And the winner is...

Julia! Julia, email me your details, and I will set you up with Chobani so you can order your case of super awesome yogurty goodness.

Last Chance!

Today is your last chance to enter to win a free case of Chobani Greek yogurt! Enter here and read my review of this truly amazing yogurt. I will be picking a winner tonight based on all the entries (through random.org). Don't miss your chance!

Travel update and my first review/giveaway!

First -
So I am in Las Vegas for a few days to visit/care for my mom after she had surgery to replace her knee. Unfortunately she has not been allowed to come home from the hospital since I got here. On top of not actually being able to see my mother, the moose and I have been brought low by the heat since getting to Vegas. Stomach troubles, general heat exhaustion - we haven't even made it to the pool!

However today is a new day. We are getting out, going to the dog park, going swimming, and I will be working out (finally) tonight in the awesome fitness center at my mom's apartment complex.

And now...
If you have read this blog for a while you know that I usually make my own yogurt. I love the ease of making my yogurt and knowing that only what I put in (milk, yogurt, extra dry milk powder) is in my yogurt. However, making yogurt doesn't always work for me. Due to the drafty and often cold nature of my old farmhouse kitchen, sometimes my yogurt fails. It can't maintain the right temp long enough, or my starter was too old, or whatever. When this happens I am always disappointed and need to get myself to the store to buy some more yogurt - some for starter, and some to eat right away (because by this point I need yogurt and granola and fruit). When I buy yogurt, there is really only one type I buy.

Chobani

If you have not had Greek style yogurt before, you are truly missing out. I was never really a yogurt fan until I tried Greek yogurt. Thick and creamy, tangy and filling - it really can be used as a healthy sour cream substitute - high in protein and healthy probiotics. There is almost nothing better than Greek yogurt for a snack  or breakfast or dessert...

So, Chobani yogurt. There are multiple reasons to love this company.

1. Their slogan, "Nothing But Good". Quality wholesome ingredient, nothing artificial and harmful or just plain yucky.
2. Their location - Chobani's plant is located in the central New York farming/dairy region. Near my mother's hometown, near my grandmother and aunts and cousins. In an area that has been hit hard not only by the latest recession but by general economic downturn for many years. Any company that is not only doing business, but is good to their employees and customers in this part of my beloved state needs to be supported. 
3. It is just plain good! This is the creamiest, yummiest, best tasting yogurt I have ever tried in my entire life! 

I have been buying Chobani as my yogurt starter and I-need-yogurt-now yogurt for a while, but I only ever tried the 0% plain. I did not know what I was missing. The fruit yogurts are not like the fruit on the bottom (basically just jelly/jam) in some other yogurts. The essence of the fruit is blended into a creamy thick absolutely decadent OMG how can this be good and healthy yogurt. And then there are fruit pieces on the bottom. Actual pieces of the fruit, lightly sweetened with evaporated cane juice instead of high fructose corn syrup. Chobani has 14 amazing flavors - plain 0 & 2%, vanilla, black cherry, mango, lemon, blueberry, strawberry, strawberry-banana, pineapple, raspberry, honey, peach, and pomegranate. 

I did not actually get to try all the flavors - a certain moose and monkey ate some and wouldn't let mommy try a bite. They did seem to love the strawberry, the strawberry-banana, and the peach. The pineapple, the lemon, the blueberry were all excellent and far beyond anything else I have tried. I am hoping the honey will still be there when I get home next week so I can try that.  But the raspberry and the pomegranate; heaven, absolute heaven!

The pomegranate and raspberry flavors were everything you could hope for in a yogurt and more. They can calm any sweet tooth, they taste like dessert, they are filling and decadent. I really can't say enough good things about them - and I am very sad that Chobani's distribution hasn't reached Vegas yet because I have been dreaming of yogurt every day. I will continue to make yogurt - and use Chobani as my starter, but I will also be finding room in my grocery budget for a decent supply of the raspberry and pomegranate flavors just for me :)

Now for the giveaway details! Chobani has offered to send a case of yogurt to one very lucky reader - the winner can choose what flavors they want in their special case - a variety, all one flavor, whatever they want!

