Apps She Buys: RunKeeper

So if you haven't noticed, I'm on a bit of a running kick lately.  
While I run, I use an app called RunKeeper to track my runs. I LOVE it!
It does everything I need it to do and more.

It's not just for running though. It comes in handy while hiking, biking, walking, skiing, snowboarding, and anything else you want to log your activity on.

It uses the GPS in your phone to track your route, time how fast you go,

I even use it for when I'm at the gym on the treadmill or the elliptical. While the GPS features doesn't help much for this, the app allows me to manually enter my information so I can still keep it logged.

RunKeeper has you register an account so that it can help track your activities. To register, you can visit their website at: http://runkeeper.com/ or do it right on the app. 

Compatible with the iPhone and Android.
Price: FREE.

Where to get it:
Apple: App Store
Android: Android App Market

Website: http://runkeeper.com/

While they used to have 2 versions, a lite and a pro version, they have combined it into just one great app and made it free. Even if they did charge, I would happily pay.

Salt Lake Running Company Running & Training Group

Photo by Flickr user mikebaird

I mentioned that I was a recent convert to running.

I spontaneously signed up for a 5K back in the fall and trained for 2 weeks and went for it.

I enjoyed it so much that when I saw an ad for a Half Marathon training group through Salt Lake Running Company, I signed up.


Yes, I know it's crazy to go from nothing, to a 5K, to a half marathon.
I did it though.
Not only did I finish, I shaved off a minute on my personal pace.
I enjoyed it so much, I have signed up for a full marathon and will start training very soon.

The training group through Salt Lake Running Company was a huge help. Since my friends either don't run or they just finished running the Boston Marathon I needed to find someone more in my skill level to run with.

For $49, I received a 12-week training schedule, weekly runs with a group, a nice shirt, and weekly tips and tricks on everything from nutrition, stretching, and how to deal with pre-race jitters. I was able to go at my own pace and found others in my same skill range.  Paying for the training group also made it so I was committed and accountable. The training was meant to get us ready for the Salt Lake Half Marathon and it did just that.

To get ready for fall races, may I recommend their running training group programs, starting up May 16th. They have one for half marathons and another for full marathons. You can find out more information and sign up on their website at: http://saltlakerunningco.com.

If you're not in Utah, I'm sure there are similar running and training groups in your area. If you've been wanting to take your running and training to the next level, these groups can help. Go ahead, do it! You will be so proud of yourself as you cross that finish line!
Happy Training & Happy Running!

My Running Tunes

Photo by Aaron Armono

I'm a recent convert to running. 

I've decided that the music I listen to while running makes a huge difference and I'm always on the lookout for upbeat songs that help me keep going. 

That said, here's my current top 10 running songs that kicked me off in my very first half marathon:

(The links will take you to Amazon.com where you can hear a sample of each song)

Paint It, Black by the Rolling Stones
Basketcase by Green Day
I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
Into The Night by Santana featuring Chad Kroeger
Message In A Bottle by The Police
Dynamite by Taio Cruz
Higher by Taio Cruz
DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love by Usher featuring Pitbull
Jai Ho by A.R. Rahman from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack
Thnks fr th Mmrs (Thanks for the Memories) by Fall Out Boy

I'd love to hear what your top ten running songs are. Please share.

Skullcandy Ink'd earbuds

Photo by Paul Frank

If you haven't discovered skullcandy headphones, you are truly missing out.

The default white ones that came with my ipod just sucked. They hurt, they would fall out of my ears, and the sound just wasn't cutting it.

While browsing at FYE, I stumbled across Skullcandy's Ink'd earbuds. They had some on clearance and I thought, what the heck, I'll give them a go. My friends, I have never looked back.

Features I Love:
Comfort - They actually fit. This was the first thing I noticed. I can wear them all day long and they never hurt. They have silicon gel buds that form to your ear. Genius.
Noise Cancellation - They work wonders. Never have I been able to tune the world out better.
Stay Put - They don't fall out when I walk, run, or dance like a fool in my living room.
Sound - My tunes have never sounded better.
Cool - They just look cool. Several colors and styles to choose from.
Durable - I'm rough on them and my first pair lasted about a year.

Skullcandy headphones not only make you look good, they sound great. The Ink'd earbuds are just the beginning. They have other options that just keep getting better and better.

Price: Normally $19.99

Deals:
RetailMeNot.com has a coupon code for skullcandy that is 40% off your entire purchase on their online store. Type in "whatisbrown" at check out and you'll be good to go. Not sure how long this will last, so check it out.

Amazon.com: $10.75 - $12.00.
Best Buy: $12.99

 

Forked Up Figurines

About a year ago, my little brother started a little company called, "Forked Up Art." Here he sells silverware people creations that he has welded and bended by hand.

