The (other) Happy Runner!

Progresso "Souper You" giveaway!

2012-01-26T21:45:00.000-05:00

I'm a huge fan of The Biggest Loser (especially, Bob!) so the idea of winning two tickets to the finale of this season's show has a lot of appeal.

But, wait. I'm getting ahead of myself, huh? What does the Biggest Loser have to do with a Progresso soup giveaway? Well, Progresso soup is running a Souper You contest where three winners will get a trip for two to Los Angeles, a head-to-toe makeover, a guided shopping spree with a $1,000 gift card, $1,000 spending money and two tickets to the live finale of the Biggest Loser!

Cool right?

Yeah, cool.

So, in support of this contest, Progresso has invited me (along with many other bloggers!) to try out Progresso soups and spread the word about the contest. I got a prize pack like this to try out:

My family and I enjoyed trying out the Progresso soups, especially the Light Chicken Noodle and the Chicken and Rice. Winter is the perfect time for soup and with a little grilled cheese on the side, it makes an easy, quick dinner. Anything that is easy and quick is always a bonus in this house!

You can learn more about Progresso soups HERE.

OK, so here's what I have for you.

Souper You Contest

First, you can go to www.SouperYou.com to enter the big makeover contest. Just be sure to enter by February 22nd.

Progresso Prize Pack Giveaway

Second, one lucky reader of this here blog will win a prize pack of Progresso soups and a Biggest Loser workout DVD. To enter, just leave me a comment and let me know you want to win!

As always, you can gain extra entries. Remember, though, you must complete the required entry first! (Leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Follow my main blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment)

This giveaway will run through Wednesday, February 1 at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Thursday.

Good luck!

Want to read more from The Happy Runner? Stop over HERE for more giveaways, reviews, and running- and parenting-related posts.

Disclosure: The Progresso^® Souper You^® prize pack, information, coupon, and giveaway have been provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

Goal For It! (review)

2012-01-16T20:27:00.000-05:00

If you have kids, you've probably had to deal with a tantrum or two, and you've probably done your fair share of asking -- repeatedly -- for something to be done. You know, it's the whole, "Time to get dressed!" "OK, you'd really better get dressed now." "It doesn't look to me like you're getting dressed, better hurry!" "If you don't get dressed right now . . . " that kind of thing.

(Please tell me I'm not the only one who goes through this with a 4 year old . . . )

Anyway, getting kids to do their chores or whatever it is you ask of them is capital-I Important and I know that. So, I work hard to be consistent and to get my little guy to listen and do as he's told. And that includes doing the little "chores" and "good behavior" things that my husband and I have decided he needs to do.

For the most part, my son is pretty good with it all. He asks to be excused when he's done with dinner, he clears his dishes. But, he's 4. So he has his moments.

So when I was invited to review the Goal For It Chore Chart I was interested to check it out.

I popped on to the Goal For It site and was able to create a chart very quickly and easily. There are many cute themes for the chart -- I went with baseball -- and several chores and behavior goals to choose from. For my son's chart, I chose:

ready for school on time
good manners at the table
help clear table
put clothes in hamper
go to bed on time
no tantrums

Each goal has a cute image with it to make it fun for kids.

I printed out the chart and put it on the fridge. My son and I talked about it and I told him how, at the end of every day, if he met a goal, we'd put a smiley face next to it.

You'd think I told him I'd buy him a puppy. The kid was that excited.

Having the goals on paper made him accountable. He wanted to earn his smiley face so he worked for it. One day, he started to have a tantrum over who-knows-what and I simply said, "Hey, that's a tantrum" and he stopped. Immediately. And then said, "I didn't really have a tantrum, Mommy. Can I still get a smiley face?"

Call me a wimpy mom, but I let him have the smiley face.

Here's how the week ended up (we forgot to start on Sunday):

Since he had rows of smiley faces, I let him put stickers on the chart. He loved it. Overall, the chart was a hit -- and a keeper! The site really is easy to use so if you are looking for a chore or behavior or some other goal chart for your kids, check it out!

Review disclosure: I was compensated for my review but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers winner!

2011-12-28T09:08:00.000-05:00

We have a winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my quick giveaway of the Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers. I think this was the perfect time for a giveaway like this because who couldn't use some free veggies around the holidays? I know I could. So, I hope our winner enjoys them, too!

Yes, I used random.org to pick the winner of this giveaway and it is . . .

Tami from Velvet Races!

Congratulations, Tami! Email me with your address and I'll get your prize pack sent off right away (felicehalf at yahoo dot com).

Thanks to General Mills and MyBlogSpark for this giveaway!

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers review and giveaway.

2011-12-22T09:37:00.000-05:00

The vegetable growing season is pretty short here in upstate New York so I tend to rely on frozen vegetables a lot during the late fall, winter and early spring. Tossing some frozen broccoli, peas & carrots, or spinach into soup, pasta or stir fry is easy and helps me make relatively healthy meals.

So, when I was invited to review Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers, I jumped at the chance. I use frozen veggies anyway, why not try something new?

I received this prize pack:

Steamers, two placemats, a broccoli stress toy, spoon, and bowl.

The Valley Fresh Steamers are a "steam in the bag" product that you pop in your microwave to cook. I went for the broccoli option on the steamers and served them as a side dish one night for dinner. They were tasty. But here's the thing: I didn't love cooking them in the microwave.

Now, I have nothing against the microwave. In fact, I love my microwave and use it often. Several times a day. But, for these veggies, it just didn't work for me. See, you have to put the bag in the microwave to cook and almost guess that you are putting them in for the right amount of time. I didn't like that. I felt like I had no control and I worried that I would not steam the veggies for long enough. Turns out that wasn't an issue because I actually ended up steaming them for a little too long.

But, as I said, they were tasty and I enjoyed trying them out. And, I admit, having one less pot to clean wasn't a bad thing ;-)

Check out their web site HERE for more information.

Would you like to try the Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers for free? I have one prize pack (identical to the one pictured above) to give away. To enter, leave me a comment letting me know if you enjoy frozen veggies in your diet during the cold months.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain extra entries. Remember, though, you must complete the required entry first! (Leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Follow my main blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment)

This giveaway will run through Tuesday, December 27th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Wednesday.

Good luck!

Want to read more from The Happy Runner? Stop over HERE for more giveaways, reviews, and running- and parenting-related posts.

Disclosure: Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers with Pasta, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark

New women's sports company.

2011-12-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

I recently found out about Bia, a new sports company. They are just started and it looks like they are going to begin with a fitness tracking site. You can sign up to get their email newsletter and if you do, and you also get some other people to sign up, they'll send you a bag of goodies! So, go HERE and check it out!

Dare to Try.

2011-12-08T18:48:00.000-05:00

Thanks to L'Oreal for sponsoring my post about my favorite beauty looks, tips and tricks! Check out Makeup.com for beauty advice from the experts.

If you're anything like me, you wear the same old makeup, day after day. But doesn't that get boring? I mean, how exciting is brown eye liner and black mascara? Not very.

I remember back to my early makeup wearing days when experimentation was the name of the game. Blue mascara? Sure thing! Purple eyeliner? Uh, yup! Sparkly blush? Sign. Me. Up. Hey, I came of age in the 80's when teens were all about colorful eyes and big hair.

Now, I'm pretty boring. But! I've been trying to branch out a bit, as I wrote in this post. And the two things I am "daring to try" this year are eyebrow definition and sassy lip gloss.

I have some easy-to-use brow definer from Trish McEvoy that I think works well. Since I tend toward a more natural (and, I admit, often makeup-free) look these days, too dramatic a look is scary to me. By going easy on the brow definer, I can frame my eyes and give myself a "finished" look without looking like a totally different person. I've also had success defining my brows using an eye shadow brush dipped in brown eye shadow. To do that, though, I need to be very careful not to let the shadow splatter flakes of color on my face. It takes more control and concentration on my part so, honestly, it is just easier and quicker to use a pencil-like brow definer!

The sassy lip gloss, on the other hand, is a bit more fun. I love lip gloss! Tarte's LipSurgence is great, as is L'Oreal's Colour Juice (love the Golden Splash for the holidays!).

If I'm super honest, though, what I would really like to be able to pull off is a bolder lip. Lip gloss, while sassy and fun, is still safe. A bold lip? Not safe at all.

I would like to sport a daring lip.

When I had my makeover, the makeup artist gave me a bold rust-colored lip:

I know I am not a cherry-red lipstick kind of gal. Nor am I a fan of deep aubergines. But I think I could go bolder than natural. I think I could be more daring. Rust? Orangey-pink? Eva's Caramel? I think those colors are calling my name.

So if you see me this December, you just might see someone sporting a daring lip. Or maybe just a glossy one :-)

Are you daring when it comes to makeup? Do you have a favorite bold lipstick that you think I should try? Let me know!

Have a great day, everyone!

* * *

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. Click here to learn more about Makeup.com or become a Facebook fan by clicking here.

Great deal on PR* Bars!

2011-11-28T22:38:00.000-05:00

This deal just came in to my inbox so I have to share. I LOVE PR*Bars (you can read my review of them HERE), and they are now a featured deal on Active Schwaggle. Right now, you can get two boxes of PR*Bars for just $25. It's a $60 and shipping is free! It looks like this offer will run for 6 more days.

So, go here to check it out.

Go for amazing party looks this holiday season!

2011-11-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the
Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://moms.dailybuzz.com/channel/style.

Recently, I had a ton of fun getting a makeover as part of a cover model shoot for Healthy Life magazine. Part of that makeover involved dressing up in festive clothes and putting on equally festive makeup. It was great to get a brush-up on festive makeup, considering I spend a lot of my time doing this:

And the rest of my time playing with, cleaning up after, and generally taking care of my two little guys:

Although my day-to-day life doesn't require much in the way of makeup, I do like to get dressed up on occasion. And around the holidays I have more of those occasions. Since those occasions are generally special, I like to give my look a little extra flair -- like most people do around the holidays. It seems like sparkle is everywhere between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve!

Fortunately, I've learned that you can create fun, festive, pretty party looks without breaking the bank. Makeup doesn't have to be expensive -- you can find plenty of good deals at drugstores, for example.

If you'd like to create an amazing party look for yourself this season, here are some tips that I've learned bother from experience and from my recent makeover:

Use a primer to smooth your skin and prep it for your makeup. Primer helps your makeup last longer and it fills-in your "crevices" (ha!) so makeup doesn't settle-in and make your skin look wrinkled.
A little brow definition can help your look go from average to amazing in seconds! I had never used eye brow pencil before my makeover, but I am a convert. I definitely don't think it is an everyday look for me but for parties it is a sure thing!
If you go for a sparkly eye, do not go for a sparkly lip. And vice versa. Choose one area for sparkle. Too much sparkle is, well, too much.
I love classic black mascara and, for party looks, I wear two coats. I'm a fan of tried-and-true Maybelline Great Lash. It has worked for me for years!
Go ahead and blush! A lot of people tend to shy away from blush but if you want to fab it up for a party, go for it! Sweeping color over the apples of your cheeks helps finish your look and gives you a nice glow. Just make sure you don't go overboard.

As you prepare for your holiday parties this year, don't be afraid to try out some new looks! Why not splurge on a new lipstick or gloss next time your at the drugstore? Or finally pick up that eyebrow pencil (I'm telling you, it works!)? Glam it up a little, you'll be happy you did!

