Road Tested: Cultures for Health

May 11, 2015 by scootadoot

Recently, the ladies over here at Scoot a Doot were approached by Cultures for Health, a real food company run by Julie and Eric Feickert. Their goal? To create a website where people making a food change in their own lives could find all the products and information they need to be successful. Part of that website provide folks with kits to make their own food. From yogurt, to cheese, to kefir, to sourdough, to kombucha – these starter kits provide the perfect opportunity to dip your toes into the world of sustainable, traditionally prepared foods.

The lovely folks over there gave Meridith and Kyle the chance to try their hand at making some food… these are their stories.

Kombucha.

Wait. What?

Yes. You read that right. Kombucha. What is Kombucha? Well, according to the wisdom that is the internets (and Wikipedia, which, you know, ALWAYS has the right answer), kombucha is “a lightly effervescent fermented drink of sweetened black and/or green tea that is used as a functional food. It is produced by fermenting the tea using a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast, or ‘SCOBY’.”

That’s a fun way to say it’s a delicious drink with debatable health benefits. Whatever. I like kombucha, though I usually buy it pre-made, in a bottle, at Whole Foods. It’s bubbly, and fizzy, and has a fun little tang to it.

So obviously, when Mer and I were offered the chance to test out the Cultures for Health kits, I jumped at the opportunity to try and make my own kombucha.

Things I knew going in:

Kombucha is cultured (duh, hence the name).
Unlike some cultures, kombucha takes a looong time.
This might be a struggle because I’m terribly impatient.

When my kit arrived, I immediately busted it open because I wanted to know what this process was going to be like and what other things I might need to gather to be successful.

Turns out that I needed to get a bigger mason jar, but given that I’m dumb and that I don’t plan ahead, by the time I needed to start the culture to have something ready for this post, I hadn’t picked one up. Solution? Use the leftover coconut oil jar (washed, of course) instead. It was a little small, so I had to half the recipe. I was a little concerned about how successful this would be. #badplanning

Anyways. The process itself was fairly simple. Essentially, I had to brew some tea (the kit included some black tea, which I enjoy), add some sugar (more than I thought, but… science, I guess?), some vinegar and the SCOBY, and then… wait.

And wait.

The instructions say that the starter culture is supposed to take roughly 30 days to cure. So far, it’s sat for 11. It’s looking good!

I tasted a little off the top – and while the culture still isn’t completely ready yet, it’s definitely doing something! It’s sweet and vinegary (a little). I’m excited to see how it turns out after a month.

The instructions in this kit were very clear as to how this process was supposed to go – and while the recipe is fairly simple, the process for making the starter culture vs. your own kombucha tea can get a little confusing. I appreciated that these steps were delineated clearly. I also liked that they gave instructions on how to continue using your culture to make multiple batches of tea. If this goes well, I definitely will!

Cheers!

Mozzarella and tomato slices, drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Homemade pizza with delicious melt-y cheese.

Yes indeed, I had big dreams for the Cultures for Health kits.

My best sous chefs were prepped (aka: my kids) and ready to go. Although I’d never made cheese before I was confident that I could follow the directions in the booklet.

After all, how hard could it be?

Famous last words.

The kits came with most of the ingredients, we needed to supple one gallon of cow or goat milk and chlorine-free water.

Note: don’t do what I did at first and get organic milk. Organic milk is highly pasteurized and that doesn’t work well when making cheese.

After actually reading the directions I ran to the store to get regular cows milk. We wanted to make sure we had the highest chance of success possible, and that means following the directions. (We also now have a lot of milk in my house – the kids are thrilled because this means lots of chocolate milk!) It also says in the booklet under the section “Before You Start”: Read all the instructions. Okay, okay, I get it. Reading is fundamental.

The kiddos love helping with food prep and I kept them busy, pouring the milking and mixing ingredients. The little guy has high food selectivity (Autism/mouth-feel, you do it to me every time!) but I’ve found if he is involved with making food, he’s more apt to at least try new things.

Once we moved things to the stove, the kids helped stir the milk while we got it up to the proper temperature.

At this point, I think we were about a half hour into the process. The directions suggest that it takes about 30 minutes to make, in total. Obviously, we are not artisanal cheese makers. Yet.

Checking to see if the curds had separated from the whey. (They hadn’t fully so we let them sit a few more minutes.)

There was much singing about the Little Miss Muffet and tuffets and whatnot. I wasn’t exactly sure what we were doing at this point but I was hoping that we had good stuff going and soon would be feasting on mozzarella yummyness.

