Giveaway: Sam’s Club Pink Promotion + $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card

Hey y'all! (Do I sound Southern yet?)

I'm still adjusting to the Southern life, but I'm actually loving the slight change of pace here in mid- Tennessee. Before I jump back into blogging (to tell you all how hard it's been to establish a new fitness routine when I really loved the old one), I am going to tell you about how Sam's Club is helping further a cause I hold near and dear to my heart. As of last month, my sister-in-law is officially 9 years cancer free! Not all women are so lucky. This month (which is already halfway over...so hurry!), Sam’s Club stores will feature exclusive pink packaging on some of your favorite participating General Mills products in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here's how you can help!

Give back by purchasing your favorite cereal or snack! This October, by making simple everyday purchases at Sam’s Club, you can help support breast cancer education and research. Sam’s Club stores now feature exclusive pink packaging on some of your favorite participating General Mills products in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

-For 5 years, General Mills has partnered with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Foundation to bring breast cancer support to local communities, and this year they are making their annual donation of $2 million to the foundation to advance breast cancer research and support education and community outreach projects.

-Purchase specially-marked General Mills products like Cheerios and Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownies at your local Sam’s Club and help decide how half of that contribution will be donated by voting at PinkTogether.com from now until April 14, 2012.

-General Mills’ donations will be divided between two important Komen programs: the Treatment and Assistance Program, which assists women in securing care they otherwise may not be able to afford, and Prevention Research, which helps unlock the keys to preventing breast cancer. Voting results will be announced on Mother’s Day 2012.

GIVEAWAY:

Sam’s Club and General Mills through MyBlogSpark is giving one of MY readers a $25.00 giftcard to Sams Club! Contest ends one week from today...October 20, 2011 at 10:00 pm EST. YAY!

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment telling me what this cause means to you personally!

Additional entries:
Tell your friends about this giveaway!
3 additional entries: Link on Facebook
3 more additional entries: Link on blog

Be sure to leave me a comment letting me know how many additional entries you receive. The winner will be randomly selected on October 20th at 10:00 pm, EST.

Good luck! I hope you win!



“Disclosure: The information and gift card(s) have been provided by Sam’s Club and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

GREEK YOGURT WINNER!

I hope you've all had a great memorial day! I have a very patriotic husband, so we left first thing this morning for a special service honoring our veterans (something we've done every year of our marriage thus far). We visited a few mortuaries to leave flowers for our deceased grandparent. I'm always hesitant to drag our kids to places where they could create a scene, but they did great! I guess it's better to start them early. We also bought bunk beds, and I feel a teensy bit closer to being ready for this baby to come! I love holidays...if my husband could just be home every day we'd get so much more done!

I'll check back in later this week with some thoughts on childbirth...medicated or natural? But for now, I'll leave you with the WINNER of the Yoplait Greek Yogurt gift pack (provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark). The winner is.......

CRYSTAL who said: "Strawberry is my favorite flavor. However, honey vanilla sounds so yummy!"

Yay Crystal! E-mail me (fitmepink at gmail dot com) with your mailing info, and I'll pass it on to the people at MyBlogSpark!

Happy Memorial Day!

Greek Yogurt...review and GIVEAWAY!

A few months ago, I was sent a gift pack with some coupons to try out Yoplait's new Greek Yogurt. I love trying new stuff--especially food! (Yoplait provided me with the free product, information, and gift pack through MyBlogSpark ).

To celebrate its new Greek yogurt and to encourage women to nourish their inner goddess, Yoplait has teamed up with actress Izabella Miko, who plays Greek Goddess Athena in the epic adventure new Warner Bros. Pictures´ and Legendary Pictures´ film "Clash of the Titans."

I was pretty excited to get a fun, relaxing package in the mail...everything I needed to nourish my inner goddess (since this pregnant belly makes me far from an outward goddess!) I got the package, went promptly to the store to get some yogurt to try, then forgot all about reviewing this milk-based product after reading The China Study (among other fascinating nutrition books...I'll share later).

This yogurt comes in four different flavors: strawberry, blueberry, honey vanilla, and plain. Each container is packed with 12 grams of protein--twice that found in leading yogurts. The only flavor we actually tried was the honey vanilla. I have to be honest--I didn't love it. Vanilla-flavored yogurt is normally my kids' favorite, so we went with that. After a few bites, however, they passed this yogurt on to me. I think I would have preferred the blueberry.

But hey--it was free, and as you know--I love free! Free just tastes better, don't you think? If you want to try out this new yogurt, check out this $0.30 coupon, or enter my giveaway!

*This coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Greek yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee. (Sorry, mom!)

For a chance to win a Yoplait Greek Yogurt Gift Pack (pictured at the top), leave a comment telling me which flavor (strawberry, blueberry, honey vanilla, or plain) you'd try OR tell me how you get in touch with your own inner goddess!

For an extra entry, subscribe to my RSS feed (OR become a follower) and leave a SEPARATE comment telling me you're a follower/subscriber.

Contest ends on Sunday, May 30th. The winner will be announced on Monday, May 31st.