Lucky you -- I've got some Walgreens coupons for you to make your amazing party looks even easier to achieve!

Do you have a favorite festive makeup tip?

Yoplait Smoothie winner!

2011-11-22T09:11:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my Yoplait Smoothie giveaway. I used random.org to pick a winner and it is . . .

Katychick from Count Your Day s . . . I'm Counting Mine

Congratulations, Katychick! Send me an email at felicehalf at yahoo dot com with your address so I can get you your Yoplait prize pack. Enjoy the smoothie -- and that eye mask!

Yoplait Chocolate Banana Smoothie review and giveaway!

2011-11-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

I am a HUGE smoothie lover. I drink them most days -- blending up yogurt, a banana, some frozen fruit and a little flax seed meal or some chia seeds.

So, when I was invited to try out the new Yoplait Chocolate Banana smoothie, I jumped at the chance. I received this nice little package of goodies:

That's a comfy neck pillow, the frozen smoothie mix, a reusable smoothie tumbler, and a lavender eye mask. Relaxation central!

The smoothie was very easy to make -- just pour the packet in the blender, add milk, blend away and viola! smoothie in no time. The one thing that got me was the yogurt pieces. I don't know, there was something a little funny about them. They blend up fine, but seeing chunks of yogurt made me chuckle.

After blending, I poured my smoothie into the Yoplait tumbler and my preschooler and I drank both servings. It was tasty! And that tumbler is really is quite nice. I've used it several times for my smoothies. It fits nicely in my car cup holder so I can easily take my smoothie on the go.

Overall, I liked the Yoplait smoothie but I admit that I'm not sure how frequently I would buy it because it is pricier than blending my own with frozen fruit and plain yogurt. But, I can see the appeal of having the ingredients (minus the milk) in one convenient package.

You can read more about the Yoplait smoothies on their web site HERE.

Be sure to download a $1 off coupon from the site HERE.

The giveaway

Would you like to try the Yoplait smoothie? How about that eye mask? Well, I have one prize pack (identical to the one pictured above) for a lucky reader to win! To enter just leave me a comment and let me know that you would like to win!

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain extra entries. Remember, though, you must complete the required entry first! (Leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Follow my main blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment)

This giveaway will run through Monday, November 21st at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Good luck!

Want to read more from The Happy Runner? Stop over HERE for more giveaways, reviews, and running- and parenting-related posts.

Disclosure: The Yoplait^® VIP Coupon, information, and giveaway have been provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark.

Refer your friends to StumbleUpon and get a $10 Amazon gift card!

2011-11-15T14:11:00.000-05:00

OK, with the holidays coming up, Amazon gift cards can definitely come in handy. And, right now, StumbleUpon is running a promotion through which you can earn $10 gift cards!

All you have to do is sign up at StumbleUpon, refer 5 friends (who actually sign up) and get a $10 gift card from Amazon!

Easy peasy!

This promotion runs through December 14th and you can receive multiple gift cards! But, you only get a card for every 5 people who sign up -- there is no partial credit.

Good luck!

Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal winner!

2011-09-27T09:42:00.000-04:00

I used random.org this morning to select a winner from everyone who entered my Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal giveaway and the winner is . . .

Cheryl from The Lucky Ladybug!

Congratulations, Cheryl! Shoot me an email at felicehalf at yahoo dot com with your address so you can get your full prize pack.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to General Mills and My Blog Spark for this giveaway. Look for a yogurty giveaway coming up soon!

Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal review and giveaway

2011-09-23T10:57:00.001-04:00

We're big cereal eaters in my house -- that happens when you have a 4-year old -- and I like to try new cereals now and then. There's only so many Cheerios one can eat in one's life, after all.

I was interested in the new Fiber One 80 calories cereal that I was invited to try. I tried the Honey Squares and they were quite good! I liked that the cereal is low in calories and sugar and high in fiber, so it is pretty filling. I also like that my son enjoyed eating it -- always a good thing!

I was sent a full prize pack along with the cereal, including a pedometer and a cute orange cell phone armband.

I have to say, the armband is great. It's not too large and it holds my cell phone perfectly so I don't have to carry it in my hand when I go on my long runs. I'm all about safety so I like to take my phone with me on long runs but it can be a drag to carry it in my hand. So, the armband is perfect!

The giveaway

Would you like to try out some Fiber One cereal? How about that armband? Well, I have one prize pack (identical to the one pictured above) for a lucky reader to win! To enter just leave me a comment and let me know that you would like to win!

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain extra entries. Remember, though, you must complete the required entry first! (Leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Follow my main blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment)

This giveaway will run through Monday, September 26th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Good luck!

Disclosure: Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Want to read more from The Happy Runner? Stop over HERE for more giveaways, reviews, and running- and parenting-related posts.

Find free fitness classes.

2011-09-20T09:45:00.000-04:00

I just learned about this new web site, Free Fitness Workout, that offers free passes to try out fitness centers and classes all over the country. All you have to do is find a workout (you search by state), pick your offer, and then print out a voucher. Bring the voucher with you to the fitness center and get your free workout!

Although there aren't any free offers near me, yet, I think it looks really cool.

If you end up checking it out and getting a free class, let me know! I'd love to hear how it works out for you.

* * *

Want to read more from The Happy Runner? Stop over HERE for more giveaways, reviews, and running- and parenting-related posts.

Great deal for local exercisers!

2011-09-19T10:45:00.000-04:00

Groupon has a really great deal for Albany, NY area exercisers: Gold's Gym of the Capital District is offering 20 gym day passes for $20. The passes are regularly $300 for 20, so this is a pretty big savings!

The Groupon is valid at Gold's Gym locations in Niskayuna, Clifton Park, Guilderland and Latham. It expires November 22, 2011.

You can read all about it HERE.

Rockin' Refuel free music download.

2011-09-12T18:18:00.000-04:00

Rockin' Refuel, the protein-fortified flavored milk (that I reviewed last year HERE), is offering 500 FREE music downloads from Amazon each month, from now through December.

To get a $1 Amazon gift card emailed to you, just "like" Rockin' Refuel on Facebook then click on Music Downloads. And, while you're at it, you can learn about Rockin' Refuel and how it might help you recover from your hard runs or other workouts.

Honey Nut Cheerios winner!

2011-07-19T08:31:00.000-04:00

Thanks for entering the Honey Nut Cheerios giveaway. I used random.org to pick a winner and it is . . .

Abbi from Higher Miles!

Congratulations, Abbi! Send me an e-mail with your mailing address (email me at felicehalf at yahoo dot com) so you can get your prize pack.

And stay tuned, everyone, for another cereal giveaway coming up later this week!

Honey Nut Cheerios Giveaway!

2011-07-13T13:40:00.000-04:00

I was invited to sample and host a giveaway for Honey Nut Cheerios. Since we are a major cereal family, and a good portion of that cereal is Cheerios, I said, "Yes!" right away. Here's the cool pack that I received:

A Cheerios t-shirt, a box of Honey Nut Cheerios, two Cheerios cereal bowl and a CUTE bee antenna headband!

I have two young sons, including one who just recently started self-feeding, so Cheerios are a staple for us. I like the convenience of Cheerios, that my kids like to eat it both dry and with milk, and that it is a reasonably healthy cereal choice. When we received our prize pack in the mail, my 4-year old was really excited. "Cheerios are my favorite!" he exclaimed and quickly grabbed the bee antenna headband and wore it all around the house. And then tried to make the baby wear it, which didn't go over so well.

Clearly, my son is not alone in having Honey Nut Cheerios as his favorite. According to Nielsen sales data for the 52 weeks ending 1/1/2011, Honey Nut Cheerios was America's favorite cereal, not just my son's fave! So, chances are, you or someone in your family loves it to. And that means you might be interested in this little giveaway!

But first . . .

Request a Free Sample!

You can request a free sample of Honey Nut Cheerios and a $.75 coupon by vising this site.

And now . . .

Enter to Win the Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive the same prize pack that I did: 1 box of Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal, 2 cereal bowls, 1 Honey Nut Cheerios® t-shirt, 1 bee antenna headband. To enter, leave me a comment and let me know what you think of Honey Nut Cheerios.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain extra entries. Remember, though, you must complete the required entry first! (Leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Follow my main blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment)

This giveaway will run through Monday, July 18 at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Good luck!

Disclosure: Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Help raise $10,000 for Girls for a Change!

2011-06-30T13:41:00.001-04:00

The following is a post sponsored by Yahoo! Every time someone clicks here to make Yahoo! their homepage, they're showing their support for Girls For A Change.

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

* * *

"Girl power + activism creating change" that's Girls for a Change.

I love it.

But I didn't know about it before I was invited to participate in this Yahoo campaign to raise funds for Girls For A Change. This is one kick-butt organization. Check it out. Here's how they describe themselves:

“Girls For A Change (GFC) is a national organization that empowers girls to create social change. We invite young women to design, lead, fund and implement social change projects that tackle issues girls face in their own neighborhoods. GFC empowers girls for personal and social transformation. The program inspires girls to have the voice, ability and problem solving capacity to speak up, be decision makers, create visionary change and realize their full potential."

In 2009-2010, Girls For A Change served over 1,860 girls in ten states, Rwanda, and Swaziland. They welcome and serve all girls, but focus on girls who live in low-income communities. You can find out where they are on their web site HERE.

To me, Girls For A Change sounds like a pretty cool organization. They are helping girls build better communities and from everything I've read, once young people are invested in their communities, they tend to make better choices throughout all areas of their lives. It's something I've experienced when I've volunteered in my community. I've done a bunch of volunteer work with girls and young women who lived in shelters and children's homes. What I witnessed was that the girls who gave back to the community as part of a program were more successful with it -- they were less likely to get in trouble and more likely to try to do well in school. Just my experience but I believe there is some truth to it.

Right now, YOU can easily help raise money for Girls For A Change through a Yahoo! and Clever Girls Collective campaign. Here's the deal:

Yahoo! will donate $10 to Girls For A Change (GFC) for each person who clicks here to make Yahoo! her homepage by July 1...up to an amazing $10,000! We're counting on you to help us find 1,000 people willing to make a change worth $10,000 to this fantastic cause.

Clever Girls Collective selected GFC as the non-profit for this generous Yahoo! campaign because it matches our mission of empowering women to help each other. Clever Founder Sheila Bernus Dowd was a GFC volunteer and member of the advisory board, so they have first-hand experience with their commitment to helping girls become community leaders.

Why Should You Make Yahoo! Your Homepage? It offers...

Personalized content: The Yahoo! homepage delivers you the most relevant content based on your interests, time of day, and what’s most popular with other users like you.

Your World and The World: The Yahoo! homepage uniquely brings together your world (your email, local news) with the world around you (current events, entertainment news, financial updates and more)

Human Interest: Articles on the homepage have a human approach – more than just news, it delivers human interest stories that you just have to click on

Go now! Make Yahoo! your homepage and help raise important funds for Girls For A Change! You'll feel good about it, honestly you will :-)

I thank you!

Beaba Bib'expresso review

2011-06-27T20:53:00.002-04:00

Thank you to Béaba for providing me with a Bib’expresso to review free of charge. To order your own Bib'expresso or one of many Béaba products, visit www.beabausa.com.

