In Spades

Style... in abundance

Peloton Review: Is it Worth it?

Peloton ReviewNope.  No fancy pic of me and my Peloton. This is a fashion blog. The best you’ll get is my street style fitness shoot with Photography Yours and Mine

Okay, I know what you’re thinking.  This is a fashion blog.  Why in the world am I talking about fitness?

At the beginning of the year I shared my 2020 goals with you.  One of them was to wake up early to exercise.

I started the BBG program twice in 2020 and after 3 months of actually staying consistent, it became too repetitive and too difficult for me.  It was also competing with our newest purchase, a Peloton.  The Peloton clearly won and while there are tons of reviews out there, I want to share my thoughts with you.

First, my backstory

I loathe working out.  I’m not good at it, I run out of steam VERY quickly and I’m simply just not that motivated.  My dream is to have a dancer’s body (so strong!) but I will never, ever, ever have one.  I eat carbs.  And chocolate.  And drink wine.  And not just as “special occasion treats.”

So I want you to understand that this review is coming from a woman who is not very fit, not very motivated and extremely mediocre when it comes to athletic ability.

When I started using the Peloton it was HARD.  And it’s still hard.

But I’ve used it every single day since it was delivered.  And I’m HOOKED.

Pros 

Convenience
No more commuting in traffic, parking, signing-in, waiting for class to start. I was never huge on in-person classes anyway.  The best part of doing an in-person workout, for me, was getting to have coffee with my friends afterwards.

Variety
There are TONS of classes in the Peloton app.  It’s not just cycling. They have yoga, meditation, dance, etc. Plus, you can select workouts as short as 5min all the way up to 90min.  There are tons of musical genres too.  When I work out, it’s ALL about the music so this is key for me.

Camaraderie and Motivation
Peloton is truly one of the most supportive communities I’ve experienced. You can “high five” people and see the leaderboard of where you stand in the pack. I find this to be incredibly motivating.

During an in-person class when I would see people killing it on the bike next to me while I huffed and puffed like I was dying, it made me feel like crap.  Now when I see names on the leaderboard in my same rank, I high five them and really strive to keep up with them.  It’s enjoyable, not de-motivating.

Your calories, miles ridden and consistency are tracked and you earn badges for accomplishments. This isn’t something I’ve found in any other workout class.  It really pushes me to the next level to see my progress.

Cons

The cost.
A $2500 bike plus $40/month for the app is a significant investment. But we’ve already broken even based on how much we’ve used it. (Comparing the cost of a cycling class in San Diego to the number of rides we’ve done on the Peloton)  

Favorite Instructors

Robyn Arzon and Cody Rigsby.

Robyn spontaneously laughs throughout rides and it’s lovely and genuine and just endears you to her.  Plus she has a knack for motivating you in a really friendly, “I believe in you!” way.  Absolutely no pushy, tough-love here.  Robyn is all love.

I wish Cody were my real life BFF.  I just did an 80s ride with him and he gave the entire ride a plot – shopping at the mall with your girlfriends.  There were so many spot-on references I was not only cracking up laughing but I was SO sad when it was over.  I truly felt transported to another time.

What about the people who have a Peloton and dislike it?

Besides knowing we were not going to step foot in a gym again in 2020 (coronavirus), we pulled the trigger on the Peloton because of the many friends who gave us rave reviews.

I do, however, have one friend who dislikes it.

She said the number one reason for her not liking it is because she thrives on the energy and camaraderie from an in-person class.  She wants to feel the energy from the person cycling next to her.  That was not replicated for her in the Peloton and she told me she is going to return hers.

Final Thoughts if You’re Still on the Fence

I’ll be honest.  Had we purchased the Peloton when life was normal I don’t know if I’d be this dedicated.  Because of the coronavirus, it has become my savior.  The Peloton has truly changed my life.

Since the gym is closed (and I’m not personally comfortable going back until our world has stabilized), I need to have an exercise outlet at home.  This is not just about physical health, but mental health as well.

When I started, I did 20-minute rides for the first 2.5 weeks.  But starting in week 3, I felt my endurance go up a notch and now do 30min rides.  I know I could easily do a 45-minute ride now, but 30 minutes is my preferred workout.

The quality of the bike is superb.  It’s very substantial and the video screen is high definition giving you a “I feel like I’m there” vibe.

If you have any questions about the Peloton, please comment or email me!  This is honestly the best purchased we’ve made all year and probably EVER!

