GoMacro THRIVE Bar Review, Giveaway & Discount Code

Posted on October 23, 2016 by tootallfritz

I recently received a box of GoMacro THRIVE bars and was pleasantly surprised. I don’t eat many pre-made bars. I watch my sugar content and do my very best to keep it under the recommended 24g of added sugar, per day, for women. And well, most bars alone surpass the 24g of sugar. So I’ve basically said goodbye to protein & snack bars. Huge undertaking since I basically owned stock in one of the more well know protein bar giants. On occasion I’ll now do a low sugar Kind Bar while traveling, but that was it. THEN I met THRIVE bars!

The Thrive bars have 5-7g of sugar per bar. They taste good, like a sweet treat. Less than 200 calories. Plant based protein source. Essential Fatty Acids. Prebiotic Fiber. USDA Certified Organic. Non-GMO Project Verified. Kosher. Gluten-Free. 100% Vegan. Soy Free.

All that is well & good but what about the ingredients? Here is my favorite Thrive bar, the Chocolate, Nuts & Sea Salt. Cuz well, Chocolate & Sea Salt = perfection.

Print too tiny on the label? Better pic below.

Excellent ingredients for a pre-made bar. I’ve now added the THRIVE bars into my travel routine. I enjoy the variation and a change from what I’ve been doing for months. Super happy to have found this bar! If you would like to try the THRIVE bar, they have agreed to give one lucky reader a free Assorted Tray – 12 bars, 2 of each flavor, $26.28 value. To enter the giveaway you must comment below & tell us what your “go to” bar is for snacking or added protein intake. You can gain “extra” entries by following GoMarco on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! That’s 4 possible entries. Let me know in the comments if you liked Go Marco on any of their social media outlets. I’ll give you credit. If you win, I’ll ask for your social media “handle” to verify.

If you want to try the THRIVE bars now, you can use the discount code: THRIVE30 for a 30% discount at GoMacro.com. The Thrive Bars can be found HERE. Or you can find the bars in the Auburn & Ft Wayne IN areas at Kroger, EarthFare, Fresh Thyme & the 3 Rivers Co-Op. In the Chicago area, you’ll find the Thrive Bars at Whole Foods & Trader Joes. If you’re in the burbs & have a Kroger, they will be there too. Go try them!!

Giveaway starts now. A winner will be drawn on Monday, October 31st at 11am EST. Good luck!!

** Food Is Fuel ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Skinny & Co. Coconut Oil Review & Discount Code

Posted on August 26, 2016 by tootallfritz

When Skinny & Company first contacted me to review their coconut oil products, I ignored them. I get a decent amount of opportunities to review products but I don’t accept very many. I have trust issues. I don’t want to accept something and be obligated to write about it when I don’t know if I will like it. In fact, once, a couple of years ago, I accepted products from a new compression wear company and ended up having to send the items back. For that reason, I go after the stuff I want to review and don’t accept many new products unless I’ve heard good things. I hadn’t heard of Skinny & Company. And I was really put off by the name. I believe in “healthy” not “skinny”. The second, or maybe third email came to me in July. I was in the middle of the Swim Bike Fuel program, I was very focused on what I was putting into my body. I had eliminated most of the chemicals from my diet and the next step was finding alternative products for skincare & health/beauty. Enter Skinny & Company. A company with all natural products that are vegan & gluten free. 100% Raw. Cold pressed. Any scents or flavoring is added with essential oils. Products are all edible because they are natural & raw without harmful additives. Sound good? Yes!

I’d been wanting to try coconut oil for its many health benefits, I just hadn’t gotten around to buying any. I figured accepting the Skinny & Company package would be a good intro to coconut oil without much of a “cost” to me per say. Then if I like it, great. If not, I’m not out much. I was shocked when the packaged arrive. More than just coconut oil!

They sent five 2oz jars of pure goodness. Very similar to their travel kit HERE minus a few items. Pic of the travel kit below with its reusable bag. I really want that bag!!!

My sampler contained:

2 oz Coconut Oil

2 oz Facial Oil

2 oz Oil Pulling

2 oz Whipped Body Butter

2 oz Sugar Scrub

To be honest, I didn’t know what to do with all this stuff! Oil Pulling, what?!?!? I was so excited that I immediately hit the net to figure this out.

