NEW YEARS GOAL: FITNESS

Fitness as a New Year's Resolution? So original! Ha. But bear with me...

In 2014, I ran my first half marathon, and in 2015 my goal is to run a 10k and another half marathon.

It seems to me that the most common New Year's resolution is to get in shape. Right around Thanksgiving I injured my knee and it was pretty much impossible for me to exercise for a month. The injury, paired with the cold weather and Holidays really knocked my health off track. I've been pushing myself to work out more over this Christmas break, and I plan on keeping it up through the new year (and hopefully for, well, forever!). Like I've mentioned a million times before on this blog, new fitness gear is the most motivating way to get me to the gym. Right now is a great time to stock up because of all the post-holiday sales going on.

Tank, Victoria's Secret $29 - Long Sleeve, GapFit $45 - Vest, J. Crew $80 (+ 40% off*)

Leggings, Athleta $60 (+25% off*) - Sports Bra, Hurley $19 - Scarf, 14th & Union $10

Beanie, Zella $34 - Socks, Z by Zella $10 - Mat, Nike $80 (similar)

*As of 12/26 J. Crew and Athleta both have additional percentages off the sale price. 

Of the above, I already snagged the long sleeve, vest, and mat. All three of them have been excellent products, so allow me to elaborate:

Long Sleeve- I have not stopped talking about how much I absolutely love the long sleeve tee from Gap, it is so comfortable and I wear it around the house and running errands all the time. 

Vest - The vest is fantastic because it is not technically athletic wear so I can wear it with jeans, but it's easy to throw on to and from the gym. 

Mat- I recently upgraded from a cheap yoga mat to a nice Nike one. For once, I was not sliding all over my mat during yoga because the grip is astronomically better. I use my mat all the time at home for HIIT workouts, yoga, abs, etc. I can't find my exact mat online, but I found another similar Nike mat. 

Now get out and get sweaty!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. 

FALL FITNESS

This month I signed up for Classpass, which is a service that lets you pay a monthly fee and you can take unlimited classes at participating gyms and studios. The only exception is you can't visit the same studio more than 3 times in a month. So far it's working out really well! If you want to give different types of workouts a try without committing to an expensive fee, I definitely recommend it. I finally got to try Surfset, which was so much fun. With the weather cooling down, I've been on the hunt for light weight jackets and sweatshirts to pop on during my walk to and from the gym. I especially am digging ones that you could throw on with jeans and flats as well. I also love wide headbands or beanies to keep my ears warm if I am going to an early morning or late night class. On top of that, most of my workout wardrobe is very bright neons, but I really love this burgundy top for fall (plus it's 50% off!). 

Sweatshirt, H&M $30 - Tank, Patagonia $24 - Pants, Adidas $45

Shoes, Nike $80 - Bag, Forever 21 $30 - Headband, Under Armour $12

Water Bottle, Lifefactory $20 - Cleansing Wipes, Neutrogena $7 - Kind Bars

OCTOBER !

I feel like I start every month this way... but wow! I cannot believe it is already October! Where did 2014 go? I love the Fall and Winter because there is constantly holidays to decorate for. I already picked up a few halloween decorations for our little abode.  Now if only it would cool down so I could break out the sweaters and boots!

Bra Set, North $99 - Stripe Tee, Uniqlo $30 - Colorblock Sweater, BlackFive $29

Sneakers, Nike $85 - Nail Polish, 'Mandarin Orange' Marc Jacobs $18 - Phone Case, Etsy $20

Earrings, 14th & Union $10 - Candle, Voluspa $24 - Bag, Marc by Marc Jacobs $325

Pillow, Global Bazaar $86 - Mug, ThumbsUp! $14 - Lipstick, 'All The Way' Marc Jacobs $30

WHAT I LOVE LATELY PART 2

After putting together the graphic for this post, I realized I have been making some sporty purchases lately. Kinda funny, cause when I would play Spice Girls when I was younger, I was always forced to be sporty spice, since I played soccer and have brown hair. I always wanted to be Baby Spice since she had a cool swing on their tour bus in Spice World (best movie ever), but my blonde friend never let me. Siggggghhhh. These days though, I am embracing my inner Sporty Spice. Maybe I'm being influenced by the World Cup, or my subconscious is freaking out about the half marathon I signed up for... who knows!

1. Old Navy Tank ($17) - I bought this in stripes and white because I like it so much. It's loose, but not too slouchy, and has a nice high neckline.
2. Italy Poster (Free!)  - I spied this poster in an apartment on a home tour and have been searching for it ever since. Brittany over at Brittany Makes made a free printable version in a size for Ikea frames. Ikea frames an insanely affordable, but the sizes are European standard frame sizes, so rarely do they fit any art I buy. Thank you Brittany!!
3. Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over Moisturizer ($12) - I switched over to this gel moisturizer for the warmer months. The gel feels cool and is very hydrating without being greasy. It smells really nice too! The container looks small, but I use it daily and have gone through half in about two months.
4. Nike Flex Experience ($60) - I believe in buying a good pair of sneakers for running, so I don't like to wear my nice running shoes for walking around the city. I decided to get a less expensive pair of Nike's just for walking, and I have worn these almost every day since I got them. They are SO comfortable.
5. Gap Legging Jean ($35 - On Sale!) - Denim is an item I believe is worth the investment. That being said, I have tried a lot, a lot, a lot of luxury brands and many of them were not worth the price. I still love Citizens and Hudsons, but holy moly, these Gap legging jeans are probably the most comfortable jeans I've ever purchased. They are a sturdy denim, but also very stretchy. I was worried they would stretch too much, but I have worn these 5 or 6 times and they have stretched out very minimally. I legit could probably do the splits in these jeans, if I could do the splits to begin with.
6. J. Crew Sweater ($15 - On Sale!) - Summer in San Francisco is sort of a joke. It is one of the foggiest times of the year, so lightweight sweaters are necessary. I like the 3/4 sleeve on this J. Crew one, and the athletic stripes on the arms. Plus, the sale price is AMAZING.

