All that hard work with mowing the lawn paid off…I got my date night!
Yesterday, shortly after Jay got home from work, we headed out to enjoy our “gift card date night.” I can’t tell you just how excited I was to realize that we still had about five different gift cards left over from Christmas…here I was thinking we’d already used them all.
Can you guess which one out of the four listed was our spot of choice last night?
Well, considering we don’t even have an On the Border or a Maggiano’s near us, and neither of us felt like having Italian, that just leaves one spot left…
Aaaand that would be the one that offers 2 for 1 draft beers. 
Chili’s was our spot of choice last night, and we both started off with some 2 for 1 beers – there wasn’t a huge selection so I went with some Blue Moon.
For it being a chain restaurant, which Jay and I typically tend to avoid (we definitely had our fair share while dating throughout high school), we both enjoy Chili’s. The beer is always cold, the food is good, and the prices aren’t too bad either. Neither of us had been back since visiting with Joe & Kate last October, so it was a welcomed choice.
We started off with some chips and salsa.
I was pretty impressed with my ability to take it easy on these, but it wasn’t easy.
For dinner, I ordered the “Lighter Choice Chicken Santa Fe Wrap” which came with a side of roasted broccoli.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but this wrap was pleasantly delicious. I especially loved the roasted corn and avocado chunks, and I loved how it wasn’t drenched in dressing. Definitely a good choice.
After dinner, we concluded date night the best way we know how…
With an orange and vanilla twist with rainbow sprinkles from The Snowman. Gosh, I do love me some rainbow sprinkles. 
*****
June Yoga Challenge – Week 1 Recap
We’ve already made it through our first week of the June Yoga Challenge. Can you even believe it? I’m so excited to hear how you’ve all been doing on your own challenges, but first, here’s how things have been going so far over here.
My Challenge: Do 3 yoga sessions for the week
Actual: 4 yoga sessions done since June 1st
- (1) 40-minute session (10lb. Slimdown Xtreme) <—technically before the challenge started, but it’s what kickstarted the idea
- (1) 20-minute session (10lb. Slimdown)
- (1) 60-minute class at my gym
- (1) 30-minute session (Jillian Michael’s Yoga Meltdown, Level 2)
So far, things are going great with the challenge. I’m loving all this new yoga in my life, and I’m already finding myself looking forward to each session. I didn’t totally love the class that I took at my gym during the week, but I did enjoy actually doing it in a class setting, rather than at home with a video.
I ended up talking a bit with Jen, who I’ve gone to yoga with before, and she was telling me about a local place named Good Karma Studio. Apparently they’re offering a few free classes for the month of June, so I’m really hoping to be able to go and try some of them out.
Overall, I’m still loving the challenge. Physically, I haven’t felt or seen too much of a difference, although my hips were pretty sore after doing Jillian’s video on Wednesday. Mentally, I’m totally on board. I don’t mind that I’m not sweating buckets like I would if I were running on the treadmill. I love how I’m still feeling strong and lengthened after a session.
I think this challenge is exactly what I needed right now in my life!
But alright, enough about me…let’s hear about how all of YOU are doing on your challenges. I had one reader without a blog send me her update…
Kattreena – “My main goal for this challenge is to listen to my body more. In the past, I would often skip yoga because I felt like I needed to strength train more or do more cardio. Recently, I’ve been doing yoga at least once a week, and I have found that my body loves it! I absolutely love how I feel after the class! I just want to get back into loving what I’m doing for fitness rather than feeling that I have to do something or skip something because other exercises are more important. Today I did an online Power Yoga video for 30 minutes.”
Now, for those of you who wrote about your Week 1 recap on your blogs, let’s see how it’s going!
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Date night looks like a blast and good call on getting the ice cream cone- after all it was a National celebration- chocolate schmocolate :)! Way to go on the yoga challenge- I really should be getting on board with it and reading how great it is making you feel makes me all the more motivated to even introduce one session a week! I know my muscles would be happy!
Just got my Body By Bethenny DVD this morning so I’ll finally be on board this weekend with the yoga! ;)
I love when an ordinary restaurant meal turns out a lot better than expected.
I am so inspired by your yoga challenge. I need more of this in my life! Can’t wait to see you tomorrow hun!
The best date nights always include some cold beers and a ice cream cone! :).
Looks like the perfect date night to me! I love that it’s summer now and therefore, ice cream every night is perfectly acceptable. ;)
Good job on the first week! I just uploaded my progress and I must say I’m content with my first week ;) Can’t wait for the second!
I love gift-cards like those! Best gifts ever because they make you take time to go out to dinner :D Oh and sprinkles…. <3 ever lasting love right?! ;)
I did 3 yoga sessions this week and I’m doing another tomorrow for a total of 4! I definitely made use of my unlimited one week trial pass and I’m going to buy more classes when it expires tomorrow :)
I LOVE rainbow sprinkles too and put them on everything! (They are perfect with my cake batter flavored protein powder – Mmm!)
Your hair is getting so long!
Ughh, I know! Haha…I need to get it cut, but I can’t make up my mind on what I want to do with it!
