Groupon and Living Social

Even though I like a deal I'm a little wary about online coupons and things that in general seem too good to be true.  I had heard of Groupon a long time ago but, since the website wouldn't open at work (yes, they filter discounts like they're porn) I just didn't consider it.  When Evil G forwarded a discount for yoga classes that were so super cheap (5 classes for $40 at Miami Yogashala in Brickell; since then I've seen cheaper deals but I was a newbie then) I couldn't resist.  I bought that one, then I bought some deals at Living Social, which sometimes has even better prices.

The way it works is that each coupon website offers a daily deal in your area.  They can be for spa services, restaurants, exercises classes...I'm sticking to exercise classes for now since I already know I like yoga and the classes are normally so damn expensive.  You buy the deal and then you have a .pdf file to print emailed to you as a voucher, or you can call up the deal on the website's app on your smart phone as well.  The deals have a certain expiration date that you need to use them by.

I have about five deals floating around and finally used one today, for yoga classes at Dharma Studio ($17 for 5 classes, that's the price of one class in many places!).  I have to admit, I'm very shy about using coupons like this and such; I'm cheap but I hate appearing so.  Luckily, there were a few other people using the same coupon as well so I felt more confident.  The staff there was very cool about accepting the Groupon, which awarded them extra bonus points.

Dharma Studio is located in Coconut Grove.  It's a beautiful spot but sucky because of one of my main pet peeves: inadequate parking and PAID parking.  I hate paying for parking, but even more when it's not to be found.  I'm on vacation this week so I can just take some day classes, when parking is not such an enormous headache, and I'll take some Friday classes (my schedule is every Friday off, every Saturday working) until I finish up the coupon.  Dharma charged a $2 mat rental fee, which really kind of blows since I don't own a mat yet and because I've never been charged for using a studio mat before (I just ordered one but was debating the eco aspects of it for a while, and decided on this one).

The classes offered there seem very femme friendly and yuppie, at least according to the titles (Gentle Stretchy Yoga, Funyasa).  Not much brutal pretzel twists and intimidation factor, which is fine since I am very much a novice who doesn't devote enough time to practice.  I took the Yoga Lowdown class today with Natalie.  She's very friendly and approachable, in that way that makes me wonder if she's the owner?  That's a good thing, FYI. The class was pretty gentle, and devoted to nice stretches in a mostly horizontal position.  No Sun Salutations or Inverted Poses.  I liked the stretching but at the end there was quite a bit of self massage with rollers and tennis balls.   Frankly, it hurt.  I think I'm not muscular, padded, or tense enough to enjoy that deep level of massage, but a couple women there were moaning in pleasure so, each to her own.  It's probably just me.  Tomorrow I'm trying the Gentle Stretchy class to check it out.  My vacation is basically to be spent pretending I'm independently wealthy or retired.  Is it just me or does work really get in the way of life?  Just saying.

The yoga studio I normally go to is Rina Yoga.  The Thursday Hatha Yoga night class with Joan is challenging enough that I push myself without being so difficult that I feel lost.  It works out great with my schedule, is very close to home, and parking is free :)  So far I don't know if Dharma Yoga is offering any competition to Rina Yoga, though if the Friday class I plan on trying is great I may buy a class card just for that; Rina doesn't have Friday morning classes at this time.  Really the only thing I hold against Dharma is the parking situation and the mat fee; the studio itself is lovely (though I did notice a pet pee smell on the ground...the mats?  Ghostly pet presence?  It was weird)  I still have a few other studios to check out and I also got some boxing classes and some passes to the Russian baths at the beach; I'll review those as I use them.

Tutto Pizza/Tutto Pasta

Tutto Pizza is one of those places that you invariably return to, again and again.  Like Moonchine, you will never get a bad meal there.

I've been sleeping over at mom's a couple times a month so she can watch my son while I work (every single Saturday, serving the undomiciled public with a plastic smile!) or take my Ayurveda classes.  My uncle, who must like us or something, has sporadically taken us out to dinner during these sleepovers; we usually end up at Tutto Pizza, which is both child friendly (picky seven year old) and chef friendly (picky seventy year old).  Yes, my uncle is a chef and a baker, and I remember countless meals as a child with him critiquing my eating habits.  I don't know why I smelled everything, even the silverware....kids are weird that way.  Anyway, as an adult I really enjoy meals with him because: A. he has fantastic taste B. he orders appetizers and wine, something I can never afford to do C. he orders for everyone, which is great since I'm indecisive and like these chivalrous throwbacks and D. he pays.  This all adds up to a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN!

