Trending Now: The Dos and Don'ts of Sneakers

A while back, I published a "trend alert" about Wedge Sneakers. It soon became the blog’s most viewed post. Women of the world shouted hurray for comfort! Months later, the wedge sneaker is still a must-have accessory, perfect for the fast approaching fall weather. Recently however, I’ve been spotting a new version of the trend  *drum roll*  Ze Sneaker. I’m not talking Isabel Marant here, I’m talking Nike, Adidas... the classics! Many of you are thinking “Whoa, we were on board with the wedge, but gym shoes ain’t sexy!” I assure you ladies that once you’ve seen the following pics, you’ll be running out to get a pair.

 

Here are my dos and don’ts regarding sneaker wear:  1) Your gym shoes and your fashion statement should not be one and the same. Leave the sole support in your locker  2) Go for a thinner, sleeker shoe. They will pair up perfectly with a skinny jean  3) Don’t be shy to roll up your pants and show off a little ankle  4) Don’t rock a skirt with this look. Now’s the time to showcase your androgynous side and play up your femininity with simple pink lips, loose curls and full lashes  5) Don’t downgrade your accessories. Bring out your favourite oversized purse, manicured white nails, and sexy shades.

 

 

 

30 minutes: Wake Up!

So... I’m not proud of this... but I haven’t hit the gym since my trip to Europe. Not that I’m sitting at home stuffing my face with potato chips, but the gym has somehow gone from being a priority to “Meh, I’ve got friends to catch up with.” When a certain mother of mine took the time to write on PartyMixTape’s facebook page “I think that we are about due for a new selection of workout music... What with the sneaker theme and all? I find that music really keeps me going...” I have to admit, I felt a little sheepish... So here’s to getting my butt in gear and making time for ALL the priorities in my life! Time for some healthy-body-healthy-mind awesomeness!

Image via

 

Rock out to some of these hits & let me know which songs get you going!

 

Gangnam Style – PSY  (4.13)

Die Young – Ke$ha  (3.41)

One More Night – Maroon 5  (3.43)

Don’t Stop the Party – Pitbull ft. TJR  (3.28)

Trespassing – Adam Lambert  (3.20)

Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars (3.55)

I Cry – Flo Rida  (3.53)

Some Nights – FUN  (4.32)

 

 

30 minutes: Refresh!

For the last couple of days I’ve been hitting the gym sans iPod. Bad idea! Music truly does push you further (or at the very least, makes time go by faster). So replenish your iPod with thirty minutes worth of fresh hits! Happy workout! Check out our previous 30 minute mix by clicking HERE.

Eric Zener, Cusp, oil on canvas, 42 x 48 inches, 2010

Calvin Harris feat. Ne-Yo – Let's Go   4.12

Timbaland ft. Ne-Yo – Hands In the Air   4.08

David Guetta ft. Chris Brown, Lil Wayne – I Can Only Imagine   3.55

The Wanted – Chasing the Sun   3.16 (any song with an embarrassing amount of “oh-oh-ohs” is a good workout choice.)

Chris Brown – Don’t Wake Me Up   3.47

Flo Rida – Let it Roll   3.15

Calvin Harris ft. Example – We'll Be Coming Back   3.52

Usher – Scream   3.57

30 minutes: Push it

The Journal of Science and Medicine in Sports  found that triathletes ran nearly 20 percent longer when listening to music that matched their pace than those training in silence. (Those who know me just laughed out loud. Full disclosure: I’m in no way a triathlete!) But, hey, if upbeat music can enhance my *performance* at the gym, I’m listening (pun intended)! So pack your playlist with these new songs:

Will.i.am ft. Eva Simons – This is Love  4.57

Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull – Dance Again  4.27

Cheryl – Call my Name  4.29

Flo Rida – Whistle  3.46

Dragonette – Let it Go  3.34

Jay Sean ft. Pitbull – I’m All Yours  4.09

Rihanna – Where Have You Been 4.14

My idea of a workout (image via)

Have you seen our previous workout posts? What songs do you rock out to? 

30 minutes: Party On

30 minutes: Feel the Burn

30 minutes: Sweat it Out

30 minutes: First Edition

30 minutes - Feel the Burn

I just realized that I haven’t given you music to energize your workout this month! I’m on it! Tired of these songs yet? Rock out to these hits and feel the burn during your next cardio routine! (P.S. Seriously, I don’t know what’s gotten into me… some of these choices are freakishly girly. But hey, try them out, and let me know!)  

Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill you) 3.41 

LMFAO – Sorry for Party Rocking 3.23

Bob Sinclair featuring Pitbull & DragonFly – Rock the Boat 3.12

Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe 3.13

Katy Perry – Part of Me 3.35

Havana Brown – We Run the Night 3.38

Will.i.am featuring Jennifer Lopez & Mick Jaggar – T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) 4.47

Flo Rida featuring Sia – Wild One 3.57

30 minutes - Sweat it out!

