Stonyfield yogurt pouches.

I am a fan of organic yogurt for my boys and have long purchased Stonyfield Organic products for them. They love the squeezers for lunch boxes, and I get the quarts for them to eat by the bowlful at home. Sometimes, when I'm feeling zany, I buy the little smoothie bottles. Man, oh man, do they love it when I do.

Now, they want the pouches. I was given the opportunity to try out Stonyfield Organics new yogurt pouches and . . . CONTINUE READING ----------------> http://tinyurl.com/lt8w6ao

Get poppin' - popchips review and giveaway!

I'm not a junk food junkie. Let's get that straight. In fact, I mostly follow a Paleo diet, which eschews junk food as a primary principle.

However, I'm not against snacks. And my kids? Well, yeah. They are snackers. Full-on snackers.

Snackers, yes. But junk food? I have to say no to that. I try -- really, really hard -- to keep the kids away from junky junk food. 

Of course, I'm not perfect but, as I said, I try. So, when I was invited to try out the new popchips flavors, I was happy to do so! 

popchips are pretty awesome. We tried out the original, bbq, sweet potato, salt & vinegar and the sour cream & onion. My boys loved them all, especially the sour cream & onion and the original. I loved that they are gluten-free; don't contain soy (not even soy lecithin! woo hoo!), MSG, or artificial colors or flavors; and use non-GMO ingredients.  (Check out their nutrition information on their web site.)

Sure, they aren't Paleo but when I want to sneak a non-Paleo treat, I like to sneak one that is gluten-free and soy-free. Thank you, popchips!

Just hanging out, snacking and reading about the Olympics.

Now, you all are lucky because I have a great giveaway for you!

The Giveaway

One reader will win a 3-months supply of popchips. That's three 24-count cases of chips. In other words, lots of snacking!!

Who wants to win?!?!?!

You? Good. Here's how to enter:

Pop over to the popchips website and check out their flavors. Then come back here and leave me a comment letting me know which flavor you'd most like to try. 

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.) So, here's what to do:

• Follow me on Pinterest, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
• Pin the image from this post to share the giveaway on Pinterest (leave a comment)
• Follow me on Twitter, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment) 
• Tweet about this giveaway  (leave a comment)

• Follow me on Instagram, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)

• Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment) 

 
 

This giveaway will run through Thursday, February 27th at 11:59pm EST and the winner -- chosen at random from all eligible entries -- will be announced on Friday. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or I'll choose another winner.

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

Review disclaimer: I was sent product for review from popchips. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

 

YoYummy!

Recently, I was invited to try out YoYummy, a new yogurt for kids. Now, I don't really eat yogurt -- the whole Paleo diet thing -- but my kids? Well, my kids love yogurt. They enjoy squeezers, yogurt in those little cups and regular yogurt mixed with fruit or jelly. They love it all!

So, it is fitting that they enjoyed the YoYummy yogurts.

The yogurt comes in cute little squeezable packages, with caps so you can easily re-close them. I really liked this feature but . . . CONTINUE READING----------------> http://tinyurl.com/qyb3qds

Grain Brain challenge wrap-up.

 The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Grain Brain. Opinions expressed are entirely my own!

Four weeks ago, I started the Grain Brain Challenge and now I'm here to let you know how I fared.

But first, let me give you a little reminder of what Dr. David Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain, recommends for optimal brain health:

Good fats from eating olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, fish, grass-fed beef, goat cheese, and fish oils are fundamental for health, while carb-derived calories as one might get from things like bread, pasta, potatoes, below-ground veggies, fruit and fruit juices are things you want to avoid on a brain-healthy diet. -- Dr. David Perlmutter (via Facebook)

I started on the challenge 4 weeks ago, focusing on food, sleep, exercise and supplements, as laid out in the book.

For me, the challenge wasn't all that hard. I've been following a Paleo diet for a while now and the recommendations in Grain Brain are similar. There are differences, of course, but I didn't have to make the same sort of changes as someone who has been eating grains on the reg.

