style: sporty spice.

by 8 Comments

I’ve mentioned before how I never used to pay much attention to wearing “cute” workout clothes. I was that person who was perfectly fine wearing a big old college t-shirt with gym shorts and calling it a day. Not that there’s anything wrong with that 😉

Over the past few months, though, I’ve found myself becoming the activewear junkie I swore I’d never be. I never realized what a huge difference the right, good quality activewear can make! And I’m not just talking about for the actual purpose of exercising.

Discovering that I actually enjoy fitness classes has really made all the difference. Using ClassPass and going to SoulCycle over the past few months has been the first time I can truly say I started to love working out. It has given me a confidence I never got from just going to the gym and doing the normal “30 minutes cardio, 30 minutes weights.” And with that, I want how I feel in my clothes to match the confidence I get from working out. Especially considering I work from home and often wear activewear all day long.

Unfortunately I’ve come to learn that the high quality activewear doesn’t usually do my bank account any favors. BUT, as I’ve always tried to do with my style/wardrobe as a whole, I’ve found the the key is balancing the pricier pieces with less expensive ones, and learning which are worth investing more into.

For example, I’ve found that it’s much easier to get decent workout tops that are less expensive. I love the activewear sections at stores like TJ Maxx, Forever 21, and Old Navy. I scored this Calvin Klein top from Marshall’s.

Calvin Klein activewear

Calvin Klein activewear

Calvin Klein activewear

Bottoms are where I’m okay with spending a bit more. I’m really picky when it comes to the fit of workout shorts/pants because they must be super comfortable or it will bother me the entire time I’m working out. Some of my favorite brands for great workout pants are Athleta, Bandier, and Crane & Lion.

Despite the trendy look of these Lululemon leggings, they are actually ridiculously comfortable and great quality. They’re also cute enough to just wear out and about!

(I’m not seeing these on the Lulu website, but I got them in a their store just 2 weeks ago.)

Lululemon mesh leggings

My girl friends and I refer to embracing this look as “Sporty Spicing” it. I mean, hey, if it’s perfectly acceptable to wear comfy clothes and still look/feel cute, I’m entirely in favor of that.

{photos by Sam Ruby}

What’s your favorite activewear brand?

what i’m loving right now.

by 10 Comments

loving lately

1) fun leggings. Mesh, patterns, cutouts - I love it all. Ever since I started working out more, cute workout clothes are all I want to wear! Both of these are from Lululemon (Rachel’s to the left, mine on the right - my first ever Lulu purchase!).

2) MAC Burgundy lip liner. I love wearing bold lip colors, but I always get nervous that it’s going to be on my teeth (rightfully so, because it often does). So what I did was start wearing lip liner over my entire lip, which works like a lip stain, but even better. Then I just go over it with some clear lip balm to smooth it out.

3) Nespresso VertuoLine. I’ve swooned over my Nespresso before, but I really can’t swear by their new VertuoLine enough. I actually did the math compared to when I was buying coffee every day, and I save so much more money now - AND I get an even better, more decadent cup of coffee. It’s a win-win.

4) Gluten Free Banana Pancakes. I’ve been making these babies almost every day for breakfast recently. They’re so ridiculously good - you’ve got to try them! Super fluffy and the perfect vessel for melty peanut butter 😉 I’ve been throwing some dark chocolate chips in there too. You can find the recipe here.

5) Scandal (Netflix). What the EFF took me so long to get into Scandal?! I started it a little over a week ago and am already on season 3. I’ve heard a lot of fans saying they don’t like it going into season 4, which is a bummer, but I’m still 100% loving it. Olivia Pope is my new idol.

6) fringe. Definitely one of my favorite trends going into spring. I love anything hippie/boho, and this new cross body from Dolce Vita Handbags is a great way to add the perfect amount of fringe to your look.

**********

What trends are you loving going into spring? Any breakfast/meal “kicks” you’re on lately?

snapshots | 2.19.15.

by 8 Comments

half bun

chunky boots

Soul Cycle NYC

shiba inu

It’s been a bit of a slow week in GML world, and that’s very much on purpose.

Well…let me rephrase that. My social life has been slow, but work has been b-a-n-a-n-a-s (in a good way!).

Most weeks I’m out just about every night, but this week the opposite has been true. It’s been a nice change to fully plan on staying in and just relaxing. The fact that we’ve been in a polar vortex for what seems like this entire month doesn’t make that decision difficult, to say the least.

Anyway, here are some snapshots via Instagram + more of the story behind them.

1) Monday was a great day. I very rarely take full advantage of 3-day weekends, but this time I treated Monday like the holiday it was. Rachel and I went to spin early in the morning, then I caught up on some work before shutting my laptop and enjoying the rest of the day. I had brunch with Rachel and Martina at Egg Shop, which I’d been wanting to visit for a while. It was SO good. I got an egg & cheese sandwich (gruyere, caramelized onion aoli) on a gluten free English muffin, and we went splitsies on bacon. Because bacon. Definitely recommended if you’re in NYC.

2) Every time I kinda sorta miss having a “real” job, I remember how much I hated wearing dress pants and pencil skirts. Thanks social media, for keeping me forever dressing like a teenager.

3) Sneak peek from a recent shoot with Samy. I always have so much fun at our photo shoots. I’ll be honest, though - playing model always feels a little strange. It makes me feel so silly! I definitely think there’s value in having more professional photos, but sometimes I miss the good old days when blogging was more…au naturale.

4) Another shot because these are my favorite boots in all the land. They’re from Boohoo.com.

