(GIVEAWAY!)A Little Discipline, Courage and Strength, Focus, Whatever really...

Today I'm reviewing my own stuff!

I have an etsy shop and I just sort of fell into it because it turns out I'm pretty passionate about it. It's called Inspire Me, Chic. (You can find it up there on my header bar up there, too.)

One day (ok, there were many days) I needed discipline. I need a reminder to myself that I was training for something and that I couldn't miss workouts and I didn't really need that burger.

I also really wanted something to wear that wouldn't die when I worked out.

And that would match with everything.

Like, a tutu:

Whatever I train in:

And stuff I like to wear to go out in (like with wine involved)

And that I'd never have to take off because I'm super lazy about that stuff.

So I found me some "discipline" in the form of an affirmation ring and figured out that if I put it all nice on a leather necklace with a clasp, it would work out quite nice for me and look pretty cute, too and last forever and ever (or at least close). In fact, I found "focus" and "strength" and "courage," and I found cute little charms that say things like "I need more cowbell." And they do all of the above.

And it became a thing. I love making these necklaces, but most of all, I love what they actually do for me, which is to remind me of what I really am needing at the moment and it really does that for me. Truly.

I think they work for everyone and there is a message for every occasion and they work perfect as gifts for graduation, for motherhood, for someone who's training, studying, grieving, celebrating, or for no reason at all. Each necklace is nicely wrapped in a purple organza pouch and I'll include a note to your recipient (no charge) if you message me about it.

I have quite a few to choose from so today I'm giving one away to one of you! All you have to do is leave a comment below with which one you like or even which message you'd like to see because there is a very good likelihood I have it and have not posted it. (I have way more than the picture, so make sure you go to the shop and look around! For a second entry, tweet about the giveaway.

Two entries! Please leave a comment for each. Contest will end Friday, August 20th at 8 p.m. ET. and I'll announce the winner on Saturday. And then, when the contest is over, I'll do free shipping for a week after that (you just have to make sure you message me so I can deduct it before you pay!)

Recipe: My Favorite Sangria (Since There's a Party Tonight and All)

OK so you know there's a Twitter Party going on here tonight at 8pm ET, right?

Here's a glass of sangria for you. I made it. It's yummy.

A Twitter Party is where we all go to Twitter and we talk about how awesome we are and then I give out door prizes for showing up and talking all about how awesome you are. All you have to do is follow me at @momswearcapes and use the hashtag #momswearcapes on the end of your Tweets to "show up." 8pm ET.

Well anyway, there's no party without a cocktail or two so I'm bringing the sangria.

I have a recipe for sangria that will make you the one person in the whole world EVERYONE will invite to the party, forevermore.

Ingredients

• 2 large oranges
• 1 large lemon
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 cup Triple Sec
• 1 jar of maraschino cherries with stems (this particular ingredient is A MUST for me. It reminds me of my favorite sangria from my favorite little place in the Village in New York City called "Cafe Wha." A sangria must have cherries. That's my opinion.)
• Wooden spoon (I am convinced that sangria tastes better when you stir and serve it with a wooden spoon.)
• One 750 ml. bottle red wine. I personally get the cheapy $3 merlot at Wal-Mart. Merlot is my favorite for Sangria and that one makes a particularly good sangria and I personally refuse to spend a lot on wine for sangria. But I've heard that it doesn't matter what red wine you use.

Directions
Slice up one orange and slice up the lemon and put in large pitcher with sugar. Mash with wooden spoon until all the fruit juices are released and the sugar is dissolved. Just make sure the juices are released but that the fruit is not annhilated, ok? Juice the second orange and pour over fruit in the pitcher; stir. Add triple sec and wine, and entire jar of cherries, juice included. Yes, this is more sugary stuff, but I love eating cherries out of my sangria. It brings back memories of my favorite bar in New York City where they served sangria with cherries in it, and also from where I stole the wooden spoon and years later my son stepped on it and cracked it and it felt like the end of an era  and I loved it so much. The place and the sangria.

