Giveaway

{Giveaway} Beauty Without Cruelty

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Have you ever considered what is actually in your nail polish? Most nail polishes are filled with toxic ingredients, including phthalates, toluene, and formaldehyde. In addition to being filled with toxins many nail polishes, like other beauty products, are tested on animals.

Beauty Without Cruelty, a British based company, has spent over 40 years dedicating itself to creating natural, color cosmetics that are NOT tested on animals and do NOT contain any animal ingredients. In 1989, Beauty Without Cruelty was introduced in the United States and later that year natural skin care line was developed to compliment the color line from England. Today, Beauty Without Cruelty has a full line of cruelty-free, vegetarian skin, body, and hair care products made with the finest natural ingredients and aroma-therapeutic essential oils, and a full line of colour cosmetics to meet the needs of every woman.

My first experience with Beauty Without Cruelty was with their hair care products, which I absolutely love, so I was delighted when I was given the opportunity to try out one of their nail polishes from their Attitude collection.  I chose tangerine because it was not my normal colour and I thought it would be fun for summer.  As soon as the package arrived I  opened it up and tried it out right away.  I was impressed that I didn’t need to do a million layers to get the right shade and how quickly it actually dried. I have had so many “quick dry” nail polishes that always took forever to dry, but the BWC nail polish dried super fast.

The nail colour lasted, without chipping, for about five days.  For me this is impressive; most nail polishes that I use last me for about an hour before I chip them.  Overall I was impressed by the colour and quality of the nail polish and have already asked my husband for three more colours for my birthday.

Giveaway Details:
Winner receives 1 Attitude Nail Colour, in a shade of their choosing.

– 2 Winners total

– US residents only

Giveaway is open until August 6th at 8pm EST. CLOSED.


Giveaway requirements:

  • Visit the BWC website and tell me which colour of nail polish you would pick. (Mandatory)
  • Become friends/follow BWC on facebook. (Mandatory)
Leave one comment telling me your colour choice AND that you follow BWC on facebook.

Additional Entries:

Leave one comment for each additional entry.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: Beauty Without Cruelty provided me with a sample of their products to review and giveaway, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway.

{Giveaway} Sweaty Bands

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I have always struggled to find the perfect sports headband to wear for running and other activities.  I have always found ones that are okay but they end up slipping off after awhile, so when I Sweaty Bands offered to send me a sample of their product I jumped at the opportunity.  Sweaty Bands are made to grip and hold your hair all without slipping or causing breakage. In addition to holding your hair back they soak up sweat without dripping and keep those wispy little hairs out of your face.

I was a little skeptical when I first took it out of the package because it looks like a few of the other active headbands I have but I was surprised by how well it worked.  I first tried it out during my last training run and it worked well but the real test was going to be my 5k race.  Since it’s been so hot out I have been wearing a bandana to help keep the sweat from dripping down my face but it’s bulky and tends to shift a lot during my run so I was hoping that the Sweaty Band would help with both keeping my hair out of my face and catch a bit of my sweat.

To my delight the Sweaty Band did indeed keep my hair out of my face and most of the sweat off too.  The band did not shift at all during my run and I barely even noticed it was on my head.  In addition to keeping my hair back and the sweat off my face it is super cute and comes in a number of styles; I want the 13.1 Sweaty Band when I finish my first half.

Well now that I’ve told you how great it is (and it really is) I am going to give you a chance to win one yourself.

To Enter: 

Giveaway closes at 8pm EST on July 31, 2011. 

Winner: Sabrina!

Mandatory:  What activity do you get most sweaty at?

Additional Entries (YOU MUST LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY FOR IT TO COUNT):

  • Like Health & Wellness With Lindsay on Facebook
  • Sign up for my Health & Wellness Newsletter 
  • Tweet about this “I want to win @cookveganlover @sweatybands giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2pJ”
Disclaimer:  Sweaty Bands provided me with a sample of their products to review and giveaway, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway.