I devoured the info on the Skinny & Co page. Read all the blog posts. Looked up all the products and was very happy to see a video available for many of the products, including one demonstrating oil pulling. Then I dove in & started testing products. I soon realized that I was doing more than testing. I was instantly smitten with all of these products. I can honestly say that I’ve used most of these products every day since I’ve received them. And I just made an order today purchasing more of everything, plus the Shampoo Bar & Lip Balm. Shhhh, don’t tell hubby!!

Products were liquid when I received the shipment but the consistency of the oil changes depending on the temperature of my house. They solidified almost immediately in the air conditioning, which is actually easier for use. I dab my fingers in the face oil or the body butter and am able to better control the quantity with the product solidified. It softens up with the heat of my skin so its easy to apply & smooth out without feeling oily. Note that a little goes a long way. Below, the coconut oil upon receipt in pic 1 & now (today) in pic 2. Kinda cool!

I’ve been adding the raw coconut oil to my green tea every morning. I just spoon some into my hot tea and don’t really worry about the amount. It melts immediately and doesn’t flavor my tea abnormally. I haven’t yet tried cooking with it or using it in my hair but will once I get a larger quantity from my new order. There are so many uses for coconut oil from eating it with a spoon purely for the health benefits (I know several people who do this), skin/hair moisturizing, sex lube, weight loss, metabolism & energy booster & it increases mental clarity. Not sure I’ve found another product quite as diverse.

I’ve been using the oil pulling 3-4x a week. Initially I only pulled for 8 minutes but I’m now up to 20 minutes. I do it when I’m drying my hair, putting on makeup, or writing blog posts. Smile I love the way my teeth & mouth feels after the pulling. The coconut oil has a bit of peppermint essential oil added for the pulling to freshen breath. It leaves my mouth feeling clean & refreshed. That being said, I always brush my teeth after oil pulling to get rid of the toxins and bacteria that are released during the pulling.

The sugar scrub is awesome. It smells great. Its edible (although I haven’t eaten it cuz I’m limiting my sugars). It’s coconut oil with coconut sugar and vanilla bean. Thicker consistency. I put some in my hand, then add a little water to use. So far, I’ve mostly used it for my face. It would be a great full body scrub in the shower but since I only had the 2oz sample, I wanted to save it ~~& won’t even let my kids look at it~~. I love the way it leaves my face feeling clean & fresh. My face is soft but not greasy. So nice.

The facial oil is one of my favorites from this group. If I had to pick just one product, I’d be sad but I’d pick this one. This also contains organic almond oil. I’ve struggled with moisturizing products for years. I don’t like my face to be oily or greasy from a product but I do need some type of moisturizer. Then add in the chemicals and perfumes in conventional moisturizing creams and I’m always less than pleased. My skin, particularly my face, takes a real beating between the pool and lake water that I swim in, plus the sun that gets me while running and biking. I have a lot of sun damage despite the usage of sun screen (don’t get me started on sun screen!!). The coconut facial oil leaves my face feeling soft & smooth without the grease. If it’s greasy, I used too much & need to rub it in better. Plus, it may just be that time of year where I’m starting to get less sun, but my sun spot are looking a little lighter. I don’t know if that’s from the coconut oil but I’m sticking with it. Plus I just read that coconut oil blocks up to 20% of the suns rays. Huge win, I can use the facial oil as a moisturizer and still get some sun blocking benefits without any chemical additives. Please note that the facial oil can also be used to remove make-up!

The body butter is another one of my favorites from the Skinny & Co line. For years, I’ve been using the pure cocoa butter “for stretch marks” as my body lotion, not because I have stretch marks all over my body, but because my skin is sensitive to fragrance & if I use a scented lotion, then my legs break out in hives. After a couple trips to the ER, I gave up chemical scented lotions but I can’t give up moisturizing my body. I use the body butter now for massaging my tired legs. And I also apply as soon as I shave my legs. The body butter is know to reduce the inflammation of razor burn and it just feels great overall. Totally different feeling than a thick lotion. This leaves the skin feeling soft and clean. Not greasy. Once again, a little goes a long way. No need to slather it on, like you would a traditional lotion. Just a dab will do the full lower leg without leaving a residue.

You’re in luck, if you want to try some of the awesome Skinny & Co Coconut products, they are currently offering a 20% off code thru 8/27/16, code: TREATYOURSELF. I made my order today!!!

