Leslie Gives Good Gift

Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s that time of year again – Leslie’s Annual Holiday Giveaway!** Read on to see what might land in your stocking (or Chanukah Bush, as it were) this holiday season, then head over to my Locker Room Diaries website to learn how to enter. Please note, the instructions are different this year.
 
To look cute while you workout

lucy Ruffled Hoodie
When I saw this too-cute ruffled hoodie on a flyer in my mailbox, I knew I had to have it. But I’m on a self-imposed semi-spending moratorium and can’t be shelling out $78 for a hoodie so I decided to live vicariously though one of you, who will win this fleece-lined baby, perfect for covering up after yoga or just kicking in on the couch while watching Jersey Shore (oh please, you know you do!) Also, lucy is about to host another sock giveaway – for this weekend only, you can snatch up a free three-pack of lucy essential socks when you try on a pair of lucy Hatha Power pants. Can you say “Free stocking stuffer”? Click here to find a store near you. Food Tees
I’ll admit, if I saw you walking down the street wearing a tee shirt with a chocolate donut on it and the saying “think before you eat,” it would take a serious dose of restraint not to throttle you. But an onion  with the phrase “cry baby,” a strawberry that reads “sweet” or a corn cob urging me to “stand tall” would all put a smile on my face. And how adorbs does my niece, Maia, look in her brand new carrot “bite me” onesie?! (Click here, then click on “pictures” and then click on image #30). One of you will win an organic cotton tee with the saying of your choice.
 
Champion Seamless Empire Long Top
Health magazine named this their best bra top for its built-in bra, soft wicking material and flowy empire waist which camouflages a belly. Ideal for bloated PMS days or post-baby workouts! If you win this or simply choose to purchase one on your own, please note they are designed with compression and deliver a high level of support for higher impact activities, so unless you want a ton of support and a really snug fit, order a size bigger than normal (I need a large and I’m barely a 36B.)

New Balance NBx COCONA™ Sleeveless Top 
If you don’t like wearing super-tight workout tops (and you didn’t win the empire-waisted number above) maybe you’ll win this guy! The lightweight ultra wicking knit insets under the arms will keep you cool; the flattering, easy-fit top will keep you from feeling self-conscious. The tank  also offers reflectivity and UV protection.
 
Jockey Seamless Tanks
If you prefer a slimmer fit to your workout tops (usually if you’re a runner or Pilates/yoga gal), this tank is for you. It has a built-in bra and moisture-wicking fabric. Plus, no seams so you won’t peel it off post-treadmill to find all kinds of irritated bits like some scratchy tops will do.       
 
To make your mouth happy
 
GourmetGiftBaskets.com Gum Basket
I’m not a huge artificial sugar user but when it comes to gum, I’m sugar-free all the way (If I never get injected in the gums with Novocaine again, it will be too soon.) And when you workout as much as I do, you know how crucial it is to have a stick of minty or fruity gum in your mouth, both to distract your brain from the 38 minutes left on the StepMill as well as to chase away Foul Gym Breath. This is a monster basket bursting with a gazillion flavors of gum, along with, rather inexplicably, a fake plastic banana.

Starbucks Chateau Blanc French Macaroons
When I was in Paris, people lined up around the block waiting to pay $2 each for melt-in-your-mouth macaroons. Silly French people! You can just go to Starbucks and get a dozen of them for way less money! And for all my fellow MOTs out there, these are different than the sticky coconut bombs-in-a-can that get pulled out every Passover. In coffee, pistachio, raspberry, chocolate, vanilla, and lemon flavors, these Starbucks ’roons are actually fairly waistline-friendly at three for 150 calories. The winner will also receive a $25 Starbucks Card and a box of Tazo BerryBlossom White tea, ideal for washing down your new treats.  
 
ORAL-B Pulsonic Toothbrush 
After you drink your free Starbucks Americano/latte/Frappucino, you need to brush so your pearlies stay white. This electric toothbrush is super sleek, and the slim head makes you really slow down and pay attention to each tooth. I’m so addicted from my Oral-B from the last holiday giveaway that I can barely stand to use regular, non-motorized toothbrushes anymore. I usually just chew parsley and lemon peels on vacation until I can return home for a proper cleaning. (Note: Joke.) The winner will also receive a package of CREST Whitestrips. Smile!
         
To broaden your mind AMEN, AMEN, AMEN: Memoir of a Girl Who Couldn’t Stop Praying (Among Other Things) by Abby Sher
This is a powerful and extraordinarily well-written memoir of a woman who, after losing her father at a young age, started obsessively praying in closets and picking up litter in the street. As Sher grew older and emerged as a successful Second City comedienne, her OCD gave way to an eating disorder. Anyone who has ever glommed on to an unhealthy habit as a means of coping with stress or anxiety will relate.
 
Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-time Eater by Frank Bruni
Bruni was a chubby young boy raised by a food-obsessed Italian family. He struggled with bulimia and compulsive over-exercising as he navigated life’s twists and turns, including a stellar writing career and a struggle with his sexuality. Just as he thinks he’s gaining control over his eating, Bruni is offered a once-in-a-lifetime position as the restaurant critic of the New York Times. I loved this book and hope you will, too.

Fat Chance: Losing the Weight, Gaining My Worth by Julie Hadden, first runner up on Season 4 of NBC’s Biggest Loser
Hadden lost a whopping 45% of her body weight on Loser; her book recounts her experience on the show, “from displeasure to contentment, from indulgence to self-control, from shame to self-confidence.” Also included: Sample healthy recipes and workouts.

Nutrition At Your Fingertips by Elisa Zied, MS, RD, CDN
Consider this your go-to guide for answering all of your nutrition and health questions, from “How much protein is in a cup of black beans?” to “How do I know if I need more Vitamin D?” Zied is a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and has appeared on The Early Show, Today Show, MSNBC, FOX News, The Food Network, and more.
 
…and to give you sweet dreams

Dr. Mary Side Sleeper pillow
Designed by a sports chiropractor for us side-sleepers, this boomerang-shaped pillow is unlike anything you’ve ever laid your head on. The Pillow Bar says that if you sleep on your side, your pillow should fill the largest gap between you and your mattress. Dr. Mary takes care of that, while also serving as a body pillow to hug, keeping your top shoulder from slumping forward and slowly turning you into a perma-hunchback. It’s ultra-luxurious – filled with Hungarian goose down and embedded with a soothing French lavender sachet – and I promise that, while it takes a while to get used to, you’ll soon grow to love it. (It took me about a week of mild fussing, and now I’m addicted!)

** Disclaimer: iVillage is not a sponsor or administrator of, and will have no responsibility or liability relating to, giveaways, sweepstakes, contests or other offers or promotions on my website.  For official rules for this giveaway, please see my Locker Room Diaries website, located at lrdiaries.com