Category: Reviews

Reviews

Little Rock Marathon Recap & Guide

April 30, 2018

So the Little Rock Marathon is known as a “A race for every pace.” It is also dubbed as one of Runner’s World “Bucket List: 10 Great Marathons for First-Timers.” This race and city is nothing short of southern hospitality, epic blinging finishers medals and tons of cheering fans along the scenic streets of Arkansas’ capital city. No matter if you are a walker or serious elite marathoner, Little Rock Marathon is a race that runners keep coming back for a reason. Check out my race guide of the Little Rock Marathon. Little Rock Marathon Race Guide Where to Stay There are three main hotels I would recommend staying in Little Rock. The Capital Hotel is where everyone goes and is also very historic. Their service is exceptional, and most governmental, celebrities and VIP folks stay here. Little Rock Marriott is the host hotel of the Little Rock Marathon. It’s connected to the convention center and right outside from the starting line. The hotel puts out fruit and water for the racers and closes to all the major restaurants and tourist attractions. Doubletree Hotel Little Rock is where I stayed both times I went to visit Little Rock. I enjoyed my stay and didn’t have any issues. They accommodated for races very well and had a mix of non-races in the hotel. This was a great perk, as I was able to roll out of bed for my races without having to wait for the elevator. My view was the best as I got to see the Riverfront and bridge. They have a shuttle so you can take that to and from the airport if you want. What to Eat – Dining Places Runners have to eat so here are a list of places you gotta eat at in Little Rock. Arkansas Burger Company: Can’t go wrong with burgers and fries on any day. Get it the Arkansas way. Kilwins Company : Ice cream Friday! Local natural ice cream is it! Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken: See why I loved them in my Cowtown Race Recap. Iriana’s Pizza: This is the most talked about pizza place, and it’s conveniently located across from most of the hotels I discussed. Great pizza before a race. One Eleven at the Capital: No matter if you are staying at the Capital or not, you should stop at 111 where it’s chefs are internally known for their ability to combined French influences with local flair. Additionally the Capital is known for it’s Sunday brunch! You know I love a good brunch. Kemuri Restaurant: A Japanese restaurant that always has 5 stars for a reason. Great place for great food and service and seafood! Vino’s: Your real hole in the wall pizza restaurant that has fantastic pizza, calzones, and beer without all the frills. Things to See & Do Anything you want to do in Little Rock is just within a few blocks and also needs to be done by 10 pm. The city is pretty much closed and silent after 10pm. Here are few highlights of stops you should see if you are headed for the Little Rock Marathon. Presidential Library: I surprised myself by spending almost 90 minutes in the library reading the work both Bill and Hillary have done over decades. No matter what your political sides are, these two have impacted the entire world, and we have benefited from their policies. Little Rock Central High School: This is the famous historical high school whereas the Little Rock Central Nine went to school Arkansas Governor Faubus called in the Arkansas National Guard to block the black students’ entry into the high school. Later that month, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent in federal troops to escort the Little Rock Nine into the school. You can learn more about this historic moment that took place from Brown vs. Board of Education here. This is a great stop to visit the center and learn and admire this national park. Pinnacle Mountain State Park: Little Rock has a lot of lands and luscious grass. This park is excellent for a nice hike with the pets or stay and enjoy a night or two in the wild. Little Rock River Market District: This was just a few blocks from my hotel, and I loved going there for fresh fruits and vegetables. There are tons handmade crafts and local concerts. Stop in for juice or State Capitol Visits: There are several museums and governmental buildings open for visitation and viewing. From the Old State House to actual State Capital building, schedule a tour and stop by to learn more about the city. Little Rock Marathon Recap & Tips Little Rock Marathon is one of the top Marathons in the country. It’s a great race that people go back to each year. It has a race for everyone and very friendly to newbie runners. There is a 5k, 10k, half-marathon and full-marathon. Little Rock is known for it’s large and unique medals. The marathon medal is a huge “dinner plate” size medal. How about that for bling?! Their medals are always gorgeous and vibrant each year. So here is a brief recap of the race and some tips if you are going to run it. Crowd Support: Crowd support and sights are nice in the race as you go through the entire city pretty much. The only downfall was not being able to Central High on the half course. However, the full marathon runs through this. There is No shortage of support throughout the course. I had grilled pineapples during the course and boy was that a pickup! I honestly have no issue with this race and would come back repeatedly. Course: It is a hilly course so be prepared but a lot of people end up with a PR at this race so don’t shy away from the hills. Weather: It can be anything. I got a little bit of everything on race day but it was nice and cool. Expect

