Nike Archives - Words To Run By

Time for some summertime fun – at least for me because I get to share some of my current favorite things with you! I hope you enjoy it too.

Thumbies

Custom made by Meadow Hill these three dimensional treasures are created from simple ink fingerprints, footprints or handprints using traditional wax casting. You can create keepsakes of the times you want to remember – the prints are ever-so touchable and are raised just slightly so you can feel the groves of the print. I had my mom’s fingerprint cast for my sister and I. It includes her birthstone, which is a lab-created Sapphire for September. You can choose from a variety of metals too or add a family heirloom jewel to the piece. Mine is sterling silver:

The back is hard to see but it is engraved with Mom 1949 – 2011:

There are a variety of styles (round, heart, oval, etc) and products (pendants, rings, bracelets, earrings, tie pins, lapel pins, key chains, etc.) and an endless possibility of creations to remember your loved one. They also do paw prints and nose prints for those furry four-legged friends you want to remember.

I chose the heart because it has long symbolized the love shared between two people. Also, Meadow Hill keeps the fingerprint in a secure electronic file indefinitely so I can create another product if I want or add to it at a later date.

Favorite Part: The connection I feel when I touch the charm. I can feel the ridges in my mom’s fingerprint and it is comforting to me to be able to do so. The piece is of high quality (I am not afraid to wear it all the time) and unique too.

Not-So-Favorite Part: The charms are rather expensive and fluctuate depending on the market price of precious metals.

Columbia Peak Power Shell Jacket

Many thanks to Columbia Sportswear Company who sent me a free Peak Power Shell Jacket valued at $350 to try out! Columbia is conducting an exclusive field test this spring for their revolutionary ultra-breathable, waterproof technology called Omni-Dry. I get to participate – I am super-excited about that!

Omni-Dry is the science behind the Peak Power Jacket. An ultra-light laminate membrane that’s over 50-percent air makes this jacket insanely breathable and lighter than other 3-layer shells like it. With Omni-Dry, air is able to circulate through the fabric, helping to regulate the conditions in the garment and keep excess moisture from collecting inside, while still maintaining its wind blocking properties. Your sweat goes out and it blocks the rain so you stay cool, dry and comfortable during any outdoor activity:

My husband who works for a leading outdoor retailer is [slightly] jealous that his store doesn’t even carry this good of jacket. Save your pennies people! This is the ultimate gear that keeps you dry during aerobic activity, no matter what the weather is

Other unique features include: Underarm vents that zip that open to further disperse excess heat; A lapel tab connector that lets you completely unzip your jacket and then fasten it closed at the chest for max ventilation without flaps flopping around; A sticky, silicone treatment at each shoulder that both protects against the abrasion of your pack straps and keeps them from slipping and sliding around; Laser-cut Invizzip zippers on the hand pockets are clean and discreet, and a waterproof front zipper provides added wet-stopping reinforcement; Interior security pocked; drop tail; an adjustable hood. Take a look:

Favorite Part: I LOVE THE FEEL OF THIS JACKET! It is super-light and almost-slippery, but almost-soft too. It weighs only 7 grams per yard – even lighter than Gortex. It is so comfortable. I love the color – it is feminine yet bold. It’s a women’s cut so it curves in all the right places yet is not in the least bit bulky. I feel like I actually own a piece of outdoor gear that is better than my husband’s! 😉 Is it too much to wish for more rain just so I can wear it outside? Maybe I’ll just sleep in it and call it a night!

Not-So-Favorite Part: It is a size XL, but in my opinion, Columbia tends to run small overall. The jacket is slightly tight on me when I zip it up and would not be so comfortable for a long run right now, but would work for a hike. More incentive to lose those last few pounds sooner rather than later! Also, the zipper takes some effort to zip, but I think it is due to the waterproofing material.

Nike Comfort Thong

The Comfort Thongs are the most comfortable flip-flops/sandals you will ever own:

I live in flip-flops so I can be pretty particular about them. I know they are bad for your arches and these provide a little more stability to the bottom of the foot. The straps are wide, which I like because they don’t dig into my feet and don’t slide around (I don’t need to trip and break something). They also have a nice tread on the bottom to create some traction. So. Comfortable. I love them. I might sleep in them too:

Please ignore my ugly runner’s feet!

They have a Comfort Footbed that cradles your foot as you walk. It is heavenly.

Favorite Part: It is like walking on a cushiony cloud all day long. I found them for $22 bucks! They had tons of colors, including purple.

Not-So-Favorite-Part: Um, I can’t run in them?!

Vistaprint Premium Business Cards

How many of you use your blog as a networking tool? I do! And not I have the cards, via Vistaprint, to spread the word:

I covered my phone number

Why not and out business/networking cards that reflects your style or industry and makes a professional impression? With Vistaprint you can choose from over 300 designs or upload your own image like I did. It is of my Lucky 13 charm I got in Pittsburgh.

Vistaprint offers TONS of free products to get you started. Check it out TODAY and take advantage of the offers, if you have not already.

Favorite Part: I am impressed my the quality of the card and the photo image. It is clear, clean, crisp and professional. The colors are true to what I picked and it is easy to read despite the image in the background (that also has text). Vistaprint offers an easy-to-use design site and while I paid for the least expensive shipping, I still got my cards within a week and a half!

Not-So-Favorite Part: I’ll be out soon and have to order more! 😉

Thanks for reading, if you’ve made it this far!

Until the next mile marker,

Are any of you Nike fans out there? I personally love my Nike running gear – especially my fitted capris – I always feel like a super-fast runner when I am wearing them! As you may or may not know, Nike Women designs their products to “help women tackle whatever challenge they put their mind to.” They also provide fitness tips and workouts to help women reach their athletic and fitness goals.

Recently, Rebecca Black of Strong Body by Rebecca was selected for their Make Yourself Spotlight campaign as part of a global initiative to inspire and and motivate women to become the best version of themselves that they possibly can.

Rebecca is making herself UNSTOPPABLE.

I’m so excited for her! Check out her interview with Nike Women below:

Personal trainer Rebecca Black has been helping women become physically fit for several years, but she’s quick to remind her clients that in order to have a strong body, you must have a strong mind. “I want women to know that they are unstoppable when they put their minds to something,” she says. “So many of my clients will say ‘I can’t do that,’ but after a little coaxing, they try it and find out they can do so much more than they anticipated!”

Rebecca says the lack of information on women’s health was an obstacle for her when she was first starting out on her fitness goals. However, something she’d learned from the hardships of growing up with a single mom is that life’s challenges are opportunities to develop perspective, and to create positive experiences. That’s why she wasn’t afraid to compete in her first fitness competition last year, despite not being in peak condition. “I didn’t go into it thinking I would win, I went into it thinking, ‘I am competing with the best women around and in order to be the best, you have to learn from and compete with the best!’” She recalls. “It was such an amazing learning experience, and it only made my hunger for competing stronger!”

One of Rebecca’s tips for staying motivated is to never repeat the same workout twice. “I’m not into cookie cutter workouts,” she says. One of her favorite things to do is find new exercises to incorporate into her sessions, and she challenges herself with heavy lifting, track workouts, and by tackling large flights of stairs.

“My grandfather always told me, ‘You’ll never know what you can do unless you try.’ [My goal is to be] an unstoppable force in the community providing motivation, inspiration and awareness to women everywhere.”

And what message does Rebecca want to pass on to my Strong Body readers most of all? “We can do anything we set our minds to! Dream big, set huge goals. Then create the steps needed to get to them, one at a time.“

What are you making yourself?