Anyway, the Sangria is yummier the longer it sits. If you let it sit for at least 2 hours, it's super yummy. I've made it and let it sit for a couple of hours, but I've also let it sit overnight and overnight it is UNBELIEVEABLE! So enjoy!

See you at the party tonight! I will be announcing the winner of the Sugoi socks on Twitter, plus there will be giveaways from Bondi Band, Road ID, more Gu and lots more! I'm excited!

ps. NOT a low-cal, low-fat drinky. Sorry.

My Favorite Things Giveaway: Girlz N Gear

*This giveaway is now closed*

Yes! Join the Twitter Party on Sunday! More info below! But first, a REVIEW AND A GIVEAWAY!

If you were in San Diego with me for the Rock N Roll Half Marathon as part of Team Shrinking Jeans and Team In Training in June, then you will have gone to the fitness expo. If you didn't go, it was a very big expo.


I spent a lot of time there because I was the first one of our group to arrive in San Diego and that was the thing to do.

So I walked around.

I got a million samples.

And I got some more samples.

And I walked around some more.

And then I fell in love and re-fell in love with a company and a shirt in the far back corner of the expo. It was Girlz N Gear.

And this was the shirt.

(Please excuse my post spin-class nastiness and googly eyes).

If you can't see it, it reads:

Running shoes: $89
Race Entry Fee: $45
Crossing the finish line before my husband.....PRICELESS.

I walked by the shirt and I wanted it. It called to me from afar. I swooned. I went back. I touched its soft cottony goodness and I sadly left the expo without it and I dreamt about it that night.

I woke up and realized, I had to go back! I needed this shirt! SO badly! It called to me in the night!

So I went back to the expo the next day.

1 SHIRT LEFT. Mine. Allllll mine. 

Thank goodness.

(That was close.)

So I snatched it up. I wore it home. The flight attendant commented about how awesome it was. I wore it all the time and I wore it everywhere and everyone in the world looks at my chest  read it and loved it. The only place I didn't wear this shirt was at the race where I actually BEAT my husband across the finish line! YES I DID! I BEAT HIM! By like a good minute! And coincidentally, it turns out the feeling is priceless. I'm just saying.

But the shirt itself is literally the comfiest article of clothing I own. It's 100% jersey cotton and will not shrink and after multiple multiple multiple wears (trust me on this one), it retains its shape and color and feels as soft as the first day you bought it. It's shaped like a girl tee and not like a boxy regular old tee-shirt, which is what I love so much and it's long enough to cover the midsection and not too short as sometimes girlie tees can be.

There is nothing I don't love about their tees, actually. Plus, they have so many cute slogans like one of my personal favorites, "Run like you got a pair." (Pair of shoes, silly. What did you think they meant?)

One of you will get to win a wonderful tee from Girlz N Gear! All you have to do is the following:

• Go visit Girlz N Gear and then come back here and leave a comment about what tee or slogan is your favorite.
• For a 2nd entry, fan them on Facebook.
• For a 3rd entry, Tweet about the giveaway! Weeee!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Winner will be chosen at random and announced Saturday. This contest closes Friday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

There is one more giveaway on Saturday and THEN there's the grand finale!!

A Twitter Party and you're invited! At 8pm eastern time, there are more prizes, like:

-Hot workout sunglasses
-More GU
-More run gear
-More Bondi Bands and more!

So stop by and we'll chat about our girlieness! Hashtag: #momswearcapes.

Have a great day!

My Favorite Things Giveaway: A GU Review

*This giveaway is now closed*

I keep wanting to preface my giveaway posts with "I can't have a "My Favorite Things Giveaway without including (insert item here)...." but it's especially true with this one, my favorite energy gel in allllll the world: GU (and I believe it's pronounced GOO, stop me if I'm wrong!)

I used to love GU in Chocolate Outrage. And then I found the Vanilla Bean flavor and now I swoon.

I don't leave home without it.

I typically use energy gels when I'm exercising for at least an hour. If I'm doing spin class and then running on the treadmill afterward, I'll have one in between. If I am going out for a run that's more than 6 miles (or more than 4 if I am just whipped going into it) I'll have a gel. This last triathlon, I took one 15 minutes before the swim and again about 10 minutes before my run (while I was still on the bike.) It was awesome. (Now if only I had known that my brake was rubbing on my wheel for half the ride, I wouldn't have been so spent on the run in the first place, but I digress...)

