Fashionably Fit: Trail Shoes Edition

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When I first started exercising “properly”, it was in 2009, in order to lose weight for my wedding in summer of 2010. I exercised at home with games like EA Sports Active and DVDs like Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred. At home, my only concern when it came to kit was a good sports bra – any old T-shirt and jogging bottoms would do. But this year, as I’ve started jogging OUTSIDE, under the watchful gaze of OTHER PEOPLE, I started to consider my exercise clothes in the same way as I did my everyday outfits: a chance to express myself, enjoy what I wear, and feel better about myself too.

When SportsShoes.com got in touch with me to ask me to select some items from their site in order to post about fashion and fitness, I leapt at the chance – not least because that exact same day I was planning a trip to pick up some trail shoes from the Nike Factory Store at Gunwharf Quays. The event I am training for this spring is really one that requires trail shoes, as it’s basically one long mud bath punctuated with a variety of opportunities for me to fail hilariously at being sporty. But hey, at least no one will be able to accuse me of not having the right kit!

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The shoes I selected from the site’s extensive range were Nike Zoom Terra Kiger running shoes (pictured above, £69.99) which are designed to cushion the foot and provide extra grip in muddy conditions! Perfect! I also selected a pair of Nike Legend 2.0 Women’s Dri-Fit workout pants – my first pair of ‘proper’ running bottoms. Previously I’ve made do with offerings from Primark, F&F and Next’s own sport range, which are all fine, but not made of technical material like Nike’s Dri-Fit products. These help to wick moisture away from the skin to keep you comfortable while you sweat like a maniac.

As I’ve never knowingly undershopped, I took the opportunity to pick up a beautiful silver reflective jacket from the Nike store on my trip (which I went on anyway, because shops). I already had a great red cycling jacket, but the Nike Flash range jackets are reflective ALL OVER, and plus, are pretty space age. Sports Shoes has a selection of similar jackets here.

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Styling workout outfits is infinitely easier if everything you have can be mixed and matched, and is generally along the same colour scheme. As your trainers are your most important piece of kit (in my opinion!), I think that you should pick these first, according to your needs and budget, and then build your collection from there. These Nike Trail shoes came with a purple and grey colour scheme, so I ran with that and picked up a variety of black, pink and purple items. Pictured above with my Nike shoes and joggers are a pink Nike Jam Jam top (£20 here), my silver running jacket, a pink and grey Adidas gym bag, and NOT pictured is a pink and black sports bra from Shock Absorber (£35 here).

On my spree, I also bought a black Heidi Klum for New Balance cropped tee from Next (£30 here), and a pink Nike boyfriend tank (similar here). Combine the two, and you have an outfit which brings back good memories of netball practice at school…

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I also have to mention my phone, which is one of my most essential pieces of kit. I’ve mentioned before that I’m using the Zombies 5k training app, and it’s really keeping me on track and motivated to get out there several times a week – both to keep up my progress, and to find out what’s going to happen to Abel Township next! Luckily, my Kate Spade iPhone cover matches my new trainers or I would have had to throw it away in disgust…

Finally, as it is nippy outside, I decided to pick up a reversible purple Nike headband (£9.99 here) to keep my ears warm and my hair out of my face. In all honesty, for me, this is a frivilous and unessential purchase as I always get very hot on my runs anyway, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to look as sporty as possible. And let’s face it, what’s more sporty looking than headbands, sweatbands and leg warmers?

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I’m sure you’ll agree from the photographic evidence that just with the simple addition of a headband, I suddenly look 85% more sporty, and 50% more likely to be able to complete a marathon at the drop of a hat.

Fitness FashionNike Zoom Terra Kiger running shoes, c/o SportsShoes.com / Reflective running jacket, Nike (similar here) / Cropped T-shirt, Heidi Klum for New Balance / Reversible Headband, Nike / Nike Legend 2.0 Women’s Dri-Fit workout pants, c/o SportsShoes.com / Jam Jam Top, Nike / Ultimate Gym Bra, Shock Absorber

What do you wear when you exercise? What’s your favourite work out outfit? And, what do you think about fitness fashion in general? Let me know!

