Like me on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenny-Block/118385024943309

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Open on Kindle

Don't forget to get the Kindle edition of my book before you head off on vacation this summer!

Friday, April 22, 2011

There are zebras in my Outback!



Ok, so there weren't actually zebras in my Outback. But they were certainly surrounding it and poking their heads into it. Of course, it wasn't just zebras, it was also a variety of other large beasts of one kind or another who live at Fossil Rim. It seemed like the perfect place to take the Outback. You know, on safari!!

And I was right. We were in the car for six hours that day and didn't even notice. All three of us were perfectly comfy. We could have easily added another kid or two to the back seat, in fact. The weather was gorgeous, the stereo was blasting, and the animals were surrounding us left and right.

I made the mistake of not buying feed when we bought our admission tickets. But we broke the rules and allowed the animals a few nibbles of a Subway sandwich, some almonds, and a Luna bar (the last of which they LOVED, by the way). All in all it was a great day and we will certainly be going back. But, next time, I am definitely buying the feed!




Thursday, April 21, 2011

ROYAL Romance, ROYAL Savings



Caribbean, Mexican, and Floridian resorts offer one day travel deals in celebration of royal nuptials. Check out all of the offers below!

CASAMAGNA MARRIOTT CANCUN RESORT
www.casamagnacancun.com

Offer: In celebration of England's Royal Wedding, the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort is offering the Royal Romance Package, available for one day only on April 29th, 2011. 
Package includes:
- Transportation from and to the Cancun Airport                      
- Daily breakfast buffet for 2 adults                         
- One bottle of sparkling wine per stay                       
- Free upgrade to Ocean view (room already upgraded at the time of booking)                                                 
- 40% discount on Spa treatments                       
- 20% discount on food and beverage, and gift shop purchases 
Rates: From $149 USD per night
Valid for Travel: May 1 - November 20. Based on availability, blackout dates apply.
Reservations: Visit www.casamagnacancun.com and input promo code L9Z



JW MARRIOTT CANCUN RESORT & SPA
www.jwmarriottcancun.com

Offer: In celebration of England's Royal Wedding, the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa is offering the Royal Romance Package, available for one day only on April 29th, 2011. 
Package includes:
- Transportation from and to the Cancun Airport                      
- Daily breakfast buffet for 2 adults                         
- One bottle of sparkling wine per stay                       
- Free upgrade to Ocean view (room already upgraded at the time of booking)                                                 
- 40% discount on Spa treatments                       
- 20% discount on food and beverage and gift shop purchases                   
Rates: From $189 USD per night
Valid for Travel: May 1 - November 20. Based on availability, blackout dates apply.
Reservations: Visit www.jwmarriottcancun.com and input promo code L9Z



CUISINART RESORT & SPA
www.cuisinartresort.com

Offer: In celebration of England's Royal Wedding, CuisinArt Resort & Spa is offering the "Royalty in Paradise" package on April 29th, 2011, only!
Package includes:
- 4 Nights in a beachfront junior suite
- 1 Romantic beachfront dinner for two
- 1 Bottle Veuve Cliquot champagne
- 1 Couples Rendezvous spa package:
- Couples massage
- Floral bath soak
- Anguillian coconut pineapple scrub
- Swiss duet rain shower
Rates: From $2,250 (A $925 savings)
Valid for Travel: April 30 - November 22, 2011. Based on availability, blackout dates apply.
Reservations: www.cuisinartresort.com



ST. KITTS MARRIOTT RESORT
www.stkittsmarriott.com

Offer:  In celebration of England's Royal Wedding, St. Kitts Marriott Resort is offering a free room upgrade and bottle of sparkling wine when the Escape! For Two package is booked on April 29th, 2011, only.
Package includes:
Accommodations (automatic room upgrade)
1 massage per person (per room, per stay)
1 facial per person (per room, per stay)
Breakfast buffet for two, daily
1 Bottle of sparkling wine
Spa amenity basket and welcome gift
Rates: From $238 per room/night, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Based on double occupancy.  Subject to availability / blackout dates.
Reservations: www.stkittsmarriott.com / Promo code ES8



HOTEL KURA HULANDA SPA & CASINO, CURACAO
www.kurahulanda.com

Offer: the Royal Treatment Package includes three night accommodations in a Deluxe Room and a half-day of pampering at the spa for two guests. Spa treatments include a 50 minute relaxing massage, 60 minute food reflexology and your choice of a Mini Facial or Gentleman's Total Care Facial
Rates: Three night package: $1,180
Valid for Travel: Now until Dec 23, 2011
Reservations: Call 877-264-3106 or email reservations@kurahulanda.com



MIAMI MARRIOTT BISCAYNE BAY
www.marriottbiscaynebay.com

Offer: The Royal Escape Package includes complimentary breakfast for two and a bottle of champagne and strawberries upon arrival.  
Rates: From $239 per night
Reservations: Call 305.374.3900 or visit www.marriottbiscaynebay.com; use promotional code ROM



SANDPEARL RESORT / CLEARWATER BEACH, FLORIDA
www.sandpearl.com

Offer: Enjoy a royal getaway to the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida, when you book the Royal Romance Berries & Bubbly Package on April 29, 2011. The package includes accommodations in a luxury room or resort suite category of choice, champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries on the night of arrival and complimentary breakfast for two each morning. A package savings of over 20 percent.
Rates: From $299 per night
Valid for travel: April 29 through December 30
Reservations: Visit www.sandpearl.com and use promo code ROYAL in the Corporate / Promotion box, or call 1-877-726-3111 and ask for promotional code ROYAL.



