Sexy back

Morning workout: 30 minutes upright bike in my short shorts followed by boot camp without Sarah. I dressed up just for her too in my "Can't Touch This" t-shirt and hot shorts. I also wrote her a card. I hope I'll see her before so I can get it to her. It's not too sappy as the other card I wrote. :/

Alan taught the class and also did a circuit. It wasn't as hard today though.

• Cardio - whatever you want for 60 seconds. I did mountain climbers, jumping jacks, and sprinted back and forth.
• Balance with the flat side of the Bosu ball on top
• Bosu ball side crunches
• Sit-ups on stability ball, then changed to back extension on stability ball
  
• Bosu ball side crunches on the other side
• squats and lunges with the bar, then bicep curls and bicep rows
• chest press on stability ball, then tricep kickbacks or pullovers on the ball

Move of the day: back extension on stability ball

(image from Women's Health)

This is my favorite back workout. It gets my bottom (glutes) as well as my lower back.

We use our core for everything and I have a weak core. When I work abs, my lower back hurts. I suck it in when I do abs as much as I can, but it's always hard when you've got some belly going on there to suck it all in.

The only other one I use often because I don't have equipment is the superman, which is okay, but this one is... well, easier maybe to hold.

With the superman, I hold my arms and legs in the air. Here I get to have my feet and legs on the ground to hold myself up.

More for your back:

Got her toes done up with her fingernails matchin'

The song: "Pro Nails" by Kid Sister featuring Kanye West

I painted my fingernails and toenails last night. I don't really need to take a picture of them since they're kind of eh... just color. I decided on the color combo from this article at InStyle: mint & silver. I used Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in gunmetal and mint sorbet. For about $2 a bottle, you can't beat these.

Funny thing, I was listening to the new Joy the Baker podcast while biking and she's all into nails right now too and suggested this website: Hey Nice Nails. Love it!

A few of my favorites:

They have a tutorial. It's harder though.

I can do this, without the heart though. I'm not that precise.


This one seems hard.

I'm totally feeling sparkles and yellow. :)

Quick downtown romp

Mom and I went on a quickie adventure downtown this morning after my workout.

• Gourmet Chip Company - We saw their sign out so we thought it was open. The proprietress was kind enough to let us stay and made us the Nori: crispy taro root chips with homemade furikake (seaweed, sesame seeds, cane sugar, & sea salt) served wtih red chili aioli. It was okay. I've had better taro chips coming from California, but I would like to try their Belgium (sweet potato chips with chocolate shavings and vanilla sea salt). I had to abstain from sweetness this AM though. Mom and I tried a couple and have some for later.
• Old Europe Patisserie - I used to go here all the time. First, when it was in their second location, I would go at night with friends for pastries and cocktails. I was more interested in cocktails then so can't recall which pastries I liked. Today, I got us some coffee. I love the girl who works there (Anna)! I also got mom a French Creamy to try because that is my favorite. Mom loves it too and ate the whole thing; it's not too sweet.
• Modesto Bakery - It's a new favorite because I can't make French pastries. I buy their breads. Today, I brought home an English muffin and because they had mini loaves of brioche, I bought one. Not many places sell brioche like they do challah. My aunt devoured half the mini loaf and half the English muffin when we got home.
  
  
• Vinsite - I used to love Usual Suspects, a bar away from downtown. The owners sold it and opened a wine store with wine tastings and this cool machine I read about where you buy a card and try ounces of wine. I got an ounce of some pinot noir. Tomorrow I'm going to the tasting... or Tuesday. They do tastings both days at 5PM. Remember, I said I resolved to drink more wine.

We headed to Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack today also. It's their opening day so super packed and frustrating when they took 30 minutes to get my order. The guy behind me said he gets "medium," which he says is hot. I thought there were more tiers, but apparently just five. Mom got plain wings while I chose a mild breast. The flavor can only be described as "hot." Good mac, not so good corn puddin'.