October Instagram Challenge and Win Skora Running Shoes!

Disclaimer: This Instagram #Octogram #Parkesdale photo challenge is a sponsored collaborative effort between the Tampa Bay Bloggers and Parkesdale Farm Market.  Other than prizes to be awarded as giveaways for the Instagram photo challenge, the Tampa Bay Bloggers did not receive any compensation for this campaign.

I absolutely love instagram! It's such a quick and fun way to get a glimpse of people's lives. Starting on October 1, I am co-hosting the October Instagram Challenge with the Tampa Bay Bloggers.  Follow each of these talented bloggers on Instagram and the hashtag #Octogram #Parkesdale.

The #Octogram Hosts – Blogs and Instagram IDs

Me from Mindy’s Fitness Journey - @mindyartze

Parkedale Farm Market - @parkesdale
Tampa Bay Bloggers - @TBbloggers
Denise of Run DMT - @Run_DMT
Scotty of Dads Who Change Diapers - @diaperdad
Life as Dad - @lifeasdad
Haley of Running with Diapers - @runningwithdiapers
Caroline of My Fascinating Life - @carolinecalcote
Tara of Everyday Ramblings of My Life - @tfunair
Jenny of Metamorfit - @metamorfit
Nanci of This Crazy Life of Mine - @auntnanci
Jina of Behold the Turtle - @behold_turtle
Stacey at Artsnark’s Artifacts - @Artsnark
Crystal of Thrifty and Frugal Living - @Latsyrc728
Beth of Making, Baking and Creating - @anasilan
Lydia of Running Wild(er) - @Wildlyd
Raffi of Running Betty - @rafdarrow
Carlee of Frugal and Fun Mom- @frugalandfunmom
Bonnie of Not So Modern Housewife - @notsomodern
April of Pixiedust Savings - @pixiedustsavings

But we don’t want you just lurking at our photos!  We’re dying for you to play along too!

To join in the freaky October Instagram Challenge photo fun, add your Instagram ID to the linky collection below.  Then each day in October, snap a photo using the suggested photo prompt for that day and upload it to Instagram with the hashtag #Octogram #Parkesdale.

Everyone who Instagrams and plays along will be entered for a chance to win a gift fruit basket from Parkesdale Farm Market valued at $65.90.  TWELVE lucky winners** entered in linky tool below will be randomly selected  on November 1.

**Only eligible to USA and Canada residents.

I love what the girls from Two Broke Girls (the sitcom) say... "Twitter is stupid and Instagram is twitter for people who can't read!" Or something like that! Yep, I love Instagram! I can't help it. Even if it makes me stupid :)   And I follow-back! 

We’ll be watching for your photos from the shadows of Instagram.  Muhahahahahaha

Don't forget to enter my Skora Running Shoe Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Skora Running Review and Giveaway

About three months ago, I was introduced to Skora Running Shoes for the first time. I had heard of them, but I hadn't tried them. I was at FitBloggin' and my roommate, Kyndra from Peace Love and Low Carbs told me all about them. She said that she loves them for running, and she also said that they were great for CrossFit workouts. When I got home, Skora Running contacted me and asked if I would like to try their shoes and offered a giveaway. I jumped at the chance. The first thing I did was head over to their website. I wanted to learn as much as I could. Last year I hurt myself by jumping into a different pair of shoes I wasn't used to.  I was pleasantly surprised by what I read.

My Skoras with my Shubeez tag! 

"At SKORA we view Real Running as running how nature intended — efficient, effective and with ease. As the foot strikes the ground, contact is made in the middle of the foot, not at the heel. Running with a whole-foot gait results in less impact energy and force shock transmitted through the body than compared to the heel strike gait favored by conventional running shoes (built with large amounts of cushioning, support and a thicker heel).

Real Running is not something your body needs to learn, but rather be reminded of. As a child we all Run Real, it is only as we grow up and get used to conventional running shoes we forget how to run naturally."

I love this because  Skora Running is taking me back to the basics for running. But I also know that I can flip tires and do CrossFit workouts at CrossFit Blackbeard too. That is a good thing. 

Who wants to win some Skora Running Shoes for themselves? Enter the Rafflecopter below. If you don't win any, they are having a great sale at their website www.skorarunning.com

I ordered the Skora Phase:

FEATURES- REALFIT™ last- Airmesh upper- Laminated reflective overlays (no-sew)- Asymmetrical lacing- Anti-slip microfibre heelpad- No-tongue design- Reflective details- IBR (Injected Blown Rubber) outsole - Rubber toe bumper- Zero-drop construction- Stitch-down construction- 8mm Forefoot/heel stack height 

Most of all, they are SUPER CUTE! :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spotlight on Ashlee Keesey

I love to feature fellow DietBetters. I will be starting another DietBet soon. Here is the link to my new DietBet. https://www.dietbetter.com/games/24743
If you want to be featured on my blog, please sign up for the DietBet and send me an email! Can't wait to share your story!

 Meet Ashlee Keesey! 

1. How many dietbets have you done?  I have done one diet bet and plan on signing up to do more.

2. Why did you decide to do a dietbet?   I decided to do diet bet for the support.  I was able to see everyone else's success which made me want push myself harder.  I love the comments back and forth between those who were in the dietbet.

3. Have you won money?  I have not won any money but for

me it wasn't about that.  I just love when people get together who have the sane sort of goals in mind.

4. What is working for you in dietbet?  The support of everyone and those willing to help other people.

5. What is one thing that you struggle with in your healthy journey?  Ignoring Cravings. For me, going to the gym is easy but when you have had a bad habit of eating bad food most of your life then you switch to clean eating it can be difficult to break the bad habit.

