Trampoline birthday party

I love trampolines. Love! And since I needed something fun to do for my birthday I invited a bunch of my friends to the trampoline park Tuesday night.

It was great workout and my friends had a lot of fun. My husband might have had the most fun.

We went to the local trampoline park. It has lots of trampolines, with some tumble tracks, a foam pit, dodgeball courts, a small dunk trampoline and a ninja course with a rock climbing wall.

Flip!
I've been able to flip now for a year and a half. But I flip into the foam pit or a gymnastics mat. I have never tried flipping landing on a trampoline. I was scared of rolling my ankle. I tried flipping on the Olympic trampoline at TSNY. I was feeling brave at the end of our jump time and I tried it when no one was looking.

Jump. Wait. Flip.

And I landed on my feet. First try.

I didn't hit my head and my flip wasn't too low.

AND my husband tried a front flip for the first time. He got it on his second attempt.

To outdo him, I tried a handspring to front flip. I almost got it. Not quite, but close enough to want to go back immediately.

I didn't turn the workout app on my watch on, but I burned at least 250 active calories and had so much fun. I should really start going back every other week or every two weeks.

Birthday offers and activewear

I love a good birthday offer. I decided to track what birthday offers I got via email this year. Food. Clothes. The works. I like a good excuse to spend money.

Birthday offers have definitely declined over the years. Companies want to spend less and less money.

Food
On the Border - Free cheese dip or brownie sundae (Perfect for people with a dairy allergy. Did not use. I actually used to eat here all the time but haven't been in years.)
Zoe's Kitchen - free entree. (Yes!). Received about 10 days before my birthday.
Moe's - got a coupon for a free entree. (Yes!) Received four days before my birthday. Got a burrito bowl :)
Schlotzky's - free original. (Last year it was a free sandwich. I don't eat The Original as I don't eat red meat, so didn't use and unsubscribed since their offers have gotten worse over the years.)
Panera - free dessert (received day of)

Clothing
Fabletics: 10% off order. (I did order some neon crops, will report back if they're sheer.) Received at the beginning of my birthday month.

Revolve: 10% off order. (Couldn't find anything. Looked several times). Received at the beginning of my birthday month.

Express: $40 off (I've had one of their premier credit cards for more than 10 years. Don't shop here much anymore because I've gotten older. I got some dress pants and a sleeveless button down!) Received at the beginning of my birthday month.

Workouts/Misc
A spa I visited on vacation sent me an offer for 50% off a massage or 20% off retail.

Pure Barre sent me an email for 10% off retail. Good for 3 months. (Received day-of)

Ulta also sent me a birthday offer for free mascara. (I am allergic to mascara :( Do birthday offers target things I can't use?) (Received day-of)

Offers I didn't get
I have an Athleta card. I thought there was a birthday discount, but apparently not for me.

Workout clothes/Activewear sales (non bday related)

• I did order a pair of reversible crops with the Sweaty Betty Friends and Family Discount. Free shipping. (Not a birthday offer, but maybe a bday present to myself).

• Bandier had a one-day sale near my birthday. Everything was 15% off. I almost ordered some K-deer leggings but didn't want to pay $10 in shipping. #dealbreaker

• Athleta has 20% off their sale with a coupon code. There's only one sale item I want and think I already have too many long sleeve shirts. (Extra20 through 3/30)

• I've been eying some Lorna Jane crops with pockets. LJ has 30% off their clearance, but I can't quite bring myself to spend the money.

• I also ordered a S'well water bottle last week (as my husband's bday present to me). I love this pretty metallic colorful bottle. (Color: Neptune). I'd hoped it would get here in 7 days in time for my birthday, but it will be nine days before it gets here: So two days late.

Travel Worthy Activewear

I have never been a light packer. I was the girl that brought everything from formal wear to Pringles to summer camp. But with airlines get stricter and stricter with carry-ons I've had to pare down.

I wanted to pack especially light for a recent trip to D.C. because if I had to check a bag, I'd miss my shuttle home. So I packed the bare minimum. And activewear is so versatile, it's most of what I packed.

Here are the activewear pieces that I got the most mileage out of on my recent travels (Lululemon unless otherwise noted)

Hi elephants!

1) Vinyasa Scarf
I wore a grey herringbone vinyasa scarf—and it is just perfect for travel. It wore it looped around twice in the airport. I got hot and put it on my suitcase handle while I waited. On the plane, I got cold, so it worked as a wrap/blanket. And it was great to have in D.C's chilly weather. It's soft, stylish and super functional. Will definitely bring this scarf next time I travel. I might even need a second scarf.

Vest and 5 mile long sleeve. 

2. Down for a Run Vest
I tried this on in the store for giggles. I had no intention of buying a $139 vest. And then I looked in the mirror. It is cute, so flattering. And it has a million pockets. I waited a week and broke down and bought it and then wore it every weekend.

This is what I wore in the airport—so I didn't have to carry a purse. It has two pockets that are big enough for a wristlet mini wallet. It also has two pockets on the side that can fit a can of Coke. It's stylish and more hands-free than a purse. I stocked my mini wallet, inhaler, winter hat, and anything I'd usually carry in my purse when I went out.

I sent a pic to my sister—she thought it was perfect for moms, but needed a spot for a pacifier.
This vest is a winter staple. I wear it all the time.

