Monday, May 27, 2013

Why Bottle When There is Tap?

Four years ago I made a pact with myself to stop drinking bottled water.  This was brought on because of seeing such an increase in plastic water bottle waste around and it was further brought home by the documentary Blue Gold- World Water Wars.  The trailer for the movie is below.

Since making this pact I have easily made the transition to relying on my Sigg water bottles (I love all the different designs, options and sizes) and the tap other than a few rare occasions when tap water was just not available.  These situations were: an outdoor wedding ceremony on the hottest day of the year and traveling on a plane for long distances when I have run out of the water that I brought with me in my own bottle.  Other than that it is has been all tap for me.  

Our Family's Water Bottle Collection: My husband's sports bottle (check out the dents), my husband's other bottle, my babies bottle, my short trip bottle, my favorite and most used bottle and my long trip bottle.

It has been such a simple change in my life but I hope that it has some how made a difference and I hope my story can help others to stop and think about the amount of bottled water they consume.   If you are wondering how to travel on a plane with your own bottle but worried about security, they will let you bring an empty water bottle through security (we usually put ours in the tray out of our bags) and then fill it up either at a drinking tap or a restaurant after you have gone through security. Remember to open the bottle before take off and then before landing because of the pressure change.

Here is a very well put together graphic from a website called Beyond the Bottle that shows, in a simplified format, the many reasons to stop drinking bottled water.

 

Friday, May 24, 2013

All Looped Up In BoHo Style

Chain Loop Necklaces: Lapis Blue, Jade and Coral
Here is look at another necklace style that is part of my Spring/Summer 2013 collection.  Three loops of delicate sterling silver chain are attached to a bar of Swarovski Pearls in Lapis Blue, Jade and Coral.  This bohemian look goes well with the tribal patterns that are trending right now in clothing and accessories.

These necklaces can be found at Lut Boutique 4219 Main St, Vancouver

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

SeaWheeze 2013 Special Edition Shorts

SeaWheeze likes to do things differently so instead of getting a t-shirt for signing up for the half marathon (I never wear those shirts) you get a pair of special edition Lululemon shorts that are only given to people who are signed up for the Seawheeze.  Women got to chose between two styles, Speed Shorts or Track Attack Shorts (I chose the Speed Shorts) and Men got Pace Breaker Shorts.  I think it is a really neat idea and certainly something that I will happily wear.  My husband's pair arrived about a week ago and I have been patiently waiting for mine and they finally arrived today!

SeaWheeze 2013 Special Edition Men's Pace Breaker and Women's Speed Shorts
The shorts arrived in a special pouch and have a special edition hang tag which are different for women and men. The inner liner in both the women's and the men's shorts is a crazy pattern and the women's interior waistband is striped. Hopefully these will help to keep me motivated as the "Get Ready, Get Sweaty" training program starts on June 3rd.  You can find the SeaWheeze training app here.

Women's Speed Shorts with SeaWheeze Pouch
 
Men's Pace Breaker Shorts with SeaWheeze Pouch
 
Women's and Men's Special Edition SeaWheeze hang tag
Men's shorts with the liner pulled out to show the pattern which is also the same on the Women's liner.

Running...How it Has Been Part of My Life and My New Goal

In August 10th this year I will be tying up my running shoes and heading out with my husband to participate in the SeaWheeze 2013 half marathon here in Vancouver.

Running has been a part of my life off and on since I joined the track and field and cross country teams in elementary school and it is always something I gravitate towards when I want to get into shape or I need a goal to focus on.  For me, running is a wonderful way to deal with the ups and downs that happen in life. 

I am on the left in the white shirt (age 12)
My biggest running achievement to date was in 2009 when I completed a Nike Women's Running Study while training for the Scotiabank Half Marathon.  By the end of all the training and the half marathon, I had accomplished my goal and had a time I was really proud of but my knee was hurting and I was ready to be done with running.  I thought I probably would never run a race again.

I am steps away from the finish line of the Scotiabank Half Marathon 2009
After having my first baby in 2012 I wanted to find a way to work out that would work around being at home with a baby.  I wanted to do yoga because I had become really interested in it before becoming and while pregnant or to try barre fitness or crossfit or go swimming which is really my first fitness love.  All those activities require that someone come and babysit while I am gone for 2+ hours. This is not convenient and for me fitness success means it has to be convenient or I won't do it.  The classes that I found that you could bring your baby to required your baby to be pre-mobile...my baby started rolling at 2 1/2 months so there wasn't much time for me to fit those classes in!  Running seemed like the best option because I can go for a run in the morning before my husband goes to work or I can take my baby in the running stroller (we got a running stroller for $15 off Craigslist) in the afternoon and it is also something that we can do together as a family on week-ends.

Running was again giving me that mind clearing high that I had had before and I was really getting into it but I needed a goal to keep me focused.  I had started to buy some new running gear at Lululemon and luckily it was just around the time that Lululemon started to talk about the 2013 SeaWheeze.  I had never heard of it before but loved the idea that it was a community type event that wasn't just about running the half marathon and then going home but that it is a whole week-end party.  I signed up and roped my husband into signing up as well and made sure that the grandparents were available for the week-end to babysit so it is going to be like a mini staycation for us.


My goal for this half marathon is simple...cross the finish line with my husband.  I don't want to accomplish a personal best time, I just want to be there and do it and I am so excited about it.  Running is not always easy for me and I certainly have to work at it but I think it is something that will always some how be a part of my life.  I also like that as my baby gets older I can show her that fitness and health are important and can easily fit into your life no matter what.