MORNING STAR MARRIOTT BEACH CLUB/ ST. THOMAS, US Virgin Islands
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sttfr/

Offer:  The Royal Bliss Package includes accommodations in room category of choice, bottle of champagne and rum punch drink upon arrival, welcome gift, $200 food and beverage credit per room for entire stay and breakfast buffet for two each morning. A package savings of 20 percent.                                                                 
Rates: From $288 per night
Valid for travel: April 29 through December 30
Reservations: Visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sttfr/ and use promo code EAT in the Corporate/ Promotion box, or call 1-800-524-2000 and ask for promotional code EAT.


**All of the above offers are valid for reservations booked between 12:00am and 11:59pm on Friday, April 29th, 2011 ONLY.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

What to wear to Nia...


Ever since my articles about Nia came out in American Way and Conscious Dancer, readers have been asking me what one wears to a Nia class. The simple answer is anything you can move in. But there is a sort of Nia style that’s developed that includes mostly bell-bottomed flowy pants and either fitted athletic tops or swooshy dresses on top.

Here are a few of my fave brands:

NiaWear – NiaWear comes straight from the source. You can purchase it from headquarters, online, or from most Nia instructors. I have several pieces and love all of it. The colors and styles are, of course, perfectly suited to doing Nia. They also great for hooping too actually. I love my bell-bottomed pants with the attached short skirt and the coordinating black tank with NiaWear logo.

Melodia – I got my first pieces of Melodia at the Lightening in a Bottle festival. The cotton is so soft and the styling is so groovy. It definitely looks like festival wear but translates perfectly to the Nia classroom.

Ipseity – I wanted an outfit from Ipseity from the minute I saw the line at a trunk show at headquarters. My girlfriend generously surprised me with one this Valentine’s Day. This stuff is so funky. I love it. And I can’t imagine any other part of my life where I could get away with what my husband calls my “Lord of the Rings” get-up. I love the rich purple and the soft, hearty fabric. And I just feel so groovy in it. Even if I’m not feeling up for class, I immediately get in the mood once I get these on.

Tdama– I love my Tdama tiered gaucho pants. The fabric could not be any softer and they look so good on. Dancing in them is great. But they also translate much better in the “real world” then a lot of my other Nia clothes do. Sometimes I wear them around the house or around town even when I don't have class.  Because the tiers on these particular pants start so far down, they also look really cook with a skirt on top of them .

Margarita Wear – These clothes are so cool!! They’re what I would have picked out as a kid but figured I wasn’t allowed to wear now since I’m a grown-up. Heck with that. The compression fabric is so strong that the pants look like they were made to fit a five-year-old before you get them on. But they look awesome on. My favorites are the ones with the giant rainbow on the bottom. Total 70s. But I also dig my polka dot and striped pairs. They’re not cheap. But then none of these lines really are. But they are definitely worth it. And, if you’re lucky, you can sometimes catch them on Ebay!

One thing I can say for all of these companies’ clothes is that the materials wash well, which is key if you’re washing things every week. I always wash them on the gentle cycle (warm/cold) and then hang them or lay them flat to dry. And most of them still look brand new despite lots of dancing and floor play!

As I mentioned right off, you can wear anything you like to Nia and my classes are always filled with students wearing everything from yoga pants to sweat pants to homemade goodies to full-on Nia gear. So don’t let the clothes scare you. This is definitely a no-uniform required kind of practice. But if you are looking for some Nia-appropriate garb, these are a few good places to start!

The Tulip Fest at Wooden Shoe

I was in Portland, OR last week to earn my Blue Belt in Nia. When the intensive was through and the sun finally showed its face, we headed out to Woodburn, OR to the Tulip Fest. It was amazing. I've never seen so many gorgeous tulip blooms in one place. There was also tons of stuff for kids to do, vendors, great fair-type food, and, of course, tulips and tulip bulbs for sale! A must do if you're in the area. It runs through May 8th. Here are a few pics from the event:









Nia Blue Belt Training at Nia HQ in Portland, OR

Just got back from an intensive week of training to become a Nia instructor. It was an incredibly powerful week filled with lots of crying, laughing, and, of course, dancing. I have never taught a class. But I am considering taking that step soon. In the meantime, I am loving taking classes with my amazing instructor Jule at MoveStudio! Here are a few photos from the training: