EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge - Wrap Up

Heather says:

Read my first post here!
Read my second post here!
Read my third post here!

Holy cow you guys. I did it. I actually finished the EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge! Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be able to do it. Neither did a few other people *COUGHmeghanCOUGH*.

But here I am, DONE. I’m kinda proud of myself.

I really can’t say enough about the 30 Day Challenge. It’s fun and it’s effective. You feel like you’re playing a game, but you sweat and you burn and you feel good about yourself when it’s done.

I have some friends that want to borrow the system and honestly? I don’t think I can lend it out. I plan on using it multiple times a week for the foreseeable future.

Final results - down five pounds. I’m almost eating like a regular person (which for me, really, is normal). And the best part? I am down a pants size and NOT down a bra size. Sorry if that’s TMI, but it’s so nice to lose in the tush and not the chest.

Has anyone else had such great results?

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EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge - Update Two

Heather says:

Read my first post here!
Read my second post here!
Read my wrap up post here!

I was looking at the calendar my EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge keeps for me, and I was shocked to see that I am more than two thirds of the way through my challenge. I’ll be done next week. I can’t believe it.

I am still really enjoying the challenge. It isn’t a chore or a struggle to play. I can finish most work outs in under 25 minutes, so I always can fit an exercise session in. Not that I’m doing much else, but that’s beside the point.

I really only have one complaint about the game, and it’s only on one exercise in particular. When I do squats (my most loathed exercise), the nunchuck doesn’t always register my movement. Considering how much I HATE squats, I get annoyed when I have to repeat them unnecessarily. But, I have figured out a work-around, and I’m pretty sure the problem lies in my height and not in the program.

I’m down three pounds, and my appetite is still improving. I’ve given up on hoping to sleep better, but I think a smaller pants size isn’t out of the question. I’ve already gone in a loop on my belt buckle!

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EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge - Update One

Heather says:

Read my first post here!
Read my second update here!
Read my wrap up post here!

I have been doing the EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge for over a week now, and I have to say I am really, really impressed! I’m already seeing results.

Because I’d mostly just been sitting on my couch or laying in bed, I wanted to ease my body into exercising regularly. The EA Sports Active has different intensity levels for their workouts (a big relief). I started with the lowest intensity, and by the end of my first week I’d upped the intensity level to moderate. And, shockingly, I could handle it!

This isn’t to say the game is easy. Far from it. Every workout had me huffing and puffing and breaking a sweat. The first few workouts left me so sore I longed for my first off-day. But, surprisingly, I was excited to work out again once that off-day was over. I know this is because the workouts are actually fun - they feel like games, not like exercise.

My biggest problem with the Wii Fit is that I would pick the same exercises over and over again. The EA Sports Active chooses the workouts for me. This makes me work out my entire body, which is great. If I had my druthers, I would do the boxing exercise all day. It’s a great release for me.

As far as my goals, I’m doing well. Exercising has made me hungrier - normally a bad thing, but since I’ve been on the “grief diet” I haven’t been eating much. I’m feeling a little stronger physically. Sleeping is still a problem for me, but I do notice that I feel tired sooner, so while I’m still not sleeping well, I’m getting in bed earlier than usual. I’ve only dropped one pound, but my clothes are fitting MUCH better. I think I might go down a size during the challenge! Hopefully I’ll soon be able to put my retail therapy to good use.

Is anyone else having results yet?

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I’m Taking the EA Sports Active for the Wii 30 Day Challenge

Heather Says:

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and EA Sports Active for the Wii

Read my first update here!
Read my second update here!
Read my wrap up post here!

A few weeks ago I received an email from BlogHer Ads looking for bloggers that might be interested in participating in the EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge. I read the email and instead of immediately being turned off by the idea of exercise, I saw the opportunity it provided. As you know, I’ve been through a lot lately. I spend a lot of time inside, not doing much. By taking the 30 Day Challenge, I would be forced to get up and get active for at least 20 minutes every day. This would be a big change from my usual schedule of sitting on my couch or laying in bed. So I expressed my interest and a few days later I got the word I was chosen for the challenge.

This past January I posted my weight loss goal on my blog - to lose 20 pounds by my 30th birthday. I’ve lost ten pounds so far but I’ve been stuck for a while. I’m sure that if I started exercising I would be able to chip away at the last ten. With my birthday looming on June 27th, I have extra motivation to kick it into gear.

