Jabra Sport Review and Giveaway

A few months ago I was contacted on behalf of Jabra a company I hadn't heard of but quickly learned produced " handsfree and corded communication solutions" to demo their latest in mobile fitness equipment.

I was immediately intrigued because as you know, I'm on what feels like the never ending quest to get fit and will try just about anything to help me get there. No wait. Scratch that. I'm not a proponent of fly by night junk that promises overnight results. I am however a fan of things that make my run and/or workout seem less like a chore. Like music. Nothing gets me going better than hot beats or pulse pounding electronica during a workout.

Up until I was contacted, I'd been working with music via my phone played through your standard corded headset. Which? Ok,fine it works - but there are those times when I'm bouncing and the cord bounces and then it gets tangled or worse yet becomes detached and then I have to stop to plug it back in and uggh, that kind of irritates me. But I dealt with it because? What else could I do ?

Enter the Jabra Sport a cordless headset that works through bluetooth technology and allows you to play music and take calls while working out. Let me say that again. It's cordless. I know. Cool right ? I slap on those earpieces, the cord remains behind my head and out of the way, then I turn on the music and ride (run/workout) like the wind (uh excuse the cheesy 80s song reference).

Seriously though, I have been using my Jabra sport for a few months now and can say without hesitation that I am in deep deep love. It's completely easy to use, stays charged for up to 4.5 hours at a time, allows you to control volume and song selection from the earpiece and most importantly does none of the aforementioned things that,now that I have this gem, can say kinda drove me batty. The cord is ridiculously strong so even someone like me who is rough on things can't break that sucker. I'm told it's military grade.

I may never go corded again.

The Jabra Sport retails for about $90 on Amazon but if you want to check one out for yourself go here and enter to win a Sport, a carrying case for the sport, an armband and a free download of the fitness tracker app Endomondo. C'mon. You know you want to enter.

Disclosure* Opinions are my own. I was given a Jabra Sport cordless headset to facilitate this review.

Untitled and Random

I need to write something, I keep telling myself over and over again. Yet, when I come to this space I don't write anything.

I don't know why this space, this space that used to be so important has become so neglected. I'm not really any busier than I was when I started blogging (which is to say I'm always busy but not busier). There are plenty of events I want to write about- I just, I don't know...

So I decided I'd update you on random pieces of my life in hopes that it will stir something in me that makes me want to come back here and post as frequently as I did before.

Here goes:

Weight loss and fitness quest continues. I'm still doing bootcamp but I haven't met my goals. This frustrates me greatly

Work,Work and more work. Oh and to top that off I'm planning a few events for the twins school and the next family reunion for like 8 bazillion people. IKNOW! What was I thinking ?

TomGirl, my oldest stepdaughter, turned 18 in March and is dating a 24 year old. This!? Also frustrates me. He's a nice enough guy, but frankly he's too dang old. She's waaaaay to into him and I fear she's going to get her heart stomped

GT, my youngest stepdaughter, can't stay out of trouble.

The twins started school and are doing fairly well. But me? I hate 3rd grade math

The hubby has a new gas powered RC car hobby which is going to cause us to go broke

Alright,it's not all bad( I'm just very very good at whining)

Managed to hit a few parties with some friends I haven't seen in a while and throw the hubby a super spectacular 40th birthday soiree.

While I haven't reached my goal weight I am noticing I've lost inches which of
course means new wardrobe. So there's been shopping. Which? Makes me so happy

Lastly, for the very random but completely crazy:

Remember a while back I talked about how obsessed I get about planning my kids birthday parties ? Well, I am not alone. And I'm not as crazed as I thought I was.

This past weekend my daughter, J and I went to GirlFest which is essentially a day for girls with activities, performances and vendor booths sponsored by Girl Scouts. In any event, we visited a party planning booth which had me over the moon because it was hip and fresh- And someone else to do the work for me? Love it!

But upon asking the owner for a general price, I found that a (rock star) party for 8 girls was $820. "We can work within your budget and don't have to include everything" the owner said. Yeah, maybe I wouldn't need all those technical consultants for the lighting (Whattheeverlovingeff ?)
I.There.are.no.words. I just want to know who pays that?

