Virtual green juice date
Hi friends ๐ Hope your day is going well! How about a green juice?
Itโs been a while since Iโve done a virtual wine date post, and since Iโm definitely missing my favorite red (ok, and since it’s 7am haha), I thought a morning green juice would suffice. ๐ So, please pull up a chair, letโs grab our acai bowls (they go quite nicely with green juice) and hang out a bit. ๐
If we were having green juice right now, Iโd want to hear all about what youโve been up to. Howโs the fam? The kids/pets? What are you up to this summer? Do you have any summer travel plans?
If we were having green juice, I would tell you that weโre headed to Richmond, VA and Orange, VA for a wedding! Itโs my first time in Virginia and Iโm so excited to check it out and explore a bit in between wedding festivities. One of the Pilotโs best friends is getting married, so weโre thrilled to be heading out to celebrate with them. Please let me know if you have any recommendations for the area!
As far as summer travel plans go, Iโd probably tell you how stoked I am for our family trip to Maui. It can be a little tricky to plan vacations with the Pilotโs schedule, and Iโm so glad it worked out that we were able to plan a bit in advance and spend some time as our a family of 3 before little lady arrives this fall. He joked that we were going from one beach to another beach, but from what Iโve heard, Hawaii is unlike anything here in the US. One of my friends said it feels like youโre in a different country. I have a huge list of ideas for things to see and do (ok, and eat), thanks to some guide books and your awesome recommendations.
If we were having green juice right now, weโd probably talk about the baby and the fam a little bit. Livi is still just as bright and spunky as ever, the Pilot is great (and is crushing an intense workout plan right now; heโs going on month 4!), and weโre really excited about the baby. So many people I see daily have been kind to ask me how Iโm feeling, and I always say Iโm feeling well (which is true, thank goodness), but how do I really feel? Jolly, sleepy, and like I want to eat all the acai and pitaya bowls. That about sums it up. If I could spend my entire day in the horizontal position, only waking to shovel spoonfuls of smoothie bowls into my face, it would be a good day, indeed.
If we were having green juice right now, Iโd invite you to my first yoga class! Iโve been brainstorming some ideas to make it meaningful, and also working on my playlist. Any fave yoga songs I should add on there?
So tell me friends: what are you up to?? Summer travel plans? Something youโre excited/happy/excited/nervous about??
See ya later today with a delicious gluten-free cake recipe. ๐
xoxo
Gina
Check in with todayโs workout!
Need some workout inspiration? Try this Orangetheory-inspired treadmill workout. The rowing segments break up the treadmill intervals nicely, and itโs the perfect mix of challenging, quick and sweaty.
I love the virtual date posts! If we were having green juice, I would tell you how excited I am for my birthday tomorrow and to spend the weekend and following Monday-Tuesday with my fam. My parents and brother are both coming from out of town for our cousin’s h.s. graduation, then we’re joining my in-laws at the lake house. I love family time. I would also tell you about our upcoming summer & fall travel to Vail with my husband’s fam for a wedding and Nantucket with my fam. We used to travel to Vail as a family when I was in high school, so I’m very nostalgic about going back. And I’ve never been to Nantucket, so am looking forward to visiting that portion of the country. And if I lived in SD, I would definitely come to your first yoga class! I’m a yoga novice, but would love to have you teach me.
Hope you have a very happy birthday!! Sounds like a fun summer ahead! Xo
Something I’m happy/nervous/excited about are my current job prospects! We recently moved due to my husband’s job, so I became a Beachbody coach for some extra income- keeps me super busy and I really enjoy it. Today I had a job interview, and while at the interview, got a call about another job, then came home to an email about another job! All in one day after 3 months of searching- crazy!
When it rains, it pours!! So excited for you
I am also headed to Maui! I’m going in September for our honeymoon, and I CAN’T WAIT!
I went to college in Richmond, VA! Definitely hit up Cary Street, it is super cute with tons of good shops and restaurants. Also, worth checking out the grocery chain Ukrops. You’ll love it! And I really like the Short Pump Mall–it is outdoors and has tons of great shopping. Baker’s Crust for breakfast, Bottom’s Up for pizza and Bookbinders for dinner. And if you want to go fancy, the Jefferson Hotel. Have fun!
I remember you saying you lived here! Thanks for the awesome suggestions! We’ll be pretty close to the mall, so I’ll definitely check it out
So I dont know what type of yoga you’re doing but I’m obsessed with this new song by Janelle Monae and it’s called, you guessed it, “yoga” -it’s very catchy – would be a great song in a workout depending on your tempo in the class.
