Would you have Quit?

It's no secret that I am on a workout mission. I try hard not to miss a workout, and for the most part I don't. But when is it okay to quit?

Last week, our family was horrendously sick. My children were up coughing all night, and I didn't get much sleep. Sleep isn't something I give up willingly, and when I miss it, things go south pretty quickly. I started to feel extra stressed, and things started to get fuzzy.

Before I knew it I couldn't see out of my right eye. So what did I do? Like any mom, I kept going. I kept cooking, cleaning, fighting over homework, reading bedtime stories. Same old, same old. Just painfully slow, and with only one eye. As you may have guessed, my head also ached like crazy.

Upon reading my fitness journal, my sister said, "whoa, you had a migraine." That I did. The second in my life - again involving blindness and a head pain I can't explain. Okay, but why was she reading it in my fitness journal?

Because I keep a log of every exercise I do. How I feel. And keep notes on my performance. The day of the migraine, I ran on the treadmill. The day after, I did weight training.

The morning after the migraine, I woke up to find my eye practically drooping out of its socket. It was swollen and sensitive. My head ached and I felt like my brains were sloshing around.

It hurt to bend over. I was like death on wheels. But still I worked out. I pushed myself even further (as I do every workout) until I puked. I stopped myself and swallowed it. All of it! I pushed through my set and puked again. This time I had to catch it in my hands.

Eggs, Spinach, and Feta. So yummy on the way down. So yuck-o on the way up. All the while I kept going.

At one point, I looked at myself in the mirror and thought "what the hell?!!??" I looked like Rizzo the Rat! What was I doing working out this hard? Not quitting!! I started this journey and I'm going to finish it.

I am going to finish what I started! And that's my new motto - "Finish What You Started!"  With health, with marriage, with everything! But I couldn't help wondering if other, rational, people might have quit. What would you have done?

Omg, can you imagine a time machine blender?!

Mega Bloks Domino Build Game

My kids love to play games. The problem is: we've played all of OUR games a zillion times. So when new games come out, we love to give them a shot.

Mega Games just came out with a new game called Mega Bloks Domino Build. My kids were really excited for the game. They loved the animals, the colors, and the fact that it came with blocks.

And then we played the game. As you may have guessed, the game is a combination of dominoes and building. The problem is - it's not very challenging. There's almost no way to lose.

For that reason, I'd say this is a great game to play with 2 and 3 year-olds. We all know that 3 year-olds are irrational when it comes to losing, so this game would be both easy enough for them to understand and provide a win-win situation.

It's also nice for the kids to have something to "hold" during the game. Each player gets their own set of blocks to "own" and build. But again, the building only consists of 4 pieces and the game is over very quickly (4 turns!)

We had fun with the game, but in the end we made up new rules. We played regular dominos with the cards and my kids built all sorts of towers and "trees" out of the blocks. My children are 5 and 6. I think the game may have been a little young for them.

I would recommend it for around 3 years old.

*This is non-compensated review. Team Mom and Mega Bloks provided the game for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pirose Review - Reno Rose Decorative Scarves

You can make a big statement with just a simple scarf. It can really draw attention to your outfit and make an "old" outfit new again! But, I think most women would agree that they are intimated by scarves.

How do you wear them? How do you tie them? And on and on. You know what, it doesn't have to be that tough.

I recently reviewed the Pirose scarf from Reno Rose and they take all the guesswork out of wearing scarves!

The scarf I ordered came with it's own (matching!) carrying bag and the most handy scarf guide I have ever seen. The guide shows you how to wear the scarf in 12 super simple ways. The pirose scarf is different from your average scarf because there is a hole in the center; allowing you to wear it in all sorts of cool ways.

I tried all of them, and they all worked out great. My only critique: I'd add 2 or 3 ways to wear the scarf on your head or in your hair (as a hair wrap or headband.)

The color selection is great. The fabrics drape beautifully.

I'd highly recommend them if you're in the market for a new scarf or you need something to amp up your existing wardrobe.

*This is a mamabuzz review. No compensation was received for this review. I did receive a complimentary scarf for review purposes.

Kobo Wireless eReader Giveaway!

If someone would have told me that I'd enjoy reading books on a handheld device, I would have laughed in their face! In fact, I remember quite a bit of eye-rolling when my good friend raved about her Kindle. Just another excuse to be "stuck in a screen," is what I thought.

But then I had the chance to review the Kobo eReader. I thought it might be a great way to catch up on reading while on the treadmill. I was wrong.

For walking, yes. For running, there has to be music. Sorry, but it's the truth.

The Kobo eReader is meant for reading. And that is where it shines!! I've read a lot about eReaders online and there are so many debates on screen sizes, pixels, color/non-color, wi-fi, and all sorts of bells and whistles.

If you love to read books, forget about all that nonsense. The Kobo comes with 100 pre-loaded books and can store up to 1000. You read that right, ONE THOUSAND!

As a clutter-hating, book reader - I love this!!! But let's get down to how this product performs.

#1 - The Kobo is easy to maneuver and read. It is so easy to use, even I figured it out within seconds. The screen is the perfect (book-like) size. You can adjust the font size, scroll between different books, and pick up right where you left off - on any of the books you're reading! The screen is easy to read and I haven't had any eye strain. I usually get tired eyes from computer screens but haven't had that issue with the eReader.