Take Yoga Anywhere Giveaway

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I have been lucky enough to get away this weekend and do hours and hours of yoga.  For those times when I want to get away (for a non-yoga retreat) or don’t have time to go to a yoga studio I like to do a home practice and YogaDownload.com has been a great way to do this.

Why YogaDownload? (their reasons in black, my responses in red)

Yoga Download empowers you to practice yoga your way, on your time, wherever you see fit. Check out some of the best reasons to choose classes from YogaDownload.com:

  • Superior Quality – every yoga download class is professionally recorded and mastered to give you the highest quality experience. I agree with this- I find that the recordings are really well done and are really easy to follow on your own.
  • Unparalleled Selection – and Growing! – with hundreds of classes in dozens of styles, you can practice your favorite form of yoga or experiment with new styles. This is one thing I love about the site- they have so many different types of yoga from Hatha to Power to Kundalini to Yoga for Runners- it makes it fun and exciting to try new types of yoga at home to decide whether you like them enough to spend the $15-20/class to do them at a studio.
  • Yoga Your Way – whether you’re looking to relax for five minutes or sweat for an hour and a half, Yoga Download offers classes to fit your schedule and needs. Another great feature about yoga download – you don’t have to schedule your time around the class that you want to go to you can schedule your practice around your time.  I love being able to do a quick 20 minute practice after work or 60 minute practice on the weekends when studios in Burlington are all closed.  Additionally, there are times when studios don’t have the type of class I want to attend during the hours I am available but with yogadownload.com I am able to take any class (that they have) whenever I want.
  • Options Galore – choose audio classes, video classes, slideshows or build your own custom class from your favorite poses, then choose to stream it once or download it and keep it forever. See above.
  • Affordability – stream, save to your computer or become an unlimited monthly or annual subscriber. Yoga Download makes a high-end yoga practice attainable for all. This is the biggest plus- you can get a number of free 20 minute downloads and if you like it go back for the 30, 60 or 90minute downloads for only a few dollars! Way less than studio practice and all those expensive DVD’s that you can’t take with you everywhere.*
  • For the Teacher, By the Teacher – Yoga Download is designed to be an outlet for a wide range of deeply talented yoga teachers to share their gifts and practice with a global audience.

*Note: I don’t think YogaDownload.com is a replacement for studio classes- it is not the same by any means but it does provide you quality podcasts for your at home practices or for the times when going to the studio just doesn’t fit your budget.  Additionally, I love my yoga DVD’s but with one TV in the house it makes it difficult to do them at times as well as I can’t always bring them with me when I travel.

Overall I loved my experience with Yoga Download an I plan to continue using their services and podcasts for those days I don’t make it to class or just want a quick practice at home. My favorite YogaDownload classes are the gentle Hatha Yoga and the Yoga for Runners

Yoga Download has generously donated a free one month membership to one reader.

To Enter: You must leave a separate comment for each entry and YOU MUST do the mandatory entry for your additional to count.  This giveaway closes on June 30, 2011 at 6pm EST.

The Winner is:

1. Like YogaDownload on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/YogaDownload (MANDATORY)

Additional Entries:

  • Visit the YogaDownload site and tell me which class you would like to try.
  • Follow me on twitter.
  • Follow YogaDownload on twitter.
  • Tweet about this giveaway: “I want to win @cookveganlover giveaway for a free month of @YogaDownload http://wp.me/pFVWo-2dX”
  • Tell me what your favorite yoga pose is

Fitness Friday: Mondetta Performance Gear Giveaway!

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I had the best intentions of writing a Fitness Friday post last week and then our Anniversary Getaway took over and I decided to postpone my Fitness Friday and MPG Sport Giveaway until today.  I did post my May Fitness Follow Up and June Goals earlier this week so you can head over to that post to get all the details.  So far we are only 3 days into June and my workouts have included:

  • Wed-June 1: C25K Week 6 Day 1
  • Thurs-June 2: 30 min cross training
  • Fri-June 3: 20 min AM yoga; C25K Week 6 Day 2

MPG  REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!

