A 'Real Winner"

I was always told that I was a 'real winner', growing up.   Of course this was sarcastic.  LOL

By 'real winner', she meant a little 'odd'.

Anyway,  once again, I have won a giveaway!!!!!! 

WoooHooo

This time, I won a giveaway from this great blog:  Katie Moves.

I love this blog.  You have to check her out. 

I won a Soy PRotein package and check out her original blog about it, because my family stole some of the goodies, as I was opening the package.



Don't mind the pic of the hamburger in the background.  Have no idea what this was!

I received:

-an awesome huge shaker cup (LOVE IT!)

-a workout parachute + dvd + poster (can't wait to try it out!!!!)

-a huge soy protein bag

-2 exercise bands

-2 Balance Bar protein bars (I was lucky enough to eat the s'mores bare pic'd above, but the hubs stole the other as I opened the box) YUMMMMM

-a package of Titan 2 choc chip protein cookies (the teen stole one, but I did get the other )HOLY CRAP, GOODNESS

-a container of vanilla soy protein from GNC (great, but I'm saving for cooking with!)

THANKS KATIE!!!!!!!



GoodBelly Winner!!!

OK, so I hate to lead you on, but I was the winner. 

I received some vouchers for this awesome brand.  I can pick what I want out of a great selection of Probiotic juices!!  SWEET. 

As stated by GoodBelly:  "GoodBelly is a vegan, dairy-free and soy-free probiotic drink with live & active probiotic cultures for digestive health."  Check out more info on this company and its products: here.

With flavors like:

Pomegranate Blackberry,

Bluebery Acai,

CRanberry Watermelon,

Tropical Green and

Tropical Orange (+ more),

how can I not be dying to try them?!

I entered a giveaway from KissMyBroccoli and won!  Check out her website here.

Surprises in the mail!

I came home one day last week and had a nice yellow package in the mailbox.

I LOVE packages!

Baby Girl helped me open and check it out.

Very interested in the business cards.  :)

Don't mind the junk in the background. :P

Inside the package, I received:

• A package of G2 powder to add to my water bottle
• 2 packets of GU Energy-gel.  I'm so excited to try these, since I haven't purchased any for myself yet. There was one in Jet Blackberry flavor and one in Chocolate Outrage flavor.  Um?  YUMMmmm
• A new pair of pink laces!
• A super cute yellow headband (modeled by Baby Girl)

I won all of this from Running Toward the Prize!  Check her blog out here.

Leibster Award!!!!!

I was just tagged to be given the Liebster Award by Triathlon Mami!  I am super excited that someone actually reads my blog!!!!!  Thank you. Thank you.  Thank you.

I know I am just getting started and haven't been on here as much as I would like to, but it's nice to be noticed.

The Liebster Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

Rules for receiving this award:

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Then answer the questions the tagger sent for them, plus create 11 questions for the people they’ve tagged to answer.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Notify the people you have tagged.
5. No tag backs.

I.  Here we go!

1.    I copied the above information and rules about the award from Triathlon Mami's blog. ;o

2.    I have 2 wonderful daughters that are 13 years apart.

3.    My husband is my best friend and in many ways the male version of myself.

4.    I am new at blogging. (obviously, so bare with me)

5.    My fears are falling from something really high and caterpillars. 

6.    I lost a finger a couple of years ago, while 7 months pregnant.

7.    My pet peve is repeating myself or hearing others repeat themselves. (just ask my husband)

8.    I still can't figure out how to put my 'sweat pink ambassador badge' on my blog page.

9.    I wanted to be an artist and accountant when I grew up and now happy to be neither.

10.  I like to listen to techno or hard alternative rock  REALLY LOUD while working out.

11.  I am a Scorpio by all definitions.

 II.  Questions for me:

1.  Why did you start blogging?   To make myself accountable for my fitness goals.  Without a competition to reach for, I felt that I didn't dedicate myself enough and thought that if I was announcing them to others, then I'd stick to them more.

