Cupcake Wants! aka The Autumn/Fall Wish List!

I am moving this weekend. My desire to move was fueled by my desire to simplify my life. I will be five miles from work able to bike majority of the time and to use the bus when the snow is too packed. I will be close to everything I need as far as grocers and other stores. I will be central to all the yoga studios I  teach at as well as minutes away from the foothills for beautiful hikes, climbing and snowshoeing.

However, autumn and winter bike commuting always has it's own challenges. You need the right layers and gear to stay comfy but when commuting it's not just comfort that matter. I like to invest in items that are good for winter hiking and snowshoeing so flexibility is key. Riding to work or errands or outings also mean you want to look good too. Here are a few items on my wish list to help me stay comfortable and cute.

Women's Crystal Mountain Waterproof Tall Lace Boot
If you can have a crush on shoes, I have one. These boots have a Smart Wool footbed which means cozy and breathable! I love the tall height for full coverage when keeping the feet and legs warm and dry. With the Durable Green Rubber footbed you know you're getting the quality you expect from Timberland while getting the benefit of 42% recycled material. Also they're ridiculously cute. My only dilema choosing color. Do I get the pink and brown or the black and grey!


Cascadia Bike Fenders
My Specialized Vita Sport is a great little hybrid. Comfortable, good speed, super light. My only complaint is the splashy mess I get when riding on wet terrain. One way to cut back on the mess is to add some fenders. I have my eye on this pair, the Speedex Hybrid. They light, made for all-weather climates (so needed in Colorado) and they have little mudflaps!

Yogo Mat
Without the righ bag or pannierres on your bike it can be difficult to ride with a yoga mat, they're just not compact. One item I can not wait to try out is the new Yogo Mat from YogoSport. This mat will be available in December and rolls into a compact size that can fit in a bag or larger purse. I can't wait to see how it does for my teaching and studio practice!  Visit YogoMat.com to sign-up for notification when the mats are available.

prAna Parfait Jacket
I love simplistic style with an edge and this jacket has just that! I love the angles and non-frilly feminine design. Not only does the jacket look good but it's insulated and water-resistant. prAna is known for their quality and social activism so I always feel good supporting them. This jacket must be mine.




I am sure I could go on for pages on items I love. For now, these are the top four on my list. What do you have your eye on/

The Oyster Race - 2011 Edition!

Mary, Tali, Lynn, and Hazel the littlest cupcake

Once again the folks at the Oyster Race put together an amazing race. Since there are still other races in progress I won't get too detailed as to not spoil anything. What I will say is we got wet, handled fish, got messy with finger paint, rocked some yoga poses, ate a donut, tried out our slingshot skills, square danced and solved some mysteries! We covered about 25 miles on foot and bike throught the Denver area.

Unfortunately I had two ribs out of place during the course of the race. It really slowed me down. Not only on race day but during training as well. I learned a valuable lesson not to tough it out through that kind of pain and to get help. The ribs are now back in place and training is on for the next two races in October. While I really wish I took better care of myself for my teammates sake I am also happy to have such amazing teammates that were supportive and happy just to finisht he race and have a great time.

In the process of preparing for the race we exceed our biggest goal and that was to raise $5,000 for the Colorado Chapter of Make a Wish Foundation. We in fact rasied $8,300 which is about the cost of two whole wishes. We were over the moon with all the support and help our friends and family gave us. I have to give a big mention to my teammate Lynn's knitting community. They really came through in a big way! Donors that were entered in the prize drawing have been notified if they won an item from the drawing. Special thanks to prAna and Made for Grace for their sponsorship for the drawing.

Thank you all again for your support. We can't wait to race again next year and to continue to support Make a Wish Foundation! If you want to continue to support Make a Wish you can purchase a Team Cupcake Mafia shirt here.

September is National Yoga Month...

and boy has this yoga cupcake been busy! I will return to my regular posting schedule next week with two posts. The first will be a spotlight on Door-to-Door Organics Local Farm Box and the second will be a report on the Oyster Race including the winners of my donor giveaway!

In the mean time please check out the offerings in your area for National Yoga Month or if you're in the Denver/Boulder area come see me on September 17th!