#2 - The size and weight are just about perfect. Check out this shot of the Kobo in my little bitty purse.

The eReader is so light and so slim, it fits in my small purse and I can hold it for hours without my arms/hands getting tired. Trust me, I've held it for hours!

#3 - The battery is long lasting. I've been reading for hours and there is still plenty of battery left. I'm impressed. According to Kobo, the battery lasts 10,000 page loads (or about 2 weeks.)

#4 - Free books. The Kobo comes with 100 free books. Some are weird, but most are classics. I'm currently reading "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "A Tale of Two Cities." Once those are finished, I'm going to re-read "Mol Flanders."  But the free books don't stop there. You can download any of the other 314 FREE ebooks from the Kobo Library.

#5 - Adding extra books. You can also add books. My local library has e-books available to check out. Books I actually like,  titles like "Master Your Metabolism" by Jillian Michaels, "The Blue Zones," and others! You can check out books for FREE from your library (and download them without ever leaving your house!) or you can buy additional books. Again without stepping foot in a store.

#6 - WiFi. To me, this hasn't been a big deal. I'd rather pick all my books on the computer and keep the Kobo solely as a reader. But for others, this is a deal breaker. Well, the Kobo has WiFi. Nuff said.

#7 - Reading more than one book at a time. If you're like me, then you hardly ever read "just one book." How nice is it to be able to have "all my books" with me when I'm out and about. If I tire of one, I can quickly swap to the next. The Kobo keeps track of my pages and I can jump back to where I left off with a few quick moves.

I have enjoyed having the Kobo eReader. I've brought it with to swimming lessons, school volunteer projects, and to an unfortunate visit to the Tire Repair store. What a blessing to have books available "on demand."

But, alas: all good things must come to an end. I am offering one Suburban Jungle reader the Kobo eReader I reviewed. Although it's been used for a few days, I can assure you it is not used. I took excellent care of it. I even kept the screen protector on.

The winner will receive the eReader (only slightly read) in it's original packaging, with the charger and instructions. I will have read 3 of the books, but you can always read them again and again.

To enter to win the eReader: Leave me a comment telling me which book you'd upload first.

Want Extra Entries?:
- Leave 5 comments if you blog about this contest (include your link in your first comment)
- Leave 3 comments if you tweet about this contest (include @suburbanjung in your tweet, you may tweet once daily for an extra entry each time.)
- Leave 2 comments if you follow @suburbanjung on twitter
- Leave 2 comments if you follow this blog publicly on google friend connect

**This contest will end on March 14, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST and is open to all US and Canadian residents. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. No compensation was received for this review. The eReader was supplied by Kobo for review and giveaway purposes.

A few Tips for performing a Wall squat

If you've ever watched The Biggest Loser, then you've definitely seen them doing a "Wall Sit." Also called a Wall Squat. Even after watching TBL for years, I'd never attempted a wall sit until last week. What?? It's a solid move, but I had my own routine.

What can I say? Well, I tried it for the first time and made some unbelievable errors. I'm going to share with you those errors so that you're first Wall Sit will be a success. Wondering what I'm talking about? This quick video (no, that's not me, lol!) shows how to do it:

Tip #1 - Do your Wall Sits FIRST. Not only will your muscles be stronger and last longer during the sit, but there's one other huge benefit. I did my Wall Sit after running sprints. Then I plastered my backed to the wall and a few minutes later - I had a wet, sweat-stained wall! Don't let this happen to you! 

 Tip #2 - Choose your music wisely. You'll be "sitting" there as long as you can - maybe minutes. Do you want to spend 2 minutes listening to Kenny G? Or...will you have the problem I had and be listening to this. Now, I love this song, but there is no way to sit still during this song. There must be rump shaking and when you combine that with a wall squat...well, it's a little tough. 

 Tip #3 - Be prepared to focus. Just like a plank or any other static movement, boredom can really ruin your workout. Decide in advance how long you will do each move, then aim to beat it by 15-30 seconds. You're most likely strong enough to do it. 

Best of luck incorporating this easy but solid move into your routine. 

Who's Shopping at Thrift Stores?

My son came home with a flyer announcing that his class was going to have an "early 1900's" day. The children were given a list of acceptable clothing and lunch options. For boys: BIB OVERALLS! Seriously? I know it was the rage in the early 1900's, but I don't think I've seen a boy over the age of 12 months wearing overalls. Unless their hunting or something. Sheesh.

Being a frugal mom, I didn't want to buy brand new overalls at the sporting good store so I thought I'd step out into the thrift store world and see what we could find.

Now, I've been to thrift stores before and I've never been impressed. They're usually in iffy neighborhoods, smell like an old lady's house, and have outrageous prices. This time was no different.

As soon as we drove into the area, my son announced that he was NOT getting out. "We shouldn't be in a place like this without Dad," he said. Before you get all snippy, you know what he means. Even a young child knows what the neighborhood is like when adult males are standing (and lying!!) all over the sidewalk.

When men aren't at work during the day; it means trouble. So whatever. We went into the store. My daughter asked why it smelled bad and why everything looked so old and junky. Great.

