From Cinderella’s carriage to the perfect canvas for crooked smiles, pumpkins have found their way into the limelight time and time again. Sydnie, our Briar Hill store manager, makes pumpkin the star of her favourite autumn post-run smoothie. She's packed the beverage full of protein, nutrients and lots of delicious fall flavour.

post-run pumpkin spice protein smoothie

• ½ cup canned pumpkin
• 1 cup almond milk
• ½ a banana
• 1 tbsp of raisins
• 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• sprinkle nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger

Blend it all together in your favourite appliance (are you a Vitamix® or Magic Bullet® devotee?) and top with flax seed for an extra health kick!

The perfect accomplice after a long October run, this pumpkin spice smoothie tastes just like pumpkin pie but it complements your workout instead of undoing it.

want more?

• longing for summer? Blend up our summer post-run smoothie
• join the debate: to juice or not to juice?
• learn to fuel on the go

Fall is such a deliciously complicated season. Crisp air, back-to-school memories and leaf-covered streets are a constant reminder of the cycle of life. To complement these visceral feelings, nostalgia for summer magic fills our hearts with bittersweet memories and gratitude. Consequently, taking quiet moments to renew our yoga practice and set our intentions never feels more ‘right’ than in autumn.

The wild and exuberant songs we loved in summer suddenly don’t fit anymore; instead we crave music that suits our reflective mood. Combining yoga and introspective music creates a unique space for us to access our spirit in an authentic way. Our Ear Warming Fall Yoga Playlist is layered with warmth and complexity perfectly suited for a restorative fall at-home yoga practice. Oh, and we finally figured out how you can download the whole thing!

ear warming fall yoga playlist

St. Vincent – Surgeon
Anyone who toured with Sufjan Stevens is going to have nomadic themes running through their work. St. Vincent, aka Annie Clark, sounds like Kate Bush’s delicate little sister who sparkles herself in fairy dust. This track floats and meanders but instead of sounding wayward, St. Vincent’s voice glides through each beat on its own sensual clock.

Active Child – When Your Love Is Safe
Lyrics about realisation and self awareness are layered over eclectic, ambient electro beats to sum up a story of loss and learning. If you get a chance, check out Active Child live – they put on a rad show.

Beirut – Santa Fe
Combining soaring vocals and weird Gypsy-tinged instrumentals, Beirut makes some of the most poignant, interesting music on the scene. His voice is distinct but not jarring; he sounds like a Martian from the Roaring Twenties – and that is a compliment.

Mary J. Blige – All That I Can Say
Mary keeps it real as usual, telling us how she spent her whole life looking for meaning - and the day she stopped searching for it, the meaning came and found her.

Bon Iver – Calgary
The current king of the indie scene has brought the heartfelt singer-songwriter genre back to the mainstream. It’s no wonder; the lyrics to this song are gorgeous, weaving between allegory and literal references in a way so earnestly romantic that it breaks your heart.

Brandon Flowers – Only The Young
The frontman of the massively popular group The Killers, Brandon Flowers is searching more than ever for something. Here he talks about second chances and filling dark corners with light.

Radiohead – All I Need
Who we are on the mat is who we are off the mat. When this realisation happens, it is both powerful and revealing. Are you often late to class? Do you rush through poses, trying to perfect them on the first try? The parallels that can be drawn between yoga and ‘real’ life are remarkable; all we need is our yoga mat (and maybe some reminders from Thom Yorke) to work on our whole selves.

Feist – The Circle Married The Line
Leslie Feist has the uncanny ability to write songs that satisfy the cravings in our head. You know when you’re listening to a song and a string of notes are played – and it’s like they were engineered to be the exact ones your brain wanted to hear? This is Feist’s remarkable gift. This song’s chorus has reverse scales that will make the hairs on your arms stand at attention.

Beck – Lost Cause
When a relationship has gone past the point of no return, we can feel it in our hearts and in our bones. Beck perfectly sums up the ironically sweet misery of the letting go process.