I officially like GU better than the "Power Bar Gels" because GU is not as thick and syrupy and it agrees well with my system (energy gels are surprisingly filling! For this reason, I suggest you experiment during your runs to see when and how to take them.)

OK I can rave and rave and rave all day but instead I'll just keep it short and share some little-known GU facts (from the GU website):

• There are decaf flavors, (Strawberry Banana and Lemon-Lime), caffeinated flavors (Chocolate, Vanilla, Orange, Triberry and Plain) and super-caffeinated (Espresso Love, go figure...)
• GU Energy Gels are Kosher. (The Chomps are not.)
• GU is not recommended for dogs.

Just so you know.

Enter to win a big ol' pack of GU right here and now! 24 hours only! Here are the rules:

• Leave a comment with your GU experience, if you've had any and if you haven't and what your favorite is if you have (did you get all that?)
• Become a fan of my little old Average Moms Wear Capes Facebook page right there on the left sidebar.
• Tweet about the giveaway to all your friends so that they might get a shot at some GU themselves.
• Follow or subscribe to my blog (ya know, so you can get in on the next 24 hour giveaway that starts at midnight tonight! I mean, so you can read my good, quality posts! *cough*)

This giveaway ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET (Aug. 5)! Oh, and I've been posting a lot this week being my inaugural week and all, so stop by my other (good quality) posts if you get a chance. Have a great day!

My Favorite Things Giveaway: Triathlete's Guide to Mental Training

I am very often a victim of my own head. Growing up, I played baseball and then later, softball. I was a pretty good athlete, but if I put too pressure on myself, I'd suck it up perform poorly, to say the least (bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, go ahead and guess what happened if I got stuck in my own head.)

When I began to lose the post-partum weight, I had to play mindgames with myself to keep myself motivated. I'd pretend there were only 10 pounds to lose and work on losing 10 (it was wayyyyy more than 10 that I really needed to lose, but I couldn't look at the big number. It was impossible.) I'd trick myself into believing I was "training" for something rather than "working out to lose weight." Hey, whatever gets me out the door, right?

When I eventually began to train for triathlons, I had a fear of swimming in the ocean. I was never afraid of the ocean before, I always played in it and boogie-boarded and all of that, but I never swam from point A to point B before and honestly, it kind of freaked me out! Especially if I swam with my triathlon group in the murk. I hate the murk.

So I started trying to "train" my head the same way I tried to train my head for weight-loss. I found mantras to repeat, songs to sing, I would focus inward rather than focus on the "external elements," only some of which actually helped. And I found a book online, which did help. Tremendously.  This book: The Triathlete's Guide to Mental Training, by Jim Taylor, Ph.D., and Terri Schneider.

Now, I know you're thinking that you have to be training for a triathlon to have this book, but it's not true, it's just not. This book may focus on triathlon and use triathlon scenarious, but the techniques in it can be used for any area where you are mentally struggling.

I bought this book solely on one review I saw at Amazon and it was this:

"...this book would help any athlete (regardless of discipline) in turning mental weaknesses into strengths."

That's why I bought it. And it's true. We spend so much time training our bodies that we fully neglect the mental aspect of training, which is how to push through to the end, through the pain, how to overcome fear and negative thinking, how to literally control your thoughts and overcome your preconceived limitations. And we all tend to stunt our own growth in some form or another.

Well I got the book and went right through it once and I'm on my second go-round. I tend to "dog ear" pages that are important to me and my husband commented to me about how many pages I've dogeared ("if you dog ear the whole book, it negates the whole reason for dog-earing..." or something like that). But I love so many things, so many things are worth going back to. It covers everything from confidence to how your body physically handles stresses to how you can retrain your mind to overcome anxieties.