To enter to win you need to:

1. Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment telling me you are a follower (mandatory)
2. follow me on Twitter - leave a separate comment
3. follow Chobani on twitter - leave a separate comment
4. Like Chobani on Facebook - leave a separate comment
5. send this blog out to whatever social media sites you use - leave a separate comment

1 entry for each comment :) Winner will be chosen by Random.org. The contest will on Saturday July 30th and the winner will be announced by August 1st. Don't miss out on your chance to get some great yogurt!

Even babies and dogs like Chobani :)

*Disclaimer - I contacted Chobani about doing a review, they sent me the yogurt with no conditions and offered the giveaway. I was under no obligation to print any kind of review, the opinions here are completely my own*


**ETA - Unfortunately this giveaway is limited to US residents, Chobani is unable to ship to Canada at this time. **

Things I have to look out for when I run...

I do not have to worry much about cars, or dogs, or even other people when I run... these are what I do have to worry about

The deer like to wait in the vineyards and cornfield and jump out in front of L'il Girl to see if she will chase them

I haven't actually seen the coyotes yet, but a pack lives in my woods and I can hear them when I run at twilight. And when they howl and it's getting dark and you swear they are getting closer... creepy

When we first moved out here the former owner told us he scared off a bear from the back yard. We have heard repeated stories about the bears in this area. I never saw a single bear. Until today! I was in the car, but         the bear was on my running trail. Sat right next to the side of the road and waited for me to pass by and then crossed the road after me. I tried to get a picture, but it was back into the woods too quick. So cool though.

Of course if this is the price for views like this

 I'll pay it

Clutter house = cluttered body

I was listen to Jillian Michaels'  latest podcast today. In it she talked about making your home a sanctuary and how various parts of your home reflect you - or should. The part that really struck home with me today was how if you kitchen is a mess, if it is cluttered and disorganized it is reflective of how you feel-think-act towards your health. Wow. Anyone who knows me in "real life" knows that I am a slob. I don't mean to be, I don't want to be, I am getting help to be different, but this is my reality at least for now. And my kitchen is very often a DISASTER. Right now it is certainly not awesome-ness but in general it is far better than it has been in the past and certainly above and beyond when it has been the worst. In  the last month it has been not too bad. And in the last month I have been focusing more and more on my health, my fitness, my weight loss, my need for a clean and organized mind/body/life. 

When I focus on me I notice the chaos around me. I care. I want to be different. When I focus on everyone/thing else, I see the chaos, but I don't care. I mean I care if it is approaching health hazard state, but I am so worn down and tired and overwhelmed by everything that I just can't seem to find the... I don't the whatever to deal with the chaos.

You hear over and over again how its important - especially for women - to make yourself a priority when you are trying to be fit and healthy. Mom needs to put herself first sometimes because she will be happier and that will make her a better, stronger, happier mother. And if you are a mother (or woman or caregiver of any kind) that advice tends to go in one ear and out the other. But in this last month or so I have put myself, well not necessarily first, but at least not last. And as I move "me" up the priority list I am happier, I do feel better, I am a better wife and mother. And I am positive that when I get to be #1 on the list I will have the clean and organized kitchen to prove it. I'll even post pictures.

Rested yesterday, 4 more miles today including speed/C25K training.

My new favorite lunch

Homemade gazpacho, homemade hummus, fresh bell pepper, fresh cucumbers, little mozzarella pearls in my soup. Super yum.

Business to Blogger

My main purpose for writing this blog is to keep myself accountable to others as I travel on my fitness journey. I enjoy the writing, the comments, and the friendships I have formed through doing this.

And while my main goal is not about making money or supporting myself and my family through the blog, I know that extra income is possible - along with interesting products to review. With that in mind when I saw a Business2Blogger button on a new blog I have been following (Mommy to Marathon) I thought it was worth checking out.

