Earth Day is coming up this Sunday, on April 22nd, and what better way to celebrate and acknowledge ways we can mobilize the Earth with simple acts of green?

I'd like to introduce you all to Glass Dharma. I first heard about this genius invention almost a year ago through the blogosphere, and was beyond excited when the lovely Cheryl promptly sent my own glass straws to test out. Click here to read more about David Leonhardt, his art + science behind these unique glass straws, and how they help our good Earth.

I have had plenty of time to test these babies out, and I want to tell the world that these glass straws are one of the best inventions EVER.

I no longer use plastic straws and plan to have one of my glass straws with me where ever I go once I order a few hemp sleeves. Also? I don't ever have to worry about my straws breaking because Glass Dharma offers a Lifetime Guarantee Against Breakage!


The straws come in several different sizes, decor, and sets.. My favorite is the Decorative Dot smoothie straw, which you will find in most, if not all, of my drink photos:)


The Bubble tea straw is perfect for those massive, extra thick smoothie's packed with all your favorite toppings... Do you ever have days like that -- when you empty your refrigerator/pantry and whip up a happy accident--the Bubble tea straw is perfect for those:)

A must have for these wonderful glass straws are the cleaning brushes:


The tiny one is adorable, and is specifically for the 7mm sipper straw, and the bigger one accommodates the 9.5mm+ straws. I have always rinsed my straws in hot water as soon as I'm finished with my drink and rarely use the brushes, however, they are great to have for thoroughness, as well as those rare occasions you find yourself frustrated trying to clean them without. If you are fortunate enough to have a dishwasher, Glass Dharma straws will easily withstand--and might be a good idea for sanitizing:)

Glass Dharma straws range from $6.50 - $10.00 individually or you can order straw sets ranging from $28 - $40 all depending on the style and size of straw. The cleaning brushes (individually) are $5, and the hemp soft sleeves, which come in various colors are $15 each. All very affordable prices for handmade in the USA if you ask me!

Doesn't this make you want to contact and/or visit all your favorite restaurants and get them onboard with Glass Straws? How awesome would that be? With Glass Dharma's guarantee AND wholesale opportunity, why not?!

Definitely review the FAQ's because the information provided therein is very helpful! You can also learn why glass is the better choice as well as what makes Glass Dharma different from other glass straw companies.

Lucky for all of you, there are several ways to win Glass Dharma straws for yourself... First and foremost, the Glass Dharma team is giving away 1000 glass straws for Earth Day 2012, and I hope all of you will participate. Learn the details and get yourself entered by clicking here.

You also have a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate by entering via the rafflecopter widget below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway




------------

If you haven't read my first two Vega Sport reviews, definitely catch up!

Vega Sport Review | Pre-Workout
Vega Sport Review | Sustain

If you did read those previous posts you already know that my initial review of the fantastic products below was WAY to long for just one blog post, so instead of composing a short novel, I decided to divide my reviews into three parts: Pre-Workout, Sustain, and Recover.

Vega Sport offers plant-based products catering to my strict raw, vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar free lifestyle, thank God! The Vega Sport line caters to preparing, sustaining, and recovering efficiently, and today we're going to talk about Recovery. 

Recovery is so important post workout. People don't realize or understand that what they feed their body has much if not more effect than the actual workout itself...especially post workout!

After a workout I have to have protein shake. I was taught several years ago when I dove headfirst into health and fitness that protein post workout is vital for feeding my muscles, and justifying my hard work. Not to mention reducing recovery time so I can move the next day. My workouts used to consist of specific combination lift routines for everyday of the week, then I changed it to a full-body routine every other day. While I couple soreness with an awesome workout, I expect my post work-out protein shake to feed my body and muscles with the appropriate nutrients alleviating the majority of my muscle soreness.

Saving the specifics for another post, let me explain why Vega Sport's Performance Protein is the best I've tried so far. It is a complete multi-source, alkaline-forming, plant-based protein blend, featuring 5,500mg of BCAAs and 5,000mg of glutamine per serving. It is formulated to improve strength and exercise performance, repair and build muscles, and reduce recovery time between training.

A new addition to this protein is the SaviSeed (sacha inchi) protein, a rich, plant-based source of the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is a key component of serotonin production (source), and serotonin—the feel good hormone—helps with the mental aspect of recovery, so you’ll keep the drive alive and be motivated to train again.

