Showing posts with label Life is Good. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life is Good. Show all posts

Monday, May 25, 2020

It's Like Christmas Came Again



In just the short time from the end of Christmas break at the beginning of January to the beginning of Spring Break at the beginning of March, I had a ton of stuff come in the mail! Sometimes Mom would tell me when I got something so I would know if I was expecting a certain thing, but most of it, she didn't even bother. 

It was a pleasant surprise to see all of this waiting for me when I came home! She and Dad didn't see it that way as much, but that's okay...I did have a couple things for Mom mixed in with this, too, since her birthday is in March and Mother's Day in May.


Luna had a promotion to sample one of their new mash-ups bars. The one I got randomly chosen was the lemon blueberry, but the other mash-ups flavor is peanut butter fudge. Probably a good choice for me to get something I don't have much in similar flavors!


I use the Orgain shakes already, but it is handy to have packs like this for portability, so if I can snag one somewhere, I do. This one was nice to have for free and a coupon that came along with it!
TIP: These shakes are high quality and very tasty with clean ingredients and can be found at Walmart. They are a dollar or more cheaper than many other brands, and they often have rebates on ibotta--see my link at the top and bottom of this post to get the app! I use it all the time and have over $400 waiting for me to cash out.


Quest did a campaign with a fitness instructor to send out jump ropes and free workout ideas to the squad during the beginning of at-home-fitness. I have loved jumping rope since I was in elementary school, so I of course am thankful to add this one to my collection for when the next one breaks (yes, I have worn out/broken multiple ropes).


Contest prize! Protein2o got me a case of two drinks in each of six flavors. This is super helpful to me because I don't drink enough, but the more flavor I have, the more I drink. Hydration is key to sooo many body functions, I really need to work on it. These are also unique that they are a light, fruity, whey protein water rather than a creamy shake. That will help me get more protein during the day since I don't drink shakes when I have the opportunity to drink more water. Now I can get both! As for taste, I don't even like grape and especially not cherry flavored drinks, and I liked them both!


Simply 7 was another contest prize from a new product that I had never heard of before, but it was in collaboration with the drinks above. I'm really excited to have these for on-the-go snacks that won't go bad if I am out and about all day while still giving me a great mixture of nutrients! I'm thinking of lake days, hiking, driving, back-to-school...


This one from Grandy Oats was actually from a while ago but didn't get sent out until recently. It's granola, but without the grains if that makes sense--it's coconut based--YUM! And now I have two of each flavor to try! This is going to make some killer breakfast and dessert smoothie bowls.**They have original types of granola with the oats and grains as well as other products, but these are all coconola.


From a Yasso contest, I won a coupon for a free item and $1 off! I love their pints the most, but they are super hard to find. I've never seen them near home, only had a couple from Targets out of town. That's obviously not an option right now. But I've got time before they expire!


The Kodiak Cakes Kodiak Den sends out a product about once a month, and I am so thankful to get to try things that I've haven't bought or even found in the stores! Then after I get to try something new, I'll know if it is something I want to buy later on. That's how marketing works, right? 
The best thing they got me on so far: the dark chocolate chip mix...I made some waffles with raspberries in the batter and on top, and wow what a combination. The kitchen smelled like brownies, and the waffle tasted even better!


This was a deal I got from the SweatCoin app for a sample pack of Verb Bars for 99 cents and free shipping! Considering they were on my list of snacks to try if I ever found some, I wasn't going to pass them up for basically 25 cents each.


I won a pretty big contest with Rachel's Overnight Oats and Quantum Squares, and I'd say that's an endurance athlete's prize to beat all! Oatmeal and energy bars, specifically the official energy bar of the IronMan Triathlon series, has endurance packed all in those nutrients.
Cross country season, here I come!
(Triathlons on deck, in the hole, whichever one means after that)


GoodPop and Goodie Girl went together on a contest and loaded me up for some fruity for the freezer and cookies for the cabinet! I've never had the pops, and I've only had one pack of the mint thins cookies from Starbucks on campus (and the chocolate chip, but they aren't in this pack), so I am getting to try all new things here! The first ones I've had so far are the birthday cake cookies so I could share with Mom. Golden Oreos are one of her favorites, so to ease the pain of seeing all my junk, I shared. Saving the pops for post-run cool-down snacks this summer! I also got a coupon, and I can't wait to try another kind like the coconut lime or something chocolate or creamy orange.


This was a free sample straight from Garnier, for their line of Whole Blends. I have a dry scalp, and all your hair starts from the root, so I try to use deep conditioner to soak at least once a week. I always feel better afterwards! Chilling in my robe helps, too.


The newest Quest product came out this winter/spring is what they call a "snack bar" although I'm not sure why. They're just as much as the protein bars, just nut-based rather than chewy or soft like the cookies and original bars. They're really good, though! There are four flavors: dark chocolate mixed nuts, cranberry trail mix, peanut chocolate crunch, and sea salt caramel almond. They're very similar to Kind Bars, but they have some whey protein in them as well. 
One of my monthly deliveries from the Squad was the blueberry muffin bars! I love them slightly warmed in the microwave. Que the cross country and track trip hotel treats...sigh...