I am a breastfeeding mama who likes to break free from the baby once in a while. This means I have to prepare bottles now and then to allow my husband and, occasionally my mother and father, to watch the babe while I do something without my little guy. You know, like get a hair cut, go for a long run, that sort of thing.

So, when I was invited to review the Beaba Bib'expresso, a feeding bottle warmer, I jumped at the chance.

You see, thawing bottles of frozen breast milk is not always convenient. You can't heat the milk in the microwave and letting it thaw in the refrigerator takes forever. So I usually end up placing the bottle of frozen milk in a bowl of very warm tap water. It works, but it takes a good half hour (at least). All of this means that there is a good bit of forethought that needs to occur to ensure that a bottle is available for my baby when I'm not around.

The Bib'expresso promises to fix that by speeding up the heating process while avoiding the problems with microwave heating (heating milk too much, creating hot spots).

This machine heats the water for bottles of formula, thaws and heats bottles of breast milk, and also sterilizes bottles for your use whenever. I tried it out to heat bottles of breast milk and to sterilize the bottles. It was fairly easy to use for both purposes. To heat or thaw the bottles, you pour water in the top heating chamber and then put the bottle in. Just press the start button and it heats things up automatically. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that it did the job any better than placing the cold bottle of breast milk in a bowl of hot tap water.

What I did like about the machine, however, was the sterilization feature. I often worry about whether or not my bottles are actually clean. The Bib'expresso sterilization chamber -- which you use in your microwave -- made me feel that my bottles were really sterile and ready to be used.

I will continue to use the Bib'expresso for the bottle sterilization but I'm not sure how often I'll use it to heat my bottles. If I were a formula-feeding mom, however, I can see that this product would have a lot of benefit. It heats the water to the right temperature in only 90 seconds and that seems like it would be a real time saver.

The Beaba Bib'Expresso 3 in 1 Baby Bottle & Food Warmeris available at Amazon for $129.00. You can also find a list of retailers on the Beaba web site HERE.

Overall, I think this is an interesting product and I can see the value for moms who bottle feed 100%. If you bottle feed less than that, the product may not be worth the expense. The sterilization feature is nice and useful, however, and that alone may be worth it to some people.

I will put in a plug for checking out the Beaba web site because they have some very stylish products over there!

While Béaba provided me with a Bib'expresso to review, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Béaba,Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

Gotein giveaway

2011-06-27T15:23:00.000-04:00

I have a Gotein portable protein drink giveaway going on now over at my other site. It runs through Wednesday night so check it out for your chance to win!

Great deal for Albany exercisers!

2011-06-27T15:15:00.000-04:00

This just came through my email so I had to share for all of you local readers:

LivingSocial is advertising six fitness classes at The Court Club on Sand Creek Rd. for just $30! I'm more of a runner and home exerciser so the deal doesn't work for me, but for anyone looking to shake things up with a new class (or six!), it sounds like a great deal!

Looks like the deal will only be offered today but you can use the promotion through the end of the year.

Fabulous! My fave five fabulous bloggers.

2011-05-31T15:46:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

* * *

I'm a blogger. I read blogs. Some of them are good, some of them are great. Some of them are fabulous.

For me, a fabulous blogger isn't necessarily the blogger with the biggest following or one that always makes me laugh (although I do like a good chuckle). A fabulous blogger is one that makes me care about what he or she has to say -- and want to come back for more every day.

Here are five of my favorite bloggers. Or, my list of the absolutely fabulous!

Ah, AbFab . . . how I miss you . . .

1. The first fabulous blogger on my list is someone who I have become friends with in real life, after getting to know her through her blog: Amanda from Manderz Journey to a New Life.

Amanda rocks. She's lost over 100lbs and has kept it off for over a year. She's also a mom, a terrific runner, and just a super-sweet person in general. She inspires other people to go after their goals, especially their weight-loss ones. She's proof positive that if you want something enough, you can have it. She's lost a HUGE amount of weight, has kept it off, has run a marathon and 6 half marathons and keeps on going! She doesn't make excuses -- she's goes out and gets it done.

2. Next up is Denise from Happiness . . . One Mile At a Time. Denise is one of those runners who I look at and think, "Wow. I would love to run like her one day." She works HARD and runs WELL. Super well. Super fast! And, super long. She qualified for and ran the 2011 Boston Marathon and is also an ultra-marathoner AND is now training for a triathlon. She's also had the misfortune of having to battle some annoying, troublesome injuries but she always seems to win the battle.

I really enjoy reading about Denise's training because she is dedicated to being the absolute best runner she can be and she always puts herself out there. She's honest about the highs and the lows of training. She's an inspiration (makes sense that she's also a Brooks ID (inspire daily) runner!).

3. This blogger is one who definitely fits into the "big blogger" category (not big like, physically, but big like, lots of people read her): MizFit -- MizFit Online. She writes about all things fitness all the time. And she's one fit mama (she does, indeed, have a little girl for whom she must be an awesome role model). She has an entertaining style and she writes about fitness and wellness issues that matter to every day people in their every day lives. She encourages questions and conversation and her site is just a great resource for all things fitness-y!

4. And now, Marlene who blogs at Mission to a(nother) Marathon. Marlene is one of those bloggers who I really hope to meet in real life one day (yikes, hope no one thinks that is too stalker-y!!). I've followed her running for a few years and have watched her running get better and better. Most recently, I rooted for her as she ran her Boston Marathon qualifying race a few weeks ago. Marlene is an upbeat blogger who is always fun to read.

5. Last on the fabulous list is Kristina at Mother Running Rampant. Kristina used to have a blog (Marathon Mama) on competitor.com and she recently changed things up and started the new blog that I've linked to here. I think Kristina is fabulous because a) she writes the way I wish I could write and b) she runs the way I wish I could run. You could say I have some blogger envy and you wouldn't be wrong.

I guess the truth is that I'm a little envious of all five of the bloggers I've listed here. They are fabulous, maybe even absolutely fabulous, and, sure, I'd love a little of that kind of fabulosity for myself. But, alas, I'll be satisfied reading their blog posts and enjoying hanging out with them in the virtual world. I highly recommend that you point your little browser pointer thingy in the direction of their blogs and start hanging out with them, too!

* * *

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Two new giveaways -- Saucony and Bengay

2011-05-31T10:23:00.000-04:00

I have a Saucony giveaway going on now through June 2nd and a Bengay Cold Therapy giveaway going on now through June 6th. Please pop over to my other site to check them out!

New review up!

2011-05-14T14:57:00.000-04:00

I reviewed Running on Empty by Marshall Ulrich over at my other site. I'm also giving away a copy of the book so pop on over and check it out if you haven't already.

Have a great weekend!

Barney Butter giveaway!

2011-05-12T11:24:00.000-04:00

There is one day left in the Barney Butter giveaway. You can enter to win a box of 12 squeeze packs of delicious Barney Butter almond butter.

Head on over HERE to enter!

Good luck!

About my giveaways and reviews

2011-05-06T13:44:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed that posting has been really low on this site. That's because I am now posting most of my reviews and giveaways on my main site, The Happy Runner. I am keeping this site as an ad-free place for reviews and giveaways that require it. But, from here on, you can find most of my giveaways on The Happy Runner.

Right now, for example, I am giving away a free $110 membership to USA Fit. Check it out!

If you don't follow my other site, please do so you'll be able to find out about all the goodies and giveaways!

Runner's World subscription for only $8.50

2011-04-04T20:43:00.000-04:00

Right now on amazon.com you can get a one year subscription of Runner's World (1-year auto-renewal) for only $8.50. This deal is only good today, April 4th, so act fast if you are interested!

Party on, Nutella!

2011-03-23T16:54:00.001-04:00

Creamy chocolate . . . hazelnut . . . yum . . .

Yes, I love Nutella. It's like a mash-up of so many of my favorite things. And isn't chocolate like the new health food these days? Yeah? I thought so :-)

What's more, according to the Nutella folks (and probably kids everywhere), it's the perfect thing for breakfast. I admit I hadn't thought of Nutella as a breakfast food until I was invited to host a Nutella tasting party with some of my friends. Nutella sent samples of the spread and other goodies, along with information on how to enjoy Nutella for breakfast. It is, after all, the most important meal of the day.

I decided to host a little playdate where the moms and the kids could try out the Nutella. We chatted, drank some coffee and tea and tasted Nutella spread on whole grain bread and animal crackers (hey, kids love animal crackers!). It was yummy! And I think the kids liked it too -- at least my (messy) son did.

Now, my son is a breakfast eater, so we don't have any problems there. But I know that other moms have trouble getting their kids to eat in the morning, especially when the menu consists of healthy foods. Nutella encourages them to look to the spread to help get their kids to eat healthy:

When used in moderation with complementary foods, Nutella® can form a part of a balanced meal. It is a quick and easy way to encourage kids to eat whole grains, such as whole wheat toast, English muffins, toaster waffles and bagels. With the unique taste of Nutella®, kids may think they are eating a treat for breakfast while moms are helping nourish their children with whole grains.

Although I don't have problems with breakfast, my son often wants treats for snacks. And by treats he means junk. So, I would look to Nutella on whole grain bread with sliced banana on top, or spread on a whole wheat tortilla, as an occasional snack option.

You can learn more about Nutella by visiting their web site. They have a Tips for Moms page set up and you can also download a coupon for $1 off a jar of Nutella. For those of you who really, really love Nutella, they are running a sweepstakes for a case of Nutella. That's 12 jars! Check it out HERE.

Review disclaimer: I was invited to host the tasting party and received samples of Nutella through MomSelect. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Managing and maximizing family finances

2011-03-17T10:48:00.001-04:00

Thank you to TurboTax for sponsoring my writing about household finances. Learn more about how TurboTax can help you find every tax deduction you deserve. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

In some sort of ironic twist, I have become the family financial manager. I say ironic twist because I'm more or less you're typical English Lit major kinda gal and my husband, well, he has the word budget in his professional job title, which should make him the perfect candidate for the home job.

Nope, it's me.

And I don't mind it. I almost like it.

It's true. There is a math geek buried deep inside me that longs to do a little subtraction, division and, when we're lucky, some addition and multiplication. But more than anything, it just makes sense. I do the shopping, I stay at home with my two boys so you could say that I have the time to manage the finances.

But even though I have the time I don't like to waste it. Instead, I like to maximize it and be as efficient as possible. So I do as much as possible online. We have a credit union that has an excellent online banking system and that serves as our hub. My husband has direct deposit for his paychecks so those go right into our account every two weeks. Our credit card and mortgage are through the same credit union so I just have to set up account transfers to pay those bills. Actually, the mortgage is set up as an automatic monthly payment so I don't have to do anything to pay that bill!

For all of our utilities and other regular bills (gas, electric, phone, cable, insurance, etc.) I have electronic payments set up so that when I receive a bill I just go online, input the amount that I need to pay for a particular bill and it is automatically sent on the date that I set. It's practically magic. I don't have to write any checks, fish through my bag for a stamp or worry about the payment being late.

Aside from the ease of electronic payments there is also the fact that it does save real money. You might not think of it, but saving 42 cents on every monthly bill does add up. I figure we have about 8 bills that we pay each month, so that's a savings of $3.36 each month, or $40.32 each year. EDITED: Suzy pointed out that stamps are now 44 cents, so the savings is even greater: $3.52 each month, $42.24 each year.