We walked around for awhile. We didn't find any overalls. But I did look at winter coats for my children, skirts, and random household items. You know what I found? Everything was outrageously priced. Most of the used, stained, and smoke smelling jackets were $19.99 or more. Really? I can get my children brand new coats at Target for less than $20 during peak season. If I buy them when they go clearance I can get them for under $8.

Scraped up old, warped Teflon pans were selling for $6. Single pairs of USED socks were selling for $2.95 and UP.

All the skirts were over $8 and the tops were $3+. Vomit, vomit, vomit. New tops on clearance at Target go for $1-4. For Brand new, in style clothing! None of the items at this thrift store were in superior condition, style, or brands. They never are. I've been to dozens of thrift stores (super big ones, little ones, consignment, you name it) and it's always the same. It's like a really bad garage sale, but with loitering people and bad prices.

So that's it. I'm not  stopping into thrift store ever again. It's such a waste. A gross, disgusting waste.

I'm sure some people love them. In fact, there were a lot of people at this store and they had carts full of crap stuff.  I've read blog posts where people have found steals on new merchandise at Thrift stores. But really - I've never seen it. And you can find REAL steals on quality stuff at department stores, online, Target even garage sales.

Thrift stores - Blech!

Invisible Hoarding

If you're a typical hoarder, chances are you know you have a problem. But what if you're an invisible hoarder? You know the type...hundreds (thousands?) of saved emails. Entire libraries of free e-books.

Too many apps and games on your smart phone. A gazillion texts. Endless online recipes you've collected, blog post ideas, to-do lists, contact information, webpage bookmarks? Cluttered readers, too many email subscriptions, too many email accounts, waaaaay too many facebook friends.

Is your online life as cluttered as your regular life? Or more so? Take a second and review your online "space" then cut some of it loose. You'll feel so much better and may even be more efficient.

How to Make Your Own X-Large Cat Litter Box

There comes a time in every cat owner's life when your little baby goes from this:

To This:

And when that happens, you're bound to need a bigger litter box. If you're like me, you've searched the internet and all the stores looking for an XL litter box. The truth is, most XL litter boxes are just barely bigger than a normal litter box. And all of them are expensive. Yes, $19-$40 may not be all that much for a litter box but for what it is (plastic box)... it's outrageous.

So why not make your own. There are plenty of videos on youtube showing how to make a litter an enclosed litterbox using a large Rubbermaid storage container. But for anyone that has to actually clean a litter box, you know that enclosed boxes have "issues." Plus, there are aesthetic reasons why you may not want and enclosed behemoth.

And I'm guessing you want it to be simple, right? Me too. When our kitty started to outgrow her litter box, I went on the hunt and came up with the easiest (and in my opinion, best) solution.

Here it is:

For $3.97, I bought this storage box (that also comes with a lid) in the storage section at Target. It's a full 4 inches longer and 3 inches wider than the largest box I could find in the stores (or online!) and it cost a whole lot less!

Is it beautiful? No. But it's also not horrendous. It's also super easy to clean. Before you cut up one of your Rubbermaid containers or lay out big bucks for an XL litter box, check out the storage area in your local Big Box store. The measurements are usually printed right on the label. Easy peasy.

Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour Review & Giveaway

If you've limited the amount of processed foods that you eat, than chances are you've limited the amount of corn and soy in your diet considerably. Congratulations! But what about wheat? I find myself using wheat and wheat related products quite often. Not that there's anything wrong with wheat, but still....variety is the spice of life, right?

So I've been experimenting with different flour options. Recently, I had the good fortune to try Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour.  The first thing I wanted to make was waffles. I've already been using Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil in most of our baked goods (like waffles, pancakes, brownies) so I was excited to try Coconut Flour instead of wheat.

According to Tropical Traditions' website, you can substitute 10-30% of grain flours with coconut flour, and up to 100% with muffins and quick breads. 

I decided that waffles were quick breads and quickly made mine with 100% coconut flour. Well...not so quickly. Here's what my batter looked like:

And here were the resulting waffle attempts:

I was devastated. I consider myself a "breakfast expert," and failing at waffles was heartbreaking. So we sadly had cereal for breakfast and I tried again for dinner.

This time I used about 20% coconut flour. And my batter was thicker than normal, but still "batter-like." 

And the waffles were delicious:

Pardon my "Granny - plates"

All Berried up!

I'll definitely be using more Coconut Flour. Our waffles were great, maybe a little sweeter than normal, but that's not a bad thing. I'm looking forward to trying this flour in gravy, pudding, and banana bread. There are tons of great recipes at here (scroll to the bottom.)

The only negatives: It's tricky to get used to the flour's consistency and I'm not a huge fan of the "bag." It doesn't stand well, and can spill easily. I transfered my flour to a canister. 

Tropical Traditions is graciously giving one Suburban Jungle reader a FREE bag of Coconut Flour. 

