Dance (on a shipping container) or run a marathon like no one's watching.

The answer to: "What are you thinking at Heartbreak Hill (aka Mile 21)"?

Why her mom runs.

Never, never give up. Our Detroit ambassador, Sue (on the left), ran the marathon with her aunt Sue, who finished chemo 4 weeks ago.

Who supports you in a marathon? Family, friends, and strangers.

It was No Stopping Monday.

"The world" and cookies. When life gives you lemons, you know what to do.

Love notes come in all forms.

Canadian Josh Cassidy near the top of the hill, before finishing to break the world record in the men's wheelchair race by two seconds.

Overheard at Heartbreak Hill: Go banana, go!

Neighbours: good for borrowing cups of sugar from, hosing you down in the middle of a marathon, and...

...handing you water when you need it the most.

How to cheer: make signs. Bring music. Scream your heart out.

Don't forget to have fun along the way.

With temperatures hitting the mid-80s (Canadian translation = around 30), the heat was intense, even as a bystander.

Friends don't let friends run up Heartbreak Hill alone. (Bare feet: noted.)

Boston ambassador Wayne Levy has logged more than 93,000 miles of running in his life (to date).

Go Wayne, go!

Molly from our community team with her run mantra...

... and running with her heart the next day.

To everyone who participated in the Boston Marathon this year: you inspire us. Thank you for the goosebumps.

With Independence and Canada Days upon us again, now is the time for lighting short fuses attached to paper tubes of gunpowder and running away as fast as we can to enjoy them from a 'safe' distance. The debate over whether fireworks are a valuable tradition or a dangerous nuisance is nearly as old as the countries themselves. Let's make sure we all stay safe this year.

injury

Just like oil and water, fireworks and alcohol don’t mix. Children and fireworks don’t mix well either, kinda like nitrogen and glycerin (they can look at each other but don’t let them touch).

pollution

Pollution around fireworks celebrations always raises red flags (and it’s not just the plastic cups and used explosives). Stopping to think about it, firing a cardboard tube with gunpowder into the air must be one of the most inventive (and socially acceptable) ways of littering.

fire risk

Canada Day’s and Independence Day’s fireworks cause greater concern than their mid-winter, New Year’s counterparts (especially as droughts stretch across parts of the continent) . If you’re celebrating with fireworks at home (rather than enjoying the public displays) make sure you take safety precautions. Pyrotechnicians - that’s the fancy term for fireworks professionals - take factors like wind strength and direction into account. They also shoot their displays higher into the air to reduce the chance of live embers falling on dry grass and leaves.

think safe

before

• Check out your local fireworks regulations.
• Don’t experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for dousing on fireworks that don't ignite.
• Choose a clear area, away from houses, dry leaves or grass.

during

• Make sure everyone's out of range before lighting.
• Keep unlit fireworks away from live fireworks.
• Never have any portion of your body over a firework while lighting.
• Never light fireworks in a container (especially glass or metal container).

after

• Don't try to relight malfunctioning fireworks.
• Wait 30 minutes before picking up used fireworks.
• Soak old fireworks in water before throwing them away.

Happy Candepence Day weekend everybody.

We all made a big fuss over Kate's and William's royal nuptials. Your mom's kind of a big deal too, so treat her like royalty. For all the meals she's cooked, all the eggy chins she's wiped, why not put a little extra effort into mom's brunch this mother's day? After all, it's the most important meal of the weekend.

hollandaise sauce recipe

Eggs Benedict (benny to his friends) with Hollandaise sauce really captures the regal extravagance of a weekend breakfast. Hollandaise gets an unfair rap as being temperamental and, frankly, not worth the effort. If you're willing to give him a second chance, this quick and dirty version of the classic is as easy as it is delicious.

ingredients:

• 3 egg yolks (save the whites for a pavlova)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• salt to taste

directions:

1. Combine yolks and lemon juice in a blender.
2. Heat the butter in a pot until it starts to bubble.
3. With the blender on, add the butter slowly (if you add the butter too quickly, you'll cook the egg and you sauce will be lumpy).
4. Taste and add the salt and lemon as needed (I like a lemony sauce).

one more thing

Need more reasons to quickly make eggs benny?

