Latest Faves: Fitness Gear, New Workouts + NYC Summering

Hi there and Happy Friday!

It’s been a chill but busy summer, right? I feel like I spend the days doing *all* the things, while simultaneously accomplishing nothing … but isn’t that the definition of parenting, lol? I know I certainly feel that sometimes. But I know it’s normal and I’m not alone.

Skyler and I are embarking on a few more weeks of holding down the fort at home while Scott travels overseas. He’ll be back the week before school starts, so we’ll be sure to check some final Summer in NYC bucket list items off of our list before then.

Are the kids back in school by you? How are you doing? It’s funny how different the timing of back-to-school activities are all over the country and world. We’ve got just under three weeks left here in Brooklyn.

We are still in the thick of it over here, but we’re taking each day for what it is. I’m spending *a lot* of time with Skyler solo, participating in *a lot* of play dates and outside activities, and giving myself extra grace on the to-dos until we get back to a regular schedule. And I don’t have any regrets about it.

That said, this round-up is taking way longer than planned, so let’s dive right in. Today we’re catching up with some fitness gear, a new workout share, a celebration and a look into our summer days, Friday-favorites style.

Latest Faves: Fitness Gear, New Workouts + Summering

• recent Under Armour picks

Let’s kick things off with a look into some pieces I’ve been wearing on repeat from Under Armour. I’ve been a big fan of the brand for well over a decade, so I am excited to sport and share my favorites from a recent haul with you.

To be clear, I did not pay for the items, but I hand picked them and chose to feature them in a photo shoot a few months back with Jason Roth Photography. Each piece is included in a list I complied on my “shop my UA favorites” page, which you can access and reference any time. I’ll update the page if or when I receive more shipments.

Here’s a look at two of the outfits:

Seamless Low Long Sports Bra (wearing XS)

Motion Jacket (wearing XS)

Motion Ankle Legging (wearing S)

HOVR Phantom 3 Dyed Running Shoe

Armour Mesh Tank (wearing XS)

HeatGear® Armour Ankle Legging (wearing S)

Project Rock 4 Training Shoes (looks like they’ve been replaced by these)

I absolutely love these two matching sets. The fabric of the motion jacket and legging is very soft and comfortable, and something I can wear all day long. That combination of cozy but supportive isn’t always easy to find, but the grey set nails it. The sports bra is also supportive and comfortable, too.

The green and gold set has been a go-to for the gym and will also move over to my outdoor runs once it cools down a bit. (I’m still in shorts mode over here, but soon!) The fit is a bit tighter, but still feels breathable than most pieces that have anything to do with “compression” in the description. I love the high rise coverage that pairs well with the tank, and I might just order the outfit again in black and white. It’s great.

I’m still really loving the black and white running shoes. I’ve gone on several runs with them, and they’re one of those shoes that could take you from the treadmill to the gym floor during a workout – which isn’t easy to find, either. There’s almost a sock-like feel on the top, and they feel very supportive without being bulky.

Sadly, I can no longer find the white and gold shoes online. I’m guessing they were replaced by these Project Rock 6 Training Shoes which look awesome.

There are only a few running shoes I can wear commuting around the city all day, and this is one of them. They’re described as a new and improved version that is more supportive and comfortable … the biggest takeaway review I’m giving all of the pieces, ha. Both of these shoes have been on my rotation to wear on commutes in and out of the city when I’m in athletic gear, and I don’t think that will change any time soon. Great work, UA!

And that’s why they all earn a top spot on my favorites.

• 4 Years Advocating With Beautycounter

Y’all know I love my Beautycounter products, but let’s circle back to the why for a minute.

Even more than the high-quality, high-performing products, I was drawn to this company for the education-first approach and advocacy work. Beautycounter actively works towards changing our clean beauty laws and fights to ban more harmful ingredients that any company is allowed to put out for consumers to buy. (Read more about this on the Clean Beauty page.)

I took a leap and said “yes” to partnering with them four years ago (yesterday), and my goal has always been to document and share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to start your own path to using safer products in the process. What you put on your skin matters, and it doesn’t have to be complicated or filled with harmful chemicals to get the results you’re looking for. (I know it can be overwhelming!)

Whether you use Beautycounter or not, I’m always here to answer any questions I can and to point you in the direction of where to find a good, clean alternative to current everyday products that might be questionable. Here are my go-to tips to get started on any budget.

I’m so thankful for this opportunity – not just for the great discount and commissions, but for the learning process that has enabled me to share about clean beauty with anyone who will listen. It’s been a really fun “side gig” to the Life In Leggings blog and business. Just like any other job, the more you put into it the more you get out of it, and I really enjoy the flexibility to ramp it up or put it more to the side when other projects take over.

If you’ve ever thought about partnering, there happens to be a killer incentive to join over the next few days!

You can check out my Why I Became a Beautycounter Consultant & FAQs post and reach out to me at beautycounter@lifeinleggings.com, by replying to this email if you subscribe to the newsletter, or just comment below and I’ll connect with you.