The flavors include Chocolate, Vanilla, and Berry -- and I love them all. My boyfriend thinks the Chocolate tastes like dirt, but he loves the Berry. Again, the stevia is definitely prevalent in ALL the flavors, so if you're not a fan that taste will definitely stand out.

It is encouraged and in my opinion imperative to combine your post work-out shake with the Vega Sport Recovery Accelerator. I usually do this merely because I'm a glutamine glutton, but also because the two flavors Tropical and Apple Berry are ridiculously yummy!!! This product taste absolutely phenomenal by itself, but combining the two are even better (and less liquids I have to consume;).

The Vega Sport Recovery Accelerator is the first all-natural, plant-based recovery drink mix specifically developed to address all six key elements of post-workout recovery, including: Muscle glycogen replenishment, muscle tissue repair and protein synthesis, hormonal support, soft-tissue repair, immune function, inflammation-reduction and rehydration.

The unique formula of Recovery Accelerator features an innovative blend of 23 synergistic plant-based ingredients, like glucosamine, MacaSure, devil’s claw, L-arginine and American ginseng, specifically selected to replenish energy and electrolytes, reduce inflammation, muscle and joint pain, support immune system function and protein synthesis, reduce recovery time between training.

Vega Sport Recovery Accelerator also features a 4:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein, a combination shown to increase muscle glycogen re-synthesis—a crucial component of post-workout recovery.

I mention all that jargon in this post instead of referring you to the website because the above information is specifically what sets this product a part from any other plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free protein available on the market.

These two products alone are packed with vital ingredients -- check it out for yourself!

Vega Sport Performance Protein Powder

Vega Sport Recovery Accelerator

I usually have my Vega Sport Performance Protein shake immediately after my workouts, but as long as you get it in within the window of the first 60 minutes after stopping physical activity you should be fine.

Okay, so now that I've  literally advocated for this company in three separate posts, I do have to share a major let down. The one product other reviewers absolutely raved about, I was utterly disappointed in:

Vega Sport Protein Bar

Starving, I ripped open one of the Chocolate Coconut Vega Sport Protein Bars and swore I was chewing on a little piece of heaven. It was way too flipping good, I knew there had to be a catch...and there was.

After scouring the ingredients on every other Vega product I was trying, I failed to do so with this one, and my heart sank like the Titanic. I literally felt ill to my stomach as I read that the second ingredient (which means second most quantity in this product) is Dark Chocolate Coating, translation = SUGAR, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, and vanilla.

My heart skipped a beat and I was disappointed a company like Vega would even have a product with sugar in it at all. I couldn't get mad though. Not reading the label was my fault and will forever be my own responsibility.

I emailed Cristina at Vega to get the scoops and she confirmed the dark chocolate coating on those bars contains white sugar. But she also mentioned they have recently made some changes and just switched to use organic cane sugar in the chocolate, which is definitely the better of the bad (IE: no chemical additives).

[side bar]

If you're wondering what the big deal is, I don't eat refined sugar, and avoid it like the plague. With all my restrictions I always negotiate what I eat and when I have to cave on something I try to pick the better of the worse in any situation. However, there are three things I will never compromise: meat, soy, and sugar. Subscribe via email and eventually I'll publish a post as to WHY:)

That is the only negative feedback I have for the Recovery products, so if you don't care about consuming sugar, than you've just discovered a phenomenal tasting protein bar to indulge in!!

I've mentioned in my previous reviews for the Vega Sport products to please don't let the sticker shock deter you from trying the products. The quality of ingredients is near perfection, and I have yet to find a better product on the market. If or when ever I do, I'll of course share it here on the blog:)

In the mean time, get yourself some Vega Sport fuel. Visit Sequel Naturals or go on Amazon to find better deals. Do what you got to do to finally try this product! It took me long enough;)



Win over 30,000 in prizes here.

Judge Andrew P. Napolitano examines the concept the government hates and fears the most: Freedom.

The Truth Will Set You Free

The United States of America was born out of a bloody revolt against tyranny. Yet almost from its inception, the government here has suppressed liberty. In his sixth book on the Constitution and human freedom, Judge Andrew P. Napolitano asks: Where does freedom come from? How can government in America exercise power that the people have not given to it? What forces have collaborated to destroy personal freedom?