Basically, I stuck to eating lots of vegetables and high-quality protein and good fat.

Avocados! Such good fat.

I also experimented with . . . READ MORE -------> http://happyrunnergiveaways.blogspot.com/2013/11/grain-brain-challenge-wrap-up.html

Good-bye to Grain Brain!

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Grain Brain. Opinions expressed are entirely my own!


Have you heard of Grain Brain? The full title is Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar -- Your Brain's Silent Killers, a new book by Dr. David Perlmutter, outlining lifestyle changes you can make today to keep your brain healthy, vibrant and sharp. Last week I received a copy to read and review. I also received an invitation to join Dr. Perlmutter's Grain Brain Challenge, a 4-week challenge designed to improve brain health through some diet, exercise and sleep recommendations.

I gladly accepted the invitation and agreed to take on the challenge.

The timing couldn't be more perfect because I'm not training for any races right now, so I don't need to freak out about changing up my diet. And, as you'll see, Dr. Perlmutter's dietary recommendations really aren't that different from what I'm doing now anyway . . .

READ MORE -----> http://happyrunnergiveaways.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-bye-to-grain-brain.html

Goddess Garden Organics review and giveaway!

Two things about me: 1) I buy organic stuff -- mostly food but I've been branching out to cosmetics, and 2) I'm a daily sunscreen user. Given these two things, you'd think a product like the Goddess Garden Organics daily lotion (SPF 15) would be a perfect match for me.

You'd be right.

I was invited to sample the daily lotion and opted to try out the Tangerine Lavender scent . . . CONTINUE READING-----------> http://happyrunnergiveaways.blogspot.com/2013/10/goddess-garden-organics-review-and.html

Running and strolling.

I'm going to state the obvious: I'm a running mom. Which means, I fit my runs in around the kids and other family stuff. But, I also occasionally force the kids -- well, actually, just the younger one -- into my schedule: I grab him up, plop him in the running stroller, and take off for a run.

Now, I live in a hilly neighborhood so running while pushing a 35 lb boy in a heavy stroller is quite a workout. For the past few years I've been using a decent running stroller. It got the job done, but it wasn't particularly easy.

This summer, however, stroller running got a lot easier. A lot.

Enter the BOB Revolution SE stroller. Begin joyful stroller running.

I mean, look at how happy my little guy is!

Loving the stroller!

Super happy, right? Right. And that's because the BOB Revolution by Britax -- which I was sent to review as part of the Saucony Mom Blogger program -- is awesome.

There's a lot to like about the BOB Revolution stroller.  It is light. It is streamlined. It is easy to maneuver. Plus, I think my little guy finds it to be pretty comfortable. I liked that the front wheel can be stationary (good for running) but easily converts to a swivel wheel for general strolling around. And I liked the height of the handle bar, which I found to be more comfortable than other strollers I've used.

It could just be me, but it was tricky to figure out how to fold the stroller. Once I figured it out, it made sense but I did wish that it folded in a different way. There is something about how it ends up that just seems awkward to me. But, since I usually keep the stroller up and ready-to-go in the garage, it is really no big deal.

So, BOB stroller -- a hit!

And what about those super-cute green running shoes my little guy is sporting in that photo? Well, those are Saucony Kids running shoes, a joint product from Saucony and Stride Rite that are "designed with Saucony DNA but engineered with Stride Rite know-how."

The shoes are designed specifically for kids -- they aren't just shrunken down versions of adult Saucony shoes. This allows for special design elements, like a very flexible outsole that is extra durable (but probably not necessary for adult shoes).

According to my little guy, they are cool and fast!

Here's proof:

Fast runner boy!

The design is great. The shoes fit well, they are easy to slip on, easy to close (thank you, velcro!) and easy to take off. Plus, they stay on. No kidding, that's a good thing with kids shoes!

I love that they are designed to look like "real" adult running shoes.