Speaking of savings, one other key to managing my family's finances is to make the most of the money we have. My income plummeted (to almost non-existent levels) once we had kids and decided that I would stay home and care for them full time. We need, then, to save where we can. So I do the usual: I comparison shop, use coupons and continue to wear sports bras that I bought back in the 1990s. I also use the power of the Internet to save even more. By "liking" my favorite brands on Facebook, for example, I can often get notice of discounts, coupons or special deals. Similarly, I join rewards programs for brands I buy regularly (like the Stonyfield rewards program that gives me lots of free product just for inputting codes online from their yogurt).

One thing I don't do, and that many experts recommend, is budget. Strict budgets are just too . . . well, they are too strict for this gal. It's kinda like weight loss: Some people say you should weigh yourself all the time to keep your weight in check. But, for me, I prefer to gauge my weight by how my clothes fit.

It's the same with budgeting. I like to go by feel. I try to keep our weekly shopping tab to a certain amount. If I go over it by much one week I make a concerted effort to go under that amount the next week. And if we have a lot of extra things going on one month, I try to keep our spending a little lower the next.

It's just what works for me and for my family.

But what about you? Do you manage your family's finances? Have any tips you'd like to share? Think I'm ridiculous for not budgeting? Share your thoughts in the comments!

CEP Compression Socks winner!

2011-03-16T13:43:00.000-04:00

Holy cow. You all like the compression socks, huh?

Thanks to everyone who entered! There was great interest in this giveaway but I could only pick one winner. I used random.org to select the winner and it is . . .

Allison at Just Tri and Finish

Congratulations, Allison! Send me an email (felicehalf at yahoo dot com) and we'll go from there :-)

Thanks to CEP for this awesome giveaway!

Rokit Fuel winner!

2011-03-08T09:54:00.000-05:00

You all seemed pretty eager to try out the Rokit Fuel. Unfortunately, I could only choose one winner and that is . . .

Rose from Eat, Drink and Be Meiri!

Congratulations, Rose! Email me your address (at felicehalf at yahoo dot com) and I will get you hooked up. I hope you enjoy the Rokit Fuel as much as I do.

Thanks again to Rokit Fuel for introducing me to their yummy endurance food and for this great giveaway!

CEP Compression Socks review and giveaway!

2011-03-07T13:42:00.002-05:00

I have long wondered whether or not compression socks really work. I've read reviews on other blogs and seen people wearing them at races but still I wondered. Are they worth the money? Should I splurge?

Well, now I have my answer. I was contacted to try out a pair of CEP compression socks recently and I've worn them several times. My overall opinion is that they work! Totally worth the splurge.

CEP stands for Compete, Endure, Perform. I like it! I mean, when I compete I have to endure (some pain) to perform (well). What's more, CEP claims that they are "clinically proven to increase performance by 5%." Sounds good to me!

Here's a little information on compression and CEP socks:

The Science Behind Compression:1. Arteries with normal blood flow - Arteries are blood vessels that transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the organs and muscles. Veins transport de-oxygenated blood back to the heart.
2. Arteries extension - The compression of the CEP compression sportsocks expands the diameter of the inner arterial wall thus improving blood flow to the muscles.
3. An increased arterial blood circulation and supply of oxygen to the musculature - The arterial blood circulation increases by approximately 30% while at rest and by approximately 40% under physical strain. The special compression profile of the CEP compression sport socks* is a decisive element in ensuring these results.

CEP Prevents:
Shin Splints
Cramps
Achilles Issues
Fatigue
Micro Muscle tears
Vibration trauma
Blisters
Blood clots from travel

Read more about CEP's products on their web site HERE.

Since I'm training for a half marathon I've been able to give the socks several good workouts: I've worn them on all of my recent long runs (an 11 miler, my 9.2 mile race, a 12.5 miler and a 13 miler) and I've worn them for my speedwork (mile repeats). I've also worn the socks after my runs to enhance and speed recovery.

Check out my flashy green gams:

I know, weird angle. It was the best I could do!

The socks are a little tricky to get on, because they are tight (compression, you know). But, I like how the socks feel when I'm wearing them and I especially like how I have felt during my runs while wearing the socks. In fact, while wearing them I have run faster than expected in my 9.2 mile race and in my recent 13 miler. Now, I'm not going to give all the credit for my recent awesome runs to my CEP socks (I've been working hard!) but I think they may be contributing to how well my runs have been going.

Overall, I really like the socks. I plan to wear them for my half marathon and I'll most likely be sporting them for the rest of this year's upcoming races. Hmm . . . I have a bunch of races on the schedule so maybe I should splurge on another pair!

To buy:

CEP Compression Socks retail for $60. You can buy them at various online retailers.

Lucky for you, CEP has given me a discount to share! Visit Sports Compression and input the code BLOG15 for a 15% discount on your order!

To win:

Would you like to win a pair of CEP compression socks? Sure you would! Well, that's what going on. One lucky reader will win one pair of CEP compression socks.

To enter:

Here's what you need to do: Become a follower of CEP on Facebook AND their blog (REQUIRED) and then come back here and leave me a comment.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain extra entries. Remember, though, you must complete the required entries first! (Leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)

Follow my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)

Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)

Let me know what your favorite socks are (leave a comment)

Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)

Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)

This giveaway will run through Tuesday, March 15th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Wednesday.

Good luck!

Review/giveaway disclosure: I received one pair of CEP compression socks to try out. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own. You can read my disclosure statement HERE.

Rokit Fuel giveaway ends tonight!

2011-03-07T12:31:00.000-05:00

Be sure to enter the Rokit Fuel giveaway today, if you haven't already. It ends tonight at 11:59 PM EST. Yum, yum, yum!

Hey, runners! A contest for you.

2011-03-02T14:53:00.000-05:00

Earthbound Farm recently announced a contest for runners of all sorts: Two entries to any of the races taking place during the Big Sur International Marathon weekend. This looks super cool so I wanted to share it with all of you. Here's some information from the Earthbound Farm PR folks:

The world-famous Big Sur International Marathon is sold out in all but two race categories but there is still one easy way to gain entrance to this legendary race. Simply “like” Earthbound Farm on Facebook and secure a chance to win one of the healthiest vacations of a lifetime: a trip for two to scenic Monterey, Calif., and two coveted entries to the 26^th Big Sur International Marathon’s events.

In just one minute, anyone can enter to win this milestone of an experience. From Feb. 22 through March 15, those who “like” Earthbound Farm on Facebook and take our Healthy Lifestyle Quiz, will be entered into Earthbound Farm’s Big Sur Marathon Sweepstakes!

Run, walk, or watch — there's no more beautiful place to do any of these activities than Big Sur, often called “the most magnificent meeting of land and sea in the world.” Runner’s World named the Big Sur International Marathon one of the three best marathons in America and “the nation’s Best Destination Marathon,” and said it's one to put on "your life list."

As a long-time presenting sponsor of the Big Sur International Marathon’s 10.6- and 9-mile Walks, Earthbound Farm is offering the lucky grand prize winner two guaranteed entries to any of the following events on May 1, 2011:

The Big Sur International Marathon (the competitive 26.2-mile run, sold out since October!)
The 21-Miler (a non-competitive 21-mile walk or run)
The 10.6-Mile Walk presented by Earthbound Farm (a non-competitive 10.6-mile walk or run)
The 9-Mile Walk presented by Earthbound Farm (a non-competitive 9-mile walk or run).
The Big Sur 5K Race (a competitive walk or run)

The grand prize also includes roundtrip airfare for two to Monterey, accommodations for two at the beautiful Portola Hotel & Spa, a post-marathon spa treatment for two, a new iPod® Touch for chronicling the experience on Facebook and $500 cash (total retail value: $4,500).

For sweepstakes details see our Official Rules. Get more information about the marathon’s events, course requirements and other terms and conditions at BSIM.org

Good luck!

Rokit Fuel review and giveaway.

2011-02-28T09:37:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while I have the good fortune of being introduced to a truly awesome product through this blog, that I continue to use long after my review has started to collect Internet dust out in my archives.

One such product is Rokit Fuel. A few weeks ago I was sent some samples of this "endurance fuel for athletes" and, friends, I am hooked. I love the stuff!

What the heck is Rokit Fuel, you may be asking. Well, Rokit Fuel is a line of cereal and energy mixes that are designed to be taken on the road with you, for convenient refueling whether you're tackling a long run, enjoying a hike or just driving around town with the kids. From the web site:

Rokit Fuel Energy Mix comes in a handy single serve pouch that you can take almost anywhere. It fits neatly into pockets, backpacks, briefcases and carry-ons. Simply add enough warm or cold water to the pouch to moisten the Rokit Fuel by massaging with your thumbs, then squeeze the Energy Mix into our mouth as you would an energy gel or GoGurt. It’s that easy. No spoon. No mess. No problem. And the all natural energy you get from one serving will give you sustained nutrition for several hours.

Rokit Fuel Cereal Cups are almost as handy as our Energy Mix. Take along a cup to work, on the plane or into the great outdoors. Add warm or cold water or milk and you’re set. No cooking or waiting necessary. Spoon in the goodness and feel your body say thank you for taking good care of me. The serving size of our cereal cups is generous for a full meal.

I tried both the cereal cups and the energy mix. Since I'm in the middle of half-marathon training, I decided to give Rokit Fuel a real test and try it out before some tough runs. The first up was speedwork. I had mile repeats on the schedule and was dreading them (interested? You can read about them over here.). I ate a pouch of the Pumpkin Chocolate Rokit Fuel about an hour before my run. To eat it, I opened the pouch, poured a little water into the mix (which looks a lot like muesli) and worked the water around to moisten it. Then, I ate away.

Ho -- wow. Yum. I certainly started with the right mix because Pumpkin Chocolate Rokit Fuel is delicious! Oh, so tasty!

Now, if you didn't pop over to my other site to read about that speedwork, I'll let you know that I nailed it. I ran those mile repeats with no problems. I'm not saying it was all due to the Rokit Fuel but I will say that eating Rokit Fuel an hour before a hard workout didn't cause any stomach issues and, in fact, it gave me good energy for some hard running.

I next used Rokit Fuel before an 11 mile run and had the same experience -- no stomach upset just good energy. For that run, I tried Spice Cookie and it was tasty too.

Since those two hard workouts, I've eaten Rokit Fuel after a few runs to refuel and I've tried the cereal cups for breakfast. Both have worked out well. Although, my three-year-old would disagree. He was very interested in trying out the cereal cups so I let him try one and he didn't like it. But, I don't really think he's the target market :-)

One way that I really enjoy the Rokit Fuel cereal is mixed with plain yogurt. I have found that the thickness of the yogurt balances the flavor and many textures of the Rokit Fuel cereal.

Now, let me say that I have only tried Rokit Fuel in my home -- the idea behind the energy mix is that it can be eaten on the run or hike or slopes or what have you. I don't think I could eat it when I'm on the run because I need something much quicker -- I can't stop to open the pouch, pour in water, mush it up and then consume it. For fueling on the run I'll stick to what I currently use. However, I really like it for before and after runs and I can totally see how marathoners, ultra-marathoners or people who like to stop while they are running could like it for during runs.