I’ve read amazing things about the EA Sports Active! I know many people have lost weight, which I definitely wouldn’t complain about, but I’m not hung up on my weight anymore. My main goal is to be healthy and focus on doing something good for me once a day. My hope is that by being active, I will have a healthier appetite, sleep better, and feel better, too.

I hope other people will join me on my quest to get active and healthy. Who’s with me?!

Check out the progress of the rest of the BlogHer reviewers and enter to win one of 5 copies of EA Sports Active!

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Loved, Always

For more information visit our sites.  Heather and Meghan.

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Gain Detergent

Meghan Says:

I know it will shock and amaze you to know that I’m a *teensy* bit picky about the way my laundry smells.  For as long as I can remember, my laundry has been washed in a specific detergent brand and dried with Bounce sheets.  And if someone ever borrowed something of mine and was kind enough to wash it before returning it, I was SURE to re-wash it before I would wear it again.

I know, I’m totally high maintenance.

So when we were offered the opportunity to review Gain detergent I was REALLY unsure of how I felt about it.  I mean, in 20ish years, I’ve never switched from my usual laundry detergent, so I wasn’t entirely sure that I’d be able to find ANYTHING good to say about it.

But, I’m happy to report that I was VERY pleasantly surprised.  The first two Gain detergents I tried were Original scent and Apple Mango Tango.  I figured I should start off slow, so I did a load of blankets in Original scent.  And when I pulled them out of the drier, there was definitely a scent to them, but it wasn’t AT ALL over powering.  Which I was very happy about, because I was really worried it would be.

Then, I got a bit more adventurous and did some towels in the Apple Mango Tango.  And…I wasn’t AS pleased with it as I was with Original Scent.  It was a little too overwhelmingly sweet smelling for my liking.  But, if you’re someone who loves scented stuff, you’d probably enjoy it.  At least, I THINK you’d enjoy it.  I really wouldn’t know.

Anyway, the Gain people were kind enough to send me a bottle of Lavender Lilac Moment to try as well.   And try I did.  Almost as soon as it arrived at my door, I had my sheets stripped from my bed and in the washing machine.  In my world, there’s not much that’s better than getting into bed with clean, fresh smelling sheets.  And I was not let down.  It didn’t bring me back to my days of living in New York and smelling REAL Lilac (which is one of my favorite scents) but the detergent left a subtle hint of  flowery goodness on my sheets.  It was very relaxing, which is exactly what you want your sheets to be!

I have to say, I think I’m a Gain convert.  And it REALLY shocks me to say that.  The Original scent left my laundry with a crisp and refreshing scent, while the Lavender Lilac was perfectly soothing.  And, as I suppose you want from any laundry detergent, it CLEANED our clothes.  Which is REALLY important when you’ve got two boys running around and getting messy.

Plus, DJ’s happy because I’ve been doing laundry on a regular basis.  At least, more regular than my usual haphazard schedule.  :0)

Heather Says:

When we were approached by Gain to test their detergent, Meghan (of course) found something weird to worry about. I mean, this is the girl that worried about how WATER would taste. I know you all are expecting me to say, “and then I complained about having to do laundry!” but I didn’t. I actually LIKE doing laundry. I KNOW. I am a riddle wrapped in an enigma, slathered in secret sauce.

I was given two scents, Original and Lavender Lilac. I was all about trying the Lavender Lilac because I like it when things smell fresh and clean, like they were dried on a clothesline. I could tell as soon as I opened the bottle that I would like the smell. It didn’t disappoint - my clothes were left smelling really…CLEAN. I know that’s lame, but I like to put on a fresh shirt and smell the detergent scent on it. It makes me FEEL clean to smell something so nice all day.

I used the Original scent on Maddie’s clothes and sheets. I’ve been slowly phasing her out of the baby detergents, and the Original scent was perfect for her stuff - it still smelled nice without being TOO MUCH. Not that the Lavender Lilac is too much at ALL, but you never know what a baby will react to. Especially MY baby. I’m a little worried I have a mini-Meghan on my hands.

When I asked Mike if he liked the smell of the laundry, he actually TURNED AWAY from a basketball game long enough to look at me and say, “yeah.” If that isn’t a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is.

