Keeping Fit And Healthy This Winter With Indoor Sports

Winter is surely the least loved of the seasons. Waking up to grey skies, sleeting rain, and biting wind, watching your energy bills go through the roof, and enduring three months in a duffel coat that makes you look and feel like the Michelin man. There’s not much to love about the cooler months. Many people also lament their reduced motivation to keep fit, and the less than lovely body that accompanies a decrease in exercise. ‘I just can’t face going for a jog in that arctic cold’ is often offered as an excuse for abandoning exercise.

But winter needn’t spell the end of a good fitness regime. In fact, winter is the perfect time to explore the benefits of indoor sports. Indoor soccer, for example, provides the dual benefits of an extremely enjoyable, fast paced and social game that also increases your all around fitness. Indoor soccer works on your speed, power, endurance, agility, and leg strength. It’s an incredible cardiovascular workout, too. Moreover, an indoor sport such as soccer will relieve you of that ‘it’s just too cold to exercise’ excuse. Companies like Aussie Indoor Sports have various sports and recreational centers. 

Indoor sport will also go a long way to keeping the dreaded cold and flu at bay this winter. By staying active, you’ll be enhancing your immune system function and maintaining good energy levels - so important at a time of the year when getting out of bed can feel like too much effort. Exercise helps your immune system in myriad ways. When your heart rate goes up, the white blood cells - the most essential component of your immune system - circulate more quickly around your body, helping your body to swiftly react and launch its defence against infection.  Sweating helps to eliminate many of the body’s waste products, leaving you less vulnerable to infectious agents that may be circulating in your body.

This is a sponsored post not written by me.

Oxford Golf: Beautiful On And Off The Course - Review

I was recently sent a Susan Sleeveless Polo from Oxford Golf for review.  I immediately fell in love with the name of the color, "coral sea"...of course!  Here's the official description that I was given:

This polo has a “heathered” cotton fabric, giving it the look of texture without adding any bulk or taking away from the softness of the shirt. This polo's fabric is Super Dry® wicking and anti-microbial, making it a go-to shirt whether on the course or going for a walk around the neighborhood. All of the ladies’ sleeveless polos also have bra strap holders on the inside of the shirt sleeves. These ingenious clips keep bra straps from shifting during play. Amazing.

Yes, the bra strap holders are amazing for sure!  I absolutely HATE IT when my straps are showing and this top took that into account and solved it!  That is win number 1.  I seriously cannot get over the bra strap holders.  Win number 2 is the wicking fabric!  I played 18 last week in it and never looked all wet and funky.  The whole design of this shirt was really thought out, even the length.  I just love when I don't have to show off my entire midriff when I swing.  This shirt is long enough for my 5'10" frame, yet still flattering for the more petite ladies.  I mean seriously, I'm not trying to put on a show while I am playing golfing (regardless of what you gents think).  In addition it never stuck to me and got uncomfortable.  Do yourself a favor ladies and check out this style.  Super soft fabric...comfort...no bra straps showing...it has it all.

I wore this with a black Antigua skort and got lots of compliments.  This pinkish color will work on brunettes like me or my fair-haired golfing sisters.

Take a look at Oxford Golf and the Susan Sleeveless Polo - we still have plenty of warm days left in the summer to wear it!

Healthy Eaters Are Snobs

Yeah, this is one of those "ironic" titles.  

I'll admit it.  I am a chronic "healthy eater".  I have been my whole life.  Somehow I am missing the chocolate gene.  Cakes, cookies, and donuts don't sound appetizing and I'd rather have dry mouth than drink soda...

...but it's none of my business what you eat.

I do get annoyed when non-healthy eaters freak out on my food.  Nobody's judging you where I'm sitting so please don't tell me my food smells or looks disgusting.

However...

