So… notice anything new around here? Thanks to the amazing Sarah, The Daily Tay got a little face lift. I don’t want to be annoying and boast about how cute I think my blog is, but I can’t help myself. Sarah just did a wonderful job and literally created exactly what I asked for. I feel like I can’t do her justice trying to explain to all of you what a great experience it was working with her, but it simply was. I sent her like three ideas and she was somehow able to magically capture everything I was hoping for, including all of the adorable pages you see above. She’s just so darn talented I can barely handle it. So basically I would recommend Sarah ten times over to anyone who is thinking about getting a new blog design. Stop thinking about it, just contact her already. You won’t regret it.
And now on to other things…
Like the fact I’ve discovered something more intimidating than doing stand-up. It’s called taking a new exercise class in an unfamiliar setting. I was reminded today how awful it is to feel out of your comfort zone and like a total idiot. I won’t get into details as to why I decided to be adventurous and try a spin class downtown this morning at 7:00 a.m., but I did. Turns out “spin classes” have changed a bit since the last time I dabbled in the sport. If memory serves, my most recent spin class was in 1994 in my parent’s basement on their gold Schwinn Air-Dyne. And let me tell you, that baby could really get going. If you pedaled fast enough the fan between your legs actually whistled as if cheering you on. And if you pedaled really fast, you could get the speedometer to completely spin out of control just in time to jump off the bike to watch in delight as the bike pedaled itself.
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Anyway, when I walked into this facility, a facility just for “spinners” I might add, I knew I was in over my head when they asked me what size of shoes I’d like.
“Oh I brought my own, thanks though,” I said as I showed the woman behind the desk my sassy new Nikes so she knew I wasn’t kidding around.
She shook her head no and showed me the soccer cleats I was supposed to rent instead. Perhaps they weren’t actually soccer cleats, but that’s what they felt like, and that’s how they sounded when I awkwardly walked around the place hoping I didn’t look like as big of an ass hat as I felt. I followed the rest of the spinners into a dark room full of bikes. From there it was up to me to figure out how to adjust the bike, and even worse, how I was supposed to lock my soccer cleats into the pedals. I’m not an idiot, but when I feel slightly uncomfortable and think that everyone is watching me (which they weren’t) every second I couldn’t figure out how to lower my seat felt like 100 minutes. Eventually the kind girl next to me showed me how to do it.
The class started with the instructor announcing, “Happy Friday everyone! What a great way to start the morning, I seriously wouldn’t rather be anywhere else, or doing anything else. Like seriously.”
And then I couldn’t help but feel bad for the instructor. I mean I could think of about ten places I’d rather be, just off the top of my head; in my bed, the beach, on vacation, in bed, drinking a Bloody, on my couch, in bed, at Starbucks, just to name a few. But the girl had to do her job and I got that.
And from that moment on, the biggest challenge of the forty-five minute spin class for me was trying to figure out what time it was. But there wasn’t a clock in the room, I know because I checked every single corner and crack looking for one. You know how some people say times flies when they workout? Well they’re lying. I think time actually stops. Or it certainly slows down. Numerous times the instructor would yell “just a couple more seconds!” Do you know what a couple means? Two. As in one, two. Yet we’d pedal for at least thirty more. Because time slows down. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy being active, I could walk/run Harlow for days and absolutely love it. Same goes for yoga or barre classes, I just don’t think spin classes are my thing, not until I buy some padded shorts anyway.
Not to mention I was completely confused every time Barbara Bicycle would get super excited and start yelling at all of us to “Twerk! Twerk!” She wanted us to twerk? I mean I guess it made sense, we were all in a dark room with techo/club music playing. Is this how the kids work out these days I wondered? Just as I was about to unlatch my soccer cleats and give my best Miley Cyrus version of twerking, I realized she was actually yelling “torque! torque!” as in she wanted us to increase our resistance. Now I just felt silly. And also inspired to start a spin/twerking class.
All in all, I will admit I felt kinda good after it was all said and done. It was 8:00 a.m. and I already had a killer workout under my belt. But then I remembered the shitty part; I had to bike home. I feel like that’s as bad as having to run home from a track meet.
To make up for the fact I accidentally strayed from doing a Best Week Ever recap today, (sorry!) I’m going to give you all a chance to win a custom phone case from my new favorite site, Casetagram. I have to share with you the adorable case I made a few weeks ago for my iphone-
It’s just all my favorite things in one place. The hardest part about designing the case was simply choosing which photos I wanted to use from my Instagram. Other than that, it’s easy peasy. If you’d like to win your own case just enter below!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the calm before the storm…. the storm of football season is just seven days away. GOOOOOOOOOOO BIG RED. GO BIG RED.
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Love the new blog design!!! That case is awesome!!! Happy Friday!
heyoooo the blog looks so good. sarah really does have skills and i love all the pages. (don't worry as your stalker it's fine)
and I hate spin class. I do it only bc I feel like I know it works after I get out and I leave a pool of sweat on the floor.
and i want that phone case. I think i'll just buy one. unless you can rig this.
Spin class is intimidating. I think I did one years ago and it was so hard I apparently blocked it from my memory. So props to you and your new awesome blog design!
Love the new look on here and your new phone cover!
I really like the new look. Very nice!
