Buying a slow cooker {A Three Things Thursday Post}

Dinner time would be a disaster at my house if it weren't for my slow cooker.

I know this. My family knows this. And, I'm fairly certain, you know this.

I use the sent-from-heaven appliance at least once a week, if not twice, making everything from Cuban pulled pork to marinara sauce to chili. I've tried lasagna, meatloaf and broccoli beef with mixed results. If I'm ever lost on what to make for dinner, I toss in a package of chicken and a jar/bottle of sauce (salsa, barbecue, teriyaki) and call it good.

And so does my family. Even if it's not the most delicious or inventive meal, Mark appreciates that we can eat within five minutes of me arriving home and clean-up is usually just the crock.

My current slow cooker is a digital model that I purchased at Kohl's in a hurried lunch break shopping trip. My beloved Hamilton Beach model had a crack in the crock, and I needed one ASAP. As it was not in the budget and the appliance can be surprisingly costly, I grabbed the most affordable one I could without sacrificing size – an Elite Platinum six-quart model.

Looking back, though, I wish I would have considered a few things.

• Temperature settings and how they work. My Hamilton Beach had high, low and warm and when the timer was finished, it switched to warm. I loved this feature as I could put things in at 8 a.m., set it for 8 hours and not worry about food getting cold when I came home at 6 p.m. I'm not even sure my new slow cooker has a warm setting and turns off when the cooking is finished. I worry that food will become unsafe between that time and when I come home. I usually add more liquid and increase the cooking time to assuage my concerns.

• Stay or go or just stay? My new slow cooker has this great locking lid that makes it easy to transport, say, if I was taking it to work for a pot luck. Just one thing: I'll never take it to a pot luck. It will stay on my counter, and I don't need the lid to lock. The mechanism merely interferes with cleaning. And, me being so awesome, I require 10 tries to get the dern thing open.

• Versatility. OK, this sounds silly. A slow cooker does one thing – cooks slow. However, had I taken more time to "research" slow cookers (aka Google the crap out of them), I would have discovered that there's a casserole slow cooker. The crock is rectangular, allowing it to fit in the oven and travel cases one might already have for baking pans.

Or there are multi-cookers that not only act as a slow cooker but pressure cooker and rice cooker. If I hadn't had the bejeebus scared out of me by my grandma, I would have a pressure cooker. But I did as she had one legit, bad ass one and I was warned that using it was an art. The work? Her amazing pot roast. This model, available at Kohl's, also has a delay start that, if it's as useful as the one on my washer, would be the best thing ever.

Now, with all of that said, my slow cooker works and that's all that truly matters as a promptly fed family is a happy family.

◊ ◊ &loz.

Do you have a slow cooker that you particularly love – or hate? And anyone try a new slow cooker recipe that must be shared?

Gifts for the Active Person {A Three Things Thursday post}

Oh, how a girl can dream.

I recently received a holiday catalog from one of my favorite running brands, and I excitedly flipped through the pages. Bright jackets and warm tights! Shoes with traction and sassy hoodies. My enthusiasm was quickly burst when I realized that I could get these items to wear now, meaning that I'd size up to accommodate the belly, and use it for one season; or I could get my normal size, hoping I get back to it, and let it sit in the closet for a year.

So how do you get a gift for the active person in your life without buying clothes?

There's the ever-popular Fitbit, a Garmin or a personal training session with me. To me, though, those scream to the one receiving that they need to hit the gym. "Hey, I know you said you wanted to go to the gym but you are still sitting on the couch. I just want you to know I noticed with this gift." Or, "You did a great job with your first race but you haven't ran a step since then. I think you should. Like now. Get your shoes."

But you can promote health, wellness and an active lifestyle without being obvious. The suggestions below work for the cardio queen, the person contemplating the gym life and the one who isn't interested. They're best given to a BRF/BFF but I would love these from anyone — even my husband (but we've been married more than 5 years so it's allowed).

1. Gym bag niceties. My flat iron is one of four places at any given time — my car, my gym bag, the kitchen counter or the bathroom. Taking it to the gym twice a week and then home again can make it difficult to track. I have more than once thought it would be nice to have a second set of hair care tools and items to keep in my Apera bag.

• Travel hair dryer. A hair dryer is the bulkiest of tools, and a travel version would be best for the gym bag where space is at a premium. This Revlon Ion model still has a lot of voltage for being small, making drying easier.
• Flat iron. I love this Eva NYC model. I mean, how can you go wrong with a purple leopard flat iron?
• Travel size styling products. Aveda is my favorite for a multitude of reasons — company mission, aroma and how well they work — and travel size versions would be such a treat after a hard workout. The volumizing spray is one of my go-to products, especially when my hair is longer, and hairspray is a must.
• Dry shampoo. Even with all the tools in the bag, there isn't always time for a full routine. Dry shampoo is a God send.

2. Hydrate. I don't know about you but my skin is already dry and cracking. Even though I'm good about putting on lotion at work, more attention is necessary — from the inside out.

• Good skin starts with a good water-drinking habit. Help your friend along by getting a useful bottle but stylish enough that it feels like a gift. This Artland Glass Flip Infuser reminds me of the cucumber water that my salon offers but without the hassle of making an appointment. This cold infusion bottle is similar but more affordable.
• Even the most well-intentioned person won't have time to make infused water every day, so why not include something that makes water taste better? Nuun All Day has been a staple at my desk since I got pregnant, and I love the Grape Raspberry flavor. It has less than 8 calories and a host of vitamins to help you feel healthy, energized and focused.
• It's impossible to get through a Midwest winter without a good lotion. My favorite is Aveda's hand relief cream. It's thick but not greasy and the scent is pleasing without being overpowering.

