Align Pilates® Minneapolis

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Simple D-Tach Shoes

• What: Eco-friendly walking shoes that are fun, feminine and freakishly comfortable.
• Why: Funky fair feet.
• Where: Online at Zappos.

Bits and Bites
Fair Food Finder

• What: Find the location of all your favorite fair fare.
• Why: Where in the name of the fair do they hide those frickles?
• Where: Online Minnesota State Fair.org.

Around Town
The Minnesota State Fair

• What: The Great Minnesota Get-Together.
• Why: Good *clean* fun.
• When: Now through Labor Day.
• Where: 1265 Snelling Avenue North, St Paul.

I Think I Can
Motivational Quote

• Why: French fries for the soul.
• What: “Greasy food might not be good for your body, but it does wonders for the soul. A healthy diet may prolong your life, but what would you have to live for? What is the point of living to a hundred if you have to subsist on bland food? One may as well die of boredom.” ~ Jessica Zafra (Chicken Pox for the Soul)

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Savvy Headbands

• What: Hand-made and too cute to pass up headbands, made for all heads big and small.
• Why: For the love of Rhoda, savvy?
• Where: Online at livesavvy.

Bits and Bites
The Tea Garden

• What: Get a cool tea treat while you’re out on the hot streets.
• Why: Hot child in the city.
• Where: Hennepin Avenue in Uptown, Grand Avenue in St. Paul and Stadium Village Mall ~ See all locations.

Around Town
Red Stag Block Party

• What: Local music, organic ingredients and cold beverages.
• Why: Stag party.
• When: Saturday, August 21, 2010 ~ 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
• Where: Red Stag Supper Club ~ 509 1st Avenue NE, Minneapolis.

I Think I Can
Ebony Bracelet
What: Genuine leather wrap-around bracelet with a humane touch.
Why: You are what you wear.
Where: Online at BlisslivingHome.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Prana End of Season Sale

• What: Get 40% off of authentic, versatile, high quality and environmentally conscious clothing.
• Why: It’s the whole shebang.
• Where: Online at Prana.

Bits and Bites
Minnesota Garlic Festival

• What: Local foodies, chefs, musicians and artisans unite for the love of garlic.
• Why: You can never have too much garlic.
• When: Saturday, August 14, 2010 ~ 10 am – 6 pm
• Where: McLeod County Fairgrounds, Hutchinson.

Around Town
Cult Status Art & Flea Market

• What: It’s like a farmer’s market, but with an artist’s touch.
• Why: Find your treasure in someone else’s junk.
• When: Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15 ~ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Where: Cult Status Gallery ~ 2913 Harriet Avenue South, Minneapolis.

I Think I Can
Walking the Amazon

• What: The first person to walk the length of the Amazon river from source to sea chronicles his journey.
• Why: Makes your day look like a cake walk.
• Where: Online at Walking the Amazon Blog.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Locust Tank

• What: A comfy Lycra tank with built-in bust and belly support.
• Why: Bust a move.
• Where: Online at 51 Incorporated.

Bits and Bites
Bewitched Deli

• What: A little deli brewing up big, tasty sandwiches, salads and soup.
• Why: You’ve a got a wicked hunger.
• Where: 800 Washington Avenue North, Minneapolis.

Around Town
Uptown Art Fair

• What: An eclectic exhibition of over 360 artists, 25 performers, 20 food vendors and hundreds of local businesses.
• Why: Find out what happens when Pilates meets paint — Align Pilates & Cult Status Gallery join booth forces to see what their art can do.
• When: Friday, August 6 – Sunday, August 8
• Where: Intersection of Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue in Uptown.

I Think I Can
Inspiring Thoughts

• What: Things that make you go hmmm…
• Why: Today’s thought, tomorrow’s action.
• Where: Online at Makes Me Think.

I’m addicted to these frozen grapes this summer. Great little healthy snack that’s works as a cool down in this hot, hot weather we’re having. Yum.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Nike Air Max Women’s Running Shoe

• What: A plush ride for the premium runner.
• Why: You’re going the distance.
• Where: Online at Nike.

