OOO #32: Outfits, Ohio, and Other Things I Like

Actually I went to badminton, the best yoga studio on the planet, and my seltzer power rankings

Outfits

“Are you going to go play some tennis later?”

Ohio

The first place I felt really at home here in Columbus was spot 17 at my yoga studio. I’ve talked about how much I love this place before, but this week, something really wonderful happened to it. My three favorite teachers bought the German Village Studio from Give Yoga and opened AYA Yoga. AYA stands for As You Are, and I had a wonderful time both at their Grand Opening and at my first class in the new studio.

Jess, Marla, and Alex are some of the coolest, chillest, kindest, and most welcoming people I have ever met, and they have transformed an already lovely space into something very magical. As instructors, they have always emphasized the importance of each of us being okay with our own practice, and I love that they brought this ethos into the whole of their new business, including its name.

I’m so thankful that this business is in our community. If you are thinking for a second about trying a yoga class and are intimidated in the slightest, come to AYA. It’s wonderful, and they have all sorts of classes for you to try out. Come with me—or don’t if that’s not your thing! But definitely tell your friends!!

**Ohioans: Don’t forget to Vote on Issue 1 on August 8!!**

Other Things I Like

Early in the pandemic, my workplace had us play this game where the staff sent in photos of the contents of their fridge, and then we had to guess whose fridge belonged to whom. The pandemic was an odd time.

As soon as my fridge popped up on the shared screen of zoom, I became aware of how vulnerable it made me feel; I did zero cleaning or staging before I took the photo, not only because I am lazy but also because it did not occur to me to do so. I do also think that fridges are a deceptively personal and oft-disorganized space—unless you own a stake in The Home Edit—that you probably wouldn’t want your colleagues observing and judging. I always tell guests to make themselves at home (and I mean it), but I do brace myself a little when someone grabs the handle to the refrigerator door.

Anyway, as someone who has apparently has fridge anxiety™️, I was worried about getting roasted by my colleagues in the chat for a variety of reasons. And I was called out, nearly immediately, but not for any reason I had anticipated: “All of that seltzer? That’s definitely Romano.” It was the fastest anyone guessed throughout the game.

You might think that there isn’t that much seltzer in this, but did you see the massive box of LaCroix in the back? I also guarantee there was another case somewhere else in the kitchen.

I suppose sparkling water is part of my #brand, so here is my current grocery store sparkling water power rankings.

Saratoga Sparkling Spring Water. I bought a four-pack on a whim the other day because the blue bottles reminded me of what the characters on “Frasier” drank (they are not the same shape though, so if anyone knows what they were drinking on “Frasier,” inquiring minds want to know). My husband and I agree that Saratoga is our new favorite sparkling water. It isn’t heavy on taste (it has a low TDS, total dissolved solids) BUT it has the crispest bubbles I’ve ever had. It’s light and delightful, and the bubbles were still strong the morning after. If you’re a sparkling water aficionado and you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend it.

Topo Chico. I love Topo Chico. It has a nice mineral taste with very strong bubbles, and it might be the most refreshing drink one can have on a summer day. I was first introduced to it by a dear friend (and reader!) at what might have been the best beach weekend of my life, and I have been on the hunt for it ever since. It JUST popped up in my local grocery store, and if you heard a high-pitched squeal the day before the July 4th, that was me at Kroger.

San Pellegrino. This choice is both a combination of both sentimentality and taste. I do like water with a high (healthy) TDS, and San Pellegrino has quite a bit of minerality to it. It’s bubbles are smoother and way smaller than Topo Chico’s. San Pellegrino is a classic for a reason, and it will always have a place at my dinner table.

La Croix: Key Lime and Limoncello. LaCroix has a special place in my heart. It made me feel cool and adult and like a full fledged-millennial in 2013, and then it quickly became a permanent fixture of my personality. Now, I must drink it every day at school before whatever my most challenging class is to give me an extra boost of confidence. I usually go for Razz-Cranberry or Pasteque if I need a generic flavor for the day, but Key Lime and Limoncello are my go-to right as I get home. In fact, I think my perfect wind-down from school is sliced baguette and garlic olive oil, apple slices, an aged cheddar, a little honey, a crisp limoncello LaCroix, and an episode of “The Great British Baking Show.” What I particularly like about both Key Lime and Limoncello is that they a have warm vanilla flavor to them in combination with their citrus bases, and I find that complexity satisfying.

Last but not least, I would be remiss if I didn’t include a Target brand seltzer, as they were a source of great joy and hydration while I lived in DC. Side note: I lived across the street from a Target, and all of my self-restraint today comes from learning how not to spend endless amounts of time and money there everyday. Target really excels at interesting blended flavors: I think my favorite flavor is the Coconut Pineapple, but I also do love Ginger Peach. My husband on the other hand is still mourning the loss of the grapefruit flavor, which he contends is the only flavored sparkling water that actually tastes like grapefruit, rather than ~generic citrus.~

DC edition: Special shout out to the Giant brand blueberry seltzer, which reminds me of Pepsi Blue (the greatest soda in the history of mankind, other than Barq’s Root Beer) but without any of the sugar. My Giant rarely had it stocked, but when it did, I ALWAYS bought a case, no matter how many other groceries I had.

After watching the “France” episode of Zac Efron’s “Down to Earth,” I am all in on mineral water. If you’ve got a favorite sparkling water or mineral water, please let me know (and no, I haven’t tried Gwyneth’s Mountain Valley yet). The more TDS/minerality, the better!

Tangentially related: After ordering a seltzer at a bar (a classic Romano move), I was polite to the point of indecisiveness when the bartender asked what I wanted in it. I just said “any citrus,” and this is what I got. I deserved it.

That’s it! Have a great rest of your week!