To Enter: Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Newsletter. Come back and leave me a comment that you signed up.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave 5 comments, and at least one link)

3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest. (include @suburbanjung in your tweet)

1 Extra Entry for telling me what you'd do with this yum-o honey

1 Extra Entry for following on google friend connect

1 Extra Entry for following @suburbanjung on twitter

1 Extra Entry for following on Feedburner

1 Extra Entry for following @troptraditions on twitter

This contest will end on 3/4/11 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org, posted here, and notified by email.  Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

The Hunt for a Great Hot Dog (or Bratwurst)

Years ago, when hot dogs would go on sale, I'd stock up. I'd get package upon package of FREE or extremely low cost hot dogs. Then, I got smart(er) and stopped buying hot dogs all together. It was hard to pass up the great deals, but I knew our health was worth more than a few dollars saved on cheap hot dogs.

This week we had weather in the 40s and let me tell you, it was amazing. Visions of gardening strobed through my head, and my husband even volunteered to fire up the grill. Then he asked if we had any brats or hot dogs. Um....no.

And so the hunt has begun. My usual grocery store started carrying Applegate Farms and Thousand Hills products, so I got excited. Nothing. I've bought nitrate/nitrite free bacon and sausages at Target, so I was hopeful. Nothing.

Our local Trader Joes' meat section is really small, so I'm not even going. Okay, fine... I'm going, but I'm not expecting to find Brats or hotdogs that meet my standards. That means... no nitrates, no nitrites, no BHA, uncured, no huge doses of celery juice, no chemical preservatives. Is that too much to ask?

My last real hope is Whole Foods. But you know how dangerous it is to go there. Especially in the bleck of winter. It's like sending a drug addict "downtown." Plus I'm still against the driving distance.

Perhaps if I can come into some extra money, I'll break down and make a big online purchase at Applegate Farms and be done with the drama. But I must have free shipping so that means more than $100. Chemical-free or not, $100 worth of bacon, deli meats, and hot dogs mean a lot of well....pork.

Remember when it used to be so simple......

Green Giant Giveaway!

If you're looking to improve your health this year, then vegetables are definitely going to play an important role! If you're rolling your eyes, then you probably haven't been making them right. Veggies cooked the right way are tasty and filling.

To make it easier, Green Giant Vegetables come in quick, easy-to-prepare varieties that make adding veggeis to your meal a snap. Twenty-nine varieties are endorsed by Weight Watchers®, and most have only a 1 or 2 PointsPlus® value per serving!

But you know it doesn't stop there! MyBlogSpark and Green Giant would like to offer one Suburban Jungle reader the chance to win a Green Giant prize package.

What's included:

• A VIP coupon good for (1) Free Green Giant Frozen Vegetable
• An insulated tote bag
• Serving bowl 
• Serving Spoon
• Pedometer

To Enter: Leave a comment sharing your favorite way to prepare Green Giant Boxed Vegetables. Do you serve them right out of the box (lol) or do you dress them up a little? Please share.

Extra Entries:

(5) Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave link and 5 comments)

(3) Extra Entries for tweeting this contest (include link and @suburbanjung in your tweets)

(2) Extra Entries for following @suburbanjung on twitter

(2) Extra Entries for following @greengiant on twitter

(2) Extra Entries for following on Google Friend Connect

*This contest will end on February 28, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. No compensation was given for this review and giveaway. Green Giant and MyBlogSpark provided me with a complimentary prize package and also supplied the information and prize package for giveaway. 

b-Dazzle Review

Looking for away to draw attention to your eyes? To make them stand out and Sparkle? I'm always looking for something like this and recently had the chance to review b-Dazzle by Giella.

What is b-Dazzle? It's a product made with 7 mineral ingredients that brings "dazzle" to your eyes. It's used by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and renowned makeup artists like Mario Dedivanovic. And now it's used by me (and you?)

It's really quite simple to use and a little goes a long way. When I first received the shadow and read the instructions, I wasn't so sure about it. It came in a really little pot and said it was for "all skin types". 

I couldn't imagine someone with dark skin wearing such a light color and I thought the little pot would run out right away. Well, I'm happy to report that I was wrong! 

A little goes a long way and this pot will last for months. And when you put the color on, it's more of a shimmery gold than peach/nude. I could definitely see women of all skin colors using this. All you do is swirl your brush in the loose mineral and apply to the inside corner of your eyes.

It takes just a few seconds and really lights up your face. I like it and will continue to use it. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

How the BackFloat Cost me Hundreds of Dollars!

Teaching kids to swim well is a hot topic for me. My younger sister nearly drowned when she was 18 months old, and I dragged her struggling body from the pool. 

It was about that same time that I stopped taking swim lessons. Because I couldn't "dive" not because of my sister's drowning. But the two events forever changed how I feel about swimming. #1 - Parents should always be on alert around water and #2 - It's important to teach kids to swim WELL.

Since I couldn't dive, I couldn't progress to the next level. I tried once more, and then my parents decided I was done. So my swimming ability stayed at that level forever (or at least until I start a swimming class next fall - woo!)

So imagine my frustration when my children proved to be marginal swimmers. I took them swimming every week when they were babies and toddlers. I signed them up for lessons as soon as they were old enough to be in a class on their own.

And each time, they kept having to repeat the same class. Diving??? No, for them (both of them!) it's the back float. They both tense up like rigid star fish and refuse to float. 