If you want to wait til next pay day to make the splurge & miss the 20% off code, then Skinny sent me a 15% off code that’s good at any time: SKINNYCO15

Hope you enjoy learning about Skinny & Co as much as I have over the last month. And even if you aren’t interested in Skinny & Co products, I encourage you to look into the health benefits of coconut oil. Could be the ace in the hole that your missing from your regimen. Smile

** Focusing on HEALTH, Wellness & Fitness ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Favorite Things …. New Edition

Posted on May 10, 2016 by tootallfritz

I haven’t done a favorite things post in a while! That’s because I’ve been busying using what I Iove and not deviating from the box. I’ve dropped a few brands because some of my preferences have changed but if you must know I’m still wearing Athleta & Saucony EVERYTHING, I’ve tossed in a couple pair of 7” Nike Pros, some Gypsy Runner & I don’t run without my Injinji Socks. Enough said on the “normal”. Let’s talk about what’s NEW! And for the record, I’m not an ambassador or affiliate for any of these brands, I don’t have a discount code ~~but if you find one send it to me~~, and I don’t have free product to give you. Lame, huh? Sorry, I’ll try to do better next time.

Tailwind Nutrition – How many of you have this sitting in your fuel drawer but haven’t yet tried it? I had a few packets sitting for months, like 6+ months. I didn’t try it til I had enough with my tummy issues. Tailwind politely calls our tummy issues “gut bombs”. So appropriate.

Tailwind is a liquid nutrition that is wheat, gluten, diary & soy free. It’s 100% natural. It was designed for people running ultra distance like 50 & 100 mile races but I’m proof that it works great for marathons too! This product hydrates, fuels & gives the electrolytes needed to race for as long as I like. Easy to mix, clear since it doesn’t have artificial additives for color & flavor, comes in 7 flavors (one of which is unflavored) and with or without caffeine. It has the consistency of water and has a light refreshing taste. Plus it has glucose/sucrose which helps fast delivery of energy to the muscles. I’ve been low on sugar before while racing and it’s not pretty. Sometimes the miles & time on our feet get away from us. Sometimes the heat & humidity take more out of the body than we can possibly understand until it’s too late. With the constant stream of tailwind going into my system, I feel good, all the time. Even when those around me are getting sick, crashing & heading for the med tent. For more info, checkout the tailwind website. They have more info that I can possibly share, I just know it has worked wonders for me and I’m confident that I’ll finally get that PR that I’ve been chasing.

FlipBelt Hydration Bottles – Have you seen these yet? You now know that I’m in love with Tailwind. The reason it took me so long to try it was because I didn’t want to CARRY IT. I despise hydration belts with all my being. I don’t even care if they are good ones that don’t move or bounce. I avoid them like the plague. I also dislike handhelds. And I haven’t had the desire to try a hydration vest. So when FlipBelt came out with their new hydration bottles, I ordered one before the ink was dry on the website.

I use my FlipBelt ALL the time. I load it up for runs & races and go, go, go. I was hoping it was be just as awesome with the hydration bottles. It worked great & did NOT bounce. I was so happy! I use the 11oz bottle & mix in my Tailwind. Tip: If I’m using the scoop out of the Tailwind bag, I also use a baby formula dispenser to get my Tailwind in the FlipBelt bottles. The opening on the bottle is small, which is good cuz its easy for drinking and carrying, not so good for adding fuel to the bottle! The bottles are curved to fit snuggly to our body. I can only carry one 11 oz bottle at a time or I’m not comfortable. But the Tailwind mixes so nicely, that I put 4 scoops into ONE 11oz bottle for marathons. That’s 400 calories and I make sure I drink that by the 20 mile mark. Then I use water on course for extra hydration. These FlipBelt bottles are a great option for hydration on the go! Tip: FlipBelt usually is running some sort of special discount code on their Facebook Page. Go find them on FB if you are looking for a discount!

Eagle Creek Pack It Sport Bags. I had never heard of Eagle Creek until a couple weeks ago when they sent the RockNBloggers some free stuff. It was right before I left for my double marathon weekend & I tweeted out a pic real quick, packed up the bags to go & I left. I had zero idea how helpful they would be for that race weekend.