He makes little figurines out of spoons, forks, and knives. He uses a few other objects to complete the creations when needed, but he mostly sticks to the basics.

These unique pieces are sure to start fun conversations, I know they have for me. Some of them are even quite practical, such as the Salt and Pepper Shaker Guys or Pencil Cup Holder. You can get all of his designs with either a spoon or fork head.


To browse through all of his clever designs go to ForkedUpArt.com


You may see him at an art show this summer if you happen to live in the western United States. He likes to visit, Utah, Arizona, and California, so keep an eye out for sure. He also sells his stuff through his website, as well as through Etsy. He also ships Internationally.

My favorites Forked Up pieces are:
-> iFork - iPhone holder
-> Business Card Holder
-> The Guzzler (not shown)
-> Rock On! (not shown)

Prices range from: $24.99 and up. 

For fun give-a-ways, check out his Facebook page. Check back here too, because I always have a few of his guys around that I love to share.

My Energy Drink of Choice - 5-Hour Energy

5-Hour Energy - Pomegranate

Hello friends.
Are you tired, run-down, and listless?
Do you poop out at parties?
The answer to all your problems is in this little bottle...

Sound familiar?
All you "I Love Lucy" fans should recognize that from Lucy's Vitameatavegamin episode.

Seriously though folks, this little energy shot rocks my world.

It's not carbonated.
It's sugar free and not loaded with calories. 
It has just the right amount of caffeine, mixed with the right amount of Vitamin B which makes it lasts longer and you don't get the normal caffeine or sugar crash.

I drink half a bottle in the morning, the other half about the time 2:00 rolls around, and that'll do me.

It kicks in within minutes and I feel more alert and energetic. 
Unlike other caffeine drinks, this one doesn't make me feel jittery.
My flavor of choice is Pomegranate, though the Berry isn't bad either.

Sweet Deals
Amazon has by far the best deal I've found. You can buy a pack of $12 for $20.79 plus a few bucks for shipping. That works out to be about $1.73 + shipping.

They do have a deal where you can subscribe and have it shipped at regular intervals. This option is $17.67 and saves you an additional 15% and free shipping. Price per bottle works out to be about $1.47.

Costco and Sam's Club members can buy it in bulk making the price per bottle below $2.00.
Walmart sells the regular in a 2-pack for about $4.50, so around $2.25 per bottle.

The Extra Strength version, also sold in a 2-pack, runs around $5.20, so around $2.60 per bottle.

Expect to pay $3 or $4 at gas stations or convenience stores. Though if you have to decide between this or a soft drink, go with the 5-Hour Energy. The energy boost lasts a lot longer, so definitely more bang for your buck.

For more information on different flavors, what's all in it, and decaf versions, please check out 5-Hour Energy's website.

Be smart though, people. Moderation in all things.
If you don't react well to caffeine then this isn't for you.
If you are looking for something that will help you be more alert and less tired and are used to drinking caffeine, then I'd say give it a try.

As Lucy might say...So why don't you join all the thousands of happy, peppy, people and get a great big bottle of 5-Hour Energy tomorrow!

The purse I travel with - The Bayliss by Overland Equipment

Overland Equipment - Bayliss bag

This is the best organizer bag. Ever.
 
A few years ago, I was leaving on a trip to Africa and needed a purse or bag that was small, but versatile and durable.  After lots of searching for just the right one, I stumbled upon the Bayliss bag by Overland Equipment that seemed like it would be perfect. It worked out better than I could have hoped for.

It worked great not only for my Africa trip, but for several trips since then. It's the perfect size to hold and organize my point and shoot camera, phone, passport, mp3 player, as well as all the other little things I seem to need.

It's also the bag I take while running around town and shopping. Somebody always seems to stop me and ask where I got it because it is the perfect size.  I love that I can sling it across my body and just go. Mine is about 3 years old and still going strong. 

This little organizer bag has 3 compartments:

Bayliss - Middle section

• The front is a flap-over that is ideal for pens and small pieces of paper.  There's also a small zip pocket which I use for coins. The flap-over has a convenient magnetic closure. 
• The middle section is a double zip closure and opens down the sides. It has credit card slots, and pockets that work well for my phone, mp3 player, and passport.
• The back section is the largest and holds my keys and point and shoot camera. It has a single zip closure.

I'm not into big purses. I don't like to carry that much with me, but I realize that I can't or shouldn't fit everything into my pockets. This bag makes it so I can go wallet-free! For those of you who feel the same, this bag does the trick.

These bags are worth every penny. They are very well made and will last a long time. For more photos and color choices, please check out their website.