Good luck! I hope you win!

SOF SOLE WINNERS!!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest for Sof Sole insoles and PINK socks! Maybe next time I'll get enough freebies to send along to everyone! For now, random.org has spoken, and here are the winners:

Sof Sole Insoles: TRENDA

PINK socks: HEIDI

Send me your mailing info, and your presents shall be on their way! (Fitmepink at gmail dot com)

Have a great weekend!

P.S. Our computer crashed, so I'm at my in-law's. Hopefully we'll be up and running again soon!

My favorite fitness gifts...with a giveaway!

Okay, so Christmas is literally RIGHT around the corner! I can't wait! For the first time ever, I think I'm actually done shopping. In my family, it was almost tradition to spend at least part of Christmas Eve at the mall. I'm determined that this year, however, will be different. We're traveling across the country to spend the holidays with my parents. We made a deal that for the week we are there, we will NOT be spending our time together at the mall! Hopefully my dad survives buying gifts for my mom WITHOUT the assistance of his "personal shoppers." Online shopping has been my best friend this year! How did our parents survive Christmas without the Internet?

Hopefully you're all nearing the end of your holiday shopping so you can actually enjoy the season. (Although, truth be told, I really love the hustle and bustle of crowded shopping centers...my husband and I were among the crazy thousands at Walmart on Black Friday, and I loved it!)

I'm often asked if I give all fitness-related gifts for Christmas. The answer is actually NO! While I would love to give everyone on my list my favorite heart rate monitor, not everyone gets as excited as I do about new workout gadgets! (And let's be honest...I don't have that kind of money!) But if you're looking for some fun gifts for yourself, or other fitness-minded loved ones, here are a few of my favorites:

1. My Polar Heart Rate Monitor. If you don't know how much I love it, you haven't been reading my blog long enough. When asked recently by a friend what she should do to lose a few pounds, I told her to GET A HEART RATE MONITOR! It is the most motivating piece of equipment I've ever used. I'm a number girl, and I LOVE knowing how many calories I've burned, how high my heart rate got, the percentage of calories that were fat calories, etc. I work out longer and harder than I would without it. I asked my parents for it for Christmas two years ago, and I've only worked out a few times without it...I literally almost drove back home to get it...I feel nekkid without it! I know my body better because of it, and would recommend it to anyone...whatever the fitness level!


2. The Garmin 305 Forerunner. Okay, so I haven't actually used this yet. But I got it for my husband for Christmas (if only he read my blog...), and I can't wait to share it with him! To me, the beauty of running on a treadmill is knowing exactly how fast I'm running, and how far I've gone. With the forerunner, you can know this while running outside! I've always estimated distance based on time, but now I won't go even 1/10 of a mile further than planned! It also has a built in heart rate monitor, so my arms won't be loaded up with extra watches. Did I mention that this gift is for my husband? I can't wait to "give" it to him! They actually have newer models with smaller watches, but they're a lot pricier for the same outcome. I got mine on sale at amazon for &139.99. Several months ago, they had it at REI for $130. It won't get much cheaper than that. If you're interested, watch for deals...it's pricey, but worth it!
   


3. My blender! I rarely go a day without using my blendtec blender! I use it to grind wheat, make soup, make my own peanut butter, make amazing smoothies, and homemade not-exactly-as-they-appear pancakes. I LOVE IT! My mom and sister both have the vitamix which I also love (pictured above). It does just as much as the blendtec, if not more. However, I've also heard great things about the magic bullet. It doesn't grind wheat, but is a great compact blender.


4. My running skirt. There's just something about feeling cute when you work out. I have to say, however, that I prefer the "athletic" style skirts. Under the skirt are compression shorts instead of just the running brief. I wore my skirt with the briefs in a race, and ended up with some seriously chafed inner thighs! Plus, I can wear the skirts with the shorts to any workout...Yoga would not be pretty otherwise!


5. Good socks. The first pair of actual running socks I ever purchased were Balega socks. They are still my favorite pair to run in. Good socks are a must when working out. I never get blisters, don't have overly sweaty feet, and will never go back to regular cotton socks. Another brand of socks I've come to love is Sof Sole. I was lucky enough to receive several pairs of socks to try out, and I've loved each and every one.


6. Shoe insoles. This is actually a new favorite. Several months ago, I received some Sof Sole Performance Insoles to try out. I ran a lot last summer, and my knees were starting to seriously feel it. After a long run late in September, my knees ached for days. Before the Ragnar Relay in October, I decided to finally give the insoles a try. My knees did not hurt AT ALL during the race, and haven't bothered me since. My shoes don't feel any different, the inserts are comfortable, and they're absorbing a lot of the hard impact of running...instead of my knees! Yay!

The list could go on...I have definite favorite workout videos, workout equipment, healthy snack choices, etc. But for now, that will have to suffice. But I have good news! Because Sof Sole generously sent me SO MANY great products to try, I'm going to pass some along to you!

