Week 4 of the Omron Fitness Challenge by Mamavation has begun and so far I am still only down 8 lbs for the entire challenge. I didn’t lose any weight this last week (partially because I hurt my knee snowboarding). That is disappointing but I am still motivated to keep going until the twitter party for the Omron Fitness Challenge. That is when our final “after” weight counts for the contest for most weight lost. Of course, I will continue trying to lose weight even after that as I will not be at my goal weight by then. I am hoping to be able to lose maybe another 12 pounds and be down 20 pounds by the end of the challenge. I will still have a ways to go but being down 20 pounds will be really motivating.

We received our strapless heart rate monitors from Omron this weekend. The strapless heart rate monitor makes it so the tracking is all in the wrist and there is no annoying chest strap to worry about. I have not had a chance to use it yet but I have tried it on and it is comfortable. I have been enjoying my Omron HJ-323U USB pedometer and  510W scale. They have been helping me keep on track with my weight loss goals.

Features of the  Strapless Heart Rate Monitor HR500U:
• No Chest Strap— Just put it on your wrist and you’re ready to go
• Heart rate—Receive continuous monitoring of your heart rate
• Pace & Distance—Accurately tracks pace & distance during a run or walk
• Calories—Tracks calories burned during your workout
• Color LCD Heart Rate Zone Alert—Programmable zones warn you if you’re too high or too low with a simple, easy to read color
• Software – Upload data to your personal dashboard on www.OmronFitness.com with a USB cable
• Clock—Automatically resets; start with a clean slate each day
• Timer
• Backlight
• Water Resistant
• Rechargeable Battery
• Washable/Breathable wrist strap—Lightweight strap for added comfort

Here is my “Before” and “After” picture, and measurements. I have a long way to go but I can tell a difference so far.

BEFORE:                                       AFTER:

• Bust: 45″                                   43.25″
• Waist: 41.5″                             39.75″
• Belly Button: 47.5″              46.25″
• Hips: 47.5″                              46.5″
• Right Thigh: 30″                    29.25″
• Left Thigh: 29.5″                    29″
• Right Arm: 14.25″                 14.5″
• Left Arm: 14.75″                    14.5″
• Neck: 14.75″                            14.5″

Omron Fitness and Mamavation are having a twitter party with the 25 bloggers included in the challenge and we would love for you to join us!

Who: Omron Fitness & Mamavation
When: Wednesday, February 20th
Time: 8-10pm EST (6-8pm MST)
Hashtag: #iheartOmron
Theme: Workout SMARTER instead of longer

More Details, Giveaway Prizes, and RSVP Form can be Found HERE!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored Omron Fitness as a collaboration with Bookieboo Blogging Network and Mamavation – a community dedicated to weight loss for women and obesity prevention for families. I was provided with product and compensation for my time and honest opinions.

Week 3 of the Omron Fitness Challenge by Mamavation has begun and so far I am down 8 lbs for the entire challenge. That is not what I was hoping for by now but I am still excited about the 8 lbs. That is 4 lbs a week which is healthy weight loss at least.

This post is very late in the day. That was an accident, but I did go night boarding tonight at Sundance again, and I am happy to report that I felt much more mobile and loose tonight. I even tried a jump. Okay I went over it three times but on the last time I did get a little air. Snowboarding after having kids has always felt different to me. Tonight was the first night that I can remember that I actually felt really comfortable snowboarding since having kids. I carved down the mountain instead of riding one of my edges down the whole way and burning my quads out lol.

I am excited to progress in my snowboarding skills as I get more practice and more in shape. This week is going to be very busy! I wish I could just wake up and pack my baby up and take her for a walk to get my 10,000 steps in but it’s so cold here I would feel horrible bringing her out in that. I will just have to figure it out. I have never felt this busy in my entire life. It’s strange. I kind of like it. That is a new feeling for me. I used to hate being busy. I guess I like the faster pace.

I have forgotten my  Omron pedometer a couple days on accident but I am loving it, and my new scale.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored Omron Fitness as a collaboration with Bookieboo Blogging Network and Mamavation – a community dedicated to weight loss for women and obesity prevention for families. I was provided with product and compensation for my time and honest opinions.