Cowtown Marathon Recap

March 1, 2018

This past Sunday, I had the awesome experience of running the Cowtown Half marathon! The Cowtown is one of the largest multi-event races in the state of Texas and was voted favorite marathon by Competitor Magazine readers in 2015. It’s held in Ft. Worth, Texas, which is about 30-40 minutes outside of Dallas. Not only did I get to complete my 7th half marathon, I ran it with a group of my running friends who are more like family. Check out my Cowtown Marathon recap and experience how I hang with my running crew. The Cowtown Marathon Recap Travel Information to the Cowtown Marathon I live in Dallas so I didn’t travel per say to the race. I wanted to offer tips since I do live in the city and in case folks want to travel here. The closet airport to Ft. Worth is DFW airport. Love field airport is at least a 30-40 minute ride away. That can be a pretty expensive uber for you so I highly suggest renting a car for the weekend. The city doesn’t have the best public transportation for most travelers so this is my cheaper and best option for most. I stay in Dallas and wished I would have gotten a hotel just to stay in Ft.Worth. I had my friends in town for the weekend so I was basically an uber. Tim is a dear friend and like a running brother of mine that is on the board of the St. Louis Marathon and is a Running Influencer there. Yal know I got manners and southern hospital so I picked him up from Love Field airport and showed him around Dallas. The City – Funky Town Ft. Worth is unique and folks that live there love, Love, LOVE the city. There is a lot to see and do in Ft. Worth but it’s very different than Dallas. You can expect cowboy boots, trailers and western stores every few miles in Ft. Worth. They are the true Western Texan over there. There is a lot to see in Ft. Worth so take advantage of walking around the various sections of the city such as Magnolia, Fairmont and Sundance. Places to Eat in Ft. Worth In Dallas/ Ft. Worth, we love to eat on a good patio. Patio’ing is a thing around here so you have a million options with great Southern food, craft and local beer, strong cocktails, good service and more in the warm weather. Here are a few of my favorites in Ft. Worth. Heim BBQ: If you can, get there early or be prepared to stand for a bit. This BBQ joint always has a line but it’s worth the wait. Nothing like some good old fashion Texas BBQ. Istanbul Bar & Grill: I am a big fan of Mediterranean food. Their baba ghanoush, and gyros are perfect anytime of the day. This location has a bar so you can grab a tasty beverage if you desire as well. Mash’d: If you can go for brunch, go!! They have a 14inch pancake called the “Manhole cover pancake,” which is stuffed with blueberries butterscotch chips. Yeah! It’s that serious there. Oh should I also mention the mixology bar and they serve moonshine??!! Gus’s Fried Chicken: It’s a Memphis-based spicy fried chicken joint that has juicy fried chicken and the best sweet tea ever! Nammi at the Farmers Market: Head over the Farmers Market and roam around. When you do, stop at my favorite food truck Nammi, which serves Vietnamese food. My favorite dish is always their veggie tofu tacos and basil lemonade. Tom Thumb off 7th Street: Sounds really crazy to put this on here but this Tom Thumb is like a restaurant. You can grab a drink at the bar and watch a game, order pho, pickup toilet paper and so much more in one store. This location is also right by a lot of other restaurants as well. Weekend Socials With My Running Family Friday Night Since Tim was in town, we ended up having a happy hour for him and my local running groups We Run Things and Pint Striders. Founder’s beer came out and gave some swag while chatting about a few local things with me. After that, we enjoyed beer, laughter and good times through the night. Beer is rather normal for us runners to drink as it’s technically just a bunch of carbs and we need it run. Saturday Night Saturday I opted to ditch the 5k and go for a walk with Tim and my other running friend Alex. We ended up wakling to the the Alamo Draft House, which isn’t to far from house, to go see Black Panther. I probably have seen this movie at least 5 times now and can’t stop still! Also this is my favorite movie theater and they had a great Black Panther food and beverage menu too! After that we showered and ran to the Black Marathoners Pre-race dinner. It was great time to just meet folks from all over the country before we lace up for the following day. I had a great time meeting al to of fellow runners who live in Atlanta and I will be seeing again in October at the Baltimore Running Festival. The Cowtown Marathon Race day started bright and early at 4:45AM and it was greatness. I made it there at 6am and was able to get a close free parking space and wait inside in the warm building. I didn’t start until about 7:30 because I switched to a later corral but let me say, all 9,100 of us truly enjoyed the morning jams and tunes while waiting. I always have a mantra song of each race, so for this race, Anita Ward’s Ring my Bell was it! The race was everything! This has been one of my favorite races and I truly mean it. It was really cool to start the race with my

