Saving Time Shopping for Essentials

June 12, 2018 By Hollie in Sponsored Tags: automotive, car, hiking, sponsored, vehicle 18 Comments

As I’ve mentioned, the last couple of months have been busy. That’s another reason I’m taking a short break from running. Between anxiety and being busy taking this week off makes sense. One way I save both time and money is by doing most of my food, pantry, and hygiene shopping with Amazon. This post is sponsored by Scott by all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What many people don’t know, is I’m someone who doesn’t like grocery shopping or spending excess time shopping. If I could get all food items delivered to my door, I would. Heck, if I could get food items delivered and cooked, that would be a dream.

Scott is one of the brands we buy on Amazon instead of making a trip or ten to the grocery store. Scott makes a variety of products including paper towels, toilet paper, flushable wipes, and even shop towels (that we use on our vehicles).

Why do Grocery and Essential Shopping on Amazon?

First, it’s easier and faster. I can put whatever I want in a cart, order, and it comes in a couple of days.

Second, it saves money because I don’t buy impulse purchases that I didn’t need. I just choose what I need, get it delivered, and move on with my day.

What most people don’t realize is that you can also use coupon codes when shopping on Amazon Pantry too. So it’s easier and cheaper. Amazon also offers ‘Subscribe & Save” which makes it even easier to save money on products we always need, like shampoo and hygiene items like toilet paper.

Scott has a new product available: The Scott ComfortPlus! With the new launch of the ComfortPlus, they have plenty of deals right now.

For instance, one such deal for the Scott ComfortPlus you will save $1.50 plus 15% and free shipping when you use the Amazon Subscribe and Save. I personally appreciate you can buy in bulk and not have to worry about running out later on.

When we are out hiking, we try and have a biodiagrable sanitizing wipe with us. You never know what can happen while hiking. Scott is another brand that is safe for sensitive skin as well as fragrance-free, alcohol-free, free of dyes, and hypoallergenic.

Most people know of Scott as a toilet paper and wipes brand, but we also use it for cleaning up vehicles and automotive tasks.

The Scott Shop Towels are perfect for automotive and workshop tasks. They are absorbent and strong but also great for wiping hands and tools. We don’t have kids or pets, but do like cars. Many people might remember last year when we took a trip down to the Winston-Salem to pick up a new to us car 2 series manual, because it was the closest one to NJ!

As most people know, we are fixing up a 1987 Porche and recently fixed and sold a 1989 BMW E30 so keeping the car clean is essential.

The Scott shop towels are designed for cleaning up grease, liquids, oils, and spills with car maintenance. A few uses for them are changing oil, refilling fluids and general automotive maintenance. The towels are ultra-strong and durable. We find ourselves using less than a typical towel or even rag. Plus, they also work well even when wet.

Speaking of cars, Scott is celebrating their NEW product, Scott Comfort Plus. They are doing a giveaway for an all expenses paid trip to a Nascar Race of your choice in 2018-2019! You could choose anywhere. I’m not sure which race I would choose if I won, I feel like Talladega or Sonoma are top contenders.

This post is sponsored by Scott Brand, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Questions for you:
Do you like Grocery Shopping or Would you prefer to have it delivered?
How do you keep your Car clean?

What I Pack in my Hiking Bag

April 6, 2018 By Hollie in hiking Tags: fitness, hike, hiking, sponsored, trail 13 Comments

Over the past two years, my husband and I have gotten more into hiking. While it’s not “running,” hiking is a tough workout. When we first started, I used to try and squeeze runs in before and get my “running miles.” I quickly realized I became more fatigued on hikes and it’s just unsustainable. Now, hiking provides a great workout without running down the road (or whatever). We choose to do day hikes because those are more of our style.

If you want to read about any of the hikes we’ve done around the country you can click here.

When going out for a day hike, it’s much different than packing a Nalgene and coming back. I’ve gotten a few questions about what we pack. First and foremost, it depends on the season and location. The climate is very different in NJ versus Arizona.

Here are a Few Things I Pack Each Hike:

Good Shoes:

I used to hike in old running shoes but now hike in a pair of Brooks Cascadia trail shoes. The trail shoes have more support to climb up or down terrain. If you are going any distance, then shoes with support are essential.

Number 1

Extra Water, Food, and Snacks:

After getting lost on Bear Mountain a few years ago (and yes we really took an Uber back to our car around the mountain), I realized the importance of having enough food and water. Don’t expect the worst, but always prepare for the worst. You never know where your hike might lead you and I cannot stress how important it is to be more prepared. While not the only food I eat, I do like eating diner cookies on the bike. Other things I’ve packed include trail mix, nuts, snack bars, and fruit. I always anticipate getting lost and being out much longer.

