Motivation Monday: Back in the Groove

It's Monday after a long ski vacation...someone motivate me now. I must admit I'm having a hard time being motivated after sitting around a cozy condo all week eating, well, not whatever I wanted, but close (did I mention mini donuts were within walking distance? Uh oh.) We had an amazing time, even with two kids (!), but there's certainly no place like home (and my own bed). And if there's one activity to show you that you're really not in shape like you thought you were it's definitely skiing. Aye. 

After missing an entire week of Pilates, I'm back to the gym today to try to tone up for the beach now, and lose this extra winter fluff! (The Girl Scout cookies in my pantry aren't helping though...) I've also started walking baby L in the stroller again now that we're having beautiful 70-degree weather. Love. It. And I'm living in chic sweats at the moment. Heels are my thing, y'all, but I can do both errands and cardio in activewear like this from Michael Stars and that makes me all giddy. Just switch out the shoes, layer on a tank and you're good to go for both! These are the Slim Elastic Hem Pants with Drawstring ($98) and the Long Sleeve Boatneck with Forward Seams ($98).

I'd stick around here longer, but goodness I'm tired. But you will go check out the new activewear from Michael Stars, yes? Comfiest thing I own right now (I actually traveled in it to Colorado!). Hope you all have an amazing week and I can't wait to tell you about all of the fashion festivities I've got going next week...air kisses! xoxo

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Motivation Monday: The Jogger Pant

Hey ya...how was everyone's weekend? Motivated this Monday?? (I mean don't you hate it when people start emails with Happy Monday! I can almost guarantee you that mine is more like Crazy Monday!) But, really. I do love it when I'm completely motivated on a Monday...it definitely feels good to get the week started off right. And I'm super excited to share this Motivation Monday because one of my fav denim brands, Joe's Jeans (their distressed jeans are some of my fav of all time), has an activewear line now called Joe's Off Duty. I've been test driving it the past couple of weeks and? Loves. It.


I'm kind of obsessed with the latest athleisure trend, per se, because I'm loving how you can really take a sporty look and make it just that...or, heck, add some heels and you still look cute. I'm not even kidding! It's all in the silhouette and fabrics you choose - you definitely can't just rock your workout clothes with heels, c'mon. I'm love, love, loving chic sweats (remember last week and the jogging pants I posted?) because I can pair with an insanely comfy tee like this one (the black Session tee). It's got a really lightweight feel to it (it's 100-percent linen, but it doesn't really wrinkle...in black, anyway!) and I love how the sleeves aren't tight (just a pet peeve of mine!). It falls perfectly with a relaxed fit, so you really can work out in it. These are the French Terry Sweat Pants and the chic pattern on them had me at hello. I love the trim fit and they fit very comfortable...true to size. 

So back to being motivated. I've been a little relaxed with my diet since baby L's birthday party when we had an entire dessert bar and I ate birthday cake for the next week straight (hey, I'm not saying I regret it). Then D. and I decided to jet-set to a wine festival and BOOM. The scale and I are breaking up. 

Soooo...since I'm going skiing all next week, I decided I better get my bottom in gear (literally) and I've been watching what I eat with lots more salads, cutting out sweets and trying to get in stroller rides with baby L the past several days now that it's warming up. Whew. I haven't been able to make it to Pilates as much as I'd like, so I'm hoping this cardio will save me. So far, I shed the couple of pounds I gained from our beach getaway and now I've got just a few more to go. I know it's minor and probably seems like not a big deal to you, but I've found in my previous weight loss journeys that if I can stay on top of any weight gain, it's always best. Once it's 5 pounds, then it's quickly another and you've gained 10. So bear with me, it's not that I think I need to diet or lose a bunch of weight, etc. I'm now trying to stay on top of things and eat cleaner and exercise more because I kinda got off track towards the end of winter. 

Tell me. What are you fav ways to lose just a few excess pounds?

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Motivation Monday: Comfy Casual in Matilda Jane

Ok, so it's not exactly activewear, but I like to call it my supermom attire because I can do anything in a comfy outfit like this. I definitely feel motivated and like I can do everything on a dreaded Monday when I'm comfortable. Because when I'm not in my heels (or wedges, these days with baby), I'm on the go a lot toting the kids around to preschool and appointments and on errands to the store. 

When Matilda Jane offered to send me something from their newly-improved mama's line, I squealed with joy. I wrote about last week how I'm a huge fan of the label for baby L because they have irresistibly adorable things for little girls. But I bet you didn't realize they offer women's clothing as well! And you know what? I'm actually wearing heels here since these are my sneaker wedges...wink. I love how they give me that extra height even when I'm dressed casual...otherwise, I feel so sloppy! Shoe choice matters so much when it comes to everyday clothing.

This is the Marvelous Marled Vee ($74) and it's perfect for the weather right now. Honestly, I have to take it off after I'm inside the house awhile because it's that warm! I love any kind of tee or sweater (in this case) that has a longer back hem because I find it more flattering and it's great when you're wearing tighter pants. This sweater is also super-cute with the sleeves pushed up, but I literally took these photos in the rain. Blush. (Kinda cold. What's up with this weather?! C'mon, spring!) This week, I think I'll slip this super-soft sweater on over my workout tank for Pilates...it's so versatile! (I layered it over a black tee here.)
 
