Currently Browsing: Friday Feature
Jul 30, 2010
Posted in Exercise, Friday Feature, Sports | View Comments
Now, before anyone gets a wild idea, these are both therapeutic tools for muscle massage. In other words, they allow you to give yourself a massage instead of trying to see a massage therapist every day.
Prior to last week, I would have definitely only written about The Stick, but I won an 18″ Tiger Tail, and I love it at least as much as The Stick. Here’s my breakdown.
The Stick: What I really like about the stick is that the individual plastic rollers can really dig in and in some ways, the stick is more flexible than the Tiger Tail, so if feels like it is able to wrap around muscles. The downside is that it pinches and often times leaves me wishing for a foam roller to dig in deeper, especially when there is a specific spot I want to hit.
Tiger Tail: Kevin has the longer Tiger Tail, and I don’t really like it, as I always felt like it didn’t roll smoothly. Now that I have the shorter one, I think his was just too long for me. The length changes the angle at which you push, and therefore impacts the smoothness of the roll. Unlike The Stick, the Tiger Tail has only one piece that rolls, so there is not any pinching. Also, Tiger Tail is firmer than The Stick and doesn’t seem to ever bend out of place. It also is able to work my knots over more smoothly, and it gives excellent neck massages with one hand. Kevin’s Tiger Tail has held up much better than The Stick (we share the stick, and now we each have our own Tiger Tail).
Overall, I have to say, I like the Tiger Tail better, but both are good products. I used the Tiger Tail after my 7.5 mile run Saturday and noticed a difference in my recovery. I did not feel any ill-effect of the long hilly run Sunday or Monday, which was nice. I also have been using it on my IT band, as it has been a little tight, and Monday morning I ran without any IT pain for the first time in over a week. If you are even casually in to fitness, these products can really help.
I plan to use my Tiger Tail to help me warm up Saturday (scheduled run of 8 miles), as Kevin tells me they are very useful in that area as well!
Both options are small enough to pack in a suitcase, though the Tiger Tail is a bit heavier than The Stick.
Do you use a similar product? What do yo like or not like about it?
VN:F [1.9.4_1102]
Jul 23, 2010
Posted in Friday Feature | View Comments
First off, I think from my beauty routine (in parts I and II) it is easy to tell I have really minimized the products in my life, and I rarely wear makeup. Like almost never. That being said, there are special occasions where I’d like a little cover, mascara, lip gloss, etc, but I have very sensitive skin and most products cause me to break out and/or have very itchy skin.
I had been on the lookout for a while when I stumbled across 100% Pure Cosmetics. The downside is that the products are not in the EWG database (except the mascara), so I had to go digging based on ingredients. (Did you know you can do that?) The ingredients turned out to be mostly 0s and 1s, though the Foundation Powder contains some chemicals rated moderate (3-5) in its sunscreen ingredients. None of the products are tested on animals, the brushes are mostly vegan, and they pre-cycle packing materials. (Check out a more complete list of their environment and animal stances here and here.)
After considering the company and the ingredients, I ended up ordering the 8-piece Fruit Pigment Color Collection, Healthy Flawless Skin Foundation Powder SPF15 and a Pink-Berry Lip Gloss to see if I would like their products. Normally, I would have shied away from the face powder, but I am having problems finding any that are rated low hazard.
I found all of their products to work for me. The powder went on smoothly without looking heavy, as did the eyeshadow and mascara, though if you are used to a very bold in one coat eye makeup, you might night like these products. The blush looked natural, and the lip-gloss was shiny and smooth without being super sticky. Most importantly for me though, the products did not irritate my face! Overall, I thought my face looked enhanced (versus painted).
Liking this product won’t encourage me to wear makeup more often, but I certainly won’t cringe about it either. I have not used any of their other products, but if you do, please share in the comments!
And now the fun part…
If you clicked the links, you will notice that I accidentally ordered the same Pinkberry lip gloss that comes in the 8-piece fruit pigment color collection. My error is someone else’s benefit! Leave me a comment, any comment on any post, between now and next Thursday at 5 p.m. (Central time zone) to be entered for a chance to win the lipgloss. Earn multiple entries by commenting multiple times and/or on multiple posts. Good luck!
(As always, I purchased the prize myself and no one is paying me to say, write, or do anything related to this product!)
VN:F [1.9.4_1102]
Jul 16, 2010
Posted in Friday Feature | View Comments
Let me start by saying two things: 1) I have only had this Garmin for a week, and I love it; and 2) for the casual runner, this Garmin is probably too much (price, detail, etc). Having said that, I have crossed that threshold back in to serious semi-serious training. I have even joined a half-marathon training program. When I crossed that threshold, I decided that I needed a better and more accurate way to track my distance, work level (heart rate), and pace. There are other watches out there, but this is the one I own and like, so take it for what it’s worth…my opinion!
The Garmin Forerunner 405CX (hereafter referred to as “CX”) is quite light weight, and really feels like a watch when I am running. I have friends with the 305, but when I tried theirs, it seemed bulky on my small wrists.
The CX comes with a heart rate monitor to track ones work level, which has already been especially nice in the heat of Oklahoma. It took me about five minutes to get used to the monitor on my chest, and the elastic is definitely helpful, as I don’t need to tighten it too much to keep it in place.