AA Bondy – I Can See The Pines Are Dancing
Wildly underrated, AA Bondy makes a declaration with every line he utters in this cozy little ditty. He is arrestingly self-possessed (“I am a fire and I must burn today”) and surprises us further by cooling down his smoldering tracks with Dick Dale-esque surf guitar riffs.

Kings of Convenience - Homesick
This Norwegian duo uses their voices to complement their music, rather than compete with it. This balance and harmony work perfectly to create meaningful, pastoral tunes perfect for deep stretches and grateful thoughts.

May this playlist warm your heart and ears as you take on another crisp fall season.

want more?

• Check out some of our other rockin’ playlists

The question I hear most often as a designer (right after 'Where'd you get those shoes?') is: 'Where do you come up with all your ideas?'

I suppose from an outside point of view, the design process appears to be a mystery, with new product arriving in stores week after week.

It's actually a continuous process from concept to development to production, and I'm excited to share with you on a regular basis on the lululemon blog what goes on inside the mind of a designer.

Right now, I've got fall on the brain.

Ever since I got back from vacation and discovered that summer has officially ended, all I can think of are cozy layers, soft fleece, and toques.

Here's what's been inspiring me this season:

our amazing elite ambassadors

I had the honor of joining 11 of our elite ambassadors on a retreat in Tofino a few weeks ago. Often what I forget when watching athletes perform is that this is their life. Their schedules are packed with non-stop training, traveling, and competing.

Their dedication and commitment inspires me to create accessories that will make their hectic lives as easy as possible. If they aren't worrying about the bag that's carrying their gear, they'll have that much more free brain space to focus on what really matters: the competition. I might never break a world record, but I can design a rad duffel.

layering

(As seen at Rag & Bone) I remember seeing this collection come out back in the spring. I loved it so much I almost wanted to skip summer and go straight to fall so I could copy every look. I love to layer, and nothing makes me more excited than a great fall transition outfit.

the peace of mind vest

Shannon and her team nailed this one. I can't wait to rock this with a pair of black Wunder Unders, a long white t-shirt, a shrunken flannel, and my new black patent leather Birkenstocks I bought while on vacation. Perfect for a Saturday morning latte run on the way to yoga...or perhaps work tomorrow.

bon voyage duffel

Now that the weather's cooling off, I'm looking forward to getting back into the studio and logging in some gym time. This duffel is the perfect size for all my gear (I don't travel light...even to work) including a spot for my mat. And best of all? It doesn't scream 'gym bag' so I'll look good no matter where my day takes me.

hunter clogs

Brilliant! To say it rains occasionally in Vancouver is like saying it gets a little dry in the Sahara. Wellies are a wardrobe staple from September until June, and rocking a pair of real clogs isn't really all that practical. These puppies let me be practical and stylish... I'm in love.

What's inspiring you this season?

Brittany, our product trainer, recently got her hands on some samples for Fall 2010 and put together a special sneak peek video for you with some highlights. Enjoy!

These items and colours will be available between now and the next six weeks, so if you don't see the item you're after online or at your local store, check back soon!

If you loved the first sneak peek video above and have a little extra time, check out the extended 11 minute version with a few more exciting fall 2010 items: http://www.vimeo.com/13397940

Some of the products featured in the video:

• Run: Inspire Crop
• Push Ur Limits Tank
• Run: Reflection Skirt
• Mens Smash Jacket
• Mens Smash Pant

Running is such a beautiful thing. With each step and each breath, you power yourself to move forward.

Everyone's run form and cadence are very different. We are all moving forward, but in a unique way. Some shuffle, some prance with short or long strides, but it's all for the same reason: to move forward, to stay healthy, to feel free.

Nothing makes me feel better than running. When I run, I feel a sense of peace and freedom. I especially love running during the fall. Fall weather throughout the world varies, but in many parts of the US we have a brisk, crisp air with chilly mornings and slightly warmer afternoons. I love crunching the leaves beneath me as I run during cool fall mornings as the sun is rising.

During this beautiful time of year, layering my run clothing is essential to stay comfortable during my run.