My Nike Zoom Terra Kiger running shoes and Nike Legend 2.0 Women’s Dri-Fit workout pants were sent to me by SportsShoes.com for the purposes of review on this blog.

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Favourite Things: Jo Malone Scented Candles

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I love candles – tea lights, tapered dinner candles, scented votives, the lot! I recently decided to splash out on some luxury scented candles, and since then they’ve been somewhat of an addiction…

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One of the most iconic brands is Jo Malone, whose range of fragrances can be mixed and matched for a bespoke scent. The range is amazing (one of my favourites is red roses) but the brand’s distinctively wrapped candles caught my eye.

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With their minimalist black, white and silver labelling and lid, and black ribbon, they make an amazing item just to keep on your mantelpiece.

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When you order online, they arrive gift wrapped in a beautiful box, complete with a box of matches! How’s about that for attention to detail?

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As I’m on a macaroon kick at the moment, I ordered one of the Sweet Almond and Macaroon home candles from the Just Like Sunday range. Other scents from the range include Incense and Embers, Lavender and Lovage, and another favourite of mine, Green Tomato Leaf!

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Each candle is £39 and has a burn time of 45 hours. The scent is so intense that you’ll really only need to light it for a couple of hours to fill your house with the sweet aroma of sugary vanilla and almonds.

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I can’t think of many more decadent scents than this – and the packaging makes this a fantastic present too, even if it is for yourself! Check out the range at www.jomalone.co.uk here.

What’s your favourite scented candle?

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Burberry Nail Varnish: 102 English Rose

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Since the launch of their nail varnish collection, Burberry have introduced a large range of new colours, including selections of nude, red and ‘runway’ shades. As English Rose is my favourite lip colour, I wanted to pick up the same colour for my nails!

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Burberry’s English Rose (102) is a pretty ballet pink with a hint of peach. It’s very sheer and takes a few coats for full coverage.

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It makes for a great neutral, although it’s just slightly lighter to my skin colour, which isn’t my preference.

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The only niggle I have with the Burberry range is that the brushes are hard to use – I wish they’d use rounded brushes like Dior! What do you think? Have you had a chance to try any of Burberry’s range?

Purchase Burberry nail varnish online at Burberry.com for £15 for an 8ml bottle. Find the nails section here, and English Rose here.

And just because I can’t resist my matte top coat:

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I always prefer my colours in matte! So glad I stocked up on this top coat…

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Bag ‘n’ Shoes: Mulberry Exotic Tweed Lily and Mulberry Signature Pumps

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I’m totally in love with my new Mulberry Lily in exotic tweed! I first saw it on a couple of blogs last year and was completely intrigued by its gorgeous orange and black stripes and tweed fabric. So when it appeared in the outlets, I snapped one up!

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At the same time, I also couldn’t resist these gorgeous pointed Mulberry signature pumps in the sale!

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They came in a hot pink box (my other shoes from previous seasons came in a dark maroon box) and have matching hot pink interiors too!

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They also have pretty little gold Mulberry logo studs at the back.

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And they also have a fair amount of toe cleavage too…

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And I love the gorgeous profile!

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One last look at that gorgeous postman’s lock:

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Check out Mulberry’s range online at mulberry.com. You can find lists of current outlet stock on the Mulberry subforum at Purse Blog here. If you see anything that takes your fancy, you can phone the factory stores and they can post items to you for £8! (Bicester: 01869 322 822, Shepton Mallet: 01749 340 583, Cheshire Oaks: 0151 356 8904, York: 01904 611 055). Happy shopping!

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Lunch at The Ivy

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It’s been my ambition for a long time to be able to eat at some of London’s most famous and established restaurants. I had my hen party at The Ritz and am plotting breakfast at The Wolseley, but before all that, I decided to cash in my Valentine’s day treat for lunch at The Ivy.