Kid kicks. Mom kicks.

Sure, mine have laces and his don't. But, to a kid? Same shoes. Same shoes for fast running like mama!

The only thing about the shoes that I don't like -- and this is totally minor -- is that the color on the outsole (orange for this pair) quickly starts to wear off and that looks a little messy. I know, I'm picky. But, the shoes are otherwise so sharp looking, it is a shame to have anything like that take away from their look.

Saucony Kids running shoes -- a hit!

(That's two hits, if you're counting. Ha!)

You can tell that running -- family style, here in Happy Runnerville -- just got a whole lot easier and, dare I say it, happier! New gear will do that for a running family!

Have you tried any of the BOB strollers? 

Or the Saucony shoes?

Let me know!

Have a great week, everyone! Thanks for stopping by.

Review disclosure: I was sent shoes and the stroller to review as part of the Saucony Mom Blogger program. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

LUV Footwear review and giveaway!

Back in the day, I used to wear some killer heels. I mean killer. I was single, living in New York City, and in love with sassy shoes. So I wore them. High heels -- the higher the better -- all the time.

And that was all fine because I was in my 20s and I ran only sporadically so painful feet weren't really that much of a problem.

Now, though? I'm all about the comfort. I need to save my feet for long runs and speed work, so heels really don't fit in my life. Neither do pinchy, narrow shoes. My poor toe joints simply can't handle being stuffed into too tight shoes.

My toe joints don't feel so sore in my new LUV Footwear funky flats.

Check these cute shoes out:

Totally cute, right? I know.

And, yes, I also know that I have a horrible bunion on my right big toe. You can see it so clearly in the picture. Yikes. Yet another reason I go for comfort these days!

So, the shoes.

LUV Footwear sent me the shoes to review and I give them two thumbs-up. They are cute, as you can see. They are also comfortable, thanks to the wide-enough toe box and stretchy Lycra upper (the bottom is EVA). 

The only slight downside for me is that there isn't much arch support in these shoes. That's pretty common with flats, especially this style (somewhat ballet-flat-ish). So, it isn't a huge complaint. But, I do typically like more arch support than less.

The shoes come in several fun colors and patterns that you can check out on the LUV Footwear web site. If you're wondering, I chose metallic pink -- and I'm happy I did! One note: The shoes do run small, so the advice on the web site to size up if you're between sizes is sound. Take that advice!

They retail for $40.00.

Interested? Well, I have two ways that you can slip your feet into some comfortable LUV shoes!

The discount:

LUV Footwear is generously offering all blog readers 20% off through August 16th. Lucky, lucky! To order your shoes at the discounted price, visit their web site (LUVfootwear.com), choose your shoes and use this code when ordering: HappyRunner


Easy peasy!


The giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a pair of LUV Footwear shoes of their choice.

To enter, pop over to the LUV Footwear Facebook page and sign up for their newsletter. Then come on back and leave me a comment letting me know that you did.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain extra entries. Remember, though, you must complete the required entry first! And, yes, I'll check. (Leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count.) So, here's what to do:

• Follow me on Pinterest, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
• Pin the image from this post to share the giveaway on Pinterest (leave a comment)
• Follow me on Twitter, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)

• Follow me on Instagram, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)

• Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment)

This giveaway will run through Monday, August 5th at 11:59pm EST and the winner -- chosen at random from all eligible entries -- will be announced on Tuesday. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or I'll choose another winner.

Good luck!

Review disclaimer: I was sent product for review from LUV Footwear. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Designer Whey Sustained Energy-- review and GIVEAWAY!

If you are a protein powder fan, or you've just wanted to try it out for yourself and see what the hype is all about, then today is your lucky day.

I have Designer Whey protein powder for you! Well, for six of you. The six luckiest entrants.

So, pop over here to read my review of the new Designer Whey Sustained Energy powder and enter my giveaway!

Saving my sneakers!

