Dec 31, 2015

Doing That Thing You Do: Twenty Fifteen Review

I decided it was time to take a look back at this past year. This is actually a post I was looking forward to writing, because when I thought about it, it was a pretty damn good year, now that I take a moment to stop and look at it. I've accomplished a lot, even if I didn't always hit my mark. Let's take a look at the year.

Running

I had a pretty good year running, even if it felt a little less busy when it came to races. Thanks in partial to my first challenge, some virtual races, and some fun runs with my daughter, I managed 11 races this year. I started the year with a 5K PR on the BRATS Frozen 5K, gritted my way through Rock n Roll DC with my sister when we were both undertrained, completed my first triathlon Memorial Day weekend where I also brought home my first age group award, and finally, completed my first multi-race challenge (and race for BibRave) where I PR'd my half marathon on the final day of the Runner's World Hat Trick. Finishing off the year racing with my daughter on New Years Eve for a 1K was the perfect finish to the racing year.


BibRave

My involvement with the BibRavePro program deserves it's own section in my year end wrap up. My first year as a BibRavePro has been HUGE!. I already mentioned my first race as a pro, the Runner's World Hat Trick Challenge. It was an all around awesome weekend, that I hope to repeat in the future. Where being a pro has really impacted me is right here on this blog. I've gotten the opportunity to try out a lot of great products, which has been a lot of fun but also has helped me with my blog. I've reviewed 11 products this year alone, with another 3 products currently being tested and reviews coming soon.

While I've really enjoyed what I've tested (and I've use most of it still on a regular basis) I feel like I have to pick some of my favorites. If you haven't read these, go check them out. First has to be my review of the Mizuno Wave Rider 18, including a fun little teaser video I made.


Next is one of my new favorite brands, Buff USA. Between the two reviews, I'm going to pick the UV Half Buff, because it has gotten so much use in my running and it has ponies pictures. How can you go wrong there? Of course, I also love the full Buff, and if you're looking for a belated Christmas present or a birthday gift for a certain blogger, might I suggest this one?


Rounding out the top 3 of my reviews would have to be my other new favorite brand, 2XU, with the 2XU Elite MCS Compression Tights. These were amazing and a huge part of my success to my Runner's World Hat Trick, in my opinion. I also reviewed these as my first video review, which was a cool step forward for me.


I'm so excited for being a BibRavePro in 2016 and can't wait to see what else I can share with you.

Team Nuun

It's been a really fun year being a member of Team Nuun. In addition to representing by simply doing what I enjoy and rehydrating plenty with Nuun, I've gotten to take part in some cool things as well. I ran in their first virtual race: Run Ride Hydrate. While that race was Team Nuun only, this year, they're putting on the Nuun Year Dash, which is open to everyone. I also got to be a part of their launch of a completely new product, Plus for Nuun. I used this to help my refueling during my Runner's World Hat Trick, and really liked how it worked for me. Plus, I've represented with some awesome Nuun gear, such as my tri kit or my running shirt.

Blog

All in all, this all has contributed to me having a really great year on my blog. I've written about some really great races I've experienced (and some not so great ones), lot's of amazing products, and some fun posts about my favorite place, Disney, in the Magical Mickey linkup. I feel like I'm almost getting the hang of this whole blog thing 2 years later. I've still got room to grow, but if I didn't, what fun would that be?

How was your running year? What was your favorite highlight of 2015?


Dec 28, 2015

DisneyIG - Disney Instagrams to Follow | #MagicalMickey

Welcome to another #MagicalMickey linkup. Things have been a little crazy around here with the holidays and work. Though I'm sure many of you know the feeling. It's been good, but the blog has taken the hit, because the time has to come from somewhere.


This week I thought I'd keep it simple. This week I'm going to share with you some accounts to follow on Instagram, to get some great Disney content. Some of them I know personally, some just have great pictures.

disney_dom

Disney Dom is the account of Dom Hunt, a cast member I know. He's not only is a fun guy, but puts up some great pictures featuring some Disney magic.


disneyworlddelights

Disney World Delights is the account of Giana Beverly Austin. She is a fantastic photographer that gets some amazing shots at the parks. You'll find pictures of the parades and shows that are hard to match.


disneyphoto_mg

Disney Photog MG is the account of Mike G, a WDW photographer who takes some great close up shots of the characters.


disneyphotosnapper

The last account I'm going to share with you is Disney Photo Snapper. He's a Disney fanatic who takes lots of great pictures. What I like about the account is there are a lot of pictures of the actual park, the Christmas lights, and the fireworks.

A photo posted by Disney Photo Snapper (@disneyphotosnapper) on

Do you follow any Disney accounts you love?


Onto the Linkup

Here are the guidelines:

The post just needs to be about anything Disney related. There have been posts on runDisney, on the parks and even on the Moms Panel, so just give it some Disney and count it.

New posts are fantastic, but for now, if you have a great old post you want to share, drop it on in.

Try to visit as many of the posts that you can as time allows. The point of this is to share and support each other.

If you're going to be a regular, please link back to the host posts. It's just good etiquette and frankly, that's how others will get to your fellow Disney lovers content. Without that link back, they can't find the linkup and therefore the other blogs. Help me help you.

