Good Earth Tea Giveaway {CLOSED}

Today’s WIAW will be a tad different.  I’m featuring two different brands and will end the post with a giveaway.  Happy Wednesday to YOU, friends!  Let’s begin:

Nasoya, makers of Nayonaise, the original vegan mayo, recently perfected Nayonaise for a smoother, creamier texture and it now comes in new distinct varieties.  Nasoya came out with this interesting graphic just in time for Easter: Have an Eggless Easter: A Guide to Simple Substitutions for Spring.

Now, you all know I don’t celebrate Easter (I’m Jewish) nor do I eat strictly vegan.  In fact, I love eggs.  However, I certainly do not love mayonnaise mostly due to the fact that itz just so bad for you.  I am all about making healthy substitutions and eating a variety of foods, and I do try to eat plant-strong.  Nayonaise has half the fat and a third the calories as traditional mayonnaise.

I decided to try the nayonaise on my eggwich first.  Use an eggless-mayo on an egg sandwich?  Yeah, doesn’t make much sense, but it did taste good!

I toasted an english muffin, fried an egg, added fresh spinach and turkey, and smeared on the nayonaise.  I put it all together and wah-lah!  I was amazed at the flavor the nayonaise added!  It was a quite a tasty addition.  Next, I added it to two turkey sandwiches made on dollar rolls on a plate perfect for Easter.

I feel like if I’m going to eat mayo nayo, it must be with turkey!  For Jonny’s lunch yesterday, I made him a turkey sandwich on matzoh (remember, we’re Jewish and itz Passover!), and asked him how it was when he got home from work.  “Turkey, cheese, and mayo?  Of course it was good!”  It passed the Jonny-test!  Plus, the entire line is vegan, a good source of vitamin B12 and made from expeller pressed oil. All products are also fortified with Omega 3 ALA for added nutrition.

Disclaimer: Nasoya provided me with product; I received no compensation.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Now itz time to switch gears and talk TEA!  Good Earth Tea specifically.  To launch their unique new tea flavors, Cocoa Tango and Sweetly Twisted, Good Earth Tea partnered with Hollywood’s hottest fitness guru, Bizzie Gold to create signature BUTI Fitness workouts inspired by these new flavors – which taste sweet without the need to add sugar.

The full-length workouts are available free on Good Earth’s website and YouTube channel and are the only place to stream FREE full-length BUTI workouts.  Pretty fun that workouts and teas are connected, eh?  Ali was kind enough to also include a box of their Original Sweet & Spicy blend!  I most recently enjoyed a cup amidst the twelve inches of snow St. Louis got over the weekend.  It sure warmed me right up!

An aromatic sweet cinnamon tea with hints of orange. Our full flavored signature blend offers up a rich, spicy fragrance followed by a sweet, warming, clean taste without added sugar.  Honestly, I usually do sweeten my teas with honey or NuNaturals, but with these teas I did not have to.  They were all bursting with so much flavor and sweetness that I was totally good without.

New flavor #1: Cocoa Tango Black Tea.  Sweet, sensually smooth flavor of cocoa envelops the unpredictably fiery hit of chili pepper.

The smell alone of this tea will leave your mouth watering.  Usually when teas are flavored “cocoa” or “chocolate,” I find that they smell really good, but the taste leaves something to be desired.  Not with Cocoa Tango – it was just as delicious as it smells.

New flavor #2:  Sweetly Twisted Black & Herbal Tea.  A sweet start takes an unexpected tangy twist leading to a refreshing finish.

I warmed up with a cup of this tea by the fire and made Jonny a glass, but added ice to his.  Jonny is not a fan of tea at all, so I was really curious to what his reaction would be.  And guess what?  He liked it!  He kept asking what the flavors were because there really is a mixture of sweet and tangy.

Good Earth has offered to give ONE Itz Linz reader a variety pack including Sweet & Spicy, Green Tea Lemongrass, and Cocoa Chai tea.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post telling us what your favorite flavor of tea is!

