Bargain Blues

Yes, Yes, I haven't blogged for aaaaages. But as we all know life can catch up with us and it gets real busy and you haven't really got time for the Internet malarkey. All I seem to have been focusing on recently is work and the gym. And there are a few exciting things happening relating to both of those things  but lets just say I've learnt a few good lessons from the past few months too, chiefly that people can be fickle and can drop you like a hot potato as soon as something (one) new comes along. But like I say, lesson learnt.

I've been loving my gym routine lately, especially the PT sessions with Sarah at The Peak. She gives me a different and very tough session each time I see her. The last one with a 1000m row finisher. Ouch, but 4m33s beat my last attempt so that was fantastic!

With the gym in mind it was with great delight that I managed to find a bargain pair of Nike Free trainers at the local Nike Outlet. And because I can buy kids sizes, these really were a bargain. I know they're supposed to be for running but I like them for my training. I love the dark electric blue colour contrasting with the bright pink and since I've been (strangely) buying lots of blue gym gear then these will co-ordinate nicely. Because we all know you gotta have matching gym gear, right?! (You don't really, in fact there's nothing I like more than clashing colours).

Anyhow, I browsed the shop for ages and put back the pair of Nike Legend capri pants i had in my grasp. I just don't need another pair at the moment and at £45 they still weren't enough of a bargain. But ladies, I've tried a few pairs of the Nike training trousers and the Legend ones are a great fit and the material is quite thick so hugs you in all the right places. Having put those trousers back I did pick up another Dri-Fit top and you can't grumble at £14. Luckily it's almost a direct match for the trainers so I will be all matchy matchy, haha.

I tell you what I need ideas about though... Sports bras. I've got a few of the Nike ones in my collection but being small chested I don't really need anything with all sorts of support but I do need something to combat the 'see-through' nature of a wet sports top - if you know what I mean! I hadn't noticed it until I was in a body pump class with a light t-shirt on and there it was... so embarrassing! So I suppose what i need is something with support but also something that has enough padding to hide your assets. Thoughts?

The Non Edited Gym Routine

The edited versions of our lives we show on social media and blogs and stuff really can play tricks on a person. All we see are the good parts, the glossy parts, the perfect outfits, the well made up faces, the celebrations and all that jazz. People don't tend to show their comfies, their unmade-up faces (except recently the no-makeup selfie has taken off...). You never see someone right after their gym workout or 5k run sweating like I seem to do. They just seem to glow. Instead you get the flat layout perfectly lit instagram picture of their Nike Free trainers and lycra outfit (or should that be their free Nike trainers!), with their Beats headphones off to the side, and usually a bunch of colour matched flowers or a burning candle in bokeh effect in the background. Edited.

I was coming out of spin class the other day and I decided to take a picture of my pure pink, red-marked face. Yes, red marked because despite what Beyonce tells us, we aren't all flawless. We all have our flaws and that's what makes us us. We're authentic and beautiful in our own sweet ways. But then I had a second thought. Should I post this? And for a split second I hated myself for even thinking that. Because I believe in being genuine. Pink faced post gym selfies are the new no make-up selfies. Let's shout that loud!

So as is my usual routine, I had a thought in the shower. Showering is when I get some real inspiration you know. Anyhow, here's what i thought...

This is the reality of my gym routine.

My hair is too long to leave down (and for health and safety reasons) it's best to tie it in a bobble. So I scrape my curls up, tie it and i'm set. Trouble is, when I start to sweat my hair inevitably gets wet and those little fine hairs around my face turn into tight baby curls and i end up looking like i'm 12 years old! Not that bad of a problem to have admittedly. 

Let's talk about sweat. We all do it. Some more so than others. (Deodorant, people!). I wear a pair of capri length tight trousers, a quick drying t-shirt and my trainers. Currently all Nike but that can change. Nike trousers seem to fit me best and the Miler t-shirts are comfortable. Anyway, you're there in your class. You've worn your new salmon pink coloured Nike Miler t-shirt, you start to sweat and the dreaded patches appear. You know the ones. Patches right on your breast bone, on your back, heck even on that little bit of belly paunch the t-shirt clings to! Dang, sweat patches. No no likes them, everyone gets them. And if you don't, you're definitely not working hard enough. 

Now let's talk about trouser sweat. Yes, I'm going there. Because I dunno about you but when i go to spin or metafit or weights or shock-fit I sweat and I get a sweaty bum. C'mon, don't dare recoil and say you don't, because if you don't...*then you're not working hard enough*. Heck since I got my new car i've had to take an extra towel with me to put on the seat because of SweatyB syndrome. It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just a little bit icky.