Well week 1 of the Omron Fitness Challenge has come and gone, and though I have lost a little more weight, I have realized that this takes a little more adjusting to than I thought, and I am definitely going to step up my game for week 2. I have struggled to get 10,000 steps in on any of the week 1 days. The highest I got was a little over 6,600. I thought all the walking I did at school would definitely add up considering I have to walk across campus and up stairs multiple times through out my schedule. Plus the walking to and from my car. I even went snowboarding and that only gave me like 1,000 steps :-/. I guess I really don’t leave my house enough. I keep seeing some people getting 15,000 steps a day. I guess all I can do is compare me to myself and do better than last time. I don’t have a gym membership so that makes it hard to get some cardio in when it’s like 15 degrees outside. However, my mother in law has a gym at her workplace and I am allowed to work out there as long as she is there, so I will start doing that tomorrow. I have to sign a document to use it and I don’t have it yet, so today I just played Just Dance on the Wii to try and get some cardio in for the day.

Mamavation is hosting this Omron Fitness Challenge and I am really enjoying being in the Facebook group for the challenge as well as the support from the Mamavation community. It helps keep me on track and inspires me to do better. I need to start reminding myself this every morning:

Disclosure: This post is sponsored Omron Fitness as a collaboration with Bookieboo Blogging Network and Mamavation – a community dedicated to weight loss for women and obesity prevention for families. I was provided with product and compensation for my time and honest opinions.

Well, today is the first day of the #iHeartOmron Fitness challenge hosted by Mamavation. I am very excited to start. I have actually already been working on losing weight a little and I am currently down three pounds since I applied to be an Omron Ambassador. Last week I went snowboarding up at Sundance twice. Also I have a lot of walking and stair climbing to do at school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have been trying to implement the Lean Moms program into my daily life. I’m trying to use that meal plan and those workouts. It is difficult to start something like this when you are so used to not exercising and not caring what you eat.

I have not received my Omron pedometer or scale yet, but I am excited to get those and sync up with the Omron Dashboard to help track my goals and progress. New trinkets and shoes are always helpful in motivating me to try them out and I am getting both. I bought some super cute Nike shoes to workout in. I am in love with them. See how cute they are??

I will let you know next week how much I have lost. This week I will be kicking it into high gear. Our daily goal is to take 10,000 steps. I really want to win one of the top prizes of this challenge, and reach my likely unrealistic goal of losing 20-30 pounds in 30 days

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Omron Fitness as a collaboration with Bookieboo Blogging Network and Mamavation – a community dedicated to weight loss for women and obesity prevention for families. I was provided with product and compensation for my time and honest opinions.

Grandway makes fabulous vintage inspired hostess kitchen and cooking aprons created in different styles to flatter every woman’s figure. All of them are so fun and flirty! I had a hard time choosing between them, but I chose to review the “Sophia” apron. I forgot to snag a picture of myself cooking in the apron but the model is showing you the types of things I cook in the apron. You don’t have to cook fancy things to look fancy

These aprons cover really well and I really like the large pocket in the front of my apron. They are also really comfortable! If you go on the Grandway website you will see that they don’t only sell aprons. They also have other cool products like oven mitts and matching hot pads. They have designer brooms, adorable “gloveables” AND magnetic key finders. I really want one of those! They have some super cute designs. I think everyone needs one of these magnetic key finders

Everything on on the Grandway website is super stylish and affordable and make excellent gifts so enter the giveaway and check out their other products!

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Grandway has generously provided me with my Sophia apron to review and an extra one to give away to one of my readers. You can enter the giveaway below on the Rafflecopter widget. (If you can not see the widget for some reason then click on the Rafflecopter link and it will take you to the widget if needed.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In December I applied to be an ambassador for Omron Fitness through Mamavation. Omron Fitness was selecting 25 bloggers to participate in their #iHeartOmron Fitness Challenge. I wasn’t sure if I would be selected. Turns out there were almost 600 applicants, but this last Friday I found out that I  was chosen to do the challenge! I am very excited to participate in this. I have gained a lot of weight over the past year and a half. Well most of the weight I want off was gained in the past year and a half, but I have not been down to my goal weight since before my son, Noah, was born and he is 5-years-old!!!