Essential Fitness Gear & Run Happy Ambassador

February 9, 2018

Last year, I opened up about how running helped me with my depression, my work with the Black Marathoners, and even showed you guys what it took to cross the finish line of the New York Marathon recently. My passion for the running and health community is authentic and true no doubt. I have made a lot of big goals for the year. I am all about goal setting and just simply asking and working hard for what you desire. Last year, I was accepted into the New York City Marathon on the first try, which is super hard to do, I tweeted I wanted to know what it took to be a part of the Brooks family. If you guys have been following me, you already know I am a huge fan of their bras as well as I have been running in their shoes for countless years. A year ago, I tweeted about this moment and it is happening! Now with less than 3 months until Boston Marathon I am excited to share what is another dream come true. I am now a part of the Brook family as a #runhappyambassador. What is a Run Happy Ambassador? Until last year, this title/role was reserved for most elite runners and coaches, which I am totally not at all. Most elite runner – the fast ones – run a marathon (26.2 Miles) in less than 3-4 hours. I – Alexandria – ran NYC in over 7 hours. Yep. Child! I am more like an elite slow runner. HA! But, that’s the great thing about the Run Happy philosophy. It’s not about speed but about the heart. I am honest about being a runner who doesn’t fit the typical mold but that’s exactly why I run— well happy! Running has opened up so many doors for me including helping me battle depression and literally run happy. The words Run Happy remind runners everywhere why they fell in love with running in the first place. Foundational Workout Gear You Gotta Have I am a giver so I am even more excited to share that I will be able to pass along some benefits to you guys!!! So to celebrate, I decided to answer your questions about what workout gear should I invest in or what items you must have to get started when working out. I created a cool workbook book of the essential pieces you must have and to invest in. Having improper fitness attire is TERRIBLE! From incorrect sports bras to pants rolling down or tearing up while running, these are all things that will hinder you from getting active. Anywho, scroll down to see my pick and also grab a copy of the free workbook for details. And also get into these looks! Grab The Full Look Book Today! FTC: I received this gear complimentary as part of my Brooks Run Happy ambassador partnership and to produce this workbook guide. As always, all thoughts and ideas are my own. Yal know I keep it real. All images were shot by the lovely and talented Phoenix Michele Photography.

How To Soar & Stay Motivated for 2018

January 2, 2018

A close friend of mine recently asked me, ” What are some books, audiobooks and recommendations for staying motivated and uplifted?” It wasn’t long before I had a slew of recommendations because quite frankly, I am a self-help junkie. Instead of just sending her a long list via email, I figured I would pass along these tips to all. Reading, listening and writing are some of the best ways to get to soar and accomplish your goals but also stay motivated along the journey. Whether you are are just looking for some new books to get into or in need of some motivation for the new year, check out a few things I listen to to keep me motivated and going. Side-note: I couldn’t start this list without mentioning my book FitHair foundations. No matter where you are along the journey, this books is all about laying the proper foundation for a healthy lifestyle from the inside out. You can grab it on Amazon right now. Podcasts Here is a list of podcast I listen to every week. Podcasts are free so I try to soak up as much as I can from listening to podcasts each day. Some I listen to each day while others I tune in weekly or a few times a month depending on the topic. Joyce Meyer The Read NPR Elevation Church Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations Dave Ramsey Optimal Finances Daily Success Insider Books & Magazines My head is always in a book and it’s a great habit to incorporate. There is nothing like breaking away from technology and cuddling up with a good book at the beginning or end of a day. Below are a list of books that have helped me in the past and or some I continue to read to this day. The Mind Connection, Joyce Meyer The Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer Power Thoughts, Joyce Meyer Soar, T.D. Jakes The Alchemist The Richest Man in Babylon, George Samuel Women’s Health Magazine Entrepreneur Magazine The Dream Giver It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be Kingdom Woman, Tony Evans & Chrstyal Hurst StrengthsFinder 2.0, Tom Rath Wisdom of the Ages, Wayne W. Dyer You Have 4 Minutes, Rebekah Borucki Audible Books So, I broke this down into a separate list because the book list was getting very long. Ha! most of the books I mentioned above also are on audible or have an audio version. Anywho, here are a list of a audio books I also have listened too and recommend. Boundaries in Dating, John Townsend The Power of Intuition, Wayne Dyer Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo You Can Begin Again, Joyce Meyer Destiny, T.D. Jakes Manage Your Day-to-Day, Jocelyn Glei #Girlboss, Sophia Amourso You Are a Badass, Jen Sincere Power Thoughts Devotional, Joyce Meyer The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg Notebooks & Planners If my head isn’t in a book, a notebook and planner are always within hands reach. Writing down your goals and or your daily habits is vital for success. It’s important to keep track of your progress on your journey but also writing down items means you have some form of accountability. Here are a list of my favorite notebooks and planners. It’s a short list because I am super picky about what I write on so these are my faithfuls and never let me down. Day Designer Academic Planner Weekly Monthly – Blue Sky Collaboration Day Designer Notes – Blue Sky Collaboration Moleskine Classic Ruled Soft Cover Notebook Moleskine notebooks – any to be honest Greenroom journal with soft cover 300 writing prompts journal Black Marathoners Beta running journal (members get this)