Here are two new Quest products, both in chocolate peanut butter! That's addicting. I eat something in that combination with banana and muscle milk every day. A staple in my diet, to be cliche. I haven't had the Hero Bars but a couple I found in a random sale bin somewhere, so these will be a treat. 


I've honestly been pretty fed up with PinchMe the past few months, and I don't even know how this one actually got to me. The website has been overly glitching, and the sample confirmation just leads you to endless other things you "must complete to confirm your sample," and they all look like junk websites. It used to be a great and reliable site to try new, high quality products, but it has gotten frustrating and fake, and they aren't acknowledging their customer's complaints, so I probably won't have any more of these. 


I took a survey through my email earlier this spring, and it gave a $15 off of $15 or more at Life is Good, and shipping has been free lately, so after a long time of contemplating what design to get, I chose this new one (in the Coronavirus release, but doesn't have to be Corona emphasized) because I do love days at home, especially with coffee and my kitty and something to read or learn.

 

I had no idea that Insanity and all those other related workouts were part of BeachBody until this month. I really had no idea what BeachBody even was. I thought it was some trendy diet thing like South Beach Diet or something, but after being in a Facebook group with a girl I met somehow many years ago, I learned a lot! I also got some free workouts, connections and fellowship, and fun. We had chats, live workouts, fun challenges, shared things that help us get stronger and healthier, and get encouragement during the stricter times of staying at home. I won these drink mixes for a weekly # contest, #GreensAndMemes, where we posted pictures of meals with lots of greens then a meme about quarantine. Tori's boyfriend about died laughing at my meme I made, so I won that one. 


These Hallmark cards are a limited-time promotion for sending cards to people who really need them, sharing the inspiration to encourage others with the hashtag #CareEnough, and if you know me, you know I was all over some card making and campaign participating!
My church has also been collecting and distributing cards for the community for the past month or so, so I've spent all my free time working on that til I finally decided it was time to let them be delivered. I'll do more later, I'm sure. Find out how you can help with FBC on their website!


This one is not for me! This was part of the Mother's Day stuff I got for Mom. There were some other packages delivered for her birthday, but they aren't in this post, and they were bigger and pricier, but just as personal! This is a Shutterfly Post-It stack with pictures of all Mom's "people" (me, Dad, Phoebe, Chloe), so she can have us on her desk and share us with her coworkers. "Jones" on the top, just in case she forgets her name. Working in the school system can do that to you.


I saw this new brand come up on an ad that had a free promo attached to it, and those usually have a catch like it's free but you pay shipping, but this one was totally free! AND an option to choose your flavor. Continuing how impressed I was, it came in the mail within the same week. I'm a fan now.
I hope to find their granola in a store sometime to try, too, since they have awesome and unique flavors, like maple pancake and pina colada.


Last but not least was my most recent giveaway win with Navita's Organics and Crow Canyon Home! I don't have any mix-ins for my smoothies, oatmeal, pancakes, etc., right now, so this was extra useful! The bites and goji berries are going to be great to mix things up, too. I haven't gotten the coffee mugs yet, but thankful for that since I had a bunch get broken when we moved to our new house!

I also have more things on the way, so I'll have to do a summer mail post at the end of the summer! I am always excited and thankful to get to try new things and share about them! It's the little things that get me, but that's a satisfying way to live in my opinion.




Friday, March 27, 2015

Bittersweet

The icing on the cake...the Christmas to the Eve...well, actually,
the Christ to the Christmas!
Ever since I can remember, it has been family tradition to read the Christmas Story together before I go to bed on Christmas Eve.  Once I got old enough to read well, Mom and Dad let me take over the reading.  No matter how old I get, it still gives a sense of peace to the night, just as Christ was born to give peace to the world.
 
"For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6
 
"...I bring you good news of great joy that will be to all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord...Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."  Luke 2:10-11, 13
 
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins...they will call him Immanuel--which means 'God with us.'"  Matthew 1:21, 23
 
How sweet it is to celebrate the Savior who gives us all these wonderful things that come along with Christmas.  I am so glad to have come to understand that there is more to Christmas than getting gifts.  I am proud to say that I have received the greatest gift anyone could ever ask for, and it will never spoil, get boring, break, need new batteries, run out of gas, need replacement or repair, or become too small to wear.  He fits in my heart and soul all year long.  All it takes is faith.
 
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 
2 Corintians 9:15
I just love the Christmas season and spirit and story so much, I wanted to post the beginning of this post to match the end of the previous post!  Especially since it goes from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.  Those are some of the most beautiful verses of Christmas.
 
