Moscato Mom: Mom Blogger, Pensacola Blogger, Cake Pop Enthusiast: Moscato Mom
Because Mommy Needs a Time-Out Too
I am not a wine connoisseur – not by a long shot. I like what I like, and I believe that Moscato goes with absolutely everything. Sometimes even breakfast. But as much as I love my Moscato I have to admit that different wines compliment different meals and occasions, and that *gasp* not everyone shares in my adoration for one single wine.
So how does someone like me choose the perfect wine for gift giving?
When it comes to shopping, I am probably one of the World’s WORST. I will get everything I possibly can at one store, and if that one store doesn’t have what I need, its not uncommon for me to just “go without” for days and days until I am practically forced to go to another store. I’m busy. I have a lot on my plate. I hate dealing with other shoppers… whatever the reason, shopping is one of my least favorite things to do.
When I learned about the Walgreens App for my iPhone from #CBias I knew I was going to be hooked… you mean I can see ads; order photo prints; shop for food, household stuff, and beauty items…. and never leave the house?!! Plus I get to earn points towards huge discounts in their Balance Rewards Program?
Last week after hitting a big milestone in my weightloss - my Pre-Taylor weight – I decided to reward myself with a new pair of running shoes. I have whined about shin splints for months and have continued to try to just “run through the pain” pretty unsuccessfully. Well… I am happy to report that my shin splints are a thing of the past!
Many times over the last few months I have been told what a huge difference the “right shoes” make when it comes to shin splints. I have tried many different shoes – from Asics to Nike – thinking that I was doing the right thing since the label on the box said “running shoes.”
My Dad suggested early on that I head to Running Wild, a local specialty store with a focus on fitness. Since 2000, Paul and Cherie Epstein have been professionally custom fitting runners at all levels, and have now even expanded into a complete training, injury prevention and fitness resource. You can also find a listing of all Area Runs – most of which I didn’t even know existed! I do not know why I resisted going – maybe out of fear that they were going to tell me I would never be a runner again – but as usual my fears were way worse than any reality and I am celebrating and singing their praises every day now.
When you go to Running Wild, one of their specially trained “analysts” will watch you walk barefoot in a straight line to measure your gait – looking in particular at your ankles, knees and hips and how they move. I was fearful I would have to run for them – which I always feel awkward doing – so I was glad that this was an easy, no pressure test.
When I told my person that I was suffering from shin splints her first question was “how often do you wear heels?” Well…. the only shoes I own that do NOT have heels were my current “running” shoes. After watching me walk a few times she measured my feet and asked what size shoe I normally wore. When I told her she grinned – sweetly acknowledging that I had even gotten that part wrong.
She came out with three different pairs of shoes and helped me put each one of them on. Immediately with the first one I could tell they fit much tighter than the others I have had. Not uncomfortable – but more snug around the center of my foot. The second pair felt like it came up higher on the back of my heel. The third pair was really rounded on the bottom which reminded me of those Sketchers Tone things that feel like your own personal carnival ride.
I walked around for a few minutes in each, rocking forward and backward, jogging in place, asking different questions… and then I did what any girl would do….
I chose the pink ones.The “pink ones” are actually Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12 women’s running shoes. Now, obviously I don’t know much about running shoes, but apparently these are pretty remarkable. On the Brooks website the features are listed as:
This twelfth iteration of our most popular shoe is all about taking what’s great and making it even better. Adrenaline junkies can expect the same revered fit and feel with added upgrades like more mesh for breathability, a friction-resistance heel, and a crash pad that encompasses more strides.
That’s runner speak for SAY GOODBYE TO SHIN SPLINTS BABY!
I broke the shoes in just wearing them around the house for a few days, but on Sunday I put them to the ultimate test – hitting the treadmill at the gym. I warmed up as usual – did some minor stretching and then the exercise bike. When I climbed up on the treadmill I looked at Christy and said “Ok… here we go,” stuck my headphones in …. and RAN.
Painlessly.
It was amazing. I can’t even put into words how great it was to run without feeling like my legs were breaking. I am sooo thankful that I went to Running Wild, and they took such great care of me. My dream of being a runner again got a LOT closer this week, and I am so very excited to take on some races this year!
I LOVE E! It is my “go to” station just about every time I turn on the TV. I love ENews and getting caught up on all of the celebrity news and gossip! So my heart just sank when I read this morning that 36 year old Giuliana Rancic is battling breast cancer.