New York City Marathon

November 12, 2017

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. – Lou Last year, I made a goal to run the NYC Marathon and less than a year later, thousands of steps the journey and goal has been completed. My NYC weekend isn’t the typical weekend because I can never do anything basic. I am always extra with everything. Additionally, I am always representing the Black Marathoners or doing something for the organization so it’s never a dull moment in my life. Brace yourself, it’s a bit lengthy but I couldn’t leave out anything because it was packed weekend and it’s a dream come true! It’s a good read I think. So with that, here is my VIP NYC Marathon recap. Friday – New York City I Am Here I arrived in NYC Friday and basically had mapped out my day with going to hang out and tour the Women’s Health Magazine / Rodale office and then hit the expo and I did just that. The NYC Marathon is not a typical race as most because it’s an entire weekend event of stuff. You really have to be organized or you might just miss out on running the actual race. HA! Anywho, I had a packed weekend so here goes… If you don’t want to read then feel free to enjoy the video epic documentary with scores, scripts and more extraness on my youtube channel. Women’s Health Magazine / Rodale So Rodale owns some major magazines you probably read, one being women’s health but also runners world, men’s health, and Prevention. As a 2x Women’s Health Action Hero of the year, I wanted to finally meet the folks I had been working with for now a few years. It was a cool office and experience. It was even cooler as I got a chance to see the wall of magazine covers! NYC Expo So my goal was to do everything I could at the expo and avoid it on Saturday. I did just that. The expo is basically split into three big sections. Section one is the intro to the NYC where you get everything for the race, (bibs, VIP, etc.) Next section is the NYC Merch and New Balance – the sponsors. The third is full of the other vendors. There was a lot of NYC merchandise and it was very busy. Honestly, it was crazy. The expo can be overwhelming at times. I took breaks because I was so scattered brained and wanted everything but the way my pockets were lined up…. Yeah, Nah son. The lines weren’t too long for me, as I didn’t have a wait at all. After debating on jackets for an hour, I ended up getting a windbreaker NYC jacket because I knew it would look cool with my brooks NYC shoes and red is my favorite color. The next part of the expo is basically the other sponsored stuff and picture time. This also includes the section where you do the thank you wall. I loved this because it was really cool to see all the different nationalities and ethnicities that were represented. It felt like the Olympics and we were the athletes on opening day. I couldn’t just write just one thing but I wrote multiple ones because I am extra… After that, I hit the United section and obviously more and more picture taking. Also, they had a cool section to learn about “visualization” for running from Olympic athlete Meb Keflezighi. You can check out the video in my NYC Race recap, which was really helpful during the race. Once I learned a few tips about visualization when running then I hit up the general expo section for goodies for the race. (Really look at my video recap for details on this.) I met so many people and companies at the expo that it was kinda of a blur. The best thing I did at the expo was NormaTech system. They look like large boots that basically help with dynamic compression devices designed for recovery and rehab. Basically, you put the boots on and they are supposed to help you recover faster between workouts by reducing muscle soreness and improving circulation. I did this before and afterward my race and let me tell you it works! My feet were super sore from just walking, traveling and such. After 10 minutes sitting with it – the swelling was gone. The boots provided circulation to flow better and offered more oxygen. If you get a chance to try this at an expo please do! Anywho, I got a chance to do a lot at the expo, needless to say, I was there basically for hours. From getting VIP badges in the Blue room to picking up a complimentary custom pillow, I had a great time at the NYC Expo it was lit! After the expo, I watched the NYC parade. My phone was basically about to die so I don’t have any footage of it nor do I care. This race/weekend made me just live in the moment and just take it all in. It’s like that sometimes. … SATURDAY – Social Day In the video, I show you a better glimpse of the hotel I stayed it but I stayed in the DoubleTree in the Financial District in New York. It was right off the Ferry stop and very convent to all the trains in New York. I picked this location because I wanted to roll out of the bed the day of the race. Most of my friends had over an hour or so commute just to get to the Ferry stop due to the subways being packed. I had a 3 minute walk! I was able to enjoy some sleeping in a bit. Instead of going for a quick shake out run the day before like most folks, I just took a quick 2-mile tour of the financial district and grab a few