For the first winner, I have ONE PAIR of The Sof Sole Airr® insole featuring their revolutionary air chamber technology with a Coolmax® fabric cover (pictured above). Air chambers in the heel and arch provide extra comfort while maximizing shock absorption! The Coolmax® fabric cover absorbs moisture and provides breathability. I really love mine. The insole I have is a Women's Insole for shoe sizes 5-7.5. If this doesn't fit you, it would make a great Christmas gift! (Retail Price: $24.99)

For the second winner, I have a package containing 3 pairs of Women's Multi Sport Liner Performance Socks! They fit Women's Shoe Sizes 5-10, are made of natural bamboo for wicking and comfort, and have a seamless toe! And my favorite part? THEY'RE PINK! (Retail Price: $9.99)

• For one entry, leave a comment below telling me how you would use the shoe insoles and/or the cute pink socks!


• For a second entry, follow this blog (and leave a comment with the word "follow").


• For a third entry, post a link to the contest on your blog (and leave a comment with the link).


• For a fourth entry, post a link on facebook or twitter (and let me know in the comments).

The random winners will be announced on Friday, December 11th. Good luck, and I hope you win!

MY PEANUT BUTTER OBSESSION (with a freebie)

I love peanut butter!
Let me count the ways.
I honestly eat it
every. single. darn. day.
Unlike other condiments,
spread it on as you please.
Hold the mayo. Hold the ketchup.
But not the PB!
When I'm pregnant,
can't resist it. It's the one thing I crave.
I go through it like water.
Addicted? It's my fave.
What about when I'm training
for a long, long, long run?
Forget gu! Me want sandwich!
PB & J gets it done!
Full of protein, good fats, vitamins B3 & E,
Not to mention loads of fiber. That alone pleases me!
Magnesium, folate,
antioxidants, time to say it...woo hoo!
Guilt-free pleasure full 'o flavor.
I really heart it. Do you?
High in fat, so yes...
moderation is best.
A little goes a long way.
I eat too much, I'll attest.
Have to say, I have tried
ev'ry brand in the store.
A PB connoisseur.
An expert. Hard core!
I always go for "all-natural,"
don't like the trans fat
in hydrogenated oil.
'Nuff said about that!
As for brands, have some thoughts.
Don't mind if I share!
Adams Natural PB?
Not my favorite out there.
The taste? Sure...it's fine.
It just ends up real dry.
By the end, hard to spread.
Nope, just doesn't fly.
Skippy natural? Love the taste.
Prob'ly cuz they add sugar!
On that count alone,
have to pass, sugar boogars!
Kirkland brand found at Costco
is actually one of the best
It's organic, spreads great,
tastes superb, passed my test!
But my number one favorite
(let the drum roll begin)
is the Smart Balance Peanut Butter!
It win-win-win-wins!
Besides spreading well, being natural,
tasting great,
Omega 3's have me screaming,
Yep! They raise my heart rate!
Love this PB so much,
with you, want to share!
TO THE WINNER, I will send
a FREE 16 oz. jar!
To be entered,
all I need is a comment below.
A random number will be chosen.
Act now, don't be slow!
A winner I'll announce on Wednesday, March 11th.
"SPREAD" the word. Tell your friends!
Two extra entries I'll grant.
Leave a comment for one entry.
Link on your blog for two more!
Then add two more wee comments,
and I'll tally the score.
What would you do with P-Butter?
Eat with chocolate on a spoon?
Spread on celery? Eat in oatmeal?
Fill up a balloon?
Let us know in the comments.
I hope you all win!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Peanut Butter!
Sure makes my face grin!

The FIFTH Day of Fitness...my heart rate monitor OBSESSION!

I have an obsession. I received it last year for Christmas, and it has changed my workouts completely! It's my Polar Heart Rate Monitor. I've seriously learned more about my body through wearing this during my regular workouts than ever before. I've learned my limits. I've pushed myself harder. I've gone longer. And did I mention that I'm obsessed?

Obsessed to the point that I feel nekkid without it. I thought I'd lost the part you strap across your chest for several days (there is a watch and a chest strap). I seriously had to convince myself that I was still burning calories without it; that the heart rate monitor itself didn't really change anything. Luckily I found it, so I could happily watch the numbers.

I love knowing exactly how many calories I've burned...which, by the way, is ALWAYS less (for me, anyway) than it says on the treadmill/elliptical/etc. I love knowing my maximum heart rate, and my average heart rate at the end of each workout. I love knowing how long I worked out (without watching the clock). And I love seeing my weekly totals. I'm so obsessed, in fact, that I wear my heart rate monitor no matter what workout I'm doing. I wear it for Yoga, Pilates, and even a walk around the block where the calorie expenditure is far from impressive. I just have to know. And I love comparing how I feel to what my body is actually doing.

I wish I could convince Polar-USA to give you all one. Maybe I should actually try. If you have anyone left on your list, however, this would be the perfect gift!

I do wish to direct your attention to ANOTHER could-be-my-next-obsession giveaway...you could win a Wii and a Wii Fit! Click here for contest details, and to enter! Make sure you enter by noon (Mountain Time) on December 20th!

What are your work-out obsessions? Is there something else we NEED to know about? Hit us up in the comments!