I love my lemons

 

 

I have to thank my Chicago friends for introducing me to the wonderful, stretchy, flattering world of Lululemon. For those of you who don’t know this brand, I urge you to check it out. They make incredibly forgiving workout/yoga gear, loungewear and outerwear that comes in cool colorways and many different cuts, to fit every body type. What differentiates Lululemon from all the other brands is that these clothes are genuinely cool, comfortable and good looking. I have no problem wearing them outside of the gym or the couch. They don’t pinch or bind or create lumps and bumps. The seams don’t irritate your skin. The fabrics are durable and don’t fade with washing. For me, one of the best benefits of buying pants at their store is the free shortening! Take it from someone who has never NOT had to have something hemmed, this is a real bonus. If you’re in the market for a new pair of workout pants, skip the disposable Old Navies and go to directly to the Lululemon Groove Pant. They’re not cheap, but they will fit and flatter and last. And if you happen to be in the Miami area, you should definitely take a trip to the Lululemon outlet at the Sawgrass Mills Mall—it’s the only U.S. outlet and there are great bargains to be had.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Lisa

A glass of wine solves everything

 

The juice in my favorite Iittala wine glass.

 

 

I came across this page on Facebook yesterday and immediately clicked through. It’s not a bad philosophy to embrace. I’d even say it’s true for 98% of your day-to-day dilemmas. I mean, what doesn’t seem less stressful/urgent/annoying after you’ve indulged in at least 2/3 of the glass? And there are the health benefits to consider: moderate alcohol consumption (two drinks a day for men and one for women) can help raise HDL’s (good cholesterol) and thin your blood; resveratrol (an antioxidant for in wine) helps to prevent blood clotting and plaque formation in arteries. Europeans drink it at lunch and dinner. Some (yeah, they tend to be old men) even imbibe at the cafe in the morning with their coffee.

I have to remind myself that this does not mean not drinking all week and knocking back four glasses on Friday night…damn. I do love a good wine bar. Lately my favorites include Terroir (offspring of Hearth, with a highly entertaining menu), Casellula (a Hell’s Kitchen gem with a killer cheese menu), sitting at the bar at Boqueria (Seamus Mullen is a genius), and Bar Veloce (where I discovered Lambrusco; please, please get more comfortable bar stools!). I’m always looking for new places to try, so please send your picks my way.

 

-Lisa