SPRINGTIME DENIM

I am so obsessed with this look! I need to get a denim jacket and skirt for 2014.

EDAW 2014

It's Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Everybody knows someone.

Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes. You can't necessarily look at someone and know that they have an eating disorder.

Eating disorders cause a lot of heartache for those who have them and for their families, which is why I'm posting the song above.

#EDAW2014 is something near and dear to my heart, as an ED affected/is affecting someone I deeply care about.

Be aware of the messages you are sending, especially around youth.

For more information about Eating Disorders Awareness Week, resources for dealing with an ED, and how to get involved, visit the NEDA website or check out the stories and resources being posted on twitter.

Be happy, be healthy, be you. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true. Please spread the word.

++ positive vibes ++

♥

Happy Valentine's Day, sweet readers!

Golden Years

Add a touch of gilded glamour to your day with these cute office supplies from Rifle Paper Co! I'm getting my Master's degree in May, so I'm on the hunt for adorable accents for my future cubicle.

iphone 5 case, tiger card, gold twine, marking clips, ipad case, gilded notebooks

What are your favorite stores for office supplies and paper goods?

Cross Training with Ballet Beautiful

Even though I never really took ballet classes growing up, I've always admired the grace and poise of ballerinas. I love the beautiful clothes and the soft, delicate movements. My little sister used to do ballet and I always felt so proud watching her dance.

 

After running my first half marathon, I decided I needed to add more cross training into my workout routines. The training plan that I followed did not include any, and even though I've always known the importance of it, I left it out. When it comes to sports, I pretty much only enjoy running. I don't like going to the gym and the idea of group classes really intimidates me, so I really had no motivation to find an activity different from running until I heard about Ballet Beautiful.

Mary Helen Bowers

Ballet Beautiful is a workout developed by professional ballerina, Mary Helen Bowers, and it's unlike any workout tape you'll probably ever try. In case you haven't heard of Bowers, she is the ballerina who trained Natalie Portman for her role in Black Swan. The soft white lighting and classical music make it a relaxing experience, and even though Bowers talks in a calming voice instead of yelling at you like the traditional workout tapes, her workout is pretty difficult (at least it is in my opinion). There are several versions of Ballet Beautiful that you can try, but I've been doing the Total Body Workout and I'm loving it. I have the worst hand-eye coordination of anyone I know, but the workout makes me feel more graceful each time, which I really enjoy.

Mostly, I really love this workout because it's a lot of fun and it's doing a great job of strengthening my hips, which I really to be strong for distance running.

Other famous patrons of Ballet Beautiful include Alexa Chung and Victoria's Secret Angel Miranda Kerr, pictured above.

You can buy the videos from itunes or Amazon for a pretty low-price, or you can see a sneak peak of the DVDs below!

Finally, here's a little outfit I threw together for a Ballet Beautiful workout!

Ballet Beautiful DVDs, Athleta Shimmer Top, Ballet Beautiful Knit Shorts, Ban.do Bobbi Pins, Catbird NYC Ballerina Bracelet, Rodin Lip Balm, Essie Nail Polish in Ballet Slippers, Ballasox in Nude, Catbird NYC Shimmer Pouch, Leg Warmers, Catbird NYC Swan Tote

For more ballet inspiration and images sources, check out my ballet board on Pinterest.

Run Happy

My happy place is by the water. Nothing motivates me to go out for my runs like the thought of being out on the harbor.

I hope to be running with a dog of my own someday soon, but more on that later.

Where do you like to exercise?

Celebrating the New Brooks Transcend

I am so excited to try the new Brooks Transcends! I just ordered a pair today, since I'm due for new running shoes. This is my first time ordering running shoes online, but I've purchased from my neighborhood running store enough times to know that Brooks will always be the right shoe for me. If you aren't sure what shoes is right for your training regimen, definitely get fitted at your local running store.

Brooks Transcend, Brooks Run Happy Hat, Brooks Sports Bra, FitBit Zip, Alex and Ani Champion Bracelet, Road ID, Lululemon Yoga Mat, Thorlos Socks (THE BEST running socks), Lululemon x SIGG water bottle

The Transcends are supposed to provide the ultimate comfort in running shoes while giving you enough support to go for miles (check out the Runner's World review here). I used to get injured all of the time while training for distance races, but since I made the switch to a decent pair of running shoes (I've tried both Brooks and Mizunas and I love them) I've been injury free. Stretching more often also helps, but a good pair of shoes certainly has made a world of difference. To celebrate the launch of the new shoe, I've thrown together a running outfit inspired by the Transcends. When it comes to running, I love bright colors, so I was really excited to see that the Transcends come in a flaming hot pink in addition to a more traditional blue/white colorway.

Have you tried the Transcends? How do you like them? I'm really excited to hear about your experience with these shoes!