Pittsburgh Places

Weekly Therapy: Rooted in Reality

- Mel

the week:
Starting the week on a 4-day stretch of headaches was no way to jump start my training routine! I think I’ve only had one migraine in my life, but this felt dangerously close to one at times — Tylenol wasn’t working, a massage didn’t work, coffee only subdued it temporarily (cheese plates made me happier, but depressingly do nothing for headaches either). My eyes were super light-sensitive and unfocused; the pain radiated from behind my eyes all the way to the innards of my cranial cavity. I can tell you that wine all but made it disappear, but returned with a roaring vengeance the next morning (with a noxious hangover, natch). Since nothing alleviated my symptoms, I’m left to think I was glutened something harsh last week, and darn it if I can’t figure out from what! See also: hormones.

The reality is that I’m now a week behind in my training for the 10-miler, and I’m just going to dust myself off and try it again (and so far, on schedule!).

Wine course from our Bar Marco dinner last weekend.
Wine course from our Bar Marco dinner last weekend.

weekend:
Birthday celebration tonight for a friend downtown (there may be more champagne with sparklers). The National Aviary is having one of their 21+ events too, Party in Paradise, which I’m also hoping to attend (albeit late).

I am also SO looking forward to a scheduled (and “free”) facial at my massage place for continuing my membership (yeah, those monthly massages are splurge-worthy AND necessary for this 30-something body).

And holy CRAP do I have a laundry list of shit to do and homework this weekend.

seven things, seven days:
1. Someone finally came over and took away my old couch (bittersweet, a bit). But YAY! My new sofa is finally in my living room (and now all the decorating re-begins).
2. A lunchtime dentist appointment brought about the scheduling for replacement of two silver fillings from, like, 20+ years ago. I seriously have A HOLE in the filling of my last molar. This reality? WHOLE PAYCHECK.
3. This week the Cultural Trust announced their 2015-2016 PNC Broadway Across America season (and specials) with a fun party at the Byham.
4. YES. >> “Books like The Secret are like McDonald’s for the mind. They’re easy and make you feel good, but they also make you mentally fat and lazy, and emotionally, you die a much more painful death.” {via the ever-provoking and awesome Mark Manson}
5. 30 YEARS of reality television, of which I have consumed with much guilty pleasure — a retrospective via Pacific Standard.
6. What you need to know about limiting beliefs: a really great post from Belief Alchemy, with includes some helpful exercises. How can you change your reality?
7. The research of walking vs. high-intensity interval training in The New York Times.

Trigger Point Therapy Workshop at Urban Elements

- Mel

Last week I finally was able to check out the newest (and basically the only) yoga studio on the North Side — Urban Elements (they’ve also got a sweet cycling studio too). They hosted a trigger point therapy workshop aimed at athletes or anyone with repetitive use injuries or regular minor aches and pains; for two hours, we focused on myofascial techniques to work out our tension using tennis and lacrosse balls combined with yoga poses, which started at the foot and worked up the leg, hip, back, and into shoulder and arm. We completed one side, and then reversed to the other.

Bonus: we got a lacrosse ball to take home (and that thing really worked to get in those tense spots)!

Pedicure imminent!
Pedicure imminent!

The effects were incredible! I always have so much tension in my glutes and calves and shoulders, so I plan to bring most of these techniques home to my mat and make part of my weekly foam rolling sessions.

Not only was this workshop amazing, I really connected with the instructors. I think I found my new yoga home at Urban Elements (and maybe I will finally get back into spinning). Their location is perfect to walk to after work (now that I’m downtown), and I’m only a few minutes from home. ALSO: every Thursday night — a collaboration between Urban Elements and the local lululemon — there is a group run from the studio starting at 5:45pm, with a runner-centric yoga session afterward. SIGN ME UP! Everyone at every level is invited to join — and yoga is a community pay-what-you-can class.

I love this!
I love this!

Urban Elements
208 Federal Street, 15212
*right by PNC Park!

Weekly Therapy: change is not a bad word

- Mel

the week:
A lot can change in a week. As an adult, I think it is important to be able to change your mind, your answers, your direction, or the field — whatever and whenever necessary. I made some big decisions this week as result of my life (and career!) going in a new direction. I do not fear change; in fact, I needed a whole lot of it in my life! Because I suppose I fear complacency more.

Also in change: we bought some new living room furniture on a fun binge at West Elm. I’m getting a blue couch! SQUEE!

weekend:
Friday, joining the ladies for the 21+ night at the Carnegie Science Center, and then joining the Steel City Road Runners Club for a training run on Saturday morning! And then it’s back to my usual “all homework Saturdays!”