This is going to seem pretty pathetic, but it is true: I have some running shoes that I bought, thought were great, and then found they hurt my feet so they were relegated to the back of the closet. Where they sat, unworn, while my other running shoes racked up the (too many) miles.

I know, I know . . . I should have returned the shoes but by the time I got around to giving the shoes a proper test, and then making the decision that they did, truly, hurt my feet, it was too late for returns. So, in the closet they sat.

Until recently. I was sent a few pairs of Lock Laces(TM) to try out.

If you aren't familiar with these, Lock Laces are (according to their web site) "the only patented performance lacing system engineered to meet the demands of athletes like runners, triathletes, marathoners, and walkers . . . wearing Lock Laces sustains compression across the foot increasing the amount of oxygen available to the muscles, which helps endurance athletes manage fatigue."

What I found is this: Lock Laces saved my sneakers.

Those running shoes, sitting in the back of my closet? Well, one day I pulled them out. I decided to give Lock Laces a tough trial and use them in shoes that had always hurt.

I swapped out the laces and adjusted the new Lock Laces until the shoes felt (relatively) comfortable. This involved loosening the front part, up by my toes, to give some extra room where I have a bunion.

It worked. Now, I had tried this idea with traditional laces and I could never get it right. If the front part was loose, the rest of the lacing had to either be way too tight in order to compensate or would also be loose. Too loose.

So, it never worked. The elasticity of the Lock Laces allows more customization. It is great for runners like me! I can compensate for my bunion but still wear my shoes tight enough so they don't slip in the heel area.

Win!

And, check out how fun and funky they look:

These running shoes are no longer collecting dust in the back of closet. I can actually run in them!

I've also changed my son's sneakers over to Lock Laces and it makes getting ready in the morning a little quicker -- and, really, even if it adds 30 seconds to my day, I'll take it!

As for my shoes, it makes putting them on and taking them off quicker, certainly, since there is no tying involved. But, for me, the way they help customize the fit of my shoes is the real benefit. I'm sold!

You can learn more about Lock laces on their web site. The laces sell for $7.99 or 3 for $19.99.

Have you tried Lock Laces? Do you like them?

Have a great day, everyone!

Honey, Do You Need a Ride? (review and giveaway)

Honey, Do You Need a Ride? Confessions of a fat runner is a new memoir by Jennifer Graham that will make you chuckle, whether you're a runner or not.

Yes, Jennifer is a runner. A self-proclaimed fat runner (which, if you take a look at her photos, is totally not true, in my opinion). She is also a divorced mom. And one heck of a funny woman.

Her whole package works in this book. She writes in that fast, funny style that makes the book easy to read and hard to put down, simply because you're having so much fun reading. She writes about how "skinny people . . . have no idea what a gift it is to move around with your thighs rubbing together like a couple of superglued hams." And in a chapter titled, "How Nike Made Me a Terrorist" she writes:

"I might be a redneck, not only because I consider Walmart a vacation destination, but because I run with a second-generation iPod strapped to my arm. Also, I own, and sometimes use, a heart-rate monitor even though an eleven-minute miler needs a heart-rate monitor like a single mother of four needs a donkey.

"I am running white trash, a smashed Gatorade cup on the sidelines of life."

But the book is not just about her weight as it relates to running. She also writes about going through her divorce and other ups-and-downs of life and how running has been with her throughout. Graham doesn't run to lose weight -- although she repeatedly talks about how it would be nice if all those miles she's logged would result in weight loss. Instead, she runs for what running gives her: a sense of achievement.

"At its core, Pre said, running gave him a sense of achievement. Here, all these years, I've been thinking I haven't achieved anything because I haven't lost any weight, but there it is. A sense of achievement that didn't come from my children, or my writing, or my oft-admired ability to remember birthdays. A sense of achievement that comes from the simple fact that I run."

I enjoyed this book. True, I enjoy most running books, but this one had the added feature of an interesting story and Graham's light, relate-able writing style. I recommend it!

