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$100 Target Giveaway

Hey gang! I’m so sorry for being MIA the last 24 hours but unfortunately it’s been a bit crazy. Last night, after an awesome speed work session on the treadmill, I came home and was immediately hit with a 12 hour stomach virus. I hear it’s going around and have already verified that we won’t have a surprise in 9 months, don’t worry! But, it made for a horrible evening and night. On top of all that, my biggest launch of the year is taking place this week at Macys!

002 So needless to say this week has been a bit crazy. But, in honor of lots of things, including becoming a Fitfluential Ambassador , reaching a new readership high and launching Dolce&Gabbana The One Sport, I figured it was time to give you guys a thank you gift!

Do you remember back in February, when I went to the fabulous Target event to check out their Spring preview?

011 012 Well, now, after breaking my C9 by Champion for Target gear in over the past few weeks, I get to give one lucky reader $100 worth of C9 by Champion for Target gear! I’m in love with the top and shorts especially, while the sports bra isn’t my favorite due to its very thin straps. Also, let’s get real. This outfit, including sports bra cost a total of $39! That means that the winner can get almost 3 running or workout outfits for $100! I love Lululemon but at the end of the day, this is a steal, especially for wicking material!

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There are three lucky ways to enter:

1) Leave a comment with one question you’d like me to answer in an upcoming Friday Face Time OR a runner you’d like to see guest post in Marathons+Moderation.

2) Share this on giveaway on Twitter: “@healthyhappier is giving away a $100 worth of  C9 by Champion for Target workout gear http://alturl.com/ww2aq!”  Be sure to leave a comment, letting me know you shared it on Twitter!

This giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday, EST.

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My New Kicks: New Balance WT20’s

There is nothing like opening a fun package, regardless the hour!

005 This morning before I headed over to Equinox for my personal training session, I opened my fun surprise from Amazon! After reading Tina’s post about her new Cross Fit shoes, I discussed a shoe change with Lauren, my trainer. She has been stressing to me that my Brooks running shoes are for running, not the gym. The running shoe’s cushion makes for an unstable base which is risky when I’m doing compound movements with heavy weights. She promised that my investment would be worth it. In fact, she suggested a few different styles and said that I shouldn’t need to spend more than $49-$79, if I watched Amazon and found a style on sale.

I didn’t care about color since these are just going to be gym kicks and therefore jumped on these beauties when I saw them on sale last week for $59!

003 They are the exact same style Tina has been sporting at Cross Fit, just in a different color. These New Balance WT20’s, part of New Balance’s Minimus collection, are actually a lightweight trail running shoe which features a Vibram minimus sole and tight fitting upper. This combination allows me to have better balance when doing jumping movements and a strong base when doing work with heavy weights, making me feel more stable and secure when I push myself.

While I haven’t actually run in them yet, and may never, I am in love with these after just one training session! Here’s some of the footage my trainer captured of me doing today’s last workout, a combination modified burpee with reverse pullup/hang.

 

Do you wear running shoes to the gym?

As a side note, I’m working on my one year reflection on personal training and would love to incorporate answers to any questions you all may have. Therefore, leave any questions in the comment section today!

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ashleyd /

Safest Choice Eggs

This evening Melissa and I had the chance to spend time with the folks of Safest Choice Eggs and the baker behind The Cake Bible, Rose Levy Beranbaum.

002 The event, held at The Culinary Loft, brought together fifteen local bloggers and editors for a back to basics baking class. Rose, who is an acclaimed baker, was kind enough to take us through her favorite cake recipe while also tag teaming the many benefits of Safest Choice Eggs with their marketing director.

If you look at any of my childhood pictures, you can guess that I grew up a “bowl licker.” My favorite part of the cooking process was licking the spatula at the end or enjoying raw cookie dough. I was one of the lucky ones to never suffer from a stomach ache.  But, as Rose pointed out, many of the most delicious recipes, ranging from butter cream to custard, come with a risk due to undercooked or raw eggs. While I still rarely think twice about licking the raw batter, for some high risk people such as expectant mothers, young children, or people with weak immune systems, an indulgence like this is never possible.

However, Safest Choice Pasteurized Eggs eliminate this risk due to their pasteurization process.

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They shared a lot of facts with us about the benefits of Safest Choice Eggs.

    · Safest Choice Eggs are pasteurized using a patented technology that has a precise time and temperature water bath to remove the risk of Salmonella in shell eggs.

    · Safest Choice Eggs are available in grade AA large, all-natural and cage free varieties.

    · Safest Choice Eggs have double the shelf life of traditional eggs.

    · All Safest Choice Eggs are sourced from USDA certified and inspected farms.

    · The eggs are from vegetarian-fed hens, and are hormone and antibiotic free.

After learning about the eggs, it was back to Rose and her amazing baking skills. As she took us through her favorite cake and butter cream recipe, she provided some great tips and tricks that any baker can appreciate, regardless the level.

007 010 Rose’s Tips

  • Break or crack your eggs on the counter for a cleaner break
  • Rumford Baking Powder is her favorite brand due to the use of calcium instead of sodium
  • Cake flour exists for a reason. Be sure to use it in any cake recipe!
  • Her favorite new kitchen tool is the Beater blade.
  • She believes in using both grease and flour on the bottom of any vanilla cake pan.
  • Always weigh your ingredients to ensure exact measurements.

Overall the evening was a delicious and informative treat!  I allowed myself to try some of her sweet creations, since they were homemade and not processed sweets, but I could only handle a few bites. Her cake was delicious and gorgeous but oh so rich!

014 She was sweet enough to share her recipes with us and our readers! Click here to view them!

Question: Were you a spoon or beater licker growing up?

Thank you Safest Choice Eggs for a wonderful evening of baking fun with Rose!

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