Inside My Gym Bag

My gym bag…otherwise known as my purse. But seriously, it is. I carry my gym bag more than I carry my purse!

I’m an organization junkie and I feel like I have mastered some “tricks” to keeping my bag organized and effective. So I thought we could talk about that today.

Now, I usually go dressed and ready to the gym, but this is what I take with me every time.

All the necessities, right in my Lululemon bag, this is a similar one. I got mine for Christmas a couple of years ago and it still holds up nicely. It’s super sturdy which is needed because sometimes my bag gets heavy after my wallet, water bottle, and yoga mat are all thrown in there.

I love a clear bag! Right here is a cute 3-pack of clear toiletry bags for a great price. These might have to be my next investment!

It’s so much easier being able to see what’s inside to make sure I have everything. In this bag I keep my body wash and washcloth, chapstick, lotion, all toiletries (including make-up removing wipes), along with extra hair ties and headbands. I always, always keep multiples of those because that’s the worst if you get to the gym and realize you don’t have them!

This little bag came with my Lululemon bag and it’s where I keep a change of clothes. I keep separate bags because I always hated when I would throw everything inside my main bag and then it was a maze trying to find what I was looking for. This process is so much easier!

It holds my gym clothes (for when I used to workout after work), or it will hold my school clothes (if I workout before I go to classes for the day).

I always keep an extra pair of socks, underwear, and a sports bra in here as well. Those are also things you don’t want to forget about!

The side zipper pocket holds my yoga mat cleaner, body wipes for if I just need to wipe sweat off my face real quick, and the female necessities. You never know when you need these and I keep them in the zipper pocket so they don’t fall out/are seen. Nobody cares to see that stuff!

The other side of the bag is more pockets without the zipper. I keep my workout watch, headphones, my keys, and my phone on this side. This makes it easier to reach those things without having to dig to the bottom of my bag. I learned that the hard way when it took me 5 minutes to find my keys one time after just throwing them in my bag.

At the very bottom of my bag I keep all of my “workout specific items”…you know, socks for Barre class or wraps for boxing class. I don’t always need them, but when you do, you do. You know what i’m saying?

A few more things to note:

1. I keep a beach towel in my bag…but always a lightweight one. I don’t know about you, but we have lightweight and heavy beach towels. I always use the lightweight ones because they are easier to stuff and they aren’t as bulky and heavy. I will usually use this as my towel if I shower at the gym , or to towel off from the sauna, or a towel to wipe off sweat during my workouts.

2. If I am going to yoga, that towel is usually replaced with my yoga mat, unless I am just carrying it by hand.

3. I always keep a cheap ol’ pair of flip flops at the bottom of my bag for if I am showering, or using the sauna after a workout, or if I want to let my feet breathe after a sweaty workout.

4. I “re-stock” my small extra clothes bag first thing when I get home if they were used so I don’t forget. You don’t want to end up having to sit in some sweaty clothes because you forgot your extra pair.

5. Keep travel sized toiletries in your bag. They are easier to handle and cheaper to purchase too.

Now let’s go hit the gym with our organized bags! And then we can jump in the pool afterwards? 😉

Tell us about your gym bag! Am I missing anything?!

The ULTIMATE Colors of Life Blog GIVEAWAY!

HI FRIENDS!!!

Right now we are in between two of the best Holidays of the year. And to show you just how THANKFUL I am for you, today i’m giving away the ultimate Colors of Life blog gift. It’s a MERRY Chranksgiving (Christmas + Thanksgiving ;)).

Ya know, since this is the Colors of Life blog I decided to go with a theme. I am going to giveaway an item for each Colors of Life post i’ve done this far. All to make a HUGE gift.

 One of my first COL posts was about my time at The University of Oklahoma. So for my OU post, i’m giving away these tailgating napkins. I just don’t think some of you out there would’ve appreciated the ol’ crimson and cream like I would 😉

My next post was on Friendships. For my friendships post i’m giving away these initial mugs for the winner and a friend of their choice, along with a gift card to Starbucks. Those two can enjoy a Starbucks date with new mugs!

  + 

The post on my health leads me to think of a healthy lifestyle. One thing i’ve found that really works for me as well as something I really love…is yoga. And what’s the number 1 brand for yoga? Yep, Lululemon. For my post on health, I threw in a Lululemon Headband. LOVE these. This one is the flyaway headband and is highly recommended.

Then I blogged about my relationship with Jesus. When I think about that relationship I think of the way Jesus and I talk..through the Bible. I’m including a Bible in this giveaway, if you have one that you like…give it to someone else who might not have one!

I talked about Quiet Times, so next is a copy of Jesus Calling, because this is what I use during mine and I definitely believe you need this in your life. Again, if you have a copy, I challenge you to give it to someone who might not.