OK, so it tastes good and it works well before runs but what's in this stuff? Whole foods! Here's a look at what is in my favorite flavor, Pumpkin Chocolate:

INGREDIENTS: ROLLED OATS, RYE FLAKES, PURE CANE DARK BROWN SUGAR, PUMPKIN FLAKES, FLAX SEED, DARK SEMI SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS, PECANS, DATES, SUNFLOWER SEEDS, OAT GROATS, WHOLE WHEAT, PEARLED BARLEY, ALMONDS, SESAME SEEDS, BEE POLLEN, CINNAMON, SEA SALT, MACA ROOT, GOTU KOLA, NUTMEG, CLOVES.Nutrition Facts Serv. Size: 2.2 oz. (64g), Servings Per Container: 1, Amount Per Serving: Calories 230, Calories from Fat 70, Total Fat 8g (12% DV), Saturated Fat 1g (5% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg (0% DV), Sodium 75mg (3% DV), Total Carbohydrates 35g (12% DV), Dietary Fiber 6g (24% DV), Sugars 10g, Protein 7g, Vitamin A (40% DV), Vitamin C (4% DV), Calcium (6% DV), Iron (10% DV), Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

You can read about what is in the other flavors (including Holy Pinole, Spice Cookie, Stud Muffin and Cherry Almond and Chocolate Dream cereals) on the web site.

To buy:

You can order Rokit Fuel from their web site HERE and you can search for a local retailer HERE.

The giveaway:

Yay! Since I love this stuff so much I super happy that the nice folks at Rokit Fuel have offered to give away a sample pack to one lucky reader!

To enter:

If you would like to give Rokit Fuel a try, leave me a comment and let me know!

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Follow my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Become a fan of Rokit Fuel on Facebook (leave a comment)
Let me know what kind of fuel you currently use for long runs (or other exercise) (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)

This giveaway will run through Monday, March 7th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Good luck!

Review/giveaway disclosure: I received samples of Rokit Fuel to try out. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Medela Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System winner!

2011-02-25T08:50:00.000-05:00

This was a quick one -- thanks, all, for entering!

I used random.org to choose a winner from all of the entries and that winner is . . .

the lovely Jen from GoddessLibrarian!

Now, whenever random.org gives me the number of a person I actually know in real life I feel the need to disclose it. And, indeed, I know Jen in real life. But, as I said, I used random.org to pick the winner and it really was random. No funny stuff!

Congratulations, Jen!

Thanks to Medela/MomSelect for this giveaway!

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Medela Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System review and giveaway

2011-02-22T09:23:00.000-05:00

Not sure if I've written about this before but I am a breastfeeding mom. My little guy is 4 months old, so I'm exclusively breastfeeding right now. I also pump occasionally, although not as much as I'd like to. Pumping more and getting my son more comfortable with taking a bottle would no doubt give me more freedom. But it means I have to remember to pump and I'm bad at that.

Anyway, I was contacted to review the new Medela Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System and decided to give it a go.

I currently use a Medela pump and bottles so it made sense to check out their new offering. The idea is that the storage system helps you to quickly and easily see what milk is freshest -- and what milk is oldest -- to avoid waste. This is very appealing because if you've ever pumped breast milk, you know that having to toss some out is an awful feeling. Not only are you wasting milk but you are wasting milk that you produced.

Here's some information on the system from the Medela web site:

FEATURES AND BENEFITS
Makes it easy to protect, organize and locate breastmilk bottles in fridge or freezer.
Holds up to 6 Medela breastmilk bottles.
Lids are compatible with all Medela polypropylene breastmilk bottles.
Also compatible with Medela Pump & Save breastmilk bags (sold seperately).
WHAT’S INCLUDED
1 tray
2 labeling lids
2 - 5 oz breastmilk bottles

I found that the tray and the bottles were easy to use. But, because I have a side-by-side refrigerator the tray took up a little more room than I would have liked. Also, since I don't pump regularly, I often only have two bottles of milk in my refrigerator at any one time. The tray seemed to almost require at least four bottles in order for it to be useful.

I could see that this tray would be great for someone who pumps a lot, especially someone who pumps bottles for their baby who goes to daycare or some other babysitter situation. For them, the tray would keep their milk obviously separate and it would make it easy for the care takers to know what milk to use first.

You can buy the Medela Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System at many retail outlets including Babies R Us, which has it listed for $16.99 and Amazon.com, which has the Medela Breastmilk Storage Systemfor sale for $15.99.

The giveaway

You can also win one Medela Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System by entering my giveaway!

To enter

Leave me a comment and tell me whether you would use this for yourself or give it to another nursing mom.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Follow my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)

This giveaway will run through Thursday, February 24th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Friday.

Good luck!

Review/giveaway disclosure: I received one Medela system from Medela/MomSelect. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Green Giant winner!

2011-02-18T13:02:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my Green Giant giveaway. I chose one lucky winner using random.org and that person is . . .

Melissa at My Running Journey . . . for better or worse

Congratulations, Melissa! Send me an email with your address: felicehalf at yahoo dot com.

Thanks to Green Giant and MyBlogSpark for this giveaway!

I have some more fun giveaways coming up next week so be sure to check back. In the meantime, have a great weekend!

Orgain contest

2011-02-17T10:06:00.001-05:00

A few months ago, I posted about Orgain organic nutritional shakes (check it out HERE). Now, they are running a contest that I wanted to share with you all.

Every week from February 14 through April 01, Orgain is giving away a month’s supply of its delicious, high-protein organic shakes to one lucky winner through Facebook. Each giveaway winner will receive three cases of Orgain. Here's some more info from Orgain:

Orgain is the world’s first organic, ready-to-drink nutritional shake
Doctor-formulated to provide optimal nutrition for today’s busy lifestyle
Use Orgain as a meal re placement, a pre- or post-workout shake, as an antioxidant boost, or complete, organic nutrition during times of illness
Orgain is available in Creamy Chocolate Fudge, and Sweet Vanilla Bean, and coming soon, Iced Café Mocha
Free from caffeine, preservatives, gluten, corn syrup , saturated fat, hormones and antibiotics
Packaged in a recyclable Tetra Pak carton, Orgain helps keep the earth healthy too!
Enter the Orgain Giveaway Feb 14, through April 01, 2011 on Facebook

Good luck!

Stonyfield Farm and Physician's Formula winner

2011-02-15T14:29:00.000-05:00

Wow, this was a popular one! Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway for the Stonyfield Farm yogurt and the Physician's Formula make-up. I used random.org to pick one winner and that lucky duck is . . .

Tina at Gotta Run Now

Congratulations! Send me an email at felicehalf at yahoo dot com so you can get your goodies! And, by the way, I happen to love Tina's blog so do pop over and check her out :-)

Thanks to Stonyfield Farm for this great giveaway!

Green Giant review and giveaway.

2011-02-11T12:29:00.000-05:00

I recently was invited to try Green Giant Boxed Vegetables, which are now endorsed by Weight Watchers(R) as part of their "PointsPlus" program. I agreed and was sent this lovely package:

An insulated bag, a cute mixing bowl, a silicone spoon, a pedometer and, of course, the Green Giant frozen veggies. Quite the treat.

Now, before I get too much further along in this review, I have to say that when I agreed to do this review and host the giveaway I didn't realize that I'd be trying veggies in cheese sauce. I just thought they would be plain frozen vegetables, much like what I frequently serve and eat. My husband pointed out that processed food really isn't my cup of tea and he's right. I try to avoid the stuff as much as possible. And yet, here I was trying broccoli with cheese sauce.

Well, that's life. I served the veggies with dinner one evening. Aside from the processed nature of the cheese sauce, my biggest problem with the veggies was the plastic pouch that you cook them in. It was easy enough to cook the veggies -- just make a slit in the plastic pouch and then stick it in the microwave -- but serving them was tough. The whole situation was a little too messy for me. Maybe I'm just spastic, who knows?

At any rate, I did finally serve the veggies and, yes, we did enjoy them. I think I would prefer the sauce-free varieties more next time.

And, now, I have a giveaway!

The giveaway

One lucky reader will win the package pictured above (but with a coupon for the boxed veggies): An insulated bag, mixing bowl, silicone spoon, pedometer and one coupon for a free box of Green Giant frozen veggies.

To enter:

Leave me a comment telling me you'd like to win.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Follow my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)

This giveaway will run through Thursday, February 17th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Friday.

Good luck!

Review/giveaway disclosure: I received the package from Green Giant via MyBlogSpark. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Stonyfield Farm and Physician's Formula giveaway!

2011-02-08T09:29:00.000-05:00

Considering the number of times I've mentioned Stonyfield Farm, you all probably know that I'm a fan. And indeed I am. So, it will be no surprise to you that I agreed to sample their yogurt in its newly redesigned packaging, and offer a giveaway to my readers.

Yes, Stonyfield Farm yogurts have gone through a redesign. Their fat free yogurt now has a new "0% fat" graphic on each cup. But, according to Stonyfield Farm,

While the appearance has changed, our recipe will remain the same – still containing six live active cultures, and made without artificial colors or flavors, and made from organic milk produced without the use of toxic persistent pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, or artificial growth hormones (rBST).

Our 0% Fat organic yogurt is one of the few fat free yogurts on the market today that doesn’t use artificial sweeteners, while still offering all of the protein, calcium and quality organic ingredients people have come to expect from Stonyfield. What’s not to love?

Here's a look at the new design:

I tried a few containers of the yogurt and it tastes as good as ever. I love Stonyfield Farm yogurt -- I really do! The fat free yogurt is still creamy and fresh tasting. My favorite of the Stonyfield Farm yogurt is the plain low fat variety that I use just about every day for my breakfast smoothie. My son, though, likes the 6oz cups of yogurt, especially peach or blueberry. Yum!

You can learn more about Stonyfield Farm at their web site HERE.

Now, the question is: Would you like to try out some Stonyfield Farm yogurt?

The giveaway:

To celebrate Stonyfield Farms's new look, they are offering a coupon set for their yogurt -- 1 free quart and 2 free 6oz cups -- AND Organic Wear Lip Gloss and Powder/Bronzer, made by Physician’s Formula, and free of Harsh Chemicals, Synthetic Preservatives, Parabens, Synthetic Fragrances, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), and Animal Cruelty.

Good stuff if you ask me!

To enter:

Leave me a comment and tell me you'd like to win.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)

This giveaway will run through Monday, February 14th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Good luck!

Review/giveaway disclosure: I received coupons for free yogurt from Stonyfield Farm. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Yoplait Prize Pack winner!

2011-02-04T14:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the Yoplait Prize Pack giveaway. I had to choose just one winner, using random.org, and that lucky person is . . .

Sef + Sariah at S&S Express

Congratulations! Email me at felicehalf at yahoo dot com with your address and I'll get you hooked up!

Thanks to Yoplait and MyBlogSpark for this great giveaway!

Free sample of Origins Plantscription

2011-02-01T09:35:00.000-05:00

Origins is giving away free samples of their new Plantscription anti-aging serum. All you have to do is "like" them on Facebook and fill out a quick form to get your sample.

Enjoy!

PS: Don't forget to enter the Yoplait giveaway.

PPS: And how about giving a quick "like" to the Happy Runner on Facebook? Thanks!

Yoplait Original Yogurt Prize Pack Giveaway!