The Best Part:

If you head over to the Gain website right now, you can  hear an exclusive track from the self-proclaimed Gain fanatic (and ridiculously adorable) Mandy Moore.  PLUS, until April 15th, you can enter to win a concert by Mandy in your hometown!  All you have to do is share your “love at first sniff” moment!  The more entries from a particular area, the better chance you have of winning, so get your friends and family on the Gain boat and have them enter as well!  So- GO!  Get over there and enter!  And be sure to invite us over if  Mandy ends up performing in your town.

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Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?

Meghan Says:

I LOVE giving my kids cereal for breakfast.  It’s the perfect thing for me in the morning, because it doesn’t require a lot of work, they can eat it themselves and it’s nutritious.  At least, the cereal *I* buy is nutritious.  I don’t buy “sugared” cereal.  And unless my husband has been on a solo shopping trip recently, I don’t have “sugared” cereal around.

So when I was given the opportunity, much like Heather had before, to join the General Mills Blog Tour I was curious to see how I’d feel about the product.  And when a box of Cocoa Puffs Combos, Chocolate & Vanilla, arrived at my door, my  husband was excited to see how he’d feel about the product!

You see, as much as I don’t buy sugared cereals, I don’t buy sweets.  The occasional pack of cookies or brownies, or pint of ice cream, makes it’s way into the house, but I do my best to avoid buying it.  I just really don’t feel like we need the extra calories in our lives.  And if it’s not in the house, there’s not temptation to eat it.  Which means that my husband generally has cereal if he wants dessert.  And Cocoa Puffs are the PERFECT cereal for him and the boys to have at night.

It didn’t take long for him to break into the box and get a bowl.  And it didn’t take long for the boys to catch on to the fact that there was something to be gotten into.  Zach was in his lap in no time flat insisting on “sharing” and Dylan was immediately asking me for a bowl of his own.  They all thoroughly enjoyed it, as was evidenced by the fact that the entire box was gone in a matter of days.   Cocoa Puffs Combos contain a mixture of chocolate and vanilla puffs, for a super flavorful cereal.  Dylan had fun getting only chocolate or vanilla puffs with each spoonful and Zach, well, Zach ate whatever came his way.

And what I like most about it is that it’s fortified with a bunch of stuff that’s HEALTHY.  Like Calcium, Vitamin D, Iron and everybody’s favorite, Niacin.   And getting my kid’s extra calcium is always high on my list.  On the off chance we don’t get enough calcium from the copious amounts of cheese we consume, it’s good to know that we’re getting 25% of our daily recommended allowance from one bowl of cereal (with milk).   According to the Grow Up Strong website, tofu is a great source of calcium as well.  And believe me, Tofu isn’t making a strong showing in our diets anytime soon.  Or ever, really.  (Be sure to visit the Grow Up Strong site for more nutrition information and for a money saving coupon)

It’s also low in fat, so if I’m jonesing for something sweet, I’m not going to feel guilty having a bowl.  And, really, it only has 1.5 more grams of sugar than the other cereal we eat regularly, which, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t a whole heck of a lot.

I’ll definitely be buying Cocoa Puffs Combos again.  And we’ll be enjoying it for dessert on a regular basis - and as an occasional breakfast treat.  And I’ll feel good about buying “sugared” cereal that’s also good for us.

But shhh…don’t tell my kids.  I want them to think it’s something extra special!

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Corneille

Meghan Says:

There’s not any specific musical genre that I stick to.  My ITunes purchases range from country, to rap, to R&B, to Classical, to…well, The Cars Soundtrack.

So I was excited when Team Mom announced they were doing a Music Moms program.  It seemed like a great opportunity to hear more artists and expand my musical collection a bit more.  Because honestly, it’s a little pathetic. I mean, unlike SOME people, I’ve never worked in the music industry.  (I worked in the wine industry, though, and I’m patiently waiting for the day when Team Mom offers Wine up for a review).

Anyway, the first artist up for us to listen to is Corneille, with his new CD The Birth of Cornelius.  I have to say, my standards were set pretty high when they told us he was being compared to John Legend, Tracy Chapman and Marvin Gaye.  Those are some pretty high standards to live up to.

And I was pleasantly surprised when I finally popped the CD in and listened to it.  There’s definitely a jazzy kind of vibe going on, and I was bopping around my house like a mad woman while it was playing.  My favorite song from the CD is the first track, Back to Life.  It gets you grooving, and the lyrics are really sweet.  His song, I’ll Never Call You Home Again, about his native Rwanda is eye opening and heart wrenching.

It’s clear that Corneille writes from the heart, and there is a lot of emotion in what he sings.  He really has a soothing voice, so even if you’re not paying attention to the words, you’ll be sure to enjoy the sound.