Life Lately

Our world is changing.  I spent the past week listening, learning, researching and absorbing as much information as I could.  It was eye opening and emotional.  The great thing about education and listening is that it’s a life-long journey.  It never stops.  While I will continue to communicate here and on social through my love language, fashion, please know that civil rights, equality for ALL, and kindness have been and will continue to be of utmost importance to me.  My view of the future remains bright.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the stories we tell.  Do your clothes tell a story?  Mine certainly do.  As a collector, the inspiration for a piece is so fascinating to me.  Everything in my closet has a backstory; a visceral memory.  In a way, it’s like a tangible diary.  As Bill Cunningham said, “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.”

Here are some new stories I’ve discovered.  They each have their own unique message and super stylish products.

Recent Discoveries

Pangaia

I recently discovered this brand and am in love with their commitment to sustainability.  Created by a team of scientists, technologists and designers, they use bio-based, recycled fibers and natural botanical dyes to make their clothing.

The meaning of their name is a combo of “Pan” (all-inclusive, especially in relation to the whole of a continent, racial group or religion
) and “Gaia” (Mother Earth).

I just ordered this cropped t-shirt and this basic t-shirt in orchid purple, flamingo pink and jade green.  They are launching an ocean blue collection of tees, shorts and hoodies that drops tomorrow at 10am PT.

Year & Day

This ceramics company has a minimalist and modern aesthetic that I adore.  A friend gifted me this candle in Daybreak and I loved it so much, I burned through it in less than a month.  Once you use the candle, the ceramic pot can be used as a flower vase, coffee mug, pencil holder, you name it!  I just ordered Midnight for a smokey scent reminiscent to summer bonfires.

Ciate London Nail Cheat Sheets

How fun are these nail cheat sheets?  The protection eyes sold me, but the geometric shapes and leopard print spots are so fun too.  I will definitely be rocking these the minute they arrive!

Target Designer Collaboration June 2020

If you missed the launch day of Target’s new designer collaboration, there is still time to snag some amazing summer dresses from 3 fabulous designers.  I bought this cotton dress in white (I own the main line version in black) and love the neon color-blocking of this slip dress.  Check out this puff sleeve tiered dress for something that can easily be dressed up or down.

6th Blog Anniversary: Things I’m Afraid to Tell You

6th Blog AnniversaryWhile going through old files, my husband stumbled upon a video from 2009.

It was filmed on his handycam and showed me, in full hair and makeup, preparing for a photoshoot.  He catches me looking in the mirror and I lament to him that I don’t feel like shooting anymore.  I ask him to “turn the camera off”.

What I had envisioned for that shoot clearly wasn’t coming to fruition.  So I got frustrated and gave up.

There would be several stops and starts like this… for years.  I didn’t actually start In Spades until 2013.  And even once I did, I told no one about it for 6 months.  6 months!

Because I didn’t “reveal” myself to the blogging world until 6 months after launching, I consider May to be my blog anniversary month.  So…

Happy 6th Anniversary, In Spades!

I’ll be honest.  Each anniversary is different.  Some came and went without me even remembering.  Others were celebrated.

Here’s what I’ve learned after all these years

1. Just start.  Complete but imperfect will ALWAYS trump incomplete but perfect.  I wanted to start a blog 5 years before I actually did!  I waited 5 years to do something that brings me so much joy simply because I was scared it wouldn’t be perfect. Perfect doesn’t exist!

2. Be consistent.  This was another very difficult lesson for me to learn.  Prior to having a child, I averaged only 1 blog post per week and would only shoot 1 outfit at a time.  Now that I have a child (and am infinitely busier), I average 3 blog posts per week and shoot up to 8 outfits at a time.  I look back on how inefficient I was and can’t help but laugh.  I don’t know what it is, but it took me having a child (and being zapped of free time) to make me realize efficiency and consistency are paramount.  I no longer have time to hem and haw about how and when to do something.  I just have to DO IT or it won’t ever get done.

I love this quote about consistency and use it as my mantra:

“If only people understood how important it is to be consistent.  Everything that has value in life is a product of consistency.  Success, health, fitness, wealth, friendships, relationships, and all other aspirations are all about consistency.”

3. It takes a while to find your niche.  And that’s okay.  Some people go through life knowing exactly who they are and what they want and implement it to the “T”.  I am not one of those people.  My Fashion Friday series didn’t get developed until last year and it’s the piece that most perfectly envelopes my niche.