So there you go.

Random and untitled.

We camped, we saw, we kicked...

A few posts ago, I talked about our upcoming summer camping plans and how I was thrilled to be able to go on said trips and partake of some much needed R & R. Well my friends, I've now done as I planned and let me tell you both trips were fantastic-just as I'd hoped.

But for the purposes of this post, let's focus on the last trip that my family and I took courtesy of Go Camping America. After much research (because, let me tell you, they have tons of wonderful resorts to chose from)I decided Maple Grove Resort would be the best location for our family.
It wasn't too far, they have cabins (as much as I'd like to have my very own RV. I don't. Yet.) an indoor pool (which for this crazy Washington weather is a GODSEND), a clubhouse, children's playground, children's rec room, you name it they had it. So we headed off on a Saturday, got there in record time and as luck would have it were treated to good weather.

Check in was a breeze, the staff incredibly friendly and can I say that we absolutely LOVED our cabin? It was seriously more than we expected. I've done remote tent camping and "rustic" cabin camping and these cabins seemed like luxury accomodations-as far as cabins go. I guess what I'm trying to say is that they were positively adorable and stocked with everything we could possibly need. The only thing we brought were linens and grub. It was that easy.

Activities were plentiful including my first time ever playing "card bingo" (played with a deck of playing cards). Best of all, the public bathrooms and areas were immaculate. Yes, we had a bathroom in our cabin but frankly we weren't in there that much and it was nice to know that all of the other facilities were completely clean!

I can't say enough about how much fun we had - including snipe hunting at dark...which was also a first for me. Thank goodness my husband is a more experienced camper and can share these "traditions" with our kids.

Here, take a look for yourself: I've uploaded a short video of our time at Maple Grove and entered it in Go Camping America's Not Bummer Summer Contest. You too can upload a short video of your family vacation at any of their resorts for a chance to win the grand prize of a 7 day RV trip (RV rental included) to any of their parks. But if you don't plan on that , would you consider favoriting (adding it to your favorites) this on YouTube for me. That's how I win.

And if you can't be bothered to watch the whole thing (although,gah, it's only 2 minutes and 38 seconds) skip to the end. My son will show you some moves that will have you howlin.

Smooches!

And then I almost died...

So at the ripe old age of 38 I have...hip problems. Inorite!? I didn't expect this for at least 40 more years or... never.

But so it is. And it's derailed my hot body/fitness plans enough so that I went to the doctor to make sure I wouldn't need to be the youngest hip replacement candidate ever.

Things were going along swimmingly for a while, meaning I was sitting by myself waiting for the doctor, when he reappeared to examine my x-ray. Initially, he told me everything looked fine. Then I saw it. It looked like a golfball right in the middle of my pelvis.

"What's that?" I asked in a shaky voice thinking it's a tumor and I'd be dead in 10 minutes

"Hmm,are you constipated? Sometimes stool balls can look like that"

"Uh no, I'm uh very regular" I said partially amused but mostly embarassed

"When's the last time you saw your GYN? You really should have that looked at"

And that's when I knew death was imminent. In that fraction of a second I'd diagnosed myself with everything from a malignant tumor to,well,everything unmentionable and horrible.

I managed to tell him that I see my OB-regularly and wondered why they wouldn't have caught something so gargantuan.

"I can't say...but"

Then it hit me "Well I have fibroids, but my OB's office checks them regularly since I have a family history of fibroids and related surgeries"

"Could one of them be calcified?"

I quickly remembered that I'd been told shortly after I had the twins that one of them had calcified and thus was no longer in danger of growing and causing problems. Upon sharing that news with the Doc, he clicked in the corner on the radiologist's notes and read "patient has 2cm calcified fibroid"

"2 cm. Why does it look so large?"

And then Doc fuckup measures the golfball and confirms it's indeed 2cm.

"Yep, I geuss that's what it is then"

Cue me, mouth open, ready to box "Um we could have just read the notes and done this before and saved me the worry" (nervous chuckle)

"Yeah, I guess we could have" (authentic chuckle from Dr Fuckup)

It was at that moment that I pulled the razor blade from my hair and promptly cut him. Ok, not really. I really just wiped the sweat from my brow and breathed a sigh of relief.

