Amazon Outdoor Toy Favorites

First off friends, how is everyone doing? Like, really, really doing? Despite all of the uncertainty and bad news around us, I myself, am trying to focus on the positive things - two of them being my kids and the abundance of time we now have to enjoy our amazing weather!

Like many of you, I have been thinking of ways to entertain them, while maintaining a social distance barrier. Most of our outdoor time lately has been spent at large green grassy areas in our community as well as in our backyard. Pool season is also coming up soon here so in addition to some fun outdoor toys they can enjoy now, I thought it would also be fun to stock their Easter baskets with a few new pool and water toys.

Double Stomp Rockets- These toys are so much fun - for kids and adults alike! Stomp on the pads with your foot and the "rockets" will fly into the air. This double one is fun because you can duel to see whose rocket goes the highest!  Shop it on Amazon here - under $20!

Inflatable Splash Pad - These look awesome! Even though we have a pool, we still love to play in the sprinklers, especially when its not super hot out yet, and I love how this keeps the water contained and goes around in a circle. Shop it on Amazon here - only $16!

Foam Bow and Arrow - This looks like so much fun for my ten year old! I have friends that have this toy and love it. Something they could play with independently or with other siblings too. Shop it on Amazon here.

Fishing Rods Water Toy - This one looked like so much fun and I love that it can be used really in any body of water (pool, water table, or even the bath!). Shop it on Amazon here - under $10!

Small Unicorn Pool Float - This is guaranteed to make my 3 year old squeal. Shop it on Amazon here - under $13!

Larger Dinosaur Pool Float - For the 10 year old. The prices on these Amazon floats are much less than I've seen in stores. Shop it here - under $20!

Magnetic Tiles - Not technically a outdoor toy, but worth adding to the list! If your kiddo doesn't already have some these, this is a toy that will stand the test of time. This is a really well priced starter set. Shop it on Amazon here - under $28!

And if they already have magnetic tiles - these car and train magnetic bases are AMAZING and take their magnetic tiles to a whole new level - shop them here - less than $9!

Last but certainly not least, is Kinetic Sand. Kinetic sand feels amazing, never dries out and is so fun to mold with sand toys. These 2 pound bags come in so many fun colors and are less than $10 each on Amazon. Shop them here.

I'll also probably be picking up some art refresh things locally next time I visit the grocery store like chalk, glue sticks, paint, and markers. What other things do you plan on putting in your kids Easter Baskets? What are some of your kids favorite outdoor toys lately?

How does the Peloton Bike Compare to Studio Classes Like CycleBar and SoulCycle

I fell in love with CycleBar studio cycle classes last year when I was recovering from an major running injury. I fell in love with the the energy there, the music, the people, and most of all, the way that I could get in a KILLER workout in a low impact way. I was able to get the same endorphin rush on the bike that I got from running and that was HUGE to me!

After a few months of attending in-studio CycleBar cycle classes I started seeing ads for Peloton bikes and they made me curious. It was looking for something that was more convenient and that my husband could use too (CycleBar doesn't have childcare so we could never ride together!)

I know with the news of the current COVID-19 (coronovirus) spreading and cycle studios and gyms temporarily closing everywhere to keep people safe, I wanted to give you all this review to compare my experience with the two in case you were considering making the purchase, If you do, I have a discount code towards the bottom of this post that will save you $100!

The Peloton bike itself is much nicer than the in-studio bikes. It is super sturdy and the gear change knob is so easy to switch resistance levels easily, it such a smooth transition. The handlebar is short than those at the studio, because of the screen so your bike positioning will feel a little different. You can adjust the seat up and down, forward and back, and you can adjust the handlebars up and down too. It's way easier for me to adjust the seat on a Peloton bike than and in-studio bike too, I would often have to ask for help because the rider before me tightened the knob too tight!