Affordable Supplements | Genuine Health

September 29, 2017

I am always on the hunt for new protein and supplements to use. Ther are so many to choose from and I know it can be overwhelming, thus, I will try to sort through all the crappy ones and only show you the ones that are worthwhile and while. I have written about probiotics and guy health before in my book “FitHair Foundations and also is one of my top five vitamins and supplements for healthy hair and body from the inside out. I am passionate about gut health so much that I dedicated an entire chapter of my book to breaking down this point. Gut health is the foundation for overall health and thus good gut health will help your body produce healthier hair. Probiotics help improve intestinal flora balance, inhibit harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function, and increase resistance to infection. Fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, and miso are some options fo natural probiotics. – Alexandria Williams Since everyone is on a vegan kick thanks to “What the Health” documentary, I figured I would showcase a few vegan products that will aid in healthy hair and body from the inside out. Today I wanted to highlight a brand and product most folks haven’t heard of, Genuine Health. I have been using their probiotics and proteins for a little bit and really like them. I think they are a great option for many who are looking for an affordable vegan supplements line. About Genuine Health Genuine Health is a proudly certified B Corporation that develops researched-based natural health supplements to help nourish your body. The flagship product, Greens+, has been keeping people healthy and alkaline for over 20 years! The company believes everyone deserves a healthy, vibrant life – and a lean, well-nourished body is the best way to get there. The Founder and CEO Stewart Brown says; “Health gives you the ultimate freedom – freedom to live your life to the fullest.” Genuine Health started over 15 years ago in Canada with greens+, the original, research-proven superfood formulated by Sam Graci for energy & well-being. The company has several different products such as probiotics, multivitamin, and omegas to say the least. Today, Genuine Health has over 170 products and is sold in both Canada and the U.S.Most of their products are vegan and or leave out soy and wheat for those of you looking to reduces or are allergic to those ingredients. Take a look at the other products. Genuine Probiotics Advance Gut Health Genuine Health probiotics contain 15 strains carefully selected for their abilities to repair and restore. The strains are treated with the utmost care – in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment, they are cleaned to remove toxins and weak cells, ensuring that only the strongest and fittest remain. A vegan, delayed-release capsule with a fermented prebiotic ensures that strains pass through the stomach acid, taking 45 minutes to reach the g Probiotics & The Body I have already discussed having probiotics daily via food source or supplemental is vital to your hair but also your overall body. Here are a few ways how your gut health can be affected a variety of factors. Psychological factors, like stress, and sleep problems, have been found to reduce microflora. New research has found that just as we have sleep rhythms, so do our bacteria. Drug addiction and lack of physical activity have been found to alter gut microflora – less movement equals less diversity of bacteria in the gut! Antibiotics in prescriptions and in the food supply not only knock out select bacteria – once these bacteria have died, so do the others that were dependent on them. Environmental toxins, alcohol and tobacco have been found to alter the ratio of good to bad bacteria, causing what is known as dysbiosis, which translates to “life in distress.” Diet creates changes in the microbiome. Certain foods feed the good bacteria in our gut while others do not. What’s for certain is that we are eating too much of the not so good stuff and not enough of the good. Additionally, what I do like about them the most is that the probiotics are not a large size pill. This is major win for me!! Fermented Vegan Proteins+ The other product I wanted to highlight is the protein called fermented vegan proteins+. The protein is packed with a lot of guy health but also hair healthy foods that will help keep you healthy from the inside out. The fermented protein+ contains a variety of healthy ingredients but also is a great source of protein. It also doesn’t taste bad as I pair the chocolate with my homemade walnut milk recipes you guys know I love. Some of the benefits of the fermented vegan proteins+ are No bloating 40% more absorption to the body Strengthens gut health Contains 15g protein Non-GMO and gluten-free Contains essential amino acids If you want to know what I look for when picking out the right protein supplement, check out my post “3 tips for picking out the right protein supplement.” for a quick overview. Ingredients matter, so I always make sure to look and read my labels. If I can’t understand the products or ingredients then I am less likely to purchase. I love and fully understand the ingredients used in the protein. Cost of Products The cost of this the protein is $34.99 and the probiotics are $19.99. Both are very affordable for a supplement line that contains both soy and gluten free products as well as non-gmo ingredients. This is a Win-Win for me. You can purchase the product locally at Sprouts or online direct. Also, they are available at Vitacost, Iherb.com, Vitamin Shoppe and other locations. FTC: This post is not sponsored