2011-01-27T14:36:00.000-05:00

Are you getting enough calcium? Not sure? Well, chances are you're not because, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of women don't get enough calcium. Yikes!

And that's too bad because calcium is important to build and maintain strong bones -- at any age. When you don't get enough from your diet, your body takes it out of your bones. So, calcium is good for you and we could probably all do with getting a little more in through our diet.

Recently, Yoplait introduced its original yogurt with twice the calcium, now 50% of the RDA of calcium in one 6oz container. Getting 50% of your calcium needs in one small container of yogurt seems like a good deal to me. I know that I have a hard time getting all the calcium that I need because I don't like milk at all. I drink a smoothie (made from yogurt) just about every day so I get calcium there and I also take a multivitamin, but I know I could probably do well to consume more calcium.

Here's some information from Yoplait:

With hectic schedules and many things to keep track of, consuming a sufficient amount of calcium may not always be our top priority. Luckily, Yoplait is committed to making it easier for women to add more calcium to their diet every day with the newly reformulated Yoplait Original style yogurt.

Now with two times the amount of calcium of the leading yogurt, that’s 50 percent of the Daily Value in one convenient 6-ounce cup, Yoplait Original yogurt provides women with an easy and delicious way to get the calcium they need. Yoplait Original also contains 50 percent of the Daily Value of vitamin D, which helps with the absorption of calcium. Yoplait is committed to women’s health and is proud to offer a product that has even more of the calcium and vitamin D they need for strong, healthy bodies.

(You can read more about calcium on the Yoplait site HERE.)

Yoplait is partnering with TV host and celebrity mom Nancy O'Dell on a one million cup giveaway of Yoplait Original yogurt. Since December 13, 2010, over half a million cups of yogurt have been given away. If you’d like to get your own free cup, visit Yoplait on Facebook or the Yoplait Website to sign up.

To help spread the news, I was invited to try out the Yoplait Original Yogurt and enjoy a prize pack, containing a duffel bag, speed jump rope, towel and water bottle. The prize pack is pictured below:

When I received my yogurt coupon, I went out and bought a cup of the Harvest Peach (retail price here in upstate NY is $.50). My son and I shared it and it was creamy and tasty.

The Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive a Yoplait Original Yogurt Prize Pack which includes: a *VIP Coupon for a free sample of Yoplait Original yogurt, a duffel bag, speed jump rope, water bottle and sport towel. *This coupon offer for Yoplait yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.

To enter:

Leave me a comment telling me what challenges you face in trying to incorporate calcium in your diet.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)

This giveaway will run through Thursday, February 3rd at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Friday.

Good luck!

Review/giveaway disclosure: I received a coupon for free yogurt and a prize pack from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Expressionery.com note pad review and discount.

2011-01-24T22:11:00.002-05:00

Expressionery.com ("express your style in print") has introduced a new artist in their line, Izak Zenou, and his illustrations are super cute!

I was lucky enough to receive two personalized note pads from the line to check out and review. The note pads are the Izak Best Friends Small Memo Pads and they feature four hipsters with their dogs -- their "best friends." Here's a look:

I love my note pads! It doesn't hurt that I really like personalized items, of course. But, these are a great size for jotting notes and the illustrations are fun. Also, the paper is heavy, but not too heavy, making the pads substantial enough to withstand actual use. Same goes for the adhesive binding on the pads. It is supple yet solid, so the pages won't fall out randomly (which I've had happen with pads that have flimsy binding or too-thin paper). The pads are a good size: 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 and have 100 sheets of paper in each pad. They are sold in sets of 2 pads for $25.

Overall, I give the notepads a definite thumbs-up! You can check out the note pads on the Expressionery site. And, if you would like to treat yourself to the note pads or anything else in the Izak Zenou line (there are 40 products to choose from) you can use the code IZAKBLOG for 30% off. The code is good through February 1st.

Enjoy!

Review disclosure: I received two note pads to review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Stonyfield Rewards

2011-01-19T10:41:00.000-05:00

I posted about this probably 6 months ago but the Stonyfield Rewards program has been extended so I wanted to post again. I'm a huge fan of Stonyfield products, especially their yogurt. I use the plain in my smoothies and always have containers of their kids and regular yogurt on hand for my son and husband. I simply feel better serving my family organic dairy products.

But, it is much more expensive to buy than regular dairy. That's where the rewards program comes in. The program will now run through June 30, 2011. If you sign up, you enter codes from Stonyfield products and, once you collect enough points, get coupons for free products. I've gotten probably a dozen free 32oz containers of yogurt, a few free half gallons of milk and probably a dozen free 6oz containers of yogurt. It is a really good deal!

You can check out and sign up for the program HERE.

Disclaimer: I'm simply passing this info along. I was not asked to. I was not compensated for it.

Go Girl Sport review and discount.

2011-01-11T10:59:00.000-05:00

Back in December, I was sent the CUTEST little running skort from Go Girl Sport to try out and review. Of course, it's winter here in upstate New York so my opportunities to wear the skirt were limited. But, I did get around to wearing it on several treadmill runs to test it out.

It's called the Tuxedo Skort and, as you can see from the photo, it has a low rise and a short length. (Nope, that's not me with those kickin' abs in the pic.) Check it out:

Very cute.

So, how'd I like it? Well, I was sent a medium and it fit me perfectly. Yes, it has a low rise but the band is wide and comfortable. Yes, the overall length is short but, surprisingly, I liked that. When I first looked at the skort, I worried. I am so not a bun-hugger type of girl and this skort made me think of them. Since it is a skort, though, the shorter length works. Now, I have only worn it when running on my treadmill and I think I will probably not wear it in public until I lose the last of my baby weight. But, I liked the feel of the length. I've had some skorts that are too long and have too much fabric and they end up flapping all over the place. That is not something that would happen with this skort -- no extra flappy fabric here!

The white stripes are actually mesh panels that let air flow through and make the skort less heavy. Underneath the skirt part is an attached pair of white shorts. The undershorts were my least favorite part of the skort. They didn't chafe or anything like that, but they did ride up a bit. It wasn't terrible but it was more than I would have liked. I think that if they were just a wee little bit longer, they would have been perfect.

Overall, I like the Tuxedo Skort and would recommend it.

You can buy it online at the Go Girl Sport web site for $64. Since the folks at Go Girl Sport are so nice, they've provided me with a discount code for 20% off your order: 20SHEGO. Also, check out their Facebook page because they often list deals there:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/GoXiGo-by-Go-Girl-Sport/105394110859

Review disclosure: I received one skort to review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Naturemade Chewable vitamin D free sample

2011-01-05T14:16:00.000-05:00

Walmart is offering free samples of Naturemade Chewable Vitamin D. We all know how important vitamin D is, especially during the winter months!

There is a short form that you must fill out to get your sample. Visit the web site HERE to get your sample!

Set your alarm for an awesome giveaway!

2011-01-03T15:08:00.000-05:00

Check it out! Nike is giving away 2,011 pairs of Nike Free shoes. The giveaway opens January 4th at 3pm EST so I'm sure you'll want to enter right away to make sure you're one of the lucky 2,011. Here's the link: http://www.sharecare.com/static/nike-coming-soon

Good luck!

Yummy Barney Butter contest!

2011-01-03T10:22:00.000-05:00

This is great: Barney Butter is running a contest where they'll give away a year's supply of Barney Butter! YUM!

To enter, just like them on Facebook and fill out the sweepstakes form. They also have a sale going on now, with 11% off through 1/11/11. Go to their web site and use promo code: NewYear11.

Enjoy!

Yoplait freebie!

2010-12-31T14:50:00.000-05:00

Yoplait is offering coupons to get one free cup of their Yoplait original style yogurt. Visit the web site HERE to fill out a form and get your free cup!

Enjoy!

Emergen-C Blue free sample

2010-12-30T14:20:00.000-05:00

It's winter and that pretty much means it is cold season. I try my hardest to fight getting sick by loading up on vitamins C and D and by sticking to my running program (I really believe in sweating out the germs!). I've used Emergen-C to get my vitamins and I like it.

Now, you can get a free sample of Emergen-C Blue HERE. You just fill out one easy form and that's it!

Enjoy!

Coolmax/EcoMade socks winner

2010-12-28T14:44:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the socks giveaway. One of you will have some pretty happy feet, with a week's worth of cool socks. And that lucky person is . . .

Stacie at Impossible is Nothing!

Congratulations, Stacie! Email me at felicehalf at yahoo dot com with your address to get hooked up with your fancy socks :-)

Thanks to Coolmax EcoMade for this giveaway!

Giveaway ending tonight!

2010-12-27T16:07:00.002-05:00

The Coolmax/Ecomade socks giveaway ends tonight at 11:59pm EST. If you haven't entered yet, go to the giveaway page and enter now! This is a great giveaway for SEVEN pairs of socks!

Good luck!

MIO review and promotion.

2010-12-27T10:21:00.000-05:00

I have never been a big heart rate training person, in part because I've never wanted to wear a strap across my chest as I run. I recently learned, though, that a chest strap isn't the only way to measure your heart while exercising, making the task more appealing.

I was sent a MIO Motion Original Strapless Heart Rate Watch to try out.

After setting it up with my age, weight, gender, etc. (which was easy) I wore it for a few runs. The idea behind the watch is that it allows you to get your heart rate reading very easily, without wearing a chest strap. You simply put on the watch and, as you're working out, touch anywhere on sensor that surrounds the face of the watch to get your reading. It is super easy. As I was running, I touched the sensor several times to get my heart rate. I didn't have to stop, didn't have to even look at the watch because it doesn't matter where on the sensor you put your finger. And, as you can see from the image of the watch, the sensor (the steel area around the face) is fairly large and that makes touching it to get your heart rate easy.

Here are some details about the watch, from the MIO web site:

On demand, ECG accurate heart rate without a chest strap
Multi-function activity monitor uses accelerometer technology to accurately count steps, estimate speed and distance traveled as well as calories burned.
Percentage of maximum heart rate
Get results faster with the MIO 3500 Calorie Club program
Programmable target heart rate zones with upper and lower heart rate zones
Resting heart rate: measures and displays your resting heart rate
Exercise timers
Water resistant up to 50 M
2 level pedometer sensitivity
User accessible battery hatch
Compact design for those with smaller wrists

Overall, I liked the size, feel and usability of the MIO. However, I have a Garmin Forerunner that I normally wear when I run and I can't see wearing both the MIO and the Garmin on my wrist. That seems a bit like overkill! But, I would like to wear it for training runs on the treadmill when I am trying specific workouts. Giving heart rate training a try seems like it could be a good thing for me. If you're interested in learning a little more about your heart rate and the benefits of monitoring it, MIO has some information HERE.

The watch retails for $99.

MIO Promotion

Now through the end of the year, though, you can get MIO products at a HUGE discount! MIO is offering 40% off some of their key monitors and 25% off all other products. Check out their special promotion site to see all of the products and discounts. But, hurry, because the promotion only lasts through December 31st.

Review disclosure: I received one MIO to review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Cranberry Naturals winner!

2010-12-21T21:36:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late in getting this posted but, yes. We do have a winner of the two bottles of Cranberry Naturals cranberry juice. And that winner is . . .

Jenna Z of CorgiPants!

