Greetings ducks! This post promises to be short and sweet! It was a cold and rainy day in Minneapolis and Mr. Bug and I ventured out to go shoe shopping this evening. He needed new running shoes and I tagged along, feeling all virtuous for entering the hallowed man-space called Dick’s Sporting Goods, and just LOOK at what greeted me when I walked through the door!
[image Golf Skorts]
Golf skirts! Can you believe how cute these are? There were a whole bunch of cute skirts and matching little sleeveless button up shirts. Everything was pink. I had no idea that golf clothes were so cute! Perhaps this is a sport I could get into! We got a set of clubs for me when brother-in-law-bug was getting rid of his, but we’ve never gone out to use them. Mr. Bug isn’t a huge golfer – I think he went out during his bachelor weekend, but only a couple of other times in the last few years. But, an activity where I can be outside, wear skirts that otherwise would only be appropriate at Halloween AND drive a little cart around? That sounds perfect!
Speaking of physical activity, I know this pops up now and then on blogs, but what do all ya’ll do for exercise and what do you wear? My primary ‘workout’ is a two and a half mile walk with Lucy the bear most evenings. We walk pretty fast and I usually just wear whatever I have on, except I switch my shoes for something more comfy and if it’s super hot and sticky and I’m wearing a dress, I might put on a pair of bike shorts underneath the skirt. My walking shoes for the last two years have been a pair of red Keens – impossibly comfy, wonderfully open to the world (I hate wearing socks) and hideous.
[image Keen Shoe Sale]
Sadly, my Keens are pretty worn out and my birthday is THURSDAY, so after we got Mr. Bug’s super fancy Asics at Sports Authority, we headed over to the Mall of America to hunt down some birthday-walking-shoes for me. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this, but Mr. Bug is an elite marathon runner – he’s run over 30 marathons and has finished all of them in under three hours! As such, he’s serious about his athletic shoes and expected the same from me. I, of course, am serious about finding the perfect pair of slightly ironic, referential pair of sneakers. Kangaroos would be best, but I also found some Pumas and Nikes in appropriate shades of fuschia and lime green. Sigh. After trying on pair after pair of cute, yet flimsy sneaks, I finally gave in to Mr. Bug’s increasing frustration and tried on a few pairs of real, live, athletic shoes. Seriously, ducks, I think the last pair of sneakers I owned may have been the ones I had to buy that fateful basketball season of my 10th grade year when I succumbed and tried out for the cheerleading squad. I made it, but mostly dressed up as the chicken (OK, Golden Eagle), which was oddly a bit cooler than wearing the super bulky 80’s style cheerleading sweaters with the turtlenecks! Anyway – it’s been years since I’ve owned real sneakers.
Guess who’s now the proud owner of these pink and white Nike walking shoes? They do have some pink on them, although it’s pretty pale pink, not the blinding neon I had a hankering for! I like the little swoosh on the toe!
Oh, sigh. They just so…big. Mr. Bug assures me that now that I have appropriate shoes I will likely experience a lot less sore leg muscles. And that does sound nice. I wore my pink converse sneaks on the walk yesterday and by the time I got home, my calves were certainly complaining.
I know Gertie brought up workout wear and style last year – I don’t remember exactly when, but I know it was pertaining to hula hooping, which seems to lend itself well to stylish workout wear! Of course, my two activities – dog walking and just-started bike riding also seem to lend themselves to stylish workout wear! I’m not sure how my full circle skirts are going to look with my new giant sneakers!!
Almost time to sign off, but first, since we’re talking workout wear I had to include this image from Minneapolis-based Foat Design – they make completely awesome yoga wear (and other things) that make me sort of wish I was a yoga type. Some of their stuff is even made from recycled clothing! I’d like to try to work some of their design details into a project sometime!
[image Foat Design on Facebook]
Second? Let’s just admire my bike again, shall we? Mr. Bug and I went on a very short bike ride over the weekend. I’m getting better – meaning I can turn corners – but hills still scare the bejeezus out of me! Even slight slopes have me gripping the handlebars tight enough to break ‘em in half!
So here’s to spring and getting let out of the house – what’re you wearing on your flippers??
18 [comments]:
Your new shoes are super cute, especially for walking shoes, Patty. That pink is a great detail. Excellent find!
