Review: Shock Absorber Active Zipped Plunge Bra

I have been a huge fan of Shock Absorber sports bras for quite awhile now and have two of their running bras which I swear by. You can read my thoughts on these here.

I am also consistently appalled by the amount of women who don't wear a sports bra - there really is no excuse. Shock Absorber are doing a lot to make women realise that wearing a sports bra is important as well as making them sexy.

Recently I was sent the Active Zipped Plunge Bra to try. This is a gym bra and as someone who gave up her gym membership when she started running I wasn't sure when I would get the chance to wear it. However, I have recently started Pilates and it seemed the best time to give it a whirl - here are my thoughts:

Appearance

I love the look of this bra. It is sporty, it isn't overly girly, and most of all it is sexy. I LOVE the plunge neckline and the zip, front opening is a great touch. I think it looks great under a baggy vest with leggings but also worn on its own.

Comfort

This bra is really comfortable and easy to put on. Even after the sweatiest work out I wasn't left struggling to break free as with my running bras. I was worried about the zip and thought that it might rub but there is a piece of fabric under it which stops this.

I have worn it for Pilates every week now for the past 6 weeks. On the most part it was super comfortable but I have experienced some rubbing under the arms but nothing too bad.

On the whole I would encourage anyone who regularly uses the gym or attends work out classes to invest in this bra - nothing better than being supported and feeling sexy at the same time.

And if you aren't sold on the benefits of sports bras then have a go at Shock Absorber's Bounce O Meter - I guarantee you will be shocked!

Autumn will always mean new starts

Ok so the idea behind this blog was to prove that you can still be feminine, eat cake and be a runner. After taking a break away I realise that I have drifted a little from this original ethos so I am going to focus on demonstrating the balance that I have in my life more on my blog.

So, as Autumn signifies new starts to me - a hangover from school days - I thought I would start today with this new refocused blog.

Black Tied Midi Rings

When I found Black Tied on twitter I was instantly in love. I have been obsessing over midi rings for months but knew if I was going to wear them regularly they needed to match the rings I wear every day.

As soon as I spotted the Silver Plated Twisted above knuckle rings I had to have them. They were affordable and matched the ring bought by the Mr for our anniversary earlier this year.

Black Tied didn't disappoint. They arrived so quickly and were beautifully packaged in a pink pouch with a cute little Thank You note. And the rings themselves are stunning.

I know I am going to be purchasing a lot of Christmas gifts from these guys over the next few months!!

Autumn Wardrobe

Being a girl is so fun when the seasons change. Don't get me wrong I love summer and will miss it deeply but... I am so excited about chunky jumpers and autumnal shades. As autumn seems to have hit all of a sudden this week I hit Westfield.

And came away with this outfit...

I am in love with my H&M chunky jumper and bought it in the biggest size going to make sure it was suitably slouchy. With a love of vintage as soon as I spotted the pattern on this Topshop skirt I knew it had to be mine. It is tight and high waisted but still so comfortable. I am looking forward to teaming it with a cream blouse for smarter work occasions but love wearing it casually like today.

Let the training begin!

Now that the weather is cooling down and September is well underway it is time for me to stop coming up with excuses and to knuckle down to the Brighton Marathon training. Monday will signal the start of my training plan which focuses on stretching, strength and stamina building until January when the mile counting begins.

I am always excited to have a training plan to follow - I find it focuses my mind and gives me that extra bit of motivation to get out there.

To kick start my new plan I have signed up to 10 weeks of Pilates... exciting!

What is the arrival of Autumn bringing for you?

Review: YFumble

After years in the Brownies I have learnt to prepare for every eventuality which results in my handbag being full of everything from a pack of bobby pins to nail varnish to a magnet (don't ask why!) This is fine when matching an oversized bag to your outfit... not such a great quality when heading out on a run...

When the weather was cooler I could fill the pockets up on my Sweaty Betty Running Jacket (probably the best running item I have ever bought) but since the temperatures have started to climb I have been hunting for an alternative for carrying my:

• Oyster Card
• Bank Card
• Asthma Inhaler
• Mobile Phone
• Keys

After sending out a request on twitter a surprising amount of people suggested the YFumble and after spying the pink camo version I could not wait for it to arrive.

The YFumble passed the first test - my obnoxiously large phone (Samsung Galaxy Note) can fit into it along with everything else... yes everything!

Second test - it looked great - I love the pink camo.

Unfortunately, the third test didn't go so well. Running with the YFumble is fine, it is comfortable and takes up hardly any space when chucked in my gym bag. But, as I run with an app on my phone I often want to take a glance at the screen or pause it to do some strength exercises which is where the issue lies. Taking my phone in and out of the YFumble when on my arm and when having got my sweat on becomes trickier than taking off a sports bra. Then putting it back on is another ordeal.

