12 Tips for a Safe & Stress-Free Stroller Run! #StrollerRun15

Being a stay at home mom, there are many days that it can be really difficult to get a workout in. I often take advantage of nap time for a quick yoga session or HIIT, but some days there are other chores/errands/etcetera that need to be done during that time. I'm thankful enough that I was generously gifted a wonderful jogging stroller and I LOVE IT!

It's so convenient being able to pop our toddler in and go. We both love being able to get some fresh air, it can lull him to sleep if need be, stimulates his senses, allows me to get a good sweat session in and allows each of us to zen out for a bit. I'm thankful that he really digs being in his stroller (the faster we run, the better), but there are definitely steps that I take that can make it much smoother of a run.

Below are a few tips for making your stroller runs smooth and tear-free!

1. SNACKS! - I always make sure to have snacks on hand for our son. If he starts to get a little antsy, giving him some yummy fish crackers, fruit or raisins to nosh on can completely allow me to get another mile or two in. 
   
2. DRINKS! - Make sure to pack drinks for both of you! A lot of the time I'm so busy getting his stuff together, that I forget my own drink. DOh! There's been a time or two where his sippy cup definitely came in handy for me as well. Lol. 
   
3. DRESS APPROPRIATE - I get super hot quickly, so I always wear lots of layers. Make sure to do the same for your kiddo. Remember, while you might be hot, your child could be cooler since he's not expending very much energy while sitting there are you run (plus the wind from movement can add a chill). I always keep a light blanket in his stroller for additional warmth or sun coverage. A hat to shield your child's face is a must too for sunny days. Don't forget bright colors and reflectors on clothing as well. 
4. SUNSCREEN - Use it and use it liberally. I always lather both of us up a half hour before heading out the door to make sure to have full protection. 
5. ID - Always carry ID. You never know when you might need it or in case of emergency. I usually keep $10 in my stroller too, just in case.
6. ATTACHED TOYS - We have toys that are always in the stroller and attached via links. No one wants to have to backtrack when a favorite toy is thrown out and also it prevents potential trips and falls. 
   
7. WRIST STRAP! - I cannot stress this enough, use the wrist strap that comes with your jogging stroller. If you don't have one, get one ASAP. Using the straps ensures that if you were to fall or lose grip of the stroller that you child and stroller don't go flying down a hill, ravine, into water and so on. I've read tragic stories of parents losing control of strollers with dire consequences. It's not worth it and gives you additional peace of mind. This story solidified it for me. PLEASE, use one. Accidents happen.  
   
8. BRAKES/LEVERS - If you need to stop, use the back brakes or levers so that the stroller doesn't roll off with your precious cargo.
9. RUNNING FORM - Be aware of your running form. It can take some time and practice to get used to running with a stroller. Your gait changes and arms are actively being used. Run tall, don't slouch and alternate what arm you use to hold the handle.
10. SCHEDULE WISELY - Don't go during your child's fussy times (before meals, while tired unless you want them to nap while you run). 
11. 5 POINT HARNESS - I highly recommend a stroller with a 5 point harness. They protect your child better in case of a quick stop.
12. AGE - Be aware of what age is safe for your child to ride in a jogging stroller. Most professionals warn against jogging with a stroller before 6 months of age (some even 12 months). While young, their neck muscles are not strong enough to support their heads and for the potential jarring motions during a run.

May 31st, is National Stroller Running Day! If you don't have a jogging stroller and are looking to purchase one, now is a great time to do so since many companies (BOB gear definitely is and their strollers rock!) are offering amazing promotions in celebration. 

For more information on National Stroller Running Day check out Moms Little Running Buddy! Also, be sure to tag your photos on Instagram with #StrollerRun15

Do you plan on getting out and running this National Stroller Running Day? 

Do you have tips for a great stroller run? 

Surprise Yoga Love Swag from Lululemon...My Lucky Day!

I feel like this week has been a mini Christmas with all the goodies that have shown up at my house. I've recently signed up with a few blogger ambassador programs and cannot believe the generosity of the companies and the awesome products they have sent. You guys will likely hear about a lot of these products in the upcoming weeks but today I just wanted to send a special shout out to Lululemon and their awesome social media team.

As some of you know, I'm a pretty avid Twitter user (say hi!) and often use the platform to get ideas and recommendations on products. I randomly tweeted out to the twitter-sphere asking for recommendations on a new yoga mat since I've been looking to upgrade now that my practice has become more serious. Several minutes later I receive this response from Lululemon:

Definitely intrigued, I quickly respond to be asked for my size, address and being told I was receiving a surprise! Not even 24 hours later, these beauties showed up on my doorstep:

Love the colors!

Sticky & thick....love it so far! 

LOVE! This was the exact mat I had been looking at as it's suppose to be a great option for hot yoga since it's extra sticky and absorbs sweat (I'm laying in a puddle after being in class 30 minutes). I can't wait to give this a try next week at class and have already had a few short practice sessions on my own at home. I'll definitely let you know what I think after a few classes. The shirt is super comfy too. Loose, breathable and will be fabulous for yoga or long runs this hot summer.

I just thought it was a pretty amazing response from what seems to be a pretty cool company and I'm definitely feeling pretty lucky and grateful. They've definitely caught my attention as a consumer and I'll remember them more in the future for athletic purchases.

A little deck yoga action for the #MayIBeginYoga2015 challenge

Even little man is into it. 

The giving spirit caught after this too. I had a large bag of clothes that I had been meaning to sell (through online facebook re-sell groups), but decided I'd give them away instead since I've received some great goodies lately. Feels good to clean house and help some others out as well.

This is in no way sponsored...just my personal experience and wanting to share what I consider an awesome surprise. 

E-Cloth Eye Cleansing Pad Review & Giveaway!

E-cloth was wonderful enough to provide me with their eye cleansing pad to review AND host a giveaway to my readers as well.

The e-cloth Cleansing Pad has soft, fine weave fibers that gently removes eye makeup from your eye area without being harsh, intense scrubbing or with the use of other chemicals. Interaction of the super fine cleansing fibers paired with a a little soap and water provides a rich lather that easily removes makeup, oil and other impurities from your skin. And one of the best parts? No harsh chemicals are used!!

Soft and finely woven fibers provide a rich lather and gentle cleanse. 

I'll be honest, when I first received this product I was skeptical that it would work well. I wear a lot of eye makeup, including under eye concealer, mascara, eye liner and eye shadow. When I first opened the product I was impressed by how soft the material was as I'm used to using a more rough washcloth to wash my face to remove all my makeup. I first used it with water and was surprised how much makeup it was able to remove without the use of a cleanser. I added a small amount of cleanser to remove the remaining makeup and it easily came off without having to scrub hard. I definitely loved that I didn't have to rub vigorously (much less irritation and redness) to remove eye makeup, as I usually do with a washcloth and that I didn't have to use additional makeup removers or disposable cleansing wipes. I felt like my eyes were cleaner than they normally get and had no residue makeup leftover.

Another great thing about this product is that it's reusable. It can be washed in hot water with detergent alongside your other laundry for up to 300 washes so there is also less waste (compared to disposable wipes) and a more economical option.

If interested in learning more follow them on their social media outlets below and be sure to sign up for their email list for special promotions.

  Website: www.ecloth.com
  Facebook: www.facebook.com/eclothUSA
  Twitter: @eclothUSA
  Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/eclothUSA
  Instagram: @eclothUSA
  YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/eclothCleaning

To win one for yourself (or as a gift), follow the prompts below (US residents only):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I did receive this product complimentary, however I do give my honest opinion - the good, the bad, and the fabulous.

Running season has begun! Tri to Finish's Cinco de Mayo 5k & 10k run race recap!

This Saturday was our first 5k of the year and it was a perfect day to start the season! We woke up to a bright and warm morning (which has been an oddity here until recently), got ready, dropped the kiddo off at his grandparents and made our way to Flint to Swartz Creek Golf Course to pick up our bib and race swag for the Tri To Finish Cinco de Mayo 5k.

Registration went quick and I loved this years shirts too! Soft cotton blend and a women's fit so this is a shirt I'll most likely be wearing pretty often. Anymore, my "mom" wardrobe consists of race shirts and tanks. Lol. We also received sombreros, a few product samples in the race bag and Redbox vouchers (perfect for lazy evenings after race days). I also ran into an old college friend, who was working on the timing of the race, so it was nice to catch up real quick.

Once we were all set we headed to the starting line, which was about a 1/4 walk (a nice warm-up) and got our positions. Ryan and I were both feeling a bit sluggish that morning (no coffee!) so we were trying to amp ourselves up for the run since we both wanted to at least beat our times from last year and I really wanted to place in my age bracket. I don't think that either of us were feeling super confident going into the race since we hadn't really ran all that much the past month (all my runs had been short or easy runs since it was before or after yoga). We made our way to the front of the crowd since we didn't want to get stuck behind walkers and having to dodge our way through. We joked that this would be the first time in our lives that we'd ever be following the lead bike.

Pre-race

The race began and we both worked into getting into our cadence. Ryan darted ahead (wayyyy faster than me) and I paced myself with a girl that looked like she was in my age group. I'm terrible with pacing myself so I always look for another racer to follow and hopefully surpass (anyone else do this?). The race course is an out and back and is full of a ton of climbs and declines and through a residential neighborhood and it's actually part of the CRIM course (you pass the 7 mile marker on the course). Hilly courses are my favorite, despite the fact that they kill me. I felt pretty good until mile 2 when i started getting stitches and had to walk a few seconds. :(  I came around the final bend and saw that I was going to be cutting it close to the 27 minute mark and just missed it (darn those stitches!)! Oh well, I was still pumped about my finish since I hadn't trained much and it was fast than prior races.

One of the things I love the most about this race is that everyone get's finisher medals. I'm always really bummed when I find out that a race doesn't give a medal. Also, everyone gets race photos too,  without paying for them and the normal ridiculous photo fees! There was also an after-party with Mexican breakfast foods (eggs & chorizo, beans, tortillas, bananas, apples, etc) from Rico's. I love the atmosphere at the Tri to Finish races. It's always a super friendly, happy and supportive group/community of runners, organizers and volunteers. I actually ended up exchanging info with the runner I was pacing so hopefully we can get together for some runs/races in the future as well.

Post-race glow

Refueling with some mexican food!

Once we checked results, we found out that Ryan & I both placed first in our age groups! That was a first for both of us! I finished the 5k in 27:01 (1st place in 30-34 year group and 18/198 overall) and Ryan finished in 23:48 (1st in 25-29 age group and 8/198 overall --- I'm totally jealous of his pace!). It was definitely a great way to start the running season!

Speed demon!

Both gals were great! Third place ran the whole thing with her baby in a
 jogging stroller too (a tough run on that hilly course)!

Did you have any races this weekend or coming up soon?

Rolling into fitness: We're now a cycling family, toddler included!

Five years ago, my husband surprised me with a surprise anniversary trip to San Franscisco (awesome right? Major points to him). That was definitely one of my favorite destinations that we have been to and I really hope to visit again someday in the not so distant future. While there, we rented hybrid Trek bikes and it was the best decision that we made. Since we were there for a long weekend we wanted to see as much as we could in a short period of time and the bikes gave us the ability to do so. Riding bikes there reminded us so much of how freeing and fun it can be zooming around on bikes. San Francisco consists of hill after hill and provides an intense workout, whether walking or biking. We definitely got an intense workout everyday navigating those hills.

Anyways...that trip ignited our desire to have some bikes of our own and today we finally took the plunge and made the investment. Now that were settled in our home and Aiden is old enough to ride in a trailer, we felt like it was the perfect time. We bought 2 Schwinn hybrids, a tow behind bike trailer and helmets (must have!!) for everyone. I cannot wait to get out and cruise around (we still have to install the hitch and rack on the car to get them home).

A's styling ride. It's a Schwinn Echo Double Trailer.

Ryan's Schwinn Men's Suburban bike

My white beauty, a Schwinn Network 1.0 700c Hybrid bicycle

We're lucky enough to live near some pretty great trails with gorgeous scenery (Kensington in Milford, Indian Springs in White Lake and Holly Recreation are a few of my favorites) and I have a feeling that this year we will be checking out a lot more areas than ever before and these will be perfect for adventures during our trips up north this summer. I've thrown around the idea of trying out a triathlon or duathlon for years so maybe now that I have all the gear, I'll take the plunge. I just love that this adds another way to get out and be active as a family. Were so busy sometimes that I hate to take family time away by going and doing fitness endeavors on my own, so being able to do this as a family is a win-win for everyone. And as always, it's so important for your children to have a healthy, active role model in their life too so I really try emulate that sentiment for our son. 

Since it's been years since I've rode a bike consistently, I really need to familiarize myself with rules, laws and all the safety guidelines. AND I'm a bit nervous about the ride behind trailer and really, really hope that Aiden enjoys it. I'd hate to have this be a struggle each time we go out (plus, those trailers are expensive!). He loves going as fast as possible in the jogging stroller, so I'm hoping that that is a good sign. 

For those of you that bike often, any newbie or beginner tips? 

Anyone have any must-have jewels of wisdom for cycling with a toddler? 

Any Michigan cycling trails that we must check out? 

#WipeforWater challenge - Neutrogena Purifying Makeup Remove Cleansing Wipes Product Review

The best part of being part of product review companies such as Influenster, is that I get to try so many great and awesome products that I may have not discovered otherwise.  I love opening my mailbox or seeing the UPS guy pull in the driveway and the anticipation of what products are there.

I received a package of Neutrogena makeup remover cleansing wipes complimentary through Influenster and really like them! They remove my stubborn eye makeup much better than other wipes that I've tried without leaving an oily residue or irritating my skin. They have a light, fresh scent that isn't overwhelming too. I've used them the last week and feel that my skin has responded very well to them with very few blemishes and feeling moisturized and smooth. I would definitely consider purchasing these in the future.

This Earth Month, Neutrogena® Naturals is partnering with The Nature Conservancy to save water. Take the #WipeforWater challenge and pledge to clean your face without using water — and only using Neutrogena® Naturals Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes — for 3 days! Then, get sharing about your Neutrogena® wipes with your social networks! For each pledge, Neutrogena® Naturals will contribute $1 to The Nature Conservancy to support water conservation, up to $50,000.

To pledge, check out www.wipeforwater.com

If interested in joining Influenster, click here to join.

Disclaimer: I did recieve this product complimentary, however I do give my honest opinion - the good, the bad, and the fabulous.

Every Day Should Be Earth Day: What You Can Do To Help

Earth Day is right around the corner and will be celebrated this Wednesday, April 22! I've always been a bit of a biology nerd and loved everything Earth science and conservation in high school and college. I loved it so much that I went for a biology degree and at one point was working towards a wildlife/conservation specialist focus. There are many days that I still consider going that route later in life once my little(s), isn't so little and I decide to go back into the workforce.

In our household, we practice lots of ways to stay green and to lower our environmental impact. This not only benefits us in often healthier choices, more physical activity and cost savings, but also is leaving a cleaner and hopefully more bountiful environment for our children, subsequent generations and all the other critters that we share this world with.

So to celebrate Earth Day, here are a few of the ways that we reduce our environmental footprint. Hopefully this may inspire you to make a few changes in your home to become 'greener' and help restore the planet (and save some money at the same time).

• Recycle - We are lucky enough to live in a community that are strong supporters in recycling. We recycle a lot. We recycle far more than we throw away. This also saves us money because we have to pay by the bag for our trash. We also are planning to start composting soon which will reduce our trash waste and also benefit our garden.

Source

• Cloth Diaper - When I was pregnant I started exploring our diaper options and was really intrigued (and overwhelmed at times) by cloth diapers. Did you know that it takes a disposable diaper 250-500 years to completely decompose? Shocking, right?! Cloth diapering is super easy, exposes your kiddo to less toxins, saves a ton of money and drastically reduces your waste. You do spend some times and energy washing and drying, but the water and electric use is much less than what it takes to manufacture disposable diapers. We spent about $200 for our diaper stash and it has paid itself off numerous times within the first year. If not able to do it full time, considering trying it out part time (there are times that we use disposable during travel or sickness). Plus, fluff butts are sooooo darn adorable! 

Fluff butt

• Waste-free lunch - Packing your lunch with reusable containers and real silverware can reduce your carbon footprint by a significant amount.

• Garden & plants in the home - By gardening we save a ton of money. If not able to garden, shop your local farmers market as doing so will support your local economy and your food will come from a closer source so less toxins are put into the environment during transportation. Our harvest from last years garden saved us so much money since we didn't have to purchase many vegetables through summer & fall. Plants in the home are a great way reduce toxins in the air and has even been shown to provide stimulation to make you more productive.

Our garden

• Walk more - Ditch the constant use of the car and walk or bike to your destination. If not able to walk, then consider carpooling or taking public transportation. You can often find me taking a walk to the store, park or yoga classes. I get extra activity, get out in nature, burn calories and lessen my carbon footprint. My husband carpools with a co-worker often and this saves us so much money on gas costs as well.

• Go paperless - Try to print less. Most people have constant access to mobile devices so printing is often unnecessary. Buy digital copies or magazines, newspapers or books. Instead of using paper towels, use old t-shirts for your cleaning needs or use dishtowels to mop up messes. 

• Use natural cleaning products - Baking soda and vinegar can be used to clean so much. We never buy cleaning supplies anymore and I don't have to worry about my toddler getting into toxic supplies and the residue of using them. It's also very economically savvy.

• Turn off and unplug - If you're not using something, turn it off and unplug it. Many devices still draw power when plugged in, even if not being used. If not using your monitor (lunch break, meeting, nighttime), turn it off. Unplug your charger devices, toaster, coffeemaker, etc. when not in use.

• Use a programmable thermostat - This investment pays itself off in no time. There's no point having the heat turn on during the day when you're not home or when your nested in bed under covers. While you're at it, put on a sweatshirt and lower your thermostat a degree or two.

If you're interested in seeing what your carbon footprint is check out the free carbon footprint calculator on The Nature Conservancy website. 

Source: She Knows

What are some of your favorite ways to celebrate Earth Day everyday? 

What's one small way you can help reduce your carbon footprint in the home or at work?