Yankz!

I consider myself a very active person! Always at the gym, going for a run, swim, walk...I love working out and staying fit.  I usually just allow myself one new pair of workout shoes each year.  I always buy the absolute brightest pair possible! They usually last the whole year with no problems, but the laces always seem to wear a bit...I have even had to replace them a few times.  

I was browsing the web looking for new shoes when I stumbled upon a company called Yankz! They don't sell shoes, but they do sell shoe laces.  I know what you're thinking...shoe laces?! Not that exciting...but these ones really are exciting!

The awesome company sent me two different kinds of laces to try out.  They have the slack laces and the sure lace system.  

They asked me what colors I wanted so that they would match my shoes.

I simply said "the brighter the better!"  They come in every color you can imagine and are even customizable.  

I tried out the slack laces first.  

They thread into your shoes just like any shoe lace.  Except they are nothing like your regular laces!!

They are super duper elasticy!

My shoes were tied pretty tight, but when I moved my feet, the laces stretched to fit.  I hate when I tie my shoes and the are a little too tight or too loose...it is hard to get them just right.  No worries with these! Because of how stretchy they are, they just flex along with your foot and are extremely comfortable! 

I could not wait to take them with me to the gym!

I love how they made my already colorful shoes even more colorful!!

I honestly felt like I was wearing a brand new pair of shoes!

Leg press! No problem!

Bring it on squat rack!

I never realized how much my feet move when doing these exercises.  It was great not to have that tightness in my feet!

Time to try the Sure Lace System!

These were a tiny bit more complicated to lace up, but came with step by step instructions! If I figure it out, so can you!!

I was very excited to go for a nice long run with these bad boys!

It was great to be 100% sure that my laces were NOT coming untied during my run!  All you marathon runners out there...you need to invest in a pair of these!! You will never have to tie your shoes again! 

Plus they just look really really cool! They are also very stretchy and comfortable.  You can just slip your feet in and out of your shoes because of the stretchiness.  Oh and did I mention extremely affordable!! Only $7.50! Must cheaper than buying a brand new pair of shoes.  I don't even think I will need a pair this year :)

I guess if I had to choose, I would say I prefer the slack laces.  The stretch in them was so comfortable and I love how they tie up just like regular laces.

I highly recommend you check out Yankz laces. You can order them online here through Amazon. Try both kinds and let me know which ones you prefer!  They also have some really sweet looking bags! Might just have to get one of those for myself :)

Apera Bag - New Gym Bag!

I cannot even begin to tell you how many gym bags I have gone through...The zippers break, the strap snaps, the fabric tears, and they end up in the garbage within a few months.  I decided to go on a search for a really good bag! One that would last, function, and look cool too.  After googling and searching sporting good stores I finally came across one that looked promising! 

It is from a company called Apera.  Their slogan is pure. sport. bags.  Sounds good to me! All they make are bags so I figured they must be awesome. 

These bags are protected by an antimicrobial product that resists the formation of bacterial odor in and on the bag. I am not exactly sure what an antimicrobial product is, but if it keeps my bag from smelling funky I am all for it! 

Apera bags have ventilated compartments and wipeable linings.  I love this because I swim 5-6 days a week and then keep wet towels and a suit in my bag.  Most bags have that cardboard bottom that gets all soggy and smelly.  

There is plenty of room for all my swim gear in this bag!

There is also a really nice washable insert to keep the bag clean and odor free!

This is perfect to put my wet suit in! I can just toss it in the wash once a week and this way the chlorine isn't soaking into my bag.  

I don't always swim when I go to the gym, but I don't want to have a separate bag for when I do weights or other cardio.  I love that there is a separate place to keep my gloves, headphones, and iPhone arm band.  By the way...can you tell I love pink?!

This bag has more compartments than any bag I have ever seen! I actually think I might need to get more stuff to fill it!

There are two little compartments on top.  

Yes, that is a Quest Bar hiding in there! Ya never know when hunger might strike!

I usually go the gym super early before work.  I shower at the gym, get ready, and go straight to work.  This means I need to pack all my shower stuff too! If you are a girl or know a girl, you know that we need lots of stuff to get ready!

Plenty of room for not one, but two towels! Ya know, one for the body, one for the hair...I also have a hair dryer AND a hair straightener in there!

There is also a big compartment on each side of the bag.  These are really great because they are ventilated.  

I keep a shower bag with my shampoo, conditioner, etc. on one side which usually gets pretty wet. It is perfect because the ventilation lets it dry out instead of having the water sit in there and get all funky.

The other side is perfect for my deodorant, makeup bag, lotion...

Plenty of room for all that other "girly" stuff I need to make myself at least somewhat presentable for work! I am a nanny so I honestly don't put that much effort into it...the kiddos could care less what I look like!