For an optional additional entry, follow Itz Linz and Good Earth Tea on Twitter and tweet the following, “I want to win a @GoodEarthTea variety pack from @ItzLinz! Enter here: http://wp.me/p2WMfo-1sE” and leave a comment saying you did so.

Itz a fast giveaway, folks!  I will announce a winner on Friday, March 29th and the winner will have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be chosen.

The winner of the Good Earth Tea giveaway is #41 Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli.

Disclaimer: I was provided the teas to review without compensation; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Harmonic Shampoo and Conditioner Giveaway {CLOSED}

Itz no secret we all pay attention to what we eat and the quality of food we put in our body, but what about what we put on our body? Intelligent Nutrients is a certified organic hair and skin care company from the founder of Aveda. They use ingredients that are food-grade organic, meaning the best for both your body and the planet.

I’ve been using the shampoo and conditioner from their new Harmonic Hair Care Line, and I’m quite impressed.  Not only does it thoroughly cleanse my hair, it nourishes it as my hair feels silky-smooth after.  Plus, I like the way it smells and feels when I use it, and I’ve noticed less frizz after I blow dry and flat-iron my hair.  Major perk!

Harmonic Shampoo: Anti-aging, antioxidant rich, volumizing, super smooth, non-frizzy and nourishing to the scalp, hair, body and mind. Formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Ideal for use on every hair type, this invigorating shampoo rids hair of build-up, revealing hair in its cleanest, purest form.

Harmonic Conditioner: Ideal for use on every hair type, this leaves hair perfectly behaved and moisturized, never heavy. Anti-aging, antioxidant-rich, volumizing, super smooth, non-frizzy, and nourishing to the scalp, hair and mind. Formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.

They’re both super refreshing as they provide a tingly feeling – itz perfect after my workouts in the morning to help wake me up!  Most of all, I love that they’re free of any harsh chemicals, safe for my color-treated hair, and they smell great, too!

Want to try it for yourself?

One lucky reader will win the 15 oz Harmonic Shampoo and Conditioner ($46 value!).  There are five different ways to enter; enter one or enter all, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each additional entry!

Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

• Leave a comment telling us what you look for in hair care products.
• Follow Itz Linz and Intelligent Nutrients on Twitter and tweet the following, “I want to win @IntelligentNutr Harmonic Shampoo & Conditioner from @ItzLinz! Enter here: http://wp.me/p2WMfo-1q9″
• Subscribe to Itz Linz by entering in your e-mail address and confirming your follow via e-mail.
• Follow Itz Linz and Intelligent Nutrients Instagram.
• Follow Itz Linz and Intelligent Nutrients Pinterest.

This giveaway will be open until Thursday, March 21st at 8:00 pm CST.  One winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Friday, March 22nd and will have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be selected.  Good luck!  {NOW CLOSED}

Congrats #36 Nicole at Fruit ‘N’ Fitness for winning the Harmonic giveaway!

~Disclaimer: I received the Harmonic Shampoo and Conditioner to review.  All thoughts, opinions, and my beautiful hair are all my own.

Healthy Eating Made Easy

Healthy eating made easy… well, that sounds impossible in your busy life, right?  Wrong!  Batch cooking is one option, but sometimes even that seems difficult to fit in your daily routine.  Another option, and one I’ve recently gotten to experience, is Diet-to-Go: a diet meal delivery system.

Diet-to-Go is the most inexpensive fresh diet delivery service on the market.  There are three unique menus: low-fat, vegetarian, and low-carb, all which have twenty plans to choose from.  Through FitFluential, I was able to have a taste of this diet meal delivery system.  I chose the low-carb meals and was given three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners.  My favorite breakfast was the Spicy Ham and Egg Sofrito which packed 290 calories, 12 grams carbs, and 24 grams protein!

Diet-to-Go meals are shipped frozen and take 24 hours to thaw and just two or three minutes in the microwave.  How much easier can you get?  I even shared one or two with Jonny.  He liked the Scrambled Eggs Benedict with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and Asparagus (200 calories, 13 grams carbs, and 23 grams protein).

