Maven Says: Lovin' Ryka Kicks

The nice people over at Ryka, along with the lovely ladies at Parent Bloggers Network gave me a pair of MC2 Walking Shoes to take for a spin and let you know what I thought. I received my new shoes and was thrilled to give them a spin. Unfortunately they were too small. They run true to my running/exercise shoe size rather than my regular shoe size. They moved me up into the next size right away. Ahhhhhhh, room for my toes! Just like clothes, forget about what size they are and find the one that fits you!
I have been a reasonably regular walker for the last 6 years. After PDQ was born I lost nearly 100 pounds and most of my exercise was walking. We lived near a lake with a walking path and PDQ and I did it religiously. One of the only problems was my feet and ankles would get sore. Fast forward 6 years, I have maintained about a 30 pound loss after having another baby and I am still walking and fighting to find a shoe that is comfy for my foot. I generally hate the look of walking shoes and have worn every running shoe on the face of the earth (that I could find in a size 11!) including several pairs of Rykas. The result was generally sore shins.

So I went out to try my new walking specific shoes. After 2 miles, no sore shins, comfy feet and no pain in my knees or ankles. Oh, I like these shoes! For the next several weeks I put around 10 miles a week on the shoes and continued to be pretty comfortable walking--both on the walking paths and in the gym on the treadmill. My knees, ankles and feet all held up pretty well. With my wider forefoot and narrow heel it is sometimes hard to find shoes that fit well. These shoes, and the other Ryka shoes I've tried, fit the bill. I love the idea that Ryka only develops shoes for women. We deserve to have good exercise shoes that fit our feet and aren't just whittled down versions of men's shoes.

What I liked:
Good support & cushioning
Comfortable in the gym and on the street
Good fit in the heel and forefoot
Lacing options around the ankle for good adjustment
What I'd do different:
Shoes are all leather and a bit hot when walking during hot weather
I still can't quite get over the look of walking shoes, I prefer the sportier look of running shoes (but these are the sportiest of the walking shoes I've seen/had)
Just another personal plug for the folks at Ryka. A friend started training for a triathlon last year and it just happened to be the Ryka Irongirl Triathlon in Columbia, MD. I went to the event and it was seriously first class. The race was well run and the go grrrrrrrrrl feeling was electric in the air. In fact, I was so inspired by what I saw there that I am now training to do it as well. Soon I'll be trading in my walking shoes for running shoes so that I can swim, bike, run to the finish line next year. Registration starts next week and I'm signing up, then I'll be totally committed (some days I already feel like I should be)!
Free shoes? Yep, you can enter to win your own pair of free shoes over at the Ryka website and enter their Good for Your Sole promotion to win one of 50 pairs of shoes or performance tees EVERY DAY through October 25! I told you these people rock. So get thee on over there and sign thee self up!

Maven Says: Books are Moovelous

My girls love videos, especially on long car rides. Along came Wilbur from my friends at Parent Bloggers just in time for our vacation drive. It was Boobah's turn to pick the first movie, she chose Wilbur. PDQ complained before it started that it was a baby video. Thankfully, once Wilbur and his friends Ray, Dasha and Libby started things quieted down. I even caught my thirteen year old stepson watching along with the girls. Although he didn't watch for long, anything that doesn't involve live action that can get his attention for a moment wins in my book. The girls stayed engaged with the show until the end and Boobah was crushed when it was over and PDQs turn to pick. Boobah picked Wilbur again later in the trip and insisted on sharing it with her toddler cousin once we arrived at our lake house. He enjoyed it while running around the room, as he generally enjoys everything!

Wilbur and his puppet animal friends were created by a group of Moms who noticed the limited TV programming for preschoolers. They do a great job of promoting early literacy skills, the calf Wilbur reminding us frequently that "books are moovelous!" I love that Wilbur reinforces my goal of having my children develop an early love of books and reading. I grew up with books everywhere and parents who always had a book laying around the house--sometimes more than one. My husband didn't have that same experience and rarely reads (for his own pleasure) today so I am very concious of reinforcing the value of reading with the kids. Its important to me that their other entertainment options send the same message so its not just something Mom wants me to do.

Two moos for Wilbur and his friends and their positive, entertaining reinforcement of the importance of reading! You can catch them on TLC or Ready, Set, Learn on the Discovery Kids Channel.