Would you like to enjoy a copy of the book?

Lucky, lucky. I have a giveaway for you! One reader will win a free copy of the book. To enter, just leave me a comment and let me know you'd like to win!

If you share this giveaway (twitter, pinterest, facebook, etc.), let me know in another comment for an extra entry.

This giveaway will run through Tuesday, May 14th and the winner will be announced on Wednesday.

Good luck!


Thanks for stopping by!

Review disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book for review but was not otherwise compensated. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Flat and flashy -- the Saucony Kinvara 4.

A while back, I posted about an awesome run that happened to take place while I was wearing an awesome new running shoe. I promised that I'd have a review of those shoes once I had a chance to try them out a little more. Today, I'm back with that review.

I was given the opportunity to try out the new Saucony Kinvara 4 running shoes in this super-fresh neon yellow and pink color combination:

CONTINUE READING my review . . . 

PROBAR review and giveaway!

Bars, bars, bars! Let's give it up for bars!

I'm talking about energy bars, here . . . 

And right now I'm enjoying PROBAR protein and meal replacement bars. A big reason for my enjoyment is this:

Dairy free. Certified organic. Non-GMO Project verified. Made in the good ol' US of A.

All good stuff.

Another big reason is the taste. The PROBAR bars are really tasty. And taste matters, especially when you are on the go and rely on energy bars as much as I do (yes, I always carry bars with me wherever I go -- for me and for the kids).

I was given the opportunity to try out an assortment of PROBAR Core (protein bars) and PROBAR Meal (the whole food meal replacement bars). Both are good but PROBAR Meal is my favorite.

Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Coconut, Superberry Slam, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip . . . all good. And you know what? Pretty good ingredients. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd go with oatmeal raisin, which is a bit funny because I'm not much of a raisin girl. And yet, for real, the PROBAR Meal Oatmeal Raisin is delicious. Simply delicious.

OK, so I like the bars. And I like the fact that I get to share them with you.

How? Discount and giveaway, my friends. This just happens to be your lucky day . . . check it out:


The Discount:

I have a discount for you! If you'd like to try out PROBAR (any kind) just pop over to the web site and enter the code BLOGGER at checkout for a whopping 40% discount. No joke.

The Giveaway:

As if the discount wasn't enough, I also have a giveaway. One lucky reader will win a box of either the PROBAR Core or PROBAR Meal -- winner's choice! How fun, right? Right.

To enter, leave me a comment telling which type of bar you'd choose if you win (Core or Meal).

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain extra entries. Remember, though, you must complete the required entry first! And, yes, I'll check. (Leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count) So, here's what to do:

• Follow me on Pinterest, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)  
• Pin the image from this post to share the giveaway on Pinterest (leave a comment)   
• Follow me on Twitter, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment) 

• Share this post on Twitter using this tweet:

I just entered to win PROBAR bars from @TheHappyRunner http://tinyurl.com/cm3bzlw #giveaway

• Follow me on Instagram, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment) 
• Link to this giveaway from your blog  (leave a comment)  
• Follow PROBAR on Facebook (leave a comment)  

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

Good luck!

Review disclaimer: I was sent an assortment of bars for review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Simply Snackin'

I've been so busy enjoying my latest review product, I forgot to post the actual review!

Whoops!

I was sent a big package of Simply Snackin protein snacks (beef and chicken sticks) to try out recently:

And try them I did. When I could wrangle them away from my 2 year old, that is:

He loooooves jerky and especially loved the Simply Snackin sticks.

Here's a little about Simply Snackin, from their web site:

"High protein, low calorie Simply Snackin gourmet dried meat snacks are the preferred choice of on-the-go people leading or adopting active, healthy lifestyles. Although often referred to as "jerky," Simply Snackin products deliver an experience unlike any conventional jerky -- bite after bite of moist, lean, savory chicken breast or beef sirloin is paired with flavorful mangos, apples, blueberries and other artisan ingredients."

