#ONEPERFECTWEEK X TOTALSPORTS

This is one for my fit ladies! I have been so excited about this giveaway for weeks and finally we get to do this!

So many of my readers joined me in my 50 days of exercise a while back and it meant the world to me to have the support. Summer is here now and it is also party/wedding/year-end season. And cocktails season. And ice cream season. And also the season that new places open in Cape Town that you absolutely MUST try. So keeping things tight for the beach are not always easy. But life is about balance and if you can keep your cheat meals for the weekend you'll be just fine.

On that note, this giveaway. It is perfect to motivate you to get to the gym or onto the promenade because you'll want to show off this gorgeous gear. Totalsports have given me R2500 worth of their amazing range to share with one lucky reader. If you haven't seen their online store yet, go and have a look. Their in-house brand, called TS, is affordable without skimping on quality and great design. Since they launched I've bought a few of the tights because i love the pretty patterns, quality and also that they used their brains when designing pockets and zips, and realised that my iPhone is not the size of a matchbox (I'm looking at you every other brand out there!). See there TS range online HERE. 

Because this is a giveaway designed to help get you into shape, we're not doing a little tweet-and-go number here. We're going to work. Together. For a week.

The challenge is called #oneperfectweek which you may have seen on Instagram. The idea is to commit to 6 days of clean eating - no alcohol, no sugar, no nasties. Just good, clean, fresh food. Ideally no caffeine either but I'll stick to that part loosely and do decaf as much as I can - just not that first cup. Never the first cup.  Oh, and don't forget to drink loads of water. The Kayla's Army folks do all 7 days of clean eating, and you are more than welcome to - but I am a realist. 6 days of being on your best behaviour is a damn perfect week to me. Hello? Wine Sundays!
Then you need to commit to 6 days of training too. I am going to break it down as follows: 2 days with my rather fabulous personal trainer Torie Alexandra (follow her blog for inspiration on food and being hot in general), then I am going to get back into running (le sigh. arg. oh dear) and do that 3 days this week. I use the PUMATrac app for this - it really helps with logging km's and seeing how I'm improving. And they make you sign a commitment to yourself via the app and that helps too. No one wants to lie to Usain Bolt.
Then I'll be doing a SWEAT class on Saturday to round out the week.

What you need to do to win is join me. Follow me and Totalsports on Instagram or Twitter, and on either social platform commit to #oneperfectweek. Then between now and Sunday, tag me in a picture of you exercising, or a shot of your healthy meal and please use the hashtag #TotalsportsOnline. For every day you tag me, you get an extra entry - with a maximum of 6 entries obviously. Winner will be drawn on Monday next week.

So here's a breakdown of the prize: 3 pairs of tights in the amazing prints in the picture below - 2 are long length one one pair is capri length. 2 vests, one burnout style and the other with mesh detail (they are soooo pretty), 1 long sleeve top with open back. Sexy for a little yoga or just looking hot at gym in general. Then we've got some gym gloves and a jump rope for you Kayla BBG girls.
So it is the perfect little starter kit for looking damn fine while getting damn fine.

Get cracking ladies, today we begin!

Disclaimer: Open to SA residents only. We will obviously endeavour to send the exact items featured, however items might sell out so if that is the case we will send the winner an item (of clothing) of the same value if the one featured has been sold out. 

fun, fresh and fit - #nomatterwhat

I've been working with PUMA for a while now and I am so lucky to have them. It was their latest launch that got my jiggly butt back to gym and my beloved SWEAT1000 classes again. I left feeling inspired and motivated to work even harder for my Bali trip, but also for summer and my general wellbeing.
Two things that have helped me along the way are the new app, and the new training shoes. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat, you'll have seen these babies quite a bit. They are so perfect for what I need right now. You see, your average SWEAT1000 class involves a fair amount of running, as well as weight training. They mix it up constantly, so some days you walk in and are handed boxing gloves, while other days there are trampolines waiting for you. Hence my gym shoes need cushioning and stability. And like the name says, its a SWEAT class, so shoes that have maximum breathability is a must.
Lastly, they are niceto look at too. I love the teal and neon yellow colours and the woven air mesh makes for a pretty, sleek design.

PUMA have partnered with some amazing international athletes on their Forever Faster fitness campaign which asks the question, "what are you training for?". The PUMATRAC app helps you make a commitment and stick to it, whether its running, cycling or hitting the gym. It helps with the motivation part - adding some positivity and energy into the mix. And I love the #nomatterwhat thing they've got going on. It encourages a community for those committed to their fitness.