Congratulations, Jenna! Email me your address (at felicehalf at yahoo dot com) and I'll send you the coupons for the juice. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Shrinkx Hips review

2010-12-20T15:49:00.000-05:00

The first change that I noticed when I was pregnant was that my hips had expanded. Seriously. My hips widened a lot right away, making my pre-pregnancy pants too small before I was even sporting much of a belly. It's one of the annoying parts of pregnancy, in my opinion. Sure, you expect to lose your waist -- you're carrying a baby after all -- but you don't expect to expand your hips. At least I didn't.

But, it's what happens and it is also the thing that new moms would like to fix after giving birth.

Enter Shrinkx Hips.

No, that's not a picture of me. Although, that would be nice . . .

Shrinkx Hips is a hip belt that, when worn in the first 8 weeks after giving birth, helps narrow your hips. Here's a little information on the belt from the web site:

The Shrinkx Hips belt works thanks to the hormone Relaxin, which loosens pelvic joints & ligaments for childbirth. Relaxin then stays in your system up to 8 weeks before joints and ligaments harden in place. Wearing the Shrinkx Hips belt during this time gives you the opportunity to permanently narrow your hips. Shrinkx Hips
Provides constant, even pressure to gently guide your hips back to their pre-pregnancy position
Must be worn in the first 8 weeks after delivery
Easily worn under or over your clothing
Comfortable and made of soft Nylon & Spandex materials
Shrinkx Hips is exclusively designed with multiple levels of compression so you can control the amount of pressure on your hips & work towards the best possible results.

I was sent a belt to use after I had my second son. I started using it about 2 weeks after giving birth and used it until I reached the 8 week mark. To determine how well Shrinkx Hips works, I measured my hips before I started using it and then again afterward.

The belt was surprisingly easy and comfortable to wear. I admit that I felt self-conscious wearing it out in public, so I only wore it at home. But, I could easily wear it under jeans or any regular pants and it wasn't really noticeable. And, it didn't slip around, which was something I worried about. So, if I hadn't been so self-conscious I could have worn it all the time and no one would have been the wiser, I'm sure.

Since I only wore it when I was at home and forgot to put it on some days, I wondered if I would see results.

The answer: I did!

When I measured my hips at the end of the 8 weeks, they were TWO inches narrower. Woo hoo! That's pretty significant, no?

Now, that's great and proof that Shrinkx Hips works. BUT -- and this is a definite but, here -- you don't see full results just by using the belt. I'm very active (started running two weeks after my son was born) and I have been fairly good about eating well. To date, I've lost about 25 of the 34 pounds I gained while pregnant. So, some of my smaller size is due to my weight loss. Because I still have some weight to lose, though, I can see the extra padding around the midsection, right above where Shrinkx Hips has narrowed my hips. So, for the full effect of the product to be realized you need to lose all the extra weight.

However, I like that my hips are back to where they should be. I can get rid of the extra padding (I hope!) and then I'll be all set.

Right now, you can purchase Shrinkx Hips from Upspring Baby for $43.99. That's 20% off the regular price. You can find other online retailers HERE. If you're pregnant, I recommend this for after you give birth. If you're not, it would make a good gift for a friend -- just be sure you don't make her feel like you've noticed her wider hips!

Review disclosure: I received one free Shrinkx Hips belt for review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Giveaway ending tonight!

2010-12-20T09:07:00.000-05:00

The Cranberry Naturals giveaway (coupons for two free 64oz bottles of juice) ends tonight -- 11:59pm EST. There are super low entries so your chances are good! Don't forget to enter.

Good luck!

Good deal on Barney Butter!

2010-12-16T14:22:00.000-05:00

Check it out: Now though 12/20, you can get 20% off all orders on barneybutter.com.

Barney Butter is an all natural almond butter made with Premium California Almonds. It is craveably delicious, with a texture just like peanut butter. Made in an almond only facility, it is peanut free, ideal for those with peanut allergies. Barney Butter is naturally no-stir and does not need to be refrigerated. Gluten free, no trans fats or hydrogenated oils, and half the saturated fat of peanut butter make Barney Butter a healthy and delicious treat!

Just visit the web site and use the code Holiday20 to get your discount.

Enjoy!

Cranberry Naturals review and giveaway.

2010-12-15T13:40:00.000-05:00

Let it be known that I lo-o-o-o-ove cranberries. Cranberry juice, cranberry sauce, cranberry bread, dried cranberries, oatmeal cranberry chocolate chip cookies? I love it all.

It was no hard sell, then, to get me to try out the new Old Orchard Cranberry Naturals juice. In fact, I jumped at the chance and I'm glad I did.

I was sent two 64oz bottles of juice: One of Classic Cranberry and one Cranberry Raspberry. The juice contains NO high fructose corn syrup (very important to me) and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. But it is reduced calories, using Truvia as a sweetener and reducing the per serving calories to 70.

Reduced calories and all, this juice tastes great! I was worried that the juice would have a fake taste, because it is reduced calories, but it doesn't. It has the right balance of sweet and tart and there is nothing fake tasting at all. I definitely give it a thumbs up -- and so does my 3-year old son. He loves it!

You can check out the Old Orchard brand promotions and download coupons on their web site.

The giveaway

Would you like to try some of the Cranberry Naturals juice? I have TWO coupons for a free bottle of juice to send to one winner. To enter just leave me a comment letting me know that you are interested!

The giveaway will run through Monday, December 20th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be posted on Tuesday.

Good luck!

Review/giveaway disclosure: I was sent two bottles of juice for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are my own.

Coolmax EcoMade giveaway!

2010-12-13T13:03:00.000-05:00

I have some good, good, goodies for you today! Well, not all of you. Just one, actually. One lucky winner!

What are the goodies, you ask? Socks! And what runner or otherwise active person doesn't need more socks? Exactly. Well, thanks to Coolmax EcoMade, I have seven days of socks to give to one winner.

Coolmax EcoMade socks are -- ahem -- pretty cool. They are made from 97% recycled resources such as plastic bottles, which keeps a lot of plastic out of the landfills. Here's some information on the "bottle-to-sock" process:

The process for making COOLMAX® EcoMade socks begins with post-consumer bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, being cleaned and converted into polymer flakes. The flakes are then converted into chips, melted and extruded into fiber designed to provide high-performance, permanent wicking benefits. This fiber is then spun into yarn for legwear.

Made with a 4-channel cross section for outstanding moisture movement, COOLMAX® EcoMade socks dry quickly, help keep the wearer cool and comfortable, maintain a natural feel that’s soft, lightweight and breathable, and are permanent and effective.

It's quite interesting, if you ask me. Light-weight wicking socks made from waste. What's more, Coolmax EcoMade has expanded into several well-known performance sock brands: DeFeet, Injinji, Dansko, Fox River and Sports Tuff.

Have a look at some of the socks:

Fun, right? Yup. Personally, I'd like to try out those Injinji socks but I any of the socks would be great because they seem like they would be good for me as a runner while also being good for the environment.

So, what about this giveaway, huh? OK, check it out:

The Giveaway!

One winner will receive SEVEN pairs of Coolmax EcoMade socks, a value of over $100.

To enter:

Be a follower of this site and leave me a comment telling me that you are and that you want to win the socks!

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Visit the Coolmax EcoMade site (www.coolmaxecomade.com) and let me know something that you learned (leave a comment)
Follow my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)

This giveaway will run through Monday, December 27th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Thanks to Coolmax EcoMade for this giveaway!

Good luck!

Giveaway disclosure: I was not compensated for this giveaway.

Genesis Today review and contest.

2010-12-10T09:01:00.001-05:00

I had never heard of Genesis Today until I was contacted to review this new "superfruit" juice. Superfruit? Yup, superfruit. Genesis Today makes superfruit juices, which are, according to founder and CEO Dr. Lindsey Duncan, "beverages with purpose -- juices created with more antioxidants and vitamins than ever before and made with unique fruits and natural compounds like Acai, Goji berry and Resveratrol."

(Learn more about superfruits on the Genesis Today site.)

Here's a little bit about Dr. Lindsey and Genesis Today:

Dr. Lindsey Duncan is a Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Nutritionist, who has been a trusted leader in the natural health products industry since 1983. After leading a successful nutrition practice in Santa Monica and logging over 40,000 hours of clinical experience, Dr. Lindsey wanted to do more. Dr. Lindsey has brought the superior, customized nutrition he had given his celebrity clients to everyone in America because he believes that no matter what your financial situation or your exercise routine, you deserve to be healthier, now.

ANTI-OXIDANTS. PRO-NUTRIENTS. Every Genesis Today product is packed with so many nutrients, minerals and antioxidants that just one serving a day is all you need to start meeting your health goals. Genesis Today’s Superfruit juices are available in three flavors: Acai Berry, Cranberry Goji, and Pomegranate & Berries with Resveratrol. Genesis Today wants you to switch out your morning glass of orange juice for a healthier option. Try it now and feel the difference.

Sounds pretty interesting, yes? I thought so. I mean, I'm all about the healthier option. I tried the Cranberry Goji juice, actually my son and I tried it. If there is juice around, my 3 year old wants in. So, I shared the taste test with him.

I have to be honest -- I don't think I like the flavor of goji. Cranberry is one of my favorites but, for some reason, the Cranberry Goji juice tasted a little odd to me. I blame the gojis!

My son, on the other hand, loved it. His take: "It's delicious! It's sour just like cranberry juice!"

And he was right. It had a distinct cranberry flavor, but it was marred (to me) by the goji. Now, having said that, I decided to drink the rest of the bottle of juice after a tempo run and really enjoyed it. It tasted refreshingly tart and it was . . . well, it was refreshing. So, maybe for me this would be more of a recovery/post-run type of drink.

The juice contains tons of vitamins including 200% of the daily value of vitamin C, 100% DV of vitamin B6 and 1000% DV of vitamin B12 per serving. It also contains 100mg of sea minerals, 10,000mg of goji. So, it packs a healthy punch!

Genesis Today juices are available at Walmart, Sam's Club and on Amazon.

Genesis Today Contest

If you'd like to try out the supefruit juices, you can enter to win a 3-month supply of Genesis Today products, along with a personal health consultation from Dr. Lindsey Duncan. Yeah, I know. Pretty cool! Here are the details:

ENTER TODAY FOR A HEALTHIER TOMORROW!

Genesis Today will choose one lucky Grand Prize winner to receive the “Ask Dr. Lindsey – Prize Pack.” This will include a personal health consultation from Dr. Lindsey Duncan himself suited to your specific health and nutritional needs and will include a three (3) month supply of Genesis Today products – a $600 value. Second Place will receive a three (3) month supply of Genesis Today Superfruit juices, and 25 Runners up will receive a free bottle of Genesis Today Superfruit juices.

Enter now at: http://genesistoday.emgpromotions.com/

The contest ends December 20th so go now! Enter away. And good luck!

Review disclosure: I was sent one bottle of juice for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are my own.

Free sample of Solgar Whey To Go Protein Powder.

2010-12-09T12:29:00.000-05:00

Here's a quick freebie for you! Solgar is giving away free samples of Whey To Go Protein Powder. Here's some info:

• Solgar Whey To Go® offers a complete essential amino acid profile, with L-Glutamine and free-form branched chain amino acids (BCAAs).

• Gluten-free Whey To Go® features easily absorbed, cross-flow micro-filtered whey.

• Whey boasts the highest biological value (BV) of all natural proteins.

