Lace Up for the Cure. Plus Coffee Woes.

This morning has been one of those days where a ton of tiny stupid things go wrong and make you appreciate that at that moment the biggest problem in your life is something so insignificant you just have to laugh about it.

{And how do you not laugh when you have this little dude to look at everyday?} –>

Like the fresh loaf of lemon blueberry zucchini bread that was waiting for me to make that early morning wake up call just a little bit more palatable. Only I trudged into the kitchen, eyes half-closed, to discover that it had traded the fresh-baked, citrus-y scent for one of unmistakable fermentation. I guess “slightly underbaked” + lack of salt speeds up the rotting process?

Like the fact that I can’t figure out how to change the white balance on my point and shoot to save my life. Yes, I’ve read the manual. The buttons don’t exist.

Like this giant empty coffee mug.

Minutes ago it was filled with warm, delicious half-caf coffee. And my phone.

Yeah. It recently survived a quick shower in beer, and now it’s decided to take a full-fledged dunk in coffee. It doesn’t seem to be faring well so far. Let’s hope rice has the magical powers everyone claims it does. {Does wild rice count? That’s all I had.}

Of course I had actually knocked out a blog post on the too-hard-to-type-accurately-keyboard on my phone, a once in a blue moon occurrence. {Did you know there really is a blue moon this week? Tomorrow!}

Said well-thought-out blog post is gone. So you get this instead.

It’s actually the perfect opportunity for me to review an awesome assortment of fitness gear I received from New Balance at the beginning of the summer and keep failing to write about. I saw the collection on sale on Zulilly this morning before my phone took it’s potentially fatal swim, which reminded me how long this has been on my to do list.

I contemplated giving you a video review of one of the items because that’d really be the best way to get it all out there, but that’s just fueled my passion for procrastination. {Have to shoot video, have to figure out how to shoot video of myself, have to learn how to edit video, have to talk on camera? Hmm. Yeah, you get the point.}

So without further rambling, here’s a look at my summer fitness wear, from New Balance’s “Lace Up For the Cure” line, which supports Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. They’re a key sponsor in this year’s 3-Day Komen walk events. You all know I love a good charity, so I love that the purchase of this gear helps support a good cause.

Some of my favorites, in no particular order:

Women’s Walking SuperLight/SuperFresh 895.

The minimalist-meets-walking shoe.

A little odd feeling to walk in at first, but I’ve quickly grown to love these shoes. They’re potentially lighter than my Vibrams {don’t quote me on that… I just picked them up to compare. I think they’re lighter. Either way, they’re LIGHT.} which is perfect for my daily summer strolls around the neighborhood with the little stinker bug.

The HRT Monitor

I love a love-hate relationship with this watch.

Loves:

- It’s all-around tiny. Tiny faceplate, tiny wrist strap. I have tiny wrists and love how perfectly this fits.

- It’s pink & black.

- Calorie counts!

- You don’t have to wear a heart strap.

- You don’t have to wear a heart strap. No, that’s not a mistake, I wrote it twice.

Hates:

- No heart strap. Again, not a mistake. This heart rate monitor uses a touch bezel to take on-demand heart rate readings. In theory, this is awesome. In practice, I can rarely get it to work since you need to be still. I’m never still when I’m out of breath trying to see what my heart rate is.

- Ok, that’s the only hate.

Magenta Stride Hooded Track Jacket

This light-weight, mesh zip up hoodie is perfect for summer, when walking into an air-conditioned room makes me freeze, but it’s too hot for a jacket.

Black Komen Capri Pants

I’ve pretty much been living in these and my lulu crops. Better for crawling around after a little munchkin than shorts; cool enough to wear during the summer.

Ok time to stop typing and go check on that phone. And make more coffee. Hopefully phone-free coffee. Maybe full caf is in order…

<—Kind of how I’m feeling this am.

Have any fitgear faves this summer?