As for crafting…I crafted one of these chocolate sleigh (thanks Pinterest). You need chocolate. And it fits the time of year.

Eating Disorders was a hard one for me to think of something for. However, I chose to give away food…two of my favorite bars/snacks/desserts to keep me healthy but still feeling good about myself. Ps i’ll be willing to negotiate your favorite flavor if you’re not a fan of mine 😉

Being an introvert is something else I know about myself. For this COL I chose this wooden plaque. I feel like there are so many meanings to it, and I really like message especially when referring to introversion.

The color of my life that is blogging led me to give away a pair of earrings that every. blogger. wants. or has. It just makes sense.

Having a Military Father. Gosh, well i’m not giving away my dad so instead a red, white, and blue picture frame. It’s festive, fun, and will be great decoration all throughout the year. Cute army guy not included 🙂

Anxiety and Depression really go hand in hand for me. The best temporary relief for these two colors of life is Bath and Body Work’s Aromatherapy. I promise you will love it.

A Homebody. To which many of you can relate. I read Let’s All Be Brave by Annie Downs about being brave. She talked about leaving home and other life experiences where she was forced to be brave. It really made me think and now I want someone else to read it and be challenged by it!

And last but not least…A Night Owl. These socks are my absolute favorite. You can pretty much find me in fuzzy socks no matter the season. And these are night owl socks. They’re perfect!

Some of these items I don’t have because it’s going to be personalized based upon the winner. Therefore, I don’t have a picture of everything together.

All of this…PLUS

THESE? I mean, i’m just excited about today!

Sorry the widget isn’t showing up…click the link below to figure out how you can enter! Winner will be announced MONDAY MORNING!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! PS…you might want to tell your friends to enter (then you might have a better chance of winning the friendship gift ;))

September 22, 2014- Morgan’s 18th

Happy 18th to my girl, MP!! Morg turned 18 yesterday…I’m happy, but i’m old. Hahaha

Let me just start by saying, y’all. My sister is so pretty!!

When our family was weeeee little, Morgan and I were the BEST of pals. I can’t remember not doing something with her, and we have about a jillion pictures to prove so.

When I started growing up, I became too cool for my family….i’m sure you know how that works. So, Morgan and I weren’t as close, but recently we’ve become besties again. About 50% of the time we are told we either look like twins or we look absolutely nothing alike. I don’t know, i’ll let you be the judge of that.

Personally, I think she looks more like this:

Hey, Morg. Thanks, I heart you too!

 

Morg will be the first person to play a prank on you. (Excuse my heinous hair blowing in the wind. I totally look like a male), but this is the only picture of her pretending to cut the rope while my parents were parasiling. Wink, wink.

Or dig into dessert.

   

I envy Morgan for her total go with the flow attitude. I wish I could be more like that.

  

(note…neither of us chose those dresses above. hahah)

Unluckily, her birthday fell on a Monday so guess what??? She gets to go to school all day.

“Yaaaaaaay school”

But when she gets home at 2:00 it’s time for a birthday breakfast mixed with a birthday lunch. Donuts and Beef Stroganoff. SO WEIRD!

The only time all six of us were home together last night was from 6:30-6:45 so that was designated present time.

I wasn’t lying..see the clock says 6:38. Rick got her a new Vera Bradley wallet keychain thing.

Ryan got her the jacket she has on to match the LuLulemon headband he is wearing.

P.s. can I just say look how pretty she looks and this is before she’s about to go to soccer practice for 2 hours. Such a natural beauty!!

Dad got her a Michael Kors watch!!! And she was totally not expecting it. My goober dad does not know how to pose for a picture so the best I can get is him talking….sigh. Males sometimes.

Mom got her oreos!!!!! Ha, kidding. Mom got her a life proof case early, so she just gave her these on her birthday.

And me????? What did I get her?

I made her Olaf!!!!!!! I know, I don’t have a career in cake baking, but this is the best I could do. I think she liked Mr. Olaf cake 🙂 She loves Olaf and Frozen, and when I was pinteresting the other day I saw him and just knew it had to happen.

And no, that’s not all I got her…

I bought her tickets to see her man Luke!! She wanted Luke Bryan tickets, so she took her friend and they went Saturday night. She said she had fun, so i’m really happy!

And when she got back from soccer practice last night I heard her coming in and went to say hi 🙂

And first thing she said was “let’s eat cake” so we lit her candles and she made her wish.

And nobody was feelin’ cake that late last night so she dug in alone.

And immediately after that she had to work on a project for her government class. The hard life of an 18 year old….but I still think she enjoyed her day and that’s all that mattered! I love birthdays!!