Its a Hero

off the mat

the power of awesome customer service //

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It’s a well-known fact that pregnant women are hormonal hot messes and will either snap at you or cry if things do not go their way. OK, well if you have never encountered a pregnant woman, you might not know this… yet! But you’ve been warned!

So it should come as little surprise that my over-sensitized reaction to our car break-in was hyped up that much more by hormones. Well, a couple of days after the incident — just as I was coming to terms with lost possesions and the like — I realized that in addition to my wallet and purse, I had put my Jawbone UP24 in my purse just that morning.

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See, I had been emailing back and forth with their customer service regarding my band not taking/holding a charge. We’d been through a week of troubleshooting and the next (and final) step was to call in and make arrangements to have a warranty replacement done. So I shoved it in my purse and figured I’d give them a call while Ari was playing at the café.

I was SO bummed when I realize that it, too, had been stolen. I have religiously worn that band (both it and the original band), for 2+ years. I have always felt like it helped me to hold myself accountable for being active throughout the day. A couple of days passed and I ended up getting a follow up email from customer service, requesting that I let them know if the issue had been resolved or to call in if I still needed further assistance. I emailed back a friendly, but sad, “Thanks, but it turns out our car was broken into and my purse, wallet, and UP band were all taken. So I suppose there’s not much that can be done now! :)” and figured that was that. Chalk it up to “YOU WIN, THEIF!”

But no. Just a few minutes later, I received a call from Jawbone customer service. The agent told me that he was so sorry that it was stolen along with my other belongings, and that he still wanted to help me. I just sent him my proof of purchase to show that the band was still under factory warranty, and that since we had been working to resolve the issue already, he could have a replacement band sent to me! Whaaaat?? Oh! But they didn’t have my size band… so instead they were going to send me a newer model.

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WHAAAAT??!!

I really felt like they went above and beyond. Seriously. They didn’t have to do that. They didn’t have to do any of it! They blew me away with their customer service! Seriously. Even though for the last 2.5 years I’ve been fairly happy with my Jawbone UP bands, there have been moments where I considered getting a FibtBit instead. But nope. Never will I ever leave Jawbone! Not after this experience! 🙂

My faith in humanity is restored. Sure, I may not have my Tory Burch wallet back or my purse… but I have my faith in people doing nice things for other people. ♥ ♥

So if you can afford to pay it forward, whether it be for free coffee for the person behind you in the drive thru, or just with a simple smile, DO IT! ♥ I’m certainly going to! You never know how it can impact a persons day!

Elevate YOGAkron // outdoor yoga festival!

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There are many things that I’m passionate about. When two of those things come together (like drinking wine and painting, for instance – LOL!), I am in heaven!

Two other things that I am passionate about: Northeast Ohio and Yoga. A few years ago when the first Believe In CLE event took place, I was beyond excited to practice yoga with hundreds and hundreds of other yogis at the Rock Hall.

Recently some of my fellow Akron-area yogis put together an outdoor community practice at Hardesty Park, located in the heart of Akron’s Wallhaven neighborhood!

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In partnership with the City of Akron & local yoga studios, the lululemon athletica Akron Showroom and YOGAkron have teamed up to present the inaugural Elevate YOGAkron event, which is being held on Friday, May 29th from 6:00 – 9:30PM, rain or shine!

This free-, outdoor-yoga festival will celebrate the heart and soul of the beautiful city of Akron! Live music, courtesy of Akron-native DJ Nino, will last through the all-levels Vinyasa practice, led by lululemon Ambassador and YOGAkron Founder Tracy Rhinehart (ERYT-500HR). During the all-levels practice, yoga teachers from various studios throughout Akron will be offering hands-on assists to the practicing yogis!

The Cleveland-based, Akron-loving, company, NOOMA, will support the event with free samples of their delicious electrolyte hydration drink throughout the practice! After the practice, DJ Naeno will continue to spin until 9:30PM and local food vendors, such as Ms. Julie’s Kitchen, will be at the event to provide nourishment and just plain ol’ tasty eats for the yogis!

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Registration to the event is completely free, but you will need to fill out an online registration here. You do have an option at the point of registration to purchase a commemorative tee or tank for just $10. (I did! Look how cute it is!?!)

