Ugg Classic Cardy Grey Boots- roll up or down. Love!

Brand new to the workout apparel  market is Nancy Rose Performance.    I recently had a chance to try out these pants, and they were fantastic.  Loved the stripe down the side, material was not too thick or thin, could be worn to yoga or any heavy workout and can double as a nice pant for around the town.   Nancy Rose Performance is so new that you’ll have look for them at your local retailer or online!

Just for the fun of it, Puma Bikes on Sale at Planet Gear.

Felted Soap on Etsy.

What’s your favorite new item this season?

FTC- Nancy Rose provided me with the pants.  All of the above opinions are my own.

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FYI…I really want a pair of these!

Prioritizing Family Habits on Social Moms

Creating Skin Care Habits on Read Breathe

Fall Fashion Favorites on Read Breathe

Design Your Own Workout Plan While Traveling on Social Moms
What do you all want for Christmas?

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For the past few months, I’ve been on a shoe search for the perfect CrossFit shoe. Most of my friends utilize the Inov-8′s, converse or some other random running shoe, however, most of my friends agree that none are completely perfect. In any given workout, we could be lifting heavy weight off the floor {Deadlifts} or Box Jumping or Sprinting or even lifting heavy weight that requires some precise foot movements such as squat cleans. In a perfect world, I’d wear only my Olympic lifting shoes for anything that requires heavy lifting, racing flats for sprint workouts and a good cross trainer for everything in between. And, the hunt continues…

So, I have a true story to share with you. I’ve always been a New Balance fan, so recently, I wrote to New Balance using their standard customer service form and asked them if they had a CrossFit shoe! This began a very helpful and intelligent string of emails with customer service and how they do have a new shoe called the Minimus that they are marketing for CrossFitters! Then, just two days later, I received an email from New Balance’s PR representative telling me about the new Minimus and would I like to try them for purposes of review on my blog!! It was my lucky day!

The New Balance Minimus is designed for cross training with or without socks. They are a very lightweight, flat soled shoe that has a really cute pink accent trim. These shoes have been designed also for the barefoot technology in a very minimal approach to running that is very popular now.

How did they work for me?

Well, they work great for box jumping, I love lifting in them, I can throw wall balls and do burpees. They are cute, lightweight and easy to wear. My one main problem with them is that I can’t run in them. They are simply too flat. This is not the fault of New Balance, it’s mine. I haven’t yet learned how to run using more of a barefoot style running – meaning less heel strike and more on the balls of the feet. When I run in these shoes, even for a short distance, I feel like I need more support in the soles. But, for everything else that I do in CrossFit, they work great- even pushing heavy sleds!

Would I recommend them?

Heck yes! They are a great all around good cross training shoe that is reasonably priced, easy to obtain, and of high quality.

How many of you have had good experiences with New Balance?!

FTC- New Balance provided me with these shoes and the above opinion is my own.

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In a year and a half of crossfit, I’ve yet to find a perfect shoe.  The beauty of the sport I do is that we never do the same things twice–ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but, sometimes, it takes six months or more for a workout to be repeated.

We do so many things from tire flipping to box jumping to pulling or pushing sleds…I could go on and on, but, the bottom line for me is that there are different shoes for different purposes.

What do the top athletes prefer in the shoe department?  If you watched the crossfit games, there was a large number of competitors wearing Reeboks (although I don’t know which model), Inov-8′s or a weight training shoe.

Why?

For lifting, specifically, Olympic Lifting, weight training shoes are my shoes.  They have a wood sole which can completely change the success of your lift.  And, for a running workout, I prefer a racing flat such as pictured above.  Light weight and fast, these racing flats work great for any distance under 3 miles.  However, if the workout calls for an Olympic lift and a sprint, then what do you do?  It’s a toss up!  You can’t run in lifting shoes, but, you may be able to lift in a running shoe…however, my running shoes do not work for anything like a box jump or rowing–they are simply for running.  Which leaves me scratching my head a lot of times??? “Now what?”

I’ve tried the Inov-8′s and they are seriously light weight, flat soled and work great for me on everything, but running!!

In the next week or so, I am really thankful to have the opportunity to be testing out the New Balance Minimus which has been designed for crossfit.

Anybody have any thoughts on shoes for crossfit?  Success or not with a particular shoe?

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This post comes courtesy of Classy Bras, a blog about bras! In addition to tips about fitting and style, there is an very complete Bra Buyer’s Guide with a list of 100 top-rated bras.

Bras – They are literally the bane of all women’s existence. That may sound melodramatic to some, but as any woman knows, bras can make or break you any given day. Just check your lingerie drawer, what do you see? If you are like most women you see your everyday bras, all three of them, you see your “special” nighttime bras which are usually worn only for a few minutes in the privacy of your bedroom, and you see your date night or night out with the girl bras that you wear once a month for a few hours. Wait, what else is there in that lingerie drawer? Oh yeah, it’s the 22 bras that you have worn once and tossed back in there never to again see the light of day.

Women love to buy bras, but the fact is more often than not they buy the wrong size, the wrong shape, the wrong everything. Yes, we know you were a size 32B in college, but at 40 years old do you really think you still are? Denial ladies, it’s called denial. And it needs to end.

Measure, Measure, Measure

First and foremost, you need to take your measurements. Step away from the computer, put down the remote and run, don’t walk, to find your measuring tape. Stand up straight in front of a mirror, lower your shoulders, breathe normally and relax. Using a soft measuring tape, make sure to measure all the way around your body, placing the tape right below your breasts. If you have someone else to do it for you, it is preferable so you can make sure the tape stays completely straight and as parallel to the ground as possible.