I always start with a base layer. An awesome base layer that I use to keep my core dry and warm is the Run Swiftly Tech. It wicks the moisture away with its mesh venting in just the perfect spots, arm pits, back, and belly. The flexibility in this top is amazing. I can't even tell I'm wearing a top. It has 4-way stretch, which means the shirt moves with you with every step, leap, jump you make. If you tend to sweat a lot, not to worry... this base layer is made with Silverescent with anti-stink properties.

Over my base layer, I either put on a shell, the Run Velocity Jacket if it is wet out OR I love to pull on the Run Trail Tech mesh LS for cold, dry days. The Run Velocity Jacket is waterproof and even its zippers and taped seams keep you super dry. I love the hand warmers and cuffins to keep my fingers warm. To top it off, the super wicking and stretching component keep you smelling good and moving with freedom. The Run Trail Tech Mesh is the layer to use when you are looking for warmth on a cold day. It's incredibly soft and smooth against your skin and feels almost buttery. It has a shawl collar with adjustable height for warming and cooling down which I love to take advantage of. You never know when you'll warm up and need to adjust your collar down. This is by far my favorite long sleeve run top!

To keep my legs nice and warm but not too restrictive, I really like to wear my Run Empower Crops for temperatures under 50 degrees. If the weather looks to be over 50, I always opt for my speed shorts. The Empower Crops can be worn when it is wet out as well. They are made with amazing 4-way stretch power luxtreme. The luxtreme holds your muscles for the "no bounce" effect. Your muscles are supported and you feel strong!

Is it just me, or is autumn the best? I love shifting seasons. Everything slows down in my world in the fall: the tempo of the music I reach for, the way I cook my dinners, and the workouts that appeal to me. Give me a peaceful stretch in a warm room, bathed in dim light, and some cozy natural fabrics, like our certified Organic Cotton Jersey.

So what exactly do we mean by ‘certified organic’? At lululemon, our organic cotton yarn is certified for the first 3 stages of production: growing and harvesting, cleaning, and spinning. We are currently working on becoming certified in the fourth stage, dyeing, and are excited to take on this challenge as we recognize environmental concerns with regards to the growth and manufacturing of conventional cotton products.

Although our organic cotton blend is not quick-drying like our technical fabrics (luon® for example), I enjoy wearing this fabric for slower-paced workouts where I’m not necessarily sweating a ton. It’s really lightweight and soft and like many other fabrics derived from natural yarns, it’s very breathable, making it great for my low-impact workouts.

Fall is all about comfort. Take a deep breath and slow down a bit. Autumn is here!

P.S. Did you know we pre-shrink all of our fabrics so there are no surprises when you wash them? We know this is the number one pet peeve, especially when it comes to cotton, so we’ve taken the guessing out for you. You’re welcome!

Visit our online store for a peek at some of our organic cotton options: http://www.lululemon.com/

I can hardly wait for Fall to start so I can wear my new Huff n Puff vest outside and NOT get strange looks... As it is, I wear it inside the office when the air conditioning is a wee bit on the chilly side – somehow it’s a little more accepted inside the office to be wearing a down filled vest in August. Good thing I work on the Product Team! And the thing is, I’m not alone – as you can see by the picture.

For me what sets this puffy vest apart from all others I’ve tried over the years is the magic combo of draw cords at the waist and the way the sides are paneled. Seems like such a little thing but it gives me shape and keeps me from looking like the dreaded Michelin Man.

What you can’t see is that the inside of the pockets are fuzzy and soft and beckoning for your hands to hang out in ‘em. And the same fuzzy warm fabric is all around the inside of the collar including the zipper garage. It’s also made of 600-fill-power premium goose down to keep me toasty, and the rip stop nylon is water resistant. Bring on Winter! ...or at least some cool Fall evenings!

Ready to brave Fall weather, or at least office air-conditioning? Visit our product page and learn more here.

Want to see some of the tanks featured in this video? Check 'em out: http://shop.lululemon.com/women_tanks/pl/c/530.html

Up next? Learn all about how to find the perfect fitting bra!

In the video below, watch as Shannon, our run and outerwear designer, helps you build the perfect running outfit for your Fall and Winter running:

Want to take a peak at our current run line? Visit our online run section here.