However, things weren’t looking so great when it came to the stretching of the curds. I had grand visions of being very twirly, creative at this point. Instead, this is what I got.

Not so stretchy. Not so twirly.

I continued on with this, wishing, hoping, praying that it would magically turn into a beautiful shiny ball of mozzarella. Instead, this is what we wound up with…

Cheese?

So what went wrong? Well, I think the processing of the milk could have been a factor. Even though it wasn’t ultra-pasteurized, I’m assuming that this is where the I had issues. The booklet has troubleshooting tips and I think that we could have increased the amount of citric acid to help balance this.

Thankfully, each kit makes quite a good amount of cheese; I’ll try again because I’m bound and determined to make it work. Additionally, the website is helpful in troubleshooting and they have an 800 number and email for customer support, which I will be taking full advantage of in my next venture.

Homemade cheese will happen! I will triumph!

Thanks to ztpr and Cultures for Health for giving us the opportunity to try the products mentioned. No further compensation was given and as always, our opinions are our own.

Guest Post: That Time I Joined the Gym, Then Quit, Then Joined, Then Quit, Then Joined…

April 27, 2015 by scootadoot

When it comes to joining gyms (and quitting them), I have quite the lengthy history. In fact, it goes a little something like this…

In high school, I joined a gym. I quit the gym because I was headed to college.
I went to college and worked out (a wee once in a while) in the fitness center.
I graduated, moved home, and joined a new gym.
I fell in love with spinning at said gym and religiously went to classes three time a week. I bought the shoes, the shorts, the whole lot. I was owning it.
I quit the gym because I was moving away.
I moved to Hoboken (with my then-boyfriend, would-be fiancé, would-be husband) and joined a gym. I loved it for awhile, especially one specific yoga class and teacher.
I got engaged.
I hired a personal trainer to get ripped and ready for my wedding dress.
I got married. I went on my honeymoon.
I came home and joined a different gym.
My husband and I were moving to the suburbs so I quit the Hoboken gym and joined a gym in the ‘burbs.
I got frustrated that I wasn’t going enough, so I quit that gym.
I joined a cheaper gym.
We got sick of the suburbs and moved back to Hoboken.
I rejoined the Hoboken gym.
I went pretty regularly for awhile and tried my hand at the various fitness classes.
I grew frustrated.
I stopped going.
I quit the gym.
I started purchasing various online vouchers for gyms and workout studios in the area. I had a blast redeeming them. I’d found my thing.
I used up my vouchers so I joined rejoined the gym I’d quit a couple times before.
I quit that gym again.
I did a one-week trial at a new gym. I loved it. I loved it so much that I locked myself into a year-long membership.
I don’ t love it anymore.
And now I want to quit.

Also weaved in there were short-lived stints with running. But really, who’s counting?

I ran in the Phillips 5K the first year. I was slow, but heck, I finished!

I don’t mean to be hard on myself here, but man, that’s a lot of quitting. Looking at this list, I really have to laugh, too. It’s such a hilarious cycle. Each time I put my John Hancock on a gym contract, I really and truly believe in my heart of hearts that THIS IS THE ONE! And then I have a change of heart…

My latest fitness interest is hot yoga (there’s something quite fascinating about sweating, dripping, get absolutely drenched alongside 20 strangers). Who knows how long this interest in yoga will last, but I do have to figure out what I’m doing here (I can’t keep dropping money on one-off yoga classes when I’m still locked into about 9 more months at my gym.) As it stands, I Google “how to get out of a gym membership” daily.

So, yeah. When it comes to fitness, dedicated I am not. Will I ever get there? Your guess is as good as mine.

Oh, and sometimes I hike. Here’s a snapshot of Sharon (left) and me (right) last summer.

Now I’ll tell you about something I AM dedicated to: Helping good people do good things. And “doing good” is exactly what my dear friend Sharon Phillips is accomplishing with the Christopher and Susan Phillips Foundation. This very special Foundation was started by Sharon in 2011 to honor her mother Susan (64) and brother Chris (27), both lost within days of each other from two separate cardiac-related events.

The Foundation hosts some fabulous fundraisers each year to help provide scholarships for students of Jonathan Dayton High School (the alma mater of the entire Phillips family) and Trinitas Nursing School (where Chris was studying to be a nurse).

Next month, on May 31^st, the Foundation will host its 4^th annual Phillips 5K/10K Run/Walk. This special event will take place at Lewis Morris Park in Morristown, NJ — and 100% of the race proceeds will benefit the Foundation and go toward future scholarships.