• It’s easy to prepare in advance. This 'How to Poach an Egg' video offers tips for poaching eggs up to two days in advance.
• It’s easy to dress up. A little Hollandaise sauce and a sprinkle of herbs creates a real wow factor.
• It’s easy to justify. Sure, it's a little more indulgent than your usual breakfast but all that protein is great for muscle building (and great motivation to go for another run).

Do you have bigger plans to celebrate your mom? How will you make this year more memorable than last?

chip's thoughts on fatherhood

A parent is someone who every child models themselves off of. Either they want to be the same or the opposite. In most cases it is a combination or more likely a rejection as a teenager with acceptance at 30 and then idolization after children. This is what my father was to me. A nutball and a hero.

Fatherhood is about mentoring and being a model for children to grow into. It is about patience and listening and not getting wrapped up in the emotion that naturally occurs.

My relationship to my dad is excellent. We both change as we age so we both know life is short and our relationship with each other is the most important there is. I love the relationship and learning that my children get from a more mature, mellow grandfather. Their relationship inspires me to be a granddad (some day).

We did not invent the manifesto together but many of the sayings originated with my dad. Most notably anything to do with living in the moment. He always said the meaning of life is in the moment and nothing else.

meet dennis

lululemon and a professional cycling team: what’s up with that?

Here at lululemon we pride ourselves on being unlike any other company. We continually push ourselves to find creative ways to introduce the world to our culture and our brand. Recently, as a fantastic example, we entered into a supportive relationship with a male professional cycling team, Team Saxo Bank.

Jens getting ready for time trial at the Tour of California

Team Saxo Bank is one of the top ranked teams in the world, competing at the highest level of international competition, and includes many cycling superstars, including Andy Schlek, who is favored to win the Tour De France this year, and Fabian Cancellara, the “it” rider of the this year’s professional cycling scene.

Eric (on the right), our Director of Community shows Team Director Bobby Julich how it’s done

I know what you’re thinking… “Um, last time I checked, lululemon doesn’t make cycling gear.” Right you are, we don’t. What we do though, is make the best technical cross-training apparel in the world, and these guys, being indisputably some of the best athletes in the world, are testing our garments for all of their off-bike training and lifestyle needs and providing us with invaluable feedback for the further development of our mens’ line. Further, as the staple of our culture is yoga and our belief in the benefits of yoga for athletes, we are excited to be introducing yoga to a sports demographic that has not seen much of it as of yet. I think none of us would deny that cycling = some really tight hips.

Regional Community Guru Jacki helping Matti Breschel (team rider) achieve the perfect warrior in our Calabasas store

In the spirit of conversation generation, a group of us lululemoners travelled as a support team with the Saxo Bank team a couple of weeks ago for the Tour of California. Cruising down the Coast of California in our beloved “Vanna” we enrolled fans and riders alike in the excitement that is lululemon. It is truly a thrill to introduce so many European athletes to a brand unlike any other and unlike anything they have ever experienced. From impromptu yoga, to hotel-room pant hemming sessions, to fueling the Team Directors with their morning caffeine, this team is now very clear that support is our mission, in any capacity it is needed.

Jacki, Jessica, and Allison in front of Vanna with Jakob Fugslang and Andy Schlek (team riders)

Welcome Team Saxo Bank to our lululemon family. We look forward to you killing it at the Tour De France in July!

Cycle on,
Allison

Jen is new to Vancouver, so let's do everything we can to make her feel at home here!

Jen kisses her new skates for Rollerderby.

what are your favourite things to do in your free time?

In my free time I love to practice yoga, rollerskate (I play rollerderby) and explore Vancouver since I'm new to town! I'm also actively working on setting up a foundation that teaches yoga to youths, and young women in particular. I believe that yoga can foster self awareness and self confidence which is important during their formative years.

what is the biggest goal you achieved in 2009?

2009 was really a foundation-setting year for me. It is too easy to get into a "rut", and after taking a hard look at my life and considering my goals, I decided to take some risks and go after my dreams. I sold my house, began a yoga teacher training program and was lucky enough to secure a spot in the Olympic Torch Relay.

Jen with the Olympic torch.

who has had the most influence in your life? why?

Family and friends have played key roles in my life, and in particular my mom and dad have been very important. They have always stressed the importance of living unselfishly and honestly, and encouraged exploring creative solutions to any issues I've faced.

8 year old Jen with her baby sister.

what super-power would you most like to have, and why?

