The Athleisure Obsession is REAL

{Image via}

The past few weeks I’ve gained a new obsession with workout clothes. Not only to wear during the physical act, but to lounge around in… period! My workout routine has become a serious part of my week (to make up for all the ice cream I’ve eaten as of late… oops) and part of my motivation has come from the clothes that I wear. Not to mention, the comfort that some of these articles of clothing possess is better than any sweatpants/tank top combo I own…

Here are a few of the new pieces I’ve acquired over the past month:

Jules by Julianne Hough

1) Hooded Tank that I can't wait to wear during circuit training outside

2) My new favorite... a bandeau looks so cute peeking through the back!!

3) I wear this EVERYWHERE

LuLu Lemon

1) Great all around workout tank

2) This tank is perfect since I'm newly obsessed with yoga again... 

p.s. all images taken using the StyleBook app! :) (still obsessed with tracking my outfits on it!!)

And here are few that I have my eye on (some would be a splurge!) - 1, 2, 3, 4

Riverbank Run 2016

Yay for Riverbank Run! It was SOOOOO cold, but I was able to get mine, and Max's, butt out of bed and head downtown for the 7:00 am shot gun start. Some 20,000 participants hit the pavement for this race, the biggest road race in the nation. It's always so much fun to see the city come to life the way it does during this celebration. 

Congrats to all of the racers out there! Maybe I'll take on the 10k again some year....  (BBG keeps me plenty busy for now :)).

{the best reward... BLT and Pomegranate Mimosa from our favorite breakfast spot}

My FitBit Story

For years, I’ve been curious about my heart rate. I’ve been back into a fairly consistent workout schedule for a while now but never once did I think about investing in a tool to track my heart rate because a) I didn’t want to wear a strap around my chest (I honestly used to think all monitors work this way), b) I never thought they would REALLY be accurate and c) I just plain old didn’t feel like spending the money. I had read about lots of cheap ones you could get that got terrible reviews, so ultimately just never took the plunge… until NOW!

A few weeks ago, I finally decided enough is enough and I invested in the FitBit Charge HR (in purple of course!). This little device is able to do so much!! Not only does it track heart rate, distance, steps, calories burned and floors climbs, but by connecting it to your phone you’re able to track sleep patterns, caller ID and more! I don’t have my Bluetooth constantly turned on so I simply reconnect once or twice a day to check stats that don’t automatically show up on the device’s screen (like how often I woke up last night... it was 4). 

I must admit it’s kind of addicting! I find myself staring at my wrist CONSTANTLY. So far I’ve noticed that I walk way more than I thought I did… and, to my pleasant surprise, jump rope counts as steps (so even more of an incentive to get your cardio on)! I am also WAY more aware of how many flights of stairs I climb. Granted, each floor counts as two flights (something I was unaware of) but I now make a point to get that number up to at least 20 everyday! I have been scheduling meetings on different floors for this sole purpose… something my colleagues aren’t always pleased with but hey… GOTTA STAY ACTIVE!

NOTE: This device DOES NOT have a GPS tracker on it. Some might have an issue with this and not trust it’s accuracy, but I have found it to be quite accurate! Happy moving!

Crescent Park--Phase II

[This is the only section the public could see throughout construction. 

The rest was a mystery...until this weekend]

I've been waiting and waiting and waiting. Patiently waiting for nearly a year and a half for Crescent Park to finish its expansion--a continuation of the path that creates a direct shot to the French Quarter from my Bywater neighborhood -- allowing more time on the river while I run or walk the pups. Time spent on the water (along the Riverwalk promonade or the lake front) is not only beautiful, but also much cooler in these hot months.

Just in time for the Fourth of July weekend, CP took down the barriers and revealed the second phase of this wonderful addition to our city. I've already been out there 3 times...with the pups, on a solo walk and, of course, on a leisurely 4-miler before drinks and fireworks.

Everyone should have a spot like this in their town, to use for alone time, reflection, and admiration of the place they call home.

[Piety Street Warf]

 

[Opening to the new section]

[Even closer views of the NOLA skyline] 

[New view of my 'hood, as seen from the staircase shown at the top of this post]

 [...and you can see the city from the other side. Looking down the steep staircase that now dumps us right at the base of Esplanade Ave.]

[I think the pups enjoyed the new park after they were doused with water]

 

[Look at that face: pure bliss]

[View from the swings at night]