I’ll be there like every year, cheering participants on from the behind the microphone and helping to present ribbons to the fastest finishers. The day isn’t just about speed, though. It’s also about taking a few hours on a spring morning to come out and remember two lives well lived, two lives lost too soon.

Come be part of this special day. For additional details about the 5K/10K and to register online (pre-registration guarantees you a cool wicking t-shirt!) visit http://www.phillips5k.org.

So that’s where I’ll be on May 31^st. Until then, I’ll be feverishly trying to get out of my gym membership. I’ll also be spending quality time with dear friends like Sharon — because when it comes to my friendship with her, I’ll NEVER call it quits.

Jodi Rigotti is the Senior Editor at Teachers Pay Teachers, an online marketplace for teachers to buy and sell their original lesson plans and other course materials. Her hobbies include cooking, exercising sporadically, and being nicer than some say is necessary. She currently lives in Hoboken, NJ with her husband (and college sweetheart), Dan.

Guest Post: Philadelphia Hot Chocolate 15k

April 6, 2015 by scootadoot

Running for Chocolate is the SWEETEST of all victories…

Waking up at 4:30 in the morning to the sound of the wind howling, and rain hitting my house was not how I envisioned race day for running the RAM HOT CHOCOLATE 15k. Shaking off the bad weather, I headed out at 5:45am to meet my friend and running partner Kate Fontaine at the PATCO station.

Riding over the Delaware River in a full subway car filled with other runners, I was excited to see how this race would treat me. This would be my longest distance since running The Philadelphia Marathon in November of 2014 and I only got to 6.5 miles while training.

We were greeted with clearing skies and no rain when we came from underground, but the 40 MPH winds decided to stay behind to be with us during the race.

We made it to Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum in plenty of time to check our gear and arrive to our given running corrals. Everything was organized and the volunteers were very friendly.

After saying goodbye to the 5k runners, we lined up to begin our race with our fellow corral J friends. With the chilly wind hitting our faces, we were off. Running around the Oval, we headed away from the Art Museum and towards Kelly Drive. The wind was blowing towards us for a couple of miles making it a challenge. Before the race I was back and forth about whether I should run my race without stopping or do walk and run intervals. After a powerful gust of wind hit me head on at mile 1.15, I decided to do run/walk intervals in order to conserve energy.

The course was familiar (Philadelphia Marathon flashbacks) and the scenic course made me forget that the wind was howling at us. There were plenty of water stations for the runners, but I think because of the time of the race (8am) and the weather (windy and cold) the course didn’t have a lot of crowds to cheer us on while on Kelly Drive. However the spirit of the fellow runners, as well as the scenery kept me company. Once we got to the turn around after mile 5, the wind was at our backs and I felt relaxed and ready to get though the next 4.3 miles.

In the home stretch, we were greeted by large crowds cheering us to the finish. This made up for the lack of spectators on the course. Even with my last minute decision to run intervals, I was able to finish the race at 1:36 and felt great at the finish line. I met up with Kate (we separated during the race) who ran an awesome race and finished at 1:23, and we were off to get our chocolate grub on!

Our finisher’s mugs were full of edible goodies. We received a hot cup of cocoa, banana, chocolate fondue with things to dip in it such as a Rice Krispy treat, marshmallow, and pretzels.

As we sat eating our goodies while on the verge of a sugar coma, we talked about what we thought of the race. We both agreed it was very well organized, a beautiful course, and we enjoyed the chocolate party afterwards. My favorite thing has to be the medal of a half eaten chocolate bar with the Liberty Bell on it and our warm and comfy hoodie we received (who needs another tech shirt?).

So if you like to run, you love chocolate, this race is perfect for you! Where else can you get runners high and a sugar high all in one?

Brandi B. Dockett, CPT, is an ACE certified personal trainer, AFAA group fitness instructor, Spin instructor, running coach, and Owner of B FIT FITNESS SERVICES, LLC. Brandi loves running, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her friends, husband and 2 daughters! You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Guest Post: Hooters Half Marathon

March 4, 2015 by scootadoot

Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined.

That’s what Hooters says about itself. I say they have delicious wings, curly fries, and good beer. Also, they know how to throw a pretty sweet half marathon.

This past Sunday I laced up my sneaks and headed out for my second half marathon ever. Well, the first one was only in January so it wasn’t like I took a long break or anything. In fact, the Hooters Half almost didn’t even happen for me. I floundered back and forth about signing up until I finally just bit the bullet and went for it.

