Enell Sports Bras… Make full figured girls happy

January 6, 2013 By 3 Comments

I was so excited when I found out I was getting a new sports bra from Enell. One of my main reasons excuses for not working out is my ridiculous boobs. So I used their awesome fit chart and got the perfect fit. Yes, I had to use a tape measure but it was totally worth it – a bra that doesn’t fit right is worse than no bra at all, right?

imageIt came and holy crap, it’s PURPLE. I love it!!! I put it on and wore it around the house and it felt great – but the real test came when I finally started working out with it.

Before I committed to wearing it to the gym, I put it on, and ran as fast as I could across the pasture behind me house. First off, before you’re impressed, the pasture isn’t very big, and I don’t run very fast. But my boobs were totally contained! When I finally hit the gym with it, the fit and comfort were perfect, and the material wicked away sweat before I even noticed it was there.

It has a front closure, which is good, but there are a LOT of little hooks. While I know they’re there for a reason, they’re kind of a pain. But once I’ve got them all hooked, I’m damn happy I did.

I’ll spare you a picture of me in the bra – no one wants to see that – but the coverage is great. I’m covered from mid-chest to my rib cage, and the back is wide, going from shoulder to shoulder and covering the whole middle of my back.

The bra is designed for “curvy” girls – and if you’re a real curvy girl with real boobs, you know the arm-pit-boob you sometimes get with ill-fititng bras. The fit of this bra eliminates that totally.

I’m so happy with this bra! I got this one free, as a sample, and I’ll be ordering more with my own moneys. I give this 9 out of 10 stars!

Filed Under: Guest Posts

Kristi Yamaguchi’s New Fitness Apparel: Tsu.ya

August 28, 2012 By 58 Comments

Kristi Yamaguchi Tsu.YaWhen Kristi Yamaguchi’s new line of fitness wear, Tsu.ya, debuts in September in select Lord & Taylor stores and online (www.kristiyamaguchi.com), moms will have a new way to look good while working out and after.

Tsu.ya (Japanese for “shiny” and also Kristi’s middle name) will open with its new fall line September 6th. Kristi explains that the styles are for the “active busy mom who sometimes gets a workout in but post-workout still wants to get on with her day and still look fashionable.” Who doesn’t want to look good while working out and then after?

A portion of the proceeds from the purchase of a Tsu.ya piece will go to the Always Dream foundation, Kristi’s organization focusing on early childhood literacy. So, when moms purchase a piece from Tsu.ya, they’ll also be helping out children who are in need of support.

Kristi has plenty of experience with children’s literature as she has written her second children’s book, It’s a Big World, Little Pig, released in March of 2012. It’s the second in her series about Poppy, a little pig who has much to learn about the world. Kristi explained that the lesson learned in Big World is that although we are all from different places and might speak different languages, look different, or have different customs, we have a lot more than that in common. Poppy learns the importance of meeting new people and sharing the pieces of her own life that make her proud.

Kristi offered her advice for eating healthy and staying in shape. Other than keeping the “junk” out of the house and modeling good exercise and eating habits for her children, she also explained that “my husband and I are using the 80/20 rule. 80% of the time, you’re trying to walk the line” by focusing on buying organic, getting the fresh food, and eating healthy. The other 20%, they allow themselves some freedom. After all, “you have to give into the cravings every now and then and then you’re fine; you don’t have to go overboard,” she said.

Kristi Yamaguchi is a household name, and many look up to her. She said it was rather intimidating at 20 years old to suddenly be a role model. But, she explained that eventually, she learned to just be herself and live her life while being as positive as she could. “People are either going to gravitate toward you or they’re not,” she said, “and you can’t change who you are to please other people. Now as a mom, even more, I try to lead by example and be as positive [as I can be] in various areas of my life.”

Kristi Yamaguchi Fitness Line

Kristi shows off "Flirt"

Kristi hopes that moms enjoy the Tsu.ya line and find it as fashionable as she does. She feels like it’s unique because it “definitely puts a more feminine and fashion twist on active wear.”

Want to know her favorite piece? It’s the jacket, “Flirt,” accented with ruffles. Be sure to check it out September 6th!

