Seeing Chicago

Hey y'all!

This past weekend we took my dad to an outdoor theater to see one of his favorite bands, Chicago. It may not be my first pick of music but, I love spending time with my family. Since it was outdoors (in the Texas heat of summer I might add) I decided to keep it very light and breezy. This exact outfit has been my go-to all summer! I originally bought this plain shirt to sleep in but, (oops!) decided to make it into another comfy shirt to pair with pattern shorts! What can I say? I strive to make wearing pj's in public a thing.

Sunglasses / Earrings / Top / Necklace / Shorts (similar) / Shoes / Crossbody (similar)

Always with love, 

Sadie Lee

Becoming a Blonde Belle!

Hey y'all!

So I have been avoiding outfit post because, I did the unthinkable. I went blonde! I have wanted this for a long time and I kept telling myself that a dark hair brunette could not go blonde. I did a lot of research before I went in. I found pictures, watched videos on people who have done it, talked to friends about it, looked up salons, and read a ton of articles. My mom always said if I really want something, I know everything about it by the end of the day. She was right! A friend of mine recommended a salon in town. I am no profession. What worked for me may not work for you. This is just my hair journey.

A little background on my hair. I had a natural ombre look from sun and chlorine that made the ends of my hair seem blonde. I dyed the ends an auburn color to cancel out the blonde.

Here is the 1st process of dying my hair. I told my stylist I wanted an ashy blonde color with "grown out roots" because I didn't want to dye my eyebrows. Fair warning: There will be a yellow-orange color stage to it if you have any red pigment (natural or dyed) in your hair. Purple shampoo or a toner process will help but do your research!

I used the Matrix So Silver Shampoo every day until my next appointment (total of 5 days). I also tried the John Frieda Sheer Blonde Color Renew Shampoo. The Matrix seemed to dry my hair out more than the John Frieda. I used the Matrix Total Results Color Care Conditioner after each shampoo treatment. Then I would use the L'oreal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm deep conditioning every night before bed. My stylist suggested this because bleach does damage your hair and with my appointments less than a week apart I need the extra love and care. I left this in for 15-20 mins. I love this product so much and it definitely helped! This photo is taken the morning before my 2nd coloring. You can tell it is a little more golden than orange. 

Here is the 2nd process. The color was so much better after this appointment! I told her I wanted a more cool / neutral tone to it and not so many warm tones. I also wanted more blonde at the top and less brown roots. There are some orange-y tones where the recently dyed blonde is. She did a blonde light balayage with a ashy brown color. My salon did just get Olaplex in. This is made to protect your hair from serious breakage when going from dark to light. After the Olaplex treatment, all the stylist where coming over to feel my hair and take pictures. I think it turned out great! It blends really well and there is plenty of dimension to it. 

The dark roots blend into the blonde easily and allows me to not dye my eyebrows (big plus in my book)! I have always had the same haircut with the same brown tones. I just wanted to change it up. Again, this is just how my journey went. No hair is the same and always do your research before making any decisions. Now, let's see if blondes really do have more fun!

Always with love, 
Sadie Lee

Fitness Friday: 5 Things to Know Before You Run a Half Marathon

Hey y'all!

I have been running half marathons since 2009. I am no expert. I am not an elite. I am not super fast. I am a finisher. All that matters is I cross the finish line in an upright position and get free stuff. I run to collect medals, t-shirts, and free samples at every expo. I have learned a few things over the years. For starters, anyone can do it! I was in 8th grade when I ran my first half marathon (see throwback below!). When I was in 9th grade I slipped in the lobby of my natatorium and broke 5 pieces of my spine. It took me a year to make it back on my feet. Then the real challenges began. The doctors said running would be the worst thing because of the pounding movement it put on my back. To this day I still struggle with the pain but, it is something I've learned to deal with. I know my limitations and I know when it is not a good day to run. Over the years I have had some realizations about being a (half) marathoner!

2009

2015

1. It doesn't happen overnight.

You can not sign up for a half marathon and just wait until the week before to do a couple of 3 milers and expect to complete your half with flying colors. If you have figured out how to make that work - let me in on your secrets! For the rest of us who don't have super sonic muscles, it takes training. Training takes time and planning. My favorite marathon trainer is Hal Higdon! He has great 12-18 week plans.

2. You are going to be in pain at some point.

I have back pains all the time but, I also get knee pains from running. You need to take care of your body. I do yoga from the youtube channel "Yoga With Adriene" before and after every run. She has a great warmup and cool down sequence. It is very important to stretch to prevent even more pain.

3. There will always be someone faster and someone slower.

Don't get discouraged when someone passes you up in the race. Just focus on your race and finishing. That is the number one goal. You will also pass some people up. If you need a little motivation, try counting how many people you can pass in between the mile markers. The first 3-5 miles are so crowded because you all the leave the gate at the same time. Keep your concentration on your run, not those around you. HERE is some of my favorite running inspiration quotes to get me moving!

4. All you need to start is a pair of tennis shoes.

Trust me, I live for the stuff I can collect. But do you really need all the fancy gear when you start out? If you are running a half marathon I suggest investing in some good shoes made for running long distances. I just bought these Asics on sale! It is also best to go to a running store and get your feet analyzed to find the best fit. I have bought the wrong shoes before and ended up with major shine pain!

5. Getting out there is better than never going at all.

Start slow and go run/walk three times a week. Then move to four times a week. We all have bad runs. Just sleep it off and get up, get going again. I use a pre-workout energizer made by Vega that helps me get that extra boost of energy. It was created by a vegan triathlete, made for runners. (And no I am not vegan. I just had this specific energizer suggested to me by another blogger runner, Fit & Faithful). I mixed this in a smoothie 30 minutes before I run.

Like I said, I am no elite or expert. I run/walk all my runs. I am excited to say I have THREE runs coming up, including my FIRST full marathon!! I always run better when I have something to work towards! If you would like more fitness inspiration post, let me know!

Always with love,
Sadie Lee