5) Sooo am I annoying anyone with my repetitive SoulCycle posts? Oh well. Get used to ’em 😉

6) NUGGET THOUGH. In case you were wondering, she is in fact the cutest pup in the entire world. And believe it or not, in real life she’s even smaller than she looks.

7) Oh ya know, just your perfectly curated flat lay of my breakfast before I smashed it in my face. Also, can I be Margot Robbie?

**********

What’s been a highlight of your week so far? Has it been a busy one or on the slow side?

snapshots | 2.12.15.

by 3 Comments

1) The other day I had a serious craving for cereal. And not just any cereal…Panda Puffs. AKA cereal made for a 5-year-old. No shame.

2) The bad news is it’s still ridiculously too cold to wear a sleeveless top. The good news is I thought I lost this shirt (this seems to be a pattern), but it recently turned up. Hallelujah!

3) After what felt like an eternity of gloomy, slushy weather - blue skies during an afternoon in Soho (my favorite neighborhood in NYC) was a beautiful sight.

4) One of my favorite places to get lunch in the city is Terri. They have this roasted vegetable wrap is just so SO good. I didn’t have breakfast on this particular morning (tisk tisk) so I got the wrap + a Green Power smoothie for “brunch.”

5) I think this might make me less of a girl, but I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of roses. BUT - this perfect single rose just looked so pretty over the crisp white snow, no?

6) Obviously this is meant to be silly, but I wonder how many relationships these days it’s actually true for! I love it - instaflirting is where it’s at 😉

7) Stolen directly from my Instagram post - If wearing lots of color isn’t really your thing, here are my favorite ways to add a pop of pink and red! Red Carpet Manicure‘s Red Carpet Reddy and My Favorite Designer, Nars Schiap, and Sephora cream lip stain Always Red.

8) If you follow me on SnapChat (@alagracie), you probably know this is my most typical snap - life imitating Emoji. So original, much amusement.

**********

What’s your favorite cereal? What are your plans for this weekend (Valentine’s Day!)?

snapshots | 2.9.15.

by 3 Comments

1) Whyyy did I ever stop making Banana Soft Serve? Every time I make it I think “how is this just bananas?” I’ve also learned that using 2-3 bananas makes it way better - not just because there’s more (an obvious plus), but I’ve found it just blends a lot better.

2) On Friday we had a Red Carpet Manicure event at Paintbox nail studio. I had heard of Paintbox a ton but it was my first time there, and it is uh-mazing. Unlike any nail salon I’ve ever been to. If you’re ever in NYC and want to pamper yourself, this is the place to go.

(p.s. or if you want to give yourself a bomb-A gel manicure, you should enter my #GMLLOVE giveaway)

3) That’s my “please don’t make me go outside” selfie. This past week has been brutally cold in NYC. Oh how I miss having a car sometimes…

4) I’ve been loving adding fun sports bras/bandeaus to my normal workout attire. This one is from Forever21, but I’ve also seen them at LF Stores, Urban Outfitters, and Free People.

5) Post SoulCycle sweaty selfie with Sydney. She also just started a new blog with her best friend - check it out: WE Perceive.

6) As much as the winter can be a bummer, a surprise hour-long snow shower is still so fun.

7) These little breakfast arepas from Yerba Buena are my new JAM. Soooo good.

8) I recently shared on Instagram how much I love this little Bible Promise Book. You can find verses by topic (for me - whatever I may be struggling with on a given day). I’ve actually started carrying it around with me wherever I go - just reading a verse or two throughout the day has made such a big difference.

9) The big ol’ fluffy leopard coat is back in action. I reserve it only for the coldest of days…mostly because I look like a freak otherwise.

**********

What’s been a highlight of your past week(end)? Any particularly great meal, movie, etc.?

 

what i’m loving right now.

by 9 Comments

barre class
Today I took my first ever barre class. It’s been quite the trendy workout lately and I’ve heard so many girls swear by it, so I figured I’d give it a try. I took the Core Fusion class at Exhale Spa, and honestly I had no idea what to expect. I was hoping it wouldn’t be too dance-y because that’s not really my thing, and thankfully wasn’t. What it WAS, though, was a much more difficult class than I expected (in a good way). I liked that it was very fast-paced, and the instructor Julie was really attentive and motivating. I know I’m gonna feel all sorts of sore tomorrow!

Barre Class

SBTB on Jimmy Fallon
Any human being that has been on Facebook today has probably seen this a million times already, but it’s just so good. So much nostalgia…

the half bun
I’ve seen this hairstyle all over Pinterest lately, and I just think it’s so cute. Granted, this is a totally messy version of it (and hello roots), but you get the idea.

half bun

Bare Minerals
I have a full post (+ a vlog!) coming on these products soon, but I can’t help but share how much I love them. The neutral eye shadow palettes are the perfect shades, and the Complexion Rescue is one of the best makeup products I’ve tried in a long time.

Bare Minerals makeup

everything about these looks
Is it spring yet?

Juice Press Fireball
I’ve been a huge fan of Juice Press for a while, so I was really excited when they surprised me with some samples of their Fireball + Mother Earth juice. I had never tried the Fireball, and let me tell you…this stuff is not for the faint of heart. It is SPICY. It definitely will wake you up in the morning, and I’ve heard it can work wonders (immunity booster? Don’t mind if I do).

Juice Press

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Toasted Walnuts
Sometimes I like to get a little fancy pants with my lunch. But don’t let the looks of this fool you - it took just about 10 minutes to make! I used store bought sweet potato gnocchi (from Whole Foods) and added some brown butter and toasted walnuts. Comfort food at its finest.

sweet potato gnocchi with brown butter + walnuts
**********

What Pinterest-inspired looks/trends are you loving right now?
Have you tried a barre class?