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Not as exclusive or trendy as it was in its heyday, it’s still an amazing place to eat, and if you choose wisely, not as expensive as you would think!

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The menu is full of old English and French classics – it’s not a particularly innovative menu, but then, that’s not why you go to The Ivy. You go to soak up the atmosphere and to sup in the same restaurant as countless celebrities like Noel Coward, Vivian Leigh, Marlene Dietrich, and more recently Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, the Beckhams, etc. These days, though, these celebs have migrated to The Club at The Ivy, which is a private area that requires membership to enter, leaving the main dining area relatively celeb-free.

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So, you’ll have to content yourself with the food itself – solid, unsurprising fare that is incredibly delicious and reasonably priced.

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I started with the seared foie gras – beautifully tender on top of a sheet of delicate pastry with a sugary crunch to it. The rich jus and sharp cherries were the perfect accompaniments. My husband had the leek soup, which was poured from a mini saucepan into a bowl already full of the toppings. It was delicious, smooth and creamy.

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My main course was the confit of duck – it was certainly skilfully cooked, although a bit gamier than I’m used to. The potatoes were the highlight for me – cooked with onions, butter and parsley. I also shared some green beans and bacon with my husband, who ordered sausages and mash. This, again, was an exceptional example of a much-loved classic.

Dessert was the thing I was most looking forward to – Scandinavian iced berries. They were as delicious as I expected them to be – an assortment of wild, frozen berries topped with a gorgeously decadent hot white chocolate sauce at the last moment.

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My husband opted for the creme brûlée – studded with vanilla seeds, it was rich and light at the same time!

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Despite its fearsome reputation, I didn’t dress up for my visit – I just wore a cute striped jumper from Joules that I’d bought in Cornwall and a pair of black jeans. As this was lunch time, most people were dressed casually, although a few large groups were dressed to the nines and I lost count of the number of red Louboutins I saw flashing their way across the wooden floor!

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If you’re after a meal to remember, I wouldn’t pick The Ivy as my first choice. But as far as boast factor goes, it’s pretty high up on the list, and I think the menu is very well executed. And so it should be, considering it’s full of much-loved, traditional dishes!

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You can book a visit to The Ivy online at www.the-ivy.co.uk

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Mud, mud, mud!

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It’s been a muddy old month in Blighty – not that I can complain when so many people have bigger problems to contend with. The flooding has seen entire communities losing everything they have, so a spot of mud seems like heaven in comparison. I have to say, it’s making my jogging routine feel a little more like an adventure – exactly the kind of thing you want when you’re training for an obstacle course! And the dogs are having a blast as well…

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The storms haven’t been without casualties here though. A few trees have fallen in my local woods, making obstacles of their very own on the pathways!

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Hopefully, the worst has passed now and the mud will recede soon! Until then, I’m quite enjoying the sense of achievement I feel when I get home and have to scrape the mud off my trainers. And joggers. And legs. And arms!

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

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It may be wet and windy here in the UK this year, but that’s not going to stop me enjoying Valentine’s Day! I hope everyone has a lovely day with people they love – be it friends, family or that special someone!

Today, I’m going to be pairing my favourite French Sole leopard spot flats with my Mulberry Valentine’s clutch, with a slick of Dior 999 on my lips and fingernails, wafting on a cloud of Jo Malone’s Red Roses (such a beautiful, romantic scent!) and with a box of Prestat choccies waiting for me at home. I’ll be having lunch with my friends and parents, and having dinner with my husband. Can’t think of a better way to spend the day – and, bonus, I’ve already done my exercise and finished reading A Storm of Swords. It doesn’t get any better than this!