They sent me a large Foot Locker that fit shoes up to size 11. I always have more than one pair of run shoes for these big weekends but the plan is to race in one shoe unless there is a problem. I was able to put my main pair of shoes in the locker, plus I added my watch, fuel, socks, calf sleeves and FlipBelt to the foot locker. Super easy. I pulled it out on race morning and had everything I needed for the run other than my clothes. VERY nice having everything in one place! Quick pics below before I stuffed the rest of the goodies into the shoe locker. Lots of room. Sealed up the shoes and the smell (if that’s an issue).

The real gem of this collection was something I didn’t use initially when I packed up. It was the large Fitness Locker. I took this with me for my dirty run clothes. It’s water proof & antimicrobial. I was thinking it would be prefect for my wet, nasty marathon clothes. Little did I know how much I would need it. There was non-stop rain at the Kentucky Derby Marathon. Upon finishing the race, I had a wet singlet, bra, shorts, compression sleeves, socks, flip belt & visor. Normally, I would have been thieving the bag in our hotel room that’s reserved for dry cleaning, but not this time. I threw ALL those clothes & the visor into the Fitness Locker and zipped it up. Done. No wetness. No smell. Then I threw the Fitness Locker in my gym bag with all my other CLEAN clothes & zipped everything up.

Then we headed over to Cincinnati, where I did it all again. Got done with the Flying Pig Marathon the next day. No rain but this time we had heat, humidity, sprinklers & water hoses. Same scenario when I got back to the hotel. I was drenched, my clothes were drenched. So I grabbed the Fitness Locker, which didn’t smell at all from the Derby race, and unzipped it to add the clothes from Flying Pig: wet singlet, bra, shorts, compression sleeves, socks, flip belt & visor. The bag was now full with 2 full sets of wet clothes but it easily zipped & I tossed it into my regular bag with the remaining clean clothes. Easiest travel I’ve ever had with wet, gross, dirty clothes. I’m very happy to add these Eagle Creek Pack It Sport bags to my travel collection. Check out their website if you need help organizing your fitness clothes & gear or need to transport wet/gross clothes to and from the gym or while traveling. Prices are very reasonable and that is the best part!

Okay, that’s the latest edition of my “Favorite Things” list. I think these are all relatively new products that are noteworthy. I hope they help you as much as they have helped me.

Do you have any new products that you’re loving? If so, let us know in the comments below!

** Happy Running & TRIing ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Fitletic Hydration Belt Review, Giveaway & Discount Code

Posted on July 8, 2015 by tootallfritz

There is a new name in the fitness industry in regards to hydration belts. According to the buzz on the trail, this is the current “go to” company for hydration needs on the run. Those of us who have been using hydration belts for years want the low down on Fitletic. If you are like me, then you’ve previously spent hard earned $$ on poor fitting hydration belts that slip, slide & drench you with water.

Fitletic sent me a 12 oz belt to review. That included two 6oz water bottles on an adjustable strap with a large pouch that fits an iPhone 6 (the 6+ would probably NOT fit into this pouch). Inside the pouch was an interior slit type pocket for credit cards, money and an ID. The belt also included toggles for a race bib & 2 slots for energy gels. The gel slots were definitely designed for the most popular gel, GU brand. But I was able to fold the top of my AdvoCare Rehydrate Gel enough to get it into the slot tightly enough to stay put.

Aby and I ran with this belt on two different long runs. A 9 miler in the POURING rain. And a 10 miler last weekend. I wanted both of us to use the belt because we have different body types. I have a hydration belt that I have been using for YEARS but I can’t seem to find one that fits her curvier frame. Every belt that we buy for her slides all around and she ditches it less than a mile into the run. The belt I wear, that also fits her, is no longer available ~~cuz I use my stuff until it dies on the trail~~. We both had success with the Fitletic belt and liked the way that it rode and more importantly stayed put and didn’t move around. I also let a friend try it out while we were running because she too has issues with poor fitting hydration belts. We were 3 for 3 on this belt with big smiles and all thumbs up. Smile Here is a back view of myself with the belt. I normally wear my bottles on the back. That’s what I’m used to doing. However, if you wanted instant access to the pouch, or you’re racing and need the bib toggles, wear it facing front.

There are little grippers on the inside of the belt that I haven’t seen on other hydration belts. They remind me of the grippers on the inside of bike & TRI shorts. These little boogers really help hold the belt in place so it doesn’t move around. Great idea!