Epicurious recently rated Diet-to-Go #1 for diet meal delivery company!  Pretty sweet, eh?  Itz real food for real people with such variety!  They have been perfect for me to grab and take to school, like this Pascale’ Creole Shrimp Stew and string cheese:

There are no cancellation fees or gimmick pricing.  There is no commitment or contract and there is a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  What’s there to lose?  NOTHING!  These meals are absolutely perfect for learning portion control.  America has grown accustom to super-size portions, processed foods, empty calories, and way too much sugar and salt (yuck!).  Diet-to-Go offers a simple, scientifically proven approach to instilling healthy eating habits.  Their approach does not chase the latest trends or top of the market practices; instead they focus on the common sense habits of a healthy diet and makes it affordable for the average person.  Meal plans include portion control, balanced nutrition (protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, and fiber), and real, whole foods.

Chimichura Salmon with Marinated Asparagus

I think these are great meals to store in your freezer for those days you just don’t feel like cooking, or when you need some variety with your meals.  There is everything from eggs to ham to shrimp to sausage to chicken to salmon to catfish to beef short ribs and more!  (And if you’re not a meat fan, no worries, there IS a vegetarian option!)  I know I sure as heck couldn’t and wouldn’t cook a lot of what is served because they are complicated to make.  While there is a tad more sodium in these meals than I typically prefer, they’re definitely a MUCH better option than fast food.  The biggest perk I’ve found with Diet-to-Go is portion size.  You can eat all that good tasting food… just in moderation!

Veal Sorrento with Ham, Seasoned Yellow Squash, & Broccoli

If you’d like to try Diet-to-Go, use coupon code “fitfluential” to receive 20% off!

How do you make healthy eating easy?  Which Diet-to-Go menu would you choose: low-fat, vegetarian, or low-carb?

FitFluential LLC compensated me for this Campaign.  All opinions are my own.

Designer Whey Awesomeness

Y’all already know about my protein powder lovin’ and thanks to FitFluential and Designer Whey my love was fueled even more!  I literally squealed in excitement as I opened up this amazing package:

Designer Whey AWESOMENESS!  Protein powders, protein shakes, protein bars, protein drink mixes, protein galore!  Can you sense my excitement?  And you better believe when I saw that White Chocolate protein powder I jumped with joy!  White Chocolate protein powder?!  Unbelievable.

When you add just a tiny bit of water to protein powder (& maybe some sprinkles) and call it “fudge,” you know itz good!

It was like eating dessert for breakfast!  Designer Whey Protein Powders pack 100 calories, 18 grams of protein, and just 2 grams of sugar per scoop.  Those are some great stats.  And the flavors?  I’ve already said this, but white chocolate protein powder?  I can’t get over how delicious it is.  The French Vanilla is also awesome, and I’d love to try the Vanilla Almond and Vanilla Praline (huge vanilla lover over here!).  They have several chocolate flavors, plain, and strawberry, too!

My Sunflower Seed Vanilla Almond Oatmeal worked beautifully with the French Vanilla protein; it mixed perfectly (not clumpy at all!) and the sunflower seed butter was a great compliment to the flavor.

Designer Whey Protein Powders also offer an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B!  Itz made for the perfect post-workout smoothie, and I even throw spinach in for more nutrients and vitamins.  This awesome mix consisted of Designer Whey French Vanilla, ground flaxseeds, ice, Silk vanilla almond milk, and loads of fresh spinach.  Gotta love the bright green color!

I haven’t tasted the Designer Whey High-Protein Shakes yet, but I suspect they’ll taste as good as the rest of their products.  Each shake consists of just 100 calories and are lactose and gluten-free.  These will be perfect when I’m in a rush or need a portable snack.  Just yesterday morning I had a piece of my Pulp Bread for breakfast.  While it was delicious, it was definitely lacking in protein, so about an hour later I was hungry.

