Outfit details: Top / Denim Jacket / Cropped Pants c/o / Heels / Purse
There are a few things that I incorporate into most of my style blog posts. If you’re a regular reader then you probably already know where I’m going with this. My aversion to color and love for comfortable clothing is a common theme around here. With literally hundreds of thousands of personal blogs out there on the Internet, I’m not here to make strides in the fashion world. My only hope is to inspire the everyday girl, like me, to wear what makes her feel confident. Normally I default to neutrals but sometimes a new pair of bright floral pants does the trick.
If you saw my J.Jill August collection unboxing on Instagram, you know I wasn’t sure about these pants at first. They were a little different than what I expected and of course, the bright red tones were a tad scary for a neutral-lover like myself. After trying on a variety of outfit combinations, I landed on this casual look that can be easily dressed up or down with the shoes. Although I’m petite (5’3) I initially thought the petite pants were too short on me. I solved that by wearing these heels which have a 4 inch heel. Having that extra height and length in my legs made me feel confident!
The pants have a wide elastic waistband so they totally pass my comfort requirements. Unlike my beloved joggers that I’ve posted about a few times (just search ‘joggers’ in the search bar on the right) these floral pants are actually thick. Not too thick for summer, but appropriately thick that you don’t feel like you’re wearing pajamas. Let’s be real, joggers feel exactly like pajama pants. If you’re looking for something a bit more muted, J.Jill also carries these pants in a plain black color. You guys know how much I love black but if you want to try something different these floral pants are a happy medium between neutral and color.
Okay, now for the second new thing that I tried recently: SoulCycle! My friend Katrina invited me to go to a class this past Saturday. Honestly I had no prior knowledge about SoulCycle other than it has a crazy following and that it’s a spin class in a dark room. You guys….
I am still processing what happened in this class! We did a Soul Survivor class with Jenna at the Bellevue SoulCycle and it was TOUGH. This class kicked my booty and had me sweating so much. That part was expected. What was surprising to me was that it got kind of emotional for me! Perhaps it’s the candlelit atmosphere, or the motivational words being fed to you by the instructor, or the fact everyone in the room clapped for first timers like me. All I know is this is the most interesting spin class and I can see why people drink the SoulCycle Kool-Aid. I couldn’t stop talking about it afterwards because it was really challenging but so fun. I left feeling proud of myself and inspired to keep working on becoming stronger and healthier.
There were a few times when I was just so tired and had to sit back onto my seat and take a drink. That’s really the only time you have the time to even notice the others around you. Seeing everyone push themselves that hard is just so motivating. So, even though I felt like my body was jelly, I would lift myself off the seat to join everyone in what is essentially a dance party on spin bikes. Who doesn’t want to get stronger while having fun and listening to Lil Wayne sing How to Love?? The price tag is pretty steep in my opinion and my body needs a little break but I’d definitely consider going back. I’m currently trying to trick Jared into going to a class with me. After all the complaints of my soreness, I’m not sure he’s eager to join me haha!
Some key takeaways from my first SoulCycle class:
-Don’t bring your cell phone in. I didn’t get to read the studio rules because it’s basically a stampede in between classes and I was focused on trying to not get trampled between the locker and the studio. (My phone got taken out to the front desk, oops.)
-Lil Wayne is apparently a good motivator for me.
-If you’re going through something really tough, bring all those emotions to SoulCycle and release it while you work your ass off. I sincerely think it works as a stress reliever.
-Opt for the 45 minute class if it’s your first time. It’s plenty long enough heh.
-Drink more water than you think you should beforehand!
What’s something new you’ve tried recently? Are you a SoulCycle lover? Let me know!
xo-
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I had the Tentenyu ramen which comes with three slices of chashu while Jared opted for the most popular ramen: Tentenyu chashu ramen. For $4 more, you get a whopping eight slices of chashu. Meat lovers: you’ll love this one. To me, the chashu has good flavor but it was a little on the lean side. For $1.50, I definitely recommend adding the Ajitama egg. It’s a soft boiled egg that has a delicious, almost-sweet pickled flavor.
I would say Hokkaido Ramen Santouka does a brilliant job with their ramen, particularly because the broth takes 20 hours to make. You can tell the Hokkaido-style broth is what sets this ramen apart from others. It is packed with flavor and incredibly rich. This is the perfect place for people who are serious about authentic, quality ramen. If you’re looking for a spot with equally as delicious appetizers, I think they are okay here. The karaage and takoyaki are better at Tentenyu but the gyoza here is worth ordering.
The menu is simple and doesn’t need much explanation, but take my advice if you’re new to Halal Guy’s and order the regular sized combo platter. Don’t forget to get the white sauce! The platter has rice, chicken, gyro (beef), lettuce, tomatoes, and pita. The hot sauce is SUPER spicy. Even Jared, who has the craziest spice tolerance, was having a hard time eating this hot sauce. If you are brave enough to try it, I would highly recommend you ask for them to go light on the hot sauce. The regular is a hefty portion but you’ll thank me later when you have some leftovers. It’s that good.