Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 07:06 AM
Welcome to Trade Up Tuesday! Every Tuesday, I blog about a trade-up I’ve made since learning about NuVal scores and I give away something for free. Typically, I give away food. But today, I thought I would mix it up a little. Because in my mind, the beginning of September is the start of a new year. With the kids back in school, many moms now have a little more time to focus on themselves. And even if you are not a Mom, the crisper air of September is so invigorating that it calls out to you to re-energize your healthy lifestyle routine. And food is only one part of the equation. Finding time for exercise is the other. So, this week is a great time to make yourself a new Ipod playlist to put a little spice into your workout.
I admit, my August Running playlist is starting to sound a little stale…
Yes, it’s time for something fresh and new.
Today’s Giveaway
One lucky reader will win this $15 Itunes Gift Card to make herself/himself a nice new workout playlist for Fall. All you need to do is leave a comment below telling me one song you would download from Itunes if you won this gift card. Easy! I’ll select one winner at random at 8am Eastern time on Wednesday, so don’t delay. Good Luck!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Ipod, Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: Ipod, Itunes
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 06:28 AM
I love to celebrate the holidays – all holidays – and St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorites. It’s not that I’m out doing a pub crawl or that sort of thing. And I have only the tiniest bit of Irish in me (my grandmother’s mother was from Ireland), so it’s not that I grew up in a big Irish family. Rather, I love that St. Patrick’s Day marks the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. The green color of this holiday, to me, is a reminder that there is green grass a-coming. And I do love the celebration of Irish heritage that abounds, especially in the Boston area, where just about everyone is part Irish.
So, I decorate, badly…
all over the house…
I am the biggest sucker for seasonal decorative items!
And to get into the mood, I listen to a lot of Irish music. My Pilates students enjoysuffer through my once-a-year Irish night. Yes – you can do Pilates to Irish music. Really. I don’t mean the Irish Jig or the Dropkick Murphys. My St. Patrick’s Pilates mix is a little more relaxing (and yet moving) than that.
I always find that my Pilates playlists making their way onto our Ipod player in the kitchen. After that Monday night class, they resurrect themselves as background music for cooking later in the week. So this playlist, will be what I’m listening to as I make corned beef later this week.
Stay tuned for more Irish fun this week, including my favorite Guinness-Braised Corned Beef recipe!
The complete playlist is below:
The Sky and The Dawn and The Sun (Celtic Woman)
Paddy’s Green Shamrock Store (Young Dubliners)
The Mummer’s Dance(Loreena McKennitt)
Granuaile’s Dance (Celtic Woman)
A Pair of Brown Eyes (Young Dubliners)
When the Stars Go Blue (The Corrs)
Belfast to Boston (James Taylor)
The Bonny Swans (Loreena McKennitt)
Huron ‘Beltane’ Fire Dance (Loreena McKennitt)
St. Patrick’s Day (John Mayer)
Itsbynne Reel/Boffyflow and Spike/Nil Na La/Toss the Feathers (Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops)
Raglan Road (Loreena McKennitt)
Question of the Day
Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and if so, how?
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Ipod, Pilates, St. Patrick's Day
Tags: Ipod, Pilates, St. Patrick's Day
Monday, December 13, 2010 at 07:04 AM
Long-time readers of A Better Bag of Groceries (or anyone who has read the “About Me” section of this blog) know that I moonlight as a Pilates Instructor. Teaching Pilates is one of my favorite things to do. I always feel so refreshed, relaxed and renewed afterwards – and it is a fantastic workout. One of the things that makes my Pilates classes unique is that I put a huge emphasis on music. I very carefully choose my playlists so that we have the perfect mix of tempos, depth, humor (at times) and meaning for each class. After almost every class, I will have a student come up and tell me that they really enjoyed the music. I’m always so happy to hear that.
In December, I always put together a holiday mix, but it is not your typical radio standard fare. I know that many of my students arrive for class at 6:30 on Monday nights, weary from a long commute and the last thing they want to hear is Feliz Navidad for the umpteenth time. Rather, I try to search for some deep cuts that they may have never heard. I want my students to take one hour to breathe away some of the stress of the holiday season. So today, I thought I would share that playlist with you, so that you might seek these songs out as well for your own workouts or just Me Time.
- The First Noel/Mary Mary (Sarah McLachlan)
This is from Sarah McLachlan’s Wintersong (2006), a fantastic winter/holiday CD that I just love.
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Rascal Flatts)
I got this song from a free Holiday download on Itunes last year.
It was no ordinary free download, by the way. It was 20 songs, and there are some good ones in there. I’m wondering if they will do it again as we get closer to Christmas. Keep your eyes on Itunes.
- Go Tell It on the Mountain (James Taylor)
- Above the Northern Lights (Mannheim Steamroller)
- Sleigh Ride (TLC)
- Gaudete (Mediaeval Baebes)
These Mediaeval Baebes are found on a hard-to-find Christmas CD called Christmas Songs (how original!) It was a compilation from 2000 of various artists and I bought it way back then because I wanted to have the Barkenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan’s God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen on CD.
- Silent Night (Sarah McLachlan)
- Terra Firma (Delerium) also from Christmas Songs
- Africa (Straight No Chaser)
I heart Straight No Chaser!