I decided it was time for me to try the Designer Whey Protein 2Go!  I was on my way out the door, didn’t need a full meal, and wanted something quick.  Honestly, I was a little hesitant about these – I’m not one for just mixing protein powder with water.  (Unless itz fudge or pudding.)  I find that itz usually chalky and clumpy and just not that good.  I was very much surprised with these 2Go packets!  I gave it a quick shake and, almost instantly, it dissolved.

I think they call it a “drink mix” instead of a “shake” because itz not a shake by any measure (which I liked).  It was much thinner than a shake, and tasted good, too.  It reminded me of those Crystal Light packets, but it was better since it was packed with protein.  I really don’t think you can beat the stats on it either: 50 calories, 10 grams of protein.  I’ve only tried the Lemonade flavor, but there’s also Mixed Berry and Tropical Orange, both of which sound tasty.

The last thing in the box was the Designer Whey Protein Bars.  These are awesome (like everything else!), and not only have they satisfied my hunger, but they’ve been great for my sweet tooth, too.  They remind me of Kudo’s bars actually, but obviously better since they’re loaded with protein!

So glad I snuck that bar in at the Billiken’s game to tide me over until dinner.  Way better and way healthier than stadium snacks!  This post is becoming a bit long-winded; there’s just so much Designer Whey Awesomeness!  I’ll leave you with one last drool worthy picture – itz my coconut flour pancakes topped with Designer Whey White Chocolate protein frosting (simply mix the protein powder with water until desired consistency is reached).

Mmm, mmm, mmm!  Designer Whey has stolen my heart!

Which Designer Whey flavor or product sounds best to you?  Have you tried Designer Whey before?

*FitFluential & Designer Whey provided me with the products for review purposes only.  All opinions are my own.

Oakley Sunglasses Giveaway {CLOSED}

In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are off school today.  A three-day weekend is always nice!  I get to sleep in this morning; any bets on if I’ll make it past 6:00 a.m.?  Doubtful.  Waking up without an alarm is always nice, so I’m not complaining even though I know I’ll still be up early.  I’ve got a workout date planned with my friend who just joined my gym.  Working out with friends is awesome.

This weekend was pretty low-key.  On Saturday, I knocked out 30 minutes on the stair beast for some cardio before sitting in my hair stylist’s chair for a few hours during the afternoon.  I wanted to take a bikram class on Sunday like last weekend, but I also didn’t want to have to wash my hair the day after I got it done.  I can do a low-key workout and not wash my hair, but bikram is a must-shower-must-wash-hair kind of workout. Major sweatfest.  And after the work that Preston Salon Spa did on my hair, I was willing to take a rest day from the gym. #sacrifices

Hey, part of healthy living is knowing when to take rest days, keeping your hair healthy, and being ok with not being a gymaholic every day of the week.  (As long as you go on a fairly regularly basis like I do!)  And yet another part of healthy living is protecting your eyes from the super strong sun.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like the sun is brighter in the winter than the summer!  Maybe itz just because we get less of it so when itz out it feels intensified?  Maybe?

Lucky for me, Sunglasses Shop sent me a sweet pair of Oakley Women Sweet Spot Sunglasses.  They are from the latest collection of Oakley Sunglasses and are a perfect balance of style and sports. They even came in a pretty, sturdy case which is awesome for throwing them in my purse or gym bag and keeping the shades safe!

Some facts about the Oakley Women Sweet Spot Sunglasses:

• Three-point fit: eliminates pressure point tension during sunglasses wear.
• Lightweight, stress-resistant O Matter® frame: won’t weigh you down.
• Awesome UV protection: (100% of UVA / UVB / UVC & harmful blue light up to 400nm) provided by Plutonite® lens material.

How do they look?  Well, why don’t you tell me?

MARVELOUS! (Which is perfect for Katie at Healthy Diva Life’s Marvelous Monday!)  I love the look of oversized sunglasses, but often worry that they’ll overtake my face.  I don’t believe that’s the case with these shades.  Honestly, I think they’re perfect.  I have a pretty narrow face, so the fact that these stay on and still feel comfortable are impressive.  While I love wearing these as a fashion statement, when I start running again I’ll take them on a jog.  I’m confident that they’ll stay on, provide protection from the sun, and not be a bother during my run.  They’re stylish AND sporty!  Ready for the best part of this post?