And since summer is just around the corner, why not give the app a try? I use it for running mostly. It is really easy to download and use. I even had to sign a commitment to my fitness. Now that my 50 days of exercise are over, I am worried about slacking off and being disappointed come December. So I'll be using the app to keep this chicken in check.

The Ignite XT trainers retail for R1299 at all PUMA stores - go try them on. You'll fall in love.

Alternative NYC

In May we spent a wonderful week in New York City. It was our second time visiting and it was so great to get a chance to do things that were off the beaten path and not necessarily on the usual tourist lists. No long queues, no bustling attractions. We got to try some amazing food, see the city as a local would and just absorb and enjoy the amazing energy.

Here are some things that we did that I recommend you try out on a visit to NYC, which are alternatives to the regular tourist attractions.

While I highly recommend seeing a show on Broadway, I also strongly suggest seeing some interactive theatre like Sleep No More. It is based on Macbeth, set in the prohibition era and the location is the eerie Mckittrick Hotel in Soho. Grab an absinthe cocktail to give you some liquid courage and chase actors up and down staircases, and in and out of scene in graveyards and ballrooms. Warning: a fair amount of nudity and intense situations - but entirely worth opening your mind and experiencing the New York theatre scene at its best.

Gotham Comedy Club was a great discovery. You get to see some amazing comics and writers at work. We left with aching jaws and bellies from laughing so hard. We saw the Late Night Writers Review which featured the top writers from a few of the Late Night shows. These guys and girls write and work with the likes of Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, Seth Myers and one of them was newly appointed at our own Trevor Noah's new gig!

Grab a bike near South Street Seaport and bike across Brooklyn bridge. The bike lane is less crowded than the pedestrian side, and you get across quicker. The bridge is much longer than you'd think. We did about 4 hours and would our way through Brooklyn Heights, to along the waterfront and all the way back to Williamsburg for the SmorgasBurg food market. If you love queuing for food, by all means, stay here - but I really can;t handle the idea of a 45 minute queue for a burger on a bed of noodles, so head back to South Street Seaport where they have a couple of the most popular stands at Smorgasbord, with hardly any queue. There you can sample the famous lobster rolls and ramen burgers and craft beer to your hearts content without it taking 3 hours of precious NYC sightseeing time.

Pack your running gear and go for a trot through Central Park. This was a highlight for us this time and we tried to at least walk through the park daily. Stop in at Whole Foods on Columbus Circle and buy a few things to make up a picnic. It'll be one of the most romantic and beautiful afternoons you could spend in New York.

Many folks go to the Metropolitan Museum for the art and fantastic exhibits. I went for the bookstore - and one section of the bookstore in particular. The fashion section. They have the largest collection of books on fashion that I've ever seen and I spent a god two hours looking at them. If you love fashion and its history, I highly recommend you spend some time here.

Find a rooftop bar and go have a drink. You won't find a more beautiful cityscape to watch, and nothing will make you feel as cool as a drink on a rooftop bar in New York City will. We loved the one at our hotel - Hudson Hotel.

Head on down to Union Squre and peruse the farmers market and watch the people playing intense games of chess. It makes for a relaxing afternoon in a busy city. You'll sample some amazing food and coffee too!

Check out the Highline urban park. It is an old subway/train line that has been converted into an inner-city park. It is lined with beautiful gardens, art installations and beautiful places to sit and read, or just enjoy watching the people, the gardens or the surrounding cityscape. Blue Bottle coffee has a mobile stand in the park so you're even able to get some of the best coffee in NYC while you're there.

One thing we wanted to do, but sadly did't get around to, is get a caricature drawn in Central Park. It is super cheesy, but I'd love to have one of the two of us on our wall at home. What we did enjoy doing was watch a baseball game while inhaling pretzels and ice cream. They have a double peanut butter Magnum flavour in the states and it is everything you ever wanted out of an ice cream.

Get on the train to Coney Island. As a Capetonian, I wasn't impressed by the beach. Its hideous actually. But the boardwalk, the theme parks and them park food made it great for a half-day trip out of the city.

Lastly, go and people watch in Washington Square Park. There is always some kind of live music or art exhibit to go and enjoy. We found one where they invited passers by to submit a secret anonymously and they had some posted on a wall to read. I was completely absorbed by it. I could have read those secrets for days. Stumptown Coffee is right around the corner so you can pick up the best cappuccino in New York on your way to the park. People watching is always best accompanied by caffeine and pastries.

Writing this makes me want to go back and do it all again. If you've been, what were your favourite things to do in New York City?