Christmas On The Farm

May you all have a happy and safe holiday!  Merry Christmas, everyone!

Product Review: Instead Softcup

***Any guys reading this, especially any male relatives of mine... you may want to quit now.  This review may venture into the land of TMI! ***

"Softcup is a flexible cup that is worn internally, around your cervix. It collects, rather than absorbs menstrual flow. It's hypo-allergenic, latex-free and completely safe when used as directed." Sources: Text- www.softcup.com; Photo- Instead Softcup Facebook Page

 

I first heard of Instead Softcup last year at a race expo.  I even took home a sample and put in my bathroom closet.  But when I checked out the website to get more info, they basically said "this can take some practice".  And with my 2pk sample, I just never got brave enough to try it. 

But the concept intrigued me.  And every month, even though I wasn't quite brave enough, I looked at those Instead Softcup samples and said, "I wonder..."

So when the opportunity came up, I jumped at it.  And this is what I learned: 

1.  You will likely not get it right on the first try.  You might, but you very may not.  I didn't.  Wear a pad as extra protection on your first couple tries, just in case!  And for goodness sake, remember that the  "don't try anything new on race day" rule applies here... you do NOT want to be worried about whether or not you got it right in the middle of a race! 

2.  It doesn't take long to get it right.  I will admit that after a couple days the first cycle, I gave up.  But the next month, I tried again.  And you know what happened?  After a couple more days, it was just as easy as using tampons.  There is a lot of help on the website and even an "Ask The Doctor" where you can ask questions that you can't find the answer to already.

3.  For me, there was some leakage...but ONLY when I went to the bathroom.  At first this alarmed me.  I thought for sure it was because it didn't fit right or I had inserted Instead Softcup improperly.  Not so.  As long as this is the only time you are observing leakage, it is normal.  (Website FAQ full answer here.) 

Overall, I was very happy with the performance of the product.  I  really was able to go all day without worrying about having to run the bathroom every several hours to change a tampon.  Working out with Instead Softcup was very comfortable - didn't even know it was there.  This would be a GREAT product for race day.  Especially longer races like a marathon or half-iron triathlon.  

Now, despite all the good things about this product, I will likely not be using it as my regular period protection.  Why?  Plastic waste.  I currently use tampons with no applicator so there is only a very small amount of garbage, especially plastic, being produced by my usage.  That is not to say I won't use it.  It may not become my everyday period protection, but Instead Softcup is definitely a product I will use again, but for those occasions like a long race or training day (marathon shopping?).

Want to know more about Instead Softcup?  

I encourage you to check out 

their website at www.softcup.com

or

their Facebook page.

I was compensated by Instead Softcup for this review, but all opinions expressed herein are entirely mine. 

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Things Are ALMOST Back To Normal

What do you mean not everybody gives their kid a bath in the laundry tub???

Getting Back In The Groove

So I'm finally to a place where I am starting to get back into a more normal routine!  The "new" house still isn't finished, some things are still in boxes, and there is still a lot of cleaning to be done at the old place.  For the most part, however, the tasks that need to be done, cannot be done with the "help" of a two-year old so except for a couple days a week that he goes to a sitter, we are starting to get back to "normal".

I've been able to get some swimming in.  Always, of course, followed by supper and conversation with my best tri-girlies! 

I've started cooking again!  Oh, how I've missed good food...  Just a couple of the things I've made this past week:

Buckwheat Crackers

Lentil Vindaloo

I ran for the first time in over six weeks today!  I FINALLY felt like I could take the time.  I was nervous about running on the treadmill with Liam in the room because I wasn't sure he would be able to stay out of the way.  But I was prepared to cut the workout short if need be.  Armed with a bowl of crackers, coloring supplies, and the iPad, he did okay for about 15 minutes.  I had only planned to go for about 20 minutes for his first experience and that seemed to be about his limit.  He spent the last 5 minutes repeatedly asking if it was his turn yet!  

The treadmill is much more fun when you have a view!

Oh, and I registered for this half-marathon in February.  It's in 8 weeks so I figured I'd better start training.  Also part of the reason I started back running today... 

Finally, I'm starting to put together all the before/after pics from the new house so I can show off some of what I've been doing the past few months.  Of course, there's nothing to show for the gazillion trips up and down the stairs with more boxes of stuff than I care to count, but I'm pretty proud of some of my projects.  Here's a sneak peek of one that I think turned out great:

I hope to start updating with more frequency now that we're settled in to the farmhouse.  Just wanted to let you know I'm still here! 

GOTRIbal Contest!!!

Head over to GOTRIBAL for a chance to win TWO entries to the Commitment Day 5K (held in 35 cities around the U.S, including Minneapolis!), PLUS some GOTRIbal goodies! Best of all, there really are no losers- All entries in the contest get $5 off the entry fee to the Commitment Day 5K on January 1, 2013!