And the pants? If you ever put on these Heather Finn Pants ($58), you won't want to take them off. They're comfy times one thousand, folks. They're basic gray, so I can wear them with lots of tees, tanks and sweaters already in my closet, and the ruffles on the hem remind a lot of the little Matilda Jane pieces (and I so would've brought baby L into this photoshoot in her spring Matilda Jane, but the rain was too much for her. Stay tuned for Wednesday!). These pants have an amazing stretchy fit and are super-thin, so I'm thinking I might even wear them to Pilates class one day...the foldover panel at the tummy is just perfect. 

So, yes, I do love to dress up and wear heels and dresses and skinny jeans. But this is one of the ways I get by being a stay-at-home mom, still looking put together. You don't have to wear sloppy sweatpants and an old t-shirt every day...you just don't.

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Motivation Monday: I love lucy

I know it's a holiday, but I couldn't help but be motivated this Monday. Why? It's been 65 degrees down south allllll weekend, and the sunshine is truly my friend. After having an incredibly rough and bleak December, it's been so nice to have a little bit of sun to shine down on us and play with the kids outside. little C. has been going nuts (in a good way) over riding his Jeep around and just running all around the yard, and baby L hardly knows what to think. After all, she's grown leaps and bounds since we were last playing outside! And being outside means I can be more active, which is amazing. I definitely love cozying up to the fire in the cold, but being outside and doing things is so good for the soul...and the body. 


These days I don't consider running miles my cardio, I'm just too busy. But chasing after the kids is plenty of cardio for now and I love wearing my activewear on the weekends to do this. One of my all-time fav brands is lucy because it's not only cute stuff, it's also very durable and made for it does best. I love this Get Going Jacket ($98)...I usually do all my warm-ups in it because it's so lightweight, and I love the thumbholes! And the Hatha Leggings ($89) are a must-have...in fact, all of the Lucy pants I own are some of my favs. They're just amazing at staying put and really, truly comfortable. It's great for cardio and running around (and cute enough you can wear it around for errands even if you didn't work out that day...blush...guilty.). But it's also incredible for Pilates (yoga, etc.), which I just started back last week. I've been practicing Pilates since 2008, the year before I started having kids. Back then, I worked full-time, so only went to one night class a week. Now that I stay at home, I'm able to have my mom watch baby L for an hour while I get my Pilates on several times a week. Sooooo thankful for that. 

I stopped going to Pilates for just four months (and not to mention had tons of stress with both of my parents) and my lower back just went nuts on me. So, last month I started going back to the chiropractor (I had stopped that as well), and had some x-rays run. I mean, my back was so bad I couldn't even sit down. I had to roll a yoga ball up to the dinner table, y'all. Ouch. Turns out, nothing major was wrong, I just have uneven hips for now and am slightly out of alignment. That means? I need to strengthen my core. After hearing the news, I started back at the gym the next week, and every morning I do back stretches and plank while I play with baby L on the floor.

What's crazy? THE next day after I went back to Pilates, my back felt 75-percent better. I'm not saying it doesn't still hurt some, but I will say that I'm convinced that with the help of both the chiropractor and Pilates (and my own stretching), I've nursed my lower back...back to health. I'm thrilled. Back problems can really start to get you down, ya know? And it was becoming really hard to take care of the kids!

So this Motivation Monday I'm completely motivated to make the rest of any lower back pain go away by strengthening my core each week to get my abs strong again, and hey, I might be ready for our beach trip in no time! (whew...swimsuit try-on is getting so close...talk about motivation...)

*products were sent for the purpose of this review

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Motivation Monday: See You At The Barre

Hoodie, Rodarte/Target; tee via Emi-Jay; Nike Epic pants/Air Force 1 via JD Sports  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 This. Is. 2015. Can I tell you how thrilled I am? Very. I feel like Counting Crows August and Everything After was my anthem from 2014 because that's when things started going dramatically downhill. And? I stopped exercising completely. 

The first week in September, I flew to New York and once I returned home, I never went back to the gym or barre class again. Blush. I'm so shameful because immediately after that my back went so crazy I could barely sit in the car without it erupting into extreme pain. Or on the floor to play with the kids. Or really even to just sit at the dinner table. So this year? I get back to the gym and my beloved Pilates. I get back on the treadmill (because it's just too darn cold for moi and my stroller walks). And I get back to occasional barre classes...enough to strengthen my core and my muscles (which won't take long, trust me. it's the hardest workout ever!)

When I saw this Emi-Jay See You At The Barre tee, I just fell in love. After all, barre class is what helped me lose my baby weight last year, and I really miss those girls! (And, yes, pale is the new black. Wink.)

In 2015, I'm going to make fitness part of my life again. For the good of my body...my mind...and my soul. I can't wait.  

P.S. Another "resolution" of mine is to relish every, single moment with my family. Forget whatever else it is that's 'more important', family is more important than anything. Period.

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