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Two Quick Hairdos that Stand Up to Rigorous Workouts

Hey #flashers,

I have two new videos up on Youtube showing you two hairstyles that hold up in the gym. Cuz sometimes a girl just gets sick of the ponytail, no? These updos are:

  • Super quick: they only take seconds to do. Ain’t nobody got time for decorative hair.
  • Easy: you should be able to do them yourself or ask your 8-year-old daughter to do it.
  • Super durable for rigorous workouts. I hate when you can feel your hair loosen.
  • Meant for long hair. Cuz that’s the kind of hair you need to keep outta your face.
  • A little on the messier side. Just call me messy Jessie.

French Twist

Twist Braid and Bun

Come on over to my channel and subscribe. That way, you can keep an eye on what I’m up to. I have plenty more videos like this up my sleeve.

Also, I’d love for you to #flashme your favorite gym hairstyles over on Instagram.

Woven Tennis Racket DIY

So, I’m a fitness junkie (duh) but I am not very excited about the workout “look” that is pretty much universal in the world right now, from clothing to equipment to logos.

The athletic look is basically a one-size-fits-all look. Lots of athletic stripes, lots of hardcore sweaty pics, lots of iron and heathered polyester and patterned leggings. The traditional athletic look is really not my style at all–well, except for the leggings.

In fact, in my search of interior design inspiration for my home gym on Pinterest, I came up pretty empty-handed. Everything looks like a regular jock-style gym (for lack of better terminology).

Let’s change that!

So, I’m trying to come up with some of my own decorations to fuse my love of fitness with my love of vintage and boho styles. Those things usually don’t go together. At least until I get my hands on them.

One decoration I came across on a different search were these embroidered tennis rackets I found on Pinterest. Love at first sight!!!!

 

Woven Tennis Racket DIY

So, I picked up these two old tennis rackets at a junk store for just $0.50 each! I chose two with the most vintage-y designs that I liked. And I like the juxtaposition of wood and metal. They really weren’t in playing shape anymore, so I didn’t feel bad retiring and re-purposing them.

vintage tennis rackets

Then, I just freestyled a weaving design with a “me” color scheme. I used yarn, but you could also use embroidery floss. You just weave under-over-under-over the strings. You can easily weave horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Alternate light and dark yarn colors and alternate the thickness of each section to give it a variegated look. When you come to the end of a section, just tie the string off in the back.

woven tennis rackets for vintage home gym decor

Then, hubby helped me hang them, staggered, over my weight shelf.

repurposed tennis rackets

I love the sporty, vintage vibe these tennis rackets add to my workout space now. I can’t wait to add more elements like this!

If this post inspires you to make your own woven tennis rackets, I’d love to see them!

Would you like more ideas like these?

 

 

PS, I finally claimed this blog over on Bloglovin, and I’d love for you to add it to your regular feed. I need my workout space to fit my personality, so I have lots of styling projects to invent and potential blog material to go along with it.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Weekly Workout Rundown

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Monday:
  • 40 min AM run, 3 miles
Tuesday:
  • 35 min AM run, 2.5 miles
  • 22 min PM Bridal Babe + Sunkissed Abs workouts

Wednesday:

  • 45 min Bikini Cardio AM run, 3.7 miles
  • 30 min Surfer Babe DVD in PM
Thursday:
  • Rest
Friday:
  • 40 min AM run, 3 miles
  • 45 min PM Surfer’s Paradise + Cowabunga workouts, 3 rounds each

Saturday:

  • 60 min run, 5 miles
Sunday:
  • 35 min run, 3 miles
This week, we’re starting to tally up our miles until the first day of summer. As of this morning, I am at 22.5 miles for #100bySummer. My workouts are pretty much on-pace with the #BikiniSeries schedule for the week. Links to all workouts can be found in this post. Oh, and I reached a number on the scale this week that I haven’t seen in a very long time, thanks to this Bikini Series. The numbers crept up a little over the weekend, but the downward trend seems to be sticking. I just really want to get into the “healthy weight” zone. Right now, I just fall into the “overweight” category, but I’m so close that I can taste it.
Holy sore-ness! I’ve got a lower back and shoulder thing going on this week that are pestering me, but not restricting my workouts in any way. I won’t do any moves that will worsen my aches, but I can still run and do pretty much everything. I just look like a 90-year-old lady when I try to bend at the waist and get up from my chair. I’m a tummy sleeper, so I’ve been sleeping with a pillow under my pelvis and that really helps take the pressure off my lower back. I may or may not be secretly using Ben-Gay. I’m not! I kid…

