How To Own Your Strong: You Can Do Mudderella (Photo Intensive)

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for #Mudderella2015. I received complimentary admission to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015, except those with the Mudderella logo, provided by the event photographers.

Momma Told Me: Mind over body.

When I was a young girl I avoided sports and physical exertion at any cost. Yes, I could climb a tree, and I certainly felt more at home rough-housing with the boys than the girls, but the idea of competing or eve cooperating in a group, or breaking into a sweat, was not my concept of enjoyable. Then, at 11 entering 8th grade, my knee blew out doing absolutely nothing, standing in the center of our family's kitchen. One twist the wrong way and I was landing on my knee, tearing a tendon. It was an incident that got me a free pass from physical education though out high school, but somehow remained an excuse through my adulthood.

A few years ago I began doing 'fun runs,' such as The Color Run. For me, they were really more 'fun' than 'run,' as me and my teams walked them. For me, there was no accomplishment, or bragging rights, in the idea of running a 5k, so I felt no motivation to do so. This year I began exploring other events I could add to my yearly lineup. An uncle of mine had recently completed a Spartan Race and, while the idea of something so intense and committed terrified me, I wanted to feel a similar sense of goal and achievement. My physical activity was pretty low- I'd only just began getting back in the gym, regularly, in January.

When I came across Mudderella, and announced I'd be attending, my friends and family voiced their concerns. A 6+ mile run/walk on rugged and varied terrain with 10+ obstacles including heights, mud, and water? But I knew Mudderella wasn't just some 'mud run,' I knew immediately, this was an experience I could achieve.

The first thing that makes Mudderella so very unbelievably awesome and unique is it's commitment to support. From the moment you sign up you will have access to their weekly training program, designed to help you shape all the right muscles for event day. This intimidated me at first, but really consisted of varied squats, muscle holds, and aerobics- anyone can do. There are even variations of exercises offered so you can decide just how much to push yourself.

And once you walk through that entrance gate on game day you are immediately a part of a very special community of women. Walking through that gate at the Solano County Fairgrounds (Vallejo, CA- NorCal Event) I felt instantly empowered and as though I were about to be a part of something truly great. Women of every age, shape, size, and ethnicity had gathered. And, while most teams or groups were dressed similar in matching outfits, I could easily see them commingling and socializing about the event- before it had even begun! So, after checking in, I stopped by 'The Works' and got my bib number painted on me, and a few very special temporary tattoos. I emerged feeling more and more like a warrior every second.

At the starting gate participants danced eagerly to the blasting music. I was surrounded by smiles, and pulled into the stories of the unique women surrounding me. Sure, some of the participants had GoPro cameras strapped to their chests and were there with the intent of breaking records and taking names but the majority of us were there to conquer for ourselves.

To my left I chatted with a few women my mother's age who shared that they were participating in honor of their friend, with cancer, who could not attend as planned this year. To my right, 'The Sloth Runners' made up a motley crew of women from 20-64 (I asked) of varying heights and weights. They explained there was no intent to conquer anything except their own personal fears, and that completion was the true prize. And, directly in front of me a group of college aged girls with impressively small waists and toned bodies, in tutus, twerked to Taylor Swift with an energy that was contagious.

Our 6 mile course had 3 water stations, sponsored by Pure Protein. At each one porta-potties stood as on site facilities, and volunteers furiously pumped water into Dixie Cups. Our first water station was stationed after I Got your Back (piggy back carry,) and just past the mile marker. I found the addition of Pure Protein bar cubes a great pick-me up addition to the classic water station concept.

Our first 'real' obstacle of the event was one commonly associated with Mudderella. While the obstacle lineup is not announced prior to the event, and varies with each city, Down To The Wire- or the Mud Crawl, is one boot camp style event that makes for great photos. It's not particularly tough- but it is the first opportunity we had to truly get muddy- as the event cameraman captured in the photo above. My, personal shots were captured with my Samsung Galaxy S4 in a Lifeproof case- I'm happy to report my phone was submerged multiple times and emerged with no damage :)

Blog POP! YumEarth Organic And Natural Treats For Kids Giveaway 4/14

YumEarth provided seasonal packaging for the purpose of this feature, no further compensation was provided. All photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015. In keeping with the Organic theme these photos have not been retouched or edited.

Momma Told Me: Somethings are best left untouched.