A huge benefit of the Peloton bike is convenience, obviously. You ride what you want to ride, when you want to ride it. There's literally thousands of classes in the on-demand Peloton library that you can ride from as well as 10 or so live classes a day that they record in their studios, which then become archived into their on-demand library. When you ride on-demand, you can preview the class ahead of time, see the difficulty rating, the class lay out, and my favorite feature, the music play list. Music is so motivating to me, so that's usually how I pick my classes - scan the playlist and if I know and like most of the songs, I'm in!

There is less choreography in the Peloton bike classes than you'll find in some CycleBar classes - and I have read that that is because, while those moves add fun and variety to a class, they do not add any added strength training benefits. Some Peloton instructors will add tapbacks to a couple of songs per ride. I thought I would miss the choreography, but I'm honestly okay with it. Peloton also has lots and lots of classes that will have an arm interval section using their 3 pound dumbbell weights).

I do find that I have to push myself a little harder on the Peloton because I don't have an entire room of riders to motivate me, so sometimes I slack a little bit, but usually I can muster up the kick in the butt push that I need. There is a leader board just like at CycleBar that you can customize to show just the participants that are currently riding, all time riders, or filter it by "friends" or age and gender demographics. You can also totally hide they leader board if that's not motivating to you too!

The screen is laid out really cool with some great data as you ride (and again, you can hide any of this is you don't want to see it). You see your current output, cadence and resistance, as well as what the instructor has suggested you be riding at currently. You can see how that ranks to your over-all PR output for that ride length too as well as your LB standing. You also have the ability to give a virtual high-five to any class participant and receive them back too by tapping on their on-screen profile.

You may be saying, well that's all great Amy, but what how does the Peloton workout compare to a CycleBar workout? Well, the first time I did a Peloton workout, I took a 20 minute class in their local showroom and literally was sore for 4 days afterwards!!! It worked me so hard. Needless to say, we bought eh bike on the spot. Which, BTW, if you're reading this because you are thinking about buying, you can use my referral code, 4Y2NKS, which will give you $100 in free accessories. I recommend buying their shoes that clip in (go up 1/2 to 1 full size) and the mat that goes under the bike to protect your floors from sweat - because you will sweat a TON!

Back to the workout aspect, yes, you can get the same or better quality of workout on the Peloton as you would at an in-studio CycleBar or SoulCycle class. There are such a wide variety of classes from Power Zone training, HIIT, Live DJ Rides, themed Artist Rides, Climb Rides, Low Impact Rides and so much more. Depending on what class I take, and the intensity that I work my heart rate always falls in the same range as it did for CycleBar classes.

After 3 months of riding the Peloton my husband has lost over 25 pounds. I didn't really have any weight to lose, but my legs and core are so much stronger and my running endurance is way up too!

What other questions do you have about the Peloton? Feel free to leave a comment here or send me a message on my Instagram - GoFastMommy!

Peloton Review - 10 rides in

We have now had our Peloton for 3 full months - but I wanted to start out my Peloton review series with my thoughts 10 rides in (I originally posted this on my Instagram page - @GoFastMommy - which is also my Peloton LB name!)

No, it doesn’t get easier. Yes, you only get stronger. - Emma Lovewell

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Today I completed my 10th ride on our new Peloton and I am a believer. Originally I jokingly asked Adam for it as a bargaining tool - he wanted to go to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego so I was like, “Sure...if I can have a Peloton!” Little did I know he’s been dreaming about seeing his Iowa Hawkeyes in the Holiday Bowl since he was like 8, so he didn’t miss a beat in telling me “Sure!”

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A couple of days later we each took a test ride down in a Peloton showroom in Scottsdale and even though he said he “wasn’t too keen on some dude yelling at him and dancing on a bike” we bought one on the spot. .

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Fast forward to now, we’ve had it about 2 1/2 weeks and Adam hasn’t missed a day. He found an instructor her loves (Leanne) and within 3 days he was like, “My watch strap is loose- I’m already losing weight.” #Men 🤪🤪

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The Peloton has giving him a way to move again since running is too hard for him right now. It’s given me the freedom to do my cross training on my schedule and to get a little extra sleep in the morning because I’m not driving to a studio. And it’s given both of us a new activity to bond over- discussing our daily rides and sometimes having friendly little competitions over who can have the highest output. We are totally “that couple” that tries not to, but somehow finds a way to turn the topic over to Peloton at parties. #SorryNotSorry because if you know, you know. .