Sunglass Shop is giving one lucky reader a pair of their own Oakley sunglasses!  Check out Sunglass Shop for tons of designer sunglasses.  For your chance to win, let us know what pair of sunglasses you would choose (mandatory).  Additional entries can be obtained by completing one or both of the following steps and leaving a comment saying you did:

• Follow Itz Linz and Sunglass Shop on Twitter and tweet the following, “I want to look stylish & sporty in Oakley Sunglasses that @ItzLinz is giving away via @SunglassShop! http://wp.me/p2WMfo-1g9″
• Subscribe to Itz Linz by entering in your e-mail address and confirming your follow via e-mail.

The Oakley Sunglasses Giveaway will be open until Thursday, January 24th at 8:00 pm CST.  One winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Friday, January 25th and will have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be selected.  Good luck!

{CLOSED}

The winner of the Oakley Sunglasses giveaway is #59 Danica @ It’s Progression. Congratulations!  Please e-mail me (itzlinz@gmail.com), so we can get you your sunglasses to you ASAP.  Thank you to Sunglasses Shop and everyone who entered.

*Note: I was given a pair the pair of Oakley Sunglasses from Sunglass Shop in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From Head to Toe

I’m switching things up over here today and am going to give you reviews of products I use and love from my head to my toes.  First up: my head.  Ok, my hair.  I have thick, wavy hair that can be pretty unruly.  Itz good in the sense that I can go both ways: I can put mousse in it and make it super wavy or I can straighten the heck outta it if I want the sleek, straight look.  No matter which look I choose, I always use BioSilk Silk Therapy.  This tames the frizz, adds shine, and smells delicious.

Another product for my hair that I’ve been loving are Active Accessories On-The-Go Hair Bands.  They are super cute, can be worn on your wrist with no shame (I hate wearing regular hair ties on my wrist – ugly!), and double as strong hair bands at the gym.  They come in five color varieties: Cool, Elegant, Warm, Neutral Prints, and Polka Dots and there are six different hair bands in each pack.  (I obviously chose the warm colors since they’re pink!)  I was worried that these would not hold my thick hair, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Not only was I able to fix a tight pony tail, but it didn’t budge throughout my workout.

Now onto my pretty face. 😉  dōTERRA Essential Skin Care is where itz at!  “dōTERRA Essential Skin Care is a family of skin care products designed to maximize the natural power of essential oils in helping to keep your skin feeling and looking young, healthy and gorgeous.”  I’m obviously proof of that.  Ha!

• Facial Cleanser: Uses melaleuca and peppermint (love the tingly feeling!) to gently wash away impurities and leave skin feeling clean, fresh, and smooth.
• Pore Reducing Toner: Formulated to visibly reduce the size of pores, uses lavender, ylang ylang, and German chamomile to calm sensitive skin, inhibit skin irritation, and reduce oxidative stress to skin cells.
• Tightening Serum: Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and promotes skin hydration with frankincense, sandalwood, and myrrh.
• Anti-Aging Moisturizer: Targets the visible signs of aging, improving skin elasticity and tone, reducing the appearance and number of wrinkles with lavender, jasmine, geranium, and frankincense.  (Never too early to start an anti-aging regimine!)
• Invigorating Scrub: Provides a rejuvenating and aromatic experience while leaving skin protected and smooth with grapefruit and peppermint; prevents irritation and proliferation of skin discoloration.  This feels SO good in the morning!

Running Skirts has a HUGE line of gear that includes way more than just running skirts.  Most recently, I’ve been totally loving the Cerise Performance Lifestyle Gathered Neck.  Not only is it awesome for workouts, I’ve even worn it to work.  And needless to say, thumb holes always rock.  (The matching headband is fun, too!)  Right now, they’re having a sale on tons of stuff if you’re interested.

