What Lies Underneath

I like to be prepared and when it comes to style I am a huge stickler for wearing the proper undergarments: wear nude under white and racer-back everything get their own special bras. I always, ALWAYS have issues when it comes to activewear and the proper undies. I'm not huge fan of panty lines and going commando isn't always the answer... let alone always a good idea. This might seem like a huge "DUH" but I will admit that until recently I was too lazy to do the research. Since getting back into soccer recently I feel renewed in my quest. I'd like to be able to play without my undies hiking up every 10 minutes. When I griped to a friend they said, "well I'm sure that happens to everybody", sure... but I don't think it HAS to.
This weekend I went to my favorite sports mecca, Paragon, and decided to see what they offered in the "seamless" underwear department. I specifically went there looking for Under Armour's seamless undies because I love UA, but no dice, (I really have to stress that my attention span is about 1 min., so my apologies to Paragon if they in-fact carry UA seamless undies and I just didn't look hard enough).
I went with Champion instead. I like Champion because it's pretty good quality and always a great price. I tend to be a conservative dresser so I like that I can depend on them for solids/basics.
I decided to try out two styles, the fitness boy-short and the fitness hipster panty, both in Medium, (they come in fun colors!).

I wore the boy-shorts this Sunday and my initial reaction when putting them on was how incredibly comfortable they were - I could wear them erryday, everyday. I have never been a fan of the boy-short cut in regular cotton panties but in their nylon/spandex blend it's perfect. My second thought was that I should have gotten them in a Small. The four-way stress is very generous and I would have liked them a bit more snug. I will definitely exchange the hipster for a Small.
Did they solve the "hiking" issue, no, but it was a huge improvement. I really think that had I gotten an "S"it would have been much, much better. But those weren't the only issues. They are so soft and stretchy, but almost too much. I appreciate the fact that they are seamless, tag-less, and that they don't dig or suffocate but I would like a little more grip at the waistband and the leg-opening. I found the waistband to be too high, especially considering the four-way stretch, and the inseam to be too short, 1 3/4". Another 1" would make a difference. Otherwise, it really delivered on the wicking, "flexible feel-good" fit. Heavenly Cloud Comfortable.
What I should, (and will get) is their "Power Cotton" boy-short which has the features I'm looking for; lower waistband and a 3" inseam. Since I'm already happy with the silhouette of the "fitness", this is a no-brainer.

Check them out below:

Fitness hipster: http://www.championusa.com/workout-clothes/women/performance-underwear/champion-fitness-hipster-seamless-womens-panty?cm_vc=PDPZ1

Fitness boy-short: http://www.championusa.com/workout-clothes/women/performance-underwear/champion-fitness-womens-boy-short-panty?cm_vc=PDPZ1

Power cotton boy-short: http://www.championusa.com/workout-clothes/women/shorts---skirts/shorts/champion-double-dry-reg%3B-fitted-3-stretch-cotton-low-rise-boy-shorts?cm_vc=PDPZ1

First Order of Business

Surfing. Here is the irony of this situation. I am originally from the Caribbean, a beautiful island with decent waves; a childhood of living outdoors. Except for a very, very brief and futile attempt in high school I have never really thought about learning how to surf nor did I really want to.
Fast forward many years and many beautiful oceans later I decide that, "yea, let's learn to surf at Rockaway Beach, Queens" - perfect; cold murky waters, suspicious floating... things, and that lovely, occasional, ever-refreshing dead-muscles scent in the air. To be fair it's not that bad, and not as bad as the Hudson River which is exactly as bad as you think it is, (see future post about Stand Up Paddleboarding).

Prior to getting stoked,  (I'm not even going to pretend like I sound cool saying ANY of the lingo and I don't even ask about the "shaka", because I just had to google it,  just now: "surfing hand gestures").
I took a week and watched every YouTube video on surfing available to me, slowwly working up to the inevitable... "worst surfing wipeouts" - which, let me tell you, was awful. I think its actually pretty amazing, the force and power of those waves. I understand the poetry behind it, between man and wave. It feels alive, it is alive, this massive ocean body and yet it feels so personal. I was there last weekend for this first time sans-lesson, just me in the masses of other surfers and it's almost cultish. We all face the same direction in a scattered little wall, just waiting for offerings. It's quiet and peaceful and kinda magical. Not to mention it's cold, it's October but it's cool 'cause we have wetsuits - what about November? No issue, thicker wetsuit + booties. December? There're hoods for that - god forbid one gets surfer's ear. Don't know what surfer's ear is - look it up, go edumacate yourself. Actually, I don't even know if anyone will paddle in December, I probably would just to say I did. Yet tomorrow I will awake at the crack of dawn and shuttle myself over the A line, the free shuttle, and the A again, and do it all over. When people say "I've caught the surfing bug" - it's so true. I am such a super novice it's not even funny. There's an aggressive competitiveness inside me that doesn't understand why I'm not pro yet but I'm trying to enjoy the process and be patient and look at it as a lifetime investment.

Pics and Deets!

Ok, so I took weekend group lessons with Skudin Surf, (http://skudinsurf.com/), five in total. This is not the only surf school at 67th Rockaway but I really enjoyed it. They are pretty organized and the instructors are great. They provide boards and rash guards, very easy. Just note that they teach you the basics. After a few lessons I asked more questions about how to spot a wave and catch it - think that sounds stupid and obvious, you do it - I also did my own research on YouTube, because YouTube has the answers to everything. I wish they had at least touched base on surfing etiquette. OH! to the experienced surfers, I feel no sympathy for your frustration over lost waves - you've surfed this beach before, you know there are surf schools, you know what the surf students look like. AND to the swimmers that ONE day - I can't believe you people had the nerve to look incredulously bewildered at US - literally swimming amongst 10 students - this is not a swimmers beach, clearly, as you are the only ones swimming. It was dangerous for all, is what I'm trying to say, safety first. I digress...

Oh by the by, it is nothing like snowboarding, so, just, no. Go get 'em!

Post-o Numero Uno

I treat each birthday as kind of a New Year, a fresh start. I look back and evaluate the past year and try to set some goals for the one to come. Reading more... well reading period, (I'm not a huge reader), eating healthier, exercising consistently, the usual. This year, it just happens that I was let go before my birthday, giving me... well, time. Now don't get me wrong, I'm actively looking for a job and still freelancing here and there, (thankfully). But it's giving me time to reset my life and my routine - something I had lost touch with since college. I'm deciding to do something about it, (hence this blog). 

I've always been active as a kid and and played sports, but once I moved to New York for school that all kinda fizzled away. My priorities shifted to school and work and that part of me died a little, (how dramatic). It wasn't until recently that I realized how much I missed being active and how happy it made me. So this years' goal was to reconnect with that part of me. To get out there, get over my fears and anxieties, and just do it.

This blog is about my adventures, brand-crushes, music, and everything in-between brought to you by lazy cat.