Tag: Summertime

OOTD: Athleisure

by Ashley DeLarge4 Comments on OOTD: Athleisure

I am very much an outdoorsy type of girl, and while I consider my natural habitat to be pretty much anywhere oceanside or within close proximity to the beach- I’ve never been opposed to hikes through the woods, treks up mountains, or even just a stroll through the park. Of course, New England’s often unpredictable weather tends to make some of those excursions a little difficult (“Treadmill Season” is what I usually call it when I’m confined to the indoors due to things like snow, sleet or the occasional tornado but still need to fit a workout into my schedule!) so I more than make up for lost quality time with the kinder side of Mother Nature once Spring and Summer roll around these parts and I spend as much time outdoors as I can- keeping my body moving and continue getting into and/or maintaining my shape.

… And every Summer, I like to treat myself a little bit for sticking to my guns and working towards my fitness goals all throughout the Winter/Spring by updating my workout wardrobe with a few new pieces, too!

Feeling comfortable and confident are key when it comes to owning any outfit, but especially when that outfit is going to be used for exercising- which, let’s face it- isn’t always the most glamorous thing in the world. Lightweight and breathable fabrics are a must and if you can find anything that is totally and completely equipped to handle sweat- even better!

When the good folks over at Adore Me– the go-to site for designer lingerie at awesome prices- asked me to share my ideal “Athleisure” (athletic wear that can also double as leisurely attire) now that Summer is underway- I knew right away what ensemble I wanted to spotlight. Best part? Every piece of it came from my favorite treasure trove of affordable fashion in Downtown Crossing- Primark! Can you say convenient?

What I love about these stretchy, slimming, and really comfortable purple and black workout pants/leggings is that they give me enough support without slowing me down the way other made-for-the-gym style bottoms can by being made with materials that feel way too heavy or that have any kind of shape wear (literally the most uncomfortable things in the world apart from wearing a suit of armor while doing squats) built into them. These move with my body- which means the fabric doesn’t stretch or tear. I can run, jump, roll, and lift without worrying!

And while the loose-fitting tank top I’m wearing might not necessarily look like anything out of this world- it’s actually designed with fabric that helps maintain a safe body temperature for me no matter how hot I get while I’m in the middle of a workout. Given our recent heat wave- this thing definitely came in handy while I was out and about.

Of course- I couldn’t NOT wear my favorite pair of holograph sneakers (also from Primark!), could I? These shoes go with everything and are just so comfortable that I take them with me all the time- be it to the gym, a local show/concert, or even just to a friend’s house to hang out. I love them! Always be sure you can stand walking/running in your shoes for a while before you commit to them full-time. Nothing slows down a workout faster than sore feet!

Primark has different color combinations of the pants and the tank top- and I own a few more shades so that I can alternate or mix and match while properly caring for/washing these pieces as I go. If you don’t have a Primark near you- I definitely recommend checking out their website (linked above!) to order some of their stuff online.

What’s great about these types of outfits is that I can wear them to the gym but also when I’m out just running errands because the whole thing together looks sporty and comfortable. I just throw my hair back with an elastic or a headband, toss my sunglasses on and I’m ready to go grocery shopping, grab a latte, walk my dog or check my mail.

MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES:

For these low-maintenance types of outfits, you don’t really need anything more than:

  • Some decent earbuds
  • A kick-ass, upbeat playlist to blast through those earbuds I just suggested to keep you motivated and get your blood pumping!
  • A water bottle filled with ice water so you can stay cool and hydrated- which is always so important this time of year!
  • A light wristlet to carry around your phone/keys/cards/cash/etc. There’s nothing worse than thinking you left one of the essentials somewhere at the gym and having to backtrack to find them.

If you have your own Athleisure must-haves or tips/tricks- feel free to share!

xx

– Ashley –

Summer Treats: Champagne and Strawberry Popsicles

by Ashley DeLarge1 Comment on Summer Treats: Champagne and Strawberry Popsicles

 

Summer has finally and unquestionably arrived here in New England. After a few uncertain recent weeks of non-stop bitterly cold rain and Winter-esque temperature drops- the sun has been shining, the air is hot and humid- and more and more people have been coming out of hiding to brave the beach and get their suntan on.

Of course, with a much-missed season making it’s long overdue debut- a celebration is in order- and you can’t really have a celebration without champagne, can you? Don’t bother digging out the fine glassware and decorative flutes just yet- because this 21+ beach and/or pool party treat is a little less formal and a whole lot sweeter.

And don’t worry- if you don’t want alcohol in these popsicles- it’s easy enough to substitute other ingredients! I’ll give you a few tips!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

  • ½ cup of water
  • ½ cup of sugar
  • 1 pint of ripe strawberries
  • 2⁄3 cup of champagne (you can substitute the champagne with fruit juice here, or if you still want the fizzy feel- try using flavored seltzer water, instead!)

READY? HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

  1. Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Stir the water until the sugar has completely dissolved. Turn off the heat. Dissolving the sugar has created a syrup, which will help the popsicles have a more smooth texture.
  3. Remove the green tops from the strawberries and puree your strawberries in a blender until they are completely smooth.
  4. Combine the sugar syrup, strawberries, and champagne. Use a whisk to ensure that the ingredients are completely mixed.
  5. Fill your popsicle molds and freeze the mixture until it is completely solid. This usually takes at least two hours, so you’ll have some time to run any errands (or if you’re like me- get a pedicure) before these pops are ready.
  6. Remove your popsicles from the mold, sit back on the nearest beach blanket or hammock- and enjoy!

These popsicles were really refreshing during this past weekend’s scorching heat- and were (naturally) a pretty big hit at brunch. Some friends suggested using the same recipe but creating ice cubes instead of popsicles to throw into chilled mimosas for some added flavor and an extra kick of boozy goodness at the next backyard BBQ or cook-out.

Of course, what makes these so easy is that you can puree pretty much any other type of fruit to give yourself and your guests a variety of flavors to enjoy. Oranges, coconuts, mangoes, bananas- the possibilities are endless but always tasty and tropical. As long as you make your water & sugar mixture/syrup base- you’re good to go!

xx

– Ashley –