Women Athletes Leading America to Excellence in Fitness & Community Service

Fitness

This is a sponsored post

#JustAKidFrom

America's legendary female athletes, tennis icon Chris Evert, winner of 18 Grand Slam singles championships and downhill skier Lindsey Vonn, a U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist -- to name just a few -- make me proud to be a physically active American woman. 

Photo by Yachad Israel

Similarly, my two triplet daughters, who ran in the Jerusalem Marathon exactly a week ago instill a pride like none other that inspires me every day as a mother. 

Unlike Evert and Vonn, these two athletic teens hold no world records. But both these young women humbly take pride in accomplishing something just as great: running over the finish line in their second half marathon to raise money and awareness for inclusion on behalf of Yachad, an international non-profit group dedicated to serving physically- and mentally-challenged young adults. An organization that both of them have volunteered for since they were 12 years old back in their hometown of Los Angeles.

Photo by Yachad Israel

As my young daughters prove first-hand, there is amazing, seemingly endless potential in every young athlete. If you will it, you can do it is a great motto we all should live by. You don't need to be a world champion to make a real difference and inspire family, friends and people whom you may not even know personally. 

As a mom I want my girls to have every advantage when it comes to performing at their best athletically and in service to the community. In fact, in the months leading up to their big run in Israel last weekend, I was constantly checking in with them on their training regimens and cheering them on.

Photo by Yachad Israel

Like professional athletes, in addition to proper training and physical conditioning, even amateur athletes need to take everything they do before the big race seriously to avoid potential injury as well as to maximize the chances of a strong finish. Among the most important of these to-do concerns is being properly rested, fueled and hydrated at the outset before race day even arrives. 

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But it doesn't stop there. Once the competition begins, it's essential to maintain adequate hydration throughout and immediately after the big event itself. This is true whether you are running a marathon (or doing any other sport that causes perspiration) in a warm, dry desert climate such as in the Middle East or in a hot, humid one like Florida where my daughters also ran last year in the Miami Marathon with Team Yachad.

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Water just isn't enough for endurance to fuel your athletes and mine in marathons and all other sporting events in which they participate. So it's good to know about a product like POWERADE, the ION4® Advanced Electrolyte System which helps replenish the four electrolytes lost in sweat: sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Additionally, this athletic drink is formulated with a 6% carbohydrate solution, delivering energy to working muscles while also providing the body with needed vitamins B3, B6 and B12.

Image by POWERADE

And that's not all. POWERADE is offered in a rainbow of delicious flavors ranging from Mountain Berry Blast® and Fruit Punch to Orange, Grape, and Lemon Lime. Also offered are POWERADE ZERO with the same benefits of classic POWERADE but with ZERO calories. All are available in an assortment of multi-pack sizes from 20 to 32 fluid ounces right now instore and online at Walmart at low, affordable everyday prices. Stay on the fast track of knowledge by following Walmart @Walmart on Twitter and Facebook and POWERADE @POWERADE on Twitter and Facebook.

Image by POWERADE

Special POWERADE Offer At Walmart

Best of all, there's a limited time Walmart/POWERADE offer going on right now that both you and your athlete will appreciate. First buy two 8-packs of 20 ounce POWERADE at Walmart. Then go online HERE and submit your receipt to order a custom "Just a Kid" reusable sports drink bottle. Good until April 4, 2016 or while supplies last. Also be sure to check out the custom "Just a Kid" apparel featuring where you're from. All net proceeds from sales of  "Just a Kid" apparel go to the Boys & Girls Club of America.

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/POWERADE and I received compensation for this review. However opinions in this post are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Purim Food Costumes Jewish Holiday Celebration Tonight and Tomorrow

Celebrations

A trip down memory lane in this post from the MBE archives...

Tonight at sundown through Thursday evening Jews around the world of every denomination: Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox will be marking the holiday of Purim. Also known as the Festival of Lots, the holiday starts tonight because like all Jewish holidays it is based on the lunar Hebrew calendar. With all the traditional food, handmade costumes for children, fun and synagogue activities this is among my favorite of all the holidays we celebrate.

Me + my triplets wearing Purim Costumes I made for them as toddlers

During daylight hours today many Jewish men and women are observing the Fast of Esther which precedes the joyous festivities and feasting that will start after the fast ends at sunset. This day of refraining from eating and drinking originates with Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai who successfully fasted and prayed to G-d to save the people from Haman's evil degree to kill the Jews.

Chocolate Chip Hamantashen cookies baked with my kids 

Even though we're not eating today, it doesn't mean I'm not thinking of food at the moment.  In fact, I just got back from the grocery store where I stocked up on ingredients to cook and bake with for the holiday. My daughter, Mini MommyBlogExpert, is planning on baking this homemade Chocolate Chip Hamantashen Cookie recipe as soon as she comes home from school this afternoon. Then I have lots of cooking to do tonight to prepare from the festive meal we are hosting at our house for friends and family.