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What’s your favourite way to spend Valentine’s Day? Any dinner plans? Do share!
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Tango for Two Dress

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I was recently contacted by Modcloth to enter a competition to style their fab Tango for Two dress using items from their website. I love Modcloth and have actually purchased a couple of dresses from them (ones which had similar styles to a couple of Kate Middleton’s dresses which I loved!) so I was more than happy to take part! Here’s the look I created:

Modcloth: Tango for Two Dress

I love the lace overlay on top of the bright pink block colour – and that simple shift shape really adds elegance to the whole look. As I am but a simple creature, I decided to stick with pink and black for the rest of the outfit, and selected some pretty rose earrings, a beautiful hat (I’m such a sucker for hats!), and two other quirky items which have me drooling! First of all is the Pomme Sweet Home bag, which is somewhat reminiscent of one of my all time favourite collections from Anya Hindmarch. I ADORE this. (It’s my fourth wedding anniversary in August and the theme is fruit… Dare I hint?) Second are these pretty black heels with red hearts on the top (and they’re vegan too!) which remind me of a similar design from Vivienne Westwood. Modcloth makes it very easy to replicate designer style without emptying your wallet in the process! I have to say, if I could only choose one item from this set, it’d be impossible to pick! (The bag please!)

What did you think of my outfit? How would you style this dress using items from Modcloth’s site?

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Zombies 5k: initial review

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In early spring, I’m going to be motoring off with a bunch of other fine folks to take part in a crazy, mud-soaked 5k obstacle course. So, I decided, as a basic minimum, that I really should at least be able to run 5k before I get there… In comes Zombies 5k, an app I had already downloaded but never used – which sits in amongst a plethora of 5k apps that I download whenever I’m supposed to be doing Race for Life. This time, though, I’m pretty serious about making sure I prepare properly. So at the end of last month, I embarked on my first week of Zombie 5k training!

The app works with your phone (and is also available on Android) to track your distance and other fancy things, but the main feature of it that made me download was the storyline that’s woven into your progress as you run. You plug in your earphones, select a playlist from your music folder, and then in between tracks, narrators tell a story of a group of survivors of a zombie apocalypse, of which you are one, who are struggling to gather supplies. As Runner 5, you are put into training to venture out and gather items, and the narrators mix together plot points and training advice along the way to make each run seem like it’s building up to make you an elite, zombie-outrunning athlete.

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These are screenshots from my phone to show the information that you gather as you run – and how you progress, from a series of short bursts of running interspersed with walking, to an hour’s worth of longer runs and walks in the final week. Unless you are incredibly unfit, it should be easy to get stuck into, and it follows a fairly typical route for most 5k training programmes.

One of my favourite parts about this programme, though, is the way that it captures lots of extra info that can be viewed online if you link your app to the website, www.zombiesrungame.com.

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First of all, it tracks your overall distance and time, and also breaks down the total distances for each week as you go along, as well as informing you about the major plot points you’ve encountered so far. Week one workout three was especially fun for me, as I went with my parents and their mad dogs to Royal Victoria Country Park, where not only did I get dragged through the mud by an insane mutt, but I also got to experience an exciting storyline twist when I was asked to run outside the safety of the base in order to pick up some ammo for the township!

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As you can see, if you choose to share this info, the website can track your progress on a map – which is the second aspect I really like. You can see exactly where you went, and even how fast you were going at each stage – right down to your speed for each individual song!

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Royal Victoria Country Park is an amazing place to run, as it covers lots of different terrains, from a pavemented seafront, to a wooded area, and even a military cemetery. And here’s an interesting fact for you: the tower is what’s left of Royal Victoria Hospital, where the fictional Dr Watson from the Sherlock Holmes stories trained as a surgeon for the army!

Somehow, my app magically synched itself to my run and had me tearing down a side route (middle left) in order to pick up the aforementioned ammo. The accompanying insane canine was very happy to pull me far beyond my normal running pace and I ended up plunging through a series of muddy puddles of varying depths… But, considering I’m training for an obstacle course, I’d say it’s all part of the programme!

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I’m definitely happy to have picked this method of training, and I’ll be sure to pick up my review at a later date in order to fill you in on my progress! Crazy as I sounds, I actually look forward to my thrice-weekly runs, and it’s a combination of a well-crafted learning curve, and an interesting storyline, that are keeping me coming back for more. Visit the app store to find Zombies 5k, or head to www.zombiesrungame.com for more info.

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