Hey hey!
Sorry I’m a little late in posting but as you all know by now, Wednesdays are my busy days….really because my favorite yoga class is smack dab in the middle of the day and everything else is centered around that!
Speaking of yoga, guess what the UPS man brought to ME today??!
A new mat! And this awesome all natural mat spray!!!
It was like Christmas, not gonna lie. The kind people at The Bolder Mat Company sent me a new eco-friendly mat and spray to review on the blog and I am very thankful. It came just in time for me to tote to my noon power vinyasa class and I looooved the pretty color. It made me happy 🙂
Here are some things I loved about this mat:
- really pretty color and design
- light and easy to carry (my other mat is SUPER heavy)
- great for traveling
I didn’t like:
- I kept sliding all over the mat because it wasn’t incredibly “sticky” and power yoga = sweaty Jenna
That’s really all! I have a yogi toes mat cover that I religiously use every class on top of my mat so I don’t slide around and you would definitely need that (or something!) if you use this mat. Actually, I had to step out in the middle of class to grab a big towel to cover the mat so I could get grounded! Regardless, I will definitely use this, especially when I travel. I loved the design! The mat spray also was very nice…I have to admit y’all—I don’t disinfect as much as I probably should. Gross, I know. I loved this spray because it was all natural, cruelty-free and smelled pretty. A keeper!
Before class I snacked on this lovely new bar from my sweet Summit swag bag—
I really liked it! It was crunchy, soft and chewy at at the same time and reminded me of a blueberry muffin. I looked at the ingredients and saw it had chia seeds in it! How cool! These bars are made by Pro Bar but unlike Pro Bar, they only have about 160 calories in them, making for a lighter snack option.
When I got home from yoga at 1:45, of course I was almost gnawing my arm off from hunger. That’s definitely the down side of these noon classes….lunch! I dug into my mac & cheese leftovers and had a few random pieces of chicken lunch meat on the side. Plus a big peach. Mmmm
Leianna
August 19, 2009 at 9:18 pmThat book for your Bible Study looks awesome, I’m gonna look it up! Prayer is something I always need improvemnt for motivation for too! Prayer journals are always wonderful to look back on see what God has done! Thank you for sharing that with us all!
VeggieGirl
August 19, 2009 at 9:20 pmStunning new mat!
Chocolate Covered Ka
August 19, 2009 at 9:22 pmThat last picture is precious, Jenna. You should send it in to one of those “funny animals” contests! I love the expression
🙂 🙂 🙂
Shannon The Healthy Beach Bum
August 19, 2009 at 9:24 pmpretty new mat! Love the design 🙂 Now i’m craving some yummy popcorn hehe
katey
August 19, 2009 at 9:25 pmthat mat is so pretty 🙂 I love the design!
Sara
August 19, 2009 at 9:26 pmThat Edy’s mint cookie ice cream is the best ever. It’s so addicting, though!
Megan
August 19, 2009 at 9:30 pmI love the idea of doing a bible study focused on prayer. I agree that prayer can be intimidating and that I probably don’t spend enough time in prayer- alone with God. Keep me posted on this Bible Study! I am very interested 🙂
I really think I am going to have to make some Annie’s mac and cheese some time tomorrow…your pictures are making me want some! And that lasagna looks SO good. I love chicken lasagna!
Oh, and the yoga mat is VERY cute…what a great surprise! I am like you in the disenfecting, or lack there of. I have a mat spray I picked up at Whole Foods and it’s great, but I am a bit of a slacker when it comes to using it! Whoops…
I hope you enjoy your night!!!
Whitney
August 19, 2009 at 9:31 pmYou sound so much more upbeat today! good dealio!
Pam (Highway to Health)
August 19, 2009 at 9:33 pmIt’s great you found some girls to bond with because prayer can be such an intimate thing!
Love the new mat. The design is great.
Kelly Olexa
August 19, 2009 at 9:33 pmOMG that last picture is hysterical. 😉 And the lasagna, oh how I WISH I didn’t drool over just the mention of it!! hehehe
Meredith (Pursuing Balance)
August 19, 2009 at 9:34 pmThat yoga mat is gorgeous!
Natalie (Will Jog for Food)
August 19, 2009 at 9:36 pmGreat looking mat! I want some mac n cheese now too..hehe 🙂
kay (eating machine)
August 19, 2009 at 9:37 pmThat new mat is super pretty looking!
Adriana
August 19, 2009 at 9:38 pmI feel like such a fool…everytime I see Edy’s ice cream on one of you East Coast girls’ blogs I crave it and unfortunately, I had never been able to find it at my local stores. I JUST realized that Edy’s is called Dreyer’s in my neck of the woods.
Sarah R
August 19, 2009 at 9:50 pmThat mat is gorgeous!
Jil
August 19, 2009 at 9:59 pmThe matt is beautiful! That lasagna looks to diiie for!
I literally laughed out loud at the last picture! haha love it
Joelle (The Pancake Girl))
August 19, 2009 at 9:59 pmI love the new mat! What a great color!
Andrea
August 19, 2009 at 10:06 pmThat cat picture is hilarious!