Cheers to four years, and many more to come!

• NEW 30 Minute Strength Workout (With Dumbbells, Bench + Barbell)

I am so, so glad we have our membership back at our local gym. We took a hiatus post-lockdowns since they no longer offered childcare, but with that return came our return just last week. And we’ve definitely been taking advantage of it that, the swimming pools and all of the workout equipment. (It had been too long!)

I briefly shared this workout on my stories last week, and it deserves a spot here with more explanation.

Currently, I’m completing three strength training sessions at the gym with a mix of yoga, running and low-impact cycling at home for my fitness routine. I put two workouts together using the cable and weight machines, and my third workout I’m repeating weekly is very similar to what you see below.

It’s quick, yet effective with a mix of pushing, pulling and squatting. This week I added a forth exercise to each circuit since I had more time and felt great (dumbbell squats to overhead presses to the first circuit, then dumbbell pullovers on the bench to the second circuit).

Do whatever works best for you, but you will need a variety of equipment for this one including a medium and heavy set of dumbbells, a bench and a barbell. If you don’t have a barbell, however, you could substitute dumbbells.

exercise demos

barbell chest presses

dumbbell single arm rows

barbell deadlifts

dumbbell biceps curls

dumbbell single arm kickbacks

dumbbell Romanian split squats

(or dumbbell split squats)

As usual, please remember to listen to your body and rest or modify as needed. Also, what works for me isn’t guaranteed to work for you, as everyone’s journey, level, bodies and needs are different. Always consult a doctor before jumping into a new type of workout or intensity, and please reach out if you have any specific questions.

Let me know if you give it a try!

• recent Summer adventures in the City

It’s safe to say that our little family has been active in outings this summer. We had a special trip down to Florida for a few weeks (which I still haven’t covered – maybe next week!), but other than that, we’ve been trying to make the most of our time together in NYC whenever Scott is in town and while Sky is out of school.

Here’s a look into some recent highlights and things I’d suggest if you’re ever here.

NYC Skyline Dinner Cruise

I highly recommend this excursion if you’re visiting or a local, as the views of the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Jersey skylines are spectacular. The buffet dinner was good, but the highlight was definitely the vibe and view from the decks post-dinner with drinks and a live DJ.

The boat circled around Lady Liberty twice, one for each side of the boat for quite awhile. It was really nice and a total breath of fresh air seaside. (Thank you to the NY Islanders and NHL offices for hosting us!)

When it’s not too hot out, we’ve been spending a good amount of time riding and walking around the neighborhood.

This kid is finally riding his bike like a pro – with training wheels, but I’ll take it!

We’ve had a few sets of visitors, and I was able to get a babysitter to attend a long overdue girls’ night with my best friend from Detroit, Alex, while she was in town. We dined at Nobu and it was even better than I remember the first time around for Scott’s Birthday a few years back.

We’ve been going to Taekwondo twice a week and Skyler has advanced in his belt and uniform! The classes have really helped him focus and listen *most of the time* … so we’ll continue into the Fall and see how far he goes.

(Also, Sky in his uniform on the scooter is one of my favorite things!)

Scott and I haven’t gotten too many date nights in, but we’ve put in a solid effort to make one a month happen with the latest in a nearby neighborhood we love, Carroll Gardens. We dined at Gersi, which lived up to the hype and then some. It was fantastic and we will one hundred percent be back for more homemade noodles, seasonal salads and fabulous cocktails.

Sundays after church always prove to be adventurous, as we’re already either in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) or near Midtown Manhattan, depending on the location we visit. Our routine always takes us to somewhere new for lunch, followed by lots of walking and exploring.

Sometimes we’ll find new spots and other times we’ll run into parades and such. There’s never not something to do!

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In case you missed it …

» Tips On How To Celebrate Small Wins Every Day

Small wins aren’t meant to change the world, but they can change your life with the right mindset. Try these tips on how to celebrate your small wins every day for more motivation, confidence and overall success.

Fitness from the archives …

» Cardio, Core & Booty Tabata Workout

Try this Tabata-style bodyweight workout that targets your abs, legs, and gets your heart rate up quickly. No equipment is needed and a Tabata Playlist included!

Nutrition/Food from the archives …

» Typical Grocery List For Throw Together Meals

Trying to eat healthy, stick to a grocery budget, and avoid spending a lot of time in the kitchen every day? This post shares my typical grocery list along with a rundown on how to throw something easy (and healthy!) together by pulling key ingredients from different categories.

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All right. It’s time to pack up and get out the door to Taekwondo with Skyler. We’re going on a play date afterwards and will be having anything but pizza for dinner tonight, as we’ve maxed out on that this week. (Pizza Fridays will resume next week, ha.)

That’s it for now, but you can follow along for more workouts, daily eats, outings, real talk and more over on Instagram. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

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*Disclaimer: Friday Favorites posts may contain affiliate links. Also, I am a Beautycounter consultant and love what I do with the company. By using the links provided in this post to order products, you are supporting my business. I always appreciate you!