Align Pilates® Minneapolis

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Urban Striped Headwrap

• What: Take care of those work-out whispies with this fun, functional and flirty wrap.
• Why: Urban turban.
• Where: Online at Amazon.com.

Bits and Bites
Restaurant Week 2010 – LAST CHANCE FRIDAY!

• What: If you hurry, you can still enjoy a specially-priced meal at a select Twin Cities eatery.
• Why: Best week ever.
• Where: A participating restaurant near you.

Around Town
Whole Body Care Fair

• What: An array of experts guide you through the ins and outs of natural body care.
• Why: There’s something for every body.
• When: Saturday, March 6th ~ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
• Where: Whole Foods ~ 3060 Excelsior Blvd, Minneapolis.

I Think I Can
Motivational Quote

• What: “As we drive along this road called life, occasionally a gal will find herself a little lost. And when that happens, I guess she has to let go of the coulda, shoulda, woulda, buckle up and just keep going.” ~ Carrie Bradshaw
• Why: Abso-f@#!in’-lutey.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Burton Tank Military Hat

• What: “An old-time look with contemporary style.”
• Why: The perfect cover for your yoga-bound hair.
• Where: Online at REI.com

Bits and Bites
Café Eena

• What: A vibrant eatery serving Latin American cuisine in the heart of South Minneapolis.
• Why: Go south of the border.
• Where: 4601 Grand Avenue South, Minneapolis

Around Town
Electric Fetus Tornado Benefit Feat. Cloud Cult

• What: Remember that wicked tornado that whipped through the city last spring?
• Why: Twist and shout.
• When: Friday, February 26th @ 7:00 pm
• Where: First Avenue ~ 701 North First Avenue, Minneapolis

I Think I Can
KIVA Loans

• What: Lend to an entrepreneur across the globe via microfinance and the internet.
• Why: Pay it forward.
• When: When it feels right for you.
• Where: Online at Kiva.org

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo

• What: Peppermint and tea tree oil work together to moisturize and beautify your locks.
• Why: For that oh-so tingly feeling.
• Where: Online at Amazon.com, or at your local TJ’s.

Bits and Bites
56 Healthy Breakfast Recipes

• What: Curl up at home, turn on the winter games and enjoy a healthy breaky at home.
• Why: Home is where the health is.
• Where: Online at foodnetwork.com.

Around Town
North Star Roller Girls

• What: Watch Minnesota’s own female roller derby league in action.
• Why: Femme fatale.
• When: Saturday, February 20, 2010
• Where: Minneapolis Convention Center

I Think I Can
31 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Exercise

• What: 31 reasons to bust a move.
• Why: A calorie saved is a calorie burned.
• Where: Online at zenhabits.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Got to Have It
“Love is the Beauty of the Soul”

• What: A hand-stamped copper heart necklace.
• Why: Put a little love in your heart.
• Where: Online at Etsy.

Bits and Bites
Broders’ Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two to Take Away

• What: Ditch the long waits and reservations. Pick it up and love it at home.
• Why: It takes two to make a thing go right.
• Where: Broders’ Cucina Italiana: 2308 West 50th Street, Minneapolis

Broders’ Pasta Bar: 5000 Penn Avenue South, Minneapolis

Around Town
The Depot Ice Rink

• What: A historic downtown train shed turned cutting-edge indoor ice rink.
• Why: Love hurts.
• When: Valentine’s Day ~ 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
• Where: 225 3rd Avenue South Minneapolis

I Think I Can
All You Need is Love

• What: Watch the Fab Four sing all together now.
• Why: It’s easy.
• Where: Online at You Tube.

What’s better than having chocolate on Valentine’s Day? How about having chocolate AND supporting a good cause? From now until V-Day, Intentional Chocolate will donate 100% of its proceeds to charities supporting Haiti. Give the gift of love that keeps on giving.