Registered participants can check-in, complete their waiver, and pick up their Elevate YOGAkron shirts at lululemon athletica Akron Showroom (21 Furnace Street in Downtown Akron) or at Yoga Bliss in Fairlawn (3045 Smith Rd, Fairlawn, OH 44333) during normal business hours on both Thursday, May 28th and Friday, May 29th. Check-in is also available at the event beginning at 6pm for those unable to do so ahead of time.

Will I see you there?? Let’s lift Akron up with love and light! 🙂 If you have never been to an event like this and want someone to go with, hit me up and let me know! 🙂 I’d be happy to go with ya!

Just before this post was set to go live, the folks over at lululemon let me know that they’d like to give an Elevate YOGAkron t-shirt to one of my readers! Enter using the rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST! 🙂 Ha! I just really love Ohio, I really love Akron, and I really and truly love the yoga community here. 🙂 And the giveaway? That just seemed to fall into place the way that the community of Akron likes to do! I just hope to see some of you there! And hey? why not try and score a tee while you’re at it! (Thanks, Lemons!)

back on the mat // #youphoriayoga

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Since marathon training began (and since it has ceased to exist) I haven’t been on my yoga mat nearly as much as I’d prefer. Like, hardly at all. [insert frown face]

But I have had one chance to ground myself on my mat with Marni Task at Cleveland Yoga.

Since I haven’t been on my mat much as of recent, I decided to take a Vinyasa Class, sans heat. Well, sans HOT heat; because it was definitely still warm.

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I’ve taken for granted that time spent on my mat — that time where the sun is shining through the windows and heating the room; that time when I am surrounded by strangers, breathing in unison; that time when the only thing I have to worry about is being in that very moment, in that very pose.

But there is always a LOT of sweat — even in the non-heated classes. And I learned years ago that a yoga practice isn’t complete without a yoga towel — something to catch the sweat so you aren’t sliding around your mat. My first yoga towel was a yogitoes mat; then I started to use a Manduka towel; and most recently a Youphoria Yoga towel.

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I was honestly impressed by the towel. It didn’t need sticky things on the bottom side, like other towels. It just sticks to the mat. Also, it’s common practice to sprinkle water on your towel before the practice even begins to prevent slippage on the towel before you begin to sweat — but I didn’t even need to do that! I was really impressed at how well it works.

It really made for a perfect practice. That and the sunshine and the community. <3 LOVED it. It serves as a reminder that I really need to get back on my mat at least once a week, even if it’s a home-practice.

How do you fit in your yoga practices? And what are your favorite yoga accessories? 

 

Disclosure: I was selected to receive a YouphoriaYoga towel for my honest opinion and review of this product. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own. Thank you to BDS Outlets/YouphoriaYoga and Tomoson for sponsoring this post. #youphoriayoga

give thanks + be grateful //

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It’s easy to forget how much we have that we take for granted. We joke and say “first world problems,” but it’s totally, absolutely, 100% true (most of the time). This Thanksgiving Day is nothing like I planned on it being (I know, I know… I’m vague-blogging. Sorry.). We planned on travelling and spending the day surrounded by extended family; but due to other circumstances, we decided to stay home.

As much as I love keeping busy, I also need these couple of days to decompress and just BE. To be home, to have no plans, and to just be grateful for everything that I DO have. So I hope during the hustle and bustle of the start of this holiday season, you take a few moments to just be present with your life. You don’t have to necessarily be grateful (cause let’s face it — we all have s*** going on, right?) for everything; but truly feel the moment that you’re in.

OK, OK. I’ll get off my yoga mat now. 😉

lululemon athletica Akron showroom // Grand Opening!

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Congrats to my dear friend Gretchen and the opening of the Lululemon Athletica Akron Showroom last Thursday! Of course, Ari & I went to check it out shortly after they opened that morning!

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Ari didn’t really cooperate with allowing me to try anything on, so we did a lot of window shopping & chatting with friends. Moosh did keep himself occupied for a few minutes with a mini-cupcake (or two) from Pure Delite Cupcakes, which allowed this mama to snap a few pictures of the awesome new space!

The new space is on Furnace Street in Akron [right near Luigis + DBA]. Keep an eye out on the Lululemon Athletica Akron Showroom Facebook Page for updates on their weekly complimentary yoga classes! Yep — that’s right — FREE yoga once a week!