...around where I live there are many, many great "healthy" options to eat.  Raw, vegan, gluten-free...you name it.  I started to frequent a raw, vegan restaurant near me and totally enjoyed the food.  The part I didn't like was that all of the servers acted like they were doing me a HUGE favor by taking my order.  They were the most aloof, apathetic bunch I had encountered in quite some time.  I brushed it aside and kept calling in my orders and then picking them up.

One day I decided to eat in.  It was an overcast, slightly windy day in Santa Monica and I needed a break from the office.  I went in to be seated and they told me I would have to sit outside (in the cold) or at the bar (which is close to the floor and awkward).  There were tables free in the main area with plenty of singles sitting at them.  I asked for one and was told no.  It was 1:20 pm.

I had an exchange with them on Facebook & Twitter.  They told me that if I wanted to sit in the main dining room that I would have to come before 11 am or after 2 pm.

I'm not sure what it was about me that I couldn't sit in the main dining room.  Oh well.  I'm done with this place and it seems to me that they should be a bit more apologetic or at least a bit kinder to their locals.  This is a pricey, trendy place that may or may not have a long shelf life.

At any rate, when in Santa Monica, avoid Planet Raw.

How many chances do you give someone that gave you bad service?

Product Review: Gold Toe

I was recently sent a 3 pack of Gold Toe Soft Wear Liners for review - not the colorful trio depicted above but simple, classic white.  Liners are great in my opinion since they're lightweight and have a low profile.  These in particular are 96% polyester, 2% nylon, and 2% spandex.  I decided to test them out in very different conditions: skateboarding, running, and golf.  I wear a size 9-9.5 in shoes and tried out the sock size 9-11.

Skateboarding: I wore them with Vans and the fit was great.  The cut worked great to where there wasn't any rub on the back of my heel.  There was no annoying seam on the toes issues.  In fact, I didn't even notice them.  To me, that's the most telling sign of a nice fitting sock/liner: you don't even realize they're on your feet.  Therefore - skateboarding test passed!

Running: For this I tested the liners with adizero Rush running shoes.  Again, these fit so that there was none of the annoying rub against the back of my heel and no toe seam issues.  Running test - passed!

Golf: I wore the liners with a pair of Kikkor Golf shoes during a short game lesson.  Yet again, the performance met my demands and exceeded my expectations.  Golf test - passed!

Overall I would recommend this brand to others that participated in the above activities and beyond.  I did also wear the liners just out and about so I can honestly say that they are comfortable and functional for nearly every activity level.  In each condition they felt lightweight and soft.  You can get some for yourself on the Gold Toe website here where they have some other new summer offerings: the Ultra Soft Liner or the Sport Liner.

Have you tried these?  Do you have a favorite sock/liner for your sports?

Get Golf Ready This Summer!

I jumped at the chance to take part in the Get Golf Ready program this summer.  Here's the description I was sent:


"Golf season is here and several facilities in the Southern California area are hosting Get Golf Ready – a program designed to bring adults into the game in a fast, fun, affordable manner. Get Golf Ready is a series of five lessons designed to make beginner golfers more comfortable out on the course, while developing basic skills of the game for a lifetime at prices starting at $99 (varies by facility).  Five 90-minute lessons from PGA Professionals would cost an average of up to $675, so Get Golf Ready programs offer a huge discount.Facilities continue to add dates, so for the most updated list of programs at facilities near you, visit GetGolfReady.com."


Wow, sounds like a great deal to me - $99 for 5 lessons?  Sign me up!  (Full disclosure: I did not actually pay for my lessons in case you were wondering.)


I opted to take lessons at Westchester, near LAX.  If you haven't been there they've recently redone the driving range for the better and it's fantastic!  Anyways, I missed the first class which I really, really need (putting) but I hope to catch it in the next cycle.  My lessons started with chipping.  Perfect!  My short can only be described as utterly atrocious!  


Guess what?  I had an epiphany and figured it out!  Thank goodness.  Now I just need to take that to the course.  Lynn, my instructor, fixed my grip and helped me figure out how not to swing so darn hard.  It's been difficult to try to tone down my swing.  


