Weekend Shopping: LuluLemon Loveliness & Uninspired at the Mall

I went shopping this weekend for a few hours with Candice and it was the most uninspiring shopping trip in my recent memory. 

I felt like every single store we entered had nothing to offer. I guess maybe stores haven't fully sprung into spring just yet, but I have to say I was extremely bored by what I saw and had to spend an hour online window-shopping when I got home just to regain my belief in shopping and the joys of finding the perfect dress for spring.

Admittedly, the lack of shopping done on the shopping trip was awesome for my wallet.  I think my H was pretty surprised when I came home with one MAC eye shadow (a replacement for one I had used up) and a Victoria's Secret "lacie" thong, which I got for FREE with a coupon (score!)

I've been wearing so much black lately that it's starting to get depressing.  I haven't been doing OOTD photos because I feel like my outfits are uninspiring right now.  I promise to wear more color come spring.  Even I'm getting tired of all black, all the time (did you ever think I'd say that?!)

I decided it was time to infuse a little color into my life and since the mall wasn't providing me with anything I wanted to spend my hard-earned pennies on, I decided to head somewhere that I knew would bring a smile to my face (and a dent in my bank account): LuluLemon.  Here's what I got:

Hot Class Bra

Speed Up Tank

I can't find this one online---but it has cute little drawstrings
on the side and I love the back of it!

I'm absolutely IN LOVE with that minty green and gorgeous purple color LuluLemon is doing right now in their collections. Such pretty, spring-y colors! Both tops that I got are very flattering and supportive in the bust area which is great!

These purchases definitely hit the spot for me, and it was a nice little reward to myself for my hard work at the gym!

Did you buy anything this weekend, or were you as uninspired as I was? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
xoxo,

Veronika.

Motivation Mondays: How Do You Measure Success? & LuluLemon Picks!

I got a question on my formspring page today asking me whether or not I've lost weight or inches from working out.

I've definitely lost inches on my body---and gained muscle mass--- but I only know this because of how I look and how my clothes fit. I don't weigh myself or take measurements.

I'm not on a weight loss journey like some health and fitness bloggers are, so weigh-ins and measuring are not part of my life, nor do I want them to be.  When I watch shows like The Biggest Loser or Heavy, I completely understand the weigh-ins because they really have to track their progress to make sure that they are losing the amount of weight they should be and to ensure their eating and workouts are effective.

When I made the decision to work out regularly, I did it for my health of course and to improve the look of my body by toning it.  So, that's how I assess my progress nowadays---by what I see in the mirror and how I feel. 

In the past, I've weighed myself regularly and measured myself and I became obsessed with the numbers and that's not where I want to be. 

I want to feel good about how hard I work and in order to do that, I can't obsess about the numbers on the scale or how much my hips measure. I've been there, done that---and I never feel happy because I feel like I'm not getting results (even when I am.)  Now, all it takes is just looking at myself and pulling my skinny jeans on to know that the results are there.

I was shopping at LuluLemon with Candice this weekend (and OMG do they ever have amazing stuff out right now!) and I even proudly flexed in the mirror as I tried a tank on.  That's how I measure success these days. 

How do you measure your workout success?  To clarify, I'm not saying I never weigh myself---I do. Maybe once every 3 months or so.

Speaking of LuluLemon---hello gorgeous!  I'm absolutely loving all of the stuff they have in store right now and I'm tempted to pay a visit again next weekend and make a purchase or two.

Here are my top picks:

Lulu Lemon Scoop Neck Tank

 

Run Speed Short

Wunder Under Crop- Organic


Speed Up Tank

I just love that minty green color they're featuring in a lot of their styles right now! It's so fresh and pretty! They also had these adorable pleated mini skirts (or skorts, I think).  If I played tennis more often I'd definitely have bought one!

In more health news, I finally switched to regular oatmeal for breakfast and I LOVE it!  In my last post where I mentioned it, a lot of my lovely readers encouraged me to switch because the flavored formulas had so much sugar in them.

This morning I tried the Quaker brand rolled oats for the first time and they were awesome.  I prepared them just with water, put it into the microwave and then I added some honey and cinnamon powder.  To top it all off, I also added fresh blueberries and strawberries. YUM!  The best part? It kept me full until lunchtime at 12:30 p.m.

Isn't it so pretty!?  I'm really glad I made the switch and thank you to all the ladies who pushed me in this direction!

I had my veggie soup for lunch, almonds as a snack, peanut butter with Kashi crackers as a snack, some chicken and pasta for dinner and a few bites of H's cinnamon bun for dessert (I had to restrain myself from eating the entire thing!)

Since my colonoscopy is next week, I want to start eating well now and continuing to eat well after "the great cleanse of 2011." I'm praying the cleanse will eliminate my sugar cravings.  I can hope, right?

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Veronika.

OOTD: Sunday Brunch

Since we missed Christmas with family this year, H and I invited his parents to Sunday brunch at this great local place where they've got everything from bacon and omelets to pastries and chocolate-covered strawberries.

I wore my favorite top from Target. I bought it right before our trip to Paris and I wore the heck out of it while we were gone (like kind of a gross amount of times).

I wore it to brunch today with boots and leggings. It's just the perfect top because it's super-long and so soft and comfy, but because it's fitted it looks chic instead of frumpy.

Wool Coat- Zara
Tunic Top- Target---buy it here---(thanks Sally for posting the link!)
Boots- Jessica Simpson (buy them here)
Tights- Lulu Lemon Wunder Under Pintuck

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS--- check out Lulu opening his own Christmas present from his grammy and grampy!

Review: LuluLemon Wunder Under Pintuck Tights

Happy Friday everyone!  I ended my Friday night right with a Power Pilates class.  Afterward, the husband and I ordered yummy Mexican food and I ate lots of guacamole...and then Skittles for dessert. I am obsessed with guacamole. I used to think it was disgusting because of the color and then I had some avocado in my tortilla soup one day and fell in love. It took me awhile to try avocado guacamole-style, but now I'm addicted.

I promised I'd post pictures and a review of the LuluLemon tights I bought last weekend. I've been wearing them to classes all week and I LOVE them!

They are the Special Edition Wunder Under Pintuck retailing for $78.00. This is what they look like:

Like all LuluLemon pants I've worn, these are so comfy, durable, feel great on and are flattering on the body. I don't know how they do it, but they do.  It's incredible. Their fabric is unlike any other workout lines I've tried. There's just something about it. The special edition pintuck ones have this cute pintuck pattern at the bottom of the leg part and it gives them a bit of a feminine flare and some texture.

I worked for LuluLemon when I was in college over the holidays and they have a very cool corporate culture and really encourage their employees to be fit and healthy and follow the brand's lifestyle which I think is great.  It was so awesome to get the discount too!

What are your favorite workout clothes?  I always like to wear cute gym clothes because it motivates me to look cute while getting fit.  I know a lot of women think it's silly to care about wearing cute clothes to work out, but I say if it makes you feel good and motivated then do it!

Tomorrow Candice and I are going to do a little shopping and maybe check out a new Forever 21 that's opening.  We'll see...but I'm sure I'll have a post up later tomorrow.

xoxo,

Veronika.