You also have the option to add the linkup code to your post if you'd like. It is not required, just another option. If not, please follow the above link back guideline. Get the InLinkz code


Dec 25, 2015

Dec 23, 2015

Bulu Box December Unboxing Video | BibRavePro

Disclaimer: I received a 3 month subscription to Bulu Box to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador, tell them I sent you), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Subscription boxes are a very popular thing. I also think there are some very cool ones out there. I've gotten the opportunity to try one out for three months. I've received the first of my Bulu Box Weight Loss.


I've done this unboxing so you can see what I've received. To see what I think about what's in the box, follow me on Twitter and Instagram or come back here for the full review.


Do you subscribe to any boxes? How do you try new samples?


Dec 11, 2015

My Holiday Brand Wish List | #FridayFive

It's that time of year, that time when you'll see lots of posts of gift guides, wish lists, and 12 days of stuff. I'm not complaining, it's just a fact. Actually, I like it because I love discovering new things. This week's Friday Five linkup topic fits right in there. This week's topic is holiday wish list. When I started thinking, lots came to mind. But actually, when I looked at it, there were many things that were new items from particular brands that I love. Many of them are even brands I'm new to this past year. So instead of sharing just five gifts on this Friday Five, I'm going to share five brands.

1. Buff

Buff is one of the brands that is new to me this year but became a quick favorite. I first was introduced to them through the BibRavePro program, when I got an opportunity to review the UV Half Buff and then the Full Buff. I love both of my buffs. The half is perfect in the warm weather to cover enough without being too hot and my full is really paying for itself in the cooler weather. It's versatile in how it can be worn to cover the head, neck, face, or even all of the above. Now, while they can do a lot, Buff offer's a lot of more specialized options, like polar buffs, bandanas, hoodies, and gloves just to name a few. They even have your dog covered.

Now, if anyone's interested, my wish list includes a blue full buff for rocking with my Team Nuun gear and a polar buff for the winter. [images from buffusa.com]

2. Orange Mud

Orange Mud is a brand I found through some of my running friends, specifically Jeremy and Smitha, who I was seeing running with their HydraQuivers constantly. For my first half marathon, I had bought a hydration belt, that worked all right. It gave me what I needed, some extra hydration as well as a little room for some fueling, but it only stayed in place some of the time, the bottles never seemed to dry well and it was limited space, so I'd still need an armband for my phone. I kept seeing the HydraQuiver and it looked like the perfect solution for me, so I invested in the HydraQuiver Double Barrel over the summer. I could not be happier with my purchase. It stays in place fantastically, had a lot of room, and most importantly is comfortable. I actually plan to do a review on it in the near future because I really enjoy it that much. Since then, I've also had a chance to test their Transition & Seat Wrap as a BibRavePro and just recently received the HydraQuiver Vest Pack 1 to test (which I took out for a run this morning). Throughout all this, Orange Mud has become another of my favorites brands.

Currently, on my Orange Mud Wish List would be the gear quiver, for short runs to carry my phone, keys and whatever else I need, as well as two of their bags, the Modular Gym Bag and Messenger Bag. Of course, just like Buff, you really could just shop anywhere on their site and make me happy. [images from orangemud.com]


3. 2XU

Brand number 3 is another brand I've tested, 2XU. I had seen some of their products before I got to test the Elite MCS Compression Tights for BibRave, but I hadn't own any. I loved compression, so I was aware of their brand, but hadn't really used any outside of compression calf sleeves and socks. As my video review will attest to, man, that full leg compression makes for amazing recovery. This has led me look through their extensive collection, which includes all sorts of gear, from compression to arm sleeves to shirts, singlets, coats, and bags.

At the top of my 2XU wish list, you'll find the Hyoptik Jacket (which is from their high vis line), a tech singlet for the warmer months, and a pair of compression calf sleeves (BibRave orange, of course). [images from 2xu.com]


4. Nuun

Number 4 on my list is a brand that is my hydration of choice: Nuun. I love that it gives me a light solution to hydration. It adds flavor and electrolytes and the other necessities without sugar, helping keep my hydrated all year round as I work out (remember, even hydrate in winter). Their newest product, Plus for Nuun, is a great way to also get some fuel in with your hydration. You can read more on my blog from when it was first released this year. I'm also a huge fan of Nuun All Day, which is natural flavor and vitamins to add to water, which helped me cut out soda at work. I just don't like plain water all day, so it was a great help there. I love Nuun so much I applied to their ambassador program last year and was selected to join Team Nuun. In 2016, I'll be continuing on with Team Nuun, which I'm very excited about. They even have their own virtual race everyone can participate in coming up, the Nuun Year Dash.

Sticking with the patterns of three, on my Nuun wish list would be Nuun All Day, some Nuun Energy because i can always use some caffeine, and a new bottle to put all that Nuun in, like the miir bottle that also helps others in need get water. [images from nuun.com]


5. BibRave

Last on my list is the company behind what you heard often in the post, BibRavePro, which is the ambassador program for BibRave. Now, this isn't specifically about BibRave gear, though they do offer some OrangeIsTheNewFast BibRave gear, if you love the site and want to sport some orange. For the brand, I'm considering that my wish list would be to write more reviews on BibRave.com, which of course means you need to run said races. That's right, number five on my list is race entries, because who doesn't like them?

My BibRave wish list would be for the Potomac River Running 2016 Race Pass, which gives you entry into 4 different PRR races, the gift of runDisney, which yes IS a thing for 2016, and a new BibRave trucker, because mine has taken a beating already. [images from links above]


What's on your wish list? Do you have any brands that you love so much you could list 'anything from here'?

Linking Up

Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: CourtneyCynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!

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