The Fitletic hydration belts come in a variety of color accents, all with reflective piping. There are two size options: 12 oz (2 – 6 oz bottles) or 16 oz (2 – 8 oz bottles). If you are running long for marathon training or if you are a trail runner who can’t rely on a spot to refill water, then I’d recommend the 16oz belt. The 16oz option is more compatible with traditional hydration belts. Personally, if I go much bigger than 8 oz bottles on a belt, my experience has been that they really start to weigh me down.

For the purpose of this giveaway, we are giving away one 12 oz Hydration Belt, a $39.95 value.

The giveaway starts NOW and runs til WED, July 15th at 11am EST. That’s 10am for those of you in the CHI. In order to be eligible for the giveaway you MUST make a comment below. Tell us about your favorite way to stay hydrated on the run! Do you already use a hydration belt that you love? Do you drop water along the way? Do prefer a handheld or even a hydration pack?

For extra entries, you can get one additional entries for doing the following:

Like Fitletic on Facebook HERE
Follow Fitletic on Twitter HERE
Follow Fitletic on Instagram HERE

Four possible entries, make sure you let me know in your comment if you did anything additional. Example: “My favorite way to carry water on the run is to have my hubby drive beside me in the car and hand me my water bottle whenever I’m thirsty! I also liked Fitletic on Facebook.”

If you have to have one of these belts before you win the giveaway next WED, and I totally get that, then feel free to order one HERE using the 10% discount code: amanda10

** Happy HYDRATED Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

For the most up to date info on future giveaways, follow TooTooFritz on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Yurbuds Leap Wireless Earphones for Women–Product Review

Posted on January 29, 2015 by tootallfritz

I’ve had the Leap Wireless for Women earphones since Christmas. They are an amazing product from Yurbuds. I’ve worn them a lot. Like more than a lot. For the first time ever, I’m free of the dreaded “cord”. I enjoy listening to music during workouts but have always had a big issue being tethered to my music source. This has resulted in my NOT using music on the majority of my workouts. All that has changed.

Since my Plantar Fasciitis has been so bad this winter, I’ve done more and more workouts inside. In fact, I’ve ran a “few” miles on the indoor track at the YMCA of DeKalb. I can’t chance being outside and slipping or falling on the endless sheets of black ice that we’ve had so far this winter. So I’m inside, running around a track that requires 9 laps for each mile. I don’t necessarily mind the circles knowing that I have a safe environment for running but what I do mind is being strangled by my earphone cord. All of my running clothes have one pocket, always in the pants. It’s a zipper pocket on my waistband located in the small of my back. I would zip my phone into that pocket and try to deal with my earphone cord being wrapped around my body. It was driving me CRAZY. So I tried to plug my earphones in from behind so that my cord was down my back. Yeah, that didn’t work. THEN I tried running with my phone in my hand ~~like I see so many amazingly coordinated women do~~ and I about lost my phone down on the basketball courts because I was sweaty and my butterfingers couldn’t hold onto it!

Now I’m running, lifting, riding on the trainer, and swinging my kettle bell to the sky & back all while jamming to my favorite tunes. The Yurbuds Leap Wireless earphones have helped me get my grove back and start to tackle workouts that I haven’t attempted in a long time. I’m back to CrossFit workouts. And I’m lifting real weights. In the gym. With the boys. All while pretending I’m the only one around by focusing on my music and my workout NOT the cord and definitely not the sweaty boys ~~that spend more time looking at their phones than they do lifting those giant weights~~! I even managed a workout at home this morning since it was too icy to go out!

After a quick WOD this morning, I jumped on the trainer to ride. I normally ride while watching Michael’s favorite children’s programming (Barney the Dinosaur or Paw Patrol) but today I was in my own little world with my Leap Wireless for Women earphones. Yay! I’ve never been able to have music while I ride for lack of a place to put my phone to stream the music! Problem solved!

Okay, I love them, right? Now for some of the more technical details, regarding the Leap Wireless for Women earphones:

Ergonomically designed for comfort
Twistlock Technology
Smaller in ear design/fit for women with multiple size ear pieces
6 hour battery life
Easy Bluetooth connectivity
Ability to change songs, adjust volume or answer phone calls with the touch of a button
I also like that while the sound quality is good, my Yurbuds (wired or wireless) NEVER drown out the sound around me. I like to hear my music but I need to be aware of my surroundings. I don’t know if this is a plus or minus for others but it’s the primary reason why I don’t use some of the high quality earphones in my collection. Really big deal for me.