One difference between the regular 405 and the CX is that the CX calculates the calories burned based on your heart rate. This is especially helpful in keeping me from overeating and indulging. I am pretty good about what I eat anyway, and I have found that running suppresses my hunger to a point, but knowing that my four mile run burned a whopping 347 calories keeps me from thinking that I can eat an entire pizza on date night.
Another nice feature– knowing my pace on runs– keeps me from pushing too hard too many days in a row. It really does help to slow me down when I need to be having a long slow training run.
The CX tracks elevation, distance,pace, and a whole host of additional options, which I then upload to my computer for use with their software (offline) or to their online sharing program. The CX comes with a USB device called ANT+, which allows my computer and watch to communicate when in proximity of one another for auto downloading of my workouts.
I’m a bit of a data hound, but if you are thinking about training for any distance and want a Garmin (or similar style of device), I definitely like my CX and recommend it. And no, Garmin did not pay me to say that…nor did anyone else. 
VN:F [1.9.4_1102]
Jul 9, 2010
Posted in Friday Feature | View Comments
I once sent a link to a friend about Badger Balm. She travels a lot and a balm that serves multiple purposes seemed appropriate. Yes, I am always on the lookout for things my friends might like. Badger is a very green small town American company that uses natural and mostly organic ingredients. They are committed to the environment and sustainability, as well as fostering a healthy and caring work environment.
As summer neared and I was looking for a sunscreen for TB (and me), EWG’s sunscreen guide came out and Badger’s sunscreen was rated very favorably, so I gave it a whirl. (All of Badger products are rated between 0-3 on the EWG’s Skin Deep Database.) We also got some of the anti-bug balm, which has been working wonderfully. Overall, we have enjoyed their products and find them reasonably priced. Below are my thoughts on their products we are now using.
Anti-Bug Balm: I like the twist up stick of this product, because it is easy to apply to exposed skin without getting my hands messy and is very effective at keeping the bugs off of me and TB. The tin is also ok, though I find applying it to be a bit messy. Kevin is a mosquito magnet, and due to his larger surface area (hey! At 6-7, he has more surface area!), he has balked at trying it, but I think he’s tired of getting bitten. If he does budge, I will post an update of how it fared on him. If you dislike the smell of lemongrass and citronella, this product might not be for you, but I did not find the scent to be dis-favorably strong at all, and I definitely will be ordering it again!
Bali Balm: I really like this balm. It feels light when I apply it, yet it is very moisturizing. I use it after I am outdoors for a while (i.e. I have gotten some sun), and really any time I feel like I need a little moisture, because I do not keep lotions around. It was soothing on my birthday sunburn, and this is definitely another “keep it around” product for our home. I don’t keep many products around, especially specialty moisturizers, so that’s saying something. 
SPF 
30 Unscented Natural Sunscreen: I love this sunscreen. It works very well, and it does not sweat off like some sunscreens do. It has no scent, especially not a chemical smell, so that was nice. On the downside, if you are worried about nanoparticles (zinc oxide) or really dislike thick sunscreens, you might not like this product.
SPF 30 Sunscreen & Bug Repellent: Yes, all in one. I bought this one specifically for TB, because his school will not reapply bug repellent at school, but they will apply sunscreen and sunscreen plus repellent in one. (The school is surrounded by forests and though they try to control bugs, it’s impossible to keep up!) This one is a bit easier to apply (i.e. less thick) than the unscented version, but the scent is not overpowering to me. It definitely smells no stronger than the anti-bug balm.
SPF 15 Lip Balm: I’ve only used this a couple of times, because I forget I own it! Both times though, my lips have thanked me (i.e. they were less dry after being outdoors in the sun all day). It definitely had a slight whitening effect, but not so much that I thought I looked super strange. It doesn’t feel real heavy or sticky to me either, so that was a plus.
Products we have yet to try but own or will be delivered soon– Anti-Bug Shake and Spray and Sore Muscle Rub- Extra Strength (Kevin’s all over this one)!
VN:F [1.9.4_1102]
Jun 18, 2010
Posted in Friday Feature, Travel | View Comments
It is summer, which means travel time in our home. In the past, we have flown with our car seat and go-go-kidz, which I still love and lend out to my friends quite frequently. Now that The Boy (TB) is getting bigger, however, I decided to invest in acar seat cover and CARES system. I use the cover and check the car seat, which is usually free.
Early on, I held off because I thought the curve of the seat would be uncomfortable for TB, but I have to admit, I love the CARES system, and so does my son.
When we boarded, I quickly slipped the main portion around the seat, and then looped the harness through his seatbelt. It took very little time, and we were able to board as a family instead of separately. (We normally tried to have one parent board with the car seat and the second board later with TB.) The harness and strap were easy to adjust.
CARES fits kids 22 to 44 pounds, which makes it a great addition for children on the airplane. It is also nice during layovers, because the system folds back up in to his six inch sack. At a meer one pound, it is a great travel companion.
The picture I am posting is slightly misleading. I snapped this picture prior to take-off, and when I looked at my son in it, I realized that the portion that attaches to the seat back was not low enough. We also further tightened the harness to fit his slight frame. According to the installation instructions, the red strap should be just above a child’s shoulders.
The CARES system is available for purchase in the US ($74.95) and UK.
(This post is cross-posted at Mamasworldwide.com.)
VN:F [1.9.4_1102]
Page 1 of 812345»...Last »