2.   Has blogging changed you in any way?   I read more blogs and spend more time on the computer.


3.   What is your favorite place on Earth?   At the beach with my family.

4.   If you were stuck on a desert island with only one book, what would it be?   I haven't read a 'real' book in years.   I search through fitness books and read children's books.  I can't give a title, but I'd say some kind of National GEographic nature encyclopedia or something.

5.   What living person inspires you most? Why?   My oldest daughter.  We have been through some tough times together and she amazes me every day.  She is becoming such a wonderful and strong woman.  We don't know how truly strong we can be, until we have to, especially for our children.

6.   What historical person inspires you most? Why? I hate to admit it, but I can't think of anyone right now.  I'll probably wake up at 2am and wish I'd answered differently.  LOL

7.   If you were able to have a superpower what would it be? To fly, so if I ever did fall from something really high, then I wouldn't go splat.

8.   What do you wish you could master?   Knive throwing

9.   What do you do to relax?   What the heck is that!!!!  My 'me time' is training, so I'd have to say that the 1/2 hr that I squeeze in whenever I can is my 'relax' time.  Years ago.....I'd paint, sketch, craft, cross stitch or cuddle up under a big blanket and watch movies.

10.  What is your favorite part of the day?   Coming home to my family.  Right now, the baby gets so excited when I come home.

11.   Think fast! What is the first thing you can think of to bring a smile to your face?   My family!!!!!  All I have to do is see their faces.  I couldn't live without them!!!!!

My Babies!

III.  Questions for the next group:

1.    If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

2.    What's your favorite exercise?

3.    What's the one thing that you can't live without?

4.    If the world were to end tomorrow, would there be anything that you wish you'd done?

5.    Do you have a unique talent?

6.    As a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?

7.    Has your blogging style changed, since you started blogging?

8.    What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

9.    What gives you strength?

10.  Burpees.  Love em or hate em?

11.  Neat freak or organized mess?

IV.  Yay!!!  The following have received the Liebster Award!  CONGRATS!                    

(Since I still don't know a whole lot about blogging, hopefully I found the Bloggers' follower numbers correctly.)

0to26point2

A HOPEFUL Romantic dealing with the "BIG C"

Cookies and Crafts

Push.Pump.Progress

Scott's musings on health, fitness, and life.

Strong is the New Skinny

crazyhealthyfit.com

My (Mostly) Healthy Life

Pain Is Nothing

Shore to Run

Eat, Learn, Discover

I SWEAT PINK!!!! Do You? Giveaway

I am so excited to be a new Sweat Pink Ambassador!

Fit Approach is a healthy community, founded by two inspirational women.

As said in their own words,

"Mission

We believe that kicking ass is best done in pretty shoes. We’ve learned that real women sweat, and sweat hard. We know that assertiveness, strength, and ambition are the ultimate feminine qualities. We concede that sometimes it takes hours to get ready, but we’re also no strangers to just rolling out of bed and going. We’re convinced that we run faster in pink shoelaces. We believe in pushing ourselves, and we believe in giving ourselves a break, too. We’re all about the rush of endorphins and the thrill of the challenge. We’re all for looking great and feeling even better. We’re committed to finding our best fit, and making it stick.

How do we get there?
We climb.
We journey.
We balance.
We reward. "

UMMMM......kicking ass in pretty shoes?  You've got me right there!  LOL

We all need some motivation sometimes,  even those who motivate others.  I like to think that I motivate my clients and the participants in my classes, but I sure know that I need a good kick in the a$$ sometimes. 

Just reading all of the stories and blogs on this and linked to Fit Approach, motivates and inspires me!

There are many women with the privilege of being Sweat Pink ambassadors and I am now one of them!

I am excited to help and inspire others to live or at least start living a healthier lifestyle.

I received my ambassador swag in the mail the other day and I am happy to say that I will be wearing my new pink laces in my next run.   I also got a snazzy new tank!  Woot!  Woot!

Who doesn't love new workout clothes!?