To that, I say, "You write the truth, Simply Snackin web site people."

I am a fan. The flavor combinations are great: Sirloin with cranberries and blueberries, chicken with mango and papaya, sirloin with pineapple. And the texture is, in my opinion, superior and easier to eat than regular jerky.

Now, please know that I am a jerky fan. There is almost always jerky in my pantry and the whole family loves the stuff. So, in some ways, I was primed to love Simply Snackin. But the opposite is true as well. As a jerky lover, I could have been turned off by the ways in which it is different from jerky.

I wasn't turned off at all.

Here's what I love:

• The convenience of the individually wrapped sticks (so easy to keep in my bag!)
• The simple ingredients list
• The low (for jerky type snacks) sodium
• The texture
• The taste
• The taste
• The taste

It's true. I love the taste!

My favorite flavor? Dried Beef Sirloin with Cranberries and Blueberries. No question.

So, I'm sure you're thinking, "OK, Happy Runner, it's all well and good for you to write about how much you love your free beef snacks. But do you love them enough to spend your own money on them?"

Good question, friend. Glad you asked.

And my answer is, yes. Yes, I do. In fact, I already have. I ordered up the beef assortment, 24 pieces. I only wish I had ordered 48. Live and learn, live and learn . . .

You can treat yourself to some Simply Snackin by ordering on their web site, too.

Have you tried Simply Snackin? What did you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Review disclaimer: I was sent a package of Simply Snackin meat sticks. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Designer Whey snacks and sips.

I have never been a huge protein powder kind of gal so it is quite the admission to say that I've recently been won over. Which I have.

Let me give you a little history: I'm super wary of soy (the main ingredient in many protein powders) and try to avoid it. Also, I believe in getting nutrients from whole foods.

But then, in January, I was put on my sugar-free diet and, well, things changed. Not the soy part -- I'm still not in favor of soy. But the protein powder part. That, I'm down with.

See, if I want to have sugar in my diet, it needs to be from natural sources like fruit. But it also needs to balanced out by plenty of fiber and protein. Since fruit generally is pretty high in fiber, that first part is covered. Protein, though? There isn't all that much of it in fruit.

Welcome to my world, protein powder!

When I was given the opportunity to review Designer Whey protein powder I was excited to try it out. I started out by adding a scoop of the vanilla powder to my regular smoothies (banana, strawberry, a little almond milk), ate a few of their protein bars, tried the pre-mixed shakes after two tough runs, and then I decided to get a little crazy. I decided to branch out a little and experiment. I made some different smoothies with success and before I knew it, I was cooking-up (OK, processing up) new energy bites recipes.

Yes, that's apparently what passes for crazy around here!

Anyway . . . I added the vanilla powder to some of my standard energy bites recipes and felt pleased that my sweet treats were now protein rich as well.

Good for me.

And then things got even better for me. I opened my can of white chocolate protein powder. I took out a bag of pistachios. I went to town.

To Delicious Town.

Friends, these are my favorite:

You want the recipe, don't you?

Of course you do.

And I'm not stingy, so here you go:

Pistachio White Chocolate Energy Bites

• 1/2 cup shelled pistachios 
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup whole (but pitted) medjool dates
• 1 scoop white chocolate Designer Whey protein powder
• about 1/8 cup water

Process the first 4 ingredients in a food processor until well blended and the nuts and coconut are finely chopped. Add the water and pulse. The mixture will begin to clump together in a big ball. This is what you're going for. Once you have this dough, stop processing and form into balls, or squares if you prefer. I like to make mine big enough for two bites but feel free to make yours smaller or larger.

*     *     *

These are so good. The pistachio/white chocolate combination is perfect and the dates give the energy bites just the right amount of sweetness.

For someone (like me!) who needs to be concerned with balancing carbs with protein, these are a good solution.

I also made a wicked-good green smoothie:

Smooth. Creamy. Satisfying.