I would love to be able to fly. Aside from the thrill of gliding through air, flight would make travel quick, and I could explore new places and visit distant friends on a whim.

what drew you to lululemon? favourite part of your job so far?

lululemon's people and culture drew me to their website, and to a posting for the IT QA team which matched my skills and interests. The people here have made me feel welcome and my manager has encouraged me to acquire the knowledge I need to do my job as I see fit, which is really empowering. I've really enjoyed learning about all of the processes and departments within the company that work together to ensure top quality products and an amazing experience for all our guests. I feel lucky coming to work everyday, and I'm proud to be a part of a company with as much integrity as lululemon!

We need more rockstars (or Rollerderby stars) like Jen on our quickly growing IT team. Spread the word. www.lululemon.com/careers

Tiffany and her store are ready for the holidays! Come in and share a few laughs with your local lululemon.

This holiday season will be my sixth working for lululemon athletica. How time flies.

Like most people, the holidays are a particularly special time of year for me, and I want to tell you why.

Working at a lululemon store over the holidays has lots of special perks - amazing product, complimentary yoga, Starbucks runs, and lots and lots of love and laughter. But more than that, working at a lululemon store over the holidays is being a part of special holiday moments.

It's the guests like you, reading this post, that make my holidays what they are. I get to hear about your families, your friends, your achievements, your stories – each and every day I walk into work.

I get to hear grandparents speaking proudly about their grandchildren; I get to see long wish lists filled with Groove Pants and Remix Lulu Hoodies; I get to experience the fun of picking out the perfect outfit for the perfect boyfriend.

When you shop in our stores this holiday season, or call our Guest Education Centre, make sure you share your stories with the educators that help you. Talk about your family, your friends, your achievements and goals.

This is what makes us love our jobs, and why I truly love the ho-lu-days.

Why do you love the ho-lu-days?

Above are Tiffany's housemates, Fay, Emma, Kelsey, and Sarah, who are giving thanks to each other in little ways.

To most university students, Thanksgiving brings the excitement of going home, spending time with old friends, and eating plenty of real, home-cooked meals.

I have four housemates – Emma, Fay, Kelsey and Sarah – and we live in a little house right near the Queen’s University campus. Similar to most university students, we’re all very excited to go home to see our families and, of course, eat home-cooked meals.

This past Saturday, we received a Facebook message from Emma, which I wanted to share with all of you:

so i’ve decided that we are going to celebrate thanksgiving.

for thanksgiving we all go home and appreciate food and that is definitely great. but i think our celebration (although it will involve food) should also involve thanking each other. so what i will do this week is go around and give everyone little cuecards, and on those cuecards we will have to thank each other for something (coolness, being a person who listens, sharing food, etc.) then i will compile them and we will have a dinner celebration (date and time to be decided) and hand them out.

Although the message was simple, it got right down to the point of Thanksgiving – giving thanks to those who you are grateful for. These four girls are my best friends in the world – but sometimes its easy to forget how much I truly appreciate them – even if its just for their coolness!

I challenge each and every one of you reading this blog to do something similar – take a moment and really give thanks to the people around you. Let them know how much you appreciate their love, time and special characteristics.

We had our Thanksgiving feast on Monday night – and despite the fact it certainly wasn’t a homecooked meal – it might have been the best Thanksgiving dinner I’ve ever had!

Pssst - the Wunder Unders in the photo above are not yet available in stores OR online! We were so excited about the new antidote colour we wanted to give you a sneak peek. Check back soon and we'll keep you updated on their availability.

There are things in life that are always constant, and the Wunder Under is no exception. It's versatility, moisture wicking, gusset, and 4-way stretch are part of the foundation that makes this pair of tights so great, so I thought I'd introduce you to the entire Wunder family!

The Original Wunder: the Wunder Under Crop

They're every yogi's best friend, every runner's confidant, and ever girl's partner in crime. They've been with me around the block, across the country, even between continents; and they've always been comfortable, felt supportive, and helped me take the guess work out of picking the right pair of tights. Did you know they also come in denim luon?

The Wunder Roll Crop

But every so often a girl needs a bit of variety. Meet the original Wunder Under Crops' playful side: the Wunder Roll Crop. The waist band is soft so nothing digs in, and you can adjust the rise to your own preference. In my personal life, having the option for a higher and lower rise in one pair of tights can be the deal-maker in my most uncomfortable of days.