Savvy Top and Stance Bottom

Mondetta Performance Gear (MPG), a Winnipeg based active wear company, contacted me a few months back about doing a review and giveaway. I decided that they would be a perfect fit for the blog and a great review/giveaway for a Fitness Friday post.  MPG allowed me to choose two items to review and provided me with the link to their Fit Guide to help me decide which size would be best. I decided to go with:

Top: Savvy

Sparkle jersey workout tank with contrast laser cut details.

  • Nylon-spandex blended jersey
  • Four-way stretch, moisture wicking, quick dry
  • Self fabric taping details
  • Ergonomic performance seams
  • Contrast laser-cut sonic welded inserts
  • Built in Coolmax bra liner with removable cups
  • Full support
  • High visibility logo

RECOMMENDED FOR: Light to heavy workouts, yoga, training, general exercis

Bottom: Stance

Performance capri legging for all types of exercise.

  • Polyester-spandex blended jersey
  • Four-way stretch, moisture wicking, quick dry
  • Breathable mesh leg panels
  • Zippered storage pocket
  • Built in gusset
  • Adjustable draw cord in waistband
  • Semi-low rise, fitted throughout, 21″ inseam
  • High visibility reflective logo

RECOMMENDED FOR: Low or high impact workouts, yoga, dance, running

The Stance capri leggings are now easily one of my favorite bottoms to run and do yoga in.  I love them so much that I am planning on getting another pair after I finish writing this post.  They fit perfectly just below the waist (on me) and have a nice adjustable draw cord which is really beneficial for runs.  I also love the breathable mesh leg panels.  I am not a short wearer so the breathable mesh leg panels allow my legs to be covered but not over heated when I run.  The other thing I love is the zippered storage pocket on the back; it is perfect for keeping a single key and ID.

The Savvy top was nice but not a favorite top of mine.  I love the color and the material but although it is described as having full support I didn’t find that it provided full sport when I was running.  However this may be a case that I require a large top and my bust requires a medium.  However, I found that it did provide good support for yoga.

Overall I was impressed by the items I tried from MPG.  They are high quality items at a reasonable price. I have washed and worn the items a number of times since I received them in April and they still look brand new!  In addition to making impressive active wear MPG is also involved in charitable activities, the Mondetta Charity Foundation (MCF).  Our founders were all born in the East African countries of Kenya and Uganda and have decided to support an an orphanage in the former and a school in the latter.  Most of the children directly benefiting from the MCF’s efforts have either lost their parents to AIDS or are themselves living with the disease that has ravaged most of the African continent.  One percent of total MPG sales are contributed to the MCF, which is a completely separate entity from the parent company, Mondetta, meaning all operating and administration costs are covered by the company and all donated funds received go directly where they should: to help those in need.

To learn more about the foundation and its initiatives, please check out the link below.

Also, 1% of every MPG garment sold goes to the foundation. For more info on the charity please check out Mondetta Gives Back.

So the best part about this review is that MPG has agreed to giveaway one of their products to a Cook.Vegan.Lover. reader. For the giveaway, MPG would like to offer one reader anything from the website in both active and lifestyle tops and bottoms.  Additionally, I would like to mention that MPG makes both active and lifestyle tops and bottoms for men and women so guys don’t forget to enter!

To Enter Giveaway: Open to US and Canadian Residents. Winner is Ashley! Congrats!

You must head over to Facebook and “Like” MPG Mondetta Performance Gear and then come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did so by June 8th, 2011 at 8pm EST.

Lastly, MPG is providing Cook.Vegan.Lover. readers with the following discount code to receive 25% off a one-time purchase that expires 6.30.11: veganloverlovesmpg

Want to read more? Head over to Brittany’s MPG review at her blog Eating Bird Food.