On my bottom, without a doubt, my all-time favorite pants are my pants I received from pv.body.  I workout in them, I hang out in them, I even wear them to work (when paired with a longer top or sweater dress).  I’ve raved about them before (and will continue to do so), but seriously I’m kind of obsessed.  I can’t say enough good things about these pants.  They’re a perfect fit.

You know what’s coming for socks, don’t you?  Yes, I’m going to show you that glorious picture of me smelling my socks after running three races in them!  Itz because Swiftwick is just that awesome.  Their socks hold their shape and don’t stink at all, even after intense exercise.  I’ve never been so excited about socks as I have with these and I know my girl Larisa feels the same.

There ya have it!  Some of my favorites from head to toe!

What products do you want to rave about?  Share the love!

Disclaimer: This post is not compensated. While it was my choice to share the products I did, some of the products were sent to me for review purposes.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fitness with Anika

I mentioned on Monday that I took an exercise class this past weekend at a small studio called Fitness with Anika in St. Louis.  Today I’ll tell you about it, and show you a new-to-me move for your core via video.  (I guess this is the week of vlogs.  Did you see The Push-Up Challenge?  How about The Average Guy Workout?)  Anyway, when I first walked into Anika’s studio, I was instantly greeted with a big smile and a warm hug.  I knew we’d get along juuuuust fine.

The energy in Anika’s class was awesome.  Anika was loud, engaging, and motivating.  I’ve been to some fitness classes where it feels like the instructor is yelling at you.  I don’t find anything about that appealing.  Anika was not like that.  Instead, she was making us laugh which is quite a feat while our muscles were crying!

Anika offers three services: Weight Loss Program, Small Group Training, and Functional Training Camp. (More information can be found here.)  She helps with nutrition by discussing meal plans and holding her clients accountable.  During the class, it was obvious that Anika had developed solid relationships with the women.  This was my first time with Anika, and I know it won’t be the last.

Because of the small class size, Anika was able to keep a close eye on all of us.  I like knowing that the instructor will correct my form if I’m not doing it right, as I do not want to get injured.  Anika offered praise, encouragement, and modifications, as needed.

The studio in which Anika trains at is AWESOME!  I could seriously play there all.day.long.  She has tons of equipment from free weights to bosu balls to TRX to boxing bags to steps to weighted hula hoops (can we please try these next time??).

The exercises that Anika had us do during the sixty-minutes had us moving the whole time.  My heart rate was constantly elevated and I was never bored!  Anika even had us step outside for some sprints and short distance jogs.  I love when cardio is mixed in with weight training.  V-ups with the exercise ball always kill me!

My core was on FIRE!  Especially because the v-ups were most definitely not the only ab exercise we did.  Anika had us sit with our legs to the side, and then switch them.  At first, I was confused, but as we continued I understood.  Itz easier to explain via video so here’s a one-minute vlog explaining this new core exercise.

Have you ever done anything like that?  Itz a good one!  All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Anika’s class.  If you’re in the St. Louis area, I would highly recommend you check her out.  The fact that she has so much equipment and changes up the workouts constantly makes her classes FUN while working your body.  Double awesome.

Favorite core exercise?

Awesome Fitness Gear for $40

Who loves awesome fitness gear?  Ok, the real question is: who doesn’t?  Let’s be real here: What is more motivating than buying cute gym clothes that makes you feel good and look even better?  I know for me (myself included) awesome workout attire is always on my “want” list, and a girl can never have too much!  (Am I right or am I right?)  However, some brands are a wee bit lot too expensive to splurge for, no matter how cute.  Well, I’ve got the perfect solution for you, my friends. Itz pv.body!

How cute is my top in the above picture?  I get loads of compliments everywhere I wear it, and yep! You guessed it – itz pv.body!  (So are my pants!)  So what is pv.body?  pv.body is a subscription service that ships you a custom workout outfit for just $49 a month.  You take a quick style quiz online and answer questions for the style experts to best meet your needs and wants.  They ask you questions regarding color and style preference, workout variety, and size.

