Designer fitness

I promised to link up the steps, to the running, to design. So here goes because what is up with fugly, practical sport gear? I mean, sports sneakers are starting to look so good, I would rock them outside of the gym. But the rest, humh. Let’s leave it at uninspired. So here’s a small round-up of rocking, well-designed athletic gear..

 

• Bottles from Kor Water (I own a green Delta that never fails to get noticed or make me smile). You can even add a message stone under the cap. Drink up, you rocked it!          

• Fun, cheap, vibrant work-out gear from H&M. Also surprisingly well-made. My leggings have done at least 3 works-out a week and a year later are still in great condition. Plus I can now better appreciate the functional details like breathable fabric, built-in key pouch and thumb holes (frozen numbness is a painful no-no). Same said for Rituals, whose gear feels great and looks great in and out of the yoga class. And my Triumph triaction toning top is so good it functions as a sportsbra and makes you look good in even the frumpiest old tee.

• Not surprising the vast array of smartphone holders but the lack of non-bulky, boring black is surprisingly depressing. I went for the ultra girly and functional (all buttons accessible!) SwitchEasy Move in purple (fav color). The accessability allows me switch it up to the exact song needed to keep my ass in gear. And only now realised..cable management. This product smashed it!

• I currently sport a Casio Baby-G in white and pink in combination with a seperate budget-buy distance tracker because of certain, say budget, restrictions. On a similar note I currently use and still love my Urbanears Zinken headset because of A. the ultra-noticable colour, B. the comfort, C. the total noise-out. But it’s not sports grade. Sweat-drenched ears are not good for the headset or me, plus every car ends up startling me to near heartattack. So something lighter, compacter and not quite so shut off? But not a bulky, mancave looking bit of kit. No, I'm just not that type of girl. Here it comes.. the top tech piece of work-out kit: The Dash. Saw this and my eyes starting watering with both delight and greed. I want this, I really want this and I want this now (or at least on pre-order)..                                                                                          Combining wireless, bluetooth earphones that can work with or without a smartphone, charges quickly, has diffrent fit sizes with microphone, heart rate monitor, fitness tracker and sports watch that tracks everything from distance, steps, rotation, pace, turns, speed, cadence, to time, G-force, body temp, calories oxygen saturation and more. Basically everything except how many times your ass was checked out in your super fit work-out gear, wink! This puppy allows me to carry less, run more and be connected. Did I already mention that this is what I want, need, can no longer live with out... In white please. You can check it out here or pre-order me a pair already.

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Hotstepper

Technically a personal post and rather off subject, being in no way about design but I promise to link it up in the next post. But back to this post..this post is a literal example of Friday's quote 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step'. Because it's about taking the step and I'm not talking figuratively...it's running time baby.

Today I attempted my first continuous run after 6 weeks of interval training that took me from a max of 200 metres to 3km. Something that has had my stomach in knots of equal parts dread and anticipation for the past week and a half, especially with a cold going since Thursday. And while I still feel the need to apologise because it's no marathon distance and I didn't quite make it (took a 2 minute walk break), I refuse. I am super flipping proud of me for taking that first step and all that since followed and all yet to come.

I keep most everything hidden and am super self-conscious and critical of myself. I wouldn't work out in the rain because someone might see my drive. I would rather miss the bus than have someone see me run. But it's on the bucket list; running somewhere warm and beautiful to greet the sunrise. The goal that my biggest support criticised and that made me realise I was waiting, waiting for others, waiting for someone to sanction my goals, to make them joint goals and therefore valid. But this is my life, my dreams, my goals.

I did my first training the morning after my five-day chickenpox fever broke. No food, no water, no strength and covered in pocks and powder but I did it the way I do most everything..full out. Go hard or go home.

Six weeks later. Guess what,.. it's not exactly what I envisioned as I forgot the sweat, pain, wet and cold and it's definitely not the vision in my mind's eye of warm and beautiful but my neighbourhood, the Eco-park, the bunnies along the footpaths, the orange glow of the sunrise on the first tropical day of the year are beautiful. Right here, right now. And more so for the smile on my face and the pride and accomplishment I feel instead or criticism or self-consciousness. I will get there..that paradise run, because I took the first step.