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Have you riden on a Peloton yet? What are your favorite rides or classes? Mine right now are any of Becs Gentry strength workouts and the 45 minute 90’s rides that Emma Lovewell does. ️

If you're interested and purchasing a bike of your own - you can use my referral code in-store or online. It is: 4Y2NKS and it will give you $100 towards free accessories - I always recommend the shoes that clip in and their mat to go under the bike!

The Best Dresses for Toddlers

I love the juxtaposition of my sweet Taylor. She is so strong and athletic, climbing up rocks and running on dirt trails - all in a princess dress and glittery flats. That is her 100%. Since she turned 2 she has flat-out refused to wear pants and I love that she insists on twirling in her dresses everywhere she goes. So when Presley Couture reached out to us, offering to send us some of their dresses for Taylor, I jumped at the chance - because, I mean, a girl can never have too many dresses right?!

You guys, these dresses are the cutest, best fitting, complement eliciting, dresses she owns. They are seriously so so great. Presley Couture has a Disney princess inspired line of dresses that are made to be worn everyday - soft cotton and the cutest tank style dress fit. They even have matching doll dresses too!

 How adorable are these? Everywhere she wears these she always gets compliments and loves when people "mistake" her for the actual princess dress she is wearing, Like, "Is that Snow White on the swings? I think it is!" 

We also picked out a couple of these twirl dresses and I think they are the cutest things I have ever seen! Pockets int eh front, the cutest v cut in back and the full skirt that makes for the most perfect twirls!! Man does my little girl love to twirl! These are casual enough to be worn everyday but such high quality that they can for sure be worn for family pictures too. 

The prices at Presley Couture are so reasonable - everything we have was $17.99 or less! They washed super well and didn't shrink and Taylor fit perfectly into her normal dress size - 4T (she has a super long torso so even though shes not quite 3 1/2 we size up on shirts and dresses).

We are already making a list of what Presley Couture dresses we want to add to her collection next. If you have a little girl that loves dresses too I hope you find this review helpful!

It's Snowing in Arizona!

In Arizona we are spoiled in the Winter with balmy afternoons filled with sunshine. Sometimes I wish we could just go outside and play in the snow so when the founder of Snow in Seconds reached out, offering to send us some to play with, I jumped at the chance!

It happened to arrive at the most perfect time. Both of my kiddos had been sick for over a week and we were in need of something fun to do at home. Snow in Seconds was so much fun! A little snow powder mixed with water and it multiplied to 100x its size! It was really neat to see it grow.

We started out with one bin of snow, but I quickly made 2 because - siblings!! We got out some of our sand toys so the could dig around in their snow boxes. I think it would also be fun to do a little snow sensory bin by hiding small objects (like plastic letters, dinos, etc) in the snow and then having them dig them out. You can also color the snow by adding food coloring to it!

The snow kept the same temperature as whatever water we used (we used warm water) and lasted for a few days before it got a little slimy! Clean up was super easy too, I just hosed off the back patio afterwards.

Fun little fact - Snow in Seconds is so realistic looking that it has been used on multiple television show sets including Extreme Home Makeover and Hawaii Five-O!

I for sure am grateful we have lots of our Snow in Seconds left for the next time my kids tell me they are bored - I can't wait to make more snow the next time we have friends over to play!

How to Beat the Heat with Shamrock Farms Milk

College rivalries always heat up the last weekend of November in Arizona. It is the week of the Territorial Cup - the annual football game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the University of Arizona Wildcats. Being an ASU alumni myself, and having the game in Tempe this year, makes the week that much more fun.

We went to the tailgate this last weekend and man was it a fun time! Maroon and Gold all around (with a little bit of Navy and Red too!) The crowd was PUMPED for a healthy competition. Before the football started though, Shamrock Farms Milk was hosting a friendly rival Hot Wings Competition in the parking lot! 