Then, they choose from name brands that retail at over $130 and they send you a top and bottom.  Shipping is always free and returns are always easy.  If you don’t like it (doubtful), or if it doesn’t fit (doubtful), their customer service is seriously awesome.

My first outfit they sent me were long pants and an adorable top.  My pants fit me like a glove, which for this big(ger) booty and small(er) waisted girl is quite impressive!  They come up high which I actually really like because I don’t have to worry about them coming down at all.  Plus, with them being higher-waisted, they are flattering and hit me at the right place (no muffin top here!).  The top is a longer length and has ruching up and down the sides – again, super flattering.  The top doesn’t have a ton of support for the girls, but itz totally fine for low impact activities, weight training, and yoga.  Or just wearing it out and about because itz so darn cute. (Or handstands in the living room…)

Now get this: They are offering every pv.body babe that signs up this month access to their 30 Day Challenge to kick start their resolutions!  The pv.body 30 day challenge provides you with your own personal dietitian and trainer to help you meet your fitness and health goals.  Everyday, our pv.body babes will be given a new challenge that they can share with friends!  Challenges include workouts, recipes, meal plans, group activities and more!

Document your progress through Tweets, Instagrams, or Pins with the hashtag #pv30daychallenge (follow me: @ItzLinz and pv.Body: @pvbody)

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Sign up here through my link and receive 20% off: http://pvbody.com/try/itzlinz
2. Take the pv.body 30 Day Challenge here to kick start your New Year resolutions and receive tons of fun prizes: http://pvbody.com/challenge 

(IMPORTANT: Please note that you will not receive the discount though the challenge link; you have to sign up through my link above to receive the 20% off.)

Did you catch that?  Using MY LINK, you get 20% off which means you get a high-quality, name-brand workout top and bottom for only $40!!!  AMAZING!!!

And don’t you worry your pretty, fit buns off!  There is absolutely zero commitment with pv.body.  Try it for one month (for $40 using my link) and enjoy your gear.  Love it? (which you probably will)  Then continue your subscription for $49 a month for as long as you’d like.  No commitment.  No shipping charges.  Easy peasy.

What are you waiting for?! Goooooo!!!

{Disclaimer: I received this outfit for review purposes from pv.body.  All opinions are my own.  Affiliate link provided.}

NatureBox Giveaway {CLOSED}

Who likes to snack?  I do!  I do!  Sometimes I’m a total snack monster, so when Molly from NatureBox asked me if I wanted to try their December NatureBox that was filled with their “favorite snacks,” I was more than happy to oblige.  Lucky for you, she also agreed to give one lucky reader a box, too!

What is NatureBox?  Each month, NatureBox chooses 5 different nutritionist-approved, healthy, all-natural snacks to include in their box for $19.95.  Plus, NatureBox donates one meal for every box to help feed over 14 million children in America who go hungry.  They believe in “doing good and eating well.”  Now that’s marvelous!

I’ll share with you the five marvelous snacks that were in December’s NatureBox so you can get a glimpse of the goodness that each box brings.  In addition to the snacks, NatureBox also provides a card that tells a bit about each of the snacks with suggestions for how to eat them or what to pair them with.  Honestly, Jonny and I have been enjoying the snacks straight out of the bag!

Wild Blueberry Flax Granola:  This was packed with antioxidant-rich wild blueberries and flaxseeds, and tasted just like a blueberry muffin!   I could not believe how strong the blueberry flavor was in this granola, and the dried blueberries were a nice touch, too.  We’ve eaten many handfuls, but I’ve also mixed it with cottage cheese for a more substantial snack.  Tastes.so.good.

Lemon Pucker Pistachios: I’ve never had pistachios that are flavored, but I’m definitely a fan.  There is just the most mild hint of lemon which makes for such a refreshing snack.

Masa Crisps:  These mini chips satisfy a salty craving like no other!  NatureBox’s suggestion was to dip them in hummus or sprinkle them over a salad or chili which would be awesome.  But they didn’t last that long in our house since we liked them so much.  They held their own and were tasty enough to eat plain!