Omron Fitness will be providing their  HJ-323U connected pedometer, their new 510W Scale, and later in the challenge the new Strapless Heart Rate Monitor (HR-5ooU), for the 25 bloggers. I am actually really excited to receive these products. They will definitely help me stay on track for my weight loss goals. The pedometer and strapless heart rate monitor sync up with the Omron Fitness Dashboard to help track our numbers. The challenge will officially start on January 13th and will end on February 10th. Right before my 30th birthday on the 15th. I am trying to lose as much weight as possible before then so I am starting today and will continue on with the challenge next week. I am hoping to be down 20 lbs by my 30th birthday, but will continue using the  pedometer, awesome scale, and the strapless heart rate monitor long after the challenge because I really want to lose about 70-80 lbs! Man that seems like so much! But I am really trying now. Before I never really committed to eating right and exercising which, of course, is why I weigh this much in the first place, but now it is definitely time to shed this weight.

The person who loses the most weight and participates a lot will win $500 and 2nd and 3rd place will each receive $250. So there is even more incentive to work hard at this. For my 10-year anniversay present I am getting a season pass to Sundance and I got some new snowboard clothes since I can’t fit into the ones I own, sadly. These clothes are so big that after I shrink back out of them, Rob can use them At least that….

So wish me luck on my weight loss journey. You know I am going to need it with a soda-drinking husband like Rob ;P

Omron Fitness on Facebook

Mamavation on Facebook

Keeping Up With M.O.M. on Facebook

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Omron Fitness as a collaboration with Bookieboo Blogging Network and Mamavation – a community dedicated to weight loss for women and obesity prevention for families. I was provided with product and compensation for my time and honest opinions.

Since the Mayan calendar suggests that December 21, 2012 is the end of the world, I’m sure there are plenty disaster “preppers” that are looking for a survival kit or possibly food storage. This is a fun emergency kit that also includes some social and mental survival tools. Even though this kit doesn’t include anything for self defense, Prepared to Survive LLC does offers several types of emergency preparedness tools, including pepper spray and lip stick stun guns!  :)

Prepare to Survive LLC has generously provided a Guardian Food Storage Survival Kit (a $250 value) to giveaway to one of my readers. They are also offering all of you a 10% discount off your entire order. Just use the code GIVEAWAY10 at checkout. Also, when you make a purchase Prepare to Survive gives a portion of their proceeds to a charity called Sahbu, which feeds and educates children in Africa. So if you are trying to prepare for the end of the world, or the “Zombie Apocalypse”, or any type of natural disaster then enter to win this awesome food storage survival kit below.

**********GIVEAWAY**********

(The rafflecopter widget does not allow mobile entries, so please enter using a computer. If you can not see the widget please click on the “a Rafllecopter giveaway” link below and it will take you there. Giveaway will run until 12:00 am on 12/27/2012. US residents only. Must be 18 or older. Winner will be contacted by email and has 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen)

This Long Term Food Storage Essentials Kit has all of the food and supplies you will need to keep you safe for an extended period of time. There are 44 Long Term Food Storage Meals in this kit that will feed 1 Person for 14 days or 2 People for 1 Week. It is all packaged in our large Hikers Backpack.

This kit contains the following:

Food and Water: The food and water in this kit will comfortably provide you with adequate nutrition for 72-hours without access to additional supplies. These products have a 5 year shelf life.
11 Cook in the Pouch Meals with a total of 44 meals:

• 28 – Lunch/Dinner Servings
o Stroganoff – 4 Servings (1 Pouch)
o Creamy Chicken Pasty – 4 Servings (1 Pouch)
o Cheesy Lasagna – 4 Servings (1 Pouch)
o Chicken Teriyaki – 4 Servings (1 Pouch)
o Chicken Ala King – 4 Servings (1 Pouch)
o Southwest Bean & Rice (1 Pouch)
o Beef Teriyaki – 4 Servings (1 Pouch)
• 16 – Breakfast Servings
o Honey Glazed Granola – 8 Servings (2 Pouches)
o Multi-Grain Cereal – 4 Servings (1 Pouch)
o Brown Sugar Oatmeal – 4 Servings (1 Pouch)

24 oz. Water Filtration bottle

Light and Communications:In the event of a power outage caused by you’ll have independent access to your own means of lighting and communication with the outside world.
Dynamo 4-in-1 Radio Flashlight
Waterproof Matches

Shelter and Warmth:These supplies will provide protection from outside weather forces. They will protect you from wind, sun, rain, and many other conditions you may encounter.
2 Mylar Emergency Sleeping Bags