Our weekend was spent almost entirely outside due to the amazing weather we’re having in Wisconsin finally! I did some yard work, studied for my NASM exam in a lawn chair, took a 5k run around the neighborhood, accidentally crashed a cookout, went on a ‘coon hunt in the middle of the city, picked up veggie plants for the garden, and took a scooter ride. Peanut did some of this stuff with us, but he had a special sleepover and fishing trip of his own to attend. I’m feeling a cold coming on, but this warm summery weather sure seems to be tempering the effects.

Here’s our little neighborhood friend. Pretty docile for a wild animal. Hubster live-trapped and relocated her. Peanut has a weird fear of raccoons of all things, but he was all-too-eager to help his Da hunt her down.

How excited are you for the upcoming three-day weekend? I am! I am! We always hit up the city-wide rummage sales in the town where my husband grew up and put flowers on his grandpa’s grave while we’re there. It’s kinda a tradition now. We’re going to try and find this place again. And in two weekends, we’re heading to Chicago for a little family trip, centered around my NASM personal trainer workshop. This summer is going to be so good…

What trips do you have planned already for the summer?

Weekly Workout Rundown

photo 0e340d3e-62ba-4e55-9f4a-7258f16cd99a_zps3484b587.jpg
Monday:
Tuesday:
  • 45 min Bikini Cardio in the AM
  • 30 min Abs + 3 rounds of Surfer’s Paradise in PM
Wednesday:
  • 30 min Booty Shorts Cardio in the AM
Thursday:
  • 30 min brisk solo walk at lunch
  • 18 min 3 rounds of Love Your Arms in PM
Friday:
  • 30 min 2 rounds of Sunseeker + 2 rounds of Surfer’s Paradise in PM
Saturday:
  • 45 min run in the AM
  • 35 Grab a Friend Workout in the AM (performed solo)
Sunday:
  • Rest
*See last week’s Tone It Up schedule to see the workouts listed above.

Sunday was the only day that I deviated from the Bikini Series a little bit. I was supposed to work on my buns for Sunday Bumday, but I didn’t. I don’t like excuses, so I try not to use them myself, but I needed a rest day. I’m having some lower back issues, but I’m determined to not let it interfere with my progress.

This week we’re starting to track our mileage for #100bySummer. We have 6 weeks until summer officially starts, and it’s time to kick the mileage into high gear. I have no doubt that I will accomplish just that. I accomplished #100byVDay earlier in the year, those first 6 weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. So, 100 miles by summer should be completely doable.

In other news, I have my CPR/AED training coming up really soon. Next month, I’ll be attending the NASM personal training workshop in Chicago and then it will be test time. I plan to hit the books hard for the next month-and-a-half to make sure I have my personal training certification in-hand by July. And that, my friends, is how I like to…Make it Happen!

How are you doing on the Bikini Series?

Weekly Workout Rundown

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Monday:
  • 25 min AM interval run, 2 miles, 377 calories
  • 20 min circuit training at lunch
Tuesday:
  • 30 min Insanity Cardio Recovery, 162 calories
Wednesday:
  • 20 min solo walk at lunch
  • 35 min PM run, 2.64 miles
  • 14 min Sunkissed Abs x 2
Thursday:
Friday:
  • 35 min AM run
Saturday:
  • 60 min AM run (45 min Bikini Cardio pictured below + 15 min extra)
  • 15 min strength (TIU in Foam Magazine)
Sunday:
  • 40 min AM run, 3.1 miles
  • 15 min of Tara Stiles Slim Calm Sexy Yoga before bed

