confidence, wear it like makeup :)

Happy Fall Everyone! Truly one of the best times of the year! Pumpkin spiced lattes, leggings, scarves and sweaters. ☺ In today's post, we will cover fall style tips, current shoes in my closet (+ tips on purchasing / maintaining your shoes), and some of the latest adventures in my IDEO! ☆

Let's start with fashion. Now that the weather is getting a little cooler, it's a perfect time to find yourself some leggings! (black is my go to color!) Two of my favorite places to look are TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack - you can find some great deals there!

Things to look for in leggings: breathability of the fabric (look for moisture wicking materials / avoid 100% cotton), texture (don't go crazy here because you don't want the fabric to disrupt the fit of the IDEO), and fit (don't buy too loose or the fabric will bunch at the ankle and you won't want that!). For these reasons, I tend to look in the sports section of the store - lots of options there!

A few of my other favorite places to shop are Ann Taylor Loft, Lululemon (when there is a sale!) and Gap Fit. All great places for comfortable fitting & flattering styles for the IDEO bodied woman!

Key piece of advice: If you opt for skinny jeans / leggings, look for a flowy or long shirt / sweater up top. I think tennis shoes and boots looks great with skinny jeans and by adding a less fitted shirt up top, it will accentuate those great legs you have! :)

Next: Current shoes in my closet.

Right now, I have three pairs of Brooks Glycerin's and one pair of Ahnu Montara Boots (which I absolutely LOVE). Brooks just came out with the Glycerin 13 and the updates are great! I was a Brooks wearer long before I was injured and I'm so glad they still fit me with the IDEO! (I have probably worn every version since I first started wearing them in high school!) The 13 has a strong outer fabric - not mesh like other running shoes - which really helps with longevity for the force the IDEO applies to the shoe!

When you are looking for tennis shoes, follow these three rules:

1). Feel the fabric of the shoe with your hand and make sure it has strength. If you buy a shoe that is completely mesh, your IDEO will break through the fabric in no time and you'll wonder what happened. You want a shoe that has reinforcement built into the fabric, so it's important to observe the construct of the shoe when you are out looking.

2.) If the IDEO looks like it's going to poke through the sides of the shoe when you try it on, that is not a good fit. The IDEO will definitely push up against the sides of shoe, but you don't want it looking like it's about to bust through when you first put them on. If you keep this tip in mind, this will help to ensure your shoes last longer. For this reason, look for shoes with a wide toe box (my favs: New Balance, Brooks).

3.) Look at the men's shoes. Men's shoes are naturally wider than women's so this helps my IDEO feel better in my shoe. If you're finding that the IDEO fits too tight in women's shoes, try on men's. In the picture above you'll see a red/black shoe and a blue/silver shoe - these are the actual Brooks Glycerin's I have in my closet! The great thing about men's shoes is that their color schemes aren't as wild/bright as women's so they go great with outfits :) To give you an idea of sizing of Glycerin's, I wear a men's 8 on my good foot and a men's 10 on my IDEO foot. (If I remember correctly, I think I used to wear a 9.5 in women's Glycerin's pre-injury). I can't say enough good things about Brooks. They aren't cheap, but man do they feel good! It's like having the Lexus version of a shoe. Once you put them on, you never go back. I can't wear anything else now haha. If you have small feet and are struggling to find a small enough men's size to fit your non-IDEO foot, try on women's for non-IDEO foot and a men's version for your IDEO foot. The colors may be a little different, but see how it feels! You never know - it might feel really awesome! :)

As for the Ahnu Montara boots - I ♥ these boots. They are amazing. These are the only non-tennis shoes that I have found to fit my IDEO and I feel so cute in them. (& they are women's - yay!). I purchased these @ REI and my life has never been the same! These boots are so comfortable.... I'm saving up money to try out some of their other versions! If you get a chance, definitely check out Ahnu brand online -- I love them so much! (Note: I did have to buy two different sizes to fit (non-IDEO is women's 9 and IDEO size is women's 11. It's just the nature of the beast!).

Last piece of advice on shoes: I find that if you rotate your shoes (as in you don't wear the same ones every day & don't wear the same pair to work that you workout in) you can make your shoes last A LOT longer! I know it's expensive to purchase multiple pairs up front, but trust me, it will save you $$ in the long run because you won't be out buying shoes every 3 months. I also like to glue a thin piece of leather on the inside sole of my shoe (think where the sweet spot is when you land in the IDEO). If you run a lot, this helps to reinforce the sole which is where I tend to break through the shoe after an extended period of time. Not sure it's necessary for you to glue in leather at the bottom if you are not out running like a wild banshee like me haha, but if you are finding places where your shoe rips or breaks through, try duct taping (duct tape comes in a lot of fun colors now) or gluing leather in the shoe to reinforce it from the beginning. It's the small things :)

Oh and one last thing, Brooks has a cool SHOE FINDER tool on their site to help you decide which version of their shoe will fit you best. Check it out - it's pretty handy! I have a neutral foot so Glycerin works for me, but if you pronate / supinate - they have versions for that too!

