My #HealthyCity is Chicago. But I work out at LA.

I am all about 1) my city 2) being fit.

So when I was asked to participate with SELF Magazine in exposing my #HealthyCity secrets, I was all:

So, time to spill. Everyone knows how much I love a good Nike Training Center session, but my ultra-beloved gym is LA Boxing. I beat the crap out of the bag, sweat like a badass and relieve stress in a way unparalleled by any other workout.

My go-to spot is in South Loop, but I've experienced many other locations. PS: They are all over the nation! I can truthfully say that the LA Boxing instructors are consistently awesome but don't worry, you'll learn to hate them while they're teaching. Those intense workout helped me lose lbs and tone my (#worsttroublearea!) arms like nothing else. I'll take the pain and sweat, thank you very much.

^ NOT YOU after your workout at LA Boxing.

You don't just burn 800-1,000 calories per hour smelling daisies. However, I am also a big fan of long, outdoor power walks, too.

Find your nearest LA Boxing here and be sure to check out SELF Magazine for the 2012 round of the Best Cities for Women. Share your tips & tricks with me here & on twitter too!
@jessundressed: #HealthyCity

See you at the punching bag, pretty.

xoJP

Douek and Jones. Naturally Delicious.

Sometimes you discover a new fashion line and you dig it. Then there is that whole love-at-first-sight thing. Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce to you my newest obsession, straight out of LaLa Land.

Enter the Douek and Jones line: a women's wear collection made with natural leathers, suedes, shearlings, cashmeres and silks. The pieces are sexy yet smart, eccentric while cool and always feature vibrantly clean, statement-making lines. It is luxurious. And amazing.

What really tickles my fancy about Douek and Jones?

The pieces are just as everyday wearable as they are elegant. I love nothing more than rocking a hot number while simultaneously reveling in its comfort. Hooray Douek and Jones!

On the destined day we met at her trunk show in Chicago, the London-native Nina Morgan-Jones showed me around and I took an immediate liking to her. She has a warm, inviting presence and a passion for her work that is obvious and refreshing.  

Note: Time stopped in the middle of our meeting as fringe caught my eye...#FRINGEfantasy

Douek and Jones, where femininity meets Mother Nature…and Vogue. (And the divas all get along SO well.) 

Get yours by visiting one of the Appointment Only showrooms in Hancock Park, Los Angeles or Laguna Beach. Just contact Nina at nmj@douekjones.com to schedule an appointment and for your nearest stockist. 

You’ll be glad you did my little style saint.

XOJP

Jessundressed. Reporting live. HIKE!

Reporting back! 

Friday, Sept. 21, I had the honor of being Guest Blogger Reporter for The Printed Blog-sponsored event, Robert Mackey’s VIPs for Sickle Cell Awareness. This was one seriously rewarding rendezvous. The experience served up king-size deliciousness with divine company.

The schpiel: 

Robert L. Mackey, former NFL linebacker is all about gaining awareness for Sickle-Cell Anemia and benefiting SCDAI-Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois.

Sweet guy, right? You ain’t heard nothin’ yet.

This South Carolina-born talent is also the heartfelt founder of the Lydia W. Smith Foundation. Named in honor of his beloved mother who has been living with the disease for 18 years, the foundation’s purpose is to provide financial relief to carriers and provide awareness.

Altogether, the cause is great and the party was too.

I crept up the stairs of The Conrad Hotel and caught glimpse of what looked like an open call for Big & Tall male models. After recalling this celebration was supported by the Retired Professional Football Players of Chicago Chapter & National Basketball Retired Players Association Chicago Chapter—I knew I was in the right place.

Big as they may have been, their hearts were equal in size. 

Here are former NFL’ers and I making a 
Marc May - Jess - Ron Cheatham sandwich. 

Yum!

As DJ Love Jones bumped beats and Avion Tequila cocktails frequently flowed, new friends were made, but not without celebrating the old. (Poet much?)

Robert took a sentimental moment to explain how 18 years ago, his mom was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease & given 7 years to live. Her doctor advised that if she made it past those 7, she wouldn't live to see 50. 

She's 56 years old now. 

In the name of Robert’s family, the gold-hearted big guys of the NFL & NBA and to heightening awareness of the often unfamiliar Sickle Cell Disease: Cheers. 

For more information on the Lydia W. Smith Foundation & upcoming opportunities where you can make a difference, visit www.lydiawsmithfoundation.org.

TOUCHDOWN!  XOJP

Extra love to:

The Printed Blog 

and Joseph Schiappa of 
Creative Entertainment Media Group/
Christopher Foltz & Company

Staying Olympically Flippin’ Fit with NIKE

When my CheekyChicago girls and I worked out with Olympian Gymnast Shawn Johnson (left) at the #MakeTheRules event, I had an awesome time, especially trying to show her up at her own game. It was seriously invigorating.

CUT TO:

A few weeks later. Jessundressed, NIKE and Lady FootLocker teamed up for some more a$$ kickin’ at the NikeFuelHouse in Lincoln Park. We started off with a cardio NIKE Training Club workout then rocked the Shawn Johnson NIKE+ Drill Pack.

WOAH. What’s a NIKE+ Drill Pack???

...It is a customized set of short exercises an athlete does to stay Gold Medal amazing.

(Foreal in Miss Johnson’s case. Truly HOLLER-worthy. SO love her…)

Anyways, LeBron, Manny Pacquiao, Hope Solo and many more have customized NIKE+ Drill Packs too, if you want to see how you stack up to their superawesomefitness. You can track how high you jump, how fast you run, how your stats measure up to your friends’ and so much more.

Look how much fun we had!!!

You can rock out with the NIKE+ Drill Pack Gear anywhere, anytime. And its super simple to get started. And that’s exactly how I like it.

