Beautifully Poor

At the starting line in Winona, MN - almost 6am Wednesday night was going like any other when I got a text from a good friend who I ran with in Mom's On The Run last summer. She asked if I wanted to run Ragnar, as one of the team mates had to drop out last minute. Okay, what? I asked my husband if it was okay and he said yeah that's fine when is it. So I texted back thinking I had a week or two to at least warm up to the idea of running 200ish miles with two teams of 12. What I did not expect was that it started THAT Friday and I had to leave the next day around 5:30pm!! Our awesomly decorated van  Less than 24 hours to prep for Ragnar? Alright let's do it! This post is about my last minute adventure on one of the greatest running feats of my life. For those of you who don't know what Ragnar is, it is a course mapped out into 36 legs of 200ish miles for teams of 12 to run from point A to point B. Our point A was Winona, MN and point B was downtown Minne...

Shout out to my runner and triathlon readers! Today is #FinisherShirtFriday so rock that shirt that you are so proud of! That race you almost didn't finish or didn't think you could and you did! Be proud you crossed that finish line because not every can! You are AMAZING! For my shirt pic, I chose the Woodbury Country Mile shirt. I love this shirt because it reminds me of my accomplishments last summer as a runner. I would be a fool to take all the credit too! The wonderful women at Woodbury Moms On The Run are the ones who gave me the drive and the want to do better. To strive to race and to learn to love to run. Kristina Ticknor is the best coach and she will always have a special place in my heart. April Davis has become a dear friend and inspiration to me. And I loved the burn after every workout with Cailin Ashfield from those squats and lunges. I learned that it isn't about being skinny, but being healthy and strong. These women are amazing and I hope some of ...

Ever find yourself frantically patting your pockets and looking for your smartphone...just trying to capture that perfect moment before it is lost in time, only to miss it because it took you too long to get your phone out? Maybe you like to mountain bike, or rock climb, and wish you had easy access to your phone without having to stop down and unpack to get to it's super safe location? Or are you an everyday mom who's 2 year old screams bloody murder until you hand over your phone at which point they throw it at the ground and laugh at you hysterically? This laynard design turns your smartphone from being a concern and a hassle to being an accessory and easily accessible. Wear your phone several different ways and keep it safe from being dropped but at the same time right there in your hand when you need it. ReelCase has sponsored this giveaway in celebration of their Kickstarter Campaign ! Head on over and show your support! You can contribute as little as $1...

The Kinetic Wave Running Belt with the pouch has definitely made my fitness life THAT much simpler. I couldn't believe how comfortable it was and how well made. It is adjustable and I couldn't even tell I was wearing it during my last 6 mile run. I had to keep looking down to make sure it was still there! It also fits my phone, which I have the newest Droid. It is bigger than an iPhone, so if that is what you have, it will definitely fit in here! I am so excited to be able to run and have my keys and my phone with me, without having to carry my phone and tape my keys inside my pants. (I know it's crazy, but you do what you have to.) The pouch opens pretty wide too, enough to fit a pack of tissue and my whole set of keys plus extra space. It doesn't bounce around like I expected it too either. Like I said, I could hardly tell it was there.  The other plus is that the pouch is water proof. Yesterday during our run it started raining and everything I h...

I have NEVER seen a jump rope that is this cool. I love cardio, it is such a great thing for anyone's body and I actually had received a jump rope last year from my insurance company, but it wasn't very good and was cheaply made. That makes sense since it was free ;)  There are a few major things that set this jump rope apart from any other that I, personally have seen.  My favorite feature is that it has ball bearing handles. It makes it so the rope doesn't tangle and it is actually easier on the wrists when jumping for long periods. And for those of you who do double-under's or are trying to learn, this is the perfect rope for you! This makes double-under's a BREEZE! The other feature is that the rope itself is adjustable. You can use your fingers to adjust the length or either a flat head or a Phillips screwdriver to adjust where you want the handles to be.  This works perfect for my husband and I because he is much taller ...

Omega-3 Supreme Giveaway Hosted by Beautifully Poor Sponsored by Life & Food Fish oil is one of those things that kind of make me gag. I am not a huge fan of most supplements that have a funky taste or smell, so when I found these, I was excited to try them! This is the very first Omega-3 Fish Oil supplement that does as it says. No fish burps, no funky taste and no smell.  The benefits of fish oil are amazing, so I try to consistently take an Omega-3 supplement. They help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels, promote healthy heart function and reduce inflammation. They also improve joint health, maintain healthy vision and getting the recommended dose of Omega-3 is known to reduce stress and improve emotional quality.  What makes Life & Food's Omega-3 Supreme Advantage unique is that they are pharmaceutical grade and molecularly distilled. It is a product one can feel good about buying as well because it is a sustainably sourced a...