52 books, 52 weeks:
#3. Mindy Kaling’s “Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me?” A new fan (and binge-watcher) of The Mindy Project, I was hoping for continued hilarity, like her, but this book was pretty abysmal and pointless; while easy to read, I found myself skimming a lot just to finish. It felt really forced and… bluff. MEH.

seven things, seven days:
1. I have no idea how I got this subscription of Sunset magazine, but… somebody wants me to move out West? I was quite excited to see a gluten-free orange cake on the cover, however!
2. I WANT THIS HOUSE. And I’m REAL SAD that it is already contingent.
3. Stopped into my NEW JOB to meet my team and other employees, and do a little orientation. I am SO excited about this position, you guys! I start officially on January 28. AND I HAVE AN OFFICE!
4. I also completed my first peer coaching session with a classmate. This class is so hands-on and scary and intense, but the course and different coaching frameworks are so interesting.
5. We got to celebrate a little with brunch at Eden in Shadyside. I have dreams about their chickpea pancakes smothered in cashew butter!
6. No One Is Successful to Spite You: How to be Happy For Others {via PsychCentral}
7. I swear, every time I read Nicole Antoinette’s blog posts, an internal fire gets lit inside me (is that redundant?): What Makes Your Life Better, Easier, & Way More Fun? {via Life Less Bullshit}

Weekly Therapy: holiday detox

- Mel

the week:
Recovery is the theme of the week. I still haven’t been motivated enough to play with all my Christmas “toys.” I wasn’t able to work out for a week because of the holiday and changed schedule implemented as result of the holiday week — and it was basically driving me crazy town. No runs because I’ve either been working during daylight hours or driving around from crazy town-to-crazy town. This is the part I hate about the holidays.

weekend:
Work (duh), but we have a game night planned with our neighbors.

52 books in 52 weeks:
Did I really only read 9 books this year? That’s embarrassing. Of course, that doesn’t count all the reading for my classes and corresponding textbooks. Alas… finished “On Top of Your Game: Mental Skills to Maximize Your Athletic Performance” by Carrie Cheadle this week in preparation of the new derby season and upcoming tryouts.

seven things, seven days:
1. New Year’s Eve: asleep by 11pm…
2. And an eye sty for good health!
3. YAY! My sister from Phoenix came to visit for a night!
4. Catching up with friends these last couple of weeks of break has been so valuable.
5. I finally went to the Cathedral of Learning and visited its nationality rooms! It was so beautiful — especially that the building was still decorated for the holidays.
6. This New Year’s post from TWLOHA was like a punch in the gut. In a good way.
7. 7 Psychological Tricks to Make Your Resolutions Stick {via Time}

Weekly Therapy: what is your greatest fear?

- Mel

the week:
I finally went to Scarehouse! Four years of being in Pittsburgh, and a friend who works there took me. We also did The Basement, which… well, I’ll leave it for you to experience.

Question for you to ponder: What is your greatest fear?

While we were visiting Scarehouse, we were asked to participate in a research study about fear emotions. The researcher hooked us up to an EEG headset, and as a pair, we took a series of “tests” before and after touring the haunt. Interesting addition to an already-interesting evening, nonetheless.

scarehouse bunny selfie
Scarehouse is scary.

weekend:
Friday night was the season opening of Pittsburgh Ballet, with Sleeping Beauty. How awesome for the boyfriend, to celebrate his birthday with me and the ballet? *wink* Have I mentioned how much I want to do adult ballet classes? I think I’m going to start soon, especially since we get a discount with our subscription to PBT. We had dinner before the show at Grit & Grace downtown, which I am just in love with — and I can find multiple items every visit that are gluten-free! See also: ONION RINGS (!!!)

Otherwise, I’ll be getting a head-start on assignments, so I’m not concerned with them while I’m traveling next weekend (ha, right).

seven things, seven days:
1. I ran five miles. Does that deserve an exclamation point? Less than a month away from my 15k. I had to query other runners about nipple chafing, btw. So…
2. Apparently you make a lot of friends on twitter when you ask people about nipple chafing.
3. We cleaned the fridge TWICE and cannot find the source of a deathly smell. The boyfriend and I will be flipping a coin to see who opens and cleans the ice maker.
4. 90% on my Statistics mid-term. WHO AM I???
5. Non-petroleum jelly does NOT effectively combat nipple chafing. TMYK.
6. Finished Redirect: The surprising new science of psychological change. I don’t think I’ve highlighted so much information in one book!
7. A topic that I’ve been talking a lot about lately with friends and family. Because, I don’t think many of us are prepared. We’re older, but not wiser about menopause. {via

Weekly Therapy: GIMME ALL THE SUGAR!