• Solgar's New and Improved Whey To Go® formulas offer 25% more protein ? 20 grams per serving.

• Available in chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, Whey To Go® is 98% lactose free. For health and fitness, it's the ultimate whey to go!

And here's the link to get your sample. Enjoy!

EZSox winner

2010-11-30T10:36:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all who entered the EZSox giveaway. I selected the winner using random.org and the winner is:

Lesley at Racing it Off

Congratulations, Lesley! Email me at felicehalf at yahoo dot com with your choice of socks and your address.

Thanks, EZSox for this giveaway!

Good Garmin deal!

2010-11-29T17:16:00.000-05:00

OK, seriously, all of this Cyber Monday business is annoying. Especially so soon after all the Black Friday nonsense.

But! There is an awesome deal that is just too good not to pass on: Amazon has the Garmin Forerunner 205on sale for just $99. Plus free shipping. Check it -- it's a super deal ($168 off the regular price!).

Shop on, friends.

PS: The Amazon link is an affiliate link so if you click and make a purchase, I will get a commission. Thanks -- the fees fund my running gear habit :-)

Giveaway ending tonight!

2010-11-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to enter the EZSox giveaway. It ends tonight at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T08:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

Be sure to stop back next week for more goodies -- a bunch of reviews and some cool giveaways! Yay! And while you're at it, why not enter the EZSox giveaway? It's going on now through the end of the day Monday.

Cheers!

Orgain winners!

2010-11-23T09:56:00.000-05:00

I'm so glad that I was able to pick two winners for this one. As usual, I used random.org to pick the winners and they are:

Rae from 5K Rae

and

Selena!

Congratulations, Rae and Selena! Shoot me an email: felicehalf at yahoo dot com with your address so you can enjoy your Orgain.

Full disclosure: I'm friends with Selena in real (as in, outside of the interwebs) life. Please know that she was selected using the randomizer, just like every other winner.

Thank you to Orgain for the chance to review their product and for the great giveaway!

EcoMom's 7 Days of Giving

2010-11-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

Starting today (11/23) EcoMom is running a program called 7 Days of Giving.

From today through Monday, November 29th, EcoMom will randomly choose four EcoMom orders per day and make them ABSOLUTELY FREE. So, if you place an order with Ecomom, regardless of the purchase size, you could be a winner and your whole order will be free! That's a total of 28 EcoMom orders that will be free.

At the same time, EcoMom is pledging to duplicate every free order and donate it to Baby2Baby -- a wonderful organization that supplies Los Angeles families in need with essential baby gear and clothing for their children 0-4 years old. They distribute new and gently used items through a network of community-based organizations.

Everything in the EcoMom store will be on sale at 33% off so even if your order isn't one of the free ones, you'll still be enjoying great prices on eco-friendly products for your family.

So, check it out . . . and good luck!

EZSox review and giveaway.

2010-11-22T17:33:00.000-05:00

Last week, my son got to be part of the Happy Runner Reviews action. And, boy, was he excited about it.

See, I often get a few packages a week and those excite the little guy. He always wants to know what fun thing I've gotten and why I've gotten it. So, last week, when I received a package from EZSox, I told him it was for him.

He practically squealed with delight.

We opened the package to find one pair of EZSox for us to review. By sheer coincidence, they were frog socks and my son loooooooves froggies. So, yeah, he was excited.

Now, about the socks. EZSox are marketed as the "I Can Do It" socks for kids. They are learning socks that help toddlers and pre-schoolers learn how to put their socks on by themselves. If you have (or had) kids in that age group, you know that socks can be tricky for kids. My son often has trouble putting on his socks.

Let me rephrase that: He always has trouble putting on his socks. Which means I have to do it for him. He has no problem taking them off, but on is difficult.

Anyway, it seems that this is a common problem for the young set so EZSox were created to help kids gain self-sufficiency in the socks arena. Here's a little more from EZSox:

"Created by parents who tired of seeing their young son struggle dressing himself, Eileen and Ronnie Gesser designed socks with pull-up loops on both sides of each sock, and fun graphics on the tops of the socks. In no time, their son was no longer frustrated and proudly dressing himself. Today this fun and easy teaching tool for teaching kids self-sufficiency is the only one of its kind. "

All of that is well and good but you probably want to know how the socks actually worked out for us. Not too bad! Actually, my son loved them. He liked that he could pull the socks on by himself. When he did it the first time he exclaimed, "I did it all by myself, Mommy! I did it! I did it!" No lie. I felt like I should have filmed him for a commercial.

Here he is trying out the socks:

Holding the loops.

Moving on to the second sock.

Straightening it out.

Showing his dad how he did it all by himself!

Overall, I like the socks and think that they work the way they are intended. They are really cute (they come in a bunch of different animal designs and some solid colors), they have a non-skid bottom (very important to me) and they are seamless. My son was able to pull the socks on and off with relative ease. He had a few problems not getting all of his toes all the way into the socks, but he was able to readjust and pull the socks on.

The worst part of the socks, for me, was the mini battle that ensued when I told my son that the socks had to be washed. That didn't really fly. He wanted to wear them repeatedly and told me that "you don't ever wash the frog socks!"

Yeah, it was a battle but, being the mom, I won.

You can buy EZSox on their web site where they retail for $4.99 each, or $29.94 for a pack of six.

The Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive a pair of EZSox of their choice.

To enter:

Go to the EZSox web site and let me know which pair you'd choose if you win.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog or my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Become a fan of EZSox on Facebook (leave a comment)
Follow EZSox on Twitter (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)

This giveaway will run through Monday, November 29th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Thanks to EZSox for this giveaway!

Good luck!

Review/giveaway disclosure: I was sent one pair of socks for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are my own.

Orgain review and giveaway.

2010-11-17T12:31:00.001-05:00

Today, I have what I consider a great giveaway for you! But first, let me take some time to provide you with a review of the product.

The Review

I was recently asked to sample and review Orgain, "the world’s first certified organic and physician-developed nutritional shake."

The drink was formulated by cancer survivor Dr. Andrew Abraham, who has said:

“Two key experiences in my life inspired me to create Orgain. As a teenager fighting cancer, I realized that there simply weren’t any alternatives to the chalky-tasting conventional meal replacements that were full of artificial ingredients. Later, as a family doctor I appreciated firsthand the critical importance of balanced nutrition for optimal health at all stages of life. I used both experiences to create a new kind of nutritional shake that enables everyone – whether healthy or sick - to enjoy the benefits of certified organic ingredients.”

Here's a little more information about Orgain.

One 11-ounce serving contains:

Real organic fruit and vegetables - antioxidant equivalence of 10 servings
2:1 ratio of organic complex carbohydrates and organic protein (16g) to provide athletes with sustained energy
24 vitamins and minerals
255 nutrient-dense calories

Uses:

A pre/post workout shake.
Perfect as a meal replacement.
A nutritious choice for strengthening the immune system during times of illness.

What was left out:

Caffeine
Preservatives
Gluten
Corn syrup
Saturated fat
Hormones
Antibiotics

Pretty good stuff, huh? I'd say so!

Anyway, I tried the Sweet Vanilla Bean and the Creamy Chocolate Fudge. Before trying them out, I chilled them (they are shelf-stable so they were room temp.) so I wouldn't have to drink them with ice. I wasn't sure how much I'd like the drink since I've never been a huge meal replacement drink fan. They usually taste too chalky or too thick for me.

Fortunately, Orgain is not chalky at all. Nor is it too thick. The drink has a milk-like consistency but it doesn't taste like milk at all. Instead, it tastes like a treat. To me, anyway.

I tried the drinks as replacements for my breakfast. I really enjoyed the Sweet Vanilla Bean. The Creamy Chocolate Fudge was good, too, but almost tasted like too much of a treat to have for breakfast. But, both flavors scored high in a key area: They kept me full from breakfast until lunch. That's a big win for a meal replacement drink because, after all, it is supposed to replace your meal. If the drink leaves you hungry, then what's the sense of drinking it?

I also tried the drink after a run and thought that it made a decent recovery drink. For me, it was a bit more than I needed, but I could see the benefit of drinking it if you're doing hard training, like speed work or marathon training.

You can purchase Orgain at several retailers including Whole Foods, Wegmans, Food Town and Harris Teerter. Other locations are listed on the Orgain web site. You can also order it from Amazonfor $33 a case (12 containers), with free shipping.

The Giveaway

The folks at Orgain have generously offered two cases of the drink for me to give away. So, TWO lucky readers will win and each receive a case of Orgain to try out!

To enter:

Pop over to the Orgain web site. Then leave me a comment telling me what feature of Orgain sounds the most important and/or beneficial to you.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

Follow this blog or my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
Become a fan of Orgain on Facebook (leave a comment)
Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment each time)
Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment)

This giveaway will run through Monday, November 22nd at 11:59pm EST and the winners will be announced on Tuesday.

Thanks to Orgain for this great giveaway!

Good luck!

Win a copy of Meb Keflezighi's book!

2010-11-12T11:13:00.000-05:00

Check it out! The publisher of Meb Keflezighi's new book, Run to Overcome, is giving away an autographed copy of the book everyday between November 1 and March 31. All you have to do is visit the sweepstakes page and submit some basic information and you'll be entered to win!

Meb is the 2009 New York City Marathon champion and an Olympic silver medalist. You can read more about Meb here.

Good luck!

Firefly toothbrush review.

2010-11-08T13:19:00.001-05:00

If you have kids, you may have struggled with the whole tooth brushing thing at one point or another. I know I have. My 3-year old pretty consistently complains about having to brush his teeth before we go someplace in the morning. He also claims to be done brushing well before he really is. So I feel like I'm always hocking him to brush his teeth, or brush them better. And that's a bit of a pain.

Fortunately for me, I recently had the opportunity to try out Dr. Fresh's Firefly toothbrush, the Float'N Firefly:

Made specifically for kids, the toothbrush has a light-up timer that lasts for a minute, to encourage kids to brush longer and more thoroughly. It's really pretty cool.

As soon as we got the toothbrush, my son wanted to try it out. He loves that it lights up and also that it has a cute little base for the toothbrush to sit in. He now brushes for the whole minute that the toothbrush is lit, and often asks me to light it up again and he'll brush longer. The added bonus is that he often asks to brush his teeth at different times during the day. So, now that we're using the Float'N Firefly, my son is brushing his teeth both more often and for longer. That's a real win for me!

I can see that this would be best for kids of my son's age, maybe a little younger and a little older.

The toothbrushes are available at Target, K-Mart, Walgreens and several other stores. You can find a list of retailers on the site here.

Amazonhas the Float'N Firefly toothbrushes available in a range of prices -- from $21.65 for 12 toothbrushes down to $2.99 for one. They also have other versions available as well.

Review disclosure: I was sent a toothbrush for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are my own.

Happy 11th, lucy!

2010-11-05T22:22:00.000-04:00

Get ready to gear up, friends! Lucy -- the performance apparel company -- is turning 11 tomorrow and celebrating by offering customers 30% off all items. Not just a few -- all. Pretty darn cool, if you ask me. The sale is good online at lucy.com and at their bricks-and-mortar stores, if you're lucky enough to have one of those near you. (You can find store locations here.)

You can get your 30% off by printing this card and bringing it to a lucy store, or heading online:

Why not treat yourself, huh? :-)