I'm giving away 3 pairs of pink laces!

To enter:

1. Follow me StrengthOdyssey on Twitter.

2. Comment below on how you'd like to inspire others or how someone has inspired you in a healthy or fit way! 

For extra entries:

1. Like Fit Approach on FB.

2. Follow Fit Approach on Twitter.

Leave me with a separate comment below for each entry.

I'm keeping this open until next Saturday the 21st.  Let's see  how many people I can get to read my blog!!!!

Nirvana Sneaker Review

I have finally been able to try out my new sneakers!!!!!!

I was lucky enough to be invited to take part in an awesome opportunity.  I received a pair of Mizuno sneakers as part of the Mezamashii Run Project.

I found out about the Mezamashii Run Project through my friend Jen.  

'Mezamashii' means "eye-opening" or "brilliant" in Japanese.

In Mizuno's words:

Mizuno believes their shoes can help runners achieve the mezamashii feeling more often, so they're inviting thousands of runners to receive a free pair of shoes and join their quest for the brilliant run.

Check out more information on The Mezamashii Run Project.

I called the 800 # that I found on the Mizuno site and spoke with someone who helped me choose the correct sneaker for me.

I was really glad that customer service was as awesome as it was, because I have never tried out Mizunos.  They aren't common at most shoe stores and I don't usually go to the specialty stores (but I should).  I picked the Wave Nirvana 8.

I chose this particular sneaker, because my feet overpronate. 

I received the sneakers by mail 2 DAYS LATER!!!!  I was so excited to try them out. 

And then the rain began.  I was not going to take my brand spankin new sneakers out in the rain.

My daily schedule only leaves me a few mornings per week to get out and run, so I'm limited to begin with.

Then there's rain.

And then the baby got sick.  :( 

It took me a while to get out and run in my new sneaks.

Last Sunday......I was finally able to get out and run!!!!! 

Woo HOo!!!! 

I love my early morning runs (even on Sunday, although my husband may not love that I get up so early  LOL).  This way there isn't much traffic, the temp is still cool outside and I can get home and usually shower before the rest of the family gets up .

LOVE THE SHOES!!!!!! 

I sometimes have a little nagging knee pain from my overpronation and these shoes changed that.  I thought they kind of looked a little funny at first (kind of like those 'toning' sneakers :P).  But that look is only on the inner part of the sneaker, where I need the support. 

They felt like little clouds on my feet.  Sooooooo comfy and I only ran 3 miles, but they stayed super comfy.  I didn't want to take them off, but they must be saved for running only.

I love the  color combo.  Pink is one of my fave colors.

Another added bonus:  I didn't have to double knot my shoes.  I ALWAYS have to double knot them, even when they are brandy new. 

I can honestly say that these Mizuno sneakers are my favorites so far EVER.  I am honored to be part of the Project.

Everyone!  Go check out the Mezamashii Run Project.  At the very least,  make sure you give Mizuno a try the next time you need running sneakers!!!!!!!

NEW SNEAKS!!!!!

I was so freaking excited earlier this week. 

I came home from my longest work day (roughly 14 hours) and found that a package had arrived for me. 

What was it?!

NEW SNEAKERS!!!! 



Ella was excited to try them out too!

I have never tried a pair of Mizunos and was totally psyched to get into these.

A problem arose.  Ella got sick the day after they arrived and I haven't been able to get in a run since.

Looks like Sunday will be THE DAY.  My husband just loves the fact that I get up by 5:30am on a Sunday.  Hey!  Could be 4:30, like it has to be on weekdays, to get my run in.

I always go for the sneaker color scheme closest to pink/gray, if there is that option.

This sneaker, the Mizuno Nirvana, only came in one color scheme.  It was my usual fav!

I have to point out that these sneakers have the same color scheme as my blog:  pink, gray, black, white, and  just a little bit of orange.  SERIOUSLY!?  It has to be fate.  Right?

Stay tuned for my review and more details!!!!!!!!!