After I signed up I was feeling pretty stoked. I ran the Disney Half Marathon in January (and met Mer and Brooke, YAAAAAY) and had an amazing time with my running buddy. We kept a good pace and finished at just over three hours, which I couldn’t tell you if that’s a good time or not, I just know I made it.

I figured for my second half I should set some goals, right? Okay, after my running buddy texted me and asked if I had any goals I decided to set them. Basically my goal was to beat three hours. I figured that was a doable goal considering it was only my second time running this distance.

The week leading up to the race wasn’t anything special. I wasn’t nervous like I was before Disney. I had this, right? I prepped the Saturday before by carb loading. By that I mean I ate a lot of Boom Chicka Pop and pretty much an entire box of macaroni and cheese for dinner. (Note: this is probably not a post you should take advice from, just saying.) I watched some videos on how to apply KT tape for some pain I’d been having, then I made my sister help me. She’s a personal trainer, so she’s good for stuff like that. I also planned my outfit, because you can be cute and comfortable to run thirteen miles at the same time. Also, I’m single and you never know who you might “run” into.

You can’t go wrong with Mean Girls.

I went to bed at a decent hour, my alarm set at my normal-everyday-wake up time. For Disney my wake up time was 2:30AM. Thankfully, I only live about two miles from Hooters, so I didn’t have to get up that early. I was feeling pretty good the night before, but my nerves got the best of me Sunday morning. It probably had to do with the dream I had about my grandma beating me at the race. I blame the carbs.

Breakfast was a small event: coffee (because I do nothing without coffee), oatmeal, and a banana. I don’t eat a lot in the morning, but I know it’s important to fuel up before a long run. My nerves were still going crazy by the time I met my friends in the crowded parking lot. This year’s race had about 1,100 people sign up and, as per the results, 800 finishers. We made a pit-stop at the Port-o-Johns because there’s nothing worse than having to run long distances while having to pee. Side note: I ran a ten-miler in October with no bathrooms on the course. Uncool. Anyway, after a bathroom stop we headed to the start line, just as that beautiful Florida sun started to rise. Oh, and ran into these beauties.

Helloooooo, beer!

My running buddy and I placed ourselves at the back of the pack, just to be safe. We both had goals and were prepared to help each other out with them, but we wanted to be comfortable with our starting pace and there’s really no pressure in the back.

Let’s do this.

We got started just after 7AM with a pretty steady pace. Like I said, I wasn’t out to impress anyone but myself, but I was feeling pretty good at a twelve-minute mile. I know I don’t have a lot of speed, but what I lack I make up for in enthusiasm. By mile two I had to go to the bathroom, so we got water and I went. Water and bathrooms were both available every two miles, which was pretty awesome. The weather on this race (compared to 40s in Disney) was a little rough. It was in the 70s and muggy, typical Southwest Florida, but more difficult when running thirteen miles.

The course we were set on was nice, especially with the weather like it was. We had a great view of some nice neighborhoods on the river. The streets were flat, shady, and provided a nice breeze to counter the humidity. One of the things that I liked that most about running through the neighborhoods was the fact that people were hanging out in the streets cheering for us. Sometimes it was whole families, sometimes just a single old woman sipping her coffee (which I would have killed for), and once there was an innocent looking little girl with a sign that said: “Run fast. I just farted.” I’m still kicking myself for not taking a picture of that one.

I started feeling some pain in my taped leg at about mile five, but I pushed through. Pain is temporary, you know. The first seven miles were like a cake walk compared to what came at mile eight. I’ve ran the Edison Bridge three times and the Hooters Half makes four. It never gets easier. In fact, this was pretty much my downfall.

Actually the worst.

I had a GU at mile nine (Salted Caramel – yum) and some Gatorade because they were out of water at the station, and we kept on trucking. By mile ten my earphones died and I was left in silence.

Worst.

Thing.

Ever.

I’d like to blame the rest of the run on the fact that my headphones died and I had nothing to listen to so I couldn’t keep a pace or DO ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE. But, it’s probably more of the fact that I was starting to feel dehydrated and the pain I’d started feeling around mile five started to intensify. I told my running buddy to go on without me. I’m pretty sure my exact words were “Just leave me here to die!” so she did. She pushed me through those first ten miles and I was so, so grateful, but I knew she had a goal and I wanted her to reach it. I felt pretty good about still having her in my sight, like we were still going together, but eventually she turned a corner and I was on my own.

Of course, running is pretty much a solo sport, so it wasn’t too terrible. I tried to focus on the fact that I’d made it TEN MILES when this time last year I only had a few 5K under my belt. I ran-walked the last three miles, keeping up with intervals with a couple that was in front of me. (They were super cute and ran across the finish line with their kids.) At some point an elderly gentleman came up behind me and said something like “I’ve been following you for six miles, you can’t quit now!”