    • On Monday, my friend and I got schooled by a nice-looking boy at the gym on how to do pull-ups on the available equipment. Now, I know some people are averse to unsolicited gym advice, but my friend and I were grateful for the pointers. He may or may not have had his pretty looks on his side:) I’ve also been practicing pull-ups at the parks whenever I take Peanut. It’s one of my goals to be able to do 5 in a row by the first day of summer.
    Tuesday was the start of the Tone It Up Bikini Series. I am one full week into the Tone it Up Bikini Series, and pretty much right on track. This week, I’m going full back into the Nutrition Plan, after Hubster does the grocery shopping. This morning I finally tried Perfect Fit pancakes (see Insta pic #1). I had been hoarding the one packet I got on Cyber Monday (ha!), and was dying to try the pancakes from the welcome packet, so I finally did.

    The weekend finally brought temperatures in the 70s and our town came alive again. After battling winter temperatures for the past, oh, 6 months (no lie!), we were all more than happy to spend our entire weekend outside without jackets. Literally, if we weren’t sleeping, we were outside. We did some work in the yard, had a picnic at the park, worked out on the porch, did some meal planning in the backyard. Oh, it was beee-you-tee-fulll! Every window in our house was open to infuse it with that spring scent.

    On Sunday, I realized I hadn’t hit my goal of incorporating at least 15 minutes of yoga into my week. Determined to reach that goal, I did 15 minutes of Slim Calm Sexy Yoga before bed. Oh, yoga right before bed is the most amazing thing ever. Maybe this is how I will incorporate more yoga into my routine, by doing it at bedtime. Sounds delicious.
    I’m so excited to dedicate another week to my goals and dreams. Next weekend, I’m taking a mini weekend retreat, so this is a short week for me. Weee!
    Images
    1. TIU Perfect Fit protein pancakes with peaches
    2. Meal planning in the backyard, TIU nutrition plan in-hand. Find my menu planner printable here.
    3. My makeshift porch workout station. Dumbbells + picnic blanket + sunshine = best workout idea ever.
    4. The kiddos played with chalk and bubbles while I worked out, natch!
    5. Flowers growing in the gutter are special: A view from my morning walk.
    6. My Tone It Up journal. Got a mini portfolio at work and decked it out. You’ll see my motivational quote and measurement printables tucked in there.
    7. Practicing pull-ups at the park.
    8. Glazed chicken and broccoli, a healthy meal at Ihop.
    9. Peanut pretend fishing with a stick down by the river.
    10. Peanut and I walking the trails after church.
    How was your weekend?

    Weekly Workout Rundown

    photo 0e340d3e-62ba-4e55-9f4a-7258f16cd99a_zps3484b587.jpg
    Monday:
    Tuesday:
    • 30 min AM run, 2.13mi, 393 calories
    • 30 min casual walk at lunch
    Wednesday:
    Thursday:
    • Rest
    Friday:
    Saturday:
    • Rest
    Sunday:
    • 5k race, 29:11 official race time
    You’ll notice I tapered a bit toward the end of last week. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t tight and sore before running the 5k on Sunday. It worked! The run was amazing–though pretty dang cold even for being in Wisconsin. You can read about the 5k and my Peanut’s first official run in yesterday’s post.
    This week, I’m so beyond excited to be starting the Tone It Up Bikini Series, I can hardly stand it. The official kickoff email came out this morning. This year, I’m actually a member of the nutrition plan, so I will even qualify for all the amazing prizes. I can’t wait to hear what the grand prize is.
    If you don’t know about them yet, be prepared to have your mind blown. Tone It Up is the most amazing community of women who are either already addicted to fitness or are about to be. Their business and community model is something to aspire to, especially for a fitness professional. Right now, I’m busy getting the details down on paper, marking down my plans, and filling in my calendar. I will have a post soon about how I plan out my days, from workouts to blogging to family schedules, in my planner. Stay tuned for that.
    If you haven’t already signed up for the Bikini Series, head over here pronto. You’ll even get this free kickoff printable with recipes and workouts:
    BIKINI-SERIES-Tone-It-Up-Bikini-Series
    Anyone else signing up for the bikini series challenge? Anyone else as excited as I am?