- Mel

the week:
Oh boy, am I having sugar withdrawal headaches. It’s almost enough for me to say EFF THIS and eat an entire package of gluten-free blueberry muffins with a side of gluten-free honey nut Chex. I won’t, and I’ll survive, but I am miserable. *takes more Tylenol*

I started my statistics course! Woot!

weekend:
The annual Mexican War Streets House Tour (our neighborhood) is happening today. We — well, our garden — participated last year, so I’m excited to NOT be stressed about that, but looking forward to seeing all the incredible houses on the tour this year. Also, neighbors serving mimosas in a couple hours. BRB.

housegarden2014

Last night we went to a live reading of The Wonder Years (first season) at Arcade Comedy Theater. Super psyched as their programming is always hilarious, and the show was one of my favorites as a kid — plus Rick Sebak as adult Kevin, narrating!

seven things, seven days:
1. Have you heard about/done NET type of behavioral therapy? Someone at a happy hour was recently discussing having NET, and I find it fascinating.
2. I lived without my phone for 24 hours (and drove 2 hours home by myself). OH THE ANXIETY.
3. My boyfriend’s parents remarried in a beautiful, small ceremony at Gervasi vineyards in Ohio. So lovely.
4. Burned my finger trying to heat up an oatmeal cup for breakfast, even though I had a hot pad. #dumb
5. I. LOVED. Acupuncture.
6. And then I woke up feeling like I threw my back out (hashtag, old lady). I basically couldn’t bend over or make any sudden movements propelling myself forward. Seems to have worked itself out, but WTF.
7. Something I’m sure we’re all talking about this week: Psychology lessons from the Ray Rice fiasco {from PsychCentral}

{date night} Root Beer Tasting

- Mel

Saturday night was fun. Since it was such a nice day (which I spent mostly indoors, working), I hurried to change after my shift ended, so we could walk around Sewickley: the location of our later plans. This was also our first time in Sewickley, but I knew there were cute little boutiques to pop in-and-out (LOVED the House store!), while we enjoyed the weather. A pop-up store even gave us a to-go glass of champagne! And then we found the fun DIY yogurt place. Yes, please, dessert before dinner.

yogurt and champagne

That said, it was difficult to “kill” a half hour of time between all the shops closing and the start of our event at Village Candy, but we managed on account of just finally being outside.

ON TO THE ROOT BEER TASTING!

root beer, village candy, pittsburgh, sewickley

In its fifth year, Village Candy introduced the crowd to seven root beers:
Barrel Brothers Creamy Vanilla
Dang Butterscotch
Capt’n Eli’s
Olde Rhode Island Molasses
Red Ribbon
Johnnie Ryan
Saranac
Sprecher Fire-brewed

(I was able to confirm that all, but one, were gluten free; that remaining sample was Barrel Brothers — I couldn’t confirm one way or another — but I didn’t seem to have a reaction to it.)

I am a sucker for root beer and sweets. Circling around the dizzying selection of CANDY, proprietor Doug Alpern and his employees were in really good spirits (sugar high?), which really added to atmosphere of the tasting event for the all-ages crowd. Village Candy has an assorted mix of old-school sweets, candy-related merchandise, sodas and unique chocolate bars. And a Jelly Belly filling station, natch, which I also noticed they carried the new Draft Beer flavor. My favorite root brews were the Saranac, Johnnie Ryan and the Olde Rhode Island Molasses (and if I’m remembering my ballot correctly, in that order). We really enjoyed the event, and look forward to visiting the candy shop — and Sewickley — again. Note: Village Candy is also doing a cream soda tasting soon. Sign up for their newsletter!

We even took home a 4-pack of ginger and root beers — Village Candy has an impressive selection of bottled sodas! Something fun, something different, something tasty.

Something… kitty piddle.

kitty piddle

Wut.

Weekly Therapy: back and better (educated) than ever!

- Mel

the week:
Hey there, missed you. I’ll catch you up in another long-winded post, but for now… Riding high off a big derby win last weekend.
Life is not parallel though with wins-and-losses. And I can no longer find comfort in my favorite comfort foods.

hammock relaxation
All the relaxation.

weekend:
Went to the hockey game last night (boo!), and I had to work all Easter (whatever, double pay — woo!). Going home to lots of homework and hrutka.

seven things, seven days:
1. No biopsies at my yearly skin cancer screening! What a relief. I got an ugly mole removed just for shits-and-giggles…
2. Received my first Blue Apron shipment, and I’m so excited about the service — especially when the boyfriend is traveling!
3. Two weeks left to go in my first semester back to school. LET’S DO THIS.
4. Disappointingly, I couldn’t have the gluten-free meatball at the new Meatball restaurant. I was *so* looking forward to its open. SIGH.
5. Random LOFT sale: 50% off everything?! I love spring shopping.
6. The Crossroads of Should and Must really spoke to me. On that note I’m really enjoying finding heartfelt essays like this on medium.
7. The irrationality of irrationality: The paradox of popular psychology. Ooooh, where was this article when I was doing an assignment a couple weeks ago???