There you have it. The unedited version of what really happens (to me) when I exercise.

Angela x

Dry Clean Only

Tee - Sincerely Jules, print - Ben The Illustrator

New in is this washed out red t-shirt I ordered a few weeks ago from Sincerely Jules' shop. I love her blog, her style and her pictures are always so colourful and amok me happy. When I saw the new lookbook she posted with new t-shirt designs of the summer I knew I had to order another one. My last one was the Dream Believe Achieve slogan white tee.

Red is one of my favourite colours and so I was drawn to this Dry Clean Only slogan tee. It's a slouchy fit and perfect for the summer. I wore it with some jeans, trainers and a new little wristlet purse. Casual.

Fumo large wristlet purse - Alexander Wang
The Dre Bradford Jeans - Rag and Bone
Tee - Sincerely Jules
Trainers - Nike x Riccardo Tisci (sold out)

In the summer I'll wear it with shorts, boyfriend jeans and heels or perhaps a skirt with some trainers. Can't wait.

Angela x

Nike Air Force 1 X Riccardo Tisci

I'm a sucker for a limited edition. We all know that. These are the Nike Air Force One X Riccardo Tisci edition. Not my usual trainer style but lovely nonetheless.

Elmo jammie action

Wore them out last weekend for the first time and they are so comfortable.

Dungarees - Topshop; white boys tee - H&M; Nike x Riccardo Tisci trainers

Now hurry up summer. I wanna get these babies on my feet with a little skirt, or something.

Angela x

Fitness Friday 2: New Workout Gear, the Nike dri-fit touch breeze vest

I bought some new gym gear last weekend. After years of being only a t-shirt wearer, I decided I'd like a few vest tops. My t-shirts are becoming a bit worn and are constantly on rotation. I have 3 pairs of bottoms that I also rotate, depending on which class I'm going to.

I headed into the Nike shop in Glasgow and had a wee browse. I picked up a pair of capri tights in plain black with a cool waistband. They'll do. The tops on the other hand were a bit more of a decision. I don't like a low cut top of any kind. But vest tops are low by their nature, aren't they. 

My current t-shirt of choice is the Nike Miler running top. The material is wicking and quick drying. It feels better when wet than cotton (wet cotton sticks to you). Anyway I saw some vests in nice bright colours. They would be mine. They are the Nike Dri-Fit Touch Breeze vest top (£22). I've wanted a fluro yellow top for ages and picked up the small size. The other colours were sky blue, black or orange. They didn't have a small though. Hhhmm. I also grabbed the t-shirt version in fluro yellow in an extra small.

vest on left, t shirt on right

I took them to the fitting rooms and tried them all on. The colours were great but the small was a bit too loose. I don't like a loose low cut top. Can you imagine that sight on a spin bike. Things popping out! well, they would be if they were any decent size, and i wear a sports crop top to actually no chance of popping out. But I digress. I don't like low cut tops...

I came out of the changing room and decided on the capri tights and the yellow t-shirt. A little disappointed, I asked the nice girl if they had any more sizes in the vest tops. Luckily she said yes that they had new colours just in but they weren't on display yet. She arranged for some more colours to be brought down in my size: extra small. I snapped up the red vest but I'll be going back for the pink one soon! The red isn't a traditional red, it's bordering on coral, which is just as good as it'll match my nails! *wink*.

I wore the yellow Nike dri-fit touch breeze t-shirt (which seems to have vanished from the website) to spin class on Wednesday night and can confirm it was good. Although, by the end I was soaking with sweat and it did cling to me. The neckline is a slightly scooped v-neck but its so flattering, especially on someone like me who isn't exactly endowed in that area *ahem. Loved the colour though.

ok so the vest looks orange but it's red, coral red

Incidentally they seem to have gone into 'coming soon' mode on the Nike website but you should be able to pick them up from your local Nike superstore.

Angela x

Nike versus Liberty of London dunk hi wedge trainer

Following on from my post last week about the Ash Cool wedge hi top trainers...look at these beauties I picked up too.

The Nike X Liberty of London dunk hi wedges. I think they're sold out now, sorry!

Nike x Liberty of London dunk hi wedge

When I saw these I fell in love. I've not had a pair of Nike trainers for aaaages and I cannot get enough of these. Come the summer, these will be a staple in my wardrobe with skinnies and skirts. For now though I have to work on my legs to be able to team them up with nice shorts! I'm doing that at Shock Fit classes, but more on those soon. Cannot wait for summertime.

Angela

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