In Spades

Style... in abundance

Life Lately

Flare Leg Jeans Stranger Things tshirt

You guys, how has it been 6 months since I’ve done a Life Lately?!

Home Decor

In my last LL I talked about redecorating my home office.  I ended up purchasing this wallpaper and regret it.  It doesn’t fit the color palette or vibe of our house.  I’m trying to decide if I should paint the accent wall in my office or try another wallpaper.  What I do know, is that I want a deep green hue.

I am super excited for this mirror to arrive.  I also purchased these curtains and this area rug.  Next up is a trip to Palm Springs where I hope to find some treasures at the vintage shops in Cathedral City.

What are your favorite sources for home decor?

Reading, Watching, Listening

I just finished The Trojan Horse Affair podcast and the following books.  I’m loving The Dropout on Hulu.  Highly recommend all for very different reasons.

Fitness

My workout routine can presently be described as “anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly.”  While I adore our Peloton and the Peloton app, it’s opened the door to quick workouts.  I always used to exercise for one hour NO MATTER WHAT.  Now we live in a world where workouts are 20min.  Efficient and preferred, yes.  But is it really doing anything?  First step is to do it consistently.  I do a combo of bodyweight strength, shadowboxing, barre and the bike.  Will report back.

Fashion

I recently did a Fashion Friday about 90s and 00s fashion being the most sought after vintage.  Yes, I too, still cannot wrap my head around the fact that the 2000s are vintage.  These flare leg jeans are from the early aughts and I had fun breaking them out again.  Paired with a long shirt and cardigan because they are definitely low rise.

I hope to make it to this vintage shop the next time I’m in NYC.  In the meantime, I’m coveting a pair of platforms like nobody’s business.  More on that tomorrow…

Fitness Favorites: Workout Clothes & Gear

Workout Clothes 2021Okay, I know what you’re thinking.  A fashion fitness post?

Up until getting a Peloton, I rarely talked about my workout routine.  But after a year of working out every single day, it’s time.  Full disclosure, I’ve been wearing the same workout clothes for YEARS and finally refreshed my collection.

It’s so true: new workout clothes certainly make a girl feel inspired to exercise!

The Best Workout Leggings

Everyone raves about Lululemon’s Align Pants (I am NOT one of them).  The real hero pair IMO are these.  No pilling, no stretching out, no looking like crap after a few washes.  They have the most breathable fabric and the high waist holds you in without feeling TOO tight or restricting.  They are the main leggings I wear for workouts.

If you want a more comfortable “loungey” pair, go for these.  They are SO much better than the Align pant.  They hold up after washing and aren’t see-through even in bright colors.  They truly are the perfect balance of comfort and function.

For high impact workouts or outdoor workouts during cooler weather, I love these.

My Favorite Fitness Gear

Peloton Review: Is it Worth it?

Peloton ReviewNope.  No fancy pic of me and my Peloton. This is a fashion blog. The best you’ll get is my street style fitness shoot with Photography Yours and Mine

Okay, I know what you’re thinking.  This is a fashion blog.  Why in the world am I talking about fitness?

At the beginning of the year I shared my 2020 goals with you.  One of them was to wake up early to exercise.

I started the BBG program twice in 2020 and after 3 months of actually staying consistent, it became too repetitive and too difficult for me.  It was also competing with our newest purchase, a Peloton.  The Peloton clearly won and while there are tons of reviews out there, I want to share my thoughts with you.

First, my backstory

I loathe working out.  I’m not good at it, I run out of steam VERY quickly and I’m simply just not that motivated.  My dream is to have a dancer’s body (so strong!) but I will never, ever, ever have one.  I eat carbs.  And chocolate.  And drink wine.  And not just as “special occasion treats.”

So I want you to understand that this review is coming from a woman who is not very fit, not very motivated and extremely mediocre when it comes to athletic ability.

When I started using the Peloton it was HARD.  And it’s still hard.

But I’ve used it every single day since it was delivered.  And I’m HOOKED.

Pros 

Convenience
No more commuting in traffic, parking, signing-in, waiting for class to start. I was never huge on in-person classes anyway.  The best part of doing an in-person workout, for me, was getting to have coffee with my friends afterwards.

Variety
There are TONS of classes in the Peloton app.  It’s not just cycling. They have yoga, meditation, dance, etc. Plus, you can select workouts as short as 5min all the way up to 90min.  There are tons of musical genres too.  When I work out, it’s ALL about the music so this is key for me.

Camaraderie and Motivation
Peloton is truly one of the most supportive communities I’ve experienced. You can “high five” people and see the leaderboard of where you stand in the pack. I find this to be incredibly motivating.

During an in-person class when I would see people killing it on the bike next to me while I huffed and puffed like I was dying, it made me feel like crap.  Now when I see names on the leaderboard in my same rank, I high five them and really strive to keep up with them.  It’s enjoyable, not de-motivating.

Your calories, miles ridden and consistency are tracked and you earn badges for accomplishments. This isn’t something I’ve found in any other workout class.  It really pushes me to the next level to see my progress.

Cons

The cost.
A $2500 bike plus $40/month for the app is a significant investment. But we’ve already broken even based on how much we’ve used it. (Comparing the cost of a cycling class in San Diego to the number of rides we’ve done on the Peloton)  

Favorite Instructors

Robyn Arzon and Cody Rigsby.

Robyn spontaneously laughs throughout rides and it’s lovely and genuine and just endears you to her.  Plus she has a knack for motivating you in a really friendly, “I believe in you!” way.  Absolutely no pushy, tough-love here.  Robyn is all love.

I wish Cody were my real life BFF.  I just did an 80s ride with him and he gave the entire ride a plot – shopping at the mall with your girlfriends.  There were so many spot-on references I was not only cracking up laughing but I was SO sad when it was over.  I truly felt transported to another time.

What about the people who have a Peloton and dislike it?

Besides knowing we were not going to step foot in a gym again in 2020 (coronavirus), we pulled the trigger on the Peloton because of the many friends who gave us rave reviews.

I do, however, have one friend who dislikes it.

She said the number one reason for her not liking it is because she thrives on the energy and camaraderie from an in-person class.  She wants to feel the energy from the person cycling next to her.  That was not replicated for her in the Peloton and she told me she is going to return hers.

Final Thoughts if You’re Still on the Fence

I’ll be honest.  Had we purchased the Peloton when life was normal I don’t know if I’d be this dedicated.  Because of the coronavirus, it has become my savior.  The Peloton has truly changed my life.

Since the gym is closed (and I’m not personally comfortable going back until our world has stabilized), I need to have an exercise outlet at home.  This is not just about physical health, but mental health as well.

When I started, I did 20-minute rides for the first 2.5 weeks.  But starting in week 3, I felt my endurance go up a notch and now do 30min rides.  I know I could easily do a 45-minute ride now, but 30 minutes is my preferred workout.

The quality of the bike is superb.  It’s very substantial and the video screen is high definition giving you a “I feel like I’m there” vibe.

If you have any questions about the Peloton, please comment or email me!  This is honestly the best purchased we’ve made all year and probably EVER!