3. To and fro outfit. While the following item do assume that someone is going to the gym, they are also good for anytime. After all, it's cold and the chilly temperatures scream for warmth and comfort.

• Boots. I like to get to the gym ready to workout but in the winter, there's nothing worse than stomping through slush and getting my sneakers soaking wet. It's not just uncomfortable but it can be a safety hazard. If you are going to a group exercise class in a studio, your shoes will track in water, salt and dirt, which will make the floor unattractive and slick. A nice pair of boots will get you into the studio with warm feet and keep the floor dry. Waterproof are best but I err on the side of fashion, selecting boots like these Sonoma life + style ones that are fur lined.
• Studio sweater. It's hard to lose the chill when you come in from the outdoors and walk into a cold studio. I often wear a sweatshirt, sweater and/or scarf while I set up equipment for a class — and even during a warmup. I like to choose pieces that look good in the gym and out. This Sonoma life + style cowl sweatshirt is incredibly cute and would pair well with leggings when you hit Starbucks after class. I also like open front cardigans (like this one) because size isn't as much of an issue.
• Layering pants. I am not lying when I tell you that I wore pajama pants into the Y because I didn't want to expose any bare skin, and I was wearing capris for class. A comfy pair of sweat pants that can go over leggings might have been a better option. The Fila Sport fleece lounge pants would be perfect. Wear them to the gym or on the couch. And, for the runners, I sometimes wear tights and pants on the coldest days. I usually steal Mark's adidas pants but a pair of wind pants would be good, too.

Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored nor does it contain affiliate links. Just me to you (and me to my husband), sharing ideas.

Friday Favorites: Head to Toe

The seasonal switch in my running wardrobe has not only meant that I can close the drawers but it's been out with the old and in with the "oh, I forgot I have that!" In a way, it's like getting a shopping spree to my favorite running store but not getting the bill.

In a small, teeny-tiny, itsy-bitsy, not so much way.

But with that said, here are the things I'm loving right now and some items pulling a close second.

Head: Saucony Space-Dye Skull Cap (similar HERE). I am pretty sure I first saw this hat on Sarah, and I had to have it. I waited long enough last year to snag it on clearance but sad I waited so long as it quickly became a favorite. The hat is light but warm, and it's big enough that it comes down over my ears.

Runner-up: Athleta cap. I coveted this hat all last winter as one of the run clubbers wore it on nearly every blustery run. I noticed that it was on sale at Athleta for $10.99 and with an Old Navy reward, I couldn't pass it up. I bought the XS/S, and the flaps cover my ears and the cap fits snugly — but not too tight. The selling point was the brim as it should keep falling snow out of my eyelashes, improving my vision.

Torso: Another Mother Runner 26.2 sweat shirt. You have likely seen me wear this sweat shirt approximately 9,345,202 times because I love it ... that much. The cut is cute and comfortable, and I love the colors. I told myself that I would buy the 13.1 version if I PR'd the half at Fort4Fitness but I did come up short — barely and pregnant to boot. I will probably work into the gear budget soon enough for the sake of variety.

Runners-up: Fila Mars Running Hoodie in Peach Frenzy and the Tek Gear Fleece Hoodie in Coral Dazzle Heather. I saw these at Kohl's when I popped in to use a reward, and I walked around the store with them for at least 20 minutes. The color ... oh, the color. It's just so bright and fresh when every thing is so dismal. I put them back as we have a "no shopping for yourself" policy between Nov. 1 and Christmas but they would make an excellent gift.

Bottom: Fila Maui Performance Leggings in Grand Ceremony. I saw these at Kohl's and I could not pass them up, regardless of whether they had my size. I figured going up a letter would accommodate a bigger belly in a month or two, anyway. I love the fun pattern on these pants! They aren't lined, which is a bit of a let down but they do help when it's cold enough that you want your legs covered but not so cold that you need lots of layers.

Runner-up: Nike Pro Hyperwarm Nordic in Ivory/Volt/Volt. The pattern — enough said.

Toes: Skechers GOrun Ride 3. I was in desperate need of new shoes when I visited Kim for the Haunted Hilly Half. I have a pair of Saucony Fastwitch with less than 200 miles that I wear for speed work and racing but my go-to Brooks Ravennas were nearing 400 miles. We had a lot of expenses last month and, to be honest, I hated that I needed to spend $100+ on new shoes. Kim, the wise one that she is, clued me into the Skechers. She had switched from the Ravennas to the Ride 3 a few pairs back and had nothing but positive comments. One of the pros? The price, which can be as low as $45 if you work Amazon right.

I quickly bought a pair, and I have been nothing but happy. The shoes feel lighter than the Ravennas (6.4 ounces vs. 8.5 ounces) and sport a 4 mm drop, which I'm used to with the Fastwitch. Despite the more minimal profile, the shoes are incredibly comfortable — almost like running on clouds.

Runner up: Pro Compression marathon socks. Of course, right? I'm including these not because I'm an ambassador but because compression socks and tall ones at that are essential in the winter. If you haven't pulled out tights yet, you can wear the socks with capris and be good for runs even in the high 20s. When the snow comes, taller socks offer added warmth and make sure there is no skin exposed between where the shoe/sock ends and the tights begin. The October sock of the month, which is still available, is especially sassy and sure to brighten up any gloomy fall run.

What gear are you loving right now?

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and did not receive any product in exchange for this post. In fact, no one knew I was going to write it ... until now, I guess.