Working it out with clothes

I am desperately trying to get into wedding shape. This has become extremely difficult with the endless amounts of snow and cold. Harder after you've gotten out of the groove to get back into it.

I read an article once (loosely referenced intentional as it might not have been a real article but rather a decision my girlfriend and I made one time) that said you should buy new work out clothes almost as often as you buy regular clothes because whenever you get new clothes you want to wear it. I totally agree. I have personally used this approach. Bought myself nice and new work out clothes that I want to have a reason to wear (which actually IS working out!!).

And now that it's spring and I'm trying out new work out places I want to get new work out stuff to help get me back on track. And after years of avoiding the ads or succumbing to peer pressure (see Huffington Post article), I have never shopped at Lululemon. I finally made myself go in and look at the clothes that EVERYONE in class wears.

Woah. That's expensive. But I don't know where else to go. I've purchased enough Target and Gap items but am getting tired of their styles. I also just realized there's a difference between Lululemon and Athletica.

Any recommendations? Here are things I wish I could justify spending $500 on.

     workout by enickib featuring athleta

DIY Rug Attempt

Still in the progress of finishing my apartment. Our greatest challenge is all the hard wood (which I love) and the realization that each room really does need a rug. 

While doing research (see HOURS on Pintrest & Dwelling Gawker) I came across these ladies that did DIY rugs. After reviewing ones that required painting (great one here) and one involving sharpies (here) I decided to combine the concepts and buy a giant sharpie paint marker and a small tester rug. 

I am absolutely in love with the Moroccan look especially for rugs and wall design. So here's the steps and my outcome. 

Finished product.

Step 1: 

Get crazy idea to make a rug. 

Step 2: 
Get supplies as impulsively as possible. I personally used the target 1 block from me but contemplated going to the home depot 5 blocks from me. I bought a small, cheap rug to test out the idea and a sharpie. I had parchment paper which i read made a great stencil (for you to make). 

Step 3: 
Make a stencil with a design you like. I copied the Moroccan theme from another item I own and drew it on parchment paper. I then argued with the paper while i tried to remember white space as I learned in art class. Kept forgetting. Landed on just doing fill in instead of boarders. 

Step 4: 
Take stencil you have left after fighting with paper and tape it to rug. 
  

Step 5: 
Start coloring it in, getting into the grooves of the carpet. 


Step 6: 
Keep going for length of the rug.


Because it was a sharpie it didn't really need to dry. I was going to keep going with other rows but it didn't come out how I wanted it to look. It's in our bedroom as I decide what to do with it. 

Things I'll do different next time: 

• Get better rug
• Use paint
• Design an easier stencil like chevron 

Any other ideas?