I hear a lot how gorgeous my photos are. I get asked what kind of camera I use, what my lighting rig is, what editing program I use. While I do, typically, do some sort of crude editing its usually with preloaded Windows programs, or free online software. I take all my photos in natural light- never with any artificial lights or rigs, and many of my photos are still shot on a smartphone or 14 MP point-and-shoot. For today's post I wanted to go even more organic. You see, sometimes I spend so much time staging, framing, and taking photos, I don't get to actually live in the moment of the story. So, thanks to YumEarth Organics, today's photos are a little less sparkly, but extra adorable.

I have been bowling in a league (sometimes as many as 3 leagues at a time) for 4 years now. I am telling you this because I greatly dislike bowling; I bowl for the social interaction. Bowling gets me out of the house for at least those designated hours a week and interacting with real people face to face (not that my online community isn't amazing.) The range of people in our core league is amazing. Last week one of our members turned 21, while we have some of our eldest nearing 80. There are single individuals, professional bowlers, first timers, girlfriends, couples, grandparents, families, and everything in between. My league is like my family, and that is precisely what I call Miss Edna.

Miss Edna is a delightful older woman with kids of her own long grown and several grandchildren. She is a former educator turned home childcare provider and has truly had a remarkable, and at times very tough, life. I knew from the moment I met her she was truly a special soul full of support, compassion, faith, and love. She always has a smile to offer and a hug to give whether you are a friend of 40 years or a complete stranger. Every afternoon Miss Edna walks from her house to the local Elementary where she picks up 5-8 children aged 4-10 and walks them to her home for after-school childcare.  Many of the children come from broken homes with single, hard working parents, or have special educational needs that make them otherwise difficult to place in traditional after school care.

Miss Edna relies on retirement income to get by and spends much of what she takes in from her children's parents on activities and events she plans to help make their year just a little more special. She rents bounce houses, drives them to the park, and holds seasonal parties out of her own pocket. She is an amazing human being, and so are the children she watches. So, when YumEarth informed me of their new Easter packaging and offered to send us some samples I new immediately I wanted to do something special for Miss Edna and her after-school kids. I headed into the local dollar store and spent about $35 to create some Easter baskets.

As a childcare provider, Edna is constantly reminded just how glorious sweets can be in a child's eyes. She has a very impressive rewards system involving raffle tickets and only hands out 'candy' as a reward for exceptional behavior or homework finished without delays. Even at that she tends to feel guilty. Most mainstream candy is littered with artificial colors and high fructose corn syrup. Modern kids seem keenly ware of the 'adults' movement for more natural foods that are labeled negatively (in their eyes) as better for them. I know I certainly believed, as a kid, if something was healthy/healthier, it wasn't going to be as tasty as it's less healthy counterpart. That being said, it's crucial these healthy alternatives keep fun and colorful packaging that mirrors their larger commercial competitors. YumEath Organics fruit snacks and candy are the perfect reward for Miss Edna's children.

Their products are all natural, dyed with ingredients such as organic pumpkin and carrots, gluten free, and possesses no chemical or artificial colors. YumEarth treats are also brilliantly individually packaged, with small items like gummies in kid sized pouches, great for school and on-the-go treats without the mess. Even more impressive, my favorite YumEarth treat, the Original and Sour Beans are also delightfully Vegan, adding an extra level of Eco-consciousness. Miss Edna is very careful what she gives her tiny charges before sending them home to their parents and was especially appreciative that all of the sweets in their Easter baskets were all-natural and gluten free.

On top of being my personal favorite organic candy pick, YumEarth is known for their seasonal packaging which makes for perfect party favors or classroom handouts. Many schools have strict 'no junk food' policies when it comes to classroom events and YumEarth offers several indulgent, single serve, treats for kids to maintain portion control and quality control when spoiling other people's kids. Grab one of 4 specially designed Easter packages of YumEarth Organics treats (Organic Pops, Sour Beans, Gummy Bears, or Gummy Fruits) at a Walgreens near you just in time for the holiday this upcoming weekend.

What Daughter Says: Not everything in life that's great is sold by a cartoon mouse. Kids are naturally sweet, shouldn't their treats be as well?

One Momma Told Me reader will win a YumEarth Organics + Naturals Prize Package. Then hop along and enter the other amazing Blog POP! giveaways on the complete LINKY.

Simple Tips For Beginner Juicers With The #BigBossKitchen Power Juicer

Momma Told Me: Remember to eat the rainbow.