I've spent years at the driving range with hubby where it's always a driver party.  In addition, a wise man once told me that your short game doesn't have to be great if you get it really close to the pin.  On top of that, surfing almost every morning has made my upper body strength quite good for a lady.  All of that together means that the driver is my best club.  When I play with my girlfriends we always play best ball and we hit from my drive (and 3 wood shot subsequently if it's a par 4 or 5) and then they get us through to the rest.


How to do it?  Choke down on the club.  So simple.  It totally worked.  I had some doozies and even got one in the hole from about 30 feet away.


The following week was pitching.  Yep, I needed that too.  I got to the lesson, got out my pitching wedge, aimed for a flag that was 80 feet away, and went to it.  Lynn came by and said, "That's great Apryl, now how about some 30 to 40 footers."  Busted.  It took a minute but then I figured out the same thing, choke down on the club.


So far, so good!  I can't wait for the rest to get my swing tuned up.  I would highly recommend getting golf ready this summer,"  The group environment is great and there are golfers of all levels trying to improve (although, mostly beginners).  Go here to find a program near you!  

Sunice Spring & Summer 2012

Sunice has recently released their womens Spring & Summer fashions for the course.  The line uses a great new technical fabric called X-Static®.  Pure is silver bonded to textile and it provides for thermal conduction and reflection, moisture transfer, anti-microbial, and anti-static.  

Here is the info from the company’s press release about the fabric: “By permanently bonding a layer of pure silver to the surface of a textile fiber, we are able to offer golfers the benefits of pure silver. The performance of this garment will not wash away.  X-Static® visible technology (you can see the silver fibers in the shirt – evident by looking at the backside of the shirt) offers performance features incomparable to any other moisture wicking collection.

In warm weather, when conduction is the primary means of heat transfer, X-Static® enhances the body’s natural actions by accelerating the conduction from the body. Apparel without X-Static® technology would simply be a barrier to heat conduction. Silver is the most thermally conductive element on the planet. X-Static®, therefore, works quickly to evenly distribute and transfer heat through the product.

X-Static® enhances the natural movement of moisture through hydrophobic materials by using evaporation. When X-Static® is placed in a moist environment with another hydrophobic material; 

The anti-microbial characteristics of silver prevent the growth of bacteria therefore eliminating potential odors.

X-static® fabric will dissipate electrostatic charges allowing the garment to move more freely and not stick to your body or another layer."

In addition to function, the new looks are very modern.  Sunice has really updated their offering and provided some great pieces that aren't the least but frumpy.  For example, look at this polo:

I absolutely love the flattering, feminine look of this!  There's more though:

I'm a big fan of the pink - simple, yet elegant.  The white with the purple cuff and gathering around the buttons is super cute also!  Finally, here's an outfit that I'm dying to get:

The polo has an almost surf-inspired look to it (and we all know how much I love that) and the bottoms are my favorite length (not to mention the plaid is awesome).  I would totally rock this look at my upcoming tournament.

Check out Sunice's latest here: http://www.sunice.com/eu/golf

BlenderBottle Review And Giveaway

Recently I was sent a BlenderBottle SportMixer to review.  I do have a protein shake every now and then but more often fresh juice or just plain water.


The details: “Our aim at BlenderBottle is to encourage healthy lifestyles by making it easier for people to stay hydrated, as well as mix healthy drinks on the go,” said Steve Sorensen, inventor and CEO of BlenderBottle. “With the BlenderBottle SportMixer, we have taken the water bottle to the next level. Busy people can stay hydrated with water and then simply add their nutritional or meal replacement ingredients, drop in the patented BlenderBall wire whisk, and shake.”

Well, the BlenderBottle SportMixer worked as promised.  I put in my water and powder, gave it some shaking, and it was ready to drink - lump free.  Loved it!  When I'm not using it for protein shakes (which is most of the time) I use it for my morning juice (that I make in my juicer) and then later rinse it out for water throughout the day.  I also really like the loop at the top that makes it easy to carry.  