Fitness Friday & Nathan Sports Giveaway

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This month has flown by, I can’t believe there are only two days left for this months incentive program.  Unfortunately I took too many days of in the last few weeks that I will have workout today and tomorrow to complete the 80% for the month or I will have to do over three hours to complete the 70%….I think I’ll be going with 2 more days of working out. I had taken a break from Couch to 5k due to the fact our weather has been rain, rain and more rain which makes it difficult to get out and run.  The Hubz on the other hand has a beautiful gym at work so he has been doing his C25K on the treadmill at work and is a week ahead of me.  Also in new and exciting news the Hubz an I signed up for our first 5K you can read more about it here. With that being said I am back on the C25K wagon and am taking advantage of the sunny days to get out and prepare for my first 5K.  Okay so lets get to the break down of the past week April 22-28:

  • Friday OFF
  • Saturday 1.5 mile walk and power yoga 1hr 35min
  • Sunday 2 miles hike – 1 hour
  • Monday 20 minute Yoga/Abs/Legs workout
  • Tuesday OFF
  • Wednesday C25K Day 2 Week 1 plus walking- total 4 miles in 58 minutes
  • Thursday- 20 minute Ab workout

Totals: 22/24 days and 14hrs 23minutes/15hours

Friday- TBD

Saturday- TBD

 

Nathan REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Now that we have discussed the updates lets get down to the good stuff- the giveaway.  I think that this giveaway is perfect for this post and in honor of my first 5k. Nathan Sports just sent me one of their Speed 2 Hydration Belts and Zebra steel 700 mL to try out. The details about the Speed 2 Hydration Belt :

I have been wearing it for running and on our first hike of the season.  I have used other hydration belts before for hiking specifically and they have been uncomfortable and floppy but this one fit perfectly.  It fit snug on the hips to prevent any flopping and it was great because the storage pocket allowed me to carry my ID, car keys and digital camera.  I loved the water bottles; they were easy to access and drink from.  For our short day hike it held the perfect amount of water for one person.  I really am looking forward to using this more on afternoon hikes.  In addition to using it for hiking I also used it yesterday on my run because it was nearly 80F here and water was necessary for my 3 mile run/walk. Again I loved how it fit and didn’t shift while I was running.  I was able to carry my keys, ID and my iPhone which I use for C25K and music.  My only complaint is that I have to place my iPhone in the back pocket which makes it hard to use my headphones because the cord isn’t long enough.  Since  I don’t have another place to hold my iPhone unless I carry it in my hand or wear my SPIbelt (which seams silly)  I guess I will have to get a headphone cord extender.

The second item that I have been trying out is the Zebra steel 700 mL to try out. The details about the Zebra steel 700 mL :

I have tried my fair share of reusable water bottles including Nalgene, Sigg, Clean Canteen, and EarthLust however none of the models of these that I have tried compare to this style of water bottle.  This bottle is perfect for the elliptical because a) it fits in my water bottle holder (my other ones don’t) b) it has a great stray feature which means I don’t pour water all over myself or fall of the elliptical trying to drink oh and c) it looks pretty and has a fun design.  The mouth piece is different too it is very soft and flexible and perfect for to sip through.  I also love that it comes with 2 extra straws so you can switch them out while you are cleaning them or if you need to replace one. The other feature I love is the clip on the top; I haven’t used it yet but I imagine it will be great for hooking on things when traveling or even hiking.

Now that you have fallen in love with both of these items (you have right?) Nathan Sports is going to give one lucky reader both of these items.   Now here is how you enter, oh and this is open to US and Canadian residence and you can enter until May 2nd 10th at 8pm EST.

THE WINNER IS LAUREN!

Mandatory: 

1. Visit the Nathan Sports website and tell me something you learned. (leave a comment below)

Additional Chances to Win (you must leave a separate comment for each)

  • Follow Nathan Performance Gear on Twitter
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Follow my health counseling on Twitter
  • Tweet “I want to win the@NathanPerfGear giveaway on @cookveganlover http://wp.me/pFVWo-21j”
  • “Like” Nathan Performance Gear on Facebook
  • “Like” Cook.Vegan.Lover on Facebook
  • “Like” Get Healthy With Lindsay on Facebook
  • Leave a Facebook Comment on Nathan Performance Gear saying that you want to win and include http://wp.me/pFVWo-21j


 

Earth Day Everyday!