Tools:These items are designed to be useful in disaster situations. They will be a valuable resource when you find yourself faced with navigation, transport, personal protection, or shelter troubles.
Portable Cooking Stove (includes 8 Fuel Tablets)
Steel Fork, Knife, & Spoon Chow Kit
16 oz Steel Cup
Pair of Leather Palm Work Gloves
2 Infectious Waste Bags

Hygiene and Sanitation: When in a disaster situation it is useful to have access to hygiene products. Staying clean can protect against infection, disease, and depression.
3 Packs of Pocket Tissues

First Aid: These first aid items can assist with minor injuries and protect against serious health concerns in disaster circumstances.
37 Piece Pocket First Aid Kit

Other: These items are useful for stress relief and activity in strenuous or challenging circumstances.
Deck of Standard Playing Cards
Note Pad
Golf Pencil

Emergency Survival Kit Information:
This Long Term Food Storage Essentials Survival Kit was designed using advice from experts in the emergency preparedness industry. It follows guidelines given by government agencies and non-profit preparedness organizations.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided with a Guardian Food Storage Survival Kit to review. All opinions are my own.

I saw this on someone else’s Facebook page and thought I would share. This poem is written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA,  and I unfortunately do not know who the artist of the artwork is.

Twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“this is heaven.” declared a small boy. “we’re spending Christmas at
God’s house.”
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!”
“may this country be delivered from the hands of fools”
“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“come now my children, let me show you around.”
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

I actually have had a lot of fun playing the new Monster High Skultimate Roller Maze Wii game, with Maddie (8-years-old) and Noah (5-years-old).  In this video game you can play up to 3 players. It does not split the screen into 3 separate screens though. The person playing “first-player” starts the race off and when their energy runs out they select one of the other players to take over for them until their energy runs out. That continues until the race is finished. It promotes teamwork and teaches your child patience lol. It is kind of exciting waiting to see if you are going to be selected next, and you have to be ready. My daughter was playing it with her friends and it took them a little getting used to with having to take turns but they eventually got used to it and were able to enjoy it. In “Relay” mode each player gets a full lap to themselves instead of taking turns within a lap.

Maddie’s favorite part of the game is that the characters each have their own personalized special move. Her favorite character from the Monster High movie and cartoons is Clawdeen wolf, but she likes Frankie Stein best in the Monster High Wii game because, “she’s cute, she’s easy to play, and her special move, ‘Electric Kiss’, is cool.” Maddie said that she wished there were more maps to unlock. There are three different levels of difficulty that give you more maps as the difficulty gets higher. You can unlock and choose from more Monster High characters than is shown on the cover. Monster High characters that are included in the game are: Draculaura, Frankie Stein, Clawdeen Wolf, Lagoona Blue, Abbey Bominable, Rochelle Goyle, Operetta, Robecca Steam, Heath burns, Gil Webber, Deuce Gorgon, and Clawd Wolf. This game also is offered for Nintendo DS. For more info and a video about the game go to http://monsterhighvideogame.com

Aside from reviewing the new Monster High Wii game, I was also able to review two of Mattel’s new Apptivity Monster High figurines for the iPad. We reviewed Frankie Stein and Draculaura. Maddie was really excited to receive all these new Monster High things for her birthday! Maddie says Frankie Stein has cool quests and magnet things stick to her and she turns stuff on and off with her electricity, and Draculaura’s mini games are fun and she likes it when she has to find the little monsters. But she likes Frankie best on this game too. I find that interesting because Frankie is one of her least favorites in the movies and cartoon episodes lol.

TWO WAYS TO PLAY!

1)Use your Apptivity™ Monster High™ figure to unearth a creepy cool adventure tailor-made for whatever figure you’re playing with!
2)Even if you don’t have an Apptivity™ Monster High™ figure you can still access the first chapter of each ghoul’s adventure using finger-play! After Chapter 1 you’ll have to play with the appropriate Apptivity™ Monster High™ figure to access the rest of the story.

Each figure has a unique special ability that will help you find clues and complete her adventure:

•Frankie Stein™ – zaps new life into objects with her electric touch!
•Draculaura™ – hangs from the ceiling and turns clues upside down with her bat’s-eye view!
•Clawdeen Wolf™ – sniffs out suspicious scents with her nose tuned for trouble!
•Lagoona Blue™ – peers through murky water with her “deep see” vision!