Also, I used to live in Virginia. Loved it! Went to school there and spent 6 years after that living there. It’s best in the fall but it’s beautiful all year. If you could go to Charlottesville that would be my recommendation – so gorgeous. Also if you could drive over Skyline drive – great views there as well. Have fun!
I’ll download it! Thank you for the recs, too!
ahhh i love it! thank you!
I live in Charlottesville, Va and we are about an hour from Orange County and Richmond. You should definitely make a stop here to our downtown mall, farmers market, and awesome wineries! We have fun boutiques and really unique dining as well. Citizen Burger Bar, Mono Logo for Mexican, and Whiskey Jar for local. Have a great time at the weddings, Va is known for some pretty ones!
Amazing suggestions- thank you!!
Mmmm juice! I had the beet and apple one from Whole Foods as a treat after work – so good! (Okay, and I left with a heavy (read expensive) salad too. Ah well…) I’m working on a side project and it’s crazy to find the time, but it makes the day job less painful, and helps me not focus on health issues, so I’d call that a win!
I love these posts and reading the comments! ๐
I do, too! Happy you’re working on something you enjoy and are passionate about!
Yay Richmond!
Sugar Shack donuts has become a bit of an institution. Definitely Cary Town and definitely The Daily. Kombucha on tap. Lots of gluten free options. Shyndigz desserts are rediculous. Like, skip dinner ridiculous. Walk around Maymont for flowers and the zoo (not far from Cary Town) Lamplighter has wonderful coffee, go down to Brown’s Island and Belle Isle to hike. There’s pretty much always some kind of festival going on during the summer.
these all sound amazing. thank you!!
I am so excited because we are MOVING in two weeks! We’ll be headed to Baltimore and settling there. Then, summer’s full of weddings, baseball games, and adjusting to our new city ๐
You will love Richmond. It’s a cool city with some neat neighborhoods. Make sure to explore a bit!
Mmm, green juice. I wish I could have juice too! My juicer is currently living in my mom’s basement because what I’m excited/nervous for is moving to Alaska in a week and a half (and I had to pare down so…into storage it goes. Thank goodness I kept the Vitamix!). I’m driving from Colorado up with my dog (4,000 miles!) and am most looking forward to camping on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands with friends from Seattle.
I’ve never been to Virginia but want to go. I also want to go to the Carolinas! Weddings are fun, pretty much no matter what.
I bet Hawaii is going to be amazing, and it will be great to have a “last hurrah” as just the three of you. Thanks for sharing. <3
If we were enjoying a green juice, I would tell you that I’ve got serious baby fever right now! Financially it doesn’t make sense to have a baby yet, and hubby isn’t quite ready to give up the freedom (or sleep.) I understand his hesitations…but seriously, every baby sighting and story just makes my ovaries hurt. For now, I have coworkers that give me the cute pictures and stories of their kids, and then the horror stories haha. Keep the pregnancy posts coming ๐
We’re moving next month! We bought our first house and are so excited to move out of our apartment! We’re not looking forward to all the money we’re about to fork over, and then all the things we have to buy after we get the house, and then having to shovel our own driveway when winter comes back. Still, we’re pumped to move!
I would also tell you that Hawaii is AMAZING. My brother is in the Army band and is stationed there. We visited Oahu a couple of years ago and it was just gorgeous. You’ll absolutely love it!
awww!! it’s definitely tricky when one partner is ready and the other isn’t. the pilot had to wait for ME to get on board, and it’s the best ever. definitely worth the wait ๐
excited for your new move!
xoxoxo
Lemolo’s “Open Air” is a great song for yoga! And Blind Pilot’s “We Are The Tide.” Oh and Head and the Heart’s “Down in the Valley.” Now I want this yoga class.
downloading now! thank you!
There really is no other place like Hawaii. It doesn’t matter which island you go to, they are all beautiful, tranquil, peaceful, glorious. The hubby and I have gone to Hawaii every year for the last 5 years. Trip number 6 happens in August. We are also going to Maui, which is the first island we went to back in 2010. You will have an amazing time!!!
thank you, tammy! we’re so excited ๐
Richmond is the best! I moved away two years ago to Raleigh and I miss it every day! Carytown will fill you up with Burger Bach (New Zealand style burgers), Can Can Brasserie for French brunch, Bev’s ice cream. Hit up the Byrd Theater for a $2 movie on old times red velvet seats. Take a walk in Maymont Park. Have fun!
wonderful suggestions. thank you so much!! raleigh is a great place, too ๐ i remember having gumbo for the first time ever in raleigh and thought it was so magical ๐
I live in RVA!!!! You would absolutely LOVE the Daily Kitchen & Bar in Carytown. Ellwood Thompsons is pretty awesome too for juices and groceries.
awesome- thank you!