No, Momma wasn't encouraging he consumption of Play Doh, or sniffing Smelly Markers; she was referencing an age old piece of wisdom in health advice. Let's face it, if most of your foods are on the brown spectrum (french fried, hamburgers, chocolate shakes), you're probably not getting a good mix of nutrients and vitamins. As fun as eating can be, it does serve a very important role in our quality of living, outside a delicious endeavor. Just as most people have a favorite fruit and/or vegetable they love; many of us avoid eating several healthy foods because we simply don't like the taste, texture, or preparation. Juicing, or the act of pureeing one's fruits and veggies can help mask unwanted flavors while encouraging the intake of positive nutrients.

I have several friends who have gone pretty far with this 'juicing trend,' but it shouldn't be a trend- there is a difference between consuming multiple meals a day of entirely juice and incorporating the ease and benefits of fresh juice into a daily diet. Much like the pasta noodles made of veggies, hidden fruits and vegetables in a single glass of juice can more than double the average adults intake of vital nutrients and vitamins. Of course there are a few things you will want to keep in mind, as well, when beginning to incorporate juice into your diet.

3 Simple Juice Tips:

1.) Use the pulp: We recently acquired a #BigBossKitchen Power Juicer, which finds itself in the mid-range of juicing appliances. It doesn't have a range of fancy settings, but is easy to use, and very powerful. The inclusion of an extra large pulp catcher allows the user to reserve the separated pulp of fresh fruits and veggies for cooking sauces, and recipes, to encourage the retention of valuable fiber most often found in the pulp. Because machines like the Power Juicer do such an efficient job at removing moisture from the pulp they are especially handy in baking recipes such as muffins and bread.

2.) Drink it fresh: It may seem like common sense but the quality of nutrients, and the experience of the juice itself, declines shortly after initial processing. Fruit is kept ripe and fresh as long as possible inside a skin; once that skin has been removed the fruit (juice) must be stored in refrigeration at an appropriate temperature and should be consumed within 48 hours. Having an easy to clean juicer is key to keeping up with the needs of juicing day to day.

3.) Cut Calories: Many people do not consider the amount of natural sugars and calories present in fruit juice, or the concentration of these calories within a single cup of processed fresh juice. Because units such as the Power Juicer do such a good job of extracting the liquid from a fruit with minimal waste, one tends to consume more fruits and vegetables than they would if they were having to chew and eat them whole. This also means the flavor is much stronger and richer, allowing for the addition of additional vegetables that will help keep you full and cut the calories of pure fruit juice. Recall the color spectrum? Try to fit 3+ colors in your juicer, you just may be surprised how delicious new combinations of fruits and vegetables can be. You can also successfully cut calories by blending a smaller portion of juice with ice and protein rich Greek yogurt for a delicious smoothie option.

It sounds odd to say we've been juicing for a few weeks now- We use our Big Boss Kitchen Power Juicer more to enhance our everyday diet, not to dramatically alter it. Carrot Juice is a big favorite in our house when added with a little carob powder and ice, while green apple orange juice is absolutely delicious and creamy when fresh. I love being able to feed whole fruits and veggies into my Power Juicer without peeling or cutting, thanks to the 3" wide feeder. However, sometimes we peel citrus fruits to cut down on the acidity of juice for those in our household who suffer from heartburn. The Power Juicer is even great for processing cooked vegetables like broccoli, for a quick soup base that is rich in nutrients!

Choosing your first juicer will likely be the most stressful part. I suggest a unit that is powerful, but easy to operate, such as the 700 Watt Stainless Steel Big Boss Power Juicer. The force of the blades and motor pulls fruit and veggies down into the colander basin without manual effort from the feeding tube. I've also noticed, while it is super efficient in separating pulp, our juices seem to retain some finer fiber that is easy to drink and smooth. The unit comes with a handy juice carafe to juice directly into, though the force of initial juicing can be quite strong and will splash up along the lid; something that could make a mess if juicing into alternate containers at home.

Much like other Big Boss kitchen products, the Power Juicer is very simple to assemble and clean, making this a great juicer for those who wish to enjoy fresh juice, at home, daily. We never seem to let any product go to waste around here now, when something gets too ripe it gets juiced! And making fresh juice at home is much cheaper than buying it in store, something that makes a starter juicer a great gift idea for any family or friends looking to improve their lifestyle. Check back during Blog POP! School Rules (August 7-10) to enter to win a Power Juicer of your own!

Have you ever enjoyed fresh juiced juice? Do you notice the difference?

What Daughter Says: Encourage a nutrient rich diet with hidden fruits and veggies in fresh juice.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.