The Affordable Sports Bras Guide for Women With Large Breasts

September 11, 2017

No matter if you are just starting a fitness regimen or training for another race, one thing I know you will need are a few good sports bras. Finding the perfect sports bra isn’t easy for most women. It’s even harder if you are a blessed with larger breast AND on a budget. Most sports bras are at least $55-$85 a pop for women who are larger than DDs and offer max support and comfort. It’s almost impossible, but I am here to say it’s not impossible anymore. I spent over 2 months searching and testing a range of styles and sizes to find great sports bras for those of you who have large breast like me but are affordable. All the sports bras are under $50 and most can be found at half the cost or regularly on sale. SPORTS GUIDE FOR WOMEN WITH LARGE BREASTS In my research, I decided to two this blog post differently. I wanted to offer some sports bra history, show you various sizes and types but then I also wanted to share the importance of being properly fitted each year for your sports bra. I am open and honest so much so; you get to see my process of finding the perfect sports bra for my marathon training. Sports Bra Fitting Tips & Tricks Check out this video where I take you on my bra fitting and how I am finding the perfect sports bra just for me! Sports Bra Do’s & Don’ts Always buy sports bras with wicking materials instead of cotton. Wicking fabrics move moisture away from your skin and also keep you comfortable. Test your sports bra by actually working out and moving around. Do 10-15 jumping jack and squats! Wash the bra in cold water with mild detergent or hand wash. Avoid drying sports bras as heat breaks down spandex. I hang my sports bras to dry or lay it flat. Most sports bras last anywhere from 6 up to 15 months thus a good rule of thumb is to change sports bras every 6 months to a year. Sports Bras History, Types & Top Picks Dive into this video as the kind folks at Luke’s Locker school me on the history of sports bra, various textures, and types that are best for max support and my top picks for affordable sports bras. My Top Sports Bras are the Hero bras from Rebook and the Fiona and Maia from Brooks Women. I also want to point out the Juno bra. I went back and tried it and like it as well. It’s a great alternative for the Maia and also a bit cheaper too. Compression, Encapsulation or Both Compression: The original sports bra. This bra is best for smaller cups or just walking around. These are often super cheap and can cost you $20 bucks easily. Encapsulation: This is the best for women with larger breast. Sports bras with individual cups aka encapsulated cups are best. They make sure your breast are not smashed together, adjustable and can remove sweat properly from the skin. Both: Many sports bras now are a combination of compression and encapsulation, which offer both supportive and comfortable. These are more expensive so I avoided focusing on these but there are some great ones out there such as Victoria Secrets. Strap Types Racerback: Racerbacks tend to be the best supporting bras for women with larger breast due to the straps clinching in the back. They offer more support and mostly Tank Top: I am not a fan of racer back because they are a pain to get in and out of after a 2-3 hour run. If you are like me, then always look for adjustable, padded and wide strap sports bras to ensure the weight is distributed and supportive. Crisscross: Crisscross have become very popular because they add a pop of “fashion” to a boring tank. They offer decent support and are my pick for yoga and super low impact. Many are adjustable but don’t expect to find a lot of styles or options for larger breast. Most of the crisscross straps are thin, so they are not able to hold up or offer tons of support over an extended period. Special Thanks to Luke’s Locker for helping so much with this post. If you are in the DFW Area pop in and let them know I sent you for to get your complimentary sizing. They also order anything for you if they don’t have it in there store.

Brandless Not Worth The Hype?!

