a few of my favorite things: work out necessities

I love work out classes more then I could put into words. It is the best way to start the morning and I find myself being pushed so much harder than spending twice as long in the gym on my own. I felt like a series on my favorite things would be incomplete without including some of my favorite gym essentials.

1. Nalegene with Splash Guard: Sure you have to clean the Nalegene out frequently so it doesn't get all funky smelling, but I swear by the convenience of having a Nalegene constantly filled up in your refrigerator. I have two, one in my fridge filled with cold water and one by my nightstand. Easy to grab and go and the Splash Guard prevents the water from spilling all over your face when you're doing a fast-paced workout. Trust me, I used to always be that girl. Whoever invented that little thing is a genius I tell you.

2. Nike Running Capris: These I own 4 different pairs of and these are the ones pictured (I'm obsessed with them and other people seem to be too). I've tried plenty of other brands, but I end up just sticking to Nike. Lucy and Lulumeon are my dream, but trying them on is just a temptation, they are way too pricey for a budget like mine. Then, other brands like Adidas and UnderArmour that may run a bit cheaper I often find feel way too thin and don't have the features that Nike adds to their clothing. And you can also find Nike on sale a lot, which cuts down the sometimes rather high price tag. Most of them have a back pocket to put your iPhone in to listen to music so you don't have to have one of those annoying arm band situations. They also never stretch out and aren't so cheaply made that you feel like your scantily clad, ya know?

3. Target Sports Bras: I swear by these. They are cheap, comfy, and they make you further sucked into the fact that Target is basically running the world. Some people invest in expensive ones, I'd rather have a good pair of shoes or pants personally.

4. prAna Headbands: I bought these at REI a while back and I love them. They stay put, unlike most headbands, they are thin enough to not feel like your brain is being pushed and constrained, yet they are thick enough that you can fold them over and make them skinnier if you'd like. Plus, no I will not spend $20 on headbands at sporting goods stores. These are at a price point that I felt okay at, plus I found them on sale. Booyah.

5. Nike Free Running Shoes: Found these babies on sale (can you tell I love sales), and I can honestly say my workouts have been much harder since I got them (in a good way). I push myself more because I don't feel restricted from heavy shoes that weigh me down. They are significantly lighter than the running shoes I've had in the past. And they are cute to boot.

6: Towel Safe Gym Towel: The most convenient thing I could ever have purchased. I put my keys into the little Velcro-sealed pocket when I get to the gym and I don't have to worry about leaving them somewhere by accident. Plus if I drive to the gym and don't want to have to worry about my purse, I'll stick my license and credit card in there too. I have a couple of these towels and I love um.

What are your gym necessities?