Sweet Deals:
Overland Equipment sends out a monthly newsletter with specials on their bags. Sign up for their newsletter on their website or Facebook fan page. They also run fun contests on Facebook where you could win the Bayliss or one of their other wonderful bags. So check them out!

Stuff She Does - Scuba Dive

I love to Scuba Dive!

Here's just a few things to love about it: Breathing underwater, the feeling of weightlessness, and seeing a completely different world that most never get to. Seriously, if you haven't tried it...you need to.

But...getting Scuba Certified can be expensive.
I put it off for a long time because I just couldn't afford it. I then figured out a way to get certified without it costing an arm and a leg.

College Classes
I took it as a class through school.
Turns out schools will contract with local scuba shops to get a consistent flow of students and in turn the students don't have to pay as much as everybody else. So if you're already a college student, go see if your school offers scuba classes.

Holiday Specials
If you're not a student, another way to save money is to get scuba certified around the holidays. Scuba shops will often run 2 for 1 specials around holidays like Christmas, Valentines Day, Father's Day, and Memorial Day. Of course, it depends on the shop, but this is pretty common. So keep your eyes open and see what specials they're running.

Saving on Scuba Gear
It is important that you buy good, reliable gear. Your life depends on it.
But if you're like me, you're always looking to save a few bucks.

Here's a few things I've learned about Scuba shops and the gear:

•  Look for the clearance rack - They may also have stuff in the back that they don't display, so ask to see if they have older stuff they're looking to clear out. 
•  Look for the gently used stuff - Shops will sell off the rental equipment they use for their classes. Sometimes you can find used gear that's still in good shape at a reasonable price.
•  Ask to see what discounts they would offer - Sometimes you just need to ask.

Scuba is a lot of fun. I know it's not for everybody, but if it's something you've wanted to do for a long time, just go for it. Hopefully, these tips will help you get started!

Cozy Legs Heater

Cozy Legs Panel Heater

I don't know about you,
but I have cold feet.
Like almost always.

The dress code at work also makes it a bit hard to keep my feet warm. Dress shoes, nylons, and yes...a dress. 

Space heaters are not allowed at work so I began mentally preparing myself for a long, cold winter last fall.

One day while talking to a fellow cold-footed friend, she mentioned that we could use Cozy Legs Heaters.  She showed me hers, discreetly tucked under her desk, and explained how they worked. Who knew these wonderful inventions even existed? Boy, had I been missing out.

Cozy Legs Heaters are safer, more cost-efficient, energy-efficient, and do the trick for small spaces, especially in an office setting. Mine sits under my desk about 8 to 12 inches from my legs. It provides an even, warm, radiant heat that is just right to keep me warm, but not hot. After turning it on, I notice my feet and legs warming up in just a few minutes. I also like that it is quiet. There is no noise from a fan. love it! It was exactly what I was looking for and I no longer have cold feet at work! Halle-freakin-lujah!

To go along with the Cozy Legs Heater, this metal stand makes standing it up under your desk super easy.

Also, I found a power switch that allows you to have a High, Low, and Off setting, instead of just an on and off switch. I mounted the switch just under the edge of my desk so that I can easily adjust the settings.


I would say these heaters are ideal for under your desk either at home or at work. If you are looking to heat an entire room, you may want to look for more traditional space heaters.

To find out more about these efficient, little heaters, check out the Cozy Products website. They have other wonderful, warm products that will make your day. Great company and great people.

If you check prices online, you'll find them from about $52 to $80.
So check around and watch for deals.
I'll keep you posted on any I see.

For me the sweet deal came when work provided them for us. I guess they figured a warm, happy bunch of people were more effective and productive than a bunch of cold, miserable people. It was a wise investment for sure! So see if you can get work to buy them for you.

Amazon is oh so good to students

Amazon Student

While browsing coupons and discounts on retailmenot.com I found a coupon through Amazon specifically for students. Well it's much more than a single coupon. Amazon has a whole portion of their site dedicated to Students and helping them to save money. Talk about a sweet deal! Where was this when I was a student a few years back? 

It's free to join. All you need is an email address that ends with .edu, the name of your school and your major.

With Amazon Student you get:
- 1 full year of FREE - 2-day Shipping with Amazon Prime
- Exclusive discounts on a variety of useful and needed college items. These are emailed to you or made available on the Amazon Student page at www.amazon.com/student

I would definitely check this out if you are a student. They have discounts on computers, laptops, software, accessories, stuff for your dorm room, textbooks, and other supplies.

As a student, I saved hundreds of dollars buying my textbooks through Amazon. I refused to buy anything through the school bookstore if at all possible. (No one should have to pay that much for a math book, seriously!) With Amazon student, you may never have to get ripped off by school bookstores ever again.