Kristi Yamaguchi and "Flirt"

Kristi Yamaguchi and "Flirt"

Win a signed copy of It’s a Big World, Little Pig or Kristi’s workout DVD! We have one of each to giveaway.

How to enter (comment for every entry!):

1. Tweet out this message (limit 20 entries):

Check out Tsu.ya by @KristiYamaguchi on #mamavation @bookieboo and enter to #win giveaway! Ends 9/28 http://bit.ly/NvOTMj

2. Like Kristi Yamaguchi on Facebook (1 entry)

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4. Join the Mamavation forums (5 entries)

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Kristi Yamaguchi (www.kristiyamaguchi.com) is providing a signed copy of It’s a Big World, Little Pig and a workout DVD to two lucky readers. No other compensation was received and the opinions are 100% my own.

Filed Under: Featured, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Longterm

Disney XD’s Pair of Kings & Geno Segers

June 18, 2012 By 19 Comments

My seven year old and I watch a lot of TV, and one of the shows we’ve recently begun watching is Disney XD’s Pair of Kings (Mondays at 8:30 EST). If you’ve never seen the show, then now is the time to start. The third season begins Monday, June 18, and Geno Segers promises me that it’s going to “rock.”

Geno Segers as Mason in Pair of Kings

Geno Segers as Mason in Pair of Kings

Segers plays Mason Makoola, the royal advisor and guard to the twin kings, Brady Michel Musso) and Boomer (Doc Shaw). His daughter is Mikayla Makoola (Kelsey Chow), and they live on the mystical and uncharted island of Kinkow. In the third season of the show, Brady has left the island, and Boomer discovers he has another brother, Boz (Adam Hicks).

“Boz was the kind of guy that thought he was alone in the world, then he finds out that he has a brother,” Seger said. “So, he’s getting used to the idea of having a brother. Boomer knew what it takes to be a brother, and he’s having to teach Boz the Bromandments.”

I asked if Brady’s departure would mean that Boomer is the rightful heir to the Kinkow throne, but Segers told me, “I’m not going to share that right now. It’s a very interesting story. It’s something you really have to tune in to on the 18th to really find out…it’s very interesting and it’s borderline soap opera-esque.”

Pair of Kings is geared toward teenagers, but often, younger children, like my daughter, watch the show. Segers explained that the brothers and other citizens of Kinkow are constantly learning universal lessons that apply to all kids. It doesn’t matter if they’re in Los Angeles, Chicago, Asheville, or this mystical island; all kids are faced with the same basic obstacles of life: making good choices, being responsible for their own actions, and learning to tell the truth.

Segers is comfortable working with kids and talking about making good choices. He was once a high school algebra and physics teacher, and his foundation, Hold it On the Road, works with third and fourth graders to teach them how to make decisions today that will help them tomorrow. Segers said it’s important for children (and all people) to have a “Plan A.”

Geno Segers

Geno Segers

“Have something you do while you work on your hobby – which is your dream,” he explained. Anyone can have a dream, but if they don’t do something to support themselves while they work toward that dream, they’re just asleep.

A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Segers misses the barbeque, the smell of freshly cut grass, and NC’s four seasons. “I miss those seasons,” he said, “because I can smell fall coming into a football season.” For Segers, LA is just a different atmosphere, and you can’t understand the differences from North Carolina until “you get out of it.”

“You can be in LA, drive two hours, and because of traffic, still be in LA . . . people think rush hour traffic is bad in North Carolina. They don’t know anything about rush hour traffic. I miss the freedom of actually going ten miles in ten minutes.”

While he may miss the easy-going pace of North Carolina, he does enjoy his time on Pair of Kings where he says the cast is like a family. “We genuinely enjoy each other’s company.” He explained that this type of community only comes around once in a career, and he’s really happy to be a part of Pair of Kings.

Disney XD Pair of Kings

Disney XD Pair of Kings

Catch Segers and the rest of the cast in the season 3 premier of Pair of Kings on Disney XD (Monday, June 18). He says, “You’ve gotta stay tuned to what’s going to happen in the third season because it’s gonna rock.”

Want an autographed photo of Segers?