And easy to whip up:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen spinach
• 1/2 an avocado
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 scoop vanilla Designer Whey protein powder
• a few ice cubes

Blend.

Drink.

Enjoy.

Here's what I like about Designer Whey protein powder (aside from the really good taste of the white chocolate):

• Whey is something that I can consume (my options are limited, after all), so that's a win right there
• It has a low glycemic index
• It is grain-free (gluten, corn, etc.) and peanut-free
• All the whey is produced in the USA

Here's what I don't:

• It contains soy lecithin. Granted, not that much but still. Why must there be soy in everything? I really wish this was a completely soy-free option, since there aren't many out there.

Overall, I like the products. 

I'm using it instead of yogurt in my smoothies. I'm adding it to my energy bites to balance the carbs. I'm checking out other recipes and have found a few dessert ones that I really need to try. For me, Designer Whey is a good addition to my pantry!

To buy: Designer Whey is available at most grocery and mass market stores. You can find store locations on their web site.

Have you tried Designer Whey? 

What do you think? What's your favorite recipe using protein powder?

Thanks for stopping by!

Review disclaimer: I was sent free products for this review through FitFluential but was not otherwise compensated. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened.

You know how people are always saying they have crazy families? And then they go on to tell you something that sounds exactly like your family?

Yeah, that's not at all how it goes in Jenny Lawson's new book, Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir). Lawson really does have a crazy family. And tons of crazy stuff happened during her childhood in rural Texas.

Crazy, laugh-out-loud funny stuff.

It's nuts.

And Lawson's telling of it -- from the whack-o stories about her taxidermist father's antics to cow fertility lessons -- is really, truly funny. And often a little gross.

(Mind you, I can be a tad squeamish so even the funniest stories about animal insides might gross me out. A little.)

Lawson has a great writing voice and is, obviously, a born story-teller. I hadn't read her blog before reading her book (she blogs at super-popular site, The Bloggess) but I must try to do so now that I know how funny she is.

Because, like most people, I could always use a little more funny in my life.

Check out the book. It's a bestseller for a reason. And, believe me, after reading the book you'll probably think your family is a little less crazy than you originally thought.

Have you read Let's Pretend This Never Happened? 

What did you think? Are you a regular reader of The Bloggess?

Have a great day!

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own

A Good American (review).

A Good American, by Alex George, is a sweeping story of the Meisenheimer family in America.

Told by James Meisenheimer, the book begins in Germany with the story of how Jette and Frederick -- James' grandparents -- met and fell in love. It follows the young couple on their journey out of Germany and to America, finally settling in Missouri in 1904. And that is where the bulk of the story takes place: the farming town of Beatrice, Missouri.

James tells the story of Jette and Frederick settling in Beatrice and having their first child, Joseph (James' father), and then their second, Rosa. They work hard and establish themselves in the town, slowly becoming more American. Just as they change, so does the world -- we see them deal with WWI, prohibition, racism, WWII, floods, and lots and lots of death.

Family members die, as happens in life. Since James is telling the story of his family from his vantage point of an elderly man, it makes sense that he tells of all those who die along the way. You might think the book would be sad with all this death but it isn't. A Good American is not an in-depth character study by any means. So we don't really get to know characters well enough to be saddened by their deaths. Even the two deaths that the most tragic weren't all that sad.

I thought the story of the Meisenheimer family and the immigrant experience in mid-western America was an interesting one and really did enjoy the book. Alex George is a good storyteller and that storytelling made me want to keep reading. Overall, I give this book a thumbs-up and recommend it!

Have you read A Good American? 

Have a great weekend!

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Go, Nuttzo!

"This is what real food tastes like."

A wise man, to whom I happen to be married, said those words after eating NuttZo for the first time. And he wasn't wrong. He was, in fact, quite right.

We were trying out NuttZo Original Omega-3 Seven Nut and Seed Butter.