The Wunder Under Crop *Org

When the Wunder Under Crop *Org (organic) came out, I was skeptical as to how they'd measure up to the originals; I was pleasantly surprised. They're made of an organic cotton blend - maintaining my beloved 4-way stretch and they're naturally breathable - but best of all, they don't compromise! Wherever it is in life that I've needed to go, they've supported me every step of the way.

The Wunder Under Pant

It's back. With a full-length leg, they keep me unquestionably grounded. Did you know that reversibility is an option in the original Wunder Under Crops and the Wunder Under Pants? Grey to black - amazing!

The Wunder Groove Pant

And I know you'll welcome the new member of the Wunder family with open arms (I definitely have): the Wunder Groove Pant. The same waist-band as my favourite Grooves paired with the leg of my favourite tights! And they're reversible - it was love at first wear for me!

It's nice to know that what I loved so much from my very first pair of black Wunder Under Crops has been carried out to make a family of tights suitable for pretty much every day of my life. I may never wear non-tights again!

Check out all our Wunder Unders online or visit your local lululemon to meet the fam!

These days it seems we all need a break. We all need a laugh, we all need a break from our lives, and we all need to remember what it is like to be a kid. The past two weekends I was able to escape with my friends and family into a worry free and exceptionally crazy and fun world by means of the 56th annual Over the Line World Championships played on Fiesta Island in San Diego, California.

For those of you that have heard of this legendary tournament, or have even been lucky enough to attend, you know how much ridiculous fun I am talking about. If you haven’t, book your flights for next July to San Diego, it is definitely a spectacle everyone should see and even better participate in at least once in their life. Nearly 1,200 teams composed of men’s and women’s teams ranging from age 21-75 compete every year in this double elimination tournament, and most do not survive past the first day of competition.

The tournament itself attracts a lot of beer, a lot of sun, and the occasional topless woman, but nonetheless serves as a reminder to chill out, play a game, and that life should not be taken too seriously. The game of OTL is played on the beach and can almost be thought of as a combination of baseball, golf and cricket. It is an extremely refined and athletic practice that truly takes years to master. There are 3 players to a team, and the simple object of the game is to hit the ball so that it drops in the sand over the line away from the 3 fielders trying to catch it, which is about 55 feet away from the hitter. If the ball does not travel past the line, it’s an out. The field itself is about 55 feet wide, and as far as you can hit it. Three hits is a run, and any ball that goes past the very last fielder without being touched is a homerun. Seemingly simple, but extremely difficult once you make it past team Hooters or Little Darling’s Showgirls and start playing with the top 10 teams in the world. Literally some people travel all year long to play this game, and I envy them just a little bit.

My team, the “Blonde Beezies” (an amazingly mild OTL team name) has played together for close to 5 years and have set the goal of winning the entire tournament by 2011. Our team collectively has 2 NCAA softball titles, 3 seasons of professional softball, and has only finished in the top 5 of OTL a humbling and sobering one time. We can definitely cover more beach defensively than any team out there, but have been wickedly schooled in the art of OTL hitting. Next year we have vowed to actually practice before the tournament and attempt to refine our hitting.

Despite our shortcomings every year, it is nonetheless my favorite two weekends of the entire summer. My husband and I literally postponed our real honeymoon to play this year. The “Blonde Beezies” placed in the top 10 this year, and most definitely won best dressed thanks to our Electric Orange slipless headbands, Cool Racerbacks, and Coal speed shorts. We were feeling smokin’ haute and were definitely baffling the competition with our outfits alone. The moisture wicking, and coolness of our outfits were absolutely essential on the extremely hot sand, and proved to be much more functional than the bikinis that seems to give other teams sand wedgies and full exposure when diving plays would occur.

Once again disappointed in our finish, the “Blonde Beezies” will nonetheless continue to charge the sands of OTL for years to come and will eventually win this thing. Yet win or lose, we always enjoy the weekend of sun, friends, playtime, beer, occasional Jell-O shots, male followers that heckle our opponents, and truly remembering to take a break from reality and simply enjoy life. Whether you go to this phenomenal tournament to party or compete, everyone at OTL has one thing in common, a smile on their face, most likely a beer in their hand and a cell phone covered in sand and ignoring the outside world. I can’t wait to get back to the sandbox and OTL playground again next year! Maybe the amazingly talented lululemon designers will release a special OTL outfit. A girl can dream right?

