the IDEO goes undercover.

Happy Saturday! I don't know about you guys but it's been freezing in Dallas! We are on our third day of snow & ice... It's definitely made it more challenging to get my workouts in but I do have to say it's been fun to have a little winter weather mix for a change!

Today's post is about proving to you just how easy it is to make the IDEO streamlined (aka undercover) with your outfits all while not having to hide it. Take a look below. Do you even notice the IDEO...? ☺


find yourself some cool running tights :)

These long running tights fit great with the IDEO

Black workout tights are even more stealthy...

Another great staple to have is black workout tights. Your local running store will carry these. Nike & lululemon also have a wide selection but they are $$... so I recommend checking out TJ Maxx or Marshalls - you can find some great deals there!

Note: Make sure that the workout tights you are buying are fitted near the ankle. The last thing you want is the material from the pant bunching up, so definitely make sure when you try them on that the material fits snuggly all the way down (don't buy too big). Another point to mention is that if your tights are a little loose at the bottom, you can do what you normally would do with skinny jeans and pull the pant on over the lateral side bars at the bottom. I personally prefer the tights to be snug so that I don't have to do that but it is an option to consider if you like it looser. 
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black IDEO. black tights. grey shoes. black top. blue dress ♥

Just another day breaking the stereotype that you can't wear tennis shoes with your nice clothes and look cute at the same time :) Style tip: Look for flowy dresses that you can wear with tights. This will make for some fun outfits!

Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. - Rachel Zoe

Enjoy your week everyone. Next weekend I'll be in Arizona for work and will be running in a race while I'm there so stay tuned!

As always, please don't hesitate to comment or reach out. Would love to hear from you guys!   

XOXO                                                              

Colored Denim: A Girl's Best Friend.

Hi IDEOnista's! Today I wanted to share my first experience wearing colored skinny jeans.☺ I purchased these jeans from Ann Taylor Loft (style: AT Modern Skinny Jeans). If you are looking for a pair of colored jeans - definitely check them out! As you can see below, these jeans fit really well tucked under the knee cuff and they give you a couple more outfit options if pants are your thing. Also, you'll see (as in all my pictures thus far) that I am wearing dark colored tennis shoes. I think it's really important to find a shoe in grey, tan, or black as these colors can go with a multitude of outfits. White tennis shoes are a no go for me as they tend to stand out too much as athletic shoes. Don't get me wrong I'm all for being athletic, but when it comes to work attire / casual wear - finding a dark colored shoe will help you feel more dressed up and less like you are wearing a "tennis shoe."

See below for a quick look at how the IDEO looks with colored denim. What's your favorite pair of jeans to wear? Would love to hear from you! I hope everyone has a great week!





 

This picture was snapped right before

I spilled my protein shake all over my outfit... :)



In the right denim, a girl can conquer the world. ♥

#beYOU #beAMAZING

Fearlessly Fabulous.

Happy Thursday IDEO friends! Today's post is about feeling fearless to wear bright colors. ☺ I've added a few images below from my IDEOnista wardrobe from the past week. Hoping this post gives you gals some inspiration and ideas on how to make your outfits work with the IDEO. I just want you to know that you don't have to hide the IDEO under your pants and jeans - you can feel comfortable and fearless to be fabulous! For me, that means wearing bright colors. What does it mean for you? #behappy #beYOU

 

"Believe in yourself so strongly that the world can't help but to believe in you too."

 

 

 

The Power of the Human Spirit

We all face challenges in life, but it's through our deepest struggles that we find the strength within. Had you asked me in June 2011 (pre-injury) if I thought I was a strong person, I would have probably told you that I was. But now looking back at the last four years since my injury, I've seen a strength in myself that I didn't know I had. Through all the struggle, when my body seemed to fail me and things weren't looking up, God kept my spirit alive. 

Dean Karnazes sums it up best.

"The body has limitations. The human spirit is boundless." - Dean Karnazes

Remember that though your injury or others may make you feel like you are limited - thank God for the IDEO but also thank God for the human spirit. #nevergiveup


Look on the Sunnyside of Life :)

Hi fellow IDEOnista's! I’ve been a little under the weather lately but now that I’m on the upswing I wanted to give you an update on last weekend’s IDEO adventures. ☺

On Saturday I placed 3^rd in my age group in the 5K I ran in!! I hope this inspires you to know that anything is possible with the IDEO. If running makes you happy, get out there and run again. If walking makes you happy, walk your socks off. Get back to doing what you LOVE again – whether that’s hiking, walking, running – start small and never give up. Pre-injury, when I ran in races, my goal was to beat my previous time and just get faster and faster and now – post-injury, running with the IDEO, I run with a sense of gratitude and thankfulness and each race is special to me because I know the challenges it took to get to where I am today. Before the start of each race I look down at my IDEO and remind myself just how far I’ve come. It’s not about winning anymore (although that is fun and I certainly haven’t lost my competitive nature!); but to me it’s now about enjoying the race because I remember the times when I didn’t know if I’d be able to ever run again. The IDEO is truly a life changing device.



 

Saturday evening was the first time since receiving my IDEO that I’ve been to a black-tie event and I wasn’t sure how my Brooks Glycerin’s and IDEO were going to look with my dress…but I’d have to say I think my inner IDEOnista shined through. ☺ I wore a floor length one shoulder dress and you couldn’t even tell I had a leg brace or tennis shoes on – it was awesome. This is good news for IDEOnista brides out there – I think you could easily fit your dress over the IDEO and your tennis shoes and no one would even know! Pre-IDEO, there would have been no way I could have danced at the wedding, let alone gone to the wedding without my crutches. The IDEO has allowed me to live life again. For that, I am thankful.

 

 

Wishing you all a great week.  Just remember, it’s not about what you don’t have, it’s about what you do with what you have left. Focus on the positives and remember though your injury may have taken a lot away from you and your life, it’s the choices you make with the life you have now. The IDEO opens up a lot of possibilities – don’t let your injury be a setback that stops you from achieving your dreams for your life – choose to make the most of what you have today. Choose to see what you can do with the IDEO – look for the positives that have resulted in your life because of the IDEO and most importantly, never give up. ♥

“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.” – Anne Frank

#IDEOfabulous