fallin' for athleisure

i have a confession: despite the many

blouses, boots, dresses, and skirts in my closet, i spend

the majority of my free time (i.e. time spent away

from the office) in leggings and a sweatshirt. 

i am perpetually cold, so layers (such as a sweatshirt,

vest, and thick socks) are seemingly essential.

two years ago, when athleisure became 

increasingly popular, this girl was thrilled.

athleisure: a trend in fashion in which clothing

designed for workouts and other athletic activity

is worn in other settings, such as the workplace,

at school, or to other casual engagements.

source

disclosure: brooks running graciously provided me the top, tights, 

and shoes pictured in this post. as per usual, all opinions are my own!

a sunny afternoon spent lunching and shopping

in snohomish was the perfect opportunity 

to style my newest athleisure wear, graciously 

provided by brooks running. 

while i greatly enjoy dressing up, there is

something special (or perhaps exciting?) about the

ability to wear comfortable, casual pieces in

public (without fear of looking or feeling

too casual). printed leggings and a sweatshirt for

lunch? yes, please!

i cannot tell you how soft and stretchy

my brooks running 'greenlight' tights are! they are 

high waisted, so i don't have to fuss with 

them (surely you can relate -- that persisent 

yanking on and pulling up of leggings to keep them

in place on your waist -- #notimeforthat).

my 'dash' hoodie and 'purecadence 6' shoes 

kept my feet (and the rest of my body) happy

throughout the day. despite a great deal of walking,

i felt comfortable, energetic, and supported!

how can you style athleisure pieces while 

striving to look presentable? it can often

feel like a balancing act, but it is simple, i promise!

here are three ways i style athleisure items

outside the gym:

1. pair your hoodie with jeans.

whether you prefer boyfriend, distressed, or skinny 

jeans, a hoodie is the perfect top to pair with denim.

2. don't forget a purse!

a chic bag is critical to your look, so why not 

include a fun bag with your running shoes?

3. makeup and/or hair can be a fun (but

not required) addition.

what makes you feel beautiful? your favorite

red lipstick? a dusting of blush? curls?

mascara and loose waves make me feel prettiest!

photos by jenn from hello rigby

hoodie: c/o brooks running (exact here), 

tights: c/o brooks running (exact here), shoes: c/o brooks running (exact here),

purse: swap with my favorite, ana luiza from northwest blonde

are you a fan of the current athleisure trend?

how do you style gym-inspired

pieces? i cannot seem to get enough!

in case you missed it, here is another post in

which i styled brooks running tights. 

xoxo.

my health and fitness goals for 2016 with brooks

^^^ my fitbit helps keep me on track throughout the day! ^^^

one of my biggest goals for 2016 is to dedicate more time 

to eating well and working out. you may or may not know this about me, 

but i have such a sweet tooth; i eat dessert after lunch. and dinner. and often

have a treat in between. while my meals are moderately healthy, 

i need to drink more water throughout the day and should add

 more protein and vegetables to my diet (and perhaps

have a few less treats? and less sugar overall). 

i strive to workout four times each week, but new year? new goals!

i'm hoping to continue working out throughout the week, but also 

meet my 10,000 a day step goal. this isn't always possible, of course, 

and i don't want to set myself up for failure.  

taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away when at the

store or coffee shop, and being active with my toddlers during the work day 

are a few ways in which i can increase the number of steps i take.

running is one of my favorite means to alleviate stress!

give me a pair of supportive shoes and a good playlist, and i'm ready.

i should also mention that i am by no means a star athlete. or marathon runner.

that's my brother! i enjoy a jog around green lake or brisk walk through sculpture park!

^^^ stretching, squats, jumping jacks, and using my jump rope are other

ways i like to get my heart rate up! ^^^

photos by michelle dorman photography

what else motivates me to get my body moving? 

great workout clothes, of course! 

today, i am wearing the brooks launch 3 shoe.

this shoe provides adaptive cushioning, a segmented crash pad to

assist with heal-to-toe support, and moisture management technology to keep 

my feet warm and dry on our (frequent) rainy, seattle days.

i have on the streaker hoodie and capri, as well as the 

streaker racerback tank. the capri offers a personalized fit and my hoodie

is odor resistant (perfect for transitioning from a workout to errands

or meeting up with a friend for coffee!). 

i added my down vest as an extra layer to keep warm. 

what are some of your health and fitness goals for 2016?

if you have any workout tips or green smoothie recipes

to share, i am all ears! 

be sure to stock up on running shoes and attire from brooks

 (and check out their amazing winter sale, too!). 

in case you missed it, i shared a recap of my trip to the trailhead store here.

xoxo.

**this is not a sponsored post. all opinions are my own, however, brooks running

graciously provided me with the shoes and clothing that is featured here!