Confession: I totally own that plaid golf skirt. The men in my life finally convinced me to start taking golf lessons and the first thing I did was buy cute golf clothes. Who wants to swing a club in plain old shorts, after all? Ridiculous, girly skirts are so much better.
That being said, my main form of exercise is still dance. Spandex leotards and jazz sneakers are pretty tragic looking, but at least easy to move in. Now if only jazz shoes came in hot pink...
I pretty much live in converse! I've never owned a proper pair of walking shoes in my life!
Ashley x
It would be interesting to know if the golf skirt would work for biking. I am a gym girl and love it (I know most people don't) but my favorite piece to wear is a skort and Jalie has a nice pattern for one (so I have actually made some gym gear!)
Cute shoes!
I just bought three pairs of Crown Vintage sandals. They are the only shoes in like 2 years to not give my baby toe any blisters! So I put 3 pairs on my credit card, cuz, let's face it, it's rare to find good shoes with my wide feet.
Your bike is the cutest thing EVER!!
Here's something that might make buying athletic shoes more fun: http://nikeid.nike.com/nikeid/index.jsp -- I had a gift certificate, and "designed" my last pair of running shoes (Air Pegasus) in obnoxious orange and yellow. :) Even if you don't plan to buy any, it's lots of fun to play around, and you can save your designs. I bought running shoes because that's what I needed, but the canvas shoes offer more colors, so they're more fun to design.
ruggy & i are having the EXACT same back and forth right now. he went so far as to bring a pair of running/hiking sneakers home last night. they DO have the appropriate hot pink, but they feel like i'm wearing small buildings on my feet... i hope you come to like yours...
one day, when you feel you're on a completely safe hill, you have to fly down it. you'll never go back!
Oooh, very cute golf skirts! My parents are into golf and I think it's a great sport, lots of walking outside and it uses coordination too. I'm so not feeling old enough for it, though... ;)
My exercise right now is biking to uni and home (15-25min each way), which I of course do in style and me-made skirts... :) I'm also taking a Pilates class (good mix of relaxing and muscle work) and went to my first Thai Bo class yesterday. I nearly died, it was that exertive, but lots of fun... :) Right now, I have some RTW exercise wear I like, but I may make some in the future...
After hurting my achilles once...I am always prone to injury. It is worth wearing a suitable pair of shoes when walking or working out. I learned never to walk in ballet flats or flip flops. I will walk in Danskos so comfortable. It is like physical therapy in a shoe! Love them--clogs, sandals!
I love your new shoes! You won't regret it. I have learned to splurge on comfy shoes. It takes to long to recovery...for me anyway!
And golf skirts! Love them. I need to find beg. golf lessons!!
OK, strange and true confession. I am a hefty workout nut. I just ran a half marathon in New Orleans. I'm signed up for two triathlons this summer with probably some more on the horizon. I also sign up for any even where I wallow in the mud. I just ran the Warrior Dash with friends which is a 3 mile run where you jump over fire, climb under barbed wire, wade through a mud pit filled with logs and get a helmet and a turkey leg at the end. The dirtier and more painful the better I like it. I think I work a lot of stress out working out with my dog or friends and am a sucker for the feeling of doing something I never thought I could do before (used to be about 50 pounds heavier and anti-exercise). I also coach beginning runners on a volunteer basis and can shoot you in the direction of some beginner plans, although I'm sure Mr. Bug can as well. LOVE IT!!!
Mary D - something like jazz shoes should ONLY come in pink!!
ashley - i like my converse shoes a lot! I was thinking of sticking insoles in them for long distance walking!
Sue - the golf skirts I was looking at (the brand name is lady hagen) are actually skorts - they have little white bike shorts built in, similar to the jalie pattern, if you used the one I'm thinking of! they'd totally work - and show off a lotta leg!
p.sue - link to pictures! link! link!
