Vitalicious Vitatops- A Review

    I’ve learned something about myself, I love getting packages in the mail! Especially when it is something new for me to eat. I’m half Italian, I love food.. it really isn’t a shock to you I’m sure.. 

      I came home from the gym one morning, opened up my screen door and a huge box fell on top of me.. VitaTop me! Haha, get it? Vita-Top- right on top…  *cough* Moving on.. 

    I was expecting the samples but man- I wasn’t expecting this!

   There were VitaBrownies, VitaCakes and a bunch of different VitaTops- it was like an early Christmas!

   We have all seen 100 calorie packs of our favorite treats lining the shelves at the market and at first glance it seems like a good intentioned idea. Who doesn’t like Oreos, Chocolate chip cookies, or chips and crackers- for 100 calories at that.. too good to be true?  Flip that package over you’ll see that they are nothing more than cardboard and air flavored with artificial junk, lacking any sort of nutrition. I know your probably thinking.. If I wanted good nutrition I shouldn't eat one of these treats to begin with right?
   Yes… and No.. I’m a firm believer in balance and moderation. So do I think you should eat one of those cardboard oreo 100 calorie cookie packs? Nope..  For one thing, you could just eat the real cookie or make a healthier version on your favorite treat.. or.. have you could have VitaBrownie, VitaTop or VitaCake..  NOT your typical 100 calorie pack! 
     Here’s why:
-100 calories
-No artificial ingredients
-No preservatives
-Made with whole grains
-Filled with Fiber, Protein and 15 vitamins and minerals (Bet your cardboard Oreos don’t have that!)
-And the most important of all… they taste great!
 

Vitalicious products can be found in the freezer section of your market- I’ve even seen them at Target! When your ready to get your snack on, pull one out of the freezer and microwave or toast to thaw. You can also just allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.. But I don’t have a toaster or a microwave… and I’m about as patient as a 2 year old, so I improvised..

  The space heater works too just incase your wondering..

     Since I was given such a generous variety of flavors, I brought them to a girl’s night and did a little taste test!

(From top left to bottom: mini-cake(which is only 50 calories BTW!), brownie, triple chocolate, corn, apple crumb, double chocolate, chocolate mint, cranbran and banana chip) - I also received banana nut and Fudgy peanut butter chip which I ate right away lol.
   The girls loved them- and while my favorites are most definitely the VitaBrownie, Corn and Banana Nut.. everyone had their favorites- though we all agree that the brownies are amazing! And even better when warmed :)

…. No cardboard here! In all honesty, I was shocked at how well Vitalicious nailed the texture of a traditional muffin (which can clock in somewhere around 500 calories!) for 100 calories.  

 Head over to http://www.vitalicious.com to purchase and for more info. Or grab a box the next time your shopping and give them a try for yourself! (I’d say get those brownies!)

A big thanks to Vitalicious and to the girls at Crier Communications- Danielle and Katie for sending these samples my way!

 
***Please note that these opinions are my own, and are 100% honest and truthful. I was not compensated for this review, but did receive the product at no cost to me. 

Donations, creative heating methods, Puppy-face and Pizza+ WOs

     Back when Hurricane Sandy first hit the East Coast, I knew immediately that I wanted to do something to help. I have many friends who live in NY and NJ, some who were directly affected.. Plus it was a little too close to home for comfort. Seeing thousands of people still struggling with the aftermath is hard to swallow…

  So I came up with a quick plan and I called it “Om” to Rebuild hOMes”.  $15 Donation (100% of the proceeds to be donated) per student for 1 hour of yoga and a glass of wine afterwards- not a bad Friday night. We raised $500! Which I donated to the American Red Cross this week.

    I’m so excited it was such a success, and more good news- we are going to be making it a semi-regular thing.. I will teach one class a month and proceeds will go to the American Red Cross and the other yoga teacher will teach one class a month and will be donating to a Veterans fund.

    

    Aren’t they just the cutest little yogis?

     After the class and wine, I met up with the husband at our favorite local bar for a drink and catch up. He got to see a hockey game.. from the Penthouse.. Yeah I was jealous..

   Saturday and Sunday were work days.. nothing to report, that’s for sure. 

   The week started pretty slowly, I taught Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.. Making double workouts on each day.. and refueling with a little something special that came in the mail 

   Yeah I don’t own a microwave… or a toaster… Turns out the space heater works just fine to heat this little muffin top through- even if it does take a while longer, they are totally worth the wait. I have a lot of flavors to try before I give out my full review though.. so be patient ;)
    At some point Hydro came for a ride with me to do some errands.. Poor little dude isn’t getting better.. Super Sad Faced Mommy over here..

    I haven’t updated you guys about him because its just too sad.. I literally hurt and cry almost every time I look into his lifeless little eyes.. James and I are stuck… I love that little dude so, so much- and it kills me to know that I’m going to need to do what is in his best interest.. Which might mean I have to let him go- I don’t want him to be in pain.. without energy, having accidents in the house, etc.. He just isn’t the happy and healthy boy he once was. So while we don’t have any concrete evidence that he has something serious and terminal wrong with him.. (or any answers at all)  we both know in our hearts that there is..  Only time will tell.. Until then we are smothering him with lots and lots of love and trying to enjoy the little time we have left we him.
    Which is why I haven’t gotten a whole lot of high quality sleep these days.. Dogs take up WAY too much of the bed!

   I did have enough energy to make some pizza monkey bread for my friend who fixed my flat tire for free..

      It was the least I could do.. And if you knew my friend Scott you would know that pizza is his most favorite food in the whole world, along side a couple of huge glasses of chocolate milk.. All of my friends have pallets of children, haha..

Workouts this week:
  Monday- Interval pyramid
  Tuesday- Ran 3 miles, 3 minute plank workout, yoga
  Wednesday- 30 minute circuit at PF, yoga
  Thursday- Ran 1 mile- followed by over an hour of PT.. I don’t get paid to teach at the kickboxing gym but I’ll take a free PT session! And more yoga..
  Friday- REST