Hahaha I had a similarly traumatic experience when I started gym a few years back – check it out (for a good laugh) http://gaelynsheartofiron.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-first-day-of-rest-of-my-life.html?m=1
I've been thinking if trying spin but I'm too scared!!
Spin instructors are always so annoyingly happy! I love spin because it's a killer workout, but I am never happy to be there. If you do it somewhat consistently though it does get a little bit better.
I totally need this laugh today, twerk, twerk. AHAHAHAHAHA
I really laughed out loud at my desk reading this. I can just imagine myself thinking she wants me to get down and dirty in the middle of this class?
And this is the reason why I stay far, far away from working out at all. But ha, thanks for the giggles! 🙂
I love the new blog design, I'm in need of something pretty for my blog…it kind of sucks, so I'll keep Sarah in mind.
And I will continue to avoid spin classes after this story. However, if you do decide to start that spin/twerking class I may make an exception. Have a lovely weekend!
xxx
Jaclyn
http://www.loveandbellinis.com
I once took a spin class in college after a night of heavy drinking (stupid) and I got so light headed and turned as white as a ghost (so I'm told) and blacked out and fell right off of my bike. Talk about embarrassing. Also, love your new blog design.
Laughing so hard that I'm crying! Twerk! Twerk! Thank you for that. Happy Friday!
If you really want to feel awkward, take a step class. Wear leg warmers. They totally help you feel less like an idiot when you trip over your own feet and the instructor calls you out. Not that I know.
Love your new blog design!
SO CUTE!!!!! I love it!
The new blog design looks great! I've heard such great things about spin classes but they do sound awfully intimidating, and hard.
i love the new layout; it's clean and feels very "open" if a blog can feel that way but it's not cluttered with crap everywhere which is awesome (i skip over blogs that have too much stuff rammed on the side).
and i love spin class but it always makes my crotch numb 🙁
-kathy
Vodka and Soda
Hahaha twerk! I've had some crazy spin class instructors. My favorite lady was one that yelled "Feel the buuuuurrrrnn" at least 15 times in class. Except she said it in this weird growling man voice and it kinda scared me a little.
FYI don't do the cleats/pedals on a real bike. You'll break your arm. I know because I just did that three days ago. Happy Friday!
loving this new design, lady!!! also the soul-cycle and other spin classes are so intense these days. i can't handle it.
Someone in my family had an old spin bike also. I had forgot all about the fun we would have on that thing when we were little until you described it all. We would do the same! The fan whistling, the speedometer going CRAZY and jumping off to watch it pedal on it's own. Oh the things that entertained us as kids 🙂
I have never been to a spin class, but I hear they are fun. Your first trip sounds very eventful. Thank goodness for that sweet helpful girl next to you helping get your seat down.
I think everyone would have peed themselves if you jumped off the bike and started twerking hahahahah
New design looks so fresh and clean, lookin' good Tay!
"whistle while you twerk"
This post is hilarious. I totally feel you on the feeling out of place in a situation like that I and definitely love yoga and other less-intimidating forms of exercise. Snaps for trying it out!
p.s. LOVE the new blog layout!
Sorry you had a bad experience with spin! I LOVE spin, but probably because I started taking classes at a place where people weren't psycho about it…lots of people were always willing to help me set up my bike, it didn't matter if you wore regular sneakers, and the instructor would constantly say "this is your ride." Maybe we should just set up our own spin movement, something called "Spin Class for Easy Going People Who Don't Want to Twerk and Spin at the Same Time"
You certainly went to the fanciest of fancy pants spinning places if they gave you your own shoes! We rock the Nikes at my classes. I feel you on the padded shorts thing-when I first started going everyone kept telling me after awhile your bum won't hurt anymore and I still think it can't be healthy for that to no longer hurt–does your downtown just become permanently numb after awhile? Scary stuff.
I've spun on my own at a gym just to see what it was like and it's HARD!!!! I won't be doing that work out class. When I tried it I probably wasn't on a real spinning bike because I just had tennis shoes. My sister got really good at it but my legs can't handle it. I hate it when I can't figure out gym equipment. I feel like everyone is looking at me too and it's horrible!!
I'm loving the new look over here! Sarah did a great job!
That is too funny!
hahahaha I would KILL to be in the spin class where you get up and start twerking. Like, dream come effing true.
Love, love your new look! As for spinning, the last time I did it my lady parts went numb… Annnnd I never went again haha
GBR.
Glad your hearts still in the rough place on that one. I feel as though you and I would be friends, these experiences, funny and awkward as they are, continue to plague my existence.
Love the new template!
The right*, the right place. Durp
I love the new design!!
I would totally go to a spin/twerk class, mostly for laughs though because I would probably make a fool out of myself.
I have been wanting to try spin and keep chickening out, I think I would rather do stand up any day than subject my walrus legs to that torture…now i am more scared than ever before :)Good for you for trying it, and who knew you needed to friggen rent shoes.
Spinning is a biatch but the best workout I've ever had! I have the shoes and need to get back into it… Love that old bike haha I so remember those!
Love the new look!!!
Thank you for this post. That’s all I am able to say. You most absolutely have built this blog website into something special. You clearly know what you are working on, you’ve insured so many corners. Thanks. runnium