Maven Says: These things SERIOUSLY ROCK!

If you haven't already figured it out, I am a chocoholic! I love chocolate. About half the month chocolate and salt are my two favorite vices. Now Hershey's offers them together for only 100 calories. I've been sucked in before by the lure of 100 calorie snacks that weren't very good or if they were good, weren't very satisfying. Hershey's has won my undying devotion with this one. Two biggish pretzels covered in a thick blanket of chocolaty goodness. All wrapped up in a neat little package that fits nicely in my desk drawer. I thought the regular price at the grocery store was pretty ridiculous but at BJ's Wholesale Club I found them in 4 box pack--2 of the pretzels and two with chocolate covered wafers (think Kit Kat) for around $7.00. My local grocery store has had the boxes 2/$5 for the past two weeks as well. THAT I'd pay for this delicious treat. Find me on the right day, I'd even pay full price.

Maven Says: Style me up

My latest offering from Parent Bloggers Network is the new book The Little Black Book of Style by Elle Magazine Fashion Director and Project Runway Judge Nina Garcia. As a serious Project Runway fan I could hear Nina's voice with its Colombian accent as I read the book written as if I were having a conversation with her.

The most important (and probably hardest to carry out) piece of advice in the book was to edit your wardrobe. She challenges you to find the truly remarkable pieces in your wardrobe and pitch everything else. I know I've stared at a full closet only to feel like I had nothing to wear. Garcia urges to get rid of them advising "its much easier to be inspired when you see five remarkable pieces than when you see twenty-five pieces and twenty of them are unremarkable." Ouch, that is a story I know all too well! I've got some serious editing of my own to do! There were moments as I read that I felt a little like one of the fashion victims on What Not to Wear whining to Stacey and Clinton--thinking in my head, I can't get rid of that, its comfortable or has sentimental value. I am obviously in a suburban Mommy clothing rut.

Garcia waxes poetic about heels and the few times you shouldn't wear them. My general feeling about heels are they are lovely on other people and I'll wear them for special occasions. I did agree with her however on the philosophy of shoes, lots of shoes. My closet doesn't have a single pair of Manolo's or Jimmy Choo's but it does have lots and lots of other pairs. I am sure that Nina wouldn't approve of most of my low heeled, practical, comfortable shoes but I do appreciate the sentiment that shoes make the outfit and having LOTS of them is good, very good. Right along with shoes was her advice on accessories making the outfit. As someone who has been a "big girl" most of my life I can honestly say I am an accessory and shoe hound because no matter what size I've been I can always find shoes and accessories that fit!

The Little Black Book of Style is not a how to guide for dressing. There is no magic formula for putting piece A with piece B to come out with stunning outfit C. There are tips about how to take advantage of classics and suggestions for how to dress for various occasions. For the true fashionista there is a question and answer section in the back of the book with top fashion designers. Most importantly, the book makes you think about and how to develop one of your own. I'm off to try and edit my closet and think about what pieces are truly remarkable and which ones belong in the trash.

Maven Says: Don't burn with KINeSYS

My grandfather died of melanoma, my YOUNGER sister has already had one basal cell carncinoma removed and a number of pre-cancers. Given that I should be wearing sunscreen all the time but generally I hate it. The oily feeling, the goopiness, my hands getting sticky. Okay, I'll stop whining!

Enter Parent Bloggers Network and the chance to review KINeSYS performance sunscreen. I think I am in love. There is both an adult and a kids non-aerosol imicrospray that goes on so light you d0n't even feel it. It goes on so evenly you don't have to touch it with your hands--huge bonus for me. Although I prefer they don't take it into their own hands as they pick really bad places to spray like on the tile floors that get slippery from the over-spray they CAN use it all on their own. What a great incentive for teaching good habits. The sunscreen has been formulated for athletes, sweat doesn't cause it to run into your eyes and your skin can breathe. The alcohol, PABA and oil have been used and the active ingredients are parasol or titanium dioxide. The Early Show tagged it as the most effective sunscreen of over 700 that they tried.

In addition to the great sprays there are also creams and one of my favorites, a stick for the face. The kids love being written on with the stick to protect the cheeks, ears and nose--I like not having to use the spray on my hands to rub on them. I am bad about remembering the ears so it is a great thing for me too!

Head on over to Parent Bloggers to hear what others have to say about the KINeSYS family of products.