But, if there was ever a moment I wanted to roll gangster style and do something like that it certainly would have been then.

Yeehaw, Summer (and Camping!) here we come!

I told you all last year how much I look forward to summer and the freedom from homework. And fortunately, that time my friends, is upon us again.

I must tell you, I feel like dancing. So what's on tap for my family you might ask? Paris, Rome, Greece - you know your typical whirlwind trip around the world wining and dining it at 4 star restaurants of course.

Alright so maaaybe not...

But the fam and I do have a few trips planned. Camping in Cali in just a few weeks for the hubs' family reunion and while to some that may sound all "meh", I have the bestest,craziest, funnest in laws ever that are deservering of made up words to describe their funocity. So there.

And more camping! Yay! I mean who doesn't love camping? Enjoying nature,swimming, hiking, relaxing, cooking over a campfire and telling scary stories. Not to mention -when you have a family of up to 6 at times the expense makes perfect sense.

Y'all care to join me? This month is national Go Camping month and the folks at Go Camping America want you to do just that. To help you do so, they've introduced their 'Get Outdoors & Go Camping America..It's Easy! promotion.

Go here for great discounts including 20% off stays at any of their parks (nationwide),discounts for Camping World, Coleman Products and El Monte RVs! Hurry as these discounts are only good through 6/25.


And lastly, they've teamed up with the kids movie, Judy Moody to sponsor the 'Not Bummer Summer Go Camping America Video Contest'. They're encouraging families who take advantage of the discounted camping to capture their experience on film for a chance to win a grand prize RV camping vacation getaway! For more info on that portion of the campaign click here

And hey,meet me at the campfire. I'm told I make a mean s'more.

*Disclosure-My family receives a trip at one of the above parks in consideration of the above promotion

And this is why I have a "mommy" blog

Ok, ok if we're getting technical, this blog is not even close to being a "mommy" blog. It's not that I mind that title necessarily. I just think it's a misnomer or mis categorization as this blog isn't so much parenting stories as it is the rants and raves of a woman that just happens to be a parent.

That said, I'm owning the title "mommyblogger" today because I couldn't not share this amusing kid tale:

Both my husband and I have been working furiously over the last several weeks to help my son,B master all the acheivements he must complete to earn his wolf badge and advance to the next level of scouts. The activities run the gamut from discussion of cooperation and courage to the more physical such as hiking and sports.

It's been a challenge, in part because B hasn't really wanted to focus on some of the tasks at hand but also because B's mommy and daddy have been known to slack every now and again.

*Ahem*

Yesterday, the task at hand was to discuss bicycle safety. B and I went through a series of questions all of which he answered with ease.

What do we always wear when we ride a bike ? "A helmet" .

What do we do before getting on our bike ? "Do a check to make sure nothing is broken and that all parts are working".

And then I asked him " What do we watch out for in the street?"

"Crack and herrion" he said

I looked over at my husband for some help to clarify who these people crack and herrion were that he was referring to. He looked just as confused as I was.

I looked again at my child and asked "What?"

"Crack and herrion" he said

Still perplexed, I started to probe a little bit more when his sister J all of a sudden says

"He means crack and heroin. You know street drugs"

"Oh yeah heroin" my son says

I looked at my husband and laughed until tears came from my eyes, stopping only for a moment to tell my son he was exactly right and that yes he should watch out for crack and heroin on the streets. But what I was referring to was his need to watch out for cars and other people.

"Oh" he said "yeah that"

And through my belly laughs I again reassured him his answer was right on but that I was looking for something else in that context.

Although I'm pretty sure we couldn't finish up after that.

And I would just like to thank the school district for teaching my children about street drugs and to "Just say No"

but mostly for the huge, gigantic belly laugh

Today, I wax nostalgic

It was eight years ago today that my life was forever changed. At 12:38 and 12:40 I laid my eyes upon two of the most beautiful babies that would quickly steal my heart and make it full. To my son B, and my daughter J, I love you more than words can say.

Happy Birthday, my loves!