Disclaimer: This a sponsored post in conjunction with Fitfluential & Mizuno. I received these shoes to review and was compensated. All blog contents are my honest opinion and genuine experiences.

"Mama always said there's an awful lot you can tell about a person's shoes." --Forrest Gump. 

I'll be honest, Forrest Gump is hands down one of my favorite movies to watch and consistently quote. In all seriousness though, it's so true! 

When I first started running, the number one piece of advice I received was to invest in a GOOD pair of shoes - the second piece of advice was to get a supportive sports bra, in case you were wondering. So I went to a running store and did just that...

Not really...but I digress. By now I've gone through quite a few pairs of shoes. In order to prevent a flare up of my dreaded tendonitis, I have started a mildly strategic shoe rotation. Recently, I added another pair of AWESOME shoes to my rotation - the Mizuno Wave Rider 18. 

These guys are a lot different than my typical running shoe by another brand I won't mention (but if you look at old posts you can figure it out, you smarties!). I was highly skeptical of trying out a new brand. Once I find something I like, I tend to stick with it. Like ice cream flavors or pizza toppings - you just don't wanna mess that stuff up! 

Mizuno really surprised me. I mean, I know they are a well-regarded company in the running world but I'm pretty picky. I've come to really love how lightweight they are - plus they provide just the right amount of support! My other shoes are a lot heavier and cushier - these are definitely more solid with a harder "end feel" (oh boy...that's an osteopathic phrase). My flat feet feel supported but aren't being forced into an uncomfortable arch.  Best of all, no shin splits, tendonitis, or leg/foot pain. Very comfy!

A little about the shoe specs. Mine are the White/ Dress Blue/ Vibrant Orange style. Since this is a men's shoe (I have large, flipper feet...), it's a little heavier than the women's model (9.2 oz versus 7.8 oz, respectively). Ramp is 12 mm for both. I went for a 10.5 in the men's shoe and found that it was a perfect fit! Thankfully my husband wears the same size so I had a pretty good idea what I would need! My feet are pretty long and narrow so I find the width to be just perfect with a good amount of room in the toe. I have lost a couple toenails thanks to slamming my toe into the top of a too big/small shoe for 13.1 miles. These, I believe, may be the best fit so far!

As far as surfaces go, I found these to be VERY comfortable on asphalt and concrete. I didn't get a chance to do any trail running at this point but I'm hoping to test them out this weekend along the canal. They also performed well on the treadmill, although I didn't feel the same "pep" in my step as I did on the road. Then again, I hate the dreadmill so I'm a little biased!

Pros:

• This shoe is lightweight and constructed with high quality materials.
• Great for neutral runners or people who do not need extreme support. They are perfect for a wide variety of runners, even us flat footed folks.
• Lots of cool color options for both women and men.
• May or may not be related but I've been running a little bit faster than usual - especially on the road. But can anyone explain why I run SLOWER on the dreadmill?

Cons:

• Women's sizes only go up to 12's - I wear a 13 in running shoes so I opted for the men's sizes. They were still great, though.

I can't wait to take these babies out for a REAL test on Thanksgiving Day - my next scheduled 10k race! I know I'll definitely be lighter on my feet and ready to set a new PR.

Overall, I would highly recommend these shoes if you're looking for a solid neutral shoe. The Mizuno Wave Rider 18 retails for a very reasonable $119.99 for both men's and women's styles.

To learn more, check out Mizuno's website or follow #WaveRider18 on social media.  While you're at it, you can find me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

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What do you think? Do you have a special shoe you love to run/workout in?

***Disclaimer: The following post is a review for Vega Bars. I was given the opportunity to participate in this review through my Sweat Pink ambassadorship and was provided with several bars to try out for this purpose.  I received no other compensation for this review and the opinions expressed in this blog about this product are 100% my own honest, unbiased opinion.***

Recently I was given the great opportunity to review the new line of Vega nutrition bars! I've tried the Vega protein powders several times now and I'm a big fan. Now I'm just trying to figure out which flavor I want to invest in.

Nutrition bars are a great option for when you're on the go or super busy like me. I'm not always prepared when hunger strikes in the middle of a lecture or study session so I need something that I can carry with me at all times and quickly pull out of my bag - enter Vega bars!  

It's really hard to find a protein source that is "clean" - meaning it contains very no processed or artificial ingredients. The closer to the earth your food is, the better! While  the Vega bars do contain more ingredients than I would prefer, they are a pretty great option compared to other bars.  I love that all of their bars are non-GMO, gluten free, and contain plant-based protein. 