The BlenderBottle SportMixer is leak-proof with ounce and milliliter markings for easy measuring. It is dishwasher safe and is available in a variety of colors.  The BlenderBottle SportMixer is available for purchase in both a 28-ounce and a 20-ounce mini version. The 28-ounce BlenderBottle SportMixer has an MSRP of $14.99, and is available at stores nation-wide as well as online at www.blenderbottle.com

Want to win one?

All you have to do is send me an email at sportswriterchick(at)gmail(dot)com and tell me what you're going to use it for.  Continental U.S. addresses only please.  Want an extra entry?  Follow me on Twitter @womenlikesports and make sure you tell me in your email what your Twitter handle is and that you are now following.

Winner will be chosen at random and notified on Monday, May 21st.

Good luck!

Spring And Summer Women's Golf Apparel From Antigua

It's that time again ladies!  Yes, it's time to get some cute new golf clothes for the warmer weather!  I was sent some samples from Antigua to review.  As you know, when I'm not at the beach being Surf Betty then I'm on the golf course as much as possible.  When I play, it's usually the full 18 with some friends of mine that also love the game (and love a good time).  It's important that what I wear is not only comfortable, but also does not inhibit my game.  Looking good is a definite plus as well.

I tried out a few pieces and here's how they worked for me:

Lyric sleeveless polo (above): I was a bit worried that this would make my surfer shoulders look huge because of the cut.  Not so!  The fit is not only flattering but I don't look like a linebacker in it.  The feel is quite comfortable and I move really well in this.  The design doesn't interfere with my golf swing at all and the armholes aren't tight at all and aren't up too high like a lot of sleeveless polos that I've seen.  Adding an inch or two to the length is the only thing I would change to this piece, but then again I am 5'10" so the length works great for most all of the golfing ladies I know.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not showing off stomach at the end of my swing or anything and it won't stop me from wearing it.  The details:  100% polyester Desert Dry™ Xtra-Lite D2XL moisture management jersey yarn-dye pattern stripe sleeveless polo with 5-button placket, solid insets and flat knit collar and armholes.   The Antigua branding is at the back yoke.

Adore short sleeve polo (above):  Another cute cut (look at that neckline!) with a great fit.  Easy to move in, breathable and light, this really looks great on.  Again, this doesn't interfere with my swing and is so comfy.  The name really says it all for me, I adore this top.  Really, both of these pieces are so effortlessly stylish.  The details:  100% polyester Desert Dry™ Xtra-Lite D2XL moisture management jacquard mesh pattern knit short sleeve polo with contrast color keyhole placket with single button closure, contrast cover stitch detail and tipped flat knit collar and cuffs.  The Antigua branding at the back yoke.

Entice skort: I can't rave about this skort enough.  I absolutely love the stretchy, easy to move in fabric.  Even better is the length!  I love how it doesn't look like I'm wearing a micro-mini like others that I have tried.  The cut will look great on a variety of sizes.  The fabric moves really well and - again - doesn't interfere with my game.  The details: 96% polyester/4% spandex Desert Dry™ moisture management woven satin twill stretch woven under short, hook/eye and zipper side seam closure, back slit, front hip pockets and right back welt pocket.

The word from this company is that, “Antigua has always wanted to appeal to the average female golf customer.  Our last few collections have been extremely successful in that sense, so why would we want to mess with success?” says Danielle Dellios, Antigua’s Women’s Senior Designer. “…by offering an updated color assortment & fresh looking styling we can continue to be current without going overboard”.  I agree - these styles appeal to the 'average female golf customer" and to hardcore surfers that golf a lot like me!

Here's a few more pics of some of the latest in the collection:

You can check out these styles and more at the Antigua website.

Not Ready For Competition

So I thought that by now I would be much farther along...meaning that I would be ready for more advanced surf competitions in July.

That isn't happening.

It's mostly mental, but I've had a bad winter.

