A Valentine Gift for Active Mamas: ibitz Unity

Tomorrow is my first 5K.  I am nervous!  I have been working on improving my body strength, stamina and health for the last several months - still, I wonder how this will go.  One thing that I have been really fond of is my pedometer.  I use a GeoPalz Pedometer (yes, I know they are made for kids - but I think they're cute and I like it that I can track my steps online).

I know I am not the only mam that is working on improving health and likes to track movement.  I mentioned a few weeks ago that GeoPalz was developing a new fitness tracker: ibitz.  I love the colors, I think red or pink or purple would be excellent for a Valentine gift (purple is my personal favorite).

This is what the company says about the ibitz Unity for Parents:

"The ibitz Unity for parents allows users to monitor family health wirelessly, all in one place. The adult app tracks steps, distance, weight, height, overall physical activity and body mass index (BMI) for the entire family. Unity users can also create groups outside of the family, such as a running group, for extra motivation
and streamline progress reporting. The app allows users to sync with other wireless devices including select scales, heart rate monitors and other social fitness apps."


I love it that I could use it with a group as a way to help support and encourage each other!  I also love it that it's a fitness tracker, not just a pedometer.  The ibitz Unity is currently available at Indiegogo and at ibitz.com for just $49.99, that is remarkably less than many of the other fitness trackers on the market right now!

Consider making ibitz a part of your Valentine gift to a favorite mama this month!

** This is not a sponsored post.**

Sponsor Spotlight: Active Accessories #GetMoving2013

I shared a couple weeks ago that we have started using a gym for exercise.  I love it.  I have been in a search for just the right "stuff" to take with me.  I needed to find one of my water bottles, because I don't like to use bottled water.  I wanted towel so I could use the showers.  A gym bag seems to be a must.  I had figured it out, mostly.

Gym ID, Combination Lock, Road ID, Hair Ties, Ear Buds, Cell Phone (or glucometer) - I love using this pouch when I go to the gym!

My biggest problems were related to the things I keep close to me when I am at the gym:  headphones, my glucometer, and a hair tie.  I was delighted to learn about the Active Accessories Pouch.  I was even more delighted when I learned the price is only $20 on Amazon (on sale for $15 at the moment).

I have tried this pouch a few times now and I love it.  I can use it with my glucometer or my smart phone.  It is sturdy, cute, and helps me keep my things together while I am exercising!  Thanks Active Accessories for a fantastic product!

Keys, Chap Stick, Hair accessories, Phone, & Money (there is even enough room for a tampon).  This pouch is fantastic for the high school girl in your life!

Active Accessories will be giving away a pouch as part of the Get Moving event from January 17-31.  Don't forget to enter to win our fantastic prize package.

You don't have to wait to buy though!  Get one on Amazon right now!  This pouch is perfect for exercise enthusiasts, teenage girls (it would fit nicely into backpacks), mamas, grandmas.  Really it's great for anyone!  Try it out for only $15 right now on Amazon!

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Thermometer, Antibiotic Ointment, Chap Stick, Hair Tie, Bendadryl, & Bandaids - this pouch is ready for a day out with my boys.  I have more than enough room to keep essential health supplies at hand without toting a large diaper bag.

** I have received a product free for the purposes of this review.  All opinions are my own.**

The Gift of Water

Have you ever thought about how amazing it is that we have free and easy access to free and drinkable water?  A while back I stood, watching my sons drink from water fountains in a store and thinking about how incredible it is that we have water available in public places for anyone to use any time they want a drink.

We talk about not getting enough water, and it's true - we need a lot of water.  We carry it in our purses, buy it at the store, add flavoring to it, and so much more.  Water is a part of our culture.  It is a big part of who we are every day.  There are some people that don't have access to this amazing gift though.  We all know it.  We have seen pictures, and heard stories.  Maybe you have even taken part of an initiative to build wells to help people who don't have this life-giving staple.

This photo comes from a blog called "Threads Apart".  We have seen the pictures.  How do you feel when you see images of mothers, grandparents, small children, even entire villages that do not have access to clean drinking water?  These people are subject to disease, starvation, and death.  Do you get angry for them?  We carry water in our purses!  Why can't we help these people get access to clean water?

Last night, while surfing Facebook, I found the picture below.  It had a link to information about "LifeStraw".  This personal water filter claims to remove 99.99% of bacteria from water and it's only $25 on Amazon!  It works for up to 1000L of water - which is presumably enough for 1 person for 1 year.  Some people suggested finding a way to help people in third world nations get access to clean water by distributing products like this.  Why is this difficult?  Why am I not actively taking part?  "Finances are tight right now".  Trust me, I say that plenty - but we HAVE finances.  There has to be a way I can help others to access clean water, even if it seems too small, if one family can be helped by my efforts, it is worth it!

As I read the comments about this picture, I was disturbed.  More than that, I was angry.  One man said, "Although innovative, the last thing we need is to keep the third world alive... Give em cocaine, AIDS, and machine guns instead. K, thanks."  This is not the kind of thing people say jokingly.  Wow.  Can you imagine having so much fear and hatred toward others that you wish to kill them off?  I prayed for this man last night. I wanted to "friend" him on Facebook and lash out at him for his ignorance, for his hatred, for the evil that he was spewing.  

