Disclaimer: Due to my affiliation with Sweatpink and FitApproach, I received a free Bulu box to review, in exchange for a blog review.  All opinions are my own.

I have found the concept of subscription boxes intriguing. You’ve probably heard of Birch Box, Bark Box or maybe even Runnerbox.  The one I received was from Bulu Box, which is a health and wellness subscription box.  You can do 3 month, 6 month or 9 month subscription.  According to their website, “Bulu Box is the first health, nutrition and weight loss discovery box designed to help you feel your best.”  Every month is a box with a new mix of 4 to 5 samples from various brands to try. Shipping is  free and you can cancel anytime.  They also offer some of the included items for sale on their website.

This is how the box looks when it arrives - so much suspense!! :

I was excited to receive my box, and had no idea what the contents would be.

Upon arrival, the box was a little smaller than I anticipated. There were a total of 5 products inside:

• Quest Nutrition protein powder – peanut butter flavor (2 pouches)

• Mediterra Sundried tomato and basil bar

• Earth’s Care Anti itch cream

• Yerba Prima Fiber Plus Powder

I will say that I was happy about the protein powder to try, I’m familiar with Quest Nutrition and thought that the peanut butter flavor would be right up my alley. The unique thing about this particular protein powder is that they tout that you can BAKE with it too!  Not all protein powders can do that. There are several recipes up on their site to make various desserts, smoothies and more.  However, they required more powder than what I was given.  So I chose to make a smoothie.  There was 23 grams of protein and only 2 grams of carbs.  I did find an aftertaste that is common with many protein powders – that synthetically sweet aftertaste.  So, this is unfortunately not something I would buy again to make in a smoothie or protein shake. I’m a little fussy about my protein powders.

Next I tried the Mediterra sundried tomato & basil bar. Mediterra products are inspired by the Mediterranean diet.  All the flavors they make are with very Mediterranean ingreadients – olives, oranges, pistachios and sundried tomatoes. The bar was thicker and denser than I expected. It looks really filling, it has 6 g fiber and only 160 calories.  I found the sundried tomato flavor to be too intense; I would not buy this on my own. 

One item that I will be saving for a rainy (or in this case, itchy) day is the the anti-itch cream made by Earth’s Care. It’s an all-natural blend, and most definitely something I will keep on hand for the next time myself or my son needs it.   Its ingredients included camphor and menthol. I was not able to try it out for itch purposes, but you can smell the the menthol and consistency wise it looks think and would coat well.

And finally, another item that I am not able to test out today would be the Yerba Prima Fiber Plus powder.  It promotes regularity, and provides “gentle overnight relief”.  The flavor they sent me was apple spice flavor. It contained oat bran, psyllium seed husks, soy fiber and apple fiber – plus a variety of herbs including ginger root, red clover and dandelion root extract.  I would like to think that I have enough fiber in my diet (although most of us don’t), that I wouldn’t need a supplement.  Things feel like they move just fine LOL.

Here’s the thing – even though I was underwhelmed by this month’s offerings, the excitement of what’s coming next month is definitely an attractive concept.  I have seen a few of my fellow SweatPink ambassadors doing reviews on their Bulu Box that they received as well, and we got a few items that are different from each other. For example, most of them received a packet of Island Boost, which I LOVE!  It is a fast fuel for athletes – more of a liquid than a gel.  So you just never know what’s around the corner and coming next month!

If you are interested in giving them a try, SweatPink is offering a special 50% discount on an already very affordable  3-month subscription.  Just use promo code SWEATPINK ! Normal monthly pricing is just $10 (includes shipping) so with the discount, this brings it down to just $5/mo!

Bulu Box also offers an incentive plan - you earn points for reviewing your box, so you can actually earn free boxes, just for providing your opinion!

"Disclaimer: I received Freekeh to review as part of being a SweatPink Ambassador with Fit Approach and Freekeh Foods. Learn more about becoming a SweatPink Ambassador at FitApproach.com.

When I received my Freekeh samples, I could not wait to try them. They sent me both Tamari flavor and Original. They also have a Rosemary Sage flavor. I love brown rice and other healthy grains, so I was excited to try something new.  I was surprised how easily it cooked up, and could already imagine tons of ways to use it.  On my first try, I used the tamari flavor and made a veggie stir fry with tofu.  It was awesome!  Read my recipe here.