Upgraded to exit row on my rerouted flight through Charlotte.
Lots of leg room. Love my jet crops.

3. Jet Crop Slims
I wore these pants in the airport because they're comfy and don't have metal. And I could dress them up or down if need be. They're something I can wear ALL day. (They feel kinda like pajamas). I ended up wearing them the next day to walk around the zoo, and pulling them on over my leggings when I was in a hurry to get from a last minute trampoline class to rush to the airport.

4. Athleta ponte pants
These are my dress yoga pants. They packed well and didn't wrinkle. They work well for a dressy business conference.

5. Align leggings
I packed these because they can work as leggings under a dress or workout leggings. It was freezing in DC so I wore them under a dress when I went out for lunch, and wore them to an exercise class that night.

6. &Go Where-To Dress in grey (grey is sold out)
I got this on mark down and where it every week. It packs well and doesn't wrinkle. It's comfy and has a pocket that's perfect for a hotel room card. I like that it dresses up well for a T-shirt dress. I got the short sleeve, so I can slip a sweater on if I'm cold/want to dress it up.

I brought some other activewear: I wore a 5 mile long sleeve on the plane, and got too hot, and got too hot again at the zoo. I brought some purple leggings for trapeze.

 I ended up buying a black Cool Racer Back from Lululemon near the Whitehouse and wore it that night for trampoline class and I think twice since. I'm always looking for a clean black tank.

And I wore everything I packed in my tiny carryon suitcase and laptop bag—except a pair of shorts I brought in case I wanted to run on the treadmill. But I walked so much around D.C. that I decided I didn't need to run. (And I did two more trampoline classes than I'd planned and still had clothes for this :)

Oh, and I missed my shuttle home anyway. There was light snow in the forecast so it took 40 minutes to de-ice my plane going home, so it was really late coming in. #Fail.

TSNY Trampoline classes

Trampoline classes at a trapeze school sounded like THE BEST THING EVER to me. I love trampolines. And I love flying trapeze. So when I had a work trip to an area with a TSNY, after I booked my flight the first thing I did was book a trampoline class. (And trapeze class second.)

I didn't know quite what to expect in this trampoline class, but given my history with trampolines—well I was just hoping it was fun.

The day of, I met the instructor. I told him my goal was to have fun, that I'd never even been on one of these fancy Olympic trampolines before but that I'd spent a lot of time at the trampoline park. I don't think he was expecting much from me.

My class was three people. Me. A girl who had done trampoline as her college PE (that sounds amazing) but was out of practice and a lady who was an instructor at TSNY and was working on cool flips.

Since there's only one trampoline, we all took turns.

The warm-up was to bounce up and down and stay in the middle. And the trampoline was a lot bouncier than I'm used to so this took some calibration. I also use my arms to balance me and the teacher was standing to my side, so he had to move before I could do this. Once I got the hang of that (and staying in the middle, not bouncing off to the side), we practice straddles, pikes, seat drops and back drops. I think the teacher was surprised I could fearlessly do a backdrop.

We tried cradles—back to front. And I'd never been taught the right way to do a lot of these things, so he had to show me where my hands should go etc. But I got back to front and front drops—he was pulling a mattress in front of me.

And then he decided I should work on backflips.

I have never been brave enough to do a backflip. Ever. But I was feeling brave. So we decided to go for it.

And Rich is the best spotter ever.

He would jump with me, count to three, and then I'd try to jump back so my shoulder would land on his shoulder, with my back and butt in a straight line with my shoulder.

After a few rounds of that, I'd try to get up and over. And he'd kind of push me so I'd get in the right—back and over.

And I had the same problem as with my front flips. Not waiting. And rotating too fast. My flips were all rotation. No height.

But I started getting them. And I was so SO CLOSE. I was pumped.

I went back to the hotel and sent the video to my adult gymnastics instructor. And I was high as a kite on adrenaline for a few hours.

Almost doing a backflip when you've been terrified for years is amazing. And that was some amazing spotting.

I ended up taking THREE trampoline classes in three days while I was in D.C.

I came back the next day and took a class with a gymnast. I wanted to get my back flip. Only the second teacher couldn't spot that. I was so disappointed. She had me working on front drops and cradles. And I am not good at them and don't care to do them.

My last day in DC I took another trampoline class after flying trapeze. Another class with Rich. I needed to get my backflip. This class was also three people. Another girl from the flying trapeze class—who used to live in Athens and work at UGA. And there was another lady who worked at TSNY in NY.

The instructor was working on cradles, which is a back drop, and you go up like for a front drop but rotate over so you land on your back again. I can't do the rotation. I think it's all about waiting and getting enough height in the air. I have enough power in my drop but can't.

The other girl really wanted to learn net tricks for flying trapeze. She was working on back drops. They are so scary and hard to learn.

I wanted to work on my backflip.

(Thanks Nadia for the video) 

I didn't quite get it. Either it wasn't as good as a few days ago (or I was tougher on myself. The first time I was so thrilled just to be making progress, so not as tough on myself.) And then I worked on front flips. I don't know how to land them. I was trying to stick the landing. Like on a mat. But with a trampoline you just bounce. Haha. That's what I learned.

I love these classes and wish I could find one in Georgia. I found a gym that does have trampoline classes—but more for kids. I messaged them and they told me about their open gym. Not interested.

Verdict: Trampoline classes—LOVED. Need in my town.