Game on, old man!

After that I pulled my phone out and just listened to my music on speaker. My pace was still under fourteen minutes and I was looking good to finish under three hours. By the time I came around the back of the mall and toward the finish line I could have cried. People (volunteers and spectators alike) were still waiting and cheering, which is a great feeling. My friends met me just a few yards from the finish and ran the rest of the way with me, because they’re awesome and the best people I could ever imagine running with.

Cute owl bling!

Of course, being the Hooters Half, there was free beer and wings at the finish line. As much as I wanted to take part in those delicious things I settled on water and grapes. I was feeling pretty dehydrated and in serious need of a nap, so I passed on the yummies, which was a little sad. I mean, how do you run the Hooters Half and not eat the wings and drink the beer?

It’s okay, there’s always next time. I really enjoyed this race, even the last three miles that completely sucked. It wasn’t a big crowd and the course was nice, plus it’s pretty close to my house so the travel time is minimal.

And hey, a Hooters girl give you a medal. If you’re into that sort of thing.

Also, according to my Nike+ app my finish time was 2:57:47. So, I managed a PR on my second half marathon, beating my old (first and only) time by ten minutes! Now I’ve got two half-marathons under my belt, but I’m ready to focus on some shorter distances. I prefer 10Ks and have a few lined up for the year already. But, of course, it’s all about the swag.

You can find me on Instagram and Twitter with @thisgirlash_ if you like to talk about books, cats, and running (sometimes). I also blog at Ash Does Stuff.

Sparkle Athletic Giveaway

December 3, 2014 by scootadoot

The scoot chicks love the holidays. Since we’re preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and FESTIVUS, we thought we’d share a special sparkly prize with you.

Mouseketeers always sparkle – at the 2013 Wine and Dine

You may have noticed that the chicks love to sparkle. We often wear Sparkle Athletic skirts and visors at races – chances are you’ve seen Vic working the Sparkle booth at a few race expos.

Working the TinkHalf Expo

Vic and Sparkle diva Kelly

Meri sparkles in her gunmetal visor with pals Maureen and Keri

With the holiday approaching, we decided to share some Sparkle Athletic goodies with YOU! So up for grabs are the Headsweats brand Rainbow Checkerboard visor and Silver Wing shwings. Vic personally picked these goodies out for one lucky winner.

Click on the below photo to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway:

Giveaway begins December 3 and ends at midnight on Dec. 8. Contest only open to U.S. residents. We will notify winner via email and on our Facebook page.

Please note that Vic purchased these prizes on her own. This post is not sponsored by Sparkle Athletic in any way. We just love their products and all the company represents. Prize package is worth $35.

Happy happy!

November 27, 2014 by scootadoot

Chick Chat: We are Thankful

November 25, 2014 by scootadoot

Last year we shared Thanksgiving traditions. This year, we chose to go a different route and share what we are thankful for (hopefully without being too cliché!). So sit back, relax, and read on. In the comments, we’d love to hear something you are thankful for.

Mer

I think that Thanksgiving is a time to focus on what we are grateful for and honestly, it’s hard for me to pinpoint one or two particular things. I suppose that right now, I’m quite thankful for my health. Over the past year I’ve had aches and pains but right now, all things considered, I’m feeling good!

I’m thankful to have a table to sit at, a bed to sleep in, and to have never wanted for anything that I couldn’t live without. I live in a world filled with love and compassion and I happily share that.

I am surrounded by good people, close both in proximity and in my heart. I’m very lucky.

Vic

I’m thankful for good friends, family, my supportive husband and Meri’s supportive husband, who made me waffles for breakfast.

I also love how social media has brought so many amazing, inspiring people into my life.

And after my weekend marathon- I am beyond thankful for PRO compression socks.

Kyle

I love reflecting on what I’m thankful for and practicing gratitude is something I try to do on a regular basis – my family, my health (well, aside from da boot situation), my people. This year, among a great many other things, I’m thankful for this grilled cheese. Well, mostly I’m thankful for everything that goes with this grilled cheese: friends, fellowship, good conversation, running… the list is exhaustive. I’m grateful for all of it. But really, the grilled cheese, too.

Jenn

This year, I’m grateful for many things. They are intangible things that all people are grateful for like health and happiness of family, friends and beloved pets. I’m grateful for my job, my home, and my freedom. I’m grateful for the good fortune, security, and progress of my life. And I’m very grateful for being a part of Scoot a Doot!