There are inspiring stories and quotes from amazing athletes who have fought their own demons. Honestly, I don't care where you are in the process of healthy living, everyone has demons to fight. I would even say that in my own world, the physical part of weight-loss or training makes up about 10% of the whole picture. It's the mental part that gets me out the door, that gets me to the water's edge, that gets me through the panic, that gets me home and wanting to do it all again. So why WOULDN'T I train that part too?

It almost seems silly.

One of my other favorite quotes:

"Confidence allows you to take risks. Risks allow you to be confident and will give you breakthrough performances. Without risks and challenges you may not believe you can press forward. Confidence gives you the belief you can." - Victor Plata, 2004 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team

And I want to note here that his reference to "breakthrough performances" doesn't mean "gold medal" to me. It means getting out there and getting home and actually wanting to do it all again. I think he means running 5 minute miles after swimming and biking, but for me it's just being able to want to train in the first place. I'm not trying to win a title or anything, I'm just trying to challenge myself to do things or even just try things that I never thought I would or could do before. That's the "breakthrough" to me.

So I love this book. And I thank VeloPress for offering it up for a giveaway. Yes, it's great for triathlon training, but please enter even if you're not. There are so many tools in it that I wish I had armed myself with before I even thought about triathlon.

And who knows? Maybe triathlon's in your future too. (Why NOT! It should be. I'm just sayin.)

The rules for the giveaway:

• Leave a comment telling me what your biggest mental obstacle is in weightloss, fitness, or any other area of your life is that plagues you (and further, if you've conquered it or not!)
• For a second entry, tweet or blog about the giveaway.

Please leave a comment for each entry. Giveaway ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET to give way to the next giveaway announcement at midnight Thursday because this week is for celebrating my new place!

While you're here, it's Workout Wednesday! I've also posted about my dream of becoming Demi Moore along with 10 of my 101 Fitness Tips, so go check it out! The end.

My Favorite Things Giveaway: Get thee a ROAD ID!

Another day, another giveaway! And another HUGE favorite of mine, so very favorite that I won't leave home without it or I feel nekked if I do!

I'm talking about MY ROAD ID.

This little gem is part fashion, part lifesaver. A Road ID is a little engravable ID that fits into a wrist or ankle bracelet or attaches onto a shoe. It has your name, your emergency contact info, your allergies, part of your address and even a line where you can have a saying or quote on it, which I do, my mantra: "Strength, Focus, Discipline."

I have both a wrist bracelet and an ankle bracelet and you can take the little engraved plate out of one and put it into the other; they're interchangeable. But I usually wear mine on my ankle, I like it better there. And I recently discovered yet another use for it -- you can use it as the bracelet for your timing chip in a triathlon! Instead of the sweaty old bracelet that has been used by hundreds of athletes before you! The chip slips right through the band and it's actually more secure than the ones the race gives you! So you can have that little nugget of info!

Road IDs come in every color of the rainbow but honestly, the reason I love it so much is because when I was reading about Road IDs, one thing stuck with me.

You may know the person you're training with pretty well, but if you fell or became incapacitated in any way, most of them don't actually know your personal information like your emergency contact or their phone number or even your address. And I know you're thinking "that'll never happen to me anyway so whatever!" But it does! It happens! A few months ago a friend of my husband's was killed riding his bike while training for a triathlon. Just last month, I read about a mom on Twitter who was hit by a car and killed while training for her half-marathon.

It happens. It happens every day and it happens to people we know. We need to be able to be identified, we need to be able to have someone help us, to notify our families, and Road ID does this. You need this information with you and it's much easier than carrying your driver's license (which has no phone numbers on it anyway!)

There are 28 pages of testimonials on the Road ID website from people who found themselves in a situation that would have been much worse without one. 28 PAGES. I spoke with one of the founders of Road ID on the phone, Mike Wimmer, and you can just hear the passion in his voice for what they do with Road ID.

I have a Road ID. My husband has one. My dad has one. My entire tri-group has one. If you're headed out the house to excercise, you need one.

Today you can win one!

This is a 24 hour giveaway and here are the rules:

• Leave me a comment here about whether or not you've ever faced a "situation" in which you could have used this.
• For another entry, follow me here at Average Moms Wear Capes!
• For another entry, tweet or blog about the giveaway and leave the link in the comments! Whichever one. I'm not picky.