Next: IDEO adventures :)

I've been in Austin a little over a month now and it's been GREAT! Such a cool city with a great fitness community. I've been riding my bike, kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, running through downtown & doing a little day hiking! I started Crossfit a little over a week ago and I love it. It's something I've been wanting to try for awhile now so I'm finally taking the plunge! After the half-marathon, I've been trying to decide 'what's next?" and I think Crossfit is that for me! I'm excited to really focus on my core and strength training. (#jaredwouldbeproud). I also joined an intramural dodgeball team - games start next week so more to come on that! I've been drafted as a free agent so we'll see what team I get on haha. #IDEOtakesonDODGEBALL

Kayaking through Austin :)

Lastly, can I just say "What a small world?" I was at a dog event yesterday and as I was walking through the booths, a man came up to me and asked if I could come talk to his wife because he thought we had the same device. I of course immediately thought he was confused (as I never see anyone in Texas with the IDEO) but I decided to go anyway :) I couldn't believe it when I realized she really did have an IDEO! We immediately hugged and I'm pretty sure my first words were, "Wait, do you know Ryan?" I'm so happy I met Lisa! Such a cool day. Very special! #IDEObuddies #heyyoulooklikeme

IDEOnista Lisa

I hope everyone has a great week! Go out there and BE BOLD. BE BRAVE. BE YOU.

And remember, as Ralph Lauren says: "Fashion is something that comes from within you."  ♥

inspiration friday :)

 #bebrave #nevergiveup #IDEOnista

giving up is simply not an option :)

Where to begin? Having just returned from an amazing trip to Gig Harbor, WA for the Race for a Soldier 1/2 Marathon, it's hard to put into words what this past week/weekend meant to me! Not only was I reunited with the wonderful Hanger Clinic staff and fellow IDEO buddies, but I was fortunate enough to meet new patients and their families as well as be a part of the Race for the Soldier event with the military community.

When I think back to the person I was two years ago, I see a girl who had flown half-way across the country to the Hanger Clinic having been through 4 surgeries and countless therapies, not yet willing to take "the pain management" route so many doctors and specialists handed to her. To her, this would mean giving up & that was simply not an option. Never thinking that a soccer injury would change her life forever, but not yet knowing the depths of her determination and the extent of her will, she prayed the IDEO would help her. She never let herself think about how hard these times had been or what she would do if it didn't work out because she knew if she did, the weight would be too heavy to carry. Fast forward two years from the day she hobbled into the clinic to receive the IDEO, she returns to run a half-marathon. How does this happen? 3 words: Faith, Hope, and Love. Sounds cliché but honestly, it's true and I'll tell you why.

Faith: I always knew this was not how God was going to let my story end. Never lose your faith or your smile. Life may not turn out how you want it to, but if you stay positive and keep your faith, God will see you through and maybe give you an IDEO (•‿•)

Hope: He who has hope, has everything. Never, ever lose your hope. No matter how many people tell you to stop believing.

Love: Without the love of family, friends, coworkers, I would be not be where I am today. However, it is Ryan Blanck's passion to make a difference in the world and his love of helping people with the IDEO that has been most life-changing.

I am SO thankful for how the IDEO has changed my life. It's truly incredible, which is why I think I felt so emotional about this whole experience! I can't tell you how many people told me I would never run again and then to have that given back to me and run a half-marathon --- it's the best gift I've ever been given. There will never be enough "thank you's" that I can give to Ryan Blanck for what he has done for my life.

Me & the amazing Ryan Blanck

Lastly, I just want to say I was deeply moved by seeing all the patients who received their IDEOs while I was there last week. It's truly remarkable to see how much the IDEO program has grown since I was last there. From young to old, I loved talking with everyone and hearing their stories and passing on my "IDEO wisdom." If I could just hangout there all day, everyday I would! So much fun.


Hanger Clinic team @ Race for a Soldier

So with all that said, let's talk about outfits :)

As you may know, I am a firm believer that fall and winter are the absolute best times of the year for IDEOnista outfits! Long oversized sweaters and dresses with tights / leggings / skinny jeans are a perfect look for work, parties, or just hanging out! There are so many options! Check out a few outfits below! One of my favorite finds this year is a boot sock that feels like a regular sock at the bottom and at the top has a cute little design. See first picture to the left. I've wrapped the material over the top of the knee clasp - so cute! These are made by Nine West -- check 'em out here: Boot cuff - Nine West. The reason these are so great is because the only fabric part of the sock is at the cuff so it doesn't bother your skin or take up too much room in the IDEO! (& they come in several colors!).

 

Friends, as you go on your way this week, remember that though it can be difficult to look back at the hard times that you've been through, it is in these moments that you see who you are and who you have become. Without struggle, there is no strength. #nevergiveup

#beYou. #beFABULOUS. #IDEOnista.