Your bible study on prayer sounds like it’ll be a good one. Prayer is so important!
Jennifer Cheon
August 19, 2009 at 10:24 pmAmen, sister! Thanks for sharing. We all definitely need more prayer. I heard a week ago from a sermon: “Praying is like hitting a pinata. If you only hit the pinata once (pray once), you feel hopeless and far from getting the candy. But keep smacking it (praying) and you’re one step closer to getting it. Prayer should not feel worthless because He listens every time you pray.” I LOVE YOUR BLOG. You are truly an inspiration in every way. Spiritual, physical, mental. You are so strong. I just watched Julie & Julia last night and the entire movie, I kept thinking about you! (blogger, cordon bleu, great at cooking, etc). I check ur blog about 3x a day and love it. keep it up (no pressure)!
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food)
August 19, 2009 at 10:27 pmCool yoga mat and spray!
Emily (A Nutritionist Eats)
August 19, 2009 at 10:31 pmThat spray sounds cool, I like witch hazel. (and I really need to clean my mat more often as well)
Rebecca
August 19, 2009 at 10:32 pmLove the new mat! And that lasagna looks amazing!!
Sara
August 19, 2009 at 10:32 pmLunch leftovers look so good. What IS it about leftovers?!
Do you know when Fruition bars come out in stores? I’ve yet to try the one I got at the HLS. I did eat the “Koka Moka” ProBar though–so decadently good. I wish they would next make the same ProBar flavors in smaller sizes!
Julia
August 19, 2009 at 10:34 pmYour bible study sounds great! I hope you’ll share more about it as you continue in it.
Bath time…UH OH!
*Andrea*
August 19, 2009 at 10:34 pmi love prayer groups! i do an informal spiritual group at my college and it’s seriously my favorite hour in the week. delicious eats today!!!
Sana
August 19, 2009 at 10:36 pmI have that problem too when I teach my abs class, I hate sliding when I am trying to show my class the moves- side planks and such.
Jolene (everydayfoodie.ca)
August 19, 2009 at 10:48 pmThe new mat looks very cool! Thanks for sharing about your prayer group! Sounds wonderful!
Jennie
August 19, 2009 at 11:05 pmHi Jenna. I started going to Power Yoga a month ago and have the same problem. My hands and feet are always slipping on the mat but it seems like it doesn’t seem to happen to anyone else. I thought it was just me. I’ve always wondered what to do about it, other than wiping my feet and hands on the towel every five minutes. Should I look into a mat cover?? I’ve never seen anyone else using one…but I did see a girl in socks yesterday. Thanks!
chandra
August 19, 2009 at 11:10 pmMint chocolate ice cream is my vice!! I love it!! I actually have it planned as my reward after my 18 miles Saturday in the form of a girl scout thin mint blizzard from DQ. 🙂
Maria
August 19, 2009 at 11:30 pmThe mat looks gorgeous and I would really love to try that yoga mat cleaning spray! I am a germ freak and need something like that.
The Bible study group sounds awesome. I recently joined my church’s Bible study and I LOVE it! You learn so much from His words through fellowship 🙂
That lasagna sounds mighty delicious!
CATIEDIDIT
August 19, 2009 at 11:38 pmOn another blog today, there was a contest for a mat from that company…That’s the design I would have picked if I won — sadly I was only one number off 🙁
Lizzy
August 19, 2009 at 11:59 pmlove the new mat! how awesome…
i’ve never been a lasagna fan either but sometimes its good once in a while!
Lora
August 20, 2009 at 12:01 amI’m sure you know this, but just in case – yoga mats need a bit of moisture before they get sticky! Try rubbing a wet washcloth over both sides, let it air dry, and repeat (or just do sweaty yoga!). You’ll stick in no time! Kind of nice how the more use/sweatier a mat gets the easier it is to use!
adria
August 20, 2009 at 12:49 amWhat a fun mat! Having an extra is sure to come in handy. And the Bible study looks like it’ll be worthwhile as well. I think prayer is something just about all religious people struggle with. Please do say something about the book when you’re all done. I’m always up for a good study!
Tracey in Calgary
August 20, 2009 at 2:09 amAny chance you could snag that recipe for the lasagna? Looks divine!
Love the beautiful yoga mat 🙂 Too bad it’s not a bit more sticky…
jenna
August 20, 2009 at 7:31 amTracey,
Nope–it was from a restaurant–sorry!!
JocelynEatsFresh
August 20, 2009 at 2:24 amYay I love the people @ bolder..they sent me the same mat! I loved the turtle one 🙂 I found I stuck to it better then my other mats 🙂 <3
glad you enjoyed the bible study group!
Jessica
August 20, 2009 at 3:31 amlol loving the mikey picture!
i want to try those fruition bars so bad!
-muffy
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
August 20, 2009 at 7:27 amLove the new mat!! 😀
I’m buying myself one in a couple weeks from now, so I was excited to hear about this one. 😀
One Year No Diets!
August 20, 2009 at 8:03 amMikey is SO cute!
Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl
August 20, 2009 at 8:31 amThat’s a gorgeous mat, Jenna! I have the 7th Chakra Heaven yoga mat–it’s bright, vivid, and beautiful! I love it. I just gave one away on my blog! The winner chose the Fish Wish design. I know she’ll enjoy a lot of use from it. She’s lost 90 pounds over the past year! Yay for her. 😀
I’m so glad you’re going to continue using your yoga mat. I find my sticky enough for me. It is way stickier than my old mat, so I’m happy about that.
LOVE the kitty pic! I have a cat named James. He’s a big, gray fellow. If it weren’t for his color, I’d call him Garfield! LOL
Glad you had a “Christmas day”!!
*smiles*
Michele
Stacy (Eating To Live Love Laugh Tri)
August 20, 2009 at 8:37 amMy mouth is watering over that peach! It looks like the best peach ever!
Jenna
August 20, 2009 at 8:54 amyum that lasagna looks sooooooooo good!! 🙂
Melissanibbles
August 20, 2009 at 9:03 amWhat a pretty mat! I love the color. I’ve never been a lasagna fan either, but I’d definitely try it with mushrooms in it. They’re my fave! Your kitty is quite the ham smiling for the camera like that.
Krissy - Single Serving
August 20, 2009 at 9:19 amI’m about to try yoga classes and need to get a mat I guess. Thanks for the review!
Sarah
August 20, 2009 at 9:23 amI’m glad you enjoyed your Bible study! I really need to start looking for one myself. It’s hard to find one at my church for people my age…I’m sort of stuck between college age and the 30’s married + children crowd! 😉
britt
August 20, 2009 at 9:33 ami’ve been looking to join a small group at church but it’s something i’ve never done before so i’m a little nervous. thanks for talking about yours because it kind of helps me calm my nerves about joining.
thanks for the review on the yoga mat. i’ve been looking to get a new one and i’m not sure what to get. my current mat is from target and it’s nice but i know there are better ones out there. any suggestions?
Cynthia (It all changes)
August 20, 2009 at 9:50 amI love the design on that mat. Mine is really boring but a nice aqua blue color so it makes me smile. I need to get something to help me not slide. I always end up using a towel when i go to classes.
I love that you are doing a Bible Study on Prayer. In fact that’s the topic I’m leading our Adult Bible study through on Thursday afternoons. It is something we can all focus on more in our lives. Why we do it? How to do it? What happens when we pray? What the Bible says about prayer? Etc…Such a great topic. And I’m glad you get to have fun with a group of women doing it 🙂
Susan
August 20, 2009 at 9:57 amOkay, you’re ahead of me because I didn’t even know you could buy mat disenfectant! I just wipe mine down from time to time, good to know about that stuff!
andmarie
August 20, 2009 at 10:18 amThat mat is so pretty!
Anne Marie@her new weigh
August 20, 2009 at 10:41 amI love the idea of a prayer journal. I’ve been having a hard time praying lately, and journaling sounds like such a good idea!
KatieTX
August 20, 2009 at 11:39 amRe: mat slippage. Most mats slip when they are brand new because the company puts a coating over it. I have heard to wash the mat in the washing machine and let air dry overnight, then the slippery coating will be gone. Just some advice!
Suzanne de Cornelia
August 20, 2009 at 11:51 am‘Bath time!’ Hysterical. ‘Nuf said.
Ali
August 20, 2009 at 12:08 pmThat Lasagna looks great…so cheesey 😉 Yum!
Emily Eats
August 20, 2009 at 1:52 pmThanks for the yoga mat & spray review. I’ve got a Gaiam mat and find myself slipping on that. Now I know to look out for a mat cover 🙂
Kate
August 20, 2009 at 2:36 pmThat yoga mat is gorgeous! I’m thinking of investing in one of those Yogi Toes mat covers. They’re a pretty penny at my yoga studio, so I’ll have to wait until I find a good deal. That yoga spray sounds delicious as well!
Nicole
August 20, 2009 at 3:30 pmLove your mat. It’s so pretty. Mine is bright orange right now, but it’s just solid, no pattern. Do you need to wash your mat before using it? The first mat I had required me to wash it in the washing machine or in the tub before using it since the stickiness was so thick. After washing and using, the stickiness wore away and then I wasn’t slipping anymore. I love my Yogi Toes but it only works for me once it’s been wet (doused with water) or if I’ve sweat all over it.
Alicia
August 20, 2009 at 8:02 pmThat’s a really good looking book. Definitely keep us posted to how it is.
I was curious too… when you did your previous Bible Studies, what books did you focus on?
I am currently in one and we are starting with Genesis after doing some random parts throughout the Gospel’s but I am always looking for new ideas to do during my individual quiet time.
Thanks!! Have fun on your mini-vacation.
jen
August 21, 2009 at 7:18 amI have to echo Lora, Katie and Nicole on the slippery mat issue. I bought a new one a year or so ago and was so disappointed that it was so slippery. But after a good washing with light soap and water it worked like a charm! I also found the more I used it and sweat on it, the better I stuck to it, and no mat cover needed. Maybe yuck, but true!
Your new mat is beautiful and it’s so nice to be surrounded my simple lovely things when your trying to carve a beautiful life for yourself. Hope you get lots of enjoyment from it.