Tired of these? Time to change it up, people! Discover (or rediscover) these new songs and add them to your next workout PartyMixTape:

LMFAO featuring Natalia Kills - Champagne Showers 5.02

Chris Brown - Turn Up The Music 3.50

Taio Cruz featuring Flo Rida – Hangover 4.49

Pitbull featuring Ne Yo - Give Me Everything 4.27

Bodyrockers - I like the way you move 3.21

Sasha Lopez - All My People 3.52

Pitbull featuring Akon - Shut It Down 3.47

David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj – Turn Me On 3.25

Happy gym-ing!

Interview with Karine Bassal

I met Montreal-based artist Karine Bassal in 2004, and attended her first exhibition three years later. I am the proud owner of a fantastic 20 x 20 inch painting, which depicts a close-up of a bright blue eye with lashes so lush and skin so velvety, it makes me envious. Painted in oil (and not air brushed as many believe), Karine’s paintings portray women who are strong, confident, and not afraid to look at you directly in the eye.  

1. Nat P. by Karine Bassal / 2. Best purchase: leopard heals! / 3. Loving Mark Rothko / 4. The best thing about MTL? The Jazz Festival / 5. Number one music choice: Janis Joplin / 6. Loving Andy Warhol / 7. Everyone needs a little black dress / 8. Gin and tonic with lime, please! / 9. MM byKarine Bassal

What best defines your style?   

I can't say that I am inspired by just one thing or current. Words come to mind: clean, fresh, sharp, crisp, intense, colourful, edgy... these could be use to describe my aesthetic. I love love love artists Andy Warhol and Mark Rothko. As far as personal style, being the mother of an active two year old, I don't feel like I have much of a fashion style these days. But I used to be a bohemian/hippy/rocker-chick all rolled into one!

Karine Bassal, Madonna, oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches (SOLD)

Photograph taken by Christine Guérette, Dimension Plus    

Your husband is a musician. Which are your top three songs?

My all-time-favourites-no-matter-what are anything by Janis Joplin, Tori Amos and Rush (Sam Roberts and Led Zeppelin would be numbers 4 and 5... I'm just sayin'). I love these singers/bands because they are classics that I will never get sick of listening to. They make me feel the most like myself! However, when I’m running on the treadmill, my right-now-favourite-songs-but-I-doubt-I'll-be-listening-to-them-20-years-from-now are "Good Feeling" by Flo Rida, "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO and "Moves like Jagger" by Maroon 5.

What is your morning ritual? 

Cheesy but true... my favourite morning ritual is rocking with my son Louka while he drinks his milk and we read books for a half hour. It's a relaxed and snugly way to wake-up and ease into the day before the craziness starts.

What’s the best thing about living in Montreal?

That’s easy: the Jazz Fest. You get awesome shows for free and great people watching guaranteed!

Karine Bassal, La muse (sepia), oil on canvas, 30 x 60 inches (SOLD)

For special orders, please follow the links: Karine Bassal and/or Dimension Plus.

What’s the best fashion-related purchase you have ever made?

My little black strapless dress from Bedo and my 4-inch leopard heels. Oh, and earrings.  Earrings can make you look good with very minimal effort!

Any favourite quotes?  

Gin and tonic with lime, please! (laughs) I’ll go with "In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take, the relationships we were afraid to have and the decisions we waited too long to make..." These are words I live by.

Photograph taken by The Village Gallery

30 minutes

On facebook, I have a really fun group named – wait for it – PartyMixTape (!) which deals exclusively with music. A popular request: How do I energize my playlist to maximize my workout?

Here’s your next thirty minutes of cardio: 

Kelly Rowland - Commander ft. David Guetta    3.42
Snoop Dogg - 'Sweat' Snoop Dogg vs David Guetta (Remix)  3.16
Laurent Wery feat. Swift K.I.D & Dev - Hey Hey Hey  3.04
Pitbull - Rain Over Me ft. Marc Anthony   3.54
Wolfgang Gartner feat. will.i.am - Forever   3.49
Cobra Starship: You Make Me Feel... ft. Sabi   3.35
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett   4.23
Dev - In the Dark   3.45
Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger ft. Christina Aguilera   3.22

Happy workout!

Life according to my iPod

‘Tis the season for New Year resolutions.  I am one of those rare people who actually enjoy committing to their resolutions. Eye roll. But it’s true. This year, I plan on keeping up with the gym (…), drinking more water (I bought the funniest moustache glass from Urban Outfitters to keep me motivated), enjoying winter (my first attempt), and staying up to date with the Montreal art scene, international party music, fashion and so on (hence this blog to keep me accountable).

Here are a few of the songs playing in my iPod as I attempt to do all of this:

Pitbull featuring Chris Brown - International Love 

Ian Carey featuring Snoop Dogg and Bobby Anthony - Last Night

Enrique Iglesias – I Like How it Feels

LMFAO – Sexy and I Know it

David Guetta, featuring Usher – Without You