    Weekly Workout Rundown

    photo 0e340d3e-62ba-4e55-9f4a-7258f16cd99a_zps3484b587.jpg
    Monday:
    • 30 min run outside with my pup
    Tuesday:
    • Sick/rest
    Wednesday
    • Sick/rest
    Thursday
    • 35 min PM run
    Friday
    • 20 min circuit training at lunch with friend
    • 30 min PM interval run
    • 20 min Drop10 workout
    Saturday
    • 70 min run (5miles/992 calories)
    Sunday
    •  Rest
     So, this was my scantily-populated workout calendar for last week. As mentioned previously, I wasn’t feeling well on Monday and Tuesday. Monday, I got my first outdoor run of the season in. It’s still in the 40’s in Wisconsin, but Monday was sunny and I was ready to get back outside. After that run is when I started to feel under-the-weather. Thursday I took it a bit easier and Friday I went back full force. A little too forceful perhaps, because I’m still sore from that day.
    Photo
    Results of Saturday’s workout, 5 miles, 992 calories
    I’m preparing for a family 5K in two weeks. Hubster and I have a tradition of running this same local race every year, and even Peanut wanted to be signed up for the kid’s run. I’m not about to argue with that! He’s going to wear his special Sketchers that make him run really fast. Haha!
    I’m finding that posting my workouts is helping me notice habits (good and bad) and making me more attuned to where I could use some tweaks. I’m not hell-bent on glorifying my body or anything; that’s not what these goals are about. I find that goals, in any area of my life, keep me motivated and encourage progress. ~Better every day. That’s even the motto of this blog. 
    With that in mind, here are three of my current and newly-created goals:
    1. Start tracking calories and distance of runs in addition to minutes, so I can tell if I’m getting faster.
    2. Keep incorporating yoga or other more mindful practices into my routine to stay sane and limber.
    3. Make that Saturday long run a little faster. I’m aiming for 5 miles under 60 minutes.
    4. Tune in even more to my body, taking it easy when I feel spent and not overdoing it. Working out improves the immune system, but working out too much can damper it.
    Tomorrow I’ll be back with a glimpse into my food prep for the week. I also have a scrumptious squash recipe to share that came out of these preparations.
    Any good suggestions for how to run faster?

    Weekly Workout Rundown

    photo 0e340d3e-62ba-4e55-9f4a-7258f16cd99a_zps3484b587.jpg
    Monday
    • 45 min interval run in AM
    • 25 min circuit training with friend on lunch break
    Tuesday
    • 30 min run in AM
    • 30 min slow/mod walk with mom at lunch
    Wednesday
    • 30 min run in AM
    • 20 min circuit training with friend on lunch break

    Thursday

    • Rest
    Friday
    • 40 min run in AM
    • 20 min circuit training with friend on lunch break
    Saturday
    • 65 min run/5 miles
    Sunday
    • Rest
    This week was pretty top-notch as far as training goes. I did almost everything I wanted to, except injecting a little yoga or stretch workout in there somewhere. This week, I’m going to make sure I get it done. It always makes me feel so much better, even just 20 minutes of it.
    I cannot post my meal plan this week as it is top secret. I made all  my preparations on Sunday for the week. All my breakfasts and lunches through Friday await me in the fridge. This has made life in the mornings so much easier. I literally grab my food and go, which is even more convenient than fast food! Today I even had enough time to walk to work and run for 40 minutes. Now, if only I planned enough time to dry my hair…
    My friend and I, whom I have been training with on lunch breaks, decided to try out this Total Body Transformation from Chris Powell. Instead of doing the program over the course of 12 months, we are narrowing it down to 12 weeks. I am also training from a top-secret workout. More deets to come, when I can:) I am beyond stoked! But the suspense is killing me, friends.
    I will meet you back here for my WWR next week! My Diet Bet comes to a close this weekend, so I’m pushing hard for good numbers, folks.