I’m thankful for the wisdom that comes with age; for being able to recognize how fortunate I am and to appreciate what I have while it lasts. In particular, this year I’m grateful for my marriage and my husband. Like every couple, we’ve faced our challenges over our twenty year history. There were times that I wasn’t sure if we’d make it. Luckily, both of us wanted to do the often-difficult work to make it through the tough times. Although I cannot point to any specific event or moment this year that noticeably changed things, our marriage is stronger than it has ever been. I haven’t been able to put my finger on exactly what it is, but the fact that I’m learning that love can evolve and depend and mature is amazing.

So this year, I’m thankful for the chance to learn more about love with my best friend and high school sweetheart.

Bec

My life is so full of great things, it’s hard sometimes to narrow my focus and pick out individual pieces. I’m thankful to have such problems.

I’m thankful for good health. Even though I’ve been sick for weeks, overall, I am well and my family is well. I have a warm house and full pantry. I know how lucky I am for these things.

But mostly, I’m thankful for people. I have so many wonderful people in my life. Some are next to me on the couch, some are right up the road, and some are too far to see as often as I would like, but they all reside close to my heart. Family, family, framily; I’ve been gifted with an abundance of all three.

I’m truly blessed.

Jess

It’s not particularly surprising, but as ever, I am thankful for my family, particularly the two main men in my life. Every day I laugh because of them. They are truly the meaning in my life (and, yes, the in-spir-aaaaation).

But I am surrounded by amazing people: family, friends, co-workers. I’ve won the people lottery, and who wouldn’t be thankful for that?

Cam

This year, I’m extremely thankful for my very patient friends. This year has be a roller coaster and I wouldn’t have been able to weather the emotional ebb and flow without my friends, who aren’t really bound by any obligation to love me yet do so anyway. I can’t even express how much these beautiful people mean to me.

And we’re so very thankful for all of you. Wishing a happy holiday to you and yours from us and ours!

Love, The Chicks

Chick Chat: Vaseline Intensive Repair Lotion

November 19, 2014 by scootadoot

Mer: I’m not sure what’s been happening to my skin in the past year or so. Maybe it’s age. Maybe it’s weather fluctuations. All I know is that I’ve developed itchy, dry skin and it’s agonizing enough that I visited the dermatologist.

Since September I’ve been on prescription strength cream medication; however it’s something that the dermatologist recommended using only during “flair ups” because it thins the skin. Um, say what? I don’t want thin skin!

For daily use, she said that I should find something over the counter that worked well. Luckily, at that time, I received the Vaseline intensive care lotion from Influenster and I’ve been slathering myself with it non-stop. Sounds awesome, huh? Well, it is. It’s been working really well and I’ve been less itchy! Which is good because I don’t want to have to use the prescription strength cream unless absolutely necessary.

Two thumbs up, Vaseline. Keeping you!

Vic: My husband usually buys the hand lotion in our house. Backwards? Yes. But he loves to shop at warehouse stores and who am I to deny him that pleasure? (especially when said store is packed on a Saturday afternoon.)

We’ve used just about everything – Jergens, Aveeno, Lubriderm and yes, Vaseline. He gets what’s on sale, which is fine by me. And he (almost) always picks fragrance-free lotion.

Huzzah – I don’t wanna smell like a blooming lavender pickleberry or a peppermint-doused evergreen. I just want moisturized skin.

I’ve been using the Vaseline Intensive Repair lotion for a few weeks now and I’m loving it.

When I first applied it, I knew it was different straight away. The lotion feels thicker than what I’m used to using. My skin feels soft and hydrated. And….it’s fragrance-free.

Confession: I hid my bottle in our guest room to make sure it would stay out of hubby’s hands. To date, it has worked. But that may change after this post.

Bec: Confession time. I have a BIT of a lotion habit. I have a lot of different lotions around the house. When I was younger, it wasn’t something I needed, just something I liked. But hey, just one of the many joys of aging? Drying up like a prune. SIGH. So, after every shower, I lotion up like crazy. If I don’t, my calves will be tight and sooooo itchy, and that is no fun.

I definitely have some favorites, and I actually like the scented ones, but I’m always open to trying new products. So when I got the email from Influenster about the Vaseline Intensive Repair lotion Voxbox, I was ALL in.