He has an amazing life story (he was the only member of his family to escape Rwandan genocide in 1994) and, he’s pretty darn easy on the eyes, ladies.  You will soon be able to learn more about him, and gaze at photos, on his website.   For now, though, just check him out on ITunes.  You won’t be disappointed.

Heather Says:

As Meghan so subtly hinted, yes, I used to work in the music industry. I was in Artists and Repertoire, which is a fancy schmancy way to say that I was in the new artist department. So I have A LOT of experience listening to music. It was my job and all that.

I was interested to hear his music after reading a bit about him. Like Meghan mentioned, his entire family (parents & siblings) was wiped out Rwandan genocide. He was the only one that escaped - he was 17. He was born in Germany and spent seven years there before his family returned to Rwanda, after the Genocide he moved back there for three years. Then he went to Montreal for college. I was intrigued to hear how all these influences would effect his music.

His sound is very smooth, well-produced, easy to listen to. It’s the kind of album I would imagine being put on if one was cooking or having a dinner party. It’s got a distinct “chill-out” vibe to it. His song lyrics vary from the sublime (”last time I saw you/you were stripping me of/anyone and anything that was mine/that’s how I remember you” from I’ll Never Call You Home Again) to the silly (”Now I’m drinking my days and crying my nights away/I got about a million contacts in my iPhone and no unread messages today” from Liberation), but the melodies are well-crafted and full of hooks.

It’s not my kind of music, but I still appreciated his talent. However, considering how popular Cornielle is all over the world, I’d say a lot other people enjoy listening to his silky voice again and again. Be sure to check him out on iTunes so you can decide for yourself!

Giveaway!

We are lucky enough to have a CD to give away to one lucky winner!  Simply leave a comment here letting us know what your favorite “after hours” music is.  In other words, when the house is quiet, and you’ve got an after dinner cocktail or glass of wine, what music are you sure to pop into the CD player first?

Contest runs until 12 Noon on Tuesday, March 31st.  Open only to US Residents.  We will choose a winner randomly from all eligible entries.  To earn an extra entry, subscribe to our feed.  You can also earn one extra entry per day by Tweeting about this contest.  Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!

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HINT Water

Meghan Says:

If you’ve been around here before, you might remember the last time we reviewed water.

And I outed myself as a water snob.

But what I didn’t share with you is the fact that I can’t stand flavored waters.  I HATE taking a sip of water and having it taste sweet.

Really…I won’t touch anything to my lips that’s supposed to be water that has a touch of sweetness.  Ewww.

Which is precisely why I was excited when the folks at HINT Water told me about their product.

It’s water that’s lightly flavored without any sweetner, preservatives or calories.

And I’m happy to say that when I first, hesitantly, took a sip I was VERY pleasantly surprised.

I started with the Tropical Fruit.  A nice, ice cold glass that totally hit the spot.

But then I had an idea.  A BRILLIANT idea.

I made a pitcher of iced tea, and I used the remaining half bottle of Tropical Punch HINT to add some flavor.

And it was delicious.  Absolutely delicious.

I also had a bottle of Honeydew Hibiscus, which was equally delicious.

Both waters had a slightly sweet aftertaste, but it wasn’t anything overwhelming, or anything that turned me off on it at all.

Dylan tried it and declared it to be “yummy”.  That’s high praise from a picky 4 year-old.

I will DEFINITELY be adding HINT to my list of preferred beverages.  And with so many amazing flavors I can’t wait to try more!

I think I’m going to start with Raspberry-Lime.  Or maybe Blackberry…

GIVEAWAY!!!

In honor of National Nutrition Month, HINT is offering a case of water to one lucky Hot Mom Review’s Reader!  That means YOU!

To enter, simply head over to the HINT website and check out what flavors are available by the case.  Leave a comment here letting us know what flavor you’d like to win.

You can earn an extra entry three ways:

1. Subscribe to our feed
2. Follow us on Twitter
3. Tweet about this contest -  Drink Water?  Win a case of HINT flavored water from @HotMomReviews http://tinyurl.com/HMRHINTGiveaway #HINTGiveaway   (You can tweet once per day for the duration of the contest.  Please be sure to leave a link to your tweet)

Contest is open to US Residents only and will run until Tuesday, March 17th at 12pm Pacific time.  We will randomly choose a winner from all eligible comments at that time.  Please be sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Winner will be notified via email and will have until Thursday, March 19th to send us their shipping information.  If we haven’t heard from the winner by the 20th, we will pick another winner.