In this back-to-basics on freedom, Judge Napolitano addresses hard questions:

• Do we still have a Constitution?

• What are the limits to government power in a free society?

• Why does the government attack, rather than defend, our rights?

• If our rights are inalienable, how can the government take them away?

• Do we really own any private property?

The Judge gives a sweeping treatment of natural rights and all the philosophical, religious, and ideological principles that underscore the concept of human freedom.

When it comes to the truth, it doesn't matter your political view.. facts are facts, and they cannot be denied. We live in a very deceitful world where the government is trusted entirely too much. I recommend reading this book if only to open your eyes and shed light on topics most people don't even realize and the role of the government.


I originally picked this book for my Dad to read, but life threw us a curve ball and he's been reading other books for now--but I can't hardly wait to hear his opinion of this one when ever he does read it!

I only know the Judge from what I saw on Fox News, and now that he's off the air I am very happy to learn he has several books I can read. This was actually a great opportunity for me to dive into his musings, and I look forward to the others.

I received this book for free from BookSneeze® in exchange for this honest review. You can pick up a copy for yourself here!

------------

As we established in this post, I am with out a doubt one of the last people to finally try the Vega Sport line by Brendan Brazier.

For that reason alone it was assumed you already knew about this amazing company -- and I hope you do -- but if you don't, please click here to learn more!

I'm a Fan:)

I am so pumped to have found a naturally plant-based, vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free (with exceptions) nutrition line for pre, during, and post workouts -- that tastes good!

There really isn't anything worse than having nutritional restrictions and feeling as if you can't consume anything. That is probably the main reason I am so thankful for Brendan's products.

Almost all Vega Sport ingredients are pure, and therefore trustworthy -- one less thing I have to worry about. Sigh of relief.


My initial review of the fantastic products above was WAY to long for one blog post, so instead of composing a short novel, I decided to divide my review into three parts: Pre-Workout, Sustain, and Recover.

If you missed my Pre-Workout Energizer review, please catch up by reading it here.

As we all know, Vega Sport offers plant-based products to prepare, sustain, and recover efficiently. Let's talk about the Sustain products...

I was surprised by how much I appreciated the Sustain products. I don't run for hours on end like some, in fact, I'm doing good if I am able to set 60-minutes aside in the day to workout period, so sustaining wasn't a high priority during a work out per se. However, I have found myself needing these delicious Endurance Bars more than ever on busy days!

Endurance Bar

It isn't uncommon for me to leave the house in the early morning not to return until almost dinner time, so keeping Endurance Bars within arms reach has become a must. My Dad for example has hypoglycemia and without fail will wait until he crashes and desperately needs food or the world will stop -- and I will now and forever hand him an Endurance Bar to get him by.

These Endurance Bars have saved us numerous times between meetings, and I love the ingredients: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium, and the Açai Berry has: Dates Dried, Apples, Protein Blend (Sprouted Whole Grain Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), SaviSeed™ (Sacha Inchi Seeds), Pumpkin Seed Butter, Sorghum Syrup, Cranberries (Cranberries,, Pineapple Syrup, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Sunflower Oil), EnergySource®** (Grape Juice, Natural Rice Dextrins), Sorghum Crisps (Sorghum, Quinoa, Rice, Tapioca), White Chia Seeds, Blueberries, Rice Crisps, Natural Açai Berry Flavor, Açai Powder.

I favor the Açai Berry over the Mocha, but both are yummy. They have a light and airiness to them and remind me of a fruit bar. They are the perfect nutrient-supplementing snack to get you by to your next meal.

You'll notice there are 16g of "sugar", but as I mentioned in my first review this is not your typical white or brown sugar filler. This is the natural occurring, unrefined, energy-providing ingredients found from the organic fruits, which serve an actual purpose to stabilize an unbalanced body. This is beyond important for my Dad -- and anyone else for that matter.

For a box of 12 Endurance Bars, it is $35.99 (+/- $3 per bar) on the Sequel Naturals website; however, with out even hardly trying I found it for 20% off on Amazon. Also, I previously suggested stopping in local health food stores because sometimes they are 50%+ off of certain products!