It started about 2+ months ago.  I was in the water on a pretty big day.  It wasn't the size that was the issue, it was the current and the power behind the wave.

I saw this outsider that was a pretty big bomb.  I paddled my @$$ off to get over it.  I did.  There was one behind it.  I didn't make it over that one.  I tried to punch through the top of the wave but...instead...I was thrown violently backward and then into the washing machine.

My contacts came out.  This doesn't happen all that often since I have the immediate reaction to close my eyes once I hit the water.  This time though, I was spun around and the water hit me from all directions.  My vision is really bad so after that I could only see the wall coming toward me.  I hadn't lost my board at this point but I was getting worn out.

The next wave came and my board was gone from my grasp.  I was on my short board with the comp leash so the lightweight nature of it all left me unsure of whether it was all still attached to my left ankle.

It was!

I managed to grab it but there was another wall coming.  This time I went through the cycle but I managed to hold on to my board.

I'm pretty blind at this time and I was calling out to the shapes I could see in the distance.  I recognize a friend that I surf with on a pretty regular basis.  I call out.  He tells me, "you're fine", and paddles away.  I wasn't fine.  However, I was making my way in and after a few more of holding on for dear life I managed to pull myself on top of my board and ride in a monster on my stomach...barely able to see and exhausted.

Whew.

Yes, myself and many of my friends give the "friend" who left me hanging a hard time (to say the least).  What is even more awesome is that there are a group of 10+ guys that I surf with every day that hang back for a minute to make sure I'm okay if it looks like I took one on the head.

I'm set back a little.  No worries.  I'll do my fun summer contests and then get 'em next year!

Fun Fitness Gear Giveaway

Hey everyone, I've got a fun giveaway for you today.


Vanessa, the mind behind Ruffles With Love  is giving away one of her cute fitness shirts.  I asked her to tell me about herself and she said:


"I started early this year in January and I had the idea to make workout shirts with fun, motivational sayings that had to be bright, fun, but still have some girl in them (hence the bows in the back). My fiance and I work together closely on the company - he helps with the phrases and I am the creative mind behind the colors and style and the labor. I for one get motivated if I have something cute to wear while working out.  I also like the idea that just because you work out doesn't mean you're manly because you can still look cute doing it. I am getting married in November (which is how some of the marriage quotes came about) and knew I would have to be at the gym a lot.  The shirts gave me a reason to want to go to the gym.  Aside from that my favorite thing is bows! I would put them on everything if I could (and I have tried trust me)! I tried to come up with a style that would appeal to any girl, bright bows, cute, and has something motivating on the front. I also coach soccer and I get used to seeing the same boring workout shirts for women so I decided to mix it up a little! "


I love her story!  So check it out, Vanessa is giving away one of her cute workout shirts to a reader.  All you have to do is leave a comment and tell me your favorite shirt.  The contest will end Monday, May 7, 2012 at midnight PST.  You have until then to find a shirt here and leave a comment below.


Check out Ruffles With Love's Facebook page here.


Here's to staying fit after the wedding vows!


Good luck!

Wow, So I Didn't Post All Month?

Oops, my apologies!

I have some sweet giveaways coming up this week.  Forgive me for being a bit lazy and not posting since the beginning of last month.  Whoops.

Thanks for bearing with me, I really appreciate all of you that read/follow!

:)

Another Healthy Sack Lunch

As I mentioned before, I'm trying to give my talented and handsome younger brother some tips on packing his lunch.  He asked me for some healthy options that he would like.  It's a bit of a challenge since the only animal product I eat is seafood (yes, that means no dairy or eggs) but it's been fun to figure out.  Oh yeah, and he's gone off to another state so I'm not 100% sure what fruits/veggies he has access to.  California pretty much has everything.