Don’t have a honey to buy for? Who says you can’t have your chocolate and eat it too? Treat yourself to a box of goodies and spread the love to those who need it most. It’s good for you. Really, it is. The truth is in the truffle: Intentional Chocolate treats are “proven to have benefits of decreased stress, increased energy, greater calmness, and enhanced focus.” So go on now, have a heart.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack

• What: Music to groove and flow to.
• Why: Ringa Ringa.
• Where: Online at Amazon.com.

Bits and Bites
The Citizen Cafe

• What: A neighborhood restaurant serving local food. Honestly.
• Why: Be true to you.
• Where: 2403 East 38th Street, Minneapolis

Around Town
Gimme Shelter Benefit Concert

• What: City Pages, Gimme Noise music blog and local bands unite to raise funds for Haiti.
• Why: It’s just a kiss away.
• When: Saturday, February 6th @ 6:00 pm
• Where: First Avenue ~ 701 1st Avenue North, Minneapolis

I Think I Can
Balance

• What: Create a bond between body and mind.
• Why: Steady now.

A week ago I was enjoying fresh air on my sun kissed skin, amazing sunsets and the sound of the ocean. Today I sit bundled up inside, on my couch craving the sun. I think I’ll brew up a batch of what is now my favorite drink, a la Costa Rica. Making lemonade out of ice cold lemons.

Ginger Lemonade

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Ingredients

* 6 cups water, divided
* 1 1/4 cups sugar
* 1/4 cup grated peeled fresh ginger
* 1 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice (about 7 large lemons)
* 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
* Lemon slices (optional)
* Lime slices (optional)

Preparation

Combine 1 cup water, sugar, and ginger in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, and cook 1 minute or until sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool.

Strain ginger mixture through a sieve into a pitcher, and discard solids. Add 5 cups water and juices, and stir well. Serve over ice, and garnish with lemon and lime slices, if desired.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
bodybugg

• What: Combined with a web program, this little bugger counts your caloric intake/outtake.
• Why: One calorie, ah ah ah! Two calories, ah ah ah!
• Where: Online at 24 Hour Fitness.

Bits and Bites
Vinaigrette

• What: Local retailer of top-notch oils, vinegars and olive-based skin care products.
• Why: Extend the olive branch to your taste buds and bod.
• Where: 5006 Xerxes Avenue South, Minneapolis.

Around Town
Donate to Haiti

• What: Help victims of the Haiti earthquake crisis via the Red Cross.
• Why: Help: the affectionate four-letter word.
• When: Any time is a good time to give.
• Where: Online at American Red Cross.

I Think I Can
“The Body“

• What: Hillary Swank’s famous power run shot.
• Why: One word: Wow.

When it comes to snack calories, 100 is the magic number. You name the snack, there’s probably a 100 calorie pack for it. (My current favorite is the Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almond 100 Calorie Pack.) But when it’s not tied up in a neat and convenient package, it’s hard to eyeball how much of your favorite treat adds up to 100 cals. Well, my mother always said when in doubt, take a quiz. Ergo, I give you the 100 Calorie Quiz. It tests your snack savvy by presenting two different amounts of the same kind of food. Your job is to decide which quantity adds up to 100 calories. Are you a Master Snacker, or just a Smart Snacker? Who knows? So choose wisely, my friends, and you may even learn something along the way. You can thank my mother later.

If there’s an appetizer table at the door of heaven, Betty Crocker’s “Healthified” Buffalo Chicken Dip is sure to be in the spread.

If you are a fan of the chicken wing (and who isn’t?) you’ll absolutely love this recipe. It’s like buffalo sauce and chicken wings got married and produced a low-fat wonder child. With 47% fewer calories and 66% less fat than Crocker’s original recipe, you can indulge and totally not feel guilty about it. And the best part? It’s incredibly easy to make.

We tried it on Saturday with celery sticks, which added a zesty crunch to the snacking experience. Mmm-mmm delicious. Surprisingly, we had enough left over for the dip to make an encore appearance at our weekly family dinner the next night. Even Pops—a self proclaimed nonbeliever of low-fat AND tasty treats—was licking his chops and diving in for seconds, infallible proof that this recipe is sure to please at your next get-together.

And p.s.: Your New Year’s Resolution to eat healthier just got a whole lot easier.