Wounded Warrior 10K & Fashion :)

A few weekends ago I ran in a Wounded Warrior 10K race! It was a really meaningful race for which I was incredibly grateful to be a part of. It wasn't my fastest race time but I gave it all that I had and truly ran for everyone who made the IDEO device possible.

Here is a picture from after the race! It was really hot but well worth it :) Only 14 weeks until the half-marathon!

Last weekend was my friend's bachelorette party and it was so much fun! You can't very well see the IDEO in this picture but I had on black tennies and a black compression sock. I felt very pretty and thanks to the IDEO, I danced the night away! #supersleek #blackiskey



Below are two other fun summer IDEOnista outfits! As you can see, I obviously love grey and black and a pop of color :)

A special thanks to a very close friend of mine who gave me this tank top (2nd pic) because it reminded her of me. It says: SOLID HEART. STRONG BODY.

That my friends is an IDEOnista. You have heart. You are strong. Be bold. Smile. You are an IDEOnista. Have a great week! #nevergiveup

IDEOnista Spotlight: Deidra

Hi Everyone! Today I'd like to introduce you to my IDEOnista friend, Deidra. Bonded by a desire to find the perfect tennis shoe, Deidra and I have shared many a convo about IDEO outfit ideas! I'm so happy to share with you a little bit about her and I know she will inspire you to never give up! She inspires me!

How long have you had the IDEO?: 9 months

What is your clothing style?: I wear whatever makes me feel good. Before I had my injury I dressed super girly. I want to get back to that :) (and you will!)

Favorite outfit to wear with the IDEO: A pair of linen pants, a colorful cute tank and a jean jacket. I'm short, so finding the right jeans has been a little tough. I think I'm going to have to buy some and just get them tailored. However, I'm excited to start trying new outfits and I'm super excited about finding a cute dress to wear with the IDEO!

Favorite shoe brand to wear with the IDEO: So far, New Balance has been the only brand I have found that have worked for me. I'm always on the search for a new shoe, but in the meantime the dark colored New Balance ones blend in pretty well! (I agree! NB - especially the men's versions come in great dark color blends!)

Advice for other IDEOnistas: Do what makes you happy. Wear what makes you feel fabulous. Your IDEO can be an accessory, not an eye sore! Dress it up or dress it down. Whatever makes you feel good. (Love this.) I'm actually really proud of my IDEO. It has given me some of my life back. I get excited when people ask me about it and I can tell them about it. I've already given out Ryan's information three times to people who have seen the IDEO and asked about it. If someone else can get a little bit of their life back.... AWESOME!!

Shopping Advice: Bring a shoe horn! Try on everything, you might be surprised what works :) (Absolutely!)

How do you dress up the IDEO?: I'm still working on that perfect outfit. In the meantime, some black pants that blend in and colorful tops... Oh, and a smile :)

What is your proudest moment in the IDEO so far?: The day after I got back from Washington, I went to a beautiful park with my sister. I walked about 3.5 miles, only stopping to adjust my shoelaces (I've got that trick down now!). When I found out how long we had gone, I think my sister and I were both in tears... Then an avid hiker friend of mine went hiking on a trail and I did amazing if I do say so myself! There were some spots I had to stop and think how I would navigate it (they were tricky), but I was so shocked at what I could do. It's those little moments where it clicks that these are things I couldn't do before the IDEO. (It's such an amazing feeling, isn't it?!)

Any special goals for 2015?: Building a wardrobe is my number one goal! Then I will be back for another spotlight on the blog ;)

Favorite Quote: Your day goes the way your mouth turns... SMILE!

What's one thing you wish people knew about you?: I'm pretty much an open book. I wish people understood the pain people like us go through on a daily basis. Although the IDEO has helped me quite a bit, I'm still not pain free.

Any lasting words?: Beth is an inspiration. Her story is an awesome testimony and her blog is so inspiring! Even though for so many reasons I haven't found the perfect outfit yet, I can't wait to get to that point! (You'll find your style girl, I know it!)

 





 "Do what makes you happy. Wear what makes you feel fabulous. Your IDEO can be an accessory, not an eye sore! Dress it up or dress it down. Whatever makes you feel good." -Deidra

Amen sister! #beYOU #beFABULOUS #IDEOnista

Have a great weekend everyone!

IDEOnista Spotlight: Dominique

Today's post is about a special IDEOnista friend of mine named Dominique.

Dominique wears two IDEOs (one for each leg) and let me tell you... she rocks it! She is an amazing woman and I know her words will inspire you. (She certainly inspires me!)

Dominique

"You are never fully dressed without a smile."

How long have you had the IDEO?: Two weeks :)

What is your clothing style?: Mostly preppy with statement jewelry

Favorite outfit to wear with the IDEO: Dresses! (Love it. Show off those legs, girl!)

Advice for people who are thinking about getting the IDEO: It can't hurt to look into it! The process started with reaching out to Ryan to see if I would be a good candidate. I learned that Ryan really only says you are a good candidate if he thinks there will be a huge impact on your life, so that is a great sign if he says yes! That process is easy, and worth the initial effort even if you are not sure.