The cost of the Leap Wireless for Women earphones is $99.99. You can buy them a number of places or just grab yours from Yurbuds dot com. I hope they are a game changer for you as much as they have been for me. They have given me the confidence to focus on me and MY workout. For that I’m grateful. I hope they serve up some magic for you as well. Smile

** Untether From YOUR Earphone Wire! ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

SOL REPUBLIC Punk Wireless Speaker Review & Giveaway …..

Posted on November 14, 2014 by tootallfritz

I’m not exactly sure where the year has gone but like it or not, the holidays are upon us. I’ve slowly started to Christmas shop ~~and Michael already found everything I had hidden for him~~ specifically because I need to budget for it this year in a different way than ever before. So start slow and space it out, right?

Even though I’m on a budget, I still like to give killer gifts! Therefore, I wanted to talk about the SOL REPUBLIC Punk Wireless Speaker NOW before I get lost in the holiday shuffle!

SOL REPUBLIC is known for delivering amazing sound in everything they produce. I have multiple SOL REPUBLIC items and love each and every one of them. Definitely my favorite retailer for sound. However, the Punk Wireless Speaker is a bit different than their other products because this speaker was built to go wherever you go.

It’s small. Like fits in the palm of my hand small. My wallet is larger than this speaker! It easily fits in my purse, gym bag and the pocket of my vest.

It has a mounting thread on the bottom of the speaker to mount to your bike.

It was built to take a hit and keep on blasting those tunes.

Beware of PUNK. Smaller, tougher and louder than you would expect. Play it everywhere and take it anywhere. PUNK is fearless. Not afraid of water, dirt, or getting kicked around and gutsy enough to play music loud. If you won’t break the rules, PUNK will.

So parents, if your kids (or you) want a wireless speaker that can roll down the stairs, get wet, dirty and keep on playing, this might be for you. I specifically wanted this speaker for my sun room which has a hot tub. I know you are all thinking, “hot tub, that’s so cool”, well it’s not cool, it’s hot! It gets hot and steamy in there, like a sauna. It’s not a great place for a fancy sound system! The wireless range on the Punk Wireless Speaker is 60+ feet. I set up a play list on my phone, start the speaker, leave my phone high and dry in the house and take this little guy out in the “sauna like” sun room with me. Sound quality is excellent. It plays LOUD. And the battery life lasts for around 8 hours. I’ve used the Punk every single day since it’s arrived, in and out of the sun room. Smile Love this thing!

One last thing, that’s important ~~if you are as UN tech savvy as me~~, is that the Bluetooth hooks up easily. I don’t mess too much with technology. In fact, when iPods were “wired” and I had to plug into the computer, it was a train wreck, my iPod was never updated and at this point I don’t even have a computer with an active iTunes account. Bluetooth was invented for people like me. It’s easy. I can quickly/easily pair my iPhone with any SOL REPUBLIC wireless speaker. I just go into my settings, click on Bluetooth and my phone searches for the speaker (which needs to be on). The Punk speaker pops up and I select it. After that initial pairing it hooks up automatically. So easy!

The Punk Wireless Speaker retails for $69.99 at Best Buy HERE and SOL REPUBLIC HERE but we have one to giveaway FREE to a lucky reader!! In order to be eligible to win, please comment below and tell us what you plan to do with the Punk Wireless Speaker if you win! Are you keeping it or giving it to a lucky someone as a gift?!?!? Tell us!! Giveaway starts NOW and ends next Friday, November 21st at 9am. Good luck!

Watch SOL REPUBLIC on the social media channels below for the most up to date news on their amazing products.

I seriously hope you rock out at every holiday gathering you attend. Music makes the soul happy, take the PUNK and go get those parties started ~~or if you aren’t into parties, you can just listen to it while you work, like I do.~~

** The Punk Goes Where You Go ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Hipster Hands Free Leash Giveaway Winner!!!

Posted on November 12, 2014 by tootallfritz

Thanks so much to everyone who commented and entered the giveaway for the Outward Hound Hands Free Hipster Leash! Please note that this giveaway was sponsored by Dog Fence DIY! Huge shout out of THANKS to them!

