a year of minnesota nice

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

day 303 : {super-rad company alert} talking about RISE

you guys know that i love supporting new {to me} & super-awesome small businesses & companies, yeah? 
months ago, i connected with alan, who is the main man behind RISE! they are on a mission to change this world {MY PEOPLE!} 

in the winter box, you will find a pack of 8 stickers that are creative and inspiring!

you can't find these stickers in their shop, but you can grab two coupon codes here for a winter box!

be sure to check out their shop, too! 
i grabbed this shirt & i LOVE it! whenever i wear it to school, the kids love reading all the words!

and a HUGE shoutout to alan for being SO awesome & sharing their awesome company with our little kindness movement!  

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

day 302 : Winter Be Nice Box REVEAL {and TWO discount codes!}

YOU GUYS! the first Winter Boxes started shipping late-Decemeber and I am *just now* getting around to sharing the photos!
{can i be honest and tell you that i feel like there is entirely too much on my plate right now? a full-time job + this biz + a weekend job + a weekly volunteer commitment? i am SO grateful for everything, but i am having a hard time juggling ALL the ball right now!}

anyways, there are still 15 Winter Boxes available!
we are working with some really rad companies this time around {Ten Thousand Villages // Oh, Dip! // Dajon Smiles made our awesome good deed cards again // RISE BRAND // Leafcutter Designs // Equal Exchange}

i want YOU to join us! and i have two great deals to share with you!

1) type in GOWINTER at checkout and save 15% on the Winter Box {there are only 15   boxes left!}
2) type in GETTINGWARMER and save 20% off the 2 Seasons of Kindness Box {thats the Winter + Spring Boxes!} // because of my crazy-bonkers schedule right now, there will ONLY be 25 Spring Boxes available and they will start shipping the first week of March!}


thanks for sticking around, folks! 

Monday, February 9, 2015

day 301 : everyday life in photos {weeks 5 & 6}

happy monday, everybody!
I've got two weeks worth of photos below! lots of little life updates, as well!

week 5 {jan 26- feb 1}
this week i : had a mini-meeting + a new #52coffees session // dog sat for three days // subbed two days // took a yoga class at a new-to-me yoga center // spent some time on my bike {totally itching for the day i can switch back to my race bike!} // took a second yoga class {this one was at modo ; my favorite studio in the city!} // bought a new to-do notebook // spent time with my sister + brother-in-law who came up for the luminary loppet // bought 10+ awesome clothing items at a few local thrift stores // finished the 5th Harry Potter

week 6 {feb 2- feb 8}
this week : i signed up for a 7-day free trail at yoga fit {its a new 'snap fitness'-style of yoga studio that opened two blocks from my house} // took two yoga classes + a barre class // called my grandma // posted a bunch of photos on instagram {you can follow me here} // participated in the prana #takealeap yoga challenge // subbed three days // started reading a bunch of travel books & narrowing down our travel plans for Europe in 2016 // finished both the 6th & 7th Harry Potter {so sad to have finished the entire series again! i just love those books SO much!} // booked our flight to Florida // and YOU GUYS! i got a full-time job! 

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

day 300 : february goals {& a #lessin2015 update}

my word for 2015 is 'less' {you can read all about it here} and one of my big goals for the year is to really slow down & be intentional with my time. so far, one month in, i am feeling great! i think about my 'word' every single day & have been working really hard to focus on the things that keep my energized!



February 2015 goals : 
1) complete 10-15 days of yoga
2) make a payment to blake AND my mom
3) buy our tickets to florida {blake's grandpa is turning 100 & celebrating in orlando}
4) put $$ in our europe travel fund
5) put $$ into savings AND $ in retirement fund
6) read 4-5 books
7) compete 10-12+ blog posts
8) meet 3-4 people for #52coffees
9) plan spring BNB boxes and sell the rest of the winter inventory
10) take a photo a day
11) file my taxes {seriously, every year i file at the last possible moment and its SO stressful! I've learned my lesson!}
12) complete 10-12 other workouts {run//weights//dvds//bike rides}
13) finish my first quilt


and an update on my 10 goals for 2015 {you can read more about them here}
1) pay off my mom & blake! // already paid $350+
2) read 55 books! // completed the first 5 Harry Potter books
3) complete 100 days of yoga // barre! // took 6 classes
4) sew my first quilt! // finished the top of my first quilt
5) visit the new Harry Potter park! // not yet
6) open a retirement fund. // haven't done yet
7) replenish my savings account! // put $100 in
8) start planning // saving for Europe! // put $150 into our travel fund AND decided upon Austria, Hungary, Croatia & Slovenia ; with day trips to Bosnia & Montenegro for our trip!
9) finish #52coffees project! // completed 2 coffee dates
10) take more photos! // took a photo a day 28 days 
not bad for the first month of 2015! 
how are YOU doing on your goals? 