GOOD LUCK!

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Protect A Bed - Pillow Protectors…and MORE!

Meghan Says:

SO-  In case you weren’t already aware, today is March 9th.

And in case you already knew that little bit of enlightening info, today is also National Napping Day.

Yes.  Seriously.  We have a National Napping Day.

The ONLY (not really) country in the world that doesn’t recognize the beauty of a daily Siesta decides to honor the nap with it’s very own Day O’Celebration.

Awesome.

What’s also funny about today being National Napping Day is the fact that *I* could have TOTALLY used a nap today.  But I didn’t get one.

That’s probably more ironic than funny, but it’s getting late and I’m tired.

So VERY tired.

Anyway, the awesome folks over at Protect A Bed want to celebrate National Napping Day with all of you.

But they want to do it in an…interesting, and disgusting, way.  They want to tip their hats to the droolers of the world.

(That means you, Heather.)

And because I love you all so much, I’m going to share with you the interesting…and disgusting…information they shared with me:

While for many Americans, a great nap often ends with a giant puddle of drool on the pillow, it doesn’t have to end with allergens and bacteria breeding inside of it. In honor of the naptime drooler on this National Napping Day, Protect-A-Bed is showcasing its pillow protector line and making the case for a more sanitary napping environment.

Studies abound tout the benefits of napping, from enhancing memory and learning, to improving work performance, and increasing mental acuity and overall health. That’s why on the first Monday after daylight saving time begins, when the majority of Americans lose one precious hour of sleep, it’s fitting to celebrate the benefits of the nap and those who take them.

On this National Napping Day, Protect-A-Bed has chosen to salute the most magnificent of our napping species: the drooler. Droolers are particularly special because they fall into such a wonderful napping slumber that a puddle of drool is the inevitable result. A salute to the drooler is a salute to great napping.

While their naps are superb, many naptime droolers feel a bit of embarrassment about leaving spots on the outside of the pillow upon waking from glorious slumber, but it’s what’s happening inside of the pillow that’s more of a concern. The average pillow is a veritable Petri dish of allergens, dust mites and bacteria. The drooler often compounds the problem by introducing extra moisture to the pillow. The warm, moist environment offers the perfect haven for allergens and bacteria to grow.

Sleeping on pillows filled with allergens and bacteria exacerbate allergy problems, as you inevitably breathe in the toxins, whether you’re taking a 20-minute restorative nap or getting eight hours of sleep.

Luckily, droolers and people with allergies can give a sigh of relief, because it doesn’t have to be that way. Pillow protectors, like those offered by Protect-A-Bed, create an allergy-free sleep zone and prevent allergens, dust mites, bacteria and moisture from getting into a pillow.

And because I KNOW you want me to repeat it, I’ll say it again:

…it’s what’s happening inside of the pillow that’s more of a concern. The average pillow is a veritable Petri dish of allergens, dust mites and bacteria. The drooler often compounds the problem by introducing extra moisture to the pillow. The warm, moist environment offers the perfect haven for allergens and bacteria to grow.

YES. You. Are. Welcome.

The beauty of the Protect A Bed website is that it is chock FULL of mattress protectors, crib protectors and pillow protectors. And after reading THAT little bit of information, I KNOW you’re adding “pillow protectors” to your list of items to pick up.

And since you’re here, I’m assuming you’re a mom, in which case you KNOW the beauty of mattress and crib protector’s.

I actually knew a guy in College who drooled like nobody’s business. It was disgusting.  I can only HOPE he has discovered the beauty of Protect A Bed’s pillow covers and has bought stock in the company.

Giveaway!!!

Protect A Bed has generously donated THREE sets of pillow protector’s to readers of Hot Mom Reviews!  Awesome, right?

To enter, simply pop over to Protect A Bed’s website and tell us what product you’d find most useful.  For an additional entry, please subscribe to our website, so you’re continuously updated on the awesome stuff we talk about!  PLUS, tweet about this contest for one more entry each day.  That’s a total of 8 possible entries per person! Just be sure to leave a comment with the direct link to your tweet.

That’s THREE easy ways to enter!

Only one winner per household will be chosen.  Open only to US Resident’s.  Contest runs until Monday, March 16th at 12pm Pacific Time.

GOOD LUCK!

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