We went there last Saturday: me, my mom, my son, my uncle, and my uncle's girlfriend.  This is supposed to be a point of contention, the girlfriend, seeing how my uncle's divorce was awkward at best (my uncle and aunt still work together, everyday) and how she is around 20 years younger than him...but hell, I don't care, go for yours, Tio.  She's nice to me, and that's all I care about.

My uncle ordered Focaccia al Rosmarino, Salmon Carpaccio, a Margherita pizza, and a Portobello and Pollo.  I'm still on edge when eating around my uncle, a childhood holdover, so I just sat back and waited for them to move.  My uncle's GF dressed the mixed greens that came with the salmon with balsamic, oil, and lemon juice; I've never added the lemon juice to balsamic but it's a great idea, it really brightens the salad and mildens (if it's not a word, it should be) the vinegar.  We dipped the focaccia into olive oil, stared meaningfully at the last bit of salmon, poured fizzy water and wine, oh, the wine...Malbec by Santa Florentina.  For me to actually remember that name means I said it to myself about ten times.  It was so good, without that tannic aftertaste.  The four of us went through two bottles and my mom got tipsy, which was cute...she kept trying to turn off the alarm when we got home by turning it on.  And she giggled.

Seriously, go eat there.  If you're not in the mood for pizza, Tutto Pasta is right next door.  I haven't eaten there in many years, but I remember it as being great, if noisy.  I don't mind the noise, really, I want them to remain popular.  I can't take another heartbreak like Siam Lotus Room.

Pura Vida

Didn't do the frugal thing and pack a lunch today, so I went to the local  hippie and healthy restaurant, Pura Vida.  With the day I was having at work, I deserved a little lunchtime treat, and everyone knows that food made by someone else tastes better anyway.  This is especially true of sandwiches.  And, Pura Vida is within walking distance.  You know how I feel about walking distance.

I've had my eye on this place since moving to my new work location, but it's about the same walking distance as Burger King and when comparing both price and shameless indulgence factor, BK has won previously...but not today.  I have to admit, I don't like denying myself anything, and when the job gets to me I end up soothing myself with cigarettes, a Twix bar, a soda, or something like BK.  Today I was doing the healthy thing, dammit.  I'm not letting this job drive me to an early grave or a bigger dress size because of stress eating.    Pura Vida lacks the crunchy vibe and extensive menu of Juice and Java and, of course, the sandwiches are not in the same galaxy as La Sandwicherie, but, did I mention it's within walking distance?

I bought my coworker some lentil soup, trying to improve my karma through good works, and got myself the lunch special of a turkey sandwich and a juice.  The staff there was pretty close to awesome (I remember witnessing what appeared to be a lover's spat between two gorgeous Juice and Java employees and man, did that make the atmosphere cold...which helped, actually, since they don't really run the AC there).  Anyone who has ever waited tables tends to be kind of picky about food workers, and I'm no exception. 

The cool counter chick with some serious tattoos and perfectly adequate English (don't pretend it doesn't matter) was efficient and genuinely friendly.  I ordered a strawberry juice since the special included a single (fruit) juice, but she threw in a banana extra because, "it tastes better" that way.  You know?  That was really damn nice of her.  THAT'S how you guarantee a repeat customer.  The turkey sandwich was fine, but, most sandwiches are just fine with me.  Good enough to satiate hunger but not enough to gorge on; I just ate half of it.  It came with what I believe was miso dressing on the side, which was also just fine. 

This place is known for their Acai items, especially their Acai bowl, but it sounded too much like breakfast to me.  The place is not super cheap but, when you take into account the sizes of the portions and how healthy the food is, it really is a good deal...I mean, I know I'm cheap but what more do I want?  I exasperate myself sometimes.  It was 15 bucks for my lunch special and the extra soup I bought, and this lunch could feed me two meals.  I'll definitely be back, but probably not for a sandwich again.  I'll stick to smoothies and try that Acai bowl at some point.  And I say to BK, "Get thee behind me, Satan".