So we repeated the same classes over and over and over again. My husband and I tried in vain to teach them on our own. I even hired a private teacher to come and give lessons to my son in our pool. Nothing.

I can't tell you how many hundreds of dollars went to swimming lessons. Imagine a 5 year old boy swimming under the water and all around the pool....in a baby class. Bobbing around in floaties with his 3 year old classmates and at the end, not passing because of the @#%&%  back float! 

We did group classes, one-on-one classes, and private tutoring. It was money down the drain. Not to mention the hours of sitting there watching, the fighting to get showered, dried and dressed, and the wet yucky mess all winter long. 

But we finally broke the curse. Or so I thought. I enrolled our children in an extremely expensive swim school. This school turns out impressive swimmers, and that's what I wanted for my kids. 

They made huge strides during their first season and I was very pleased. They graduated to the next level! This was a first and a very good thing, but I felt like my son was in a class that was too easy for him. 

My daughter has made massive improvement and even competed in her first swim meet. My son still can't really float on his back, but he can swim the crawl stroke and back stroke for the full length of the pool. And he can flip between strokes quickly and efficiently. He can even swim using only one arm.

And so the new season begins and I feel like my son is "swimming with babies" again. The other children are not as fast, efficient, or strong. He can certainly swim farther than any of them and with better technique.

But the truth is the truth - and I saw the reason again during this season's assessments. While he was undergoing his evaluation, I saw the look on the instructor's face. Then there was some arguing, and some more swimming. And......

He passed. But just barely. Can you guess why? The @$%#@% back float! I mean COME ON! Is this kid going to be able to swim 20 laps of the butterfly and still be dealing with the back float?!?!?!

I already know the answer. I still can't dive. But I'm not letting him quit. He has the makings of an amazing swimmer. And so does my daughter. They are lean and fast. And they enjoy it.

We are going to keep pressing on, and back float be damned, my kids will learn to swim! Just don't ask me how much it has cost. I might just lose it!

CheapesTees.com Review

When it comes to T-shirts, I'm sorry but cheaper is better. I am a big fan of layering and when you start putting on 2-3 shirts, cost and thickness really matter.

I was super excited to review CheapesTees.com and have a chance to try some of their T-shirts (and yoga pants!)  Their slogan is "The Lowest-Priced, Name Brand T-Shirts On Earth!"

Click over and see for yourself, but the T-shirts I selected were super value priced. My favorite was this 2-toned green T-shirt that sells for $6.94!

If you know me in real life, then you know this shirt is SO me, and not just because it's green. But even the price is SO me.

They have long sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, yoga pants (yay!), tank tops, and T-shirts for everyone in the family. They have womens, mens, kids, and even special order group items.

So what did I think of CheapesTees.com? Well, it's hard to get over the awesome pricing. I buy lots of layering items (like T-shirts) and CheapesTees.com has a great price.

The oddest thing? I placed my order one afternoon and the products were on my door the next morning! That's service!

All of the products fit me well. They were well made, not last forever made, but honestly, none of my basics last forever. I run a lot and keep our house at 65 degrees, but if I get in an environment above 70 or so, I sweat like crazy and frankly, I ruin a lot of shirts. Just being honest. So I'd rather buy "cheaper" (especially pertaining to price!) basics and wear them out.

I liked CheapesTees.com and would definitely buy from them again.

Check it out for yourself and see what great deals you can find.

*This is a non-compensated review. I did receive products from CheapesTees.com for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

I want to be on The Biggest Loser!

"I want to be on The Biggest Loser!" That's what my son yelled to me during last week's episode. Touché! In all reality, I couldn't agree more. But The Biggest Loser is a touchy topic in my home. It is my all time favorite show, but up until last week my children were banned from watching it.

It used to be the only show I watched on television and since it aired at 7pm, I let my kids watch it with me. I didn't think twice when they'd announce to people that "soda makes you fat" and "you shouldn't eat THAT!" It was kind of cute. And after all, they were right.

But a little while back, my daughter jumped on our bathroom scale and said "mom, how much did I lose?" And that was the beginning of the end. My kids see me workout and they know I pay attention to what I eat. No mindless ice cream binges here. But I NEVER mention weight or say I need to lose anything.

I never say "I'm fat" or complain about body issues. It's not that I don't have any. I just internalize. But she had to be getting it somewhere. When she promptly pointed out "Ada" at the grocery store, the light bulb went off.

She had seen The Biggest Loser contestants hop on the scale and see how much they lose every single week. It's one of the best parts of the show. But it was obviously sending a creepy message.

So we went over the basics:

• It's not about being thin; it's about being healthy!
• Calories are energy and we need energy to live and grow.
• Exercise is fun and important but it's not about losing weight.

Then I secretly watched The Biggest Loser late in the night when they had already gone to bed. Gotta love Tivo! They never saw last season's finale and they had never seen any of this seasons new contestants or trainers.

But last week, I just wanted to watch TBL at it's regular time. I thought maybe my kids had lost interest, but they hadn't. They jumped right on the couch when it started.

They got super excited during their favorite part - The Challenges. That's when my son yelled that he wanted to be on The Biggest Loser.

He went on to say that he would kick all their butts. I was so proud. That's one of the reasons I'd like to be on the show as well. To be the winner. I'd also like the all-day workouts, and free access to all organic food.

