Beat the heat: Frozen Yogurt Smoothies from Red Mango

Red Mango

It's over 100 degrees here in my neck of the woods and I've never been much for temperatures that vary much from 72 degrees.  I am a total baby when it comes to severe cold or severe heat which is why it makes absolutely no sense why I live in Utah.  NO SENSE!

But that's beside the point.  I've basically spent the entirety of the last four days trying to figure out how in the heck to cool down.  Enter: Red Mango smoothies.  

The best thing about Red Mango Smoothies, juice, and frozen yogurt is that it is actually healthy, meaning you aren't putting crap through your body trying to beat the heat.  This summer they launched 22 brand new super biotic summer smoothies.  You can get healthy boosts in your drink like protein, energy, immunity, multivitamin, and now even antioxidant boosts, calcium, and green tea Acai.

If that doesn't do it for you, try one of these smoothies- and remember you can always add your boost to any of these drinks:

Body Balance: Flavorful and functional yogurt smoothies formulated with beneficial boosts

All Fruit Harmony: Refreshing dairy-free and soy-free smoothies made only with fruit, juice and ice. 

Twisted Fruits: Smooth and creamy signature yogurt smoothies offered in new and innovative fruit-forward flavors.

Just Kidd'n: Naturally delicious, snack-sized fruit and yogurt smoothies, blended just for kids. 

 This smoothie had little balls of goodness right in it that you could suck through the big straw.  I was sold!

And they even gave us these cool headbands for stopping on by!

My niece loved it.  And yes, we go shirtless whenever possible.

Oh, and make sure to visit Red Mango on facebook or twitter for special wheels and deals.  Speaking of deals, I got one for you right now.  Until July 5, any 16 ounce super biotic smooth is only $2.  Yep.  Two bones.  I am going to copy and paste verbatim what my email said so that you make sure you get the same deal- the girl at the store I went to seemed a little confused and I had to show her this exact statement, so I figured I better give it to you.  But it works.  What beats a $2 smoothie?  NOTHING!

Here's the deal verbatim that you should be getting:

• Participants are asked to share the following Red Mango discount offer with their readers:  $2 Super Biotic Smoothies! $2 (plus tax) for any regular size (16oz) Super Biotic smoothie all day, every day in store. Only 16oz Super Biotic smoothies are eligible for this offer. No coupon required to redeem!

This is a sponsored post for Red Mango.

Hawaii Top Ten part 2

Oh, hey guys.  Sorry I bailed on you last night.  Five "top ten" items in, and I was done.  Vacation posting is almost as much work as vacationing, right?

Here's the rest of the top five for you...

#5 Surfing... (or more accurately titled: trying to surf)  We rented surfboards in Waikiki on a hot afternoon.  Every other tourist on the island had the same idea.  Basically you could not go two feet without hopping off your board because someone was in your way.  That was where I turned into a five year old and started crying and pouting because people wouldn't get out of my way so I could get up on the board.  It's a tough life, ain't it?

#4 Body Boarding  One of my very favorite days was when Greg and I and Brett and Kylee all competed with the body boards.  We had two boards between the four of us.  Two people would race and whoever got the furthest on the shore kept going.  The winner got to stay on, the loser had to give their board to a new challenger.  It kept us entertained for hours and I liked it mounds better than real surfing.  No skills required- of course I'm gonna love it!

#3 Hike of Death AKA Maunawili Falls  I did this hike seven years ago and remember it being easy peasy lemon squeezy.  I told everyone it was the easiest hike ever, would only take half an hour, and even a little baby could handle its intensity.  Turns out it was 6 miles, ridiculously muddy (three out of the five of us took serious falls) and took so long that we were hiking out in the dark.  It was slightly terrifying and I apologized a million times for not having remembered the hike better- I guess it's something we won't forget, eh?

All that being said, the hike is absolutely stunning and it leads to a fresh waterfall that you can jump into at the end.  Can't say no to that, can you?

#2  Waimea Bay  This is my favorite beach on all of Oahu.  I demanded we hit it up at least one day.  It was an hour from our hotel, but so totally worth it.  The waves are big and just a little scary- none of that Waikiki weaksauce stuff.  The day we went was cloudy and rainy and we swam in great big waves in the pouring rain and it was one of those moments where you are positively certain that everything is right in the world.  If I had it my way I'd spend a week every year on this beach.  I haven't met a beach yet that comes close to comparing.

#1... THE PEOPLE  We did some great stuff, yes, but no "thing" can compare to the people we were with.  I was so delighted to share Hawaii with my husband and to spend the week with his parents and brother and wife.  Everyone was so chill and relaxed- a relaxing week in the sun with just the right amount of adventure.  No place, no beach, no activity is worth anything if you're not sharing it with the people you love.  Amen and amen!

Hawaii Top Ten

Vacation posts are always tricky.  How do you share about a vacation without seeming like you are bragging your head off or becoming a terrible bore, or a terrible combination of the two?  How do you do it, people?

Well, I still haven't figured out the answer, but I did decide to organize the post into my top ten favorite things about vacationing in Hawaii.  That way there can be some semblance of order?  Ah, who are we trying to kid... it's mostly just a massive picture dump.  Oh, and FYI- we went with Greg's parents and Greg's brother and his wife.  Just in case you're wondering who those other peeps are.

HAWAII TOP TEN

#10 Pearl Harbor.  I've always been fascinated by World War II and America's involvement in it.  The video they show at the beginning of the tour was very well done and interesting, and I was surprised by how totally respