8th Continent Soy Milk Giveaway!

**8th Continent Soymilk is not only giving away a three month supply of soy milk to one of my lucky readers (just leave a comment - winner will be picked at random), they are having a super cool contest of their own called Nice Job, Mom. 

All you have to do is submit your less-than-perfect parent moment (in written or video form) and you can win a room makeover or a fabulous trip.  It's that easy!
Like perhaps a less-than-perfect parenting moment that includes overbooking yourself so much that you finally come home from a five day whirlwind to pat your son Ben on the head and mumble on your way upstairs, "Yes I know it's 6pm but it's time for bed, Bob."

Contest ends Sunday August 29th at 6:00pm central time.  

Winner! Winner! We have a WINNER!

Congratulations to Phyllis!  With the help of Random.org she was lucky number 50 with this comment!

Phyllis said... I inspire me to lead a healthy lifestyle because I want to feel good and fit into my clothes!

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: 69 Result: 50 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Thanks everyone for your comments and making this month-long review so fun.
And enjoy your $100 prize Phyllis. I hope you use the money to buy new clothes you can feel great in!

Water Your Body - Post #4

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.

Crystal Light's slogan is "Water Your Body". I love this saying because it's so simple yet so true. Our bodies are like plants, flowers and trees. We need to be watered! And hopefully with more attention than your dying ficus over there in the corner.

As I mentioned in previous posts staying hydrated is just as important to leading a healthy lifestyle as eating well and exercise. 
During the week at work I usually have no problem getting my water in.  I'm sitting at that desk all day.  What else am I going to do but drink tons of water?

But it's the weekends that I have to watch.  I know if I have a crazy busy summer weekend where I don't drink enough, I feel awful.  I start to get sluggish, headache and sometime even feel sick. Clearly such feelings do not lend themselves to getting out there and taking a vigorous walk.

Perfect example of this was yesterday.  I started my morning with coffee (of course) but I had a little too much.  Then we went to the pool where I had a bottle of water but just one.  NOT ENOUGH.  I came home from a few hours in the sun feeling so sick.  Nauseous, exhausted, you name it.  I was planning on walking last night but there was no way.  Finally after drinking LOTS of water, and some Crystal Light, I felt better.  Even I know what should be done but don't always take my own advice.  

Therefore, with the help of Crystal Light, I know make sure to fully water this body.  EVERY day of the week!

Staying hydrated makes me feel better, helps with weight loss (gets all those gross toxins out) makes your skin glow; it's just down right a good thing.

Thanks for being with me during this month long series of being happy, healthy and wise.  This was my last post, but don't be sad because BlogHer is giving away a $100 Visa gift card, and you COULD WIN! Winning $100 is almost as great as being hydrated, no?

In order to win just leave a comment and tell me how staying hydrated has a positive effect on your life? Get an additional entry by tweeting or blogging about this giveaway.

Be sure to visit the other participating bloggers’ reviews on the BlogHer.com special offers page (you have 6 other chances to win $100 as well as a $1,000 sweepstakes on the round-up page!).

You can find more information on the official site, and as always, the official rules.

Who Inspires You? Post #3

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.

Staying healthy and keeping it all on track is not easy.  Obviously.  If it was we wouldn't have issues with always eating right, always getting to the gym and finding time for just us.

In case you haven't noticed, this is life and it's crazy. Even those of us with the best intentions and the most to gain from creating healthy lives get side-tracked.

For me I always need that carrot at the end of the stick to stay focused and lately, it's pretty easy, as my carrot is HUGE!

The most obvious inspiration for me lately is my upcoming wedding. March 19 of next year to be exact.  What bride doesn't want to look her best on her big day?  I'd love to show you a picture of my dress but seeing as how that information is top secret you'll have to use your imagination and just picture a gorgeous, timeless, elegant wedding down.  Now picture a thinner more healthy ME in it.  Yep, that vision gets me through that last hill during my walk.

My other inspiration, my always inspiration are these two:

My fiance and son.

I want to be around for a long long time for them.  I want us to have a great full life with these two. A life filled with adventures, travel and fun.  I can't do that if I let my diabetes take control and don't stay on course.  So whenever I'm tempted by food or by the couch, I think of them.  That always works.

Great food and drinks like Crystal Light always help too.  Knowing that they are making my choices easier and cheering me on is always great inspiration.

BlogHer is giving away a $100 Visa gift card on my blog after my four weeks of this great Crystal Light campaign. In order to win just leave a comment and tell me who inspires you to lead a healthy lifestyle? Get an additional entry by tweeting or blogging about this giveaway.

Be sure to visit the other participating bloggers’ reviews on the BlogHer.com special offers page (you have 6 other chances to win $100 as well as a $1,000 sweepstakes on the round-up page!).
You can find more information on the official site, and as always, the official rules

Managing Stress - Post #2

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.