For years, I have filled out sweepstakes to "train with Bob or Jillian." How awesome, right? But after a bit of thought, I don't know that it would be all that awesome. I imagined myself cooking cool new vegan dishes with Bob, then doing some Pilates and maybe going for a swim or a hike in the mountains.

The reality is: Bob and Jillian would take one look at me and kick my butt all over the place. Why? Because I'm already fairly fit. I have no "weight" to lose and they'd want to force me to take it up another level. They'd want to make me puke. Ugh.

I think I'll refocus my sweepstakes entries on Italian getaways and Alaskan cruises. No puking required.

Yoplait Smoothies Fitness Kit Review and Giveaway

Seven out of every Ten Americans do not get the recommended 2 to 4 servings of fruit per day. Wow! But really, 2 to 4 servings is what's recommended? I'm shocked on both accounts. One super easy way to get more fruit (and yummy yogurt) into your diet is to use Yoplait's frozen smoothie mixes.

Check out the awesome flavor options:

• Blueberry Pomegranate
• Triple Berry
• Strawberry Banana
• Strawberry Mango Pineapple

All of these flavors sound great to me! I love everything berry and the Triple Berry is amazing! Even my husband, who isn't a huge berry fan (I know, what??) loves the Triple Berry smoothie.

To help you get more fruit in your day, MyBlogSpark and Yoplait are offering one Suburban Jungle reader the chance to win a Yoplait Smoothies Fitness Kit (pictured above).

The kit includes: a VIP coupon to try Yoplait Frozen Smoothies for free, Drawstring backpack, Water Bottle, and Fitness Journal.

To Enter: Leave a comment telling me how you plan to incorporate smoothies into your healthy living plan.

Extra Entries:

1 Extra Entry for sharing your favorite smoothie combination

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave a link and 5 comments)

3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (include @suburbanjung in your tweet)

1 Extra Entry for following on Google Friend Connect

1 Extra Entry for following @suburbanjung on twitter

1 Extra Entry for Liking Yoplait Smoothie on Facebook

This contest will end on February 23, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. The prize pack and review products as well as the information was provided by MyBlogSpark and Yoplait. No compensation was received.

 

HappyMe Skincare Review

As a women, I've tried all sorts of skincare products. Just ask my sink!! I love trying to products and every once in a while I find one that I never want to trade out.

This month, I had the chance to review the new products from HappyMe Skincare.

I tried out their Anti-aging line which includes: Neck & Chest repair with SPF 30, Hand repair with SPF 30, and Pore & Fine Line Perfecter and Primer.

From the get go, it's important to let you know that all of these products are made from natural ingredients. They do not contain parabens, sulfates, or artificial dyes. Yay!

I tried the Neck & Chest Repair and Hand Repair lotions first. They went on thick and seemed to work fine as lotions. I don't have a lot of issues in those areas yet, so I didn't really notice any difference.

Both products have a very strong scent. I'd say it's like licorice. So if you are sensitive to smells, you may want to keep this in mind when selecting them.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with the Pore & Fine Line perfecter and primer. I'd never used a primer before. I thought I'd wait awhile and try it later, but I am SO GLAD I didn't! As soon as I put this product on, I loved it!

It was different than anything I had ever tried before. It came out of the tube like a thick, rubbery, clay like substance. I smoothed it on my face and...... I was gorgeous! Okay, that seems a bit extreme, but I'm not kidding.

My skin was even and smooth and lovely. I put my usual makeup on, and my skin looked airbrushed. To be fair, I use a really inexpensive drugstore foundation. It usually looks somewhere between total crap and "eh". But my skin's not really the greatest and I haven't found one that works better.

But with HappyMe's primer underneath, I had airbrushed looking skin. It was awesome. I left the bathroom right away and got online to find out how to order more. It turns out HappyMe Skincare is only being sold at Drugstore.com right now, but wait....a little more digging and I found it at Amazon. Wahoo! They are adding new stores all the time so search here http://www.happymeskincare.com/buy to find it in your area.

I'm not sure if I'd buy the other two anti-aging products again. The scent was a bit overwhelming for me, but I've already bought more HappyMe Pore & Fine Line perfecter & primer. It really is that great! And I found it for about $12. Now if it can show up at my local Target......

Even better news? HappyMe Skincare is giving away one set of their Anti-Aging creams to a Suburban Jungle reader.

One lucky reader will receive the Neck & Chest repair with SPF 30, Hand repair with SPF 30, and Pore & Fine Line Perfecter and Primer.

To Enter: Leave a comment telling me why you'd like to win the HappyMe Skincare set.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave a link and 5 comments)

3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (include @suburbanjung in your tweet)

1 Extra Entry for following on Google Friend Connect

1 Extra Entry for following @suburbanjung on twitter

*This contest will end on February 22, 2011 at 9:00PM. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. This is a non-compensated review. I received the products mentioned above for free for review purposes. All opinion expressed are my own.

Arbonne Essentials Review

Ever wonder what's IN your vitamins? I've always wondered about vitamins. Where did they come from? How were they produced? And are they even healthy? I'd like to think that we can get most of our nutritional needs by eating a healthy diet. As true as that might be, we live in a very stressful and polluted world. Chances are, we may need a little help (nutritionally.)