Maven & PDQ Say: Personalized books are cool!

PDQ is really happy that Parent Bloggers Network gave her Mommy the chance to review a Printakid personalized book for kids. Printakid offers 6 different titles at two different levels--preschool and elementary school. Although we didn't receive one to review Printakid also offers personalized CDs to go along with the books.

I ordered the Laughing All the Way to School book for Abby at the elementary level. The preschool level books are aimed at kids 3-6 and the elementary books for kids 7-10. PDQ is 6 and entering the first grade and I wanted her to grow into reading the book so I went for the elementary level. She is able to read all but a few words in the book.

PDQ loves the fact that the girl in the book looks like her--there is an opportunity to pick eye, hair and skin color when ordering the book. It also asks for the names of Mom & Dad and three friends. There is room for a personalized message on the opening page of the book, on the page facing the first page of the book has the child's name, birth date and the date the book was printed. At this point PDQ believes the world revolves around her so having a book that includes her and all of her friends is perfect for her. When we received it she immediately opened it up and began trying to read. Any book that encourages her to read is good with me. The story is a little silly but it engaged PDQ and although Boobah was quite disappointed she isn't included in the book she enjoyed listening to it as well.

I think the book or book and CD set is the perfect gift for a birthday or other holiday. Kids like things that are about them. As a gift giver or parent the opportunity to offer a personalized message to an important child is nice. The book is high quality from cover to page, not easily destroyed by frequent reading. Compared to other personalized books I've seen, this one is heads and shoulders above the rest. I know that I'll need at least one more book from Printakid--Boobah is quite jealous and wants a book about her!

Maven and Gman Say: A Good Read on Parenting

As part of Parent Bloggers Network I read Fathering Your School Age Child: A Dad's Guide to the Wonder Years 3 to 9 by Armin Brott because I was curious about what they tell dads that they don't tell moms. I also asked Gman to take a read--he doesn't read much of anything but he is the parent of 4, boys 18 & 13 and our girls 6 & 4.

Here are Gman's thoughts:
Not having read any kind of parenting book before I really have nothing to base it against, but I found "Fathering Your School-Age Child ... A Dad's Guide to the Wonder Years: 3 to 9" interesting. Having 4 kids boys and girls I felt like I should be able to speak with some authority on the subject. Overall I liked and agreed with what he had to say. He uses modern and personal stories to illustrate points, and gives out specific details, from which toys meet his criteria, to website links that have more or supporting information. The overall theme of the book is for each age there are physical and developmental things going on with your child, what to expect and suggestions on how to deal with them, and promotes the notion of being an involved father by citing examples of how to, or general behaviors that will lead to more involvement. One thing that I took exception to was it seemed that he would throw in random scenarios, like talking about step parenting during age 6 but not age 4.

Another thing I found interesting was the sociological point of view he takes throughout, citing how sometimes being an involved father is an uphill battle against the forces of society. I would certainly recommend this book to new fathers and existing fathers alike. Even after 4 kids I read a couple of things that were enlightening.

I'll post more on my thoughts later...being overtaken by life!

Okay, sorry for the interruption, now back to my previous topic...

I enjoyed the whole tone of the book which didn't, like many Mommy-focused books, use fear or guilt. In fact, in the chapter on 9 year olds he provides an e-mail about how we were raised (with lead paint and no car seats) and the fact we are still here. It echoes the message in Anne Dunnwold's Even June Cleaver would Forget the Juice Box--you don't have to be perfect, just good enough. The book and the information on what children are going through at an age and how to father them through it was fact based and relied on research--which appeals to my process oriented, project manager side. I particularly enjoyed the wit of Brott's writing style. An example is (are?) his chapter titles that do a great job of summing up what that year is about like 4-Let's Talk about Meee! and 9-Just Like a Real Person, Only Shorter.

Each chapter starts out with a description of what your child is experiencing physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. That is followed up by what is going on with you. Then it goes on to talk about the relationship between you and your child adding in topical information for that age. Of particular interest to me was the chart on page 175 that listed common texting abbreviations--here I thought I was so up-to-date on the technical, I guess not really so much. Who knew, IPN--I'm posting naked? Gee, I'll have to keep Gman from using that one, talk about TMI!

Overall I enjoyed the book and looking at parenting from a different angle. I think that it will be a good catalyst for discussion between Gman and I as we continue through our parenting journey.