Endurance Gel

I was very excited to try the Endurance Gels merely because of the ingredients! The raspberry flavor includes: Dates, Filtered Water, Energysource®** (Grape Juice, Natural Rice Dextrins), Sorghum Malt, Electrolyte Blend (Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Vitamin C, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Chromium), Coconut Oil, Citric Acid, Natural Raspberry and Strawberry Flavors. 

YUM!! I tasted it by itself as if I were to consume it like GU, but I ended up drizzling it all over my so delicious "greek yogurt" + toppings and it was the best thing ever! Such a genius way to add more nutrients to a second breakfast or mid-morning or day snack/meal.

To be honest, I was very nervous about trying these Endurance Gels, because every.single.person who had previously reviewed the Vega Sport products completely tore the Endurance Gels a new one making it sound like the most disgusting thing ever.

Au contraire!

While I personally wouldn't eat the Endurance Gells by itself, I thought the Raspberry gel tasted fantastic. I haven't tried to the Orange Zest yet, but that's also because I've never been an "orange flavor" fan. I will probably make Chia Pudding and mix it with that and toppings.

I'm not even going to mention the "sugar" (17g) because if you don't get it by now, I won't go there... just look at the ingredients:)

For a box of 12 Endurance Gels, it is $23.99 (+/- $2 per gel) on the Sequel Naturals website; however, for a whopping dollar cheaper, you can get it on Amazon;) That's not to say you can't score a box for cheaper somewhere else -- these are just my first go-to sites -- and it changes by the day!

Electrolyte Hydrator

I'm a huge fan of water, however if you're not drinking alkaline water (with a high pH level) such as Kangen water, those additional electrolytes and nutrients are greatly appreciated.

The Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator is a natural, alkaline-forming drink mix, free from sugar and artificial sweeteners. It is formulated with all the essential electrolytes your body needs to stay hydrated during workouts or in my case, a quick saving Grace in between meals during the day.

Zero calories per serving, replenishes electrolytes and minerals, enhances metabolism and alkalinity, and provides antioxidant protection...and more importantly tastes great. If you don't like the taste of stevia though, you may not be an instant fan. I was unsure of my first few sips until I realized it was the stevia I was tasting.

Pom-Berry Electrolyte Hydrator

I absolutely love the Pom-Berry flavor, and gave the Lemon-Lime to my Dad since we found out he was running low on electrolytes during his last Doctor's visit. He really enjoyed the refreshing citrus taste, and I couldn't believe all the amazing ingredients: Vitamin C, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Chromium, Chloride, Sodium, Potassium, and other ingredients such as (Pom-Berry Electrolyte Hydrator) natural pomegranate and raspberry flavors, citric acid, DL-malic acid, stevia extract, beet powder, silicon dioxide. 

AMAZING INGREDIENTS!!

Absolutely PACKED with all things goodness. In the Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator alone there is enough Cancer-Fighting properties to help prevent or at the very least create a more alkaline environment for healthy cells to flourish. Between coconut water and these packets, I would like my loved ones consuming either at least once a day!

For a pack of 30 singles of the Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator on the Sequel Naturals website it is $29.99 (+/- $1 per packet) OR an attractive $14.40 on Amazon.

Seriously, don't let the sticker shock deter you from trying these products. The quality of ingredients is near perfection, and I have yet to find a better product on the market.



Win over 30,000 in prizes here.

I am probably, with out a doubt one of the last people to finally try the Vega Sport line by Brendan Brazier. For that reason alone, I will assume you know all about the company already (if not, definitely click here!) and the fact that it is naturally plant-based, vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free (with exceptions).

Back in February the lovely Cristina from Sequel Naturals sent me a goodie box packed with not only the Vega Sport Sampler Pack, but a handful of their lastest Vega One protein packets to test out as well.

My initial review I drafted was WAY to long for one blog post, so instead of hoping readers would grab a drink and hunker down, I decided to divide my review into three parts: Pre-Workout, Sustain, and Recover.

First and foremost when I became a strict raw, vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar free foodie basically over night, learning about Brendan was a life saver. I have previously been a raw vegan (years ago for several years) however I had flaws in my system including a slightly different motivation resulting in a temporary lifestyle, until now. 

One thing that hasn't changed over the years is my passion to workout, specifically lifting. Pre and post workout has always been particularly important to me, and prior to learning about Vega, I thought it was game over with my restrictions.

