Category: Fitness, Health, Happiness

  • A Little Relaxation

    A Little Relaxation

    waves

    Every now and then go away,

    have a little relaxation,

    for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer.

    -Leonardo Da Vinci

    wave jumping

     

    Happy Memorial Day.

    I hope you got to enjoy some rest this holiday weekend!

    The kids and I spent ours sitting by the lifeguard chair…

     

    lifeguard chair

    …making faces out of sand…

    sand monster

    … getting sand on faces.

     

    sand beard

     

    The water was (mind-numbingly, ankle-numbingly) cold but that doesn’t stop this crazy train.

     

    cass water

     

    ‘Cause, you know. It just makes the sand feel so much warmer.

     

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    I really needed the space and the sunshine to clear my head, but now it’s back to work 🙂

    How was your Memorial Day?

     

    Me and Cass beach self-portrait

     

  • Sprigs Apparel: Yoga. Life. Organic. (Review)

    Sprigs Apparel: Yoga. Life. Organic. (Review)

    Sprigs skirted flare crochet pants

    Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only.

    Fashion is in the sky, in the street,

    fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live,

    what is happening.

    -Coco Chanel

    So, I’ve lost a few inches ’round the waist. Which is, generally speaking, a good thing. Except for the fact that last year, in a bout of fevered spring cleaning, I got rid of all those clothes I was hanging on to in case I ever lost that 20 pounds.

    Of course, now I’ve lost about 25, and just about everything I own is about 2 sizes too big. I look like a kid dressing up in mom’s too-big clothes.

    I don’t mind too much (obviously), and in a weird sort of cosmic way I think I needed to let go of those clothes to make room for changes in my life.

    But the few clothes I do own that fit my current body? I wear all. the. time. So they need to be 1) comfy 2) versatile 3) hardy 4) awesome.

    One of the items in very heavy rotation was sent to me from Sprigs, a truly awesome line of insanely comfortable yoga wear that claims to “free you from the tyranny of the ordinary.”

    We believe at Sprigs that the environmental challenge is global. Our producer of our organic products in northern China abides by the highest eco standards, including organically and family farmer grown cotton, soy-based inks, and recycled paper and plastic in all its packaging.

    Love that. Love the clothes even more. Check out these unique, edgy, pretty organic cotton & hemp pieces:

     

    sprigs organic yoga wear

     

    I pretty much need every one of those items.

    The Sprigs organic skirted flare pants with crochet detailing is one of my new favorite things to wear. It’s versatile: the top can be folded way over to skirt length so I can wear it on my way to yoga without feeling like my ASSets are on display. Or a less aggressive fold turns them into a basic pair of black pants that’s both flattering and pretty. I wore them to a charity fashion show I volunteered for since they’d be quick to get in and out of between fittings (that’s why I have on so much makeup in that top photo, FYI) and as you can see, they looked plenty classy for some impromptu shots before the show.

    Usually athletic/yoga pants are a pain for me because if they fit in the waist, they tend to be too short. These pants are a perfect fit for me as-is, but are easily trimmed if you needed them a bit shorter. And the waist is so comfortable— no elastic band, not at all grabby, stretchy but still structured enough that they’re not slipping by end of day (even if you’re in and out of them a dozen times, like I was).

    While the size small pants were perfect for me, I feel like the tops don’t flatter me as much. I have to size down to fit my hummingbird chest so I’m not flashing anybody, and the tight fit, while comfortable, I don’t think is a great look on me. I still have a ways to go around my midsection and I have pretty broad shoulders. The medium probably would have been too big up top, though, so I’ll just layer a loose tee when I’m not in yoga class.

    I do like them, though. The graphic on the back is just my style and the straps don’t cut in to my man shoulders at all which is nice. Maybe if I work on those abs a bit more they’ll fit me better 🙂

     

    Sprigs slimming camiSprigs slimming supplex cami

    sprigs slimming supplex cami w/ a twist  slimming supplex cami w/ a twist

     

    Ignore the weird sun glare and lack of focus… I think Maverick was trying to be artsy.

    So, yeah, I’m currently that mom who lives in her yoga clothes right now.

    I don’t mind… my yoga clothes are full of awesome.

    In addition to yoga gear, Sprigs carries:

    • Banjees wrist wallets, which are like fashionable wristbands you can tote stuff around in (think keys, money and ID, iPod). They come in a bunch of styles, including organic cotton and recycled fabric.
    • Earbags bandless ear warmers. Perfect for running in cooler weather and wind.
    • Cute beanie hats, infinity scarves, cold weather hats and neck gators, gloves (texting, with pockets, or wrist warmer fingerless varieties) and really comfy looking soft visor hats.