So now that you’re all “OMG, I cannot live without this mind-blowing workout technology,” come by the NIKE FuelHouse to try it out- shoes and drill packs provided. 

Be sure to check out the schedule for free workouts there, too...

More good news, if you can handle it:

Jessundressed and NIKE shall be together again in the near future for a workout sesh and more freebies to boot. TBD but stay tuned.

XOJP

Me and G = Coconutty Twinsies.

Giuliana Rancic and I are so super similar. We're basically twins. (Compliment to G, obvi)


We are both:
a) willing to fight to the death against breast cancer.
b) workout fiends.
d) KOOKOO for coconuts.


How do I know such things?


After years of loving every minute of Mrs. Rancic's humble E! fabulosity, I met her at this year's FabFest, an event where you can get your workout on all day long with the best trainers the city has to offer. (Holler. Sweaty situation. But holler.)
This AMAZE fundraiser was hosted by Bright Pink- the nation's only non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women while providing support for high-risk individuals. Here's a pic. It was magenta and marvelous...

So anywho, I just read her most recent FabFitFun posting on one of the summer's hottest/coolest treats and it was eerily similar to my previous work featured on CheekyChicago.com. Interesting...


See for yourself, ya big coconutter. Both articles are yumalicious! :


Me@Cheeky + G@FabFitFun = TWINS 4 LIFE.


XOJP

Trendy Chic on the Beach

I went on vacation for a mere 6 days.
Unsurprisingly, my writing/style addiction got the best of me.


It was a primarily relaxing trip.
Fort Myers Beach, FL: So gorg, so easygoing. But there were down points.


After hunting down a local spot for my sugarfree & soy cappuccino...The Tuckaway Bagel, uber-delish... I couldn't help but notice all the bling & neon flash on the beach bods all around me.
My stress levels peaked at the sight of such brights/ bedazzlements done all wrong.
A for effort but overall FAIL. Let's work together on this one, guys.


Epiphany:
Accommodate the trendiest taste on the beach-front surf shops of Smalltown, USA. With eyes wide open, I believed & achieved.


The 90's are so right NOW & so are these (uber-reasonable) pieces. Live/Love/Die for it.
Mix these pieces with studded denim shorts &/or a white fringe tank (maybe with some Jeffrey Campbell Litas you just so happened to order?) So set.


Onward:

Be that hot: $14.99
[CVS]

Dreams come true: $14.99
[CVS]

So totally Malibu Barbie: $4
[ Random Bait Shop .?.?. Right?!? ]

Flirty backside.

Don't act like hotpants aren't your fav this summer: $14
[ Shipwreck Motel Gift Shop ]

So "Sun Valley" Cher: $8
[ Shout out to my peeps at Swimmin N' Sunshine! ]

The peace signs hold a particular 90's vibe, but go any way for a hint of retro: $2
[ THRIFT ]

FRILLY. BLOOMER. HOTPANT. SHORTS: $15
[ Mango Bay ]

Biker bitch: $6
[ um...too many margaritas...? ]

A mid-waisted, wide leg linen pant w/ rope belt for Mom: $20
[ Swimmin N' Sunshine ]

My new pal: $6
[ THRIFT ]

Now, I feel better. Grab these goodies & update that worrisome wardrobe.
You'll (look &) feel better too.


Remember, I do this out of love:
DO NOT SUCCUMB TO THE PUKA SHELL NECKLACE, PEOPLE...So not hot.


Plenty more to be discovered at:
Local Color, Winds, South Seas Trader, East Winds & Aloha, just to name a few. And don't forget all the resale/ bait/ gift/ WhateverTheHellTheyWantToSellUnderOneRoof shops.


XOJP

What’s it take to tickle me PINK? Beating breast and ovarian cancer.

Girls just want to have fun.

Plenty of us (and handfuls of handsome men, as well) celebrated just that at this year’s Tickled Pink event. 

From sparkling grapefruit mixers to slam-‘em-down Spicebox Whiskey shots, this party had every attendee jump, jive and shakin’ their tail feathers…all while flashing their fantastically fuchsia feather boas. 

You’ve got to love an event where men are sporting pink boas.

It couldn’t have been a sexier look.

Friday, February 24^th, Chicagoans got together to celebrate a serious breast and ovarian cancer tush-whoopin’ by raising mega-bucks for the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.

A little wine, sushi and raffling made the soiree seriously sassy to boot.

On a personal note:

These cancers have horrifyingly woven their way through my family history. I have experienced the many sides and emotions brought on by cancer’s oftentimes relentless battle. Therefore, it was my absolute honor to roll out in shades of rose to celebrate women’s strength, courage and success in fighting back.

Take that cancer, you big jerk.

Held at the lovely River East Art Gallery, I expected a good time. Little did I know, what I was in for:

Upon meeting a bounty of absolutely wonderful new pals like Bright Pink’s Lindsay Avner, FOX Chicago’s hilarious Kori Chambers, Mia of Mia in Style and one remarkably ravishing drag queen, I realized I was in a sea of disease-fighting divas (and div-o’s?) and it felt perfectly: killer.

I was lucky enough to boogie down with my fab friends Kathryn Janicek, Jessica Zweig, Joran Thompson, Tara Peitzer, Megan Taylor, Jessica McCafferty, Katie Cahlmann and maaaany more, as well.

This was a night of celebration with no matter for who you are, what you do or who your date is. Tickled Pink’s energy was encompassed by the focal cause and the positivity filled the room like an epidemic.

 

The results? Over $50,000 to Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.

That, my friends, is the way to tickle this girl PINK.

 

Get in on the girl power:

y-me.org

brightpink.org

XOJP