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

day 299 : join me for the #taketheleap yoga challenge!

happy february, everybody!
prana & sweat pink have teamed up this month to host a really fun yoga challenge!
every day, you take a class // pick your favorite pose // challenge yourself with a new pose & share the photo!

they have a fun 'mad libs' you can copy & paste {and add your own words} to show that you are up for the challenge!
_________________________________________________________________________________

When I think about yoga, the first thought that comes to mind is 'so much clarity!' Yoga _always_ makes me feel _strong_.

That’s why I am SO _jazzed_ to participate in prAna’s Take The Leap 30 days of Yoga Challenge with Sweat Pink. I plan to _mountain pose_ my way to a more _intentional_ and _peaceful_ 2015!

For me, the biggest challenge when it comes to yoga is _finding the time_. Taking the Leap with prAna and Sweat Pink is a great way for me to find _the time & balance I need_!

My favorite place to yoga is_the hot room_ because _I always feel SO strong!_

Here’s a photo of me in my very best Tree Pose.

Join prAna’s & Sweat Pink’s #TakeTheLeap 30 Days of Yoga Challenge and be eligible for a chance to win $500 worth of new prAna gear from their latest collection as well as gift an additional $500 worth of prAna gear to the person of their choice... because isn’t giving as important as receiving? They just launched their new Spring Collection so you best get on it!

Join the Take the Leap with prAna and Sweat Pink Facebook group / event which we’ll use for updates, sharing,and inspiration: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1525412337742204/

And join the challenge on Instagram, Twitter, and your blog using the hashtags:
#TakeTheLeap
#prana
#sweatpink
And of course, tag @prana @FitApproach

YOGA ON!
____________________________________________________________________________
I'll be sharing some of my favorite poses all month long over on IG ; you can follow me here!

Monday, January 26, 2015

day 298 : everyday life in photos {week 4}

another week of documenting the small moments that make up my days! 
i am loving the idea of jotting down the little things that i want to remember!

week 4 {january 18-25}
this week : subbed 4 days {and biked 10+ miles for three of them} // completed 1 yoga class // sent my mom a payment towards what i owe her // wore my new rise t-shirt {grab one here} // took photos of the winter box // started my very first quilt AND completed the top {i am so proud of how it turned out!} // reserved another 14 travel books from the library {we have narrowed our trip down to 4 countries, with three one-day tours to neighboring countries!}  // watched Aladdin for the first time since Robin Williams passed away {you guys, it was emotional!} // started adding Nuun tablets to my water after every workout {totally loving them!} // almost finished Harry Potter {&the Order of the Phoenix} // took the bus home on friday & got to stand outside in the SUNSHINE! 




 all three of my bike rides this week ended at night ; each night i got to ride around the lake in the dark!





cheers! 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

day 297 : everyday life in photos {weeks 1, 2 & 3}

oh, you guys!
i have been wanting to blog for WEEKS ; but i just haven't made time for it! anyways, HERE I AM!
one of my goals for the year, is to take at least one photo every day. i am making an effort NOT to post every picture on instagram {because, hello, its okay not to share EVERYTHING on social media!} ; but i do want to share a weekly recap, along with things i have done, to help me remember and document the little things.
since i haven't blogged for the last few weeks, i am doing three weeks worth of photos now, but will {hopefully} be more consistent in the future!



week 1 {jan 1-3}
this week : took 1 yoga  class // started and finished HP {& the sorcerers stone} // watched ALL of season 5 of 'its always sunny in philadelphia' // put aside $130 into our 'travel to europe fund'

{one of my 2015 goals is to complete 100 days of yoga. to help me remember {and document}, i plan on taking a photo with EACH instructor after class}

week 2 {jan 4-10}
this week : we had a few days of -25* wind chill // finished HP 2&3 {the chamber of secrets AND prisoner of azkaban} // completed two turbofire workouts // subbed 3 days // wore my brand new white snow pants every day // i super-purged my closet {i donated about 20 pieces!} // spent a TON of time researching our europe trip! // since it was SO cold this week, i decided against biking to work and spent a lot of time waiting for buses {and avoiding the winds} in bus shelters

week 3 {jan 11-17}
this week : only subbed two days // finished HP {the goblet of fire} // made power cookies {i will post the recipe soon!} // went to a train museum for blake's holiday party // picked out fabric for two quilts {another 2015 goal is to sew my first quilt!} // took one yoga class // re-joined crunch live {my favorite way to workout at home} // had supper with a friend from out of town // walked around the lake with another friend {and counted it as #5 for #52coffees // volunteered at the kite festival


yikes! so many photos in one post!
i seriously have about 25 blog posts i really want to get up! fingers crossed ;)