Vega is releasing four sets of bars:

• Vega Snack
• Vega Sport Protein
• Vega Sport Energy
• Vega One

The Vega Snack bar was one of my favorites - I tried the Dark Chocolate Mixed Nuts and Sea Salt & the Cranberry Almond flavors. Both bars featured that coveted salty-sweet mixture that I love in a snack - it satisfies my sweet tooth and also provided protein and crunch. I would highly recommend these bars for a mid-afternoon snack to power through the work day.

Vega Sport Protein was also another great bar from Vega! Often times protein bars taste artificial - the sweeteners they use are very pungent and the protein itself tastes terrible. Not here - I love the texture of this bar! It's very smooth and reminds me of homemade cookie dough. I tried the Chocolate Coconut and the Chocolate Mint - mint is my favorite and almost reminded me of a chewy thin mint cookie!

Vega Sport Energy is suggested for use mid-workout. It's mostly composed of nuts and fruit to provide quick energy. Personally I don't eat during workouts - during long runs I use gels because I'm not comfortable chewing while running and I don't usually need fuel during a workout.  I used this bar as another snack option before or after a workout. Chocolate Coconut Almond and Cherry Almond were the flavors I tried and both were equally delicious! I love fruit and nut bars because they are simple and don't have a bunch of extra ingredients. They are also moist and chewy which is a nice texture difference compared to your standard nutrition bar.

Vega One is an all-in-one meal bar. I tried Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cherry Almond. This bar had the longest list of ingredients by far and was pretty high in calories - 270 calories - which makes sense as it replaces a meal.  I wasn't a big fan of these bars because they were more dense and tasted like a typical meal replacement bar. I don't like to replace meals with bars or shakes - I end up feeling hungry quicker and unsatisfied. Just a personal preference!

Overall Opinion

Pros: I love that the bars are non-GMO, gluten free, and plant-based. All of the flavors were delicious! I've had a positive experience with the protein powder so I trust the company and enjoy their products!

Cons: I wasn't a fan of the Vega One bar but I don't ever use bars for meal replacements because it doesn't fill me up. I also think there is a significant amount of refined sugar and processed ingredients in the bars. I've seen cleaner versions. I also have no experience with the old product to compare the two.

I enjoyed reviewing the Vega Bars and I would probably purchase them down the road if I saw them in stores. They are perfect for a quick snack or workout recovery and taste delicious but I am hesitant about the extra sugar even if it is organic. My favorite bars were the Vega Energy Protein and the Vega Snack bars!  

Over the summer I received the opportunity to check out the new line of Dickies Scrubs from a great online company called Uniformed Scrubs! (Disclaimer: I received this scrub top for free but all of the following comments are my honest opinions!) 

As you all know by now, I just started medical school two months ago but I previously worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant while I applied to school. Before that time, I had never bought scrubs so I wasn't really sure what brands would be comfortable or the best value. Needless to say, I have A LOT of less than stellar scrub sets. Finally, I bought a few Dickies nurse scrubs and I was really impressed with just how comfortable and well made they are - I could move around freely while still having the benefit of wearing a more feminine cut (I can't wear the unisex tops - my hips are too wide!)

Since I was already a Dickies scrub fan, when Uniformed Scrubs offered to let me try out their new line of scrub tops I was 100% in! The top they sent me is in the color "Wine" which I happened to already have in scrub bottoms! Even though they were two separate styles and collections, they match perfectly.

Currently, I'm in the anatomy lab three days a week for about 7-8 hours total so I NEED scrubs that are comfortable! This top is my favorite one to grab and throw on for a day in lab - it's soft, cut well for my curvy figure, and has a slight stretch! Plus, there are plenty of pockets which I'm sure will be super helpful for all you nurses & CNAs out there! 

After anatomy lab, I immediately wash my scrubs which means I've already washed this top a bunch of times and it still looks brand new (so do the scrub pants which I bought over a year ago!)

Overall, I'm really pleased with the quality and value of the Dickies brand - especially their new line of tops! Whether you are a student, nurse, physician, or other health care worker, you are guaranteed to look professional and well put together in Dickies scrubs. The colors are fun and not at all boring or muted. There is also a great selection of different styles and sizes for all body types! As a reference, this top is an XL but recently I moved down to a large top and large tall in bottoms.

The good news for you all - Uniformed Scrubs would like to give you all a discount - just use the coupon code "scrubfashion" for 15% off your next purchase! 

Go check out Uniformed Scrubs on their social media sites!

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