I absolutely love the fact that so many people are active AND totally in love with their pooch. Of course, active dog lovers are going to be active WITH their dog and that’s a great thing for everyone involved! I’ve had amazing years running with my girl, Libby, and look forward to creating a similar bond soon with a new friend ~~so my old girl can officially retire~~!

Without further ado, let’s pick a winner!! The Random Number generator selected #6!!

Who’s #6? David Mauger, AKA “Frogger”. Congrats, Frogger!! Get your new pooch out and running with this Hipster Hands Free system!! But beware of those squirrels so that powerful girl doesn’t pull you off your feet!!

As for the rest of us, we can buy the Hands Free Hipster Leash by clicking HERE! The Hipster is normally $34.95 but I see it’s currently on special for $29.95 with additional discounts for multiple leash purchases. Great deal!

Enjoy all those walks, hikes & runs with your pooch! Time with them is so precious!

** Run Hands Free ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Hipster Hands Free Dog Leash Review & Giveaway

Posted on November 6, 2014 by tootallfritz

As most of you know, I’m a HUGE dog lover. One of my favorite activities with my dogs is hiking and running. However, I’m also a freak about having my hands free while “on the run” for a variety of safety reasons. For the last 10+ years, I used the same hands free leash system. It wore out and didn’t make the move to Indiana. I’ve recently discovered that it’s no longer available unless I feel like shopping in the UK. You may have seen it previously posted in my “how to” segment on Running With Your Dog. Needless to say, I don’t do a lot of shopping in the UK so I need something new and readily available. Enter the Outward Hound Hands Free Hipster Leash.

Much to Libby’s dismay, we took the Hipster out for a test run. She really isn’t into running much anymore and prefers napping while tucked into a warm blanket. Age will do that, right? While Libby may not be using this much, we do have plans to add another 4 legged “runner” to our family soon, so it’s important that we are ready to run when the time arrives!!!

The Hipster arrived quickly and looked great. Loved the a neon green color! It had several zippered pockets for storage, including one pocket that contained a collapsible water bottle carrier (pictured above) and another (the one labeled #2 above) that was large enough for most cell phones. There were also D rings on both sides of the adjustable waist belt. While Libby runs in heel position, I love the dual positioning option for dogs who run/walk/hike on both sides of their human. Clever!

The Hipster also comes with an adjustable leash, with clasps on both ends. The leash can be adjusted from traffic lead length (2’) to approximately 6’. The leash is NOT on a quick release so be vigilant, my friends!

Off for a run to test this Hipster out!!

The verdict? The Hipster will work great for a dog that’s been trained. However, the same goes for all hands free systems. You can’t use a hands free leash if you haven’t put the time in to train your dog to walk/run with you. And “with you” means either beside or slightly in front of your body. No pulling, otherwise, they could pull you off your feet! I also loved all the zippered pockets so that I had plenty of space for my phone and a few doggie bags. Plus there is plenty of room/pockets for ~~Sour Patch Kids~~ gels or fuel for your run/hike.

If I were doing a list of Pros/Cons for the Hipster, my only con would be that the D rings for the leash were on the side of my hip. Libby generally runs one step in front of me, rather than directly beside me. Therefore, when she was ahead of me, she tugged on the belt and twisted it a bit. Next time I’ll tighten the belt a bit more to see if that helps or I’ll just twist the belt at the start so that our D ring is sitting on the front of my hip bone. I don’t think this is actually a design flaw but rather, just the way that we have learned to run together. Overall, I like the Hipster and am happy to add it out our arsenal of must have dog accessories!

Thanks to Dog Fence DIY for allowing me to review this awesome product! They not only sent one for me to review but are also giving one ($34.95 value) to a lucky, dog loving reader! Who can’t wait to hit the road with their dog & a new Hipster Hands Free Leash?!?!?!?

In order to be entered in this giveaway, please comment below and tell me & Dog Fence DIY where you plan to go with your dog after winning the Hipster Hands Free Leash! Are you a runner, walker, hiker or all of the above?

Giveaway “runs” from now until Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 9 am. I’ll draw one winner via a random number generator. Good luck!!

** Run Hands Free ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

KOREBALL Review and Giveaway!!

Posted on July 17, 2014 by tootallfritz

The fitness industry is hot, hot, HOT! The great thing about it being so hot is that we have new and amazing products coming out each and every day. One such product is the new KOREBALL. The KOREBALL is a great product for at home and on the go workouts. In fact, it was specifically designed to be portable and ready to go wherever YOU want to take your workout. How about the beach? Yes, let’s do it!!