6. What is your advice to someone who joins a dietbet? If there is anything else you would like to add, go for it. Thanks.  Have fun!  You are not alone in your journey to be healthier and don't be afraid to reach out to someone for help.  We are all here for the same reason - to be healthier and to lose weight.

My success - 
Recently I have lost almost 20lbs and 17 inches all over with a 5lb muscles gain. My secret? Working out 6 days a week, advocare, and a great clean diet. There have been a lot of temptations to deter from what I am doing, but I have managed to keep at it. I have a goal of being able to compete in a bikini body building competition by the end of the year/or next year.
You can follow Ashlee on her Facebook page HERE!
You can follow her on twitter here: https://twitter.com/AshleeKeesey
Great job Ashlee! Keep up the good work!  Do you have a success story! Email me at mindyartze@aol.com

A few of my favorite things.... Raysbaseball and Fitness... Fitness Night at the Trop

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.... 

Yes, those are nice but do you want to know what my FAVORITE things really are... 

Fitness and the Tampa Bay Rays!!!

Can you imagine my excitement when I heard that both of these things are going to be combined into one fabulous night!!!!

Check out Rays Fitness Night at the Trop!

     Thursday, September 19th, 7:10pm  Texas vs. Rays

         For $30 per person package includes: Lower Level Reserved Ticket

 Rays Dri-Fit T-shirt

      Deadline to purchase tickets Tuesday, September 17

        Visit www.raysbaseball.com/fitness and use to the code FIT2 to purchase

He is such a goof! 

We LOVE our Rays and can't wait to be there! We hope to see you there!!!!

I went Over the Edge! #otestpete

Yes, you read that right! I went over the edge of a 28 floor building, and I rappelled down it!

This opportunity was presented to me on my facebook page. I honestly didn't even know what this was. I immediately looked into it. It benefits St. Anthony's Hospital Foundation. It took place on Saturday, August 17th at One Progress Plaza in St. Petersburg, Florida.

This was taken directly from their website.

The St. Anthony's Hospital's Foundation wants to know: 

"HOW HIGH WILL YOU GO FOR YOUR COMMUNITY?

Dare to go Over the Edge in a fundraising event for St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation benefitting the Sports Medicine Services among other programs. Participants who raise a minimum of $1,000 will have the opportunity to rappel twenty stories down One Progress Plaza, the tallest building in St. Petersburg! Join us for this event on AUGUST 17, 2013 by visitinghttp://stanthonysfoundation.org/ote/."

So so tall!!!!

When I was first asked, I immediately answered YES! I shared with my mom, and she was shocked that I would do this. Then I told Bryce (my son.) He was excited, but then he started to have second thoughts. A few days before, he begged me not to do it. He said he was really scared that something bad would happen.  I ALMOST backed out. But I decided to take a different approach with him. I talked about how excited I was and how I knew that I would be safe. I wanted him to see that this would be something that I could do to prove to myself that I am capable of anything. He ended up telling me that he wanted me to do it.

I actually didn't truly believe that I would actually follow through with it. I tried not to think about it. When we got to the building and I looked up, I laughed out loud. Seriously? Did I really think I would do this?  I figured that I would get up there and chicken out. And then my sweet little boy turned and looked at me and told me that he was so proud of me for doing this. We saw a man coming down, and he let go with one hand and waved... WOW! I was impressed, but even more than that, I knew when I came down, I HAD to wave at Bryce so he would know that I was okay, even if I wasn't really.

We went up the elevator to get suited up.  Bryce wouldn't be able to wait at the top with me, but he was able to see me get suited up. It was good for him to see all of the equipment they used to keep me safe. I could see that he was really relieved too. He look at all the gear and took photos while I suited up.
He was really excited to know that it was his job to take all of these photos.

Tropicana Field

I am not sure you can tell by these photos, but I was FREAKING out right about now. I knew that I had to keep it together for Bryce, but EHHH!!!

We headed up to the roof, and Bryce did get to ride up there with me. He took a great picture of our favorite place in downtown St. Pete, Tropicana Field, and then he gave me a BIG hug and said he would meet me at the bottom. My dad was downstairs ready to watch with Bryce.

I got a quick tutorial on how to rappel down the building. Oh my gosh! I was really doing this??? I still didn't believe it.  My biggest fear was that I would get part of the way down and freak out... freeze... I didn't know what they would do if I did that. It turns out, they had a plan for that... not to worry!

It was my turn... Time to go! I closed my eyes as  I went "OVER THE EDGE!" I couldn't look down. My heart was racing... The man in charge talked me over the edge. I was feeling pretty good once I was over. I learned how to let go with one hand, so I was thinking that maybe I could actually wave to Bryce. The man told me to stop and look down to see the little boy waving and cheering. It brings tears to my eyes writing this right now even remembering it. There was my son and my dad waving to me. I went down a few floors and decided to do it.

I let go with one hand, and I looked down at them and waved! HOLY COW! I really did this. I was doing it! I looked around! It was beautiful! I faced my fears and succeeded! It was truly mind over matter. I did it!

The best part of this adventure was not just believing in myself, but it was showing my son that anything is possible! Here is a quick look at how it looked seeing me go down the building...

This is an event Bryce and I are planning to do next year. He can do it if he weighs 100 lbs. next year. I told him that he has to start pumping up! :) We can't wait!

Head over and "like" their foundation's facebook page so you can keep up with the latest info. https://www.facebook.com/stanthonysfoundation