Business 2 Blogger connects businesses with bloggers (simple right). It gives both a chance to expand and reach a broader market base. I am excited that it will give me a chance to reach out to fitness themed businesses that can help me and my readers o our fitness journeys.

So I have signed up with Business 2 Blogger - so you may see posts in the future that I am asked to post or review. This will be a good thing, it will give me a chance for a little extra money to help my family and it will help my readers learn about new ideas or products that they may not get a chance to see otherwise. Of course anything you see on here will still be up front and honest, and if I write a post, paid or not, everything stated will be my true opinion, so when I recommend something it is because I truly believe in it.

My first Vlog :)

Be gentle with me :) 6.5 more miles today

Walking to the neighbors for a little cookout - they got me veggie burgers :) aren't they sweet!

Adding my miles

I am on my way to keeping up my mileage challenge. :)

4 miles today.

I do need some suggestions on music to help me go the "extra mile". What do you have on your playlist that helps you keep going?

Journey of 1111.11 miles - can I still make it?

Last November I set out to walk/run/jog "wog" :) 1111.11 miles by 11/11/11. It was a completely reasonable and doable goal at the time and I could totally have made it (be well on my way with over 500 miles by now) if I had stuck with my walking.

But I didn't stick with it. I procrastinated, I let other things get in the way, I put myself last, and I spent a good portion of the first half of the year not working out at all. I'm still having trouble getting in my workout in every day, but I think if I commit and work hard I could still do this - or at least come very close. It would require walking between 8&9 miles a day on average, or 60 miles a week, but I really believe if I do this right, I can come damn close - so right now my goal is 20,000 steps or 10 miles a day at least 6 days a week. I am going to have to get a new pedometer to help - at least until I can afford a Fitbit or Bodymedia  device.

A large part of getting myself on track with this will be when I go out to Vegas in a couple weeks to visit my mom. I plan to use her state of the art fitness facility in her apartment complex to its full advantage while I am there.

So I will be a walking wogging stepping phenom in short order!

How do you make grown up friends?

I had an attack of the binges last night, piling unhealthy food on top of unhealthy food, trying to fill a void and stuff my feelings. It didn't work, I knew I was doing it and I actually made a concious decision at one point not to stop.

I really couldn't tell you why. I think it stemmed mainly from boredom and loneliness. I sent the hubby into town to have a birthday celebration with his friends - he doesn't do enough fun for himself. But even though I wanted him to go, I was a little resentful. Not that he went, but that not only didn't I get to go, but I won't have a similar situation pop up. I really don't have "live" friends anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I love my virtual friends and the support they give me, but I miss have girlfriends that I can go out with, and talk, or go shopping, or get coffee, or hell even just sit on the pier and chain smoke at 2AM (I occasionally miss smoking too, but it makes me horribly sick now). I miss going out with the girls and having girls to go out with. As much as I love my country life, it is a bit isolated.

Coupled with my tendency to be introverted (I am shy, but people who know me never believe that. I have trouble making new connections, but once I know a person I am a sharer) the isolation leads to an increased difficulty in finding new friends. And it becomes easier to hide behind my weight and blame that as a reason people won't talk to me and why I can't make friends.

BUT I did wake up this morning in a good mood, with no desire to even look at the unhealthy food I ate last night. I made King Arthur Flour English Muffin Bread before I went to bed last night using honey instead of sugar, whole wheat flour and a little flax seed for a fiber boost and it was ready this morning. The monkey, who rarely eats anything and almost never touches bread, ate 3 slices of this toasted with raspberry jam on it. I had about 2 slices - hard to tell as certain monkey & moose children kept stealing it from me - with low-fat cheddar cheese. I made gazpacho this afternoon (fresh salsa you can eat by the bowlful!) and I feel more in control of myself today. Still lonely, but that's okay.

How do you make grown up friends in "real life"?