I think your hair looks good like this as well :)
whohoooo for date night!!!! the food looks soooooo good!
rainbow sprinkles are the only way to go! :)
I’m so terrible, I haven’t done yoga yet in June…I need motivation!
You should check out the hot yoga spot in Stuyvesant Plaza! I go two or three times a week and love it! You would like the iron barre or power barre classes because they incorporate Pilates, the barre, or weights into those classes :) I also love the gentle flow class when I just need to chill out and relax.
Really? Where is it in there?? Are the classes expensive?
It’s $15 a class ($10 with student id), but I think the classes are amazing. I always feel great after I leave. Its behind Stuyvesant Plaza, you should check out the website with all of their class descriptions: http://www.thehotyogaspot.com
I love all of the instructors, they are really accomodating and kick your butt :)
Oh cool! We should try to figure out a class we can go to together :)
Aaaand now I want ice-cream & sprinkles for breakfast. Thank you.
The mental benefits are DEFINITELY nice! I forgot to even talk about that in my post haha. Assumed that everyone knows how nice it is to get out of your head and focus on your body for 30 minutes. :)
I need to get a little yoga in my life but it seems like other forms of exercise always win out over it. I use to take a class at my gym called Centergy and while it was relaxing I always felt it the next day. Hmmm, maybe I will try it again next week!!
That wrap looks good from Chili’s. Chili’s is one of my least favorite out of all of the chains. I might need to give it a try again.
I love ice cream with sprinkles! Yum :)
I haven’t been to chili’s in a long time but I do love their chips and salsa! Yum!
No Maggianos near you? That makes me sad, my friend. I love that place.
And ah, funny days, back in high school when Chilis and Applebees were fancy date nights. I got taken to Macaroni Grills once and thought I was the luckiest girl ever!
My husband & I used to go to Chilis all the time, but I can’t remember the last time we were there!
At Good Karma they have gravity yoga which is really good. My upper body has never been so sore as after I get done with one of those classes! The Hot Yoga Spot also has great classes. If you’ve never tried a hot yoga class I would definitely recommend it!! I’m a fan of their barre classes. I try to make it to at least 2 a week.
Yay for date night! You look so pretty :). I should really try to start doing more yoga. I’ve never really enjoyed it that much, but I think if I found a video or class I like then it would be better!
sounds like you had a great delicious date night..2 for 1 draft beers?! count me in!
I love me some rainbow sprinkle, too (obviously)! When I get a cone like that, I lick all the sprinkles off and then ask for more. ;)
I am heading upstate tonight for a family visit, and as soon as I get off amtrak, we are headed straight to Creo! I’ve been dying to go there since you posted about it!
yay for date night! i’m glad your lawn mowing paid off! ;) and you can’t go wrong with some ice cream to top off the evening!
I’m not a huge fan of chain restaurants either, but my boyfriend and I do go to Chili’s sometimes – it’s where we had our first date in college!
Woohoo for date night, I try to avoid chaim restaurants too. That wrap looks delicious though.
I love Chili’s!! It’s probably one of my favorite places to go. I really love the atmosphere too :).
Great job on the yoga! The wrpa looks yummy from Chili’s. I have a gift certificate for there to, I should use soon!! Maybe Hubby and I will have a date night tonight?
man those sprinkles look amazing! I am craving some ice cream and its not even noon!
It’s a scorcher in WI today – 85 and we’re climbing into the 90s this weekend. I can definitely see some cones in my future!
I’m so glad all of you girls are doing this challenge— Yoga changed my life and it’s so good for you!!
A date night that ends with fro yo is always a good date night. I’m loving the challenge, and I’m hoping we can do another one maybe next month? ;) I have been doing yoga after my runs, and it has really helped with soreness!
I totally said I was in for the challenge but I haven’t done any yoga this week! Sounds like you’re doing great though.
I love Chili’s! Mmm, I’m looking forward to visiting it again once I get back across the pond.
I wasn’t able this week due to a crazy schedule – but I knew this going in I would not be able to start until this coming up week – seeing yor recap has motivated me compeltely!!!
Jillian’s yoga makes me sore too! She’s such a tough trainer.
I am loving the challenge so far!
I can never seem to get enough rainbow sprinkles!
Glad to hear your challenge is going well after the first week! After a crazy trip to the ER yesterday for my back and a followup appointment with my doctor earlier today, he said I need to be stretching and doing more yoga. I was already on board but as soon as I get the go-ahead to workout again, it appears I’ll REALLY be on board. Doctor’s orders! :)
Yoga is not about calories burnt, or the “after burn” its about how you challenge yourself in each pose. You make it as easy or as challenging as you allow your body to go. I’m all for at home workouts, but yoga I find to be most beneficial in a studio or gym setting. That being said, I find that even though yoga is meant to be a “selfish” workout, I find myself competing with others in the studio. I cant help it, I see others in their poses, therefore I compete :) I always set an “intention” for myself, but feeding off of other peoples energy helps me in the long run. I dont have a blog but am taking the Yoga Challenge with you. All the best to all!! xxoo