So what is it exactly? Freekeh is an ancient roasted grain that is a great nutritional improvement to rice or other grains. It has a nutty, chewy texture. It comes organically in 3 varieties: Original, Rosemary Sage and Tamari. Freekeh has up to 3 times the amount of fiber and protein as brown rice!  Freekeh is also naturally low in sodium and vegan! It is NOT gluten free.  Use it how ever you would use brown rice or quinoa. It can be the star attraction, side dish, or part of a salad.

A little history - Freekeh is a process which means "to rub" in Arabic. Freekeh was created by accident nearly 2,000 years ago when a Middle Eastern village was attacked and their crop of young green wheat was set ablaze. The villagers rubbed off the chaff, cooked it up and "Eureka!" Freekeh was created.

Both my 9 year old and my husband are sold on this as an alternative to brown rice or quinoa.  I will continue to incorporate this into my menu rotation.  Look for it at your local Whole Foods or health food store.

Winner!

Congratulations to Meredith (@semibalancedmom) who won my Freekeh giveaway! 

Welcome to the Coffee Shop Blog Hop! I'm excited to be a part of it. I hope you enjoy my post about what a cup can do - when you're done reading, be sure to click on to the next featured blogger, Coco!

A coffee cup can tell a story. It can bring back memories of a trip, a race – transport you to another time in your life.  So not only does what INSIDE the cup bring you comfort, the cup itself does, sometimes, too.

I have 2 special cups that were my mother’s.  She’s been gone almost 7 years now, but these cups help me keep a connection.  The cup with the lighthouse is one she used very often, and having spent her golden years on the lake “upnorth” in Michigan, it’s very appropriate.  The other one is her Halloween mug. My mom loved many of the holidays, and drinking a hot cup of coffee out of this cup really reminds me of her.

Then there is the cup that takes you back to vacation, some of your favorite places.  I have cups from my favorite place in the Caribbean (St. Lucia) as well as my favorite vacation spot (Torch Lake, MI).  I feel a little giddiness when I pull the cup out to use it.

Can we talk about SIZE for a minute?  Just like our portion sizes have grown over time, our coffee cups have grown too.  Check out this cup from my parent’s every day dish collection – circa 1955.  They drank coffee or tea out of these cups every day and I don’t think I ever thought they were small.  But now?

What are your favorite cups? And why?

Check out the next featured blog post in our Coffee Shop Blog Hop!

It's 113 degrees outside and I'm I’m starting to get lots of ideas rolling around in my head about races I’d like to do next year. Whether they are repeat events or ones that I just couldn’t fit in this year, they are making my list. 

I became addicted to Ragnar after doing my first this year. Now I want to do them ALL!!!!!!! You'll note that I'm going to need a vacation home in Michigan in order to make all the northern MI races on this list!

January
PF Changs Rock n Roll AZ ½ (signed up)
Wine run 5k (signed up)

February
Sedona 10k
Xterra trail race (signed up)
Lost Dutchman trail run
Ragnar del sol

March
Publix womens half – savannah, GA
Kiss Me I'm Irish Run

April
Traverse City Trail Festival 50k

May
North Mitten Half Trail Run - MI
Vineyard to Bay 25K - MI

June
Charlevoix half marathon?
Kona run - Detroit

July
Cascade lakes relay
Cherry Festival Half (Traverse City)

Aug
Crim 10 mile
Fred 200 relay
Spokane to Sandpoint relay

Sept

Oct
Leavenworth Half Marathon (WA)
Ragnar Hawaii

Nov

Dec

So this is just a start. What else am I missing? Gotta fill this baby up!

Disclaimer: I received an Addaday Pro Roller to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

With the start of marathon training season (I'm training for the Tucson Marathon), I knew this would be the perfect time to be trying out the roller.  I received the Addaday Pro. Truth be told, I’ve never been into stretching or rolling – things that most runners do – things that are considered to be “best practices” for runners in general.  I don’t like to inflict pain on myself. However, I must say that doing this as more of preventative care seems to be pretty painless so far.

