Showing posts with label granola. Show all posts
Showing posts with label granola. 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, August 7, 2015

Savoring Summer

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 The last week of summer break approached faster than I could imagine.  It hardly even seems like we had a summer.  I spent every moment I could outside, soaking up the sun.  I love summer weather so much, I don't know how I get through the rest of the year.  This summer was one of the best, but there's still fun left to be had, always things left that I want to do.  Here are some things that I squeezed into that last little bit.
I had this little event planned for at Panther Creek one morning to invite people to do a little devotion and bring items to donate to Food on Foot as they have a rush of needs at the beginning of the school year.  They are always open for donations and volunteers, and I believe that this is a great way for anyone in Morristown to help the people right here where we are.  This world is a pretty dark place, but God is the light that overcomes it all.  When we are filled with Him, we are also a light that He uses to reach out to others.  I am really motivated this year to live differently, do new things, make my life a better gift to the Lord!

This is the view of the lake from where we met.

I have a friend who graduated from Tennessee High a couple years ago and now runs cross country and track for ETSU named Macy Carrier.  She is such an example to this world of how to be a light!  I see her heart for others at work all the time, and it makes me smile and want to do more myself.  Living life like that really is contagious.  You don't have to boast in all you do; people notice.  "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  2 Corinthians 10:17  She has gone on mission trips, babysits, and is just a positive example in general.  The past two years, she and some friends have even put together very successful 5k races to raise money to build a well of clean water and to raise money for a children's home.  I came upon this article about her from her town's newspaper that tells a lot about how great a girl she is and learned some things even I didn't know!  I just wanted to take a moment to share a little about her!
 There for a while, it rained at some point, usually multiple times, every day for a couple weeks.  That obviously frustrates me!  I redecorated my dry erase board with this verse and picture to try to keep my perspective right.  I am blessed, and I shouldn't let a little rain ruin that!  (Although that is one of my most difficult times to be positive.)

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all the living creatures of every kind on the earth."  Genesis 9:16

I couldn't believe it; after our team's cross country camp, I made RunnerSpace again!  This was two weeks in a row!  (Jessica and I were flying high-bottom right)
I don't watch a lot of tv, but when I do, it's usually with my mom and dad at dinner.  We always watch sports if there's a good one on or Big Bang Theory.  That show just cracks us all up!  However, my dad laughing so hard, or as mom says, "getting tickled," is funnier to me than the actual show.  Sheldon is my favorite.  Here he is with all his cats. 


This summer the weekends just did not work out for the lake, which makes me sad!  I am used to spending all Saturday and Sunday out at the lake, as well as the long weekend Mondays!  This year, I have only been out 3 or 4 times total!  Mom and Dad went a few more times, but between house projects, family events, vacations, camps, and bad weather, this was the least we have ever been out to the lake.  We took a couple weeknights to go get some skiing water while we had the chance.  It's so nice at night; there are few people and calmer water.  It's quite peaceful!
We had to take a picture together to prove that I really did get to hang out at the lake some!  Erika and I have literally grown up together on the lake.
When you have a long day at the lake, dinner to go is convenient.  By that time, we're usually pretty hungry, too!  We often stop by Taco John's.  They have room for us to park the boat, too, so that helps!




I actually found this verse a while back, but couldn't find a time to work it in, but I gotta share what I learn!  I hate feeling like I'm wasting time, so this verse goes right along with that.  If you waste the time God gives you, you're not going to have anything good come out of it, or you may find that your free time is taken away!  When you put your mind to doing good, God will help you succeed.

As a little kid, I would daily sleep in until around 10:30 when Mom would come drag me out of bed.  There's no time for that anymore!   Sleeping in is considered 7:30-8:30, sometimes 9:00, but I do cherish a good night's sleep!

I really like this quote.  Every day is a new one.  Take it on as a challenge!
Another positive quote I came across was from Aristotle:  "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work."
New phone wallpapers!


"...See how the flowers of the field grow...If that is how God clothes the grass of the field...will He not much more clothe you?...So do not worry...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6:28-31, 33


I got paid a couple times during this last week of summer!  I dog sat for my neighbor's grandkids and bathed my own dog for mom and dad.
Even more money!  I find change almost every day.  I am a professional runner.  I get paid.  Kinda...

After losing my beach tan during the weeks of rain when we got home from the beach, I have finally gotten it back!  This weather has been pretty great lately, hot, humid, sunny.
I feel like this is how my parents look at me all the time.
And speaking of food...
The Florida State coach came over for dinner and dessert one night to talk about me and their running program, which was really cool!  We fixed grilled chicken salad because that is something just about every single person, especially athletes, likes, and it is simple to make!  I had to snap a picture because it was the prettiest salad I've ever made.
The meal on the right is a new thing I've decided that I like together.  It is also one of the best post-workout meals I could make, too!  It's sweet potato with it's cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg topping; fish with some seasonings; and chia seed on top of it all!  I added some turkey sausage to this one, too, for an extra umph.

More new goodies I've found at the store for heading into school
I am stocked up on protein bars for like months, but there are just so many varieties of flavors that I love!  Kind is also a great brand with tons of good-for-you ingredients.
 
On our way back from a visit to Alabama, we stopped in the Target to look around, nothing special in mind, but you just can't pass up a Target!  I ended up getting these two gelatos and a yogurt to have for my road trip dessert!  I also got a new granola to have on hand, which is a variety available exclusively at Target!  These were all new products to me, and they were all a success!
These are two new protein bars I found at Walmart.  They're pretty good, but not my type.  After I finish them, probably not getting anymore!  They are very chewy!
We have a new race this year at a new location, so we had practice there one afternoon to try it out.  It is in a mowed hayfield, so it's pretty hard to breathe!  Along with the recent weather and no shade to be found, it was a tough afternoon.  But there were some really pretty sunflowers!  You can find good anywhere if you just think about it. 
"For all people are like grass, and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord endures forever."  1 Peter 1:24-25



My main goal (going along with using it for the Lord):  Enjoy Life.
"So I commend the enjoyment of life because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.  Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him."  Ecclesiastes 11:8
 Simple, yet so wonderful!  Here I was participating in "enjoyment of life...under the sun,"eating a dark chocolate chip waffle, drinking coffee, and followed the rest of the day with even more joy in what I did!

Last thing before school started on Monday:  sub deb pledge tea at the country club.
We all got dressed up and had a dessert buffet while we got to introduce ourselves to the freshmen and their moms and talk about some things we're going to do this year!