them up and tossing them into my rucksack at the end of class. :)

I'm so happy to have this place around esp going into wintertime.  I am so excited to get super sweaty this would terms and I'll definitely be getting my sweat on with TBC Chicago!

Yours in sweat,

Melissa

TITLE Boxing Club Chicago Lincoln Park
2417 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 312-4726

BHAG

Where I come from, we have this things called:  Big Hairy Audacious Goals.  Another place I come from calls you to: Be Authentic.  Be Unreasonable.  Be Extraordinary.

If I had to say one thing that I want to do/be that I don't see myself capable of being, it's a fitness model.  I want to compete in a few fitness competitions, but more than that.. I want to do this: 

I want to do it because I LOVE marketing/branding, and there are some great companies out there that not only make wonderful product, but they also make a huge impact on the world EVERY DAY.  I want to represent those people and I also want to inspire others the way that these images & companies inspire me!

It doesn't have to look just like the image above.. but I want to do it in some form or fashion.  As a model, as an ambassador, as a partner through my blog(s). 

It's scary.  But I'm going to take a shot at it.  The good thing is that I can wait forever because then I'll just model active wear for Chico's or something.  lol  :  P

Okay.  Bye! :)
#vulnerable #daringGREATLY #beUNREASONABLE #beEXTRAORDINARY #elivate #GREATNESS #dreamBIG #doBIG #nervous

AUGUST

I'm committed to making space for ADVENTURE in AUGUST.

I will...
..Run 15-20 miles per week.
..Learn the choreography for the THRILLER dance.  (So I can practice for Halloween season!)
..Go to music festivals (Lolla/North Coast) w/ my friends AND a few 'after parties' that I didn't RSVP for. #WILD
..workout 5 days a week trying a brand new class once a week
..hit the driving range twice a week
..try three new vegetables
..attend a Creative Mornings meetup
..go for a bike ride along the lakefront

YAY!!  :  )

BETTER LIFE: SAY IT, DO IT #2

My workout commitments this week:

#WOW (workouts of the week)

Monday (Memorial Day):  class @ GO CYCLE
Tuesday:  class @ DAILEY METHOD
Wednesday:  rest or class at ON YOUR MARK COACHING & TRAINING
Thursday:  2-4 mile run
Friday:  1-3 mile run or rest (if I workout on Wednesday)
Saturday:  class at I.D. GYM/LINCOLN PARK CROSS FIT (yoga)
Sunday:  strength/cardio interval workout IN MY HOUSE (lol)

I'm usually not a class person, but I've made some commitments to be & I'm really looking forward to it. :)

This will also be my third ever cycling class on Monday.  I'm so nervous!  haha