Andrea! that is SO COOL! I'm bookmarking for a later date... mr. bug will be amazed that such a thing even exists!!
oona - not only are they giant and squishy, but I don't really like wearing socks (other than over the knee argyles) so most of my shoes are based around non-sock wearing. They're just so confining!!
alessa - do you do the pilates with that device that looks like a torture instrument? i'm intrigued by those! I've done pilates at home with a video and remember much soreness in my core muscles!!
cindy - a voice of reason. mr. bug would approve!
staci - that's great that you work out so much! I have a friend that also lost a lot of weight running and coaches a womens running group. She and mr. bug are hilarious because she's all about the training plans and mr. bug is all old school - just head out and run - and we joke about how his training plan consists of eating marshmallows and running when he feels like it! he doesn't do the scheduled long runs, etc. and is still pretty competitive - i think it's just years of knowing what to do. plus he's wily like a fox and knows how to pace himself well - and (much to my dismay) he signed up for that darn warrior dash in july...thanks for the offer of the beginner plans, but i'm not looking to add any new workouts - lucy the hound would be sad without her daily walking adventure if I switched things up!It's sort of a bummer, because if I did switch workouts, I'd head to the gym because i LOVE lifting weights (and talk about style nightmare ground zero!) but there's only so much time in a day and for being a lazy basset hound, she's awful squirrley if she doesn't get her hour-long daily walk!
Patty,
I wear insoles in my converse everyday - not just for serious walking. It's sooo much comfier and I definitely recommend it!
cat
i like the new shoes! i know what you mean about wanting something flashy, though - i like to wear vintage reebok freestyles during my workouts. the new ones don't come in the same great neon colors that the 80s ones do! of course, those are really only good for aerobics... not walking/running.
as far as workout "gear" goes, i try to wear as little as possible! haha! ok, i should probably explain myself - i cancelled my gym membership (accidentally typed 'membershit' there, wtf) a few months ago & i've been working out in the comfort and privacy of my own bedroom. it's awesome because i get to listen to my own music, go to the bathroom when i feel like it (jumping around *always* makes me have to pee) and the only thing watching me is my cat. anyway, i don't care to create huge laundry piles so i generally just wear my sports bra & some itty bitty shorts. and the shoes, of course. i can't exercise barefoot!
i love riding my bike for exercise but i don't wear anything special for it! just my normal clothes, since i usually bike to my hangout destinations. i can't bring myself to bike in a skirt... most of my skirts tend to be the super-tight-super-short (aka my mom yelling, "JENNIFER LAUREN, WHERE ARE YOUR PANTS?") variety and eh i don't think anyone wants to see that. aha
I HATE working out. I have Netflix and they have loads of workout vids to choose from. My favorites are the kick-boxing and yoga (best of both worlds). I run or walk at the highest incline on the treadmill at the gym and sometimes take a step class. The boyfriend trains me once a week on weights, which is super fun. Lately I have been suggesting fitness classes instead of happy hours with my girlfriends to keep in shape. My running shoes are by Brooks and they are like feet pillows. My gym attire is totally grungy though, I always look like a dude. It sound slike I should be in excellent shape and be susper skinny, but in reality I eat a lot of sweets and pasta...
Where,oh, where did you find that fabulous bike?? I would love one..now that it is warm, I would much prefer to right a bike to the co-op and pick up items for dinner. ... alyssa
I walk Fee for an hour in the mornings and 30 minutes in the evening...i really need to get some suitable shoes...i'm wearing wellingtons and its boiling here at the moment. I love hooping too as it doesn't feel like exercising :)
Ooh, those are nice sneakers, congrats! I try to bike to work a couple of times a week, weather permitting. Because it's long enough to be like a workout, I have to wear clothes that will transport sweat off me, which means I wear gym pants and tops. I don't have a proper bike jacket though, it's on my list.
Your new shoes are respectable - meaning, you will look like a SERIOUS exerciser now! Your feet won't regret it.
My main forms of exercise are Pilates and walking/hiking/biking in the (few) months of warm weather. I do pilates at home, and just wear something loose and comfortable. For outdoors, I mostly pay attention to the shoes. For the fast few summers, I've been wearing athletic sandals a lot since they're so much cooler (and nicer looking) than athletic shoes.
I wear MBTs when I take my Lucy (mutt, not hound) out for her daily walk. Despite the fact that they make me look like a Clydesdale, I love, love, love them. They make me realize that I do have tons of those little muscles in my legs and backside that aren't used when I wear regular shoes. I have a mary-jane style in grey with hot pink trim, and I usually wear them with bare feet (and even with skirts sometimes - yup, a Clydesdale in a dress!). I don't care how ugly they are, they are the perfect walking shoe for me - and I walk a LOT!
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