Geno Segers Signed Headshot

Geno Segers Signed Headshot

Here’s how you can get one:

 

To Enter (please comment for EVERY entry & put your twitter name):

1. Tweet this message (1 entry, max 20 tweets - include the permalink to your tweet in comments below)

Get signed pic of @genosegers from #pairofkings on #disneyXD (Mon-8:30pm EST) from @DisneyChannelPR & #mamavation http://t.co/LAY5T7l

2. Share this post on Facebook (3 entries – include the permalink to your Facebook Share in comments below)

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This giveaway ends July 18th and a winner will be selected at random via random.org. Please leave your twitter name in the comment section so I can get a hold of you if you win. If there is no email or twitter name, I’ll have to redraw.

Disney is providing one lucky reader with an Autographed picture to help promote the new season of Pair of Kings <http://disney.go.com/xd/pairofkings/>  on Disney XD <http://disney.go.com/disneyxd/> .  No other compensation was received and the opinions are 100% my own.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Longterm, Uncategorized

What Can Big Girl Panties Do For You?

August 31, 2010 By 201 Comments

Since ending my Mamavation Campaign at the end of May, I’ve learned one thing:

When it comes to changing your lifestyle, you have to put on your big-girl panties and just DO IT.

Being a Mamavation Mom was a stressful time, but it was also an “easy” time.  Yeah, I was sweating in the spotlight every week, working hard to burn calories and meet my program goals, but I had people there holding my hand: Leah, Pete, Dr. Renna, and Tracey (not to mention so many uber-supportive “Sista’s”).

Then the campaign ended and it was “all on me.”  No more daily butt-kicking and cheering from Leah — it was time for Rachel to grow up and do this Mamavation thing on her own.

I worried that I would revert back to my old ways — my old way of cooking and my old way of sitting in front of a computer instead of moving and grooving.  I was afraid that, on my own, I would undo everything.

But, during a talk with my unbelievable supportive Hubby, I realized that *I* am in charge.  Me.  Not the computer . . . not my kitchen . . . not the grocery store.  RACHEL is in charge of Rachel.  If I am going to continue working to be a healthier Mama, then I just have to put my big girl panites on and do it.

What does that mean?

  • It means *I* do not buy junky, unhealthy temptations.  Dr. Pepper and Nutella are my downfall — guess what I haven’t purchased since April?  That’s right — I refuse to tempt myself so they do NOT enter my house.  Period.
  • It means *I* work hard to find healthy recipes my entire family will eat and enjoy.  I don’t prepare separate meals for each family member.  Just like their Mommy, my children benefit from healthier, balanced meals — why would I be selfish and just work on making my life healthier?  I’m the Mama — the one in charge and the one responsible for their health right now.  I take that responsibility very seriously and am committed to preparing the healthiest, tastiest options possible for their growing bodies.  Would they rather eat french fries and deep-fried chicken nuggets every night?  Yes, but as a Mama wearing Big Girl Panties, I have to be willing to tell them “no.”
  • It means *I* make myself exercise daily.  Exercise has to be part of my daily routine — just like brushing my teeth and putting on deodorant.  It can’t be a “if I have time” activity; we make time for things that are important to us.  When exercise wasn’t important to me, I did it whenever I felt like fitting it in . . . and then, if I wasn’t active, I used the excuse that I was “too busy.”  Too busy?  Too busy to stay healthy?  Too busy to engage in activities that help prevent disease and obesity?  Yeah, right.  It wasn’t being too busy, it was a matter of being lazy.
  • It means *I* have to stop making excuses.  Aside from inactivity, I could blame my 100 pound weight gain on other things, including Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (a hormonal disorder).  It’s true that it does make things difficult as far as weight loss is concerned, but it’s not a life sentence!  Everyone has something they could use as an excuse for hanging on to weight: health issues, emotional issues, work issues, etc.  The bottom line is that they are excuses – I was using my PCOS as an excuse for not even trying to lose weight.  I’m not relying on excuses any more; yes, PCOS makes it difficult but it doesn’t make weight loss impossible.

So, what is the result of taking charge of my life?

I’ve lost THIRTY POUNDS this year (twenty-five of those pounds have been since April alone) and my BMI has dropped from 32.5 to 28.1, taking me officially out of the Obese category.

That’s what wearing Big Girl Panties will do for ya. . . are you wearing yours?

Mamavation

Filed Under: Featured, Guest Posts, Mamavation Moms