Where the hell have I been?

I announcing a little hiatus.  Not sure how long, but certainly until after the first of the year.  I may post if I come up with something I really have to say, but for now I want to take the pressure off myself.  I am so busy with the remodeling/moving that I just really don't feel like I have the time to update, but I feel bad when I don't.

Here's what I've been doing lately:

Workouts:  Pack boxes at night while toddler is sleeping.  Move them to stack by the door.  In the morning, load them into Jeep/trailer.  Drive to new house.  Unload boxes.  Unpack boxes.  Move empty boxes back to Jeep.  Drive home.  Bring empty boxes back into house.  Repeat.  Occasional home improvements such as installing vinyl tile, ripping out shag carpet and old linoleum also completed as well as things like digging potatoes and hauling rather large pieces of furniture by myself.  (My husband is impressed by the furniture moving.  I tell him that anger and impatience are great motivators and sources of strength.)

I ran a 10K in September and PR'd.

I ran a half-marathon in October and did much better than I expected to, considering I have been doing absolutely no running. 

Nutrition:  Using up whatever I can from the cupboards in an effort to move as little as possible... when I feel up to cooking.  working on the house/moving project and taking care of a toddler at the same time pretty much saps all my energy and time.  I haven't been eating nearly as well as I should.  And I'm ashamed to say that we have only harvested half of the potatoes and there are still probably 100lbs in the ground...

Mental Health: My mood has started to suffer in this whole process.  I have been doing this almost daily for a little more than two months now.  Our goal is to be moved in by the end of the month and have the old place cleaned out and ready for the new renters by December 31st.

We're going to be gone for a week coming up here.  Although I could really use some time away from the whole project, it does not help my stress level any to be gone for any extended time this close to the deadlines. 


Anyway, this is where I've been and where I will be for the next couple months.  As I said, I might post if feel like it, but I'm taking the pressure off and likely will not post until after the New Year.  In the meantime, I hope you all have wonderful holiday celebrations with family and friends!  See you in the New Year!

Five for Friday: October 12

1.  My husband, Dave, finished his first marathon last Sunday at the Twin Cities Marathon!!!  Official time 4:58:47.  So proud of him!

Dave, our son Liam, and Dave's dad Tom on the way to packet pickup.

2.  At the marathon expo, I met the ladies behind chicked.com.  I first heard of them through fellow GOTRIbal Ambassador and pro triathlete, Gillian Clayton. 

Photo from chicked.com

My first thought after seeing their awesome shirts and cycling kit was, "I probably should get faster before I wear that..."  But then I saw this...

Not me... picture from chicked.com

the Minne-skirt!  Um, LOVE at first sight!  Plus I find out that this is a Minnesota company?  How could I not buy one of these?!? 
So, of course, when at the expo, after meeting Jennifer and Gretchen ( and then walking around the expo, trying to convince my hubby why I just HAD to have one),  I purchased my very own Minne-skirt. 
This turned out to be a great decision when it was only 30 degrees on race morning!  GREAT running weather, COLD spectating weather!  My new skirt kept me nice and toasty warm!

3.  A friend linked this recipe on Facebook earlier this week.  These will be made in my house before the week is over.  They look delicious!

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Pancakes via Girl Cooks World (photo: Girl Cooks World)

4.  Work on the "new" house is going well.  Today I played with my new toy... a brand new shiny miter saw!

Ain't she purty???

I also picked this find up off the curb during Windom's "junk days" with the idea of turning it into an entertainment center.  Painting is in progress.  I will post "after" pictures when I get it done.

A fresh coat of paint and some cord holes in the back should make her good as new!

5.  I am seriously considering taking a Facebook vacation until this election is over.  Presidential election, gay marriage on the ballot in Minnesota... political comments abound in my news feed (making me wonder sometimes why some of my friends are my friends).  I try not to use this blog or my Facebook page to discuss politics or religion, so this is the one thing I will say...  It makes my heart cringe to hear or read comments of bigotry, intolerance and hatred and then have them justified by the person giving the opinion with "because I am a Christian". 
I do not attend church regularly, and my belief may not be as strong as some, but I do know this:

Matthew 22:34-40

34But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, gathered themselves together. 35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, trying him: 36Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? 37And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets. 

(Source: Bible, American Standard Version.)

There is no clause afterward that says, "except for homosexuals", except for (insert race or religion here)", "except for..."  Well, there just are no exceptions.  These commandments are given in Mark (12:28-31) and Luke (10:25-29) as well, so it seems to me that if you identify as a Christian, this would be a pretty important lesson. 

And that's all I will say about politics and religion for now. 


May you have a wonderful weekend free of political commercials!