This a capella group is just so amazing! And they are hilarious. I count on them every year to make me laugh.
If you are looking for music that you can listen to after Christmas is over, Sting is your man. He calls this CD his “winter music” and it is just that. It makes you want to just go curl up in a castle in Ireland somewhere and not come out until April.
- River (Sarah McLachlan)
- Christmas At Sea (Sting)
- Some Children See Him (James Taylor)
- Wintersong (Sarah McLachlan)
Honestly, after 1 hour of stretching and moving your body through Pilates hundreds, the abdominal series, Swan Dive, planks and more while listening to all these sensational tunes and you’ll be asking yourself, “What holiday stress?”
Question of the Day
What is on your holiday playlist? Do you run to it, rock out to it, do yoga or pilates to it or just chill out to it?
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Pilates
Tags: Christmas, Holidays, Ipod, Pilates
Friday, March 5, 2010 at 06:57 AM
Hip hip hooray for Friday! I like to keep my blog posts fun on Friday, so a “Two of My Favorite Things” posts seemed to be in order.
First of all, let me just ‘fess up right now: I am not a great runner. In the 4th grade, I participated in a YMCA Fun Run with my mom and I came in dead last. In the Children’s Division. Not a good way to start my running career. And, I have been cursed with flat-as-a-pancake feet. As in the orthopedic specialist at Brigham & Women’s hospital called in about 15 interns to look at this specimen of over-pronation because he had never seen such flat feet before. Along with flat feet come alignment and knee issues. However, I have a great podiatrist in Brookline, MA who outfits me with custom orthotics that keep me running. No marathons, but running.
I love running because it is so versatile and efficient. You can do it anywhere, no equipment needed. Well, I guess you do need some equipment – like good running shoes and for me, my Ipod. Which brings us to Two of My Favorite Things!
New Balance Web Express
Like I said, I have been blessed with the World’s Flattest Feet. My custom-made orthotics are huge. And on top of them, I use a heel insert because I’ve also had some plantar fasciitis issues. So, I need a lot of room in my shoe. New Balance (a Boston-based company which began as a manufacturer of arch supports) has been my brand for many years. When we lived closer to the city, we would head to the New Balance outlet in Boston. Now, that we live out in the suburbs, I go to a small local dealer, DB Sports in North Attleboro, who has helped me to get the fit just right. However, since I try to be good about replacing my shoes often, I don’t always have to time to get to my Sneaker Man. So, I just click on New Balance Web Express, use my style number and find a great deal.
Like these!
I have to admit, they are a little brighter than they looked online. But part of the proceeds go to raise money for breast cancer research and they match my pink coat, so all is good.
I love shopping the Clearance section on NB Express. Shipping is often only $5 or free and they are on my doorstep in a day or two. Love it!
I love NB Express so much, I started buying my kids’ sneakers there too.
My son wears those shoes every day (my daughter, not as much) and see how good they look? He has had them since the beginning of the school year. Yes, they are more expensive ($35 on sale) than buying cheap sneakers at Target (only about $15), but they last so much longer. If I had purchased character sneakers from Target back in September, we would be on our 3rd pair by now. The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested 20 different brands of kids’ sneakers and rated New Balance #1.
Another reason I’ve switched to New Balance for the kids is that my son and daughter also have foot issues. My son has my super-flat feet and my daughter has Fred Flintstone feet (thick through the instep). New Balance has all sorts of wide widths to help me get the fit just right.
My Ipod
With my feet feeling as happy as they can, it’s time to move on to the entertainment portion of my run. I don’t know how I ever run before I had an Ipod.
My pink case matches my sneakers!
The key to a great run is a great playlist. Otherwise you get tempted to stop and find a new song. One of the fitness classes that I teach is a Running class. I use my Ipod along with my Bose Sounddock and all of the participants are on treadmills. Some choose ellipticals, which is fine too. The class consists of a great playlist that I put together ahead of time. Similar to a spin class, the participants sprint, charge up big hills, hit the beat with big strides, etc. It’s a great workout and some of the people who come to my class have become true runners.
So what’s on my playlist? So many songs. But here are some of my favorites for a great run:
- Tin Man by Animal Kingdom
- Meet Me On the Equinox by Death Cab for Cutie
- September by Marianas Trench
- Use Somebody by Kings of Leon
- Magnificent by U2
- Love Drunk by Boys Like Girls
- She Is by The Fray
- Hands Open by Snow Patrol
- Vertigo by U2
- Get On Your Boots by U2
- I Run for Lifeby Melissa Etheridge
- Meet Me Halfway by The Black Eyed Peas
- That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings
- Somebody Told Me by The Killers
- Amsterdamby Guster
- Shake It by Metro Station
- Square Oneby Coldplay
- You’re All I Have by Snow Patrol
- Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
- Shut Up and Let Me Go by The Ting Tings
- Livin’ on a Prayerby Bon Jovi
- Under the Milky Way by The Church
- Rio by Duran Duran
- Roll With the Changesby REO Speedwagon
Don’t use all of them at once. Unless you’re running a marathon!
Question of the Day
What’s on your running or workout playlist?
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: running, Two Favorite Things
Tags: Ipod, New Balance Web Express, running