Giuliana has had her own reality show where she has chronicled her struggle with getting pregnant and two failed attempts and Invitro Fertilization. During her third attempt at IVF her doctor recommended she have a mammogram, which revealed early stages of breast cancer. She announced it today on the Today show.
“If you just find it early, you will be okay,” a trembling Rancic said on the NBC breakfast show. “I will be okay.”
She is facing surgery this week followed by six weeks of radiation, but she is not ruling out having a baby in the future. She is having her eggs harvested and frozen before her treatments begin.
“I want that baby. What’s amazing is that baby saved my life. There is some master plan and now I truly believe God was looking out for me. Had I gotten pregnant, a few years down the line I could have been a lot sicker.”
Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. It’s not even an endorsement for a particular brand. It is MY tried and true, love it to pieces, couldnt live without it, will-go-without-coffee-before-I-go-without-this remedy for feeling great all winter long! 
Ahhh it is that time again… cooler weather, shorter days, football games… and the FLU.
This morning at church the lady who sat next to me must have sneezed 30 times, followed by a round of coughing each time. Then I came home and hopped on Facebook, where my news feed was inundated with people feeling “puny” from coast to coast. Even the Toddler started her day sneezing and “Mommy, I dont feel so good.” I gave my Angel my “miracle remedy” and she was bouncing out of the house in time for Sunday school!
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE), also known as citrus seed extract, is a liquid derived from the seeds, pulp, and white membranes of grapefruit.
You can get Grapefruit Seed Extract in powder, capsule, or tincture form – ALL of them are fantastic. I have used all three, and prefer the tablets, but keep the tincture around for other uses around the house.
Grapefruit seed extract or GSE has many medicinal properties that have been proven very beneficial in fighting various infections, viruses, and harmful germs. GSE is useful not only to humans, but it also treats many pet diseases and infections. ~GrapefruitSeedExtract.org
I was told about GSE from an herbalist friend of mine who is very “anti immunizations,” and since I did not have any insurance at the time (and the flu shot was a small fortune back then), I chose to check it out. I started with the tincture form (which I warn you – tastes awful) but I was so amazed at how much better I began to feel almost immediately that I continued to choke it down 3 times a day in hot tea.
I discovered the tablet form and now take three tablets per day, the Tween takes two per day, and the Toddler one. Mike has also begun taking it and before long we may have the dogs on it too. I have also used the tincture as a face wash, anti aging serum, and to sterilize my cutting board in the kitchen. I did say it does just about everything, right?
Grapefruit Seed Extract fights infection – making it possibly the most pure antimicrobial in the World. Even when I put it in my tea, within moments it would begin to separate and “clean” the tea and sweetener out of the water. Pretty amazing sight. GSE is helpful in fighting off all infections, sinusitis, and even IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) as well as athlete’s foot, jock itch, and other bacterial and fungal infections.
Grapefruit seed extract is specifically useful against Candida albicans, a fungus that is normally present on skin and mucous membranes, but becomes harmful when it multiplies excessively. This can happen because of several reasons: stress, unbalanced nutrition, damage of the intestinal flora or prolonged use of antibiotics. It is spread easily when the immune system is weak.
Candida can cause: contact dermatitis, colitis, flatulence, gastritis, allergies, headaches, depression, asthma, infections, and other disorders. It may even produce alcohol in the body, as a waste product of digestion.
There are up to 25 different types of Candida in the human body. The problems are caused by toxins released, about 100 types. Scientific tests carried out in USA, Austria and Mexico confirmed that the grapefruit seed extract is effective against Candida. ~Body-Detox-Info.com
I absolutely LOVE the stuff, and can honestly say I feel 100% when I take it! In fact, just a few weeks ago I ran out, and slept with the window open on a night it dipped into the low 60s here… I woke up feeling awful. Sore throat, stuffy head, sneezing like crazy… I was just SURE I was going to get sick. I drove directly to The Vitamin Shoppe and picked up three bottles of GSE tablets. I took a dose in the car with a large glass of water, and by that evening I was 100% again. I will NEVER run out of this stuff again.
You can get Grapefruit Seed Extract at most every herbal vitamin store or order online. **Consult with your doctor – especially if you are on medications for high blood pressure! Some medications can not be taken with GSE.
I highly recommend keeping Grapefruit Seed Extract in your home year round. With so many amazing uses, it is really a “do it all” “miracle” remedy for just about everything! We ALL take it here at the Moscato Household! “Sick Days” for us now involve spas and movies… not lying in bed all day
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