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Life Lately

Joie Spring 2019

Top // Shorts // Sandals // Sunglasses // Earrings (top, shorts, sandals 75% off!)

I thought I would switch things up from my usual What I’m Coveting Wednesday and share my life lately.

The past month has been absolutely bonkers.  While the world is far from back to normal, I feel like everything has switched into overdrive.  Work, kids going back to school and lots of reflecting seem to be the norm for a lot of people right now.

Fitness

I’ve managed to stay consistent with my workouts (check out my review of the Peloton here) which has definitely helped my mental clarity as much as my physical wellbeing.

I was talking to a friend about “the COVID 15” and how our bodies seem to react 80% to food (what you eat) and 20% to exercise (how you workout).  I’ve never been one to diet – I’ve done one juice cleanse in my life and that’s it – but am interested in following the Mediterranean diet.  This recipe by the Barefoot Contessa looks incredible.  Bonus points that you can make it 1 day ahead of time and pop it in the oven when you’re ready to eat.

Amazon Purchases

The what I purchased on Amazon blog post is quickly becoming a popular feature for many bloggers.  While I don’t do much shopping on Amazon beyond Kleenex and cleaning supplies, two of my best ever beauty finds are from Amazon.

These hair ties are the absolute best.  Hands down.  They never stretch out, can handle thick hair and are totally seamless so there’s no pulling or damage to your hair.

This curling wand is the best $20 I’ve ever spent.  I have it in both sizes (0.5-1 inch and 1-1.5 inches).  My ONLY complaint is that the wand is cylindrical – thick on one side, narrow on the other.  I wish it came in a non-tapered barrel.  The only well-reviewed ones I’ve been able to find have just one heat setting which isn’t ideal.  If you have a favorite 1 inch curling wand, let me know!

Fashion Finds

I’ve been thinking a lot about my closet and the pieces that are the best finds (like these sandals).  I realized that I have a lot of stuff that just kind of fits the bill.  I either gave up on finding the “perfect” piece or was too lazy to deal with returning something that worked but wasn’t perfect.

This, I realized, is the great conundrum of modern closets.  It’s the reason our closets are stuffed full.  The reason why we feel like we “don’t have anything to wear.”

My goal moving forward is to stick with only those pieces that check ALL the boxes.  If the sweater is beautiful but a tad itchy, than it’s not the sweater for me.

I did a big sweep and sent a box to The RealReal.  I listed a bunch of stuff on Poshmark.  And for anything that can’t be donated, I used the For Days Take Back Bag.

Are you cleaning your closet out during the pandemic?  Should I do a post on Capsule Wardrobes?

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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!