Three chances to win! This giveaway ends at 11:59 et tonight! And one minute later, at 12 a.m. Wednesday, I'll announce another giveaway in the "My Favorite Things" Giveaway extravaganza!!! ps. If you don't win, GET ONE OF THESE! M'kay?

The "My Favorite Things" Giveaway: Bondi Band

**This contest is now closed**

Well you know I couldn't have a list of favorites and not include my super-favorite, the Bondi Band.

I love the Bondi Band SO.MUCH. I think I am their biggest ambassador, I swear. Maybe they'll give me a job or hire me as their spokesperson.

What is a Bondi Band? These are very slim, snug-fitting headbands that wick your massive amounts of sweat from your gargantuan cranium whilst exercising in the heat.

I suffer from migraines and I have quite a few triggers, including red wine tight headbands and hairbands. So when I found Bondi Band last year at the Gasparilla Half-Marathon, I was hopeful but skeptical.

But it not only wicked away my sweat, it was snug but not too snug so as to cause a headache. I now am the proud owner of FIVE Bondi Bands, but one of the things I love most about them are their sayings. I have one with a shark on it that says "Om Nom Nom" which I find brilliant because of my fear of sharks and having to constantly do open water swims. It's almost like I could never get eaten because I am making fun of myself with this headband. It's like shark repellant.

But my favorite is: SHUT UP AND RUN. Because I am a huge fan of mantras to help me get through my workouts and this one really helps me nix the complaining and the negative inner monologue and just allows me to go on my merry way. It is especially helpful during a triathlon when I am getting off the bike, do not yet have my running legs on and instead have concret stumps that were once my bike legs, and running feels like the very last thing they want to do.

So I just SHUT UP AND RUN.

And at this last triathlon that I did on Saturday, I discovered even a new use for Bondi Band!

When I take two waters, one to drink and one to pour over my head, the Bondi Band retains some of the cool water and keeps my head cooler for longer than it would if it were just my plain old head. It also helps shield the sun from me. If I haven't convinced you yet of its sheer awesomeness, I shall GIVE one to you to prove it. (Well, one of you, anyway.)

Plus look at how stinkin' cute our Team Shrinking Jeans looks wearing them! (That's us in San Diego, running with sisters from the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans for Team In Training in June.)

So here are the rules:

• Leave me a comment here about whether or not you've tried Bondi Band.
• For another entry, follow me here at Average Moms Wear Capes!
• For yet another entry, become a fan of Average Moms Wear Capes on Facebook right there on my sidebar on the left!
• And finally, for another entry, tweet or blog about the giveaway and leave the link in the comments! Whichever one. I'm not picky.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry! Yep, four chances to win! But only 24 hours! This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time TONIGHT! At 12 a.m. Tuesday, I will be announcing a NEW giveaway, so come back!

Super Faves!

Super Faves in Running, From Products to Websites

• Bondi Band Hair Bands + My Review
• Road ID
• Garmin 310xt watch
• Daily Mile
• Coach Joe English
• Zoot Spandex Shorts
• Fuel Belt Water Belt
• One More Mile
• Dirty Red Gear
• Girlz N Gear (My review)

Super Faves in Triathlon

• Zoot Tri Suit
• Training Plans
• Pre-race Meals (Coming soon!)
• Recovery Meals (Coming soon!)
• Triathlete's Guide to Mental Training
• Xterra Wet Suit

Super Faves in the Kitchen

• Magic Bullet Blender

Super Faves in Reading

• Triathlete's Guide to Mental Training

Super Faves in Toddlerhood

• The Toddler Busy Book
• Super Baby Food
• Recaro Car Seat

Super Faves in Travel

• Coming soon!

Average Moms Wear Capes: Reviews and Super Faves

ALL OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN LIFE, HERE IN ONE PLACE

I love sharing my favorite finds in health & fitness products, foods and all things toddler. Want Average Moms Wear Capes to do a review and/or giveaway? Contact me here at: christieo@averagemomswearcapes.com

Click on the buttons below!