Map, Compass, and GPS:

A map and compass is an important piece of any hiking. Not only that, but it’s important to know how to use them! I took backpacking in college, but before then I had no idea. Cell phones have GPS built in, but like a Garmin GPS, not always helpful.

Extra Battery for Cell Phone:

If it’s cold, you get lost, or for whatever reason, your phone dies, having that extra battery is extremely helpful. We have used the extra battery life about half of the time we are out!

Emergency Kit:

This includes everything for first aid, as well as a way to make fire. Not only do they keep you warm but fires are also a great way to signal for help. Another essential item for your kit is a flashlight or headlamp. If you’re out past dark, you’ll need something.

Knife:

A knife is one of the most essential tools you’ll bring. You never know what situation you’ll need to cut bandages, trees,

Full Set of Clothing:

It goes without saying, but remember to pack an extra set of clothing including extra underwear and socks. On most 5+ mile hikes, I’ve changed socks at least once!

Kleenex Wipes:

You never know what sort of issues you might encounter, and I like Kleenex Wet Wipes from Walgreens for both my hands and face. Personally, I like how the wipes dry quickly and don’t leave any residue. There are no harsh chemicals, so they are safe enough for your hands and face. As someone with sensitive skin, this is important for me.

Pack to Keep Everything in:

My favorite is from Northface. It’s comfortable, fits everything, and doesn’t put unwanted pressure on your back. Having a comfortable pack is important to carry everything. This one has worked well for both my husband and I. It’s lightweight, durable, and versatile.

So there you have it! That is what I keep in my day hiking pack. Thank you for Kleenex Wet Wipes for sponsoring this post.

Questions for you:
Do you like hiking? What do you keep in your hiking pack?

Meal Planning for Two

March 9, 2018 By Hollie in Food, Sponsored Tags: cooking, dinner, food, military, sponsored 16 Comments

Recently, my husband came home from another deployment. Since living in New Jersey, it is either 6 or 7, but I can’t remember. Homecomings are always great, and since then we’ve had an incredible time together.

Getting back into a routine (for both of us), takes a couple of weeks. It’s a bit of challenge going from one person to two again in the house. Things like making dinner for two or meal ideas change. With my husband’s short but frequent deployments, I never quite get into a routine of making dinner for one or two. We’ve learned to cook more together and you can see more from culinary lab.

Recently, I discovered Frelii which is a monthly subscription service that provides a customized exercise and dietary plan based on your personal needs. This post is sponsored by Frelii, but all thoughts, and opinions are my own.

What is Frelii?

Frelii is a preventative medicine is designed to give the best options for a healthier lifestyle. Preventative means it’s not meant to diagnose a health condition or concern. It does not take the place of a doctor or medical professional.

Like with running shoes, every person is unique and different from one another. Frelii aims to provide people with the knowledge, recipes, and even products to leave healthier lives.

For many people that is losing weight or even gaining weight. For my husband and I, it was to prepare meals that were best fitted to our needs both physically and mentally but not as a dieting program! Frelii helps each person differently.

After filling out a short questionnaire, each Frelii member is made aware of any potential health hazards and risk factors in their life.

They tailor meal plans, foods, and the entire program to what will help lead to a more balanced life. There is even an option to purchase vitamins and supplements that help your specific needs. As a public health major in college, I appreciate Frelii recommends people get their blood work done before buying vitamins/supplements. It never supports anything in the place of a doctor.

It took about 20 minutes to the complete the survey but when I finished it listed one of my health hazards as mood and depression. It was spot on, as I’ve talked openly about having both anxiety and college through college.

Just as they provide meal plans, Frelii also recommends exercise plans for those who want it. Personally, I have stuck with the meal and recipe side because I do prefer that for running but it’s nice to know it’s out there!

The Meals:

By far my favorite component of Frelii is the meal plans and new recipes they provide. There are a lot of new and fun recipes that I would have never thought twice to try but once they recommended them…I figured might as well!

Another thing, I appreciate about Frelii is how quick meals can be made. I don’t like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen and will also choose healthy, fast options, over the top dinners that take an hour or two to cook. They are simple, easy, and affordable. We could make time to spend an hour or two in the kitchen, we would instead make time for other things.

Here are a few meals we chose to make:

We’ve made several more and Frelii has a database of hundreds so there is something for everyone.

Peanut Pancakes Using Almond flour and Eggs:

Spinach, Kale, and Farmers Quiche

Roasted Cauliflower and Beets.

Before cooking cauliflower, I had one bad experience and never tried cooking it again.

Sausage and Spinach Pasta with Mozzarella

We’ve made several more and it’s been a fun and unique experience. Thank you Frelii for sponsoring this post!

Questions for you:
How long on average do you spend to cook dinner?
If you or your spouse travels or is gone, do you find it difficult to get back into a routine?