Arbonne just launched their new Essentials line of vegan certified products tailored to meet individual people's needs. Their products are formulated without artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, gluten, cholesterol, saturated fats, trans fats, animal products, or animal by-products! 


This really peaked my interest because I had never seen these type of supplements made soley from botanical products. 

Here are a few of the products I had the chance to try:

Protein Shakes
These were available in both chocolate and vanilla. Arbonne Essentials protein shakes deliver 20 grams of VEGAN protein per serving; plus 20 essential vitamins and minerals.

•  Protein Shake Mix Powder (30 servings): $59
•  Protein Shake Ready-to-Drink (12 pack): $34
•  Protein Shake Mix Powder Packs (10 single serving packs): $24

What did we think? Having never used protein powders before, I used these in all sorts of wild ways. I made smoothies. I used them for half of the flour in pancakes and muffins. I even sprinkled them into yogurt for a chocolaty yogurt snack. They were really good. I could imagine adding them to our routine in place of our usual vitamins/minerals.

Fit Chews

These fit chews are a chocolate flavored bite-size treat that help control cravings and sustain energy levels.  

• 30 chews are $19

This was a unique concept for me. I tended to eat them when I was between meals and feeling antsy (not quite hungry but looking to nibble on something.) Or I went for these when I needed a little bit of a chocolate fix. They taste just like tootsie rolls, so not so sweet that you want to eat a whole bunch of them, but just enough to taste a little like candy.

I wasn't sure how they helped for controlling hunger but I did make the mistake of eating one 10 minutes before dinner one night and couldn't even finish half my plate. I'm not sure if it was because of the fit chew or not, but I am almost always a plate finisher.


Super Chews For Kids & Teens
These are cherry flavored chews with 15 essential vitamins and minerals, including
300 mg of calcium (equal to one 8 oz. glass of milk) 

• Super Chews For Kids & Teens (30 chews): $24

My daughter liked these. She was excited to have a chewable vitamin that contained calcium and vitamins. My son didn't like them at all. 

Antioxidant & Immunity Booster

This  is a 3 fl. oz. drink shot containing juices from pomegranate,
blueberry, acai, grape, cranberry and other known superfruits; infused with
powerful antioxidant and immunity ingredients as well as ingredients for
energy. Each boost contains as much B12 as 10 eggs and the antioxidant level
(ORAC Value) of three apricots, five zucchini, one kiwi, one cup of
watermelon and one cup of cucumber. 

• Antioxidant & Immunity Booster (24 bottles): $69

This was really tasty. It had just the right combination of yummy super fruits. We usually up our intake of super fruits during the winter, and this was a welcome addition. In fact, I'd much rather use the Arbonne Antioxidant & Immunity booster because it doesn't contain any artificial sweeteners or flavors. This was a big hit in our house.

You can find out more about Arbonne's products by visiting their website here. 

*This was a non-compensated review. I did receive Arbonne supplements for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

KitchenAid 3-speed Blender and Yoplait Smoothie Review & Giveaway

You have to admit, smoothies are pretty awesome. I like them because they're a yummy mix of nutritious ingredients, but I also LOVE them because it's a great way to get my family to eat a wide variety of fruits and veggies.

There are a ton of ways to make a good smoothie, but the easiest way is to use a prepackaged Smoothie mix like the Yoplait Frozen Smoothie Mixes.

In celebration of the new Blueberry Pomegranate flavor, Yoplait and KitchenAid are offering one Suburban Jungle reader the chance to win: 1 coupon for a free Yoplait frozen smoothie and a 3-speed KitchenAid blender.

Since you'll have the smoothie mix AND the blender, there's no excuse not to make some blueberry goodness. I got the chance to try both of these goodies out before offering one to you. If you guessed that the smoothie was fantastic, then you'd be right. My family loved it. It was so easy to make and so delicious. How can you go wrong with blueberries or pomegranate? Really...but the super easy prep wins huge points in our family too.

If you want a chance to win your own Yoplait Frozen Smoothie Mix and a 3-speed KitchenAid Blender (retail $99.99), read below to find out how to enter.

To Enter: Leave a comment telling me why you'd like to win.

Extra Entries:
1 Extra Entry for sharing your favorite smoothie combination
5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave a link and 5 comments)
3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (include @suburbanjung in your tweet)
1 Extra Entry for following on Google Friend Connect
1 Extra Entry for following @suburbanjung on twitter
1 Extra Entry for Liking Yoplait Smoothie on Facebook

This contest will end on February 21, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. The smoothie was given to me by Yoplait and the 3-speed KitchenAid® blender was given to me by KitchenAid®. Yoplait and KitchenAid are also supplying the giveaway products. No compensation was received.

Love Crunch by Nature's Path Organic

It's almost Valentine's day, and for me that means two things: Berries and Chocolate! For a limited time, you can have them both in Love Crunch. Nature's Path and Whole Foods Market have teamed up to bring this exclusive, one-of-a-kind cereal to you.

Love Crunch was created to celebrate love and help those in need. The couple that created the cereal, made it as a favor at their wedding and asked their guests to volunteer in the community.

