Runtastic

Yesterday started my training for this year's races: 13 Half Marathons in 2013!

My first official race is Rock n Roll USA, on March 16, and I am very excited for this one! I can't wait to run through the streets of Washington DC, and earn this:

But, I digress!
I started using the Runtastic app with my training, instead of my gps watch, for the short runs. I might use it for the races as well, and here is why!

• It recognizes the playlists on my iPhone
• It posts to Facebook, Twitter, etc. after the run, so I can brag about how fabulous I am!
• I can enable live posting: It posts to Facebook that I have started a run
• OK, here is the best part. Seriously. I am still giggling about this. If someone (like my friend Monica I) clicks "like" on Facebook, the music quiets down (in real time) and a deep voice growls "I like it".
• I am sure there are more awesome features, (like being able to friend people at their website) but I am not sure what they all are!

Seriously, there I was, mile 2, knee ached a bit, shirt rubbing my arm wrong and irritating me, and the voice says "I like it". I literally laughed out loud. Like a loon. Good thing no one was around, because I probably looked insane.

It's the free version, too. I am going to buy the PRO version, I am just being lazy right now. I have a few bonus features from the 13 in 13 group, thanks to Runtastic being some awesome, but I might go for the whole enchilada. All because of that voice.

It's the little things, after all!

What's your favorite running app?

Shubeez!

Have you heard about Shubeez? They are a fabulous new company that makes shoe tags to spruce up your running shoes! They attach to any shoe laces, and show off your accomplishments! They have Half Marathon and Marathon, and they also have one for Breast Cancer Awareness! $1 from the sale from each BCA tag goes to Cancer Research!

I am so deeply honored to be affiliated with this company! You can see my bio here! If you check out the other bios, you can see what amazing people also support Shubeez!

I will be sure to keep you updated with everything that they have going on! If you order, please be sure to choose Barking Mad in the Affiliates drop down menu, for the Marathon and Half Marathon option!

Be sure to scope out their site, they offer custom options as well, great for Running Clubs, PTOs, and more!

Be sure to follow them on Facebook

and on Twitter

to stay up to date on all of their special deals!

Lace Up. Get Moving. Give Back.

LOVE it!

Palmolive Fresh Infusions Review, and coupon giveaway!

I was so excited to be offered a chance to try the new Palmolive Fresh Infusions Dish Soap through Influenster. Even more fun was that the brand was a surprise until the box came!

It wasn't a surprise once the box arrived, though! The sticker was right on the box. I was happily surprised to see that they sent 3 bottles: one for me and two to share! PLUS they sent 5 coupons....but more on those later!

First I had to do a sniff test! Which one would I keep for myself? After several sniffs of each scent, I decided to stick with the Lemon Thyme and give the Lime Basil and Ginger White Tea to some friends. I love the way the dish soap smells and of course, being Palmolive, it cleans so well! I love having it on my counter every day!

And now the good news! Since Influenster was so generous, and gave me a full sized bottle to keep, and two to share with my friends, I am giving away the 5 coupons they gave me to the first 5 people to comment! The coupons are good for $1.50 off! These retail at Walmart for $2.96 so you are getting half off! woohoo!

Influenster and Palmolive provided me with these wonderful products to test and review, I was not compensated monetarily, nor was I required to post a positive review! All opinions are my own, if I didn't like it, you would know it!

Barking Mad Virtual Half Marathon

I may have mentioned a few times in the past just how much I *love* Virtual Races! Why?

1. They are much cheaper than live races
2. You run them when it suits you
3. you usually get BLING!
4. It benefits a great cause, and usually helps a fellow runner or blogger with their fundraising goals
5. You get BLING!
6. Did I mention the bling?

I am currently hosting my third  Virtual Race, this time a Half Marathon! You can run, walk, bike , or crawl this one! Do it all at once or a little at a time!

The details are here and I also have a Facebook event page.

Remember the bling? These are spinners! This shows the front and back of actual medals that just arrived today!
I am also doing a drawing on February 16th, for everyone who enters. So far, in the pile o prizes, we have Breast Cancer ribbon happy bands. I will also be adding some decals to the pile. Once we hit 30 registered racers (we hit 20 today!) I will add something else. I wonder what it will be?

Choice Organic Teas

I was very lucky to receive these amazing teas from Choice Organic Teas to try out! As a Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador, I was put in touch with the company, and I couldn't be happier! I was expecting a few samples, but instead received a very generous box of 6 full sized boxes of tea!
My kids were also very excited to try these teas, and my son was the first to try them! He tried to Rooibos Chai, and soon we were all trying it. It smelled amazing, my son thought it smelled like a spicy candle, lol. Being a man of many words, he said it tasted "very good". I loved the gingery smell it had to it, and it was veery soothing!
My daughter's fave was the Green Tea. She loves her Korean Green Tea, so that was the first on her list to try! She quickly called dibs, and none of us got to have any!!
Myself, I liked the Wild Forest Black Tea. I am a creature of habit, and usually stick to Black Tea, and this didn't let me down!