My dad is really awesome. His name is Terry Holum but prefers the name T-Hol, to which we all oblige. I inherited a lot of great traits from him like my addiction to chocolate, excessive competitiveness, and an over all laid back sense of life and humor. I love my dad more than anything as he has supported me without fail in every aspect of my life, with the exception of when I once dyed my hair hot pink. Literally it was neon and I was 16, but we've moved on.

He taught me to play baseball, which turned out to be the first love of my life. Taught me to ride a bike. He had innovative ways of making me a better softball player such as teaching me to catch and judge fly balls by launching potatoes out of a "spud gun" in the backyard much to my mom's delight.

He taught me to fight my own battles, when I felt life was unfair, and let me challenge my teachers and coaches on my own. I thus survived AP calculus even though to this day I know Mrs. Wilson hated me and graded my tests on an extreme curve.

In college when softball for the first time in my life was challenging for me, he never let me show an ounce of wavering, and came to every game my freshmen year just to watch me sit on the bench. He told me to prove to the coaches why I should play everyday at practice and be the best cheerleader on the bench. I am not a cheerleader, and this one was tough to hear, but I played the next year and he was right.

When I faced a bout with cancer and had a softball worth of tissue removed from my inner thigh and had to be on crutches for 6 weeks, he made sure I had the top of the line ergonomic crutches that actually had shocks on them and I was able bounce around like "Tigger".

Since I began my career with lululemon I have realized that my dad's love reaches beyond a classroom or baseball diamond, it has surprisingly made its way to a yoga mat. My dad has worked in construction for the past 30 years, built our home from scratch, plays every sport known to man, will only drink Coors Light, which is referred to as "God's Brew" in our house, and is not exactly the portrait of a yogi. Think of Paul Bunyan practicing tree pose, and you can imagine my dad in his first yoga session. Nonetheless every Saturday morning you will find him and my mom tucked in the corner of our La Jolla store practicing yoga with the other guests in our community.

He now brags to the rest of his "God's Brew" drinking crew after slo-pitch softball games of his pain free joints thanks to yoga, which at most times he is met with a lot of laughter and banter. But he proudly shows them the inside of his Metal Vent Tech shirt that says "And make sure to drink a beer or two along the way", and he is right back in there with the studs at Hooley's Pub.

He has found a way to be a part of my life by exploring an area he would never even consider beforehand. He is a man who is comfortable in his ways, and hates the idea of the unknown and change. For him to practice yoga and to say the words "hey get me one of those mandukas so I can get into crow's pose" gives me goose-bumps and truly reminds me how lucky I am to have him as a father. From the softball diamond to the yoga mat, he has been there so hopefully he will be happy at father's day brunch with his new manduka mat instead of golf clubs this year. I am literally getting married in a week from Father's Day, and cannot think of a luckier girl to walk down the aisle on the arm of my daddy. Who by the way requested a yoga session the morning of the wedding to stay calm and centered…gotta love him.

Happy Father’s Day T-Hol, I love you! Namaste.

The Wheel of Life is a really neat exercise I came across in a workshop on boosting energy. It gets you to break up the various areas of your life and then rate them, so you can see your overall satisfaction for each section. The portions that you rate highly bring you joy and the lower rated ones bring stress and drain your energy.

Here is a Wheel of Life from Startup Princess you can use. Fill out each section as you desire, then draw a line across the portion of pie. You will notice the variation of levels and how they don't always line up entirely. I found the best labels for each section were:

• Career

• Physical environment (e.g. your home)

• Money / finances

• Health (this includes mental, physical, diet, exercise etc.)

• Friends and family

• Romance / significant other

• Personal growth / development (learning, study, training etc)

• Fun (recreation, things you love doing!)

At the time I was first doing this exercise, I lived in a small shoebox of an apartment with three other girls and I rated my "environment" as fairly low, like a 3. That was pretty easy to see, but what I didn’t really take note of, was that the apartment was where I spent a lot of my time. The lack of personal space brought stress into my life. As soon as this clicked, I did something about it. Now live in a gorgeous open apartment with an amazing view of Whistler Mountain. Gosh, does this give me a good place to come home to now!

I realized that it's great to have those few areas on your wheel at their peak, but you really need to stop ignoring those areas of your life that you aren’t so thrilled about. They aren't going anywhere. And they are just going to keep draining you till you look them in the eye and straighten them out.