Once you have your measurement, you’ll need to add 5″ if the measurement is less than 33″. If the measurement is more than 33″, add 3″. If you come up with an odd number, or a measurement with a fraction of an inch, round up to the next even number. For example, you measure around your body, and get 34″. Because you’re more than 33″, you add 3″. Your size is 37″, but since that’s an odd number, you round up to 38″. Confusing? Sure. Is it necessary? Absolutely!

Now that you have your band size you need to work on your cup size. While wearing a traditional bra, not a padded one, you need to measure the fullest part of your breast making sure to go directly over the nipple without pulling the measuring tape too tight. Again, having someone do it for you makes this step much easier but if you don’t, take the time to look in the mirror confirming the tape is straight all the way around.

Using the following guide, take the difference to find your cup size.

1″ is A cup ?2″ is B cup ?3″ is C cup ?4″ is D cup ?5″ is DD cup ?6″ is DDD cup
And so on…

For example, if your band size is 38 and your measurement around the bust is 3 inches more than that, you would be a 38 C cup. It’s just that simple!

Types of Bras

There are close to 40 different types of bras. Most women wear only three types of bras:

• The Full Cup Bra – This is your basic everyday bra. It covers the entire breast, and gives you great support and can be worn with most types of clothing.
• The Sports Bra – This is the work out bra, the bra that offers nothing in the way of sexiness but it sure offers the support you need for a spin class, cardio workout, or running.
• The Demi Cup Bra – Most women don’t even know the name of this bra but they wear it more often than they think. It is also known as the push up bra, the wonder bra, or simply the “I want to look sexy bra.” It covers the breast only a bit past the nipple giving you more cleavage but less support.

Each of these bras has their own purpose. Full cup bras are great for a day at work or a night out with the girls when you don’t have to worry about what is underneath your top. Demi cup bras are great for when you are wearing a low cut shirt or for women with a smaller breast size as they will help enhance a petite figure. The sports bra is perfect for strenuous physical activity.

The Right Bra for YOU

Most bras aren’t made to perfectly fit every body shape. What works for some will not work for others. The best way to know whether a bra will fit is to either measure yourself or get professional measured to see what size you really are. And then try the bra on! That sounds so simple, but so many women just assume that a bra will fit them because it’s their “normal” size. Bras vary between brands, fabric and manufacturing so it is essential that you try it on before you buy it.

Here are some final tips to finding a bra that will take you from morning to night:
• If your breast size is different, choose the cup size of the bigger breast and adjust the strap of the smaller size to accommodate the difference
• The back strap should lie well below your shoulder blades. Make sure the straps are adjusted so the band lays level across your body and so that it is even with the front of your bra
• The center seam should lie flat against your chest. If it isn’t you need to go up a cup size.
• Look for bulge. If you are busting out of the top, side or the back, measure again because you are in the wrong size.

Ladies, a bra is something you need to wear for the rest of your life, you might as well make it as comfortable as it can be. Make sure you are a part of the 20% of women who DO wear the right size!

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Every year, about this time, I go hunting for a new suit. And, I’ll admit that I am a creature of habit, I know which brands work for me, and I very rarely deviate. What I hate more than anything is buying a suit at a local store and after a few wearings, the bottoms creep up!  Which leads me to constantly turn to short or skirt bottoms so this problem doesn’t occur.  I’m also moving around with my boys all the time, so, skimpy little suits that are designed for sun bathing only do not work for moms on the go!

My three big favs have always been Athleta, Title Nine or Lole women.

I would love to hear what you all think?!  And, what works best for you? Anybody loyal  to other brands?

Swimsuits by Fit Mommy featuring silver jewelry

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How many of you athletes have multiple pairs of used up shoes lying around?  Let’s put them to good use by donating them to Soles 4 Souls!

To find out where you can donate, please visit their website. You can donate cash or you can donate your shoes and most big cities have drop off locations.

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This is a brand new women owned and operated online gear, apparel and travel destination website offering exclusive deals for members only. Along the same lines as the Clymb and Left Lane Sports, these sites do offer great deals from very like-able (in my opinion) brands such as Prana, Mountain Hard Wear, and Teva. Every week, these sites offer a new deal if you’re interested!

You can check out Planet Gear here.

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is now live on Breathe Magazine!

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Yes, one of the perks of being a blogger is the “swag” and today is one sweet piece of equipment!  I’ve never worked with nor tried any K-Swiss products so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to try out the Locker Fit Gear Bag.  We don’t have lockers at our gym, but, we have cubicles, and this fit perfectly in it!

This particular workout bag is fairly small, yet, fit everything I needed!  As you can see, I take two pairs of shoes to workout with – one weight training shoe and one cross trainer style shoe as well as a micro-fiber towel (more on that later), rocket shower, and a change of clothes!  Also, you can see on the right, there is a pocket for your sweaty clothes to go in for your way out!  The zippers in the front are very large areas that fit the personal items such as sunscreen, deodorant, and lip glosses, phones and keys! This is the most high quality gear bag I’ve ever owned and I am so glad to have it now!

This Unisex Gear Bag will be available from K-Swiss in the spring and it’ll retail for $75.

P.S. This bag was provided to me for purposes of review and the above opinion is my own, FTC!

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