It's Official: I Totally Get the Lululemon Craze

If you're not familiar with Lululemon Athletica, you've been living under a rock. If you are, you feel one of two ways about it: one, you're a current customer and are completely obsessed. And two, you would never in a million years purchase this over-priced active wear when there's perfectly good stretchy pants at Target. 

I get it, I do.

I've known about Lulu for a few years now, but didn't know where I'd ever purchase anything, besides online, and aside from ordering things from Nike now and then (because I know exactly how Nike fits me, every time), I knew I'd never order anything from Lulu online. It wasn't until fairly recently that I discovered a Lululemon store just a few miles from my home, so when I had an appointment at a business near the store, I had to stop by on my way out!

I was surprised at how cute and cozy this Lululemon store was! There were several girls working, who immediately came to my attention to help me find what I was looking for. And I didn't really know what I was looking for! I told them I enjoy running, as well as lifting weights, but that it was hard to find great running pants. And I was kinda picky about them too!

One of the girls began grabbing a few pair of running leggings for me to try, and she literally nailed it on the head; I loved everything I tried on!

I had to narrow it down to just two pair of pants; I got these and these (pictured below)!

The first pair are the Pace Rival Crop pants. It's like they were made for me, quite literally (I mean, my last name is Pace)! I pulled them on and jumped and wiggled around; they didn't budge. They are a high-rise crop  pant that come over my belly button, which is exactly what I want in my workout pants! I knew they would be perfect for weight-lifting and running, and I was right; these pants do not budge at all! I have yet to have to pull them up or adjust them while working out! I'm seriously in love with them!

The second pair I just so happened to see before I left the store; they looked like a comfortable, easy jogger pant. Perfect for lounging or running errands and what do ya know? That's exactly what they're meant for! The Jet Crop Luxtreme pant is perfect for a busy mom on the go or just hanging out. I love styling mine with sneakers or flip flops and a slouchy t-shirt. I've found that this look is perhaps the one I wear best!

One thing that was new to me was the sizing. Typically active wear is sized as S, M, L, XL, but Lululemon's sizes range from 2-12, with 2 equaling an XXS and 12 equaling an XL. The sizes do run fairly small, but I was still amazed at how well everything I tried on fit! I am a 12 in the Pace Rival Crop and a 10 in the Jet Crop!

I really wish I could have bought more; I would have purchased nearly everything in store! But I'm always in need of great active pants, so I got exactly what I needed!

I will definitely be back to Lululemon to get more next month! I totally get the craze now; I'm a new Lulu addict!

Fitness Update: Summer 2016

It seriously feels like just yesterday I was blogging about my fitness progress at 7-8-9 months postpartum. It doesn't feel like it's been a year since I really kicked my fitness regimen into gear and lost twenty pounds using ItWorks! 

I know you're not here to read all about ItWorks, so I promise I'm going to refrain from going on and on about it, but I just can't get over how much these products have helped me meet (and maintain) my fitness goals!

Weight: I have absolutely no idea what I weigh right now, and I'm perfectly okay with it. I did a seven-day challenge last week using Greens and ThermoFit and though I can tell a difference, I didn't weigh before or after my challenge! 

The last time I weighed, I'd gained a little weight from my lowest weight, which is expected since I reached my lowest while I was still teaching. But I'm funny about the scale and numbers; I work hard to keep a healthy relationship with that number, so I'm taking a break from knowing what it is right now. Hope that makes sense to you all like it does me :)

Training: I'm working out every day, whether it's a two mile walk to the park and back with Vaught, a twenty-minute sweat session in my living room while Vaught naps, or an hour at the gym at night. I haven't been lifting weights as much, so my goal is to build more muscle between now and beach time next month!

Nutrition: I struggle sooo bad with eating healthily, and I willingly admit it, and I know I've talked about it dozens of times on this blog. If not for my struggles in the kitchen, I would probably be the fittest mama around! Lately I've been on a sweets kick: Oreos, ice cream, brownies, and milkshakes from Sonic are what I'm craving right now! My cravings usually kick in at nighttime (after a long day of healthy eating)!

No Coke... What?! This summer, I'm kissing Coke goodbye--Coca-Cola that is! I went 28 days without it then drank a can of Coke at our Memorial Day cookout a couple weeks ago. Since then, I've drank Coke two more times but am striving to refrain from drinking it again until we go to the beach next month!

Speaking of the beach, I remember feeling so good and so confident in my swimsuit at the beach last year. I've made a lot of progress since then, so I'm really looking forward to this year's trip! 

Thank you so so much for stopping by today! I love having you all as readers and friends, and I am truly trying to get back in the swing of blogging this summer! Check back this week for more adventures!

We want to hear about you again.