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I hope everyone had a great Earth Day. I was super busy yesterday and didn’t get to posting my intended Earth Day post however I think Earth Day should be everyday! What are you doing to better the planet?

Caress Voile featuring Repreve® Recycled Fibers! Saving an average of 7 plastic bottles from a landfill per panel, the new Caress Voile curtains are made with fabric created from recycled plastic bottles to provide an eco-friendly and fashion forward option for window treatments.

Around the Home:

1. Choose linens and curtains made from eco-friendly materials whenever possible. Over the past few years the Hubz and I have been working to make our home a greener place.  Part of that process is being mindful of the products that we purchase and use in our home.  We have a few sets of sheets made of organic cotton and just changed out our curtains for these Caress Voile which are made from recycled fibers and are super inexpensive (only $10 per pack).

2. Swap out your chemical cleaners for natural cleaners. I am all over the place with natural cleaners right now.  I am testing out a number of different brands to find my favorite.  Currently we have Simple Green Naturals, Seventh Generation and Ecover products.  Currently my overall favorite is Seventh Gen however the other brands are also good.

3. Clean yourself without the chemicals. Choose natural body products including toothpaste, body wash, lotions, shampoo and conditioner. Just like what you put in your body you should be mindful of what you put on your body.  I have had my ups and downs with natural products and there are some that I love and think work really well and others that are just awful.  Here is a peak at a few of my favorite products.

Kiss My Face Toothpaste- this is my absolute favorite natural toothpaste it is made with aloe and works so well. Also Kiss my Face body wash, shampoo and deodorant- I really love all these but I do purchase other products such as Jason and even the natural Whole Foods and Trader Joes brands are pretty good. Lastly is a new deodorant for the Hubz it's a manly scented Tom's which he actually hasn't tried yet.

4. Choose recycled paper and plastic products. There are a number of options out there for toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags and food storage products (sandwich bags, aluminum foil, parchment paper,ect).  My favorite for toilet paper, paper towels and garbage bags are Seventh Generation.  I have tried out a number of other brands and there aren’t any (that I have tried) that really hold up as well as Seventh Generation.  My absolute favorite environmentally friendly products that I use in the kitchen are If You Care. They make a number of products including coffee filters, parchment paper, sandwiches bags, and aluminum foil.  I use the coffee filters daily and they are wonderful.  The parchment paper is my favorite to use when I am baking it helps reduce the amount of oil I use in my cooking and it also means less dishes to wash. If You Care also makes household gloves, fire starters, cheesecloth, baking cups and twine; I have not tried any of these products yet but hope to soon.  (p.s. keep reading to win your own box of If You Care goodies).

Travel

1. Drive less. I know that driving is a necessity for some people, myself included, however being mindful of how often you drive is important. When you do drive places pick the most direct route to your destination and make sure to plan well so you only have to make one trip. When possible take advantage of public transportation. The Hubz works downtown and has a bus stop right outside of his work; when he can he takes the bus to work and in the summer he bikes a few days per week.

2. Walk or Bike. Whenever possible walk or bike to your destination.  Not only will you be reducing your carbon footprint but you will be improving your health.

Food

1. Dining out. Choose locally owned restaurants and/or restaurants that focus on local and organic products.  When you travel do your research and find places that fit these standards.  You’ll find that food that is produced locally and/or organically taste better and provides more energy.

2. Shop locally. Whenever possible purchase your food at local co-ops, health food stores and farmers markets before visiting larger stores.  Not only will you be purchasing higher quality food, food that you know where it came from but you will be helping local companies and the local economy.

3. Grow your own food. Take the time to grow your own food; this does not mean you have to create a garden or get alocal garden plot (although both great ideas). you could simple have a pot on your steps or balcony with herbs, greens or tomatoes.  Knowing where you food comes from and the accomplishment of growing your own food really makes your food taste better.

4. Eat more plants. Studies show that eating a plant based diet is better for the environment and the world around us.A plant based diet can lead to extra years of healthy living than one that is focused on meats and dairy. Additionally, it also reduces environmental damage and farm animal suffering

 

Giveaway Time!!