This information was provided to me by the company:

CHOICE ORGANIC TEAS ADDS NORTH AMERICAN TEA CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARD TO ITS GROWING LIST OF ACCOLADES

 Seattle, WA (December 2012) — Choice Organic Teas continues to expand its illustrious list of accolades with its most recent recognition in the North American Tea Championship. The company won First Place for its Genmaicha tea in the Green Tea Blended/Flavored Tea category and Third Place for its Wild Forest Black tea in the Black Tea category. As a winner, Choice Organic Teas will showcase its teas in the North American Tea Championship Tasting Winners’ Circle at the World Tea Expo and World Tea Fest in 2013.

 Choice Organic Teas was subjected to rigorous testing by a judging panel of professional cuppers. Each submission was assessed through blind organoleptic analysis of the following characteristics: brewed color; brewed aroma; brewed flavor; brewed mouth-feel; brewed harmony. The ratings of each characteristic were then used to calculate an overall numerical value on a 100-point scale, and winners were determined by rank.

 “We’re extremely proud of this important recognition in the tea industry,” says Anne-Marie Phillips, Head of Sales and Marketing at Choice Organic Teas. “It further validates our commitment to the highest quality and best tasting teas on the market.”

 In addition to this award, Choice Organic Teas has recently received a number of other awards such as the Vegetarian Times Foodie Award for its Jasmine Green Tea, Delicious Living Editors Choice for Jasmine Green Tea, Responsible Packaging Award, and was named a 2012 Washington Green 50 company.

I highly recommend this tea! You cannot beat the all natural ingredients and the fresh, clean taste! Perfect for this time of the year, on a cold evening! I am actually about to make myself a cup of the Black Tea now!

I was provided with these teas for the purposes of this review, good or bad, but was not compensated in any way. All opinions are my own, if I didn't like it, you would know it :)

What's your favorite kind of tea?

Tractivity!

Last month I won a giveaway at Sports Bras and Sippy Cups and my new Tractivity Bundle arrived just before I left for Disney! I was so excited to win this, I have always wanted to try something like this!
The setup was very easy, the upload to my Mac was super quick! I attached it to my sneaker and dashed off for my first post-Marathon run!

I was so excited to see how my Tractivity sensor worked. And then I realized I never synced it!
Note to self: Read the directions!
If I wasn't recovering from a Marathon, I would run back out and try again, but alas! My legs are tired and I must wait!
I will check back next week and let you know!
But, hey! Check out that pace! My nice easy runs are getting faster and faster! PRs in 2013....here I come!
Next big race? Rock n Roll USA! That medal on the left? Yeah, that's mine! In 55 days!

Eat Smart Scale

At the beginning of January I was lucky to have received this scale to review from Eat Smart! I am a compulsive weigher, lol, and I weigh myself every day, so I was excited to try out this new scale!

My son is always very excited to help me open the boxes! I am always thrilled when a product comes with its own batteries, and the Eat Smart Scale also came with as very handy measuring tape, designed to make measuring yourself an easy, one person job! I don't know about you, but measuring my own bicep is never an easy task!

The scale does not need to be "set" either, which is one of my favorite features! You just step on and it weighs you! My last scale had to be set, and if you stepped on too soon, or got distracted and didn't step on soon enough, you had to start all over again. Nothing too huge, I grant you, but if you are having one of those days already, it can really take its toll, lol.

The LCD display glows a nice light blue when in use, so if it is early morning and you are still stumbling about, you don't need to hit the lights to see your weight!

A few facts about this awesome scale:

• it is made of slim, tempered glass...perfect for any room
• the non-slip platform safely supports up to 400 pounds
• 100% EatSmart Guaranteed Product Satisfaction

Below are some links to help you find the scale via Amazon.com as well as ways to contact the company!

Amazon link! http://www.amazon.com/EatSmart-Precision-Digital-Bathroom-Technology/dp/B001KXZ808/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_1
LIKE EatSmart Products on Facebook (link: http://on.fb.me/d3MFHO
Twitter @EatSmartScales (link: http://www.twitter.com/eatsmartscales)
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/eatsmartscales/
Google Plus https://plus.google.com/b/104341333849696827089/104341333849696827089/posts
Follow the EatSmart Blog: http://eatsmartblog.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/eatsmartproducts

I received this awesome scale in exchange for a review. I was not paid, and all opinions are my own.