With every box that is sold, $1 is donated to the Whole Planet Foundation to help women lift themselves out of poverty.

But the best part (in my opinion) is the yummy organic goodness inside this box. Imagine chocolaty flax and granola, chunks of dark chocolate, strawberries, coconut and raspberries. Yep, that's why I loved it. Every bite is loaded with chocolate. The chunks of chocolate are so good (not plastic tasting as they sometimes are in cereal) and there are berries!

My only complaint: I wish there were more berries. My ideal cereal would be ALL berries, but I'm just saying. The amount of chocolate is perfect. Everything about the cereal is chocolate. I'm sad it's only available for a limited time.

We ate it with yogurt, milk and plain. You could also use this as an ice cream or baked goods topping, in your trail mix, or pretty much anywhere you'd use granola.

Just like all Nature's path products, Love Crunch is USDA certified organic and does not contain artificial preservatives, additives, GMOs or synthetic pesticides. This just makes the cereal all that much better. Look for it at Whole Foods before it's all gone!

*This is a non-compensated review. I did receive a box of Love Crunch for review purposes (wishing I had received multiple boxes, lol) and all opinions expressed are my own.

Cheribundi Review

We all know how powerful antioxidants can be, and most of us have tried some of the yummy options available. I know I love to drink/eat pomegranates, blueberries, coconut....


But have you ever thought about Cherries? I start to see cherries in the grocery store around this time, and I can't resist them. Talk about yum!


What about cherry juice? I'd never seen it until I had the chance to review Cheribundi's Tru cherry Tart Cherry Juice.


Let's go beyond the taste (it was yummy!!) and see why someone might want to drink Cherry Juice.

According to Cheribundi's website, each 8oz bottle of juice contains 50 cherries. Wahoo! Just the idea of 50 cherries is enough for me, but not everyone likes to eat whole fruit. For those of you that do or don't like to eat cherries, you'll get a whole lot of cherries in each bottle.


And each cherry is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and all around good taste. 

If you head to the Cheribundi website, you'll find all sorts of great recipes to make with the juice.  
If I were to cook with it; I'd make pancakes, muffins, smoothies, syrups. But to be honest, you may not be able to resist just drinking it all.

That's what I did. I tasted it. I loved it. I finished the whole bottle and then I got on amazon and bought some more. Have I mentioned that I love cherries?   


*This is a non-compensated review. I did receive a complimentary bottle of Cheribundi for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own. 

InstantPeel Natural Exfoliant Review

Have you ever thought about doing a facial peel? If you've ever looked into them, you know they can be expensive and kind of scary. They can burn your face, cause scarring, and who knows what else. But still, we want the fresh, radiant skin they promise.

I recently had the opportunity to try a new kind of "peel". The InstantPeel Natural Exfoliant from Earthen gently peels away dead skin without irritating healthy layers of skin. It's designed to only target dead skin. Even so, I was a little scared when I hopped in the shower to give it a try. 

I decided to try InstantPeel on my face and stomach. For some reason, I had in the back of my mind that the idea that a peel might magically peel away all my stretch marks. So how did it go? Well....my face peeled and peeled and peeled and peeled. It was almost like it was never going to end.

I guess my exfoliating face wash isn't really "exfoliating" all that well. I had a lot of peeling in my trouble spots. You know the spots on your face that still get acne even though you're in your thirties!! But it didn't hurt and my face didn't turn red or sensitive. Not at all. My skin looked as white as ever and was so smooth! 

Smooth and my face are not two words that usually go together. I could say oily, dry,waxy, bumpy depending on the day, but never really smooth.  My face was smooth. I liked it! 

But what about my stomach. Oddly enough, nothing happened on my stomach. I mean, absolutely nothing! I guess the package was right about not targeting healthy (living) skin. I've been religiously using a really expensive stretch mark cream and it has kept my tummy skin nice and supple. So no peeling. 

I'd highly recommend this product if you want a good, gentle peeling product. The box contained 6 treatments. I had enough in one treatment to liberally apply to my face and stomach (not a small area) so you could get a lot of mileage out of each treatment. 

The only downside...opening the packet while you are wet in the shower. You need to use the product on skin that's been wet for a few minutes (or hot and steamy from the shower,) so take my advice and open the package before you hop in the water. Then it's all smooth sailing. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

When to Pierce Your Child's Ears?

My daughter has wanted pierced ears since forever. Well, at least as long as she could speak. She's a very girly girl and I catch her digging through my makeup and jewelry on a regular basis.

I had my ears pierced at 5 years old, so I thought it was fair for her to make the choice when she turned five.

Well, she'll be 5 in just a few days and she's been reminding me that it's "time" for her to get earrings.

On a family trip to the mall, she happened upon an earring shop and found "the ones." Since it was only a few days from her birthday, we went for it.

She got her ears pierced! She didn't even wince once. She may be glamorous, but she's also focused on winning. Crying would be losing, and she's not about to let that happen!

Her Type-A parents couldn't help but be proud.... But then she smiled and let us know that she wasn't supposed to get her ears pierced until she turned Five. It wasn't her birthday yet and she got away with getting them at the age of FOUR!

She's going to be trouble....