If You Care recently sent me a variety of products to try and to giveaway. For the giveaway I am giving one lucky winner a t-shirt, household gloves, 2 sizes of coffee filters, jumbo baking cups and wax paper.  In addition two people will win an If You Care t-shirt. This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only.

The giveaway is open until April 25, 2011 at 8pm EST. You must leave a separate comment for each entry for it to qualify.

Required Entry:
1. Visit the If You Care website and tell me something new that you learned.

Additional Entries:

  1. Follow me on twitter: @cookveganlover
  2. Tweet “I want to win If You Care eco-friendly products @cookveganlover http://wp.me/pFVWo-1ZA”
  3. Subscribe to my newsletter (in the side bar).
  4. Blog about this giveaway, remember to link back to this post.
  5. “Like” Cook.Vegan.Lover. on Facebook.



The Winner of the If You Care gift package is:

The Winners of the T-shirts are:

Staying Active: April Update and a GIVEAWAY!

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We are a week into April and things have been going great, both the Hubz and I are keeping on top of working out and we even started Couch to 5k again! I have also been using Daily Mile to keep track of my activities and it is really great to connect with other people and find support, motivation and inspiration. So here is the break down of April 1-7:

– Friday Community Class at Evolution Yoga 1 hr 15 min

– Saturday 30 minute walk around Middlebury

-Sunday C25K Day 1 Week 1 plus walking – total 3 miles in 40 minutes

– Monday Rodney Yee AM Yoga and Yoga for Abs 40 minutes

– Tuesday walked on the bike path with the Hubz 1.5 miles 30 minutes

-Wednesday C25K Day 2 Week 1 plus walking- total 2.9 miles in 35 minutes

-Thursday- OFF

Totals: 6/24 days and 4hrs 10minutes/15hours

 

 

OISELLE REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Now that we have discussed the updates lets get down to the good stuff- the giveaway.  I think that this giveaway is perfect for this post, my new love like of running and because I know that many of you are runners or are active in other ways.  Oiselle just sent me one of their Recycled Poly Tech Tops to try. The Recycled Poly Tech Top was designed to be so light, “you might forget you have it on. The wing motion graphic across the chest mimics the lightness of your feet’s flight. And because it’s made of 50% recycled polyester it’s light impact on the planet too. A running top so light it’s practically gravity defying.”

– Light, silky fabric
– Flattering fit
– Silk screen graphic
– 50% recycled polyester/50% polyester
– machine washable

I have been wearing it for running and other activities.  I honestly thought the shirt wasn’t too cute in the photo and was like oh well I don’t need to look cute to run I just need to have something that is light and is great for running.  To my surprise (and delight) the shirt came and it was actually super cute on and it fit perfectly.  I immediately put it on and went for a run and fell in love.  The shirt is really great because not only is the fabric light on your skin it breathes really well and even though I got sweaty I didn’t feel drenched and weighed down.

Now that I have this top the stripey tank has caught my eye and would be perfect for summer. Oh and if you are a bride-to-be and a runner you will love this.

Now that you have fallen in love with this top (you have right?) I should mention that they sent me two and since it isn’t in my size one lucky person will have the chance to win this top.  Now the top is the one you see to the left (same color) and is in a size medium, however depending on how you like your clothes to fit it could easily fit someone who wears a small.  Now here is how you enter, oh and this is open to US and Canadian residence and you can enter until April 10th at midnight.

The Winner is:


Mandatory:

1. Visit the Oiselle website and tell me something you learned. (leave a comment below)

Additional Chances to Win (you must leave a separate comment for each)

  • Follow Oiselle on Twitter
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Follow my health counseling on Twitter
  • Tweet “I want to win the @Oiselle giveaway on @cookveganlover http://wp.me/pFVWo-1Lw”
  • “Like” Oiselle Running on Facebook
  • “Like” Cook.Vegan.Lover on Facebook
  • Leave a Facebook Comment on Oiselle saying that you want to win and include http://wp.me/pFVWo-1Lw