August 23, 2017

Brandless is a website that has one big mission. with one little $3 price. It’s a site that basically had brandless aka generic/store brand products for one flat price $3. It focuses on the essential products for the kitchen and home. Every single item in the store is $3. YES. You heard and read it right. Literally every single thing on the site is $3. From can openers to organic granola, it has a little bit for everyone all within a few clicks of a button. Most of the products is non-geo, organic or free or crazy additives and chemicals. This sounds to good to be true to me. Brandless has gotten a lot of press and crazy fans of the web since launching just a few months ago. As a frugal shopper, I knew this would be the site for me to help keep me right with my budget and on the healthy track. I was super excited and even reached out to the company regarding my upcoming purchase. So I decided to do a review of my first thoughts of what I ordered and much more. Is Brandless Worth the Hype? First Impressions & Unboxing What did I get for $3? Or the Grand Total of 34.50 bucks + Shipping I ordered a few items that were both good for the belly, body, and household from Brandless — and the whole thing was only $34.50. At first, my order was well over $50 bucks, which is part of the problem. Everything is $3, so you feel like you can go HAM on things you think you want and or need. I had to cut out a lot and only got essential items I needed or could use up should I not like them. Here is the list of items I purchased. Multi-Surface Cleaner Dish Soap – wasted and opened Peppermint Mouthwash Can Opener – scratches on it Organic Oats & Honey Granola Organic English Breakfast Black Tea Fig & Thyme Crisps – can get locally for same price but good Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips (2 bags for $3) Organic Brown Basmati Rice Gochujang Korean Sweet & Spicy Cooking Sauce Organic Poppy Seed Dressing Organic Light Brown Sugar There area few items that are not $3 such as canned beans and chips. They offer those as a certain amount for $3. In this case, the bag of chips were 2 for $3. The items in bold are the ones I like and say are winners. The ones italicized I liked but were questionable as I noted about them in my video. Shipping, Discounts & Membership Shipping is where things get iffy. It is $9 via FedEx, which comes in about 2-3 days. Not too bad. If you want free shipping, you have to spend $72, so that’s roughly purchasing 24 products at one time. They have a membership called B-Program, which cost $36 bucks a year. It allows you free shipping at $48 instead of the $72 price tag. Additionally, you get a sneak peak at new releases early and access to special events. You can learn more about their B-Program here. Meh…. A post shared by Alexandria – FitHair Expert (@alexandriawill) on Aug 22, 2017 at 7:05am PDT For first time orders you get shipping at $3 after that it’s $9. I was so excited when I opened the package but unfortunately it turned into disappointment. It was packaged nicely, but most of my items had some issue with them. From scratches on the can opener to chips and ships and crackers being broken. I think they need to rethink the shipping part especially if I order again and am paying $9. Thanks to shipping issues and most my products looking like they went through hell to get here, I say this is a major FAIL for me. Additionally, by paying $9 for shipping for a little bit over ten products means my items were almost $4 with no way for a refund thanks to the damages. Overall Brandless is a No For Me With Amazon (Prime, Now and Grocery), Trader Joes , Sprouts and Costco all sitting within my finger tips or backyard, I don’t find the need for Brandless. Most of the household items I honestly can purchase at the same price or less even online for name brand products or other ones I trust. Most items that are $3 honestly looked like they were worth $3. I like the packaging of things but most of my items were broken upon arrival or opened and damaged. This is a major fail for me. It get’s a no for me. Save ya coins. ALTERNATIVES FOR BRANDLESS & GREEN CLEANING If you are looking for a site that does have a cool membership and great healthy products for the house. I really love The Grove Collaborative. They have some of the best natural products at great prices, delivered right to your door. It’s my favorite online site to shop for organic, eco-friendly and sustainable items like Dr. Bronner’s, Meyer’s and Seventh Generation. On my first order, I grabbed a special filled with 4 free products – mak ing this FREE 99 for products. Check out why toxic chemicals can affect you hair and my shift to all natural products. Additionally, you can grab $10 bucks to shop on the Grove Collaborative by clicking here. Disclaimer: I wasn’t contacts nor sponsored for this post or to review Brandless. Paid for everything out of my pocket.