For more info and to sign up, go to: http://www.amazon.com/gp/student/signup/info

Fire Hydrant Spa shower head - Low Water Pressure Shower Solution

Low water pressure sucks.
I especially hate it when showering.

As a starving student, living in sad on-campus housing or pathetic off-campus apartments, I seemed to attract housing with low water pressure. After just dealing with it for over 3 years, I finally decided I needed to do something about it. I figured that somebody must have come up with a solution. I  mean we've put man on the moon, we should be able to figure out a way to help with low water pressure showers.

Fire Hydrant Spa - Chrome

 After reading reviews on several forums, visiting local hardware stores and almost giving up, I finally found something that seemed promising. I discovered the Fire Hydrant Spa shower head made by Water Management. The name was reason enough to give me hope.

I was right. It has been everything I hoped for and more. Low water pressure is no longer an issue. I now have the strong, massaging showers that I used to only dream about. I can finally rinse my hair out completely. It is also adjustable so you can find exactly the right setting for you.

These shower heads are worth their weight in gold. As a student, I bought this as an investment and I have not been sorry. That's been 3 years ago and it's still one of the best purchases I've ever made. My morning showers are now my favorite part of the day, where I used to hate them before. I take it with me each time I move to a new place.

I bought it online through Water Management's website.
Prices for this model range from $39.50 to $48.50.

So if you are tired of low pressure showers and want to do something about it, please check them out. You won't be disappointed. If you have questions, feel free to send them a note. They are great to work with and are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Happy Showering!

My iPhone 4 Speck Case

Darkest Tartan Plaid

I recently bought an iPhone 4. 
I gave in to peer pressure and bought my first smart phone. 
So far, I like it. 
A lot.

Since I paid more for this phone than any other phone in my mobile phone owning history, I was incredibly paranoid about dropping it and having the screen shatter. I feel like this was a valid concern. So I looked long and hard for a case even before I bought the phone. 

After readings tons of reviews, going to stores to touch and test drive different cases, I decided on Speck. This snazzy, black and grey plaid case from Speck Products is not only visually appealing, but it's a tough, little case. How do I know? Well I've dropped it at least a dozen times in the past 5 months and my iPhone and screen are still fine. Phew!

This particular style is about $10 through Amazon. If you want to check out some of the other fun colors and designs in this same case, check out Speck's site. The newer designs are about $29.95. 

This is a thin, durable, stylish iPhone case. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Tazo Passion Herbal Tea

This tea rocks my world.
Never in my life have I enjoyed any type of tea.
It's too watery. It's funky tasting.
You have to add butt loads of sugar or honey just to choke it down to be polite.

One day not long ago, a friend of mine convinced me to try Tazo Passion Herbal tea. I have to say I was hesitant, but to be a good friend, I gave in.

One sip was all it took and I was pleasantly surprised and forever converted. I didn't have to add any sugary substance to make it tolerable. The flavor is strong enough that it doesn't taste watery. (Please note that the full leaf is not as strong as the filter bags.)

It lists hibiscus, lemongrass, rose hips, mango & passion fruit flavors as ingredients. Since I enjoy things on the fruity side, this was perfect. Tazo's site gives this description for it's taste, "Berry, juicy, wine-like, merlot, sweet, and earthy dense."

This is now my drink of choice whenever I feel like something besides water. I've used it to soothe sore throats and bad days. It's good on rainy days, snowy days, and if you can stand the heat, sunny days.

I have found that I can buy it at the lowest price at my local Target. Amazon sells it by the box or in bulk. Starbucks also carries it, but be prepared to pay just a bit more. But hey...it's so good it's worth it to splurge.

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Endometriosis and ThermaCare

Two years ago I underwent surgery to remove an ovarian cyst that had grown to the size of a large grapefruit. During the surgery, the doctors confirmed that I had endometriosis. I was clueless about what that meant. All I knew was that I had/have very painful periods.

After a bit a research on WebMD and talking to my doctor I realized that there is no cure, only treatments. One thing I have found that has helped with the painful and debilitating cramps I seem to get two weeks out of the  month, are the ThermaCare Menstrual patches.

A friend recommended them to me a few years back and they have changed my world. I used to miss work a few days each month because I would be doubled over in pain, unable to move. The ThermaCare patches are discreet and easy to wear. Once side sticks to the inside of your underwear and the side with the heat rest against your skin. They last for 8 to 12 hours and provide constant, soothing heat that makes it so I can function during the day and sleep at night.

You can find them on Amazon.com, at most Walmarts and other grocery stores. They are a bit pricey, but so worth it. There are 3 patches in a box and inside you will find a coupon for next time. There is a printable $3 off coupon found on ThermaCare's website.

I recommend these to all my friends who have painful periods. I hope someone will find this helpful and that these will provide the relief that is needed.