Vega Sport offers plant-based products to prepare, sustain, and recover efficiently. I put it to the ultimate test during my Mount Baker Adventure and was so relieved my ballsy risk taking didn't let me down!

Here are my thoughts regarding the Pre-Workout Energizer:

Pre-Workout

I tried the Açai Berry Pre-Workout Energizer (ingredients: Whole grain brown rice syrup, organic palm nectar, natural blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, açai and pomegranate flavors, citric acid, DL-malic acid, organic red beet powder) and really enjoyed the taste. It was great to feel naturally pumped and ready to hike the face of a freshly powdered mountain.

My boyfriend actually replaced his N.O. Xplode with the Lemon-Lime Pre-Workout Energizer (ingredients: Whole grain brown rice syrup, organic palm nectar, natural lemon and lime flavors, organic spinach leaf, citric acid, DL-malic acid, beta carotene) because he likes it so much. He loves the taste, and he loves the effects, which of course makes me ecstatic! I remember N.O. Xplode being very water retentive, resulting in a bloated look and feeling, so this is the perfect alternative for us.

The Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer is a pre-workout drink mix sporting a unique blend of 13 synergistic plant-based performance-improving ingredients, such as green tea, yerba mate, coconut oil and rhodiola, which provide immediate and sustained energy, increase endurance, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, and enhance mental focus and recovery.

You'll notice there are 12g of "sugar" but please note this is not your typical white or brown sugar filler. This is the natural occurring, energy-providing ingredients found from the organic sprouted brown rice syrup, which has a high glycemic index (90) entering the bloodstream quickly, and the organic palm nectar, which has a low glycemic index (35), providing slow, steady energy that will not spike or crash.

You'll also notice it's a whopping $49.99 for a 19oz (30 servings) for a tub of the Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer. Wooomp, wooomp.

Quality product reflecting an appropriate price no doubt, but I have to encourage you to adventure out to a health food store. Every single random place I've stopped in has offered Vega products on sale, which makes it worth it [to me]. My boyfriend found an amazing deal online (amazon?) so I also encourage googling.

Don't let the sticker shock deter you from trying this product. Pre-Workout Energizers are equally important as Recovering, and I haven't found a better product yet.

Stay tuned for my next Vega Sport review featuring the Sustain products:)

Win over 30,000 in prizes here.


------------

I wanted to talk a little bit about how I've been adapting to the cold here in Seattle. Sure it's Spring now, but it's still cold to this Maui Girl and Winter is still fresh in my mind!

I was recently featured on the Agloves website...

Click to view larger

I reviewed the Agloves Sport and Bamboo, which passed the test with my Mount Baker Adventure. But you already know about that if you read this post or this post.

Today I want to talk about the several layers I wore that day, which really worked for me.


My base layers included YMX By YellowMan's Koi Leggings and Māori Swirl Sun Tee (it's okay that they hardly match, they're still sexy and buttery soft).

Then I put on my black Roxy fleece over the long sleeve + cotton leggings I put over the Koi leggings. I almost omitted the cotton leggings, but I'm so glad I didn't! 

My top layers included my black Roxy snowboarding pants I got on sale, and my splurge in Winter gear: North Face TriClimate jacket.



Like I mentioned in my review, I was perfectly comfortable during the hike. In fact, I may have even broke a sweat at one point, which is ironic being surrounded by so much snow!

However... I really wish I had wore this little number once we parked it up at the top:


I was comfortable for a good bit, but then the cold settled into my bones! Pacing, jumping jacks, warm thoughts - nothing seemed to get me warm! In fact, all I could think about was this jacket!

I imagined how toasty I could be feeling at that very moment if only I had that liner on. I also imagined how much of a diva I would sound like to these Seattlites clearly immune to the cold had they been able to hear my thoughts! I told myself to buck up.. Then it started to snow.

Good Lord, we were in the Tundra and frost bite was immanent, to say I was ready to go was an understatement! Then as if Mother Nature heard my silent pleas, we all agreed to venture to the finish line and started our descend with hopes of a bathroom nearby.