The inside of the bag has lots more little compartments for anything you might need.  

Perfect place for your phone, wallet, car keys, bandaids, chapstick...you name it! Seriously though...I need more stuff! I feel the need to fill each and every compartment! 

Of course this bag has a great adjustable strap!

 Oh if I had a dollar for every time I had a strap just break and my bag fell to the ground...Duct tape only works for so long... 

 If I am going to the gym for cardio or to lift I will wear my tennis shoes.  Of course there is plenty of room if I did want to pack them!

Love how my shoes match my bag! You might also notice my matching pink shaker bottle.  There is not just one, but two water bottle holders! 

Just so you can see it all spread out...this is everything I keep in my new gym bag.  That is a lot of stuff!!

And yes, there was room for more!!!

 I am beyond happy with my new gym bag and don't think I will ever find another one that even compares!  

 Check out the Apera website and get yourself an amazing bag! They also have back packs, yoga bags, totes, and duffel bags.  I was actually eyeing up the yoga tote and sling tote! They would be perfect for all the stuff I need to pack while at work with the kiddos :) Even if you don't workout, these bags would be perfect for a pool bag, overnight bag, or even in place of a purse!

All kinds of fun colors and very reasonably priced! I guarantee you will not find a better sport bag anywhere! 

Please don't do this at the gym...

I go to the gym...a lot!! I like to think I have good gym etiquette and act normal when I am working out.  I cannot say the same for some people... I have compiled a list of things that drive me nuts at the gym!! If you are doing these things, STOP IT!

This one goes out to the ladies...

Why exactly are you even at the gym?  You simply cannot get a good workout done with your hair down...you just can't! It is also a hazard! You are gonna get that all caught up in a machine or something! It's just dangerous.  And why so much make up?? Are you planning on meeting Mr. Right  in between sets? You are gonna look a hot mess when that mascara starts dripping down your face.  And for goodness sake, put on a sports bra! If you try running on the treadmill, it's gonna hurt! 

This one is for everyone.  If you are not using a machine, don't leave your stuff all over it.  Also, if you're not using a machine, please do not just sit on it! Some people may be a little shy and won't ask you to move.  If you want to sit down, go find a chair.  

And absolutely don't just take a rest on one of the workout benches.  People want to use those to workout! 

I know that some of you guys are lifting very heavy weights.  More power to ya.  But there is no need for so much grunting.  A little groan here and there, sure... I get that it may be very hard to do that last rep.  Let's not be ridiculous...

Now, I don't do a ton of weighted squats, but when I do, I want to do them in a place called the squat rack! You know what it's for?! Doing squats! NOT curling or anything else.  So unless you are doing squats, get out the way.

Please please please put your weights back!! Your mother does not work here so you need to put your own toys away! Also, I am not the Wonder Woman and if you leave heavy weights all over the place, I can't move them!

If you are done using the leg press, please remove the 600 pounds of weight you stacked on there (even though you couldn't even do a full press with that much weight and just wanted to put allll the weight on and look tough...A little tip, use less weight and try proper form. 

This one may sound rude but I am not holding back... If you are a bit over weight and at the gym to get in shape, wonderful!!! I applaud anyone and everyone who goes to the gym.  BUT, please do not tell me what I should or shouldn't do when you are clearly doing something wrong...Do not tell me about your wonderful juice diet, or how carbs are bad, or how Dr. Oz knows everything, or that Splenda will kill you...I think I am doing OK without your tips.  

Guys, you are super guilty of this next one.  

Do not super set the entire gym! By super set I mean those people who are circuit training or whatever and set up 5 different machines with their weights.  Excuse me, but I would like to use one of those machines and am not going to wait until you finish every set.  If you are not currently on a machine, you are not actually using it.  I can't stand when I go to change the weights on something and someone says "I am using that" Um...no, no you are not! You are over there doing something else.  So I am going to use this machine and when you are ready to use it again, you can put you weights back on.  

Locker room etiquette... oh my...

I don't know what you do at home, and honestly I do not care.  But you have to realize that you are not the only one who uses the showers, nor are you the only one showering.  Especially at 7am when most showers are taken.  So could you please refrain from loudly blowing your nose in the shower!? I am 99.9% sure you don't have tissue in there and that is just gross.  Bleh...

Don't get me wrong, I am very happy that you are not self conscious of your body AT ALL! But is it really necessary to stand there all naked and have a conversation with me?! Wrap yourself up in a towel and then I can talk to you. 

Also, if you use a brush in the shower, please do not empty the hair out of the brush into the shower.  That hair is not going down the drain and I don't want it to look like there is a dead animal in the shower when I get in.  If you need to get all the hair out of your brush, empty it into the garbage! If you are just losing that much hair from showering, you should probably go see a doctor because something is wrong.