I'm going to pretend like I didn't receive an email from a fellow blogger friend a few days ago informing me that she's proud of what I'm doing, but that it's time for a post about me again. 

"Tell us more about you. People are interested in hearing about what you're up to..." 

So much has happened in the past several months. It's been hard to keep the blog updated like I used to, and that's disappointing to me; I really love my blog! I love that y'all are reading, and I love interacting with you! 

But I admit that I've been giving most of my attention to building my home-based business (I told myself I wouldn't call it by name in this post) and I've put this blog on the back-burner.

I didn't realize until somewhat recently that I unintentionally created some speculation about what's been going on/what's happened in my life in the past few months. I've left my friends and family out of the loop and that was never my intention. At all. So I realize I have some things to fill you in on. 

This will probably end up being a longer post than I would like, but I'm hoping you can bear with me. 

In February, I landed my dream job at a makeup store in Oxford, MS. I quickly found that I had a knack for it. I connected with people and wanted to help them. I enjoyed the social part as much as I loved the actual painting on women's faces. 

I walked into work on April 13th, my third wedding anniversary, and was told that I was no longer needed as an employee. That's what happened with that. I know some of you have wanted to ask me. I'm so thankful and grateful that you didn't. 

Understandably, I was hurt and confused. I was given no clarity when I reached out to my boss, who was in Ridgeland at the time, and who had also told me from the beginning what a blessing I was to the store, to her brand. 

I was hurt. Angry. And unemployed. On my wedding anniversary. 

Back-tracking just a little, my husband, Eric, was never supportive of my job as a makeup artist. He thought I was wasting my time (and gasoline). He was frustrated that I'd picked makeup over a factory or desk job. He didn't like that I wasn't clocking in 40 hours a week. I was convinced that he didn't want to see me happy. 

From February through April 13th, my husband and I didn't talk much. When we did, it was the mundane, "How was your day?" "Good." "Thanks for dinner." "Goodnight." 

I began sleeping with my back to him. He was frustrated with me, and I resented his lack of support. 

But on April 13th, I called him before leaving Oxford. He's a machining instructor at a college in Memphis and was on spring break, so he picked up the phone and for the first time in a while we actually talked. Of course I was crying my eyes out and could barely speak, but I realized how much I needed him, how much I'd missed him. Marriage is funny like that. 

He told me I'd have to start looking for a job the next day. I didn't tell him this, but I wasn't going to. I had absolutely no intention of finding another job. Say what you will; that's not me being selfish or me being stupid or me being "immature." 

I knew God was doing something. I couldn't really explain it; I just knew it with my whole heart. We were four months into 2016 and look at what I'd been through already. 

 

I loved my business I was working from home, and it was my goal from the beginning to make it my full time income. 

So I went after it. And I did it. 

At the end of May, I went Diamond. Five months in, I went Diamond. Diamond is the first major leadership level of our company and it comes with a salary that exceeds the one I made as a teacher. 

It took him a little while, but Eric came around. I totally, 100% understood his stress. I did. The time in between was a little scary, and I know it was driving him crazy thinking, Can she do this?? Our family needs it, but can she do it? 

But I did. 

I was browsing at Target on a Friday night recently when I got a call from Eric, who was on his way home from his workout. 

 

"I just want you to know I'm proud of you. I was skeptical in the beginning, but look at where you are now..." 

I think that was when I realized that he really, truly does have my back. And I have his. 

I love my job, love what I'm doing. I hate what happened with my job at the makeup store. It was completely out of left field, so unexpected, so without reason, and, yes I'll sound 12 years old for a moment, it was unfair. But I knew that in order for me to truly move forward, I'd have to make peace with it. 

The day I was "fired," (gosh that sounds awful), I went home and dove into my Bible. I looked up and read scriptures about some of God's toughest leading ladies (Mary, Ruth, Esther for example). I adopted Esther 4:14 as my new favorite verse, the verse that perfectly defines where I am in life. "Perhaps this is the moment for which you were made." 

I had lunch with my mother not long ago, and as we discussed everything that's happened in just three short years, I concluded that perhaps these things had to happen. They were meant to happen, to bring me to where I am now. Without the heartache, the hurt, the disappointment, I wouldn't be nearly as strong. I wouldn't be the woman I am now. I still have a long way to go, guys. But I'm better than I've ever been. 

Are things perfect? No. Will they ever be perfect? No. But they're wonderful. And even through struggles, I'm learning to appreciate exactly where I am. A little at a time, I'm accomplishing really spectacular things. 

Have I mentioned how amazing I think you all are?? Thank you so much for not giving up on me. Thanks you for being faithful readers and some of the most supportive friends I never thought I'd have. Thank you for your constant love and endless support for me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. 

You're all so dear to me. 

Come back Monday for a fitness update!!!