As soon as we started our trek, I was fine and having fun again. We met Travis Rice, who may or may not have thought we were crazy. Either way, he ended up playing leap frog with Laura:)



I couldn't get to my phone fast enough, but my cousin captured the last couple leaps, so this definitely goes down in the books. Best. Day. Ever:) After our run in we had a blast continuing down the mountain doing tricks. It was awesome!

Winter Gear Conclusion: 


My outfit was perfect even minus the heated jacket liner because I was 100% comfortable maneuvering around the mountain. I still want the liner, and a real snowboarding jacket, but my garb passed with flying colors nonetheless! As I do more of this sort of adventure, I'm sure I'll shed a layer or two, but for now this is what I'm working with! My goal is to just wear my YMX, Roxy heated liner, + snowboarding jacket:)

Suggestions: 

I am borderline obsessed with YMX By YellowMan for several reasons. Quality, Function, and Style, just to name a few. My closet quickly filled with YMX gear as I fell in love with the company, and as I've worn different designs, I have two very easy suggestions... give me thumbholes on the long sleeves and give me more Roger Ingerton's Māori designs! Every time I go running in one of my long sleeves, I wish I had thumbholes. And let's face it, Māori print is my favorite, Roger is a genius, and I can't get enough:)

I have so many design ideas, and have to say how sick would it be if they designed a simple solid black long sleeve with white Māori print on the sleeves!? OR my absolute favorite idea right now... solid black leggings with one of the legs having white Māori print from the outer side of the hip to the ankle. I would so pimp that.

My creative juices are flowing.. My Outrigger Canoe Club colors are Black and Yellow, so if YMX ever created the above mentioned design or any Māori print with those two colors for that matter -- I'd go broke! #TrueStory:)


------------

The weather seems to be changing by the day here in Seattle. Last week it was snowing, yesterday it was clear and in the 60's, while today has been a windy mess in the 40's and rainy! Some say Spring is here, but then the Alaskan or Canadian chill in the air makes me think otherwise! ..Not to mention more snow is in the forecast - BURR!

All I have to say is thank goodness for my Agloves!

About a month or two ago I won an Agloves giveaway via their Facebook page, and I was connected with the very lovely Sara. The timing couldn't have been better because I had recently learned about this company and the technology behind it, and really wanted to do a product review!

Soon after I arrived Seattle in December, I quickly figured out what a pain it was to have to take off a glove in order to utilize my phone. It was as if I could feel the frost bite building and couldn't finish my task fast enough.

My man sweetly surprised me with a pair of these; however you're stipulated by use of only two fingers on each hand: thumbs and pointer fingers. Those gloves definitely keep me warmer and get the job done, but I didn't realize how important every finger was until I tried the Agloves! Particularly when you're trying to take a picture from your iPhone;)

Sara sent me the Bamboo Agloves and the Agloves Sport:

Bamboo

Sport

Both are phenomenal.

When I first inspected them they honestly reminded me of the gloves you can get at Target (you the know, the two for $1.99), but the quality was visibly better, and the silver-coated nylon gave the gloves a sleek look. Not to mention you can actually operate your touchscreen devices due to the nifty silver lining.  

One thing I was immediately concerned about was keeping warm while still being functional, and I am happy to report both styles get the job done appropriately. In addition, they make you feel like you could be a hand model! #truestory

Lately I've been pimping the Bamboo Agloves in my everyday attire. I really like the chic color and think it adds a nice pop to my outfits, complimenting this interim phase Washington seems to be in right now: Winter/Spring. I keep them rolled up like a sock in my purse so they're with me wherever I go since I'm such a fair weather diva!

Sara advised me that the Bamboo Agloves run a tad small, so I am thankful for her direction because the mediums fit my tiny hands perfectly! These gloves are excellent for everyday wear in cooler weather or as a liner, with 15% silver-nylon (antimicrobial materials).

Speaking of using Agloves as a liner, a few weeks ago I escaped to Mount Baker with my cousin and a couple friends where I was able to test out the Sport Agloves.

We started our adventure at the base of the mountain and hiked our way to the top of the highest peak where the Legendary Banked Slalom Pro Snowboardering Contest Finals were being held.


The NEW Agloves Sport is designed to keep you warm on active days, has a snug fit sealing off the wind, and silver nylon trapping the heat in. It's thicker than the Bamboo, stretchier, and can easily be used as a liner for snow gloves--which I ended up doing since I instantly froze once we were settled at the top and hunkered down to watch the competition! However, during the entire trek up the mountain which probably took an hour or so, I was perfectly comfortable with just my Agloves Sport.