Here's my next lunch idea, it takes a little prep time so you may want to do the night before if you can't get up a little bit earlier:

12 medium shrimp (raw, shell on)  = 72 Calories
1 cup chopped zucchini = 20 Calories
1 tbsp olive oil = 119 Calories
1/2 clove fresh garlic = 4 Calories (this is optional, as your coworkers may not appreciate the smell)

1/2 California Haas avocado = 161 Calories

12 cherry tomatoes = 36 Calories
1 chopped medium bell pepper = 31 Calories
1 cup chopped carrot = 52 Calories
Sodium-free seasoning

Total Calories: 464

You can have a medium apple if you need more, that's only another 72 calories.

Prep:
Chop garlic and then add to a warmed larger sauce pan (with a lid) with the olive oil.  Stir around for a minute and then add the zucchini.  Keep on just over medium heat and add zucchini.  Again, stir around for about a minute and then put the lid on.  After the zucchini seems to be getting softer, add the shrimp - shells on and all, stir around, and put the lid back on.  Continue to monitor and stir every so often.  Everything should be buttery soft and yummy after about 20 minutes.  When done as desired, pour the contents of the pan into a colander/strainer.  Let cool and then peel the shells off of your shrimp.  Yes, this is a bit of a pain but trust me, once you realize how much better they taste when you cook them this way you'll never go back to that pre-shelled stuff.  When you're finished place it all in a reusable portable container.

Cut your avocado in half and then put it in a reusable portable container.

Place your washed tomatoes into a reusable portable container and then add your chopped bell pepper and chopped carrot.  Please don't buy pre-chopped.  Do yourself a favor and get fresh ingredients and cut them yourself.  Season with a sodium-free seasoning of your choice.

When it's time to eat you have 2 choices - you can nuke your shrimp for a few (ugh) or you can do it my way and eat it cold.  Yeah, call me odd but I prefer my food cold.  Anyways, once you decide what you're gonna do, cut the inside of your avocado into cubes and then add to your shrimp dish.  Eat your tomato mixture on the side.

Do not drink with a soda, diet soda, energy drink, or any other processed sugar stuff.  Drink water or herbal tea without sweetener.

Tell me what you think!  Got any other good ideas for healthy sack lunches?

Dieting On A Budget

My incredibly talented and handsome younger brother asked me to help him figure out how to bring his lunch to work so that he can save money and eat in a healthy manner.  This sprouted from a status update that I had posted about living simply.

As a goal for 2012, I decided that I would try to live with more simplicity.  I was tired of $10-$30 lunches and $20-$50 dinners.  There was no reason I couldn't bring my lunch to work and cook dinner for myself every night at home.  Also, stocking up on my favorite adult beverages is much more cost efficient that going out to enjoy them.

This year, I want to spend more time being active outdoors that isn't eating & drinking at a restaurant with a patio.  I'd rather be surfing, skating, biking, or running.

At any rate, I've been succeeding at my goal so far.  Talented and handsome brother wants some ideas on how he can live with more simplicity and save money on lunch.

After searching for something that was both easy enough for him to fix before he went to work that was cost efficient, I came up with this first sack lunch for him:

1 PBJ  Sandwich = 385 Calories

Carrot Sticks - 7 sticks have only 35 calories!

1 Medium Green Apple = 80 Calories

12 Almonds = 80 Calories

For those of you that count calories, this meal is 580 calories.  Not bad for someone that has 3 meals a day that tries to stick to a 2000 or less per day calorie intake.

Personally, I eat lots more calories than that but I am incredibly active.  Incredibly active as in I surf at least an hour a day and then either skate for an hour or run for an hour or both.  I might even bike for an hour.

A few tips for you that don't exercise this much:

Chew your food - don't eat as if you are in a race.

Water is your best friend!  The body often mistakes thirst for hunger so if you think you're hungry you should first drink a tall glass of water.

Celery, carrots, and apples are your best friends.  Keep an extra stash of these in your lunchbox to combat the 10:00 am and 3:00 pm hunger pangs when water doesn't cut it.

Do not drink soda under any circumstances.  Not even diet.

Ditch the chocolate.

Park just a little bit farther and take those extra steps.