     

    A word to the wise: life’s too short to wear boring clothes, even to the gym or while sitting at home blogging. Just because I’m hangin’ in my comfy pants doesn’t mean I have to look frumpy! Just because I’m stylin’ doesn’t mean I’m not comfy!

    Love Sprigs for the pretty details, for the fact that I can dress them up or safely sweat up a storm in them, for the crazy comfy fit and of course for the eco-sensibility. A little on the pricey side, but totally worth it for the earth-friendliness and cozy-meets-stylish versatility of the pieces.

     

    Mega shoutout to Sprigs for sending some “refreshingly original” duds for me to try out and review. All opinions were formed in my own brain.

     

  • NUX USA Activewear

    NUX USA Activewear

    NUX Dash Racer Cami

    I wear my sort of clothes

    to save me the trouble of deciding which clothes to wear.

    —Katherine Hepburn

    As I’ve mentioned once or twice or a dozen times before, I’m super picky about clothes. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE CLOTHES and I’ll happily try stuff on (I was in a charity fashion show yesterday and playing dress up with all the different, extravagant styles in her trunk was the most fun I’ve had in a long time).

    But if I’m buying clothes, I really need them to be versatile. I need them to work with other stuff I already own (and 85% of that is grey or black). I need them to be quality so I don’t have to replace them in a season— I’m not into disposable fashion, at all.

    I also like my clothes to be somewhat edgy and distinct, but not so “on trend” that I can’t wear it five years from now.

    I am somewhat of a pain in the rear. I’m totally capable of spending a day in the mall trying stuff on and walking out with one thing. Probably a black tank top. I own like 20 of those.

    I have particular issues with athletic clothing. I’m leggy, so shorts tend to look too short and pants… are also often too short. I’ve got nothing going on in the chestal region, so I usually have the choice of either buying small enough that I’m not flashing people (and looking sausage-esque around the midsection), or big enough to accommodate my middle and risking showing nip when in downward dog.

    NUX sent me an outfit to try out, and I’ve pretty much been wearing it nonstop.

    I wore it to NYC for an event with Fitness Magazine (more on that later). Here I am with Mia Hamm. Yes. MIA HAMM.

     

    with Mia Hamm #FitBlogNYC

    The top (Dash Balance Racer Cami, pictured at top) is badass. Tight enough where I need it to be, loose in the waist and long enough to cover my bum. Plus, super comfy and sweat wicking with a touch of cheeky tough.

    The V-Fitness Pants are beyond comfy; I am barely even aware of them. They are made with microfiber nylon and spandex giving them a sheen which is super flattering. They’re nice and long and I love the flared leg. I received the pants in black and pink; I’ve been wearing the pink to yoga but the black…
     

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    The black I wear everywhere along with the top. (And my new Oakleys, which are pretty much surgically attached to my head.)

    I’ve probably washed these pants a dozen times since I received them a little less than a month ago, and they still look like new, no compromise in the shape or sheen. And wearing them all day doesn’t stretch them all weird in the knees, either (this is a pet peeve of mine).

    Sizewise, I usually wear a medium to accommodate my shoulders and leg length. I gambled on smalls with my NUX gear and it fits perfectly.

    BONUS: NUX is made in the USA.

    According to their website, 95% of the clothing Americans wear is imported. That’s freaking insane.

    Buy local, everyone. Please. Keep money in the community, keep quality standards high, keep shipping emissions to a minimum. That’s just common sense.

    By now you’ve heard my spiel about “you get what you pay for” a million times. Here it is again: there’s no such thing as cheap. Disposable fashion hurts the earth, hurts workers who don’t get paid what they should, and hurts quality standards. NUX isn’t “cheap” and it isn’t cheaply made. That said, I think it’s on par with or even a little less expensive than comparable quality activewear.

     

    Photobucket

    I love, love, love their mission statement.

    NUXOLOGY
    To be pro peace and anti nothing.
    To lead with my heart and follow with my mind.
    To honor humility and be humbled by honorable people.
    To choose to dance through life with all of my imperfections.
    To cultivate compassion for the world by having compassion for myself.

    More NUX offerings (aka my birthday wishlist):

     

    NUX Activewear

     

    Love! Wear. Recommend. Get some.

     

    Disclosure: I received an outfit from NUX to try out for review purposes. All opinions are my own.