SUMMER FITNESS ESSENTIALS

After being cooped up in the gym all winter and fall, I can't wait to get back to running outdoors, hiking, yoga, and tennis. Plus, I hate working out in heavy clothing so I'm glad to be back to shorts and tanks as well. A few key points in summer activewear:

• If you're going on a long run, make sure to wear socks specifically designed for running. In the heat, your feet will swell and sweat more, making you more prone to blisters. Running socks have extra padding in blister areas to keep your feet safe
• Wear compression shorts under your running shorts. I have a pair of Nike shorts with built in spandex, and the Target pair below has them built in too. It will save you from chafing.
• If you're using an exercise mat, make sure to clean it. All that sweat will make it stinky and full of bacteria. You don't want all that on your face.
• PUT ON YOUR SUNSCREEN! Duh. I have embraced my pale bay area complexion, and I put on sunscreen everyday. It is especially essential if you're going to be active outdoors all day. Coola makes a great face sunscreen that is not too heavy or greasy.

Tank, Athleta $39 - Water Bottle, Miu Color $19

Running:
Socks, Thorlo $15 - Shorts, C9 by Champion $19 - Sunscreen, Coola $32 - Sports Bra, Nike $35
Yoga:
Mat Cleaner, Manduka $10 - Headwrap, Urban Outfitters $16 - Pants, Zella $48 - Mat, Gaiam $22

Since it is obviously very important to stay hydrated, especially during the hotter months, I'm going to take this moment for a PSA: Do not buy plastic water bottles. One time use or resusable, just stay away from them. Although tons of companies touted removing Bisphenol-A (BPA) from their plastics to make them safe to drink out of, the reality is they exchanged them with other harmful chemicals. Just stick to glass or stainless steal okay? There are so many cute options. I even found five for you so you don't have to do any work.

Camelback $24 - Dopper $28 - BKR $30 - Swell $35

POSTGRAD LOVES: FITNESS TRACKERS

Buying a Fitbit has changed my life. Seriously. I think everyone should have some form of a fitness tracker to realize how very sedentary our lives are. 

For me, I thought I was mildly active. I walk at least a mile to and from the bus stop to get to work, and I try to work out at least a few times a week. When you first get a Fitbit, it is automatically set at a 10,000 step per day goal. I had a hard time reaching it. I realized that even though I felt like I walked pretty far to get to work, that was a result of the fact that I never had to walk anywhere before moving to San Francisco. Watching how many steps I had taken each day encouraged me to start walking the full two miles to work and back and to try and get moving after work instead of watching tv. I also love that on days that I walk a lot of steps, I don't feel the need to do heavy cardio. Plus, it tracks my net calories so I can know what a healthy amount for me to be eating is based on my activity for the day. And you will be surprised! I eat ~2400 calories on very active days. The idea is just to balance.

There are three major contenders: Fitbit Flex, Nike Fuel Band, and Jawbone UP. From my own research and for my own necessities, the Fitbit was the best fit (haha!) for me. But I suggest checking in to what each one offers to see which will work best for you. 

No matter what, the end goal is to get you moving, and hopefully lead to a happier and healthier life. Who doesn't want that?

FOR HIM.

If you are lucky in love, give your man a little pampering this Valentine's Day. Yeah, okay it is a Hallmark holiday for girls, but I look at it as another day to show my wonderful boyfriend how incredible he is. If like you are on a tight budget (like me!), do something thoughtful like packing a picnic and going on a hike, a DIY project, or try out some personalized and affordable gifts from websites like Etsy. Usually girls get treated the other 364 days a year, so return the favor! If you do have some cash to spare, a gift that he will really enjoy is a great option. He loves sports? Get him a jersey and tickets. Manly Man? Classic shave kit. Easy Peezy Lemon Squeezy!

This Guy Loves Bacon Sweatshirt, Etsy $28
Sunglasses, Persol $360
Grey Sweatshirt, Patagonia $99
Shaving Kit, Art of Shaving $60
Bow Tie, JCrew $55
Iphone Case, Vans $20
Scarf, Seth Roberts $18
Beanie, River Island $13
Cologne, Hermes $107
Pint Glasses, Etsy $35
Nike Fuel Band, Nike $149
NFL Jersey, NFL Shop $100

TERRIFIC TOPPERS

Hats are a fantastic way to accessorize your outfit. Unfortunately for us Californians, It's been a constant 80 degrees since the summer ended so cold weather hats aren't a very practical purchase. However, for you ladies that live in a colder climate, boost your hat collections with my picks below!

Girly Girl: Sequin Bow Hat, $26 Asos - Pearl Beanie, $21 River Island - Maroon Knit Bow, $21 Asos
Hippie Girl: Multicolor Hat, $30 Swell - Ombre Beanie, $10 Monki - Fur Trapper Hat, $48 French Connection

City Girl: Fuscia Turban Hat, $48 Piper Lime - Beret, $35 Chicnova.com - Cream Beanie, $24 Top Shop  

Sporty Girl: Grey Knit Cap, $18 Asos - Black Skull Cap, $20 Nike - Fleece Headband, Scala $6