Benjamin Franklin once said "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Well he should have added stress in there too.

Everyone deals with stress. It's just part of life. Sometimes it's greater than others, even rendering you useless. And sometimes it's just annoying. Like a bug near your ear.

Regardless the result to the stress carrier is the same, especially the physical part.  I know when I'm wigging out I find my breathing shallow, stomach upset and pretty soon my shoulders are up by my ears.

Since I'm not stranger to stress and am the President of the "MUST GET RID OF STRESS" club, I have the following ways of accomplishing this:

1. Talk it out. Whether it's your spouse, best friend or family member, call them, email or find them and talk it out.  I always feel better after venting.  Especially helps when they agree with you but that's just icing on the cake.

2. Exercise.  This has literally been a lifesaver for me and my new relationship.  I'm a passionate person who feels things intensely.  This is my graceful way of saying I tend to overact.  In the past I would turn to food to help ease me.  Now? It's exercise.  I lace up my shoes and head out the door.  After about 30 minutes my nerve ends are tucked back in and I can see the world clearly again.

3. As I mentioned above, I used to turn solely to food when I was upset.  And of course, not GOOD food.  But now another good way to unwind is to take the time to make yourself a delicious and nutritious meal.  I find that the time it takes to chop, cook and eat, by then all my worries have either faded or at least eased up.  Crystal Light in a great addition to these meals.  Especially with all their different flavors, you can find one to go with any meal.

4. And when all else fails, I light some candles, put in a really fantastically chick flick movie and shut out the world.

BlogHer is giving away a $100 Visa gift card on my blog after my four weeks of this great Crystal Light campaign. In order to win just leave a comment and tell me how you manage your stress? Get an additional entry by tweeting or blogging about this giveaway.

Be sure to visit the other participating bloggers’ reviews on the BlogHer.com special offers page (you have 6 other chances to win $100 as well as a $1,000 sweepstakes on the round-up page!).
You can find more information on the official site, and as always, the official rules

Water Each Day Keeps The Doctor Away: Post #1

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.

On March 2nd 2010 I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

It's a day I'll never forget as it changed my life forever. And amazingly, not in the tragic way I originally thought when the doctor said those three little words, "You are diabetic."

I used to be the most unhealthy eater. I thought nothing of eating half a bag of sour cream and cheddar chips followed by Starburts at 10am.

Needless to say my ways changed dramatic immediately. I no longer eat sugar of any kind. Gone are the days of ice cream (unless it's sugar free ice cream) no cake, no brownies and I even had to say goodbye to my favorite, Peeps.

In addition, as much as I can I stay away from white bread, white pasta, white rice and really anything white; I do.

I also drink lots of water.

Ironically, one of the symptoms of diabetes is excessive thirst. When my blood sugar was super high (unbeknown to me) I was always thirsty. I just played it off with, "Hey, I'm a thirsty person." Glug glug glug.

Now that my blood sugar is low and my diabetes are very much in control, I not only feel a million times better, I'm not constantly looking for my water glass.

However, water and other low calorie drinks are vital to my new healthy lifestyle.

I find the list of things I CAN'T drink are growing.
I no longer can have any sort of juice (way too high in sugar), don't even think about regular soda (it's like dumping truckloads of sugar down your throat) and I can't even really drink caffeinated drinks. For some reason diet cola makes feel super hungry, which isn't part of the "losing weight" agenda.

So I was thrilled to not only find Crystal Light with it's tiny 15 calories per serving but I love these little to go containers.



I throw a pack in my lunch for a treat during that long afternoon stretch. At night after dinner with tons of ice is my pink lemonade dessert.
In addition they help to remind me to get my water in. I see those packs in my purse or lunch bag and know I have to drink my water.

I also make sure I have a cute 16 oz BIG cup (hey it has to be cute, otherwise why drink out of it) at both home and work everywhere I go. That way it also serves as a reminder to DRINK DRINK DRINK!

Not only does it taste awesome it's just one more way to get my daily water in without having it always be just boring water.



BlogHer is giving away a $100 Visa gift card on my blog after my four weeks of reviewing Crystal Light. In order to win the cash just leave a comment and tell me how you get your water in?

Be sure to visit the other participating bloggers’ reviews on the BlogHer.com special offers page (you have 6 other chances to win $100 as well as a $1,000 sweepstakes on the round-up page!).
You can find more information on the official site, and here’s a link to the official rules

We Have a WINNER!

Congratulations to Kelsey Kim! With the help of Random.org she was lucky number 42 with this comment!

Kelsey Kim said... Probably picnics. Kids like to smear their pb&j sandwich fingers all over everything except the delegated napkins.
CourageousMother

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: 177
Result: 42 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Thanks everyone for your comments and making this first review of mine so successful. And enjoy your $200 prize Kelsey. Just do me a favor and don't waste it all on those neglected napkins.