Weekly Therapy: ho Ho HO

- Mel

the week:
We had our Christmas tree delivered, and while tall and beautiful, I don’t know what to do with it. I hate the white LED lights we had on our tree last year (the boyfriend put them on anyway), and I don’t want to put bulbs up knowing that I’m leaving the cats alone for a couple days (especially given that half of them are vintage… the ornaments, not the felines). The cats have been mostly ignoring the tree, but I’m convinced (even from last year) that our smallest cat hides up in it somehow. She’s sneaky! The boyfriend (lazily) put up lights and garland outside, which looked like a six-year-old threw them up… and the lack of vision or thoughtful end result really irritates me (especially when asked for my opinion, and the response is all “it looks fine!”). He’s in such a rush to decorate and wrap presents all the sudden, and… I JUST WANT TO GO ON VACATION.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

We definitely decorate with completely different styles in mind.

weekend:
Pittsburgh Ballet’s Nutcracker on Friday night marks the beginning of my ballet season package (amazing birthday gift from the boyfriend). We’ll probably have dinner at Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room again too. NOM.
Saturday, work. Meh. But then we can hang out with our out-of-town friends who are visiting Pittsburgh for the football game.
And SUNDAY is our annual Toys for Tots charity scrimmage. #teamGrinch

seven things, seven days:
1. Malley’s Pumpkin Pie Truffles. Mmm-hmm, that’s right.
2. My Ortho follow-up was uneventful. No MRI needed at this time, since my foot seems better.
3. Reading The Wolf of Wall Street in anticipation of its Christmas Day movie release! There’s a lot of eye rolling on my behalf, but it’s a quick, fun read.
4. Started receiving my Graze snack boxes*. First one was mostly uninteresting; second shipment was SO much better! RIP: Foodzie and SprigBox.
5. Packing for a vacation that is more winter than current winter IS HARD.
6. Cat sitting for friends is fun. I just can’t resist the fur babies! See also: CAT KARMA.
7. The 13 Best Psychology and Philosophy Books of 2013 {via brainpickings}

*My Graze friend code is: MELIND3TP — use this to get your first box free!

Weekly Therapy: we keep it stinky

- Mel

the week:
The stinky corpse flower was blooming at the Phipps Conservatory this week. Of course I waited three hours in line to smell it. If you didn’t get out, it’s already too late (smell ya later, Romero!). My friend and I visited within 24 hours of its bloom announcement (Stink Gram?), and it was already starting to close up. If you’re unfamiliar with the Amorphophallus titanum, it only blooms once every 6-10 years — and only for around 24-48 hours.

Be tee dubs, whomever is handling their twitter account is brilliant.

romero

weekend:
My Tough Mudder is Saturday (ack!) — thought I’d be more excited. But honestly, I’m worn out. My body is worn out. At this point, I’m just hoping not to pass out mid-mud obstacle.

Sunday, we finally are “interviewing” another house cleaner. See above comment about being worn out. I never thought that a 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath house would be too much for one person. It’s too, too much house for me to get a handle on, especially with three cats. I’m not too shamed to admit that. And that’s why life gave us professional house cleaners.

Otherwise, I’ll be over here doing yoga on the bridge.

52 Books in 52 Weeks:
Yeah, I’m seriously behind (don’t judge me!). But I started reading Rust Belt Chic: a Cleveland Anthology as result of my trip to CLE. More reading for my fellow rust belt city homies: Belt Magazine.

seven things, seven days:
1. Painters again. Gawd, I’m tired. BUT OMG I HAVE A YELLOW DOOR!
2. In the process of redesigning our patio space… again. Garden tour is in three weeks. FML.
3. Is there nothing better than finding a dress that just fits. like. a. glove? It really is amazing when you can purchase something and not have to tailor a damn thing (dress definitely not that short IRL). I wish I had all of the monies to shop Shoshanna for all of the things.
4. Forgive me, hair gods, for I have sinned; it’s been nearly 30 weeks since my last cut and color. I’ve had to reschedule my hair appointment twice in two weeks. Third time, the charm?
5. This post couldn’t be more timely: Are Dining Rooms Dead? {via BrightNest}
6. THIS. For all of the pet owners out there.
7. Speaking to my heart here: Writing & Speaking for Introverts {via Art of Non-conformity}