Hottest Half – Half Marathon Review

August 15, 2017

I am officially recovered from my race on Sunday. I completed my first half marathon in over two years. For several years, I have wanted to run in the Hottest Half – Half Marathon by Mellow Productions. Typically in the summer, there aren’t that many races because of the insane amount of heat. The races that are put on are often during the cooler times of the summer or days, but the Hottest Half is typically on the hottest day of the year and is a test of your endurance and strength. This year, we haven’t had the scorching temperatures like normal, but we have had a crazy amount of humidity and poor air quality (UV index) than normal. Sunday I braved the rain, humidity and mid and competed in the Hottest half. It was one of my worst races ever but boy do I have a story about this race yal. Let’s get to talking about this Hottest Half race and things.. Hottest Half – Half Marathon Review & Race Recap Pros of the Hottest Half – Half Marathon Race distance: They had a 5, 10 and a half marathon distances so if you wanted to run the half while a friend ran the 10k it’s a great option. Relatively affordable: The price of the half is around $60 bucks with a $5 discount. It does go up, but this isn’t bad for a half Friendly people: Mellow races thus far tend to be filled with friendly folks thus far. Everyone waves or tried to be nice. Medal: The medals are pretty nice. I can’t complain at all about the medals and like the quality of them Packet pickup: You have the option of arriving early to get your packet, and additionally you have the choice of paying on the spot Less fuss: There isn’t a lot with the race, so for newbies, this might be good option to reduce stress or anxiety. Challenges: They have a few race challenges through out the year and seasons, so it’s good if you are looking to do multiple races and want to test yourself regularly. The combo packages are also a better deal than just buying one race. This race is part of two race challenges. The 4 Seasons or the Summer Half Marathon series. Parking: Parking is free and you don’t have to wait or park extremely far from the starting line. Cons of the Hottest Half – Half Marathon Packet pickup: While it was a good, I have had a few issues when picking up my packet. One race they ran out of bibs, so we had to wait awhile for some to bring some. This time, one computer was down, and a lady was writing them. Additionally, don’t expect much in the packets. You get a shirt, bib and maybe something else in the bag. The course: For the 10th year it was at Trinity grooves area instead of the white rock lake. This coupled with the weather and rain was an epic disaster. This is boring, and not the best for crowd support. Folks can only cheer the first mile of the race, to be honest. Additionally, the rain caused massive mud, sliding and really it was more of a trail run than a road race. Medals: I feel really odd having a medal that says half marathon but I only ran a 5 or 10k. Everyone get’s a half marathon medal regardless. Incorrect Advertisement: So on the website, it states there was supposed to be water stops at about every mile, but it wasn’t. There was one water stop at about 1.5 miles then midway for 10k and then midway for the half marathon. Additionally, most port-a-potties were in the beginning. There was one at the water station and two spread out but meant long wait times for them. I think the other two were public as they hardly had toilet paper in them. Strollers: Yeah they should have banned strollers for 10k. The trail is not stroller friendly at all. No scenic route: I felt like I was going insane looking at the same thing over and over again. I run for the view. No shade: Since this is river front and the trees are away from the trail, there is not a lick of shade. Between the sun’s rays and the insects make sure you overload on the sunscreen and insect repellent. Overall: I earned this medal. I went up against everything I hated and learned mentally how I had to adjust during a race. Also, it makes me realize how much more I want to be a better runner and I enjoy running in races. Would I run it again? At first, I thought I would run another Mellow production race as their first year at this route and things happen. However, I more than likely would never run this and if I did I would never run and pay for this again. It would have to be someone talking me into this race again or I got into for free and needed to test or redeem myself. Other than that. Nah. It’s a pass.

Crotchet Braids with Faux Locs | Moisturizing Routine

July 26, 2017

I am so in love with faux locs. I have had them for a few weeks and cannot get enough of them. I have had several questions about how I am maintaining them and keeping my hair moisturized. With so much training and working out, especially in the summer sun, the hair can become very dry and brittle. It is important to protect both your hair and scalp when having any protective hairstyle such as braids, twist, and sew-ins. As such, I made a unique moisturizing routine for my hair with faux locs, which aids in hydrating and preserving the hair and scalp. You can use the products of your choice that best suits your needs. The biggest key in this moisture routine is the use of steam to penetrate the shaft and stimulate the scalp. Items Used The Mane Choice Hair Growth Oil The Mane Choice Tropical Moringa Daily Restorative Spray Q-redrew hair steamer This ultra moisturizing routine is focused primarily for women who work out or are suffering from dry hair due to hotter temperatures. When working out sweating and heat play a big part in losing moisturizer, so it’s critical to add moisture back into the hair on a regular basis. This routine has helped me a lot, and it’s straightforward, relaxing and doesn’t take a lot of time. Night Time Regimen for Faux Locs Bonus: I often do my moisturizing routine before going to bed or in the evenings, so in the video, I also show you how I lock in the moisture at night and reduce frizz or static. My Evolve Satin Hair Wraps is the biggest key to keeping my hair off my face, in place and aid keeping moisture through the night.