As for my favorite new thing, I will add the Think Tank Digital Holster 20 + belt. I look like a total dork but it is great for hiking and will save my shoulders.

Shelly, which ThinkTank belt did you get? I'm looking at some waist-belt (shoulder free) solution since shoulder/sling-bag has been bit problematic to use while chasing around a toddler.

Edited August 7, 201114 yr by Salt Peanuts

I ordered both the Pro Speed Belt and the Thin Skin belt (and planned to send the one I didn't use back but forgot). I think the Pro Speed belt would be useful if you had a lot of gear on the belt. It has quite a bit of padding. I was just carrying a D90 + 18-200 in the Digital Holster 20 and an 18oz water bottle + water bottle holder on the belt so the Thin Skin belt was perfectly fine for me. I can take some pictures of the two belts if you are interested in the difference. The Pro Speed Belt seems to be more popular.

I can take some pictures of the two belts if you are interested in the difference. The Pro Speed Belt seems to be more popular.

That would be great. I think I'm either going with holster/modular combo or get one of the speed series and replace my Sling-O-Matic with a backpack.

^Electric toothbrushes are great. We actually need to replace ours since they no longer hold any charges.

Edited August 7, 201114 yr by Salt Peanuts

Spibelt

It's become an essential accessory for my running duties. Super lightweight belt to put your keys, cellphones, etc. while running and you don't even notice it's there. I paid 20$ for mine at a local runners store, you can get it cheaper online.

That would be great. I think I'm either going with holster/modular combo or get one of the speed series and replace my Sling-O-Matic with a backpack.

Will do. Since I have a friend visiting, I may not be able to get around to it for a couple of days though.

Oral-B Pulsonic Sonic Toothbrush

I know that there are snazzier ones out there, but I like that it's small, lightweight, quiet, and the charge lasts at least a couple weeks, so it's good for travel. It also comes with a precision brush head that's good for getting in between my teeth.

I put a steripod on it, and toss it in my purse to go to work:

Vicki, if you bought this from Amazon, they have a 50% rebate for it. Here's the link to the form:

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/00/00/15/51/17/85/1551178590._V157068849_.pdf

Thanks, Raffy, but I didn't get it from Amazon. Wish I had now.

Thanks, Raffy, but I didn't get it from Amazon. Wish I had now.

Just went to the Oral B website and I found out that the rebate is good outside of Amazon. Here's the universal rebate form:

http://www.oralb.com/assets/pdf/rebates/power-rebate-2011-gn.pdf

That would be great. I think I'm either going with holster/modular combo or get one of the speed series and replace my Sling-O-Matic with a backpack.

^Electric toothbrushes are great. We actually need to replace ours since they no longer hold any charges.

Sorry to take so long to get these picture up - it slipped my mind. Let me know if you wanted something more than this (like the digital holster on the bag, on a person, etc.). For reference, I have fairly small hands.

Edited August 15, 201114 yr by shellylh

Thanks for the pics, Shelly - they're really helpful in showing the differences between the two. Think Tank really should have the pic of the different belts sitting side by side by side.

Thanks Vicki and Raffy.

Been meaning to get an electric toothbrush anyway!

I've never seen one of those thingies for keeping the brush clean. That would be killer for traveling!

As for my favorite new thing, I will add the Think Tank Digital Holster 20 + belt. I look like a total dork but it is great for hiking and will save my shoulders.

After using them for several hours yesterday, I will add these to mine as well (with Pro Speed Belt in my case). It worked really, really well while I chased/carried around my daughter around the zoo.

Glad you like them!

Picked up a pair of the NB minimus trails, really nice shoes. Did a light run today,felt pretty good. There definitely is some increased stress on the foot and calf, but my lower back, which used to always ache after running, feels great.

Finally getting around to decorating the walls. So difficult to find anything interesting. Anyway this just came in the mail and I dig it. If anyone has a similar aesthetic...

Picked up a pair of the NB minimus trails, really nice shoes. Did a light run today,felt pretty good. There definitely is some increased stress on the foot and calf, but my lower back, which used to always ache after running, feels great.

Make sure to land on your midfoot and not on your heel because that can cause major stress with minimalist shoes. Also, increase your distances gradually and your feet should eventually get used to it.

Make sure to land on your midfoot and not on your heel because that can cause major stress with minimalist shoes. Also, increase your distances gradually and your feet should eventually get used to it.

Yup, I've been paying attention to making sure I had a midfoot strike, though I will say it kind of occurs naturally the way the shoe is that you land with your midfoot.

After finally breaking in my NS Minimum (they were a little tight along the front strap on my right foot at first), I will include these as one of my new favorite things.

Ric, I love the animal/tree print.

Shelly, glad you're liking the shoes. I like mine more each day. I donated all my other sneakers except for two other pair, and I kept those two because they were cute with my blue workout outfits.

My new bar.

The money shot

Wow, that looks great Jim!

I managed to stifle my urge to ask to see the granite top when we met for lunch the other week

Awesome bar Jim! So jealous!!!

Well done sir...