Mom loves to take pictures of me (and obviously I love pictures to commemorate things), and I love pajamas, so there I am getting ready to open my stocking!
And this is what came out of that stocking!  Mom and Dad know me so well.  I got a TCBY giftcard (and a Sweet CeCe's one later; Mom just hadn't gotten to the store yet to buy it), fuzzy socks, an ipad stylus, sharpies, Carrot Cake Clif Bars, and Dad snuck in his own surprise:  hanitizers from Bath and Body Works!  He even did so well that one of them is a bunny rabbit on skis!  Too cute!
My stocking itself is a gift because it has my favorite word on it!
Delivering presents to my parents and watching them open them is almost as fun as it is to open the ones for myself.  I love to see them happy!
Dad's new golf club got a nice wrapping:  bow on a stick.  But really, how would you wrap a golf club?
"I woke up like this."
Mom doesn't like to get her picture taken, but I do it anyways.  She was thrilled with the calendars my dad got her:  one of kittens and another of siberian huskies.  He also got her some B&BW!  What a man to be seen shopping in that store!  He may be relatively quiet, but he is the most thoughtful gift-giver I know!
Mom got me this coffee flavor along with some matching Williams-Sanoma pecan pumpkin butter and spiced pecan pumpkin bread!  That store may be expensive, but they have top-notch products for your kitchen and your stomach!  We go in there usually just to explore and enjoy looking around, saving purchases for special occasions.
I had been seeing this brand of body care called YesTo, and put it on my wish list for a while, even hinting to mom that it would make a good stocking stuffer.  Shoot, I even followed them on instagram and got mom coupons for it.  The grapefruit was my top choice of what I wanted to try first, mainly because of the color.  Appearance gets my attention on products.  I also think it is neat that each different collection is based off of a different fruit or vegetable!
Here are the bigger gifts I got:
a Life is Good ski shirt
running calendar for my room
new cold-weather running top
Just Dance (which is basically Christmas gift tradition now)
my own copy of The Purpose Driven Life, the book my group does for Bible Study (a life-changer for sure!)
A daily Peanuts calendar with comics, pictures, quotes, etc
Chacos (a half-surprise; I saw them on the porch the day they were delivered, but was still surprised with the color)
and a Ninja! (a true surprise!)  I had no idea that I would get that, but it is perfect!  I use it literally ever day.  Little did mom know how great that gift would be. 
The Chacos and Ninja were my favorite (and most applicable/most used) gifts I got this year!
Tradition:  breakfast together while watching A Christmas Story.
I made sure to get the picture at the best part.  Tongue frozen to the pole. 
I triple-dog-dare ya.
Matching fuzzy socks for the occasion, too
I didn't set this up.  It woke up like this, too. 
It's a holdiday dessert tree!
I put my Ninja to good use right away!  I made eggnog dessert after our (another tradition) of Christmas dinner spaghetti!
These comics are simple, sentimental little notes to think about.
I titled this post Bittersweet because that's really how I feel about the holiday.  I love it so much, but it is so sad to see it come and go so quickly.  All the activities that lead up to this one day are almost better than the day itself.  Once it is here, it's so wonderful and fun, yet sad at the same time because it is over!  I am trying to let the good times overflow as we go into the end of the month and the rest of winter, not as bitter, but as sweet!

True holiday memories don't come from the gifts we receive, which wear out and get lost or forgotten, but we really remember the experiences we go through!
 
I hope your Christmas was a blessing to your family, and that you got some wonderful gifts, material and intangible!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Enjoy the Stride

 
I just love running! Summer really is my favorite time of year because I can run, cook, play outside, read, hang out, tan, swim, make social plans, and do all kinds of fun things!  I've really been excited about getting out there and running each day, too, and I am so proud of my teammates for getting out and working hard as well.




Yesterday, we had a voluntary two-a-day, and these two came with me:  a freshman and a sophomore.  Calista was hurt last season, and she is working really hard this summer to get back into it!  We did a 30 minute run on our own pace, and we met coming up a hill to the parking lot at the same time, and they were pushing it hard all the way up to the car!  I loved seeing that effort when they were already doing an extra run and didn't even have to go hard either!
Coach Farmer always gives us a "summer training guide" that we can use (which no one ever really does) to guide what we do while he can't talk to us, but we kinda used it this summer.  By this week, it said to begin two-a-days if you haven't already, so I suggested it to the girls.  We feel that Farmer has a tougher season in store for us soon, too!  This afternoon was super hot, humid, and sunny, so it was a good idea to run in this weather some before we go to camp.
I go online and look for things to buy all the time, because you can often find unique things at cheaper prices.
In my opinion, pictures are great, too.  And free.
Life is Good is one of my all time favorite brands, and I found these pictures to save and share!  I always try to be optimistic (notice try, not always succeed), like they say, "the power of optimism."

They say you're supposed to replace your running shoes at 500 miles, if not before, and mine are way over that mark!  Unfortunately, that usually happens to me.  After weeks and weeks of telling Dad that I really need new shoes, he finally ordered me some because I especially need new ones to have another pair when I head off to camp.  Since I am doing two camps back to back this summer, one of which leaves in just over 3 days, I need them now.  Mom kept freaking out because she was afraid they weren't going to arrive in time.
He showed me two pairs at decent prices, the same ones I had and the newer model, and I told him either was fine.  I didn't know which ones he ordered until they came in the mail yesterday.
 
Whatever you do today, I encourage you to get outside and enjoy God's creation!  Wherever you go, think optimistic, and "Enjoy the Stride!"