Pistachio Power Clusters: I really do love pistachios and I love them even more since I don’t eat them as frequently as peanuts or almonds or other nuts.  The clusters balance sweet and savory flavors that really do make it hard to resist!

Dried Pears:  I love dried fruit!  However, I don’t love all the additional sugar that usually goes along with it.  I was most delighted to notice that the only ingredient in this snack was pears – no added sugar whatsoever!  And they really didn’t need it as their soft, buttery texture made for such a yummy snack.

Now itz your turn!  All you have to do is share with us one healthy step you plan on taking in 2013 and NatureBox will give one box to an Itz Linz reader to help with their healthy snacking!  Leave a comment on this blog post.  For additional entries, complete one or all of the following steps and leave a comment saying you did:

• Follow Itz Linz and NatureBox on Twitter and tweet the following, “Healthy snacking made easy with @NatureBox! Win a box here: http://wp.me/p2WMfo-1bp via @ItzLinz“
• Follow Itz Linz and NatureBox on Instagram.
• Subscribe to Itz Linz by entering in your e-mail address and confirming your follow via e-mail.

This giveaway will be open until Thursday, January 3rd at 8:00 pm CST.  One winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Friday, January 4th and will have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be selected.  Good luck and Happy New Year!

*Note: NatureBox provided me with one box to sample and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Edit to add: The winner of the NatureBox giveaway is #79 Brittany!  Congratulations!  Please email me at itzlinz@gmail.com in the next 48 hours with your mailing address.  Thank you to everyone who entered!  You may order your own NatureBox by visiting their site and using the code “HEALTHY” to receive $5 off your order.  Great deal!

 

 

Creamy Fire Roasted Red Pepper Aritchoke Dip

Oh hello and happy Thursday to you, my friends.  I’ve got a recipe to share with you today.  It all started in Pennsylvania during the Runner’s World Half & Festival Weekend.  There were numerous vendors who were all so wonderful.  One of them were a couple of people working the Mediterranean Snacks booth; they were passing out samples of their lentil crackers.  I really liked them so when Ali e-mailed me asking if I’d like to try their new line of Hummuz Crispz, I quickly obliged.

The first thing I noticed about these Hummuz Crispz were that they were packin’ 5 grams of protein per serving (about 14 crispz).  Crispz with protein?  Yessir, I do appreciate that!  They’re also gluten-free (a perk for some).  I liked their slogan for these, “Lighter than a cracker; sturdier than a chip.”  The crispz are definitely light; that’s for sure, but they are sturdy as they were able to hold the thick dip I made.

As you saw, the crispz come in three Mediterranean cuisine-inspired flavors: Olive Tapenade, Roasted Red Pepper, and Roasted Garlic.  All of the flavors are very mild; there’s just a hint of the flavor in each bite which makes it easy to pair them with any type of dip.

After I finished the first two bags of crispz, I knew I wanted to make a dip to go with the last bag I had left: Olive Tapenade.  Creamy and semi-healthy were my goals and I do believe I accomplished just that.  I grabbed a few products from Trader Joe’s and got started.  Here’s what happened:

Creamy Fire Roasted Red Pepper Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 can white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 jar fire roasted red peppers, drained
• 1/3 jar marinated artichoke hearts
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/4 cup plain nonfat greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• dash of sea salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper
• sriracha to taste

Directions:

• Place all items in food processor and blend until desired consistency is reached.

Easy enough, eh?  I loved how creamy it turned out, and no one would ever even guess there were beans in it (Jonny sure didn’t).  The beans don’t add flavor, but they do add bulk, protein, and fiber.  I imagine this dip will get made again, especially during football season when many dips are prevalent.  I also would like to try this dip as a spread on a veggie sandwich or wrap.  That would be killer.  But merely pairing it with the Hummuz Crispz was a really great option and would be wonderful to serve as an appetizer with guests.

What type of dips do you like?  Have you tried any of the Mediterranean Snacks?

*Disclaimer:  While I was sent the Hummuz Crispz free of charge, I was not compensated for this review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.