So what's so special about Addaday? It has a unique design, that really helps you target different areas with varying amounts of pressure. Even the little red spot on the roller has a specific purpose. It has some pointy edges to get into different nooks and crannies that need relief. See the graphics from Addaday's website:

I love how compact, light and easy to use it is. When I went on their website and watched a few videos, I saw how the individual roller balls that make up the long roller could be used as spot massagers, if you get it on the right spot and rub in circles with it.   The roller makes it easy to target your back, too – either on your own, or using a willing accomplice.  So easy, even a 9 year old can do it!!!!!!!

It’s great just to roll the bottom of your feet on, to stretch out and relax your arches. I just do it mindlessly while I'm watching TV. Addaday’s website has tons of videos to show you how to make the most out of your roller – focusing on specific techniques that target various areas.

Every roller has its own special purpose. Some are very rough, and some are more gentle.  You should probably own more than one kind if you are an endurance athlete. I find this roller to be extremely user-friendly and a great full body tool. I definitely plan on taking it to my marathon weekend in Tucson!

Have you heard of Freekeh before? It’s an ancient grain – artisanal hand roasted green wheat – Freekeh has up to three times the fiber and protein found in brown rice, and fewer calories than quinoa and white rice.  You use it just like you would rice or quinoa.

When I got the opportunity from Sweatpink and Freekeh Foods to try it, I jumped at the chance.  I chose the Tamari flavor and decided to make a stir fry.

Freekeh Veggie Stir Fry

• 1 bag Freekeh
  

• 1 can chicken (or veggie) broth, plus 1 cup water
  

• 1 pkg Trader Joes’ baked tofu – teriyaki flavor

• 1 tsp sesame oil
  

• Chopped carrots
  

• Chopped zucchini
  

• Chopped broccoli
  

• Chopped red pepper
  

• 1 ½ cups Cole slaw mix (cabbage & carrots)
  

• 2-3 tbsp Trader Joes soy ginger marinade dressing
  

• 2 tbsp soy sauce
  

• Diced scallions for garnish
  

• Diced peanuts for garnish

Directions: Cook freekeh according to directions with broth & water, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, sautee veggies in sesame oil and a little cooking spray. Add baked tofu until gets seared on the outside.   Add marinade, soy sauce and cole slaw mix until it wilts down a little.  Garnish with scallions & peanuts if desired.

Visit freekeh-foods.com for more recipe ideas!

But wait, there’s more!  Freekeh Giveaway!

I have partnered with Sweatpink and Freekeh Foods to offer one lucky winner their own bag of Freekeh in the flavor of their choice (original, rosemary sage, or tamari).  Open to U.S. Residents Only. Just enter below. Contest ends August 26.  Good luck!

"Disclaimer: I received a UV Half Buff to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

 When I think of the word “buff”, I think of the show Survivor.  They got these cool buffs they had to wear as part of their tribe, and they got a bit creative on how they wore them – on their head, wrist, as a bikini top and more.  Of course I wanted to try one for myself!

I went on to buffusa.com to look at all the color/style options and WOW – there are so many cool ones to choose from. I’m going to need to add to my collection, for sure.

The UV Half buff blocks out 95% of UV rays, keeps you cool, is breathable, washable and versatile!  They can be worn 12 different ways! There is also a line that is insect repellant. Now that’s handy!

I immediately took it out on a test run the day it arrived. It was an 85 degree sunny morning and I was desperate for anything that would help me get through the run.  I chose to wear it as more of a headband, and it did a great job keeping the sweat out of my eyes. It is very soft, and it didn’t slip at all during the hour long run.

The next week had me on business trips to Chicago and St. Louis.  I hit the treadmill and was glad I brought my buff with me.  The sweat dried quickly.

On another sweaty run, I decided to use it as a wristband to wipe my forehead.  Success! It stayed put with just tucking it in.  It washes very well and came out just as soft as when it came out of the package.

Even my dog tried it out. They need relief from the sun and heat too, right?

I can’t wait to try it out in the winter for a whole different purpose of staying warm. I hate being cold!

UV Half Buffs start at $25. Treat yourself to a UV Half buff for summer and save 10% with BIBRAVE10!