I really wanted to like this product and was desperate for it to be a solution to my problem but, after several runs with it, I am finding it more of a frustration than a help.

Anyone got any other solutions?

Who wears short shorts...

It's official, summer has hit.

I feel like I have spent months running through rain, snow and hail stones dreaming of summer evening runs. But now it is here, and a few sweaty runs later I have found myself dreaming of the colder months.

I love my Sweaty Betty black running tights - I have come round to wearing lycra in public, in fact it has become second nature. But the past two weeks the temperatures have been so high there was no choice but to crack out the shorts.

A few weeks back I bought some Nike tight little black shorts thinking that I would look like all of the hot runner babes in their promotional materials. Unfortunately, I was blessed (or cursed depending on the way you look at it) with big thighs and a bum to match. My first run in my Nike shorts left half of east London reeling from my constant wedgie as the shorts rode up to places no shorts should go.

Which left me back in my running tights sweating like nobody's business... that is until I indulged in my other love... Vintage Shopping.

At the wonderful To Be Worn Again Kilo sale I found myself with arms full of dresses and jumpsuits but still under a kilo so, to get my money's worth, I ventured to the vintage sports gear and picked out these shorts...

They are probably men's shorts but I couldn't care less. They are flattering, brightly coloured and baggy enough that they don't ride up but still short enough to feel feminine. I am in love. Better yet they probably cost me less than £1!

So... do you brave shorts on your runs? Are there any you recommend? 

Review: ShockAbsorber Ultimate Run Bra

The sun has been elusive so far this Spring so when it showed its head today there were only two things I wanted to do... 1. Eat Ice-cream and 2. Go for a run.

Armed with my beautiful new ShockAbsorber run bra and Nike running shorts I jumped on a train for Richmond ready for a sunny 7miles around the park.

This was the first time I had visited Richmond Park and the first time I had actively got on a train and left central London for a new running destination... and it paid off. It was absolutely stunning weather, beautiful surroundings and made today's run one of the best this year. Plus... it ended with a 99 flake ice cream in the sunshine!

It was also the perfect opportunity to try out my new ShockAbsorber Ultimate Run Bra. I am not known for my ample chest and it was awhile before I thought it was necessary for me to get a sports bra - in fact it wasn't until seeing the disgusted face of a personal trainer when I told her that I didn't wear one that I was shamed into buying one. Since then I have sworn by my Shockabsorber Multi Sports bra so when Shockabsorber sent me their new Ultimate Run Bra to try out I was on cloud nine.

The bra is everything you want from a run bra. It is comfortable thanks to its soft fabric, seam free lining and wide padded straps. It is also stylish and feminine being a vibrant pink and purple it looks great under my running vest or worn by itself.

Perhaps it was because I knew I was wearing a new run bra but I couldn't help but notice how many women were running without sports bras with one woman running in a halter neck bikini top! It shocks me that women can spend hundreds of pounds on getting the perfect shoes after having their gait analysed and spend hours picking running leggings and tops in the most high tech fabrics they can find but will still go out without a sports bra.

I cannot recommend the Shockabsorber bras enough - and have the tan lines to prove it!

Review: Missguided Disco Pants

I have always admired those girls who wear leggings as trousers in the "real world". And as much as I have lusted after disco pants and wet look leggings I have always been terrified at the thought of wearing them in public myself.

That was until wearing lycra running leggings most evenings in a variety of public situations taught me that there is more to life than worrying about that little bit of thigh wobble or the fact that my bum doesn't look like "that girl from the tele's".

So... I plucked up the courage, ordered this pair of Missguided Disco Pants... and I LOVE THEM! Not only did Missguided take my order late on a Saturday night and deliver them first thing on Monday morning but they were also one of the most affordable pairs I have found.

I wore them out in West London on Saturday night teamed with a Vintage silk shirt and studded ankle boots and, I have to admit, I felt good! Unlike most complaints I have heard from many who have ventured into the world of Disco Pants this pair didn't go baggy or fall down.

Have you ventured into the world of Disco Pants or confronted a similar fashion fear?

Love Live Life

I am in love with my new Urban Revival London necklace - it makes me smile every time I wear it with it's positivity!

A string of wooden beads completed with a large wooden heart reading: "Love Live Life" it goes with pretty much every outfit and brightens any mood! Today I am wearing it with slouchy oversized grey jumper, jeggings and cream brogues.

And Usain Bolt was spotted wearing an Urban Revival bracelet at a recent press conference so, you know, maybe it will make me run faster??