Back Talk Far North Dallas

Mary Kay 5K this weekend

If you're one of those health nuts who's into that whole exercise thing, the annual Mary Kay 5K is this Saturday, Sept. 6. The race, which raises money for awareness about domestic violence, starts bright and early at 8 a.m. in front of the Mary Kay headquarters.
And if you plan on traveling through the neighborhood during the race, make sure you check the surrounding road closures first.

A Labor Day respite: Free Day of Yoga

Yoga studios across the metro area are offering free yoga classes this coming Monday, Sept. 1. The goal of the event is to allow people to try yoga for the first time, try a new instructor, or try a different type of yoga. (I had no idea how many types there were until I read this incredibly helpful Real Simple article — and this list isn't exhaustive.)

The complete schedule includes a few right around our neighborhood — try one at Ranjaya's Yoga at Midway and Spring Valley, Telos Fitness Center on the Tollway at Spring Valley, Sunstone Yoga on Preston at Belt Line and Yoga for Life at Preston and 635.   

The day ends with a giant sun salutation class in the new One Arts Plaza downtown. Namaste.

Crypto outbreak cause: high gas prices, reporters?

No promises, but school's just about to start and I hope this will be my last mention of Cryptosporidium, or Crypto, the diarrhea-causing parasite that has hit area pools and made many neighbors —adults and kids— sick. Today's Morning News contains a detailed piece on the various causes in the relative skyrocketing of Crypto cases in Dallas (Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties have confirmed more than 400 cases of cryptosporidiosis this year – mostly from the past few weeks. Last year, there were 62).

Suggested causes include increased gas prices; (no lie: "high gas prices prompted more people to stay closer to home during summer break this year. And when summer temperatures soared, many of them took to the water," according to Zach Thompson, director of the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services); and increased publicity (glad to know I did my part). Essentially, reporting about the virus prompted doctors to check for a cause of illness that was previously "under the radar", some believe.

New Sprouts opens in Far North Dallas

The new Sprouts off Coit and Campbell has officially opened. If you haven't been there yet, you should. There are tons of great grand opening specials, like two cartons of berries for $4, and three bottles of wine for $10 (Hey, when else can you restock your entire wine rack for just $20?).
The grocery store specializes in healthy food, and I did spot a lot of organic items--but what really impressed me was the in-store nutrition center. There are sprawling rows of vitamins, herbs, supplements, and health books. There's also an information desk, in case you need help deciphering the difference between B-12 and Beta-Carotene. And there are weekly free health seminars and classes, too. Just check the Web site for more details.

Neighborhood deals: Free facials at Nordstrom

On Wednesday, July 23, you can get free 40-minute facial when you swing by the Clarins Skin Care Center at the Nordstrom inside the Galleria. Experts there will analyze your skin type first, then customize a facial that's right for you. The complimentary offer runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.--but space is limited, so if you're interested make sure you call and reserve your seat ASAP: 972.702.0055.

Restaurant review: Gooey's no-no vs. nonfat yogurt

After gobbling up California rolls and platefuls of pad Thai at Asian Mint (my subjective opinion is that their pad Thai is the best in town), my husband and I decided we still wanted dessert, but we needed to make it a light one. Luckily, Gooey's is just down the street in the Preston Forest Shopping Center.

I glanced at a countertop display, reminding customers that their nonfat, kosher and nearly lactose-free frozen yogurt is only 9 calories per ounce. The small size is 5 ounces (which is a lot more than it sounds), so that's a 45-calorie, 0-fat gram dessert. We figured this calorie count applied to the no-no yogurt — no fat and no sugar — so stuck with those options. (Gooey's usually has about 10 flavors offered at a time, and four of those are no-no. The yogurt flavors rotate every few weeks.)

When my husband was paying for his 5-ounce no-no chocolate, he asked about the calorie difference between the no-no yogurts and the nonfat yogurts. The cashier told him that no-no yogurt has 10 calories per ounce, and nonfat yogurt has 9 calories.

Fitness summer camp for teens

Sure, there are plenty of summer camps for the wee ones, but there's not a whole lot of options for teens. If you've got teens in the house who are certified couch potatoes, consider getting them off the video games and into a summer fitness camp. A Better U Fitness Gym at Valley View Center offers a one month boot camp program for teens age 13 to 18. Enrollment is open right now for summer classes--just check the website for more details, or call 214.280.6933.

Sephora and MAC makeup lessons this weekend at Galleria

Ladies, we all know applying makeup is one of those things that looks a lot easier than it is. But we also know that when done properly, makeup can work wonders. If you want to lean some tricks and tips from the pros, head to the Galleria this weekend.
On Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. there will be a handful of makeup artists at Sephora doing live demos in the store. Now you can finally learn what all those different little brushes are for.
Or if you call the MAC counter at Macy's (972.702.0055) you can sign up for a seminar with their Pro Team. These makeup artists have worked backstage at some of the biggest fashion shows, and they'll be helping you translate those trends into easy-to-do everyday looks. Just call for seminar times and to reserve your seat.

Wellness Expo & EarthFest in Addison this weekend

If you're interested in learning more about alternative medicine or ways to go green, you might want to check out the Wellness Expo & EarthFest at the Addison Conference Center this weekend.
You can sign up for a reflexology session, hear a talk about Chinese detox and cleansing, or shop for essential oils believed to have some healing powers. Or if that's not your cup of tea, you can get some ideas about how to make your home green without breaking the bank, or find out what local businesses are also eco-friendly. Check out the event's website for ticket prices and a detailed schedule.