Since I'm fairly new to this technology, I wasn't sure what would happen when snow/moisture/water got on the gloves -- but check out their FAQ's -- Apparently that actually improves the conductivity!

To learn more about Agloves, click here:)



The lovely Sara generously offered to award two subscribers with a pair of Agloves! Isn't that awesome? Two of you will have a chance to win a pair of your own! All you have to do is enter via the Rafflecopter Widget below!

Please remember to read - you must follow via Linky Follower for your entry or entries to count. It's free to sign up, literally takes 60 seconds, and you never have to log in ever again if you don't want to:)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

HAPPY SATURDAY!

I was going to escape to Canada (Vancouver) today, but thought I'd be responsible by staying in and studying while it snow/rained outside. Instead, I've set a goal to watch EVERYTHING saved on my DVR and blog!

Must Have!

24" yes, please

Personal Motto

And of course:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

For those of you who are unfamiliar, I am BEYOND excited to introduce you to YMX, which is short for YellowMan Expression. This amazing company was launched back in 2009 as an extension of their original, high-end tattoo clothing brand: YellowMan. I actually discovered YMX while exploring the blogosphere, and it was love at first sight!

I would love to experience/compare & review YellowMan wearbable art, too!

YMX is multi-function, fashionable clothing for an active lifestyle -- running, biking, yoga, lifting, paddling, winter sport -- you name it. In all honesty I want to build my closet with these guys for everyday wear! YMX has literally combined fashion and athletic wear for both men and women brilliantly. The lightweight MadKool fabric and original prints stand out in such a distinctive way, you either love it or hate it. I happen to love it. 



As I snooped around the YMX by YellowMan website for the first time I was immediately drawn to the Māori prints by Roger Ingerton. The very talented Roger specializes in the traditional Polynesian patterns as most of his work is freehand and adopted by the Māori Tā Moko themselves!

I am originally from the island of Maui and the Polynesian Culture is part of who I am, so to see the Māori print, Pacific Island patterns I went crazy! I had to have them! This type of clothing is very exclusive in Hawai'i -- surprisingly small scale, hard to find and very rarely have websites or even the ability to purchase except for in person, or at events. That being said, you can only imagine my excitement finding YMX by YellowMan!

Courtesy of YMX by YellowMan

Thrilled with my excitement, the YMX Team promptly sent me their Māori Swirl Sun Long Sleeve to review and commence my now life long collection.

The first thing you need to know about these garments is that they are made with MadKool fabric, Polyester, and Spandex. The MadKool fabric efficiently moves sweat away from the body to the outer layer of the fabric, where it dries faster than with other fabrics. In addition, the MadKool fabric regulates your natural body temperature so you will stay warm in cool weather activities, and cool when your heart is pumping - genius!


This luscious, buttery-soft long sleeve is my new best friend! This particular jersey is a multifunctional long sleeve bringing the traditional Māori art as an elegant performance base layer or everyday fashion. It's very slim fitting and I while I could have easily gone up one size for a more relaxed fit, I don't mind the snug fit at all!

Māori Honi-Honi!!

This sexy beast also has a UV SPF 50+, permanent moisture wicking by yarn, abrasion resistant, and soft hand, which was  a huge plus while on Maui. The tropical Hawaiian Sun beats down on you and sun-screen doesn't always work for us athletes. I paddle OC6 and OC1 -- outrigger canoe (regatta & long-distance) and my crew would greatly benefit from these types of jersey's. Perhaps I can BEG Roger to design a BLACK & YELLOW jersey for my crew and I to pimp!


Bottom Line: I love everything about this long-sleeve. The color, design, fit, feel, and probably most important to me: the cultural background. I also love how the long sleeves are long enough to cover a bit of my hands -- nothing worse than long sleeves that come up too short!


One thing you will immediately notice while browsing the YMX by YellowMan website is the value of their jerseys -- they are not cheap by any means; however, you definitely get what you pay for in terms of quality.

Here are my most recent MUST HAVE ITEMS:

OBSESSED

Beyond Gorgeous!

Arm Sleeves -- LOVE the colors & design!

a Rafflecopter giveaway