Marika Magic Shaping Capri Review

Caution:  What I'm about to show you has never been documented before. It's me during and after a workout. In all my messy-haired, sweaty-skinned, makeup-free, red-faced glory. You have been warned.

As a fairly active person (who incidentally gave herself no less than four workout-related injuries one recent weekend - new personal record, by the way) I'm always on the lookout for new workout gear. Especially gear that will make me look better while I exercise, because, let's face it - slicked with sweat and gasping for breath ain't so pretty. I'll take all the help I can get.  

Did you know that slimming workout pants exist?? I didn't until I got to try this pair from Marika. I tend to stay away from all things slimming because I don't relish feeling like a sausage about to burst out of her casing (relish, sausage....you get it). But I'm so glad I made an exception for these pants because they are C.O.M.F.Y. Seriously. They have these awesome little power-mesh sculpting panels on the thighs (help exactly where I need it), ultra-flattering body-contouring seams, and they don't squeeze at all. Plus, they work! I think I looked a little slimmer while wearing them. The proof is in the pudding?

This is my new thing, by the way. Running up and down bleachers. Yep, up and down 15 times, 3 times through. With bursts of HIIT in between. And if I still feel I haven't suffered enough, then sometimes a short run after.

I'm happy to report that I've since recovered from all four of my self-inflicted wounds, but not before tumbling over during a balance exercise to land squarely on a (unfortunately hexagonal shaped) dumbbell. So, even though these capris can't make me less clumsy, at least I'll look thinner next time I fall on my face. Right?


p.s. - Now through Sunday use code MM30 for 30% off your order at Marika.com.

*Disclosure: pants were provided to me for review*

adidas Summer Sale

This post contains affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase after clicking them. 

If you've put off shopping for your summer sports wear until now, your tendency towards procrastination is being rewarded!  The adidas Summer Sale is on and you can get up to 50% off of over 1,000 items!  Running shoes, basketball gear, soccer cleats, swimwear—for men, women and kids—everything you need needs for an active summer.  The sale will last as long as there are items in stock, so be sure to run (ha!) over there to get the good stuff before it's gone.

Announcing the adidas Pure Boost Collection

It's getting warmer out, and besides the added fun of BBQs, trips to the beach, and bike rides around town,  it also means running weather!  Please meet the adidas Pure Boost running shoes.  These sneakers are seriously light and really comfy, and are creating quite a buzz in the running community for both their function and fashion.  Basically, they are awesome enough to wear while running and cool enough to wear when not.  With lots of color options for women and men, these are the shoes any runner (or non-runner) is going to want to nab.

Reebok ZQuick

With the way-colder-than-usual-winter we've been having, my daily runs have literally been put on ice.  I'm daydreaming of warmer days to come, when I can get back outside and enjoy a nice, exhilarating jog; to feel the sun shine on my face and the wind blow in my hair (and not return with frostbite or slush-filled shoes).  And in my daydreams I get to be as cool as the people in this video.

Since it's been a couple years since I last bought running shoes, I've been dreaming of getting a new pair lately, too, and these Reebok ZQuick running sneakers are looking pretty sweet.  I love my trusty Nikes, but with their steep price and new model tweaks that make them feel different than my perfect, original pair, they're just not doing it for me anymore.  Reebok, on the other hand, shows promise.  They've been inspired by hi-performance, Z-Rated tires, and created the Reebok ZQuick training shoe to deliver sports car handling, but like, for your feet. And they have plenty of color combinations to choose from (my favorite is the neon yellow & pink - Hello drivers! Please notice me!). Best of all, these kicks come in at just under $90 and they're available in models designed for both running (ZQuick) and training (ZQuick TR).   Since I do both, I may need to get one of each (as bad as my Nike's have become, my 7 year old (seriously) trainers are even worse.  Check these babies out and let me know if you buy a pair of the Reebok ZQuick!  

Compensation was provided by Reebok for this post. As always, opinions are 100% mine.  'Cause that's how I roll.

Highlights & Lowlights #10

It's been a while since I did a highlight/lowlight post, but I just had so many highlights this week that I feel compelled to brag.  (This post makes my gloating seem a little more appropriate.)

{sneakers  |  similar jacket  |  similar shorts}

Highlights:

• The temperature has finally dipped below obscenely, unbearably hot to just super humid, moist, and uncomfortably hot.  I can kind of run again in this weather. (see above)  I'll take it.
• I should preface this one by saying that I LOVE animals.   I was lying in the hammock with hunny bunny at dusk when two of the skunks that frequent our backyard came running straight at us!  When we made noise to let them know we were there, they merely glanced in our direction, then went about their business of scrounging for food.  This bodes very well for my plan of eventually petting one of them.  I've already got the recipe for skunk stink remover memorized for when the inevitable happens.
• I spent an afternoon at the beach with some friends in 95 degree weather and actually. didn't. burn.  So what if I got bitch-slapped a time or two by the obnoxiously rough waves - it's a fair trade off if you ask me.
• Rafting down the Delaware River with friends.  It rained on us twice, we got stuck on rocks repeatedly, and I paddled so much I thought my shoulder was going to fall off.  We're already planning our next trip.  We had such a blast.

Lowlights:

• Having the very bright idea to bring our towels in the raft with us....uh...they got soaked.  So rapids, rain storms, and wiggling & flopping back into the raft after going for a swim brings water into the raft.  Who knew?
• Trying to remove my black nail polish.  The good news is that it came off my nails (mostly). The bad news is that it's now semi-permanently stuck to the skin surrounding my nails.
• My end-of-summer allergies seem to be returning.  I will soon be reunited with my nemesis, the neti pot.
• Having such a fantastic week that I can't think of any lowlights, and must to resort to using lame ones about wet towels, allergies, and nail polish to fill the space.