This lotion is really thick, and creamy, both pluses in lotion. And they don’t leave me feeling greasy, which is a major deal breaker. It’s hard to speak to the ‘repair’ effectiveness of the product, since this is a bit early in the season for me to start having really dry skin. But, from a preventative angle, it’s totally getting the job done. The lack of fragrance is actually the only downside for me, I would have preferred a light scent. Not necessarily blooming lavender pickleberry (Vic, you always make me laugh), but something. Still, if it continues to work as well as it has been, I promise you won’t hear any complaints from me.

Mer, Vic and Bec received the Vaseline Vox Box from Influenster to test and review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are our own.

Shake It Up

November 3, 2014 by scootadoot

A new month brings big changes with the Scoot a Doot chicks.

We changed from a .com to a .org and are in the process of moving, so please bare with us! And with Brooke retiring from blogging this fall, we asked two new chicks to join the hen house.

Today, we’re proud to introduce Jenn and Kyle are now Scoot a Doot chicks!

So please welcome Jenn, our Boulder-bred, pug momma who loves yoga, sewing, running and cycling.

And please give a hearty hello to Kyle, our misplaced Alaskan who we actually first met via social media. We ran and ate ice cream together last summer, and it was love at first bite.

We’re so excited to have them both on board!

And to kick it off, Jenn and Kyle will introduce… each other!

Jenn Says: Being a reader of Scoot A Doot, I always enjoy Kyle’s fun guest posts and laugh at her bubbly, witty comments. Her running accomplishments inspire me, and when the Chicks deemed her awesome, I knew Kyle had to be good people because my girls know how to pick ‘em. As I suspected, Kyle’s replies to my “let’s get acquainted” interview questions confirmed what I suspected would happen; I can’t wait to get to know this Kyle Chick better!

My name is Kyle and I’m a coffee addict.

How do you know the Chicks?

So, I’m the weirdo who meets people through the internet. I have a friend on Twitter that posted a link to Scoot one day (Thanks, Christina!), so I trotted over and started reading. And then I thought to myself – these people are cool… I’m going to internet stalk them. And I did. And then we ran together. Thus began a beautiful friendship.

How long have you been running, and when did you first consider yourself a runner?

“Runner” is a funny word. I’ve always considered myself an athlete, but I’m pretty sure that I still don’t consider myself a runner, even though technically I’ve been engaged in the sport of running in some way or another since I was very small. Growing up with a mom who was a marathoner meant that running was normal and happened daily in my house. I sometimes joined – begrudgingly. I ran track in elementary and middle school. I ran cross-country during the summers (sometimes) to train for Nordic skiing. I ran when it was required of me for basketball and volleyball. But mostly I hated it. Because running is hard and usually takes a long time and I’m really way too competitive. I liked track because I could sprint and then be done. Same with basketball. Distance running? Ha! No Bueno.

But then, after college, when I decided I’d been sedentary for too long (which is a hard realization for someone who has been playing sports constantly since the age of 6), I said to myself “self, you need to get your shiz together.” So I started running to make myself get in shape. Then I signed up for a 5-miler I’d done a million times growing up – with low expectations mind you – and ended up crushing it. I got home that day and said to my mom “I think I want to run a half…” and she said “You totally could. Do it.” That was that. Since then (the summer of 2012), I haven’t looked back and I’m currently training for my third marathon.

Do you have a favorite race?

Oh this is a hard one! Each race I’ve done has been so different, with the experience being more of what I remember than the course itself. I think my favorite race experience was the 2013 Philadelphia Marathon (my first) – Meri mom-ed me all weekend, hosting me, driving me around, getting me to the race, hiking 10 miles all over Philly to cheer me on, and feeding me after. I used that race to raise money for a cause I feel really passionate about and I was overwhelmed with how much support I had from friends and family and people I’d never even met. The race itself was awesome, too. Just really well-organized and smooth. It wasn’t a PR, but I’ll never forget that day and that means more to me and going fast.

What do you tell people who think they can’t be a ‘runner’?

I tell them that anyone can run a mile. Unless of course you have some health-related barrier to running, you can run a mile. It might take some work, and for some that work might be really hard, but anyone can run a mile. You just have to be brave enough to try. As Amy Poehler says: “When you feel scared, hold someone’s hand and look into their eyes. And when your feel brave, do the same thing.” If you’re nervous about starting to run, find a friend to run with you – you’ll be more motivated and you’ll probably have more fun if someone is right alongside you, suffering with you

What is your biggest race pet peeve?

