i have a few favorites that i run to: Fur Elise (techno remix): Beethoven, I'm so much cooler online: Brad Paisley, Sandstorm: Darude, and Shut up and Drive: Rihanna. I also like a lot of songs by the Presets on their Apocalypso album.

I wear SkirtSports and Athleta running skorts for running and working out. For me the length is perfect - long enough to wear out to the grocery store w/o feeling skimpy. The built in compression shorts on the SkirtSports brand have pockets on either thigh where I store my car key and my iPod or anything else I need to carry. I also have a few things from lululemon that I love. I mostly wear skorts for working out now b/c I don't feel funny wearing them out in public. I don't like wearing tights/compression gear if I'm running errands. SkirtSports also has a longer skirt that I wouldn't wear for exercising as it's a tad too long, but it's great for running errands. In cooler months, I wear the LottaBreeze Capri style (capri w/skirt over top). For winter, I wear insulated running tights that have a built in skirt from Athleta or I wear Under Armour Cold Gear tights with a separate skirt from Athleta over top to cover my arse. Once I discovered skirts/skorts, I rarely ever wear workout shorts anymore (the compression shorts underneath prevent chafing). Here is a link that might be useful: Skirt Sports

I'm with those who've suggested creating a dual-purpose room. It sounds like you would use the crafting/project space, so why not set up half the room (or at least a corner) with a work space for yourself, and find some (gently used) fitness equipment your husband wants? Then you could see how you end up using the room before devoting more space than necessary to one purpose or the other. When I'm ready for another area to have to clean and maintain (which won't be for at least a couple of years), we'll finish our basement. We have the floor plan roughly worked out, and one room will be a combined fitness and project room. Right now the fitness stuff is set up in a corner of the unfinished basement and only sees use on the coldest mornings of the year, or occasionally when the kids are playing down there and it's too hot to run outside. I'm not sure it will get much more use even when finished as I'd much rather be outside moving around, but it's nice to have during periods of extreme weather. My sewing machine is now in a corner of our bedroom that's not ideal, but better than having it shut up somewhere. Projects end up all over the house, spread out in the living room or dining room. There's a kids craft table spackled and ready to be sanded sitting in the middle of the living room as I type. I know I would use a project space if I had a designated one, but the thought of having to clean (and decorate!) the basement when I'm still working on the main floors is too much for me at the moment.

We had a steam shower put in during a recent remodel. It is AMAZING! Just as good as a gym one. It is one of the best things we did in the remodel. I love being able to put whatever oil that fits my needs when I need it. We did a steamiest, and not a super fancy one. I didn't do the oil pump cartridge things as I felt I could just add the oil in the shower. The best part is that I can sit in it alone without a bunch of strangers sitting in there too, and I don't have to drive anywhere to use it! Best thing for congestion too.