I want to make a difference to families who are unable to help themselves.  Today I am looking for clean water initiatives to support.  Will you join me?  Do you already support a clean water initiative?  Please leave links in the comment box below.  Let us love one another.

Stocking Stuffers for Exercise Enthusiasts

I just want to share a few products that I believe are excellent gifts for your favorite exercise fans.  They are moderately priced and small enough to fit into most stockings (or a nice package for another gift giving occasion.

The Active Accessories Pouch is available on Amazon for only $15!  It is the perfect size for an iphone, earbuds, a glucometer, anything you need for carrying with you to the gym.  I believe these would also be perfect for a teenage girl to slip into her bookbag with all of her essential IDs.  (I might even slip a small tampon into it for an emergency).  This pouch comes in 4 color choices and has received a 5 star rating by customers on Amazon!  Click the first link to like them on Facebook and tell them I said hello!

 

GeoPalz pedometers are a super cute way to stimulate activity in kids, and a stylish pedometer for adults.  They cost $25 on the GeoPalz website.  You can also buy a select few on Amazon.  Here is why I love them:  The GeoPalz website invites children to track their daily steps in order to earn points for prizes.  They also have games that are interactive and encourage children to keep moving.  What's more, they have a place for families to track their steps together!  We love GeoPalz and their fantastic assortment of styles and rewards!  Follow GeoPalz on Facebook.

 

Banglz make wrist and ankle weights with sleeves to dress them up!   Sleeves can be bought separately so you can change styles to match your workout clothes.  Prices vary depending on your choice of products.  The same company that makes Banglz sells lycra headbands and hair ties that don't damage your hair!  Check out their simple skirts too - they are incredibly comfortable and cute!

RoadID offers a variety of safety products for those who enjoy exercise.  My favorite product is the wrist ID.  I wear mine almost every day, especially when I am exercising at the gym.  I know that if there is a problem, emergency workers will be able to quickly access all of the information they need about me.  RoadID products vary in price depending on the product.  Take a look at their Facebook page as well!

 

Riley Children's Foundation  has t-shirts in their store online!  What a great stocking stuffer for only $10.50 (plus tax).  Ordering a Riley t-shirt not only gives your loved one a new shirt for working out, but also benefits children in need of hospital and specialist services.  We love Riley because 2 of our children benefit from their excellent quality services.  Learn more about Riley through their Facebook page.

Planet Fitness is a quickly growing gym franchise (in 47 states)!  Membership is extremely affordable.  Our local gym has 2 options $10 or $20 a month depending on which services you choose.  See if there is a Planet Fitness near your favorite exercise lover.  

This mission of Planet Fitness: We at Planet Fitness are here to provide a unique environment in which anyone – and we mean anyone – can be comfortable. A diverse, Judgement Free Zone® where a lasting, active lifestyle can be built. Our product is a tool, a means to an end; not a brand name or a mold-maker, but a tool that can be used by anyone. In the end, it’s all about you. As we evolve and educate ourselves, we will seek to perfect this safe, energetic environment, where everyone feels accepted and respected. We are not here to kiss your butt, only to kick it if that’s what you need. We need you, because face it, our planet wouldn’t be the same without you. You belong! 

Find them on Facebook as well.

Some other favorites

 Water Bottles, heart rate monitors, gym towels, yoga mats, hand weights, earbuds, ipod holders that strap to an arm, athletic shoes, and more!  

What are your favorite stocking stuffers?

Cheap & Super Easy Toddler Sleeping Bag

My "big" boys are getting new mama-made sleeping bags for Christmas as part of a camping play set that I'm putting together.  I got some incredibly cute fabrics the day after Thanksgiving at an amazing price and am looking forward to putting those together very soon.

We were at Walmart the other day and I got to thinking that the little guy is just starting to get to the point that he wants to do what his brothers are doing.  He will probably want his own sleeping bag for playing camping in the very near future as well.  We happened to walk past a big bin of cheapo, thin fleece blankets - they were something like $3 or $4 a piece.  I picked one out that I didn't think looked TOO girly, and had a fun print on it.

Seriously, this is how simple his sleeping bag is... I opened it up, found the halfway line, pinned some ribbons on the OUTSIDE of the fabric.  I made the pattern on the ribbon face outside, next time I'll reverse it so that when I tie the bag together the pattern shows easily.  I measured my ribbon by wrapping it around the rolled blanket and giving it enough slack to make bows.

Next I pinned the blanket sides together, leaving the ribbons on the outside of the fabric - which became the INSIDE of my pins, they were hidden while I sewed.  I used a quick straight stitch about 2/3 of the way around the folded blanket, leaving room to fold the top open for easy entrance/exit.

Here is the finished bag, ribbon closures in place.  I folded the corner down, which you cannot see at all in this picture.  One thing I like about using the blanket is that it already has finished edges, so it looks like I did a lot of work.

Rolled, tied, ready to wrap for a Christmas morning surprise.

If you were putting together a camping play set for preschool/kindergarten aged boys, what would you make sure to include?