Eating healthy…

It can be overwhelming to go shopping for groceries especially when trying to find those things that are “safe and healthy” to eat.  After attending a mom’s group on healthy eating, I’ve decided to put together a list of safe buys at the grocery store.  There are so many things to “watch out for” it’s hard to find those things that are actually great for us to eat.  I am a label reader and find these are all great for you and your families along with being practical and tasting good!

This list is a work in progress:

• Oatmeal – Quaker Simple Harvest (all natural – really, i’ve scrutinized the oatmeal options)
• Cereal- Quaker Oatmeal Squares (an awesome snack for little ones with lots of dietary fiber and protein with little sugar – you will love it)
• Hot dogs – Al Fresco Chicken Sausages (all natural, NO NITRATES, no artificial ingredients and very yummy)
• Hamburgers – Purchase 99% Fat Free Ground Turkey and make your own, season with steak seasoning and a slice of 2% milk cheese and they are awesome
• Pasta – Buitoni 100% Whole Wheat
• Cheese – 2% Milk Cheese – any brand works (lower in fat)
• Tortillas – Santa Fe Tortilla Company Homestyle Whole Grain Tortillas (lots of fiber and protein)
• Eggs -EggLands Best – you’ll taste the difference (we eat of ton of egg whites which are amazing for you)
• Bread – 100% whole wheat, just read the label on the back, it should not say “enriched wheat flour”

I WON!

I don’t think I’ve ever won anything in my life until now! I couldn’t believe it when I received an email saying I won a new pair of running shoes in the Ryka Good for Your Sole contest. Yes, I admit I registered online at Ryka.com with no anticipation of winning, but to my surprise, I received an email yesterday stating I was a winner. Then lo and behold, I got home today and there were my new running shoes sitting on my back porch! I’ve yet to run in them, but just wearing them around the house, they seem great! I’ll give my review soon after the first run!

Importance of a 5-Point Harness Carseat

Wow, what a powerful four minute video. Please watch this video and consider what kind of car seat you are putting your precious little gifts from God into. Luckily, we do put our girls in a 5 point harness, but had no idea how dangerous it could be putting them into a booster seat when they weigh over 40 pounds.  I appreciate how this family is using their tragedy to keep more from happening.  This family has probably saved countless lives since the loss of their precious little boy.

I’ve Done the Research….

Wow, talk about spending a lot of time researching lately. I’ve been looking for the perfect double jogging stroller and finally purchased a 2007 BOB Sport Utility Stroller from www.joggermom.com. First let me say that I love joggermom.com. It is an online business started by another runner mommy with 4 children (one set of triplets). I emailed back and forth with Kelly (the owner) for about a week and she was always very helpful and quick to respond. I even asked for a discount and she offered me 5% off with free shipping! Talk about customer service!

We currently have a single BOB SUV stroller which we love and after looking at the other double stroller options, BOB still seems like the best. The SUV and SUS stroller have “wider” wheels and shocks which allows it to move over most any surface easily. They also have an Ironman double BOB which has the very thin tires, sort of like a road bike. The only setback to the Ironman Edition is that it can only be used on smooth surfaces, so any sort of gravel or dirt is out of the question.

So what about all the money it costs to purchase a jogging stroller?

Here is how I look at it…

1. It is an investment if family time. What a great way to spend quality time with your child/children/spouse as you walk or run along.
2. You are teaching your child/children the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle at a young age. If exercise is a natural part of your life, it will become a natural part of theirs.
3. It is an investment in your health. For me, it’s not about being thin, it’s about being healthy and pushing your babies is great exercise, weather walking or running!
4. It is a great time to teach your children about God’s creation. I talk to Makenzie about all the dogs, trees, flowers….basically everything that we see. We talk about how God created everything.
5. This may sound odd, but it’s a great time to pray. You’ve got nothing else to do with your mind while you’re moving along. I’ve had some of my best prayer time pushing my girls in the stroller.

With all that said, I can’t wait to get my new BOB in the mail! Once I try it out, I’ll post my opinion, but if it is anything like our single BOB, I’m sure we’ll love it! Check out www.joggermom.com for yourself if you are in the market for a jogging/walking stroller.