Operation Beautiful Archives - My Healthy, Happier Life

I’m not really a fan of consequences but unfortunately we always have to pay them. Right now, I’m facing the consequences of an amazing weekend!

This weekend was definitely one for the record books, but I think the amount of activity left my body drained!

Even though I slept for eight hours last night, dragging my body out of bed at 5:45 was not very easy. My throat was sore, my nose was running, and I was sporting the sexy man voice. But, regardless of how I felt, I’m proud to say that I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and tweeted my false excitement before I could go back to bed.

By 8am Sara and I had enjoyed our first Bikram Spin class and I’d wished her best of luck on the first day of this new, amazing chapter in her life! You should wish her congrats too as she started a great, very deserved new job!

What is a bikram spin class? Well, it’s nothing more than an awesome Dave M spin class (which I’ve raved about here and here) that is taught in sweltering temperatures due to the lack of air movement in the corner. Needless to say, we now know why those bikes were still available yesterday when we signed up. Unlike Sara, I was thankful for the extra sweat today as it left me feeling a bit lighter and as if the residual alcohol had finally left my body!

The rest of the day was focused on getting back to basics that leave me feeling refreshed, satiated, and fueled to combat the aggravating cold that has come back with a vengeance.

Banana+Oat Bran+Cinnamon

Romaine+Green Beans+Red Peppers+ Feta+Edamame+ Lemon Juice+ Salt & Pepper+ Red Onion+Tomato+Celery+Red Wine Vinegar

Now, even though it’s only 7:45, I’m curling up in bed to get some much needed sleep.

Until tomorrow, I leave you with this awesome video featuring Caitlin’s awesome movement, Operation Beautiful! I’m so proud of everything she has done over the past two years and even had the opportunity to cheer her on when she was on the Today Show this summer with Tina and some of my favorite blogger friends!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQGNEUs4KLQ

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Living in New York City is all about taking advantage of experiences for two Southerners like me and Bo. Therefore, this afternoon Bo and I ventured two avenues away to take in the Gay Pride Week 2010 NYC Pride March. We knew this would be a site to be seen as it was the parade’s 40th anniversary.

The parade began at noon and ran from 36th and 5th and ended in Greenwich Village at the location of the 1969 Stonewall riots.

The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. They are frequently cited as the first instance in American history when people in the homosexual community fought back against a government-sponsored system that persecuted sexual minorities, and they have become the defining event that marked the start of the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.

The parade featured three Grand Marshalls this year:

Dan Choi

Dan Choi :

Lt. Choi’s selection and acceptance of the honor of NYC LGBT Pride Grand Marshal marks the first time in U.S. history that an openly gay male on active service with the U.S. Armed Forces will be an LGBT pride march Grand Marshal.

Judy Shepard

In October 1998, Judy and Dennis Shepard lost their 21 year-old son, Matthew, to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. Matthew’s death moved many thousands of people around the world to attend vigils and rallies in his memory.

Constance McMillen

Constance McMillen is a Mississippi high school honors student who fought back when her school told her she couldn’t take her girlfriend to the prom.

Talk about Operation Beautiful. These are certainly people who have stood up for their beliefs in peaceful yet powerful ways.

Today’s parade was filled with colorful characters, cheers, and plenty of dancing! I was surprised that the parade wasn’t more dense as I have heard a great deal about this parade historically and expected it to be constant music and dance. Instead there was normally a minute or two before each group of marchers.

There were lots of faces but only one that I recognized!