What is a KOREBALL? It’s a hybrid of a kettlebell and a medicine ball. Not as bulky ~~and dangerous~~ as a kettlebell. Not as round and slippery as a medicine ball. The KOREBALL has handles on the side to help you grip easily and stay in control at all times. Plus it’s much safer around small children than both kettlebells and dumbbells.

I’ve been using the KOREBALL for several months now. I have totally replaced my medicine ball with this newbie. I mostly use it for side to sides, ab baskets and in place of dumbbells. It’s so much easier to use this for dumbbell rows!!

I also really like the ease of filling and the portability. I filled mine with water. It’s at max capacity and weighs 11 lbs. If you are looking for a little more weight, fill with sand verses water. Watch how easy it is to set up! The website boasts the KOREBALL to be a collapsible, portable “on the go” workout system. I agree. I mostly leave it filled so that I can constantly use it for workouts but this would be so easy to collapse and toss in a suitcase. LOVE IT!!

KOREBALL has generously agreed to give one lucky reader a KOREBALL ($75 value). To be entered in the giveaway, please comment below and tell us what type of equipment you use for strength work. Body weight? Kettlebells, dumbbells, or traditional iron? Medicine ball? Or maybe you just toss the kiddos around?

We will pick one winner via a random number generator on Tuesday, July 22nd. Please follow KOREBALL on Facebook for up to date news on special offers. And if you can’t wait to win, buy KOREBALL HERE because it just might be on sale and there just might be free shipping as of right now (like this very moment).

Good luck!

** Get Strong, Be Strong, Run Strong ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Ryders Eyewear – Via Photochromic Review

Posted on June 23, 2014 by tootallfritz

As most of you know, my eyes are super sensitive. I wear sunglasses, or use a visor, or BOTH, almost all the time. It’s not that I’m trying to be cool but to protect my eyes. Ryders Eyewear recently released a new model and sent me some to check out. Here are the new Ryders Via Photochromic sport sunglasses.

This is the white/yellow combo. The lenses are tinted but not too dark so if you are running the woods, like I am usually doing, then you can still see! Plus the photochromic lenses lighten and darken with the change of natural light so you aren’t looking thru dark black lenses in low light.

I’ve tested these babies several times. I like that they are white and match everything. However, if white isn’t for you, they have several other options too!

Yes, color & style matter to ~~almost~~ everyone. They are stylish! I also like that they aren’t too tight on my face so that when I’m all sweaty, they aren’t sticking to me. I also love how the photochromic works automatically and I never even notice that the lenses are changing tint. You can see in the photo below how much darker the lenses are than above …. pretty cool!

They are just perfect for running/riding thru the woods on my local trails! I don’t miss a thing and that’s super important because I want to see all the amazing view that the trails have to offer!

One thing that I was concerned about initially was the nose pads stick out a bit and aren’t the ones that are flush with the glasses. I take my glasses on and off quite a bit for pictures and when I’m talking with people. I just like to look people in the eyes so feel awkward talking up close with someone THRU a pair of sunglasses. Just me, I know. So I was concerned that the nose pads would get stuck in my hair, but they don’t.

As always, Ryders Eyewear has delivered another pair of top notch glasses. I use Ryders exclusively for running and biking. They are comfortable. Fit my face. Don’t bounce or fog. Scratch resistant. Shatter proof ~~cuz yeah, I’ve been known to crash a time or two~~. Plus they offer my eyes UV Protection! Great glasses and I’m happy to add the Via Photochromic to my collection. Thanks, Ryders! Feel free to purchase yours HERE! $89 for the photochromic & $49 if you don’t need the tint to change.

** Run & Bike with Ryders Eyewear** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

TooTallFritz

Running Toward: Health, Wellness & PEACE …………………………………….. Running From: Insanity, Screaming Children, Housework & a Big Ass

Category Archives: Product Reviews

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SOL REPUBLIC Punk Wireless Speaker Review & Giveaway …..

Hipster Hands Free Leash Giveaway Winner!!!

Hipster Hands Free Dog Leash Review & Giveaway

KOREBALL Review and Giveaway!!

Ryders Eyewear – Via Photochromic Review

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