Kyle with her favorite Swede and her favorite mom-who-isn’t-her-mom at the Cherry Blossom 2014 10 Miler

I’m a pretty chill person, so I don’t have any real pet peeves about races. I try to go into them relaxed and with the mindset that everything that happened leading up to the start doesn’t matter once we take off. I leave whatever annoyances I had behind me and just run. That said, it does kind of bug me when spectators encroach on the course – that happened a lot during the Chicago Marathon this year and while it never really irritated me, I did make a point to run as close to them as possible sometimes just to see if they’d get it and move back. #passiveaggressivemuch?

What are you most passionate about off of the race course?

While I’m passionate about a lot of causes, I spend the most time advocating for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. I’ve volunteered as a crisis interventionist with RAINN and raised funds for the Joyful Heart Foundation. I actively support JHF’s efforts to increase awareness around and end the issue of the nation-wide rape kit backlog. I am constantly working to keep myself educated on the issues in this space so that I can be an effective advocate and resource to others.

What is your favorite thing to do BESDIES run?

DO ALL OF THE THINGS! Haha. Actually, that’s kind of true. I like to do so many activities, but right now, besides running, I’m spending a lot of time playing basketball, singing with the Alexandria Choral Society and consuming pop culture (reading books and watching way too much Netflix). I basically see myself as a combination of Leslie Knope and Veronica Mars – a big nerd with a side of sarcasm. It’s cool.

Kyle says: Whew! Lord. I talk a lot. ANYWAYS. Enough about me. It’s time for you all to get to know the awesome lady that is Jenn. Having been adopted by the Scoot family, Jenn has been on my radar as someone who I clearly needed to meet, because if my chicks loved her, then I was clearly missing out on some great friend action. I was right. I got to know her a bit better, and now you get to, too!

Jenn as She-Ra, with He-Man, at the 2012 Super Hero 5K In Cambridge, MA.

How do you know the Chicks?

Way back in the day in 2009, I met Mer, Jess, Cam, and Bec when our mutual love of writing brought us together on the internet. We meet up in person as often as we can, and have been known to visit tequila bars in San Diego and take chocolate walking tours in Boston. I met Vic and yourself more recently but as a reader of Scoot A Doot, I’ve been so inspired by both of you ladies. Your marathon successes help keep me motivated!

How long have you been running, and when did you first consider yourself a runner?

I’ve been running off and on for about two years. Running is not something I thought I could do because I’m asthmatic. I’m a slow runner, but I keep at it because for me it’s an accomplishment just being out there. I know a marathon may be out of my reach, but I’m totally planning on doing the Disney Rebel Challenge and the GSC, hopefully in 2016.

The first time I felt like a runner was crossing the finish line at the 2014 Bolder Boulder. That is my longest distance to date, and the stadium full of cheering people made me feel like an athlete for the first time in my life. It felt wonderful.

Do you have a favorite race?

I’ve done a handful of fun runs and theme runs but so far the Bolder Boulder 10k is my favorite. Maybe it’s because it’s my hometown race. Maybe it’s because there were belly dancers cheering me on. Perhaps it was because people built makeshift slip-and-slides in their front lawns along the course. It’s hard to say for sure. One thing is certain, though, it’s a beautiful setting for an amazing race experience with some serious crowd support!

What do you tell people who think they can’t be a ‘runner’?

I tell them that if I can get out there with my wheezy butt and finish, so can they. I also tell them not to compare themselves to anyone in the beginning. Starting out is hard, so don’t make unrealistic expectations about what you can physically handle or you’ll set yourself up for failure.

What is your biggest race pet peeve?

I don’t have one yet. I’m so slow that I just try to not be everyone else’s pet peeve!

What are you most passionate about off the race course?

I’m trying to narrow down my passions from a zillion to a much more manageable five. The essentials are writing fiction, sewing, quilting, crocheting, and yoga. I have four dogs; three pugs and a mixed breed rescue, and I currently serve as Secretary of the AKC registered Rocky Mountain Pug Dog Club. I’m a lover of pop culture, British literature, and Alfred Hitchcock films. Crap, that’s more than five.

Hi. I’m Jenn, and I’m pretty sure I have ADD.

Jenn Says: Howdy, Scoot A Doot! I can’t tell you how happy I am to be a part of the awesomeness that is YOU. The Chicks have been such a positive influence on me, and I’m very honored they asked me to be a part of their fantastic message. I can’t wait to get to know everyone, and to learn about your journey running on your slice of this crazy planet.

Kyle Says: I’m SO stinkin’ excited to be on board this crazy train. The Scoot A Doot family welcomed me as one of their own long before they asked me to join the blog – and for that, I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m so ready to share my story with all of you and get to know you all. The running community is a special thing to be a part of and I’m so glad to be here!

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