I was sent a jar to review and, honestly, it could not have come at a better time. You may recall that I started my sugar-free diet at the beginning of January. I'm all about the real, whole foods these days, especially those without sugar. NuttZo butter is made from all organic ingredients: Just organic peanuts, cashews, almonds, Brazilian nuts, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, hazelnuts and sea salt. Eight real food ingredients.

And true to Owen's statement, it tastes like real food.

We enjoyed it with sliced apples for dessert:

And I enjoyed a spoonful in my smoothie, to up the protein content:

It is good stuff! It is not smooth and sweet -- definitely not regular ol' grocery store peanut butter. It is crunchy and full of goodness. It is real food. Real food tastes different and sometimes we forget that. Our taste buds are so tuned for highly refined, sweet and processed food that we are don't always go for real food. And that's too bad because real food really is better.

For that, I liked NuttZo a lot. I also like that it is made with all organic ingredients. And I like the story behind NuttZo. The founder, Danielle LiVolsi, started NuttZo after she and her husband adopted two boys from the Ukraine. They were vitamin deficient so she wanted to prepare good healthy food for them. NuttZo was born.

Learn more about the history of NuttZo and NuttZo nutrition.

I'm planning to try out some different recipes using NuttZo as I continue on in my sugar-free journey. I anticipate good things!

Have you tried NuttZo?

Hope you're having a great week!

Review disclaimer: I was sent a jar of NuttZo through FitFluential. I was not compensated for this post and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Touch and Go (review).

Holy cow.

I just finished reading Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner and . . . holy cow. What a book. What a crazy thriller of a book.

I don't read many thrillers. I've stated before that I tend to read, well, running books mostly. And the last book I read was Here I Go Again, 180-degrees from Touch & Go.

Apparently, I've been missing out. The thriller, it seems, is where its at.

I loved this book. So much, that I read it at night, right before bed, when I really had no business reading such a thriller-to-the-point-of-being-almost-scary book.

Yes, this book sucked me in right from the start.

I won't give away too much of the story because most of the enjoyment comes from turning the page and learning something new. But, the book takes place in Boston and New Hampshire and centers on a crime and the subsequent investigation that unfolds over the course of the book. It is told from the vantage points of a wealthy wife, Libby Denbe; a private investigator, Tessa Leoni; and Wyatt, a New Hampshire sheriff.

Of course, everyone has their secrets and they are doled out a little here, a little there.

The book is quite the page-turner and, really, I had a hard time putting it down. As a testament to the suck-me-in factor, I've already requested a few of Lisa Gardner's other books from the library. I'm hooked.

My one little complaint with the book is that it really lost steam toward the end and I was disappointed with how some of the loose ends were tied up. But, overall, I enjoyed it and, as I said, will be going back for more!

Do you read thrillers? Who is your favorite author?

Thanks for stopping by!

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Here I Go Again! (review)

I was totally sucked into Here I Go Again, a new book by Jen Lancaster.

And that's not a bad thing. I needed a light, fun book because I've been all running books, all the time around here and sometimes you just need to shake it up.

Here I Go Again takes the ultimate high school mean girl, Lissy Ryder, and gives her a chance to right her (many, many) wrongs. But not before having her life come crashing down around her and being completely shown-up at her 20th reunion. Lissy travels back in time, thanks to a hippie classmate, and is a little less mean her second time around. Only, by doing so, she screws up the future of a lot of people who were spurred to greatness by her mean high school ways. So, she goes back again and fixes the changes to make things better once again.

As she travels back and forth, she learns about herself and why she was such a teen meanie.

Of course, at the end, it all ties up nicely and things end up all hunky-dory. But that's the nature of the book and, as I said, it was light and fun and I enjoyed it.

My one main problem with the book is that the narration (Lissy) was pretty annoying but that was probably the point. All in all, it was fun and I thought it would make a great vacation beach book.

Have you read Here I Go Again? 

Any of Jen Lancaster's other books? What did you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.