I knew it was going to be a good time when I started seeing signs like these lining the sidewalks. In the distance were the ironic white and green Shamrock Farms Milk (which were a perfect compliment to their new packaging - bold green caps for days!!)

When we approached the Shamrock Farms Milk tents there was a sizable crowd gathered - all cheering on their school as two competitors ate their portion of wings and then waited 2 minutes before tearing into their bottles of ice cold refreshing Shamrock Farms Milk to cool their taste buds. If they could wait the full two minute before giving into their thirst, they scored a point for their school!

After watching a few others take the stage, my competitiveness got the best of me, and I wanted in on the action! Let me tell you, those folks at ATL Wings do not mess around with their sauce - it was delicious, but so darn spicy!

After finishing my wings and waiting for what seemed to be an eternity (but was actually only 2 minutes!) I couldn't wait to tear open my bottle of Shamrock Farms Milk. It was the perfect beverage to cool down my palate after that spicy snack!

Game day usually brings a lot of heat, so from now on I'll always make sure I have an ice cold bottle of refreshing Shamrock Farms Milk by my side!

Did you know Shamrock Farms, Arizona's hometown dairy, is the official milk of the Sun Devil Athletic Program? Such a great partnership between two of my favorites!

For more news and updates about Shamrock Farms visit shamrockfarms.net and give them some love on social at facebook.com/shamrockfarms or @shamrockfarmsmilk on Instagram.

This post was sponsored by Shamrock farms but all thoughts are my own.

Workout Recovery Tips

Lately I have focused really hard on post workout recovery, because let's face it, I am not getting any younger! Luckily though, there are so many easy (and enjoyable!) small things you can add into your day that can pay off BIG TIME in the way your body recovers after a workout.

First, you may be asking- what's the benefit of recovering after a workout anyway? When we workout hard, we get little tiny tears in our muscles, and recovery is when the muscles fuse back together and get stronger. If we don't allow our bodies to recovery properly, then they will continue in that broken down state which will lead to major fatigue, burn out, or even injury.

Probably the easiest (and one of the very most beneficial) ways for recovery that I have found is adding collagen to my morning coffee. I have been consuming collagen for about 2 1/2 years now I am the BIGGEST believer in this supplement. My favorite brand is BUBS Naturals Collagen Protein, I've found it to dissolve the easiest, with absolutely zero taste. I've found that it's the most convenient for me to just add one scoop to both of my cups of coffee in the morning (one pre-run and one afterward with breakfast). BUBS instantly dissolves - I never can taste or tell that it's in my cup of joe at all! If you don't drink coffee, you can add it into any hot or cold beverage or even tings like yogurt, sauces, or salad dressing!

BUBS' Collagen promotes health and healing from the inside out. It really is the best recovery tool after exercise and crucial to joint support. It's also a great source of protein and amino acids. As an added bonus, collagen also is loaded with numerous beauty benefits too such as increased skin elasticity, smoother and more radiant skin, and stronger and longer nails and hair.  It's really a must have for athletes (and in my opinion, EVERYONE), especially as we age and continue to run and train at a higher intensity level.

Some of the other things I have found super beneficial for post workout recovery is eating within 30 minutes of finishing a workout. If possible I always try to make sure I have a good portion of protein with that meal too to further aide in muscle recovery. Since I exercise in the morning, my go-to recovery meals has eggs in it.

I also love hot Epsom salt baths for recovery. A good 20 minute (or longer!) soak does wonders to ease muscle soreness and promote healing. Sleep is also super important in helping to heal your body and I love a good 20-30 minute nape when my schedule allows.

I foam roll a couple times a week and try to do a handful of stretches daily to keep things loose. I keep my foam roll visible in my kids playroom so that I can just grab it and roll out my muscles - half the time they try to hop on my lap while I'm doing it, but hey, that mom life, right?

What's your favorite form of recovery?