Advice for other IDEOnista's: The device can be daunting at first. I know it isn't feminine, but I love how hardcore it looks. Rocking that with your feminine self is such an awesome combination. It defies stereotypes, and I am all about that! (LOVE THIS) I have worn AFOs my whole life. Of course people would stare. They think you can't see them staring, but you can. The IDEO has completely changed HOW people stare. Instead of looking at me like I'm sick and feeling sorry for me, they look with curiosity and assume I have some awesome story for why I have these carbon fiber devices. People have been much more likely to ask me about it, and engage in conversation over just assuming I am sick. It may sound strange, but I noticed that right away. It's a huge blessing to not feel like people are constantly pitying me!

Dominique's #happyIDEOs

How do you dress up the IDEO?: Dresses and wedges :)

Favorite shoe brand to wear with the IDEO: Payless Dexflex Comfort Wedges. I've never worn any type of heel! Since Ryan placed a wedge in my sneakers, this allows me to just wear the shoes without a wedge since they are the perfect height! I now own all three colors they sell :D Plus they are relatively inexpensive, which is great because I am sure I will be replacing them often. http://www.payless.com/womens-spectator-daylight-wedge/76007.html?dwvar_76007_color=white_black#start=2
(SO CUTE. Some of you may be able to make this work! I think it will just depend on your unique situation and how the IDEO is designed for your injury.)

What is your proudest moment in the IDEO so far?: Throwing away my AFOs at the Hanger Clinic. I still am not as mobile as I would like with the IDEO (it has only been two weeks), but throwing away my AFOs was an outward way of expressing my dedication to getting the most out of my IDEO. I can't go back!

Any special goals for 2015?: I would love to walk without a limp by September! Then I will focus on more high impact exercising. (You go girl!)

Favorite Quote: Let your smile change the world, but don't let the world change your smile.

What's one thing you wish people knew about you? I believe with my whole heart that God did not make my legs as a mistake. The IDEO is not something to "fix" me, but enable me to experience more out of life. I also believe that the IDEO was placed in my life for a reason. I can't wait to see where this path leads me! (What an amazing attitude!)

Dominique's Wisdom: My mantra is PMA. It's something my dad would always say. It stands for "Positive Mental Attitude". That keeps me going on the tough days.

IDEOnista Fabulous!

Wow! Now you see why this girl inspires me so much! I love Dominique's style, but more than that I love her attitude. To me, she fully embodies what an IDEOnista is: a woman who wears the IDEO with strength and confidence, knowing there is beauty in all that she has overcome. 

If you are someone who wears an IDEO on both legs, this girl is proof for you that you can make fashion work! So take heart my friends and embrace your feminine + hardcore image and step forward knowing that you are beautiful!

Thank you, Dominique. You are an inspiration to us all!

 

say hello to summer :)

Hi everyone! I'm happy to say the rain has left Dallas and the sun has finally returned! ☺

With warm weather and sunny skies ahead, I'm excited to post a few summer outfits in hopes that I can inspire you to break out your lighter wear clothes. As you'll see below, a maxi skirt is a great way to feel classy and dressed up while also camouflaging the IDEO. I'd recommend looking for length that covers your feet so that you can't see your tennis shoes. (This red maxi skirt happens to be a hand-me down from my mom so it's a little hard to add length to it at this point... but you get the idea!)

So earlier this week a friend asked me what advice I would give to other IDEO wearers who want to feel cute and fashionable in their clothes.

For me there are really three rules that I follow:

1. No white tennis shoes
2. No white socks
3. No bulky shoes

If you stick to these three rules, you will be headed in the right direction ☺It's not to say white tennis shoes or white socks are bad, but if you are trying to get dressed up, white tends to look very orthopedic and athletic. So if you are feeling in a rut, try for a darker colored shoe / sock and see if that doesn't help you to feel more classy and sassy! Bulky shoes can make you feel clunky... so when you are looking for shoes, try to ask yourself if you feel clunky in them and if the answer is yes, put them back. I followed this rule when looking for hiking boots and even though I had to try on a lot of shoes, I was glad I didn't settle! I think almost any outfit will look great with the IDEO but I really believe that once you find the right shoe, you will feel like a million bucks. You don't need to go out and buy new clothes... it's all about the shoes and socks people :)

 

 

Workout update: Next Sunday is the Wounded Warrior 10K race and I'm very excited! I've been keeping up with my training and am feeling strong. For me, it's really important that I keep my hip flexor and glute muscles strong so that I don't start overcompensating on one side so I've tried to keep this a focus of my training and it's really helped.  

As always, if you feel inclined, please send pics of your IDEOnista outfits so that we can share with others! Wishing everyone a fantastic week and remember, it's all about feeling confident. My tips are the just icing on the awesome person you already are! ☺#beYOU #beAMAZING #IDEOnista