Stand up from your desk at least hourly.  Have a stretch or a walk around your building (or whatever takes about 10 minutes).

Stay tuned for more recipes as I try to help my talented & handsome brother reach his goals.

Any suggestions?  Leave us a comment.

Always Wear Protection

I've been dog-sitting this really awesome red nose pit bull that loves to skateboard with me.  He runs and pulls me while I hold his leash.  Since I'm not a fan of getting badly hurt I always wear a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, jeans, and good shoes.  Maybe I look silly but I really don't care.  Although I was questioning wearing the wrist guards because it's a bit challenging to hold the leash tightly and my hands get a bit sore.

On Tuesday, Mr. Dog and I were on a morning skate.  We go about 5 miles and both love every minute of it.  I was down low with knees bent and holding on to him when we hit a puddle.  Before I knew it I was sliding on the sidewalk and Mr. Dog ran ahead a bit quite confused.  Hubby was behind me on his bicycle and had to really slam on the brakes not to hit me!  It's a good thing I wasn't standing up so I didn't have far to fall.

Luckily, those wrist guards were on.  Just as lucky, I didn't hit the pavement but slid on it.  I managed to leave the whole thing with a relatively small bruise on the hip.

We got back on the board and finished our run.

We'll be back out tomorrow morning.

The moral of the story - always wear protection.

What do you think?  Do you bother to protect yourself in your sport?

Review and Contest: adizero Rush

I was sent a pair of adizero Rush by adidas to review - and - OH. EM. GEE!  I am definitely in love.  No, I'm not in love just because they sent me a gratis pair.  I am in love because they are really that awesome.

I've recently been making more of an effort to run.  Most of my life I've only been a "brisk walker".  Late last year I found out that I could actually run.  Now that I am a "real runner" these shoes are absolutely fantastic.  They really feel amazing.

At only 7.5 ounces and plenty of cushion they make running quite nice. The official press release states:

"We’re really proud of the adizero Rush and excited to get the shoe in the hands and on the feet of athletes who run to get faster for their sport,” said Mikal Peveto, director of running for adidas America.  “The adizero Rush shaves ounces from a typical running shoe, helping athletes as they work to stay faster than their competition.”

Peveto continued, “At adidas, our goal is simple. We design and engineer lightweight shoes to make athletes of all levels of sportsfaster so they can perform better on the track, the field and the court.  We know seconds make the difference between first and second place or a personal best effort.”

Do you want to win a pair for yourself?   You can!  Just send an email to sportswriterchick(at)gmail(dot)com and tell me your size and why you've got to have them!  You have until Sunday, February 19th at 11:00pm PST.  US only please.  The winner will be notified shortly thereafter.

Good luck!

Quick Interview: Misty May-Treanor

Recently my friend Megan contacted me recently to let me know that she would be interviewing Misty May-Treanor and asked if I had any questions for her.  Um...yeah!

Misty is promoting a campaign from Souffer's called "Put The Two Back In Tuesdays" with her husband Matt Treanor.  How convenient that this Tuesday is Valentine's Day.

How do you make time for your significant other?

Product Review: Neocell - Collagen Sport

If you've been following my sport-related banter for the last few years you know I'm not a big fan of processed anything. I don't care if it's "natural", "organic", or even "healthy". For me, I like seeing all of the ingredients in what I ingest and I prefer to get all of my nutrients from what I eat and drink without using supplements.

I was contacted by someone at Neocell recently and they asked if I was interested in trying out their powder. I was reluctant but thought I'd give it a try. I'd been a little tired and had some decreased performance in the water lately and figured it may be worth it.

The sample I was sent was quite large and when I read the ingredients and the process I felt a little better. For about 4 days I gave it a try, mostly as a pre-surf drink. The flavor was good - not really sweet or processed and you could add it to water. I mixed it in my cocktail shaker as that seemed to work better than trying to stir it.