Collect all the Apptivity™ Monster High™ Finders Creepers™ figures: Frankie Stein™, Draculaura™, Clawdeen Wolf™ and Lagoona Blue™.

**********Giveaway**********

The rafflecopter widget does not allow mobile entries, so please enter using a computer. If you can not see the widget please click on the “a Rafllecopter giveaway” link below and it will take you there.

Monster High Skultimate Roller Maze Wii Game(2) &

Mattel’s Apptivity Monster High Frankie Stein Figurine(1)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was provided with a Monster High Skultimate Roller Maze Wii game to review and two to give away, by the developer, Little Orbit. I was also provided Frankie Stein, and Draculaura Apptivity Figurines to review by Mattel, and one Frankie Stein figurine to giveaway. All opinions of these products are mine and were not swayed by the brands that provided the product.

Last night at about 10pm (which is when all good mothers send their children out into the cold) Maddie and Auntie Kathleen decided to build a snowman in the backyard. I was quite surprised at how large they were able to get it. They found a bucket for his top hat and a lovely….blue rope for his scarf, and apparently Maddie wanted to have the snowman’s tongue sticking out. Nice.

          My kids, Maddie and Noah love playing all kinds of video games. One of their favorite things to do online is play their Jumpeez on  Jumpstart.com. They LOVE exploring all the areas it has and playing all sorts of educational games.

          Jumpstart.com has incorporated a new part to it’s map. Right in the middle of Main Street they have added a zoo with all our favorite characters from Dream Works’ Madagascar movies. My kids were so excited to go try out the new area. Now you can stop by to say hi and play with Gloria, Melman, Marty, Alex and the penguins.

          Located between StoryLand and Windy Hollows, is Madagascar Preschool Surf and Slide, an interactive game featuring baby versions of the Madagascar characters. It allows you to choose your character and which surf board to use. My son (5) was helping me play this game and I found out he knew words I didn’t realize he knew. The game is very educational and easy for the younger kids to control.

          Another area that has just opened up for the season is the Winter Wonderland located in “Downtown”. My kids love this area! Last night one of my kids logged onto Jumpstart.com and came running out to the front room to tell his sister that it was snowing on Jumpstart again. In Winter Wonderland they can be turned into an elf, catch a ride on a train, sled down fun twisty slides, ice skate, and more. My kids love the ice skating and the sledding! Check out all these new Madagascar features for the winter!

• Winter Wonderland
  • Snowball fight and sled riding
• Elf-O-Matic
  • Experience the holidays first-hand as an elf
• Holiday Scavenger Hunt
  • Sweets and treats, and all things neat
• Snowman building contest!
  • Build your best snowman before the season’s snow melts
• Zoosters on ice!
  • Have a blast showing off your skills
• Madagascar takes New York !
  • Escape from the zoo into Central Park, Times Square, Coney Island and more!
• Race your favorite Madagascar characters in bumper cars!
  • Bump or be bumped
• Boardwalk, carnival and games!
  • Play games and win prizes
• Aerial tour of Italy !
  • Climb aboard the Penguin Glider for some stunning scenery

*****GIVEAWAY*****

          Now it’s time for a giveaway! One lucky Keeping Up With M.O.M. reader will win a 3-month membership to Jumpstart.com which includes access to Jumpstart.com, Mathblaster.com, 4 downloadable games, and free printables for grades pre-k through 5th grade! As a mom who home-schools, that is very cool. You have access to all of this for up to SIX kids on one account. I love that because I don’t have to have two memberships and I will be having more children in the future so, even though my 8-year-old will be growing out of it in a couple years, my 5-year-old and all his younger siblings will be able to enjoy it for years to come because we will be purchasing a Lifetime Membership this spring. I even have an account set up for my baby, that I have been using to explore the different worlds Now you can enjoy 3-months of full access to Jumpstart.com. Enter the giveaway below. The rafflecopter widget does not allow mobile entries, so please enter using a computer. If you can not see the widget please click on the “a Rafllecopter giveaway” link below and it will take you there.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter is currently down and not responding. The winner randomly selected was #7 Jessica A.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a JumpStart membership at no cost by JumpStart in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.