Bits and Bites
Patisserie 46

• What: Minneapolis’ newly opened and high-end bakery.
• Why: There’s nothing flaky about a good pastry.
• Where: 4552 Grand Avenue South, Minneapolis

Around Town
Shakespeare in the Park – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• What: Guthrie Theater presents an, eh-hem, modern take on Will’s classic tale.
• Why: “This ain’t your mamma’s Shakespeare.”
• When: Saturday & Sunday, July 10 and 11, @ 2:00 PM.
• Where: The Lakeside Gazebo at Powderhorn Park ~ 3400 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis.

Get Up On It
Words to Motivate

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Astro Crop Pants

• What: Versatile pants with freedom of comfort and coverage.
• Why: They go where you go.
• Where: Online at Lululemon.

Bits and Bites
Nami

• What: One of the city’s freshest sushi establishments.
• Why: You like it raw.
• Where: 251 First Avenue North, Minneapolis.

Around Town
Twin Cities Pride

• What: Minneapolis’ annual festival and parade in celebration of gay rights.
• Why: You’re as proud as a rainbow colored peacock.
• When: Saturday and Sunday, June 26th and 27th
• Where: Loring Park, Downtown Minneapolis.

I Think I Can
Why the Present Moment Is the Only Moment You’ll Ever Have

• What: Learn how to live in the now.
• Why: There’s no time like the present.
• Where: Online at Upgrade Reality.

The healthiest picks for your weekend pleasures and indulgences.

Got to Have It
Adidas Yatra Studio Bag

• What: A duffel bag with style and posh.
• Why: For once, a likable d-bag.
• Where: Online at Zappos.

Bits and Bites
Northeast Social

• What: “An American contemporary style restaurant with a farm-to-fork agenda.”
• Why: Polish up your social skills.
• Where: 359 13th Avenue, Northeast Minneapolis

Around Town
Sundown Movie in the Park

• What: Park and Rec’s outdoor summer film series. This weekend’s flick: March of the Penguins.
• Why: Sundown, you better take care.
• When: Friday, June 18th @ 15 minutes after sundown.
• Where: Linden Hills Park ~ 43rd and Xerxes, Minneapolis

I Think I Can
Advanced Pilates & Calisthenics Workout

• What: A video of hard core strength and control.
• Why: Monkey see, Monkey do.
• Where: Online at YouTube

A friend posted a link to an article on Facebook. The picture attached to the link depicts a colorful array of apples in a market stand. At first glance, it looks sweet and harmless. But upon clicking and reading, I soon discovered the sour message behind the article: 7 Foods So Unsafe Even Farmers Won’t Eat Them.

I know what you are thinking: “I don’t really want to read that.” But you do. And here’s why.
A team of experts, including scientists, doctors and farmers, were asked which foods they have banned from their diets. The answers will make you re-think your food choices. The experts’ concerns reside in how many of our ‘healthy’ foods (apples, potatoes, canned tomatoes, salmon) are conventionally packaged and produced. In the article, each expert gives both a reason and a resolution to their food fear, so as to not leave you hanging in the apple tree.

The moral of the story? Buy organic when possible, for soon the old adage may have to be edited a tad—An organic, pesticide free, non- chemical, anti-residue-ridden apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Tired of the same old morning munchies routine? Here’s a breakfast breakthrough: avocado toast. Sound a little strange, yet simple and tasty? That’s because it is. Not only is it a great way to make use of avocados that tend to spoil before you even remember that you bought them , but it gives your day a fantastic kick-start (especially for you hard working Boot Campers out there). The ingredients are as easy as 1, 2, 3: toast (preferably wheat or whole grain), avocado and—wait for it—red pepper flakes. I tried it this morning and it was delicious. (Actually, truth be told, I was fresh out of red pepper flakes. So I gussied up my avocado toast with a few splashes of hot sauce. Just as good, if not better. And it gave me just the pep I needed after a 7:00 a.m. Pilates workout.) Now you try it. In just one breakfast you’ll get a dose of monounsaturated or ‘good’ fat, fiber, vitamin C and just the right amount of heat to send you off on our day. Plus, you won’t have to throw another avocado away. Hooray!