The Importance of Adding Protein after a Workout

January 16, 2018 By Hollie in Gear Review, Running, Running Reads, Sponsored Tags: fitness, food, health, run, sponsored, workout 13 Comments

In 2018, one of my goals is to get more protein in my diet after running. I’m not doing a crazy diet, but integrating more protein after workouts and running. Earlier in the month, I was given the opportunity to try and work with Oikos Protein Crunch Yogurt. It timed out well, as it has 17 grams of protein which makes it a good and easy to eat choice.

Brief information about the Oikos Protein Crunch Yogurt:

It has 17g of protein, 6g of fiber and no artificial sweeteners. Most have 18-25 grams of carbohydrates too! Each yogurt contains a lid with toppings to mix in.

So What are Benefits of Having More Protein Post Workout?

Protein repairs muscle damage. Any run or workout will cause muscle damage. It’s important to recover that muscle damage so you can succeed in your next workout or race.

Often times, I have a bad habit of just going on to the next thing after running. Whether that “next thing” is life or work, I skip this step. I know not having something to recover is a bad habit, yet time seems to get away from me. This year, I’m focusing on having protein after a workout or run to help repair muscle damage.

Athletes who don’t get enough protein are also at a higher risk of injury.

Having More Protein also Helps with Cortisol.

Cortisol is the “stress” hormone that breaks down muscle. Last year, when I had my blood taken, my cortisol was an extremely high. Excluding liver cells, cortisol speeds the breakdown of proteins into amino acids.

In short, cortisol provides the body with the energy it requires to combat stress from trauma, illness, and injury. It’s key for recovery and preventing burn out (something I have rambled on about for months).

How much Protein is Important?

Most runners should strive for 10-20 grams. Having more protein or saturating your body with protein won’t do your body much good. One reason I like Oikos Protein Crunch Yogurt is a great option because it contains 17 grams of protein, which fits right in that window. It has 6 grams of fiber, and no artificial sweeteners. Plus it tastes good. It always helps to remember to eat something that tastes good.

Timing is everything and it’s important to eat within 30 minutes of finishing your workout, which is definitely something I have struggled with. Not because I have a reason, but truthfully I’ve been lazy. That is an easy problem to fix, you just have to commit!

You can find Oikos Protein Crunch Yogurt at Walmart locations. Plus right now, there is even an awesome Ibotta Offer!

Thank you, Oikos Protein Crunch Yogurt for sponsoring this post.

Questions for you:
Do you normally eat after a workout?
How do you get protein in?

Thanking a Veteran

November 2, 2015 By Hollie in Sponsored Tags: hair, military, sponsored 4 Comments

Recently I was contacted to promote Great Clips and their involvement with Veterans Day. It’s something that means a lot to me, and I’m glad to help promote it! So please if you know any Veterans or Active Duty military, please share this with them!

Growing up in a military family and now having my family, the military lifestyle is something I can relate too. The members of the Services do so much for us that I want to be able to able to help all Veterans and active duty military as much as possible. My father served in the Navy, and my brother is now in the military as well. Both have made such incredible sacrifice. I could not be prouder of either of them.

Matt, mom and I

As most people know, my husband is currently serving in the military. He sacrifices a lot from his personal life to his plans. There have been several times that we made plans, and they have had to be canceled, postponed or anything in between.

His travel isn’t a shock. We began dating in college, and I knew he was going into the military after college. There have been many lessons we have learned first hand about sacrifices he has been forced to make. Trips have gone longer or trips that have changed in the blink of the eye. To be honest, they aren’t lessons we could have learned without experiencing them first hand.

With Veterans Day coming up, I was contacted to promote Great Clips is giving free haircuts for Veterans and Active Military on November 11. Customers who stop in, for a haircut at any Great Clips salon can receive a free haircut card to give to a veteran for use through the rest of the year.

I think it’s awesome, and I hope many people can take advantage of it. Great Clips is the largest salon in the US, and there is probably one near you (You can check here). A quick search indicated there are five within 6 miles of me.

Most military members never ask for thanks, never complain about the hours they work or the sacrifices they make. As a daughter, a wife and a sister I see these sacrifices in every angle.

Here are some ways you can thank a Veteran or Military Member next week:

Take them out to eat. I never need an excuse to take people out to eat!
Visit a local nursing home. Did you know nearly 40% of our Veterans are 65 or older?
Send a care package overseas. We still have plenty of troops that are deployed.

Thank you to Great Clips for sponsoring this post and thank you for giving out free haircuts to Veterans on November 11^th. Please share to any and all Veterans and Active Duty Military. You can learn more about the promotion here!

Question for you: Do have any personal connection with the military?

FueledByLOLZ

Running and Laughing through the Garden State