    What to Pack in Your Gym Bag

    Whether it’s your first time at the gym or you’re just curious what other gymgoers are carrying around in their bags, I present to you the contents of my gym bag. Each item is pertinent to my workout habit. For practical reasons, I do not keep anything in my bag that I don’t use regularly.

    Like my cute Oakley bag? Me too! The mesh on the side pockets airs out my towel and shoes and the front pocket stores my workout logs. I sound like I’m advertising the thing, don’t I? Turns out, describing products like this is my job.

    Oakley Duffel photo P2231302_zps3f8b8190.jpg

    I bought a cheap-o towel at the store because I didn’t want to haul around one of my plush ones from home. It’s much more portable and I don’t have to worry about how I treat it or anything.

    gym bag contents photo P2231300_zpsd03dd47d.jpg

    Also, I carry Avon body wash in case the gym soap dispenser is out, Jergen’s lotion to soothe stripped skin (two showers a day will do that to you), Garnier hairspray and face towelettes, and travel-sized Dove deodorant. A friend and I have been hitting up the gym on our lunch breaks, so we don’t have time for or really need full-body showers, just “rinses” as we like to call them and a change of socks and underthings. I sometimes carry Suave dry shampoo too, but rarely end up needing it.

    Mini Clipboard photo P2231303_zps6aba8796.jpg

    Isn’t this mini clipboard just the cutest? I think I got it in the dollar section at Target. I like to keep my workout index cards on it. I wrote out many of the workouts from Supreme 90 Day so I can do them at the gym instead of being confined to only the TV.

    photo P2231304_zps33a5f705.jpg

    I got this cutie purple water bottle from work. It has a buckled lid to keep me from splashing myself and little notches on it to track water intake. If I take ANYthing to the gym, it is this precious reservoir.

    If you’re wondering what to pack for your first foray into the gym world, I would recommend most of the items above, depending on whether or not you’ll be “rinsing” at the gym. Other than what’s pictured, and your workout clothes (of course!), I would also recommend a good lock for the locker room, a magazine for the treadmill (if you can read and run), and a good playlist and headphones. A hand towel for dripping sweat is also pretty handy. I like to bring these pretty mantra towels when I remember them.

    What are your main gym essentials? Any other gym packing tips?

    Weekly Workout Rundown

    weekly workout rundown

    Here is a rundown of my workout schedule for the week:

    Monday:

    • 35 min run in AM
    • 20 gym strength training at lunch
    • 15 min PM workout from this book (review to come!)

    Tuesday:

    • 35 min run in AM
    • 30 min slow/mod walk at lunch

    Wednesday:

    • 35 min run in AM
    • 30 min slow/mod walk at lunch
    • 40 min Shiva Rea yoga in PM

    Thursday:

    • Rest
    • 30 min slow/mod walk at lunch

    Friday:

    • 35 min interval run in AM
    • 30 min brisk walk at lunch
    • 25 min Supreme 90 Day Total Body

    Saturday:

    • 60 min run (4.5 miles)

    Sunday:

    • Rest

    This is a pretty typical workout week for me. I always get 5 days of running and 3 days of strength training in. Then, I walk with my mom on my lunch break sometimes and if I’m feeling super strong, I might do other activities. I’ve just started incorporating foam rolling into my routine. And adding in a regular yoga rotation has been one of my goals for this year.

    When my son was first born, I always did a 30 to 60 minute Yoga Today workout every Saturday morning, bar none. I always felt better equipped to handle a newborn after Zen-ing out for awhile. My husband was ever so kind to let me have Saturday mornings to sleep in a bit and do some sun salutations. I’ve been having some issues with stress lately, so I want to make sure I keep calm by incorporating a regular yoga practice. Plus, I sometimes get all hardcore on my workouts, and it’s a nice change of pace to slow down and stretch out (although Shiva Rea is no lightweight). I could use a little more flexibility in my life.

    I’m going to try and make it a habit to log my workouts here once a week, just to show you how I’m training and to keep myself accountable. Also, I want to see progress. I think that by posting this, I will have a tangible progress report to pump me up for the next week.

    What about you? What is your regular workout routine?