Re your Virginia trip – I agree with others that it is worth visiting Charlottesville- you would enjoy their downtown area – lots of great places to eat. But I did not see mentioned to visit Monticello. It is really worth doing if you have the time. Even if your time is short, you could walk the beautiful paths around it and visit the bookstore and watch the movie overview (those are all free).
Have fun!!
the sounds wonderful! i’ll see if we can make a drive to charlottesville- it doesn’t seem far!
If we were having green juice right now I’d tell you that this past year has been a serious kick in the ass. The black hole of despair and uncertainty after finishing school is no joke. I thought I would have things a little more figured out if I went to graduate school, but now that it’s over with, I still feel just as lost. Sometimes I doubt whether I messed up- whether my choice to study something I loved (theater) seriously screwed me over in terms of job security (a resounding ‘yep’). And the more I hear about the realities of my dream job, the less of a dream it is and it’s been so incredibly difficult to come to terms with that. To feel like I peaked while I was at school, to feel embarrassed that I’m not Where I Thought I Should Be by now when I run into someone from the graduate program. I am incredibly grateful to have had the experience and to have a partner that supports me in everything I do (although that has meant being unemployed for nearly a year now), that this last year together has brought us closer because I get to spend way more time with him than when I was in rehearsals all of the time. I’m grateful for so much, but I’m also grieving for the dream I used to have (and still want to have). The fear of failing is so big… I never would have thought it would take a hold of me in this way. I am looking forward to being a few years down the line and looking back at this time and thinking “you needed that to appreciate where you are NOW.” It is difficult to try to have an honest conversation with people when we have been so conditioned to say “i’m fine/everything’s great/work is awesome.” In that mindset, honesty sometimes seems like unnecessary information or complaining, but I wholeheartedly believe that sharing our downfalls is absolutely necessary to having a genuine connection with someone. To feel like you’re not alone, you know? You never know when someone who has been experiencing the same things will be able to relate. Companionship and the realization that we all feel pain and struggle to be our best selves is… crucial, to me, in this life. Otherwise, what’s the point? We are not islands (see what I did there? Hawaii? No? haha :P). Then I’d say, “but hell, I’m signing up for dance classes tomorrow, so I’ll endorphin all that shit away” then I’d take a double shot of tequila, one for me and one for you. Can’t let it go to waste ๐
YAY, somewhere actually close to me! haha! My favorite restaurant in Richmond is Kuba Kuba. http://www.kubakuba.info/ It’s just a little place on the corner in the downtown area but ohhhhh maaaaaaaaan. Cuban food. nomnomnomnomnom. I wanna go nowww. hahaha!
I agree with the recommendation for Short Pump Town Center mall place thing. http://www.shortpumpmall.com/ Even if you don’t plan on spending a lot, it’s a pretty place to walk around if the weather is nice. The restaurants there are fancy, but not like, you have to dress up fancy, but like, omg this food is amazing fancy. I’ve been to Firebirds and Maggiano’s and would eat at both again. There’s a Whole Foods nearby, too. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/shortpump
Bring allergy pills/remedies if you get allergies, btw. VA pollen is no joke. *sigh*
I hope you have an awesome time in VA! Can’t wait to see pics of where you went and hear how you liked it. ๐
If we were having a green juice date I would tell you your yoga class sounds really interesting. Not just as a new fitness avenue to teach but as an amazing spiritual journey! There is so much more to yoga than just stretching!
I would also ask you to do a prenatal yoga video – please! ๐
I lived in VA for about 3 years and grew up in MD so I was all around that area. I’ve been in Chicago now for about 6 months, but most of my family is back there. I hope you enjoy it and it’s not too humid for you!
My parents live 2 hours away in Va Beach, so no RVA suggestions, but I hope you’re having fun! And I probably missed this since I’m catching up on blog reading, but when is this yoga class?!! Tom wants to babysit right? ๐
Green juice – I’d tell you the last time I had green juice was when I was 20 weeks pregnant with Ryleigh. She (pretty violently) told me she didn’t like it, so I’ve been scared to try again, true story. She’s a feisty one.
I’m also pretty nervous about flying solo for the next 3 weeks. I’m sure it will be fine – I spent about an hour organizing the calendar this evening – I just won’t sleep as much as I’d love to. I’d tell you how PUMPED I am for my upcoming trip to Nashville and ask for outfit suggestions. OH! And I would ask about an upcoming beach date!!