The thing that I like the most is that there is no gluten, sugar, or lactose. There is xylitol but it isn't overwhelming. Again, I'm really not a fan of sugars (or sugar alcohols) unless they come from fruits (or beer - haha). This powder also contains collagen, which is touted to have great health benefits.

Overall, I was satisfied with my Neocell experience. I've still got some left and will probably use it for pre-surf or pre-early morning workouts.

Book Review: Her Team

"In a nutshell, it's about a woman who wins the chance to manage the Red Sox. It's a fun, vicarious read - women's sports fiction. A League of Their Own turned on its head...sort of.

HER TEAM is available ONLY in eBook format (The perfect read for a 21st century, technologically connected, woman!) and can be downloaded for $2.99 at Amazon and read on any kindle, PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android Phone, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone 7. Amazon makes the process very simple. It is also easy to give as a gift as long as you have the recipient's email address."

This was a piece of the email that I was sent last month from Jane Newcomer, author of Her Team. I told her that I'd love to check it out and I had an email from Amazon about my gift from Jane shortly thereafter. It took me a while but I finally downloaded it to my Android phone yesterday. I got through several chapters on the first sitting as it is a really easy read. In fact, I feel like it's light enough for the mature high school set. There are mentions of "love scenes" between the heroine and her man but nothing outwardly graphic (at least not in the first few chapters). Honestly, Judy Blume is far more descriptive in that category.

If you want a feel-good story that has an overall happy tone, this seems to be the read for you. I'll keep going back until I finish it, especially since it's just in my phone and super convenient. So yeah, what I really love is that this book is only digital - it forced me to give up the paper and read it on the DROID.

If you're interested, spend a mere $2.99 and download the book here or check out Jane's site here.

WISE: Women In Sports and Events

Last week I was excited to be invited to the WISE Los Angeles Women Of Inspiration Awards Dinner. If you haven't heard of WISE the description from their site says:

"Women in Sports and Events (WISE) is the leading voice and resource for professional women in the business of sports and events. Founded in 2005, the Los Angeles chapter is one of more than 10 chapters across the nation. Our unique vision empowers WISE to celebrate and connect emerging and established women leaders, to promote one another in career growth and continue to change the face of our industry."

When I got to the event I was treated to several things. First, Carlton Hair was on hand to style attendees hair if they wished. This was pretty fabulous at the end of the day coming straight from the office. They also gave away a big bag of products to one lucky lady. Shi Shi Putter had a setup that you could work on your putting with and gave away a Sweet Spot Golf putter as well. Monte De Oro Winery provided wine for the evening and sent everyone home with a bottle of wine. In addition we were all given really great swag bag.

Indeed, there were a lot of very amazing women there and I was really honored to be invited as a guest. I loved how all of the honorees mentioned in the above graphic were so genuine. Actually, everyone at the event was quite genuine. This was an event where everyone was incredibly friendly, smart, and inspirational. I had some great conversations about golf, broadcasting, sports fashion...and a bunch of other fun topics!

Check out what others were saying about the event with the Twitter hashtag #WISEInspires.

Holiday Gift Idea For Golfers

Full disclosure: The Photo Ball Marker people are incredibly nice and have sent me their products for no charge over the last year or so. In fact, when I lost my precious bloodhound they sent me an awesome PBM with his picture. They rock. They haven't asked me to write this post but I am because I think it's a great gift. Buy some!

Photo Ball Marker makes a great gift for the golfer in your life. All you have to do his follow this link, upload your pictures, then place your order. In fact, if you click one of my links here or click through the ad on my sidebar you can get $5 off of your order.

PBM has expanded recently as well - instead of only hat clips or magnets you can get necklaces, keychains, and brooches! I totally wear my PBM button and necklace rather frequently. I've got PBMs for my golf buds too and everyone digs them. How can they not, you're in control of the design. They're your pictures! I always get compliments on the course when I'm sporting my hat clip.

Check them out today and give them a follow on Twitter. Like I mentioned, they're really nice people. Really! Plus, you can get these for non-golfers also! Just order the keychain, necklace, or brooch!