Fashion Friday really is who I am as a blogger – someone who cares deeply about brand history, the business of fashion, and the extreme importance of individual style.

4. Hone in on your true motivation.  I will be honest.  When I started In Spades, I fully aspired to be the next Chriselle Lim.  I had such a powerful belief that I would be a powerhouse, top 1% blogger.  Years of inconsistency and struggling to find my niche proved this was not going to be the case.

Sometimes I mourn this.  I think about what could have been.  What I thought would be.  Every time I see Chriselle sit front row at Paris Fashion Week and get massive deliveries of yet-to-be-released Givenchy my heart aches a little.

But then I think back to my true motivation.  Why did I start In Spades?  Interestingly, it was never about making money.  It was never about fame.

It was about communicating a love for an industry I deeply, deeply respect.  I have always felt fashion is the highest art form.  I’m motivated by what clothes teach us.  What they can achieve.  How they can transcend reality.  Clothing truly is transformative.

My motivation is to educate.  If I look at my end goal for In Spades, it’s that one day I will be able to call the fashion industry heavy hitters my peers.

The Moral of the Story

This quote by Ira Glass perfectly describes the old video that my husband found.  I’ve lived this quote.  I’m still living it.  Each post, each shoot, gets me closer to figuring out who I am as a creator.  It’s a never-ending journey.

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

Thank you to all who have followed along on this journey.  Your support truly means the world to me.

Life Lately

Janessa Leone Siro

Last month I shared a post about my life, lately.  It’s been one of my most popular posts of 2020 so I thought I would make it a monthly series.  This unprecedented time of coronavirus has definitely shifted my routines, priorities and attention.  Here is what I’ve been loving lately.

Binge-Worthy Shows

I thought I would start Tiger King, Cheer or Schitt’s Creek, but what has captured my attention of late is The Amazing Race.

It’s one of the only reality shows I enjoy, and although I’ve seen every season, it’s been awesome to go back and re-watch my favorites.

Here’s why.

I love to travel.  Since it’s going to be a long time before I can indulge my travel bug, The Amazing Race is the perfect solution.  I get to revisit my favorite cities and see parts of the world I’ve never visited.  The show does a great job of incorporating local customs and off-the-beaten-path venues.  My husband and I have been analyzing each episode to determine how well we’d do if we were on the race, haha!

Workouts

Last month I talked about my journey with BBG (the Bikini Body Guide).  In addition to these 30min circuit workouts I can do from my phone, we also invested in a Peloton.

I’ll be the first to say it’s a significant investment.  We do not plan on flying anywhere for the rest of 2020, nor do we plan on going back to the gym, so we decided to invest the money we would have spent on those things into a Peloton.

Has it been worth it?

1000%.  I can honestly say this is one of THE BEST investments we’ve ever made.  My husband and I have both ridden the bike every single day since we got it.  You can choose between cycling classes ranging from only 5min up to 45min.  They have low impact, HIIT, rides with arm intervals, and every musical genre you can imagine.  I love having the camaraderie of a group class from the instructors (my favorites are Robyn Arzon and Cody Rigsby).

I seriously don’t ever plan to return to a normal class unless I get to see friends and meet for brunch afterward!

Fashion

Now that the weather is warming up, I’m spending more time in shorts.  I wrote a review on my favorite denim cutoffs and they have all been on constant rotation.  From high waisted with a longer inseam, to the coziest pair ever, there’s a pair for every summer activity.

Straw hats are another must-have for me right now.  I just picked up this one and it’s a dream.  A true gardener’s hat (TONS of coverage) but elevated and stylish.

Sandals are the last must-have in my summer arsenal, and I’m all about the platform.  I desperately want these, but think I may try these instead because they’re on sale for $70.

Shop my Summer Favorites
Life Lately

Two-plus months into quarantine life and things are starting to shift a little.  I went to a coffee shop for the first time to grab an iced coffee to go and it felt so indulgent and lovely.

We also made the decision to utilize outside childcare, something we haven’t done since quarantine started (hello, grandma and grandpa’s house).  Having time to catch up on chores, do a long workout, and sit at my computer uninterrupted felt so foreign – it was amazing.

As we move forward into the new normal, I’m discovering new things that I consider must-haves (journaling, time to exercise).  Slowing down has made me more reflective of all the blessings in my life.  I hope you are doing well and staying safe!