An interesting bit of trivia: Hamantashen cookies are triangular and are meant to mimic the shape of the wicked Haman's hat. This is also where the expression "If you do such and such...I'll eat my hat" may have originated.

Some of the home baked goodies we make will be added to Shalach Manot gift baskets of food and drink that our family will deliver to friends on Thursday, Purim Day. In fact, every Bar Mitzvah male over the age of and every Bat Mitzvah female over 12 is obligated by Jewish law to deliver a gift of ready-to-eat edibles to at least one person.

My girls model the flower costumes I sewed

Other customs of this special day include going to the synagogue to hear the Book of Esther -- in Hebrew Megillah Esther -- read out loud to the congregation. We boo, hoot and use noise makers whenever the name Haman is mentioned to symbolically overcome his wickedness. Traditionally, children and some adults dress in costumes and masks when they come to this public retelling the story of how Esther with the help of Mordechai and of course G-d's help.

Here's my youngest in the Butterfly costume I sewed for him

Tomorrow after we go to our shul (Jewish house of worship) to hear the Megillah a second time,  we'll deliver the gift baskets during the day time. Toward the end of the day we'll gather for a festive meal to enjoy food and drink together as we recall how the Jews were miraculously saved from annihilation. 

Charity is also central to Purim. So as we enjoy everything that those of us are fortunate to have, each adult contributes enough money to make certain that a poor person will also have his/her own proper meal to celebrate the day.

Our big boy is all smiles in the Bumble Bee Costume Mommy created just for him

For those of you who are celebrating how will you celebrate? Feel free to share your Purim memories from your own childhood as well as the traditions you have instituted with your own family and kids. Do you get your pets dressed up in costume like we used to do with our Boxer dog pictured here?

Purim Sameach (Happy Purim)

to Everyone Celebrating!!! 

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one. 

New SNICKERS Crisper Candy

Good Food

When you get really hungry, how do you feel? Between you and I, I hate doing crunches at the gym on an empty stomach and my hubby... well, he has a whole different take on it. 

 

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MBE partnered with Mars Snickers and SheSpeaks for this post

Candy Crunch, Chewy Chocolate Together for First Time

And what kind of snack or special treat do you crave at times like this? Does salty and sweet milk chocolate, peanuts, chewy caramel with a bit of crunch appeal to you when the munchies strike? Yeah, I'm not surprised, my mouth is watering, too -- just at the thought of it. 

The good news is it's no longer just in your imagination. There finally is a new delicious and satisfying candy that exists embodying all those qualities called SNICKERS Crisper now available at Walmart, Amazon and in-store.

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Whether you are already a fan of original SNICKERS or have never tried one before, tasting this new sugar sweet confection for the first time is an amazing multi-sensory experience like none other, as I learned first hand. This definitely is not just a candy bar which you want to rush into eating, it's a whole ritual of pleasure to reward yourself. 

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As soon as you open the bright blue wrapper, first take a deep breath and whiff of the chocolatety peanut caramel sweet aroma. If there is heaven on Earth, this could very well be it, because the scent alone elevates your mind and taste buds. Next, as you hold this delectable snack in your hand, take a close look at all that chocolate square enrobed goodness. 

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Lastly, the moment you've been waiting for: take a small bite and get ready for your mouth to be transported by the unique combination of chocolate, crispy and chewy sensations. You may have a hard time resisting, so I challenge you to eat just one at each sitting and really take the time to enjoy it. In fact, I love that you get 2 squares in the SNICKER Crisper full-size candy bar, making it easy to twist the wrapped closed to save one for latter.


All About New SNICKERS Crisper

• Hunger keeps inventing new problems, so SNICKERS created the SNICKERS Crisper, the same SNICKERS you love with a satisfying added crunch that hits the spot
• SNICKERS Crisper is a unique sweet marriage of crisped rice and peanuts topped with a chewy caramel layer and coated in the same delicious milk chocolate as the original candy
• Certified kosher OU Dairy
• Available in 3 sizes: SNICKERS Crisper Single full-size candy bar featuring two squares, SNICKERS Crisper 4 to Go and SNICKERS Crisper FUN SIZE 10.61 oz Bag
• Each SNICKERS Crisper square candy is only 100 calories so you can treat yourself when hunger strikes
• Find SNICKERS Crisper at Walmart, Amazon and in-stre
• Stay in the loop by following @SNICKERS on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook

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Why not treat yourself once in awhile? When hunger strikes enjoy a SNICKERS Crisper.

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/MARS and I received the products featured as well as compensation for this review. However opinions in this post are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.