Call me hotstepper because all that stepping (running, cardio and power yoga) has me at my fittest, inside and out. From chin to shin. Here's a little collage from pock-marked to now.

From first work-out covered in talc to stop the itching! To upright and happy to go out and run. To growing a collection of fun-coloured tools (who'd have guessed that eggplant is my favourite colour). To feeling good about the way I look and having clothes not fit..the right way.

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Sneak peek living

Just a quickie of my living, which is the next space I want to show you! The shot is taken from the garden, which is the space I am currently still actively working on. You can get a few glimpses of that space and the progress on my Instagram. 

Have a great weekend!!

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Inspiring quotes

My absolute favourite motivator for taking the leap. Not necessarily off a cliff, though that's on the list but even things so small that it seems odd to hesitate. Steps like adding my name to the blog attribution. Or starting running (classes) but more about that next week..

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Burn, smoke & roast

Cooking is a joy of mine. Even more so than the eating and so I enjoy trying new things. Yet here, here comes unmarked terriorty…the barbecue. Somehow in outdoor cooking I tend to stick to the traditional rolls of man + fire and woman = sides. But like any other adventurer, I embark on a quest for new territory. But if I am going to do this, I am going to this my way, which means anything but a ginormous outdoor man grill with everything from a burner for sauce to a rotisserie spit. Maybe later, if I find that outdoor cooking is totally the way to go. But at this early junction, I’m talking a BBQ with the ability to grill food and maybe function as a fire pit while looking like something you want to be looking at even when not in use. In other words, a grill with a designer finish or simply put a non-man grill!

 Here are my top picks from the budget-friendly to the budget breaking..

From top to bottom: 1. Ikea’s Lillön is an adorable long-legged beauty. 2. So hard to find a pure white, not ivory, BBQ. This one from Goldair is simple and stunning. 3. This is the one that started it all for me. A gorgeous matte black or orange barrel beauty from Tulp that is also a fire pit. Dutch Design, baby! 4. Catching up to my list of design faves are the Spanish. Partly due to the amazing Druida BBQ from Mermeladaestudio. Even the grill plate is amazing 5. Aptly named Globe, this is the epitome of top-class grilling. 6. Available in black, as a gas or charcoal barbecue, this RVS beauty also from Eva Solo is too good to pass up. Plus with the flat lid it doubles up as a stylish table!

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Summer style

I don’t really post about fashion, despite it being my way of expressing myself and my mood. Feeling down, then I pull out a gorgeous girlie outfit. Feeling vulnerable, then out comes something fierce. Though I can’t take pictures of my outfits, I can show you my summer wardrobe. And by summer wardrobe I mean the latest editions as some pieces, like my favourite maxi dresses, make a reappearance every summer.

Summer 2014 means.. 

• a lightweight dark grey leopard/printed jumpsuit because it’s still Holland
• a draped, ruched mini in a pastel colour 
• a  simple white tee with side-splits for some edge 
• a pair of dipped dyed, super tight, skinnies form SamsoØe & SamsØe for a killer butt
• a simple navy singlet with low-back because back decolleté is my sexy
• a pale blue leather pencil skirt as lighter version of my winter black one
• And the thing I have always wanted but only now have the balls to rock; Daisy dukes, baby!

Everything is in a simple, cohesive colour palette. I'm in the mood for less pop and flash, which is quite the reverse from the brights you usually get in the summer, but that suits my mood at the moment.

Accessories make or break it.

• And that means shoes! I’m a heels girl so slippers all summer long will not do. Time to bust out the wedges. How wicked are these strappy, snake-printed leather babies from Zara? 
• And because snake looks so good, a little evening pouch with strap (free hands) that positively pops in electric blue. SSSh.
• And sticking to leather for the round-off, a wide leather headband, which makes me feel oh-so mod squad.

 Everyhing is a (major) sale score because budget counts and I like the challenge of finding great stuff for a better price. I mean that singlet costs a whopping 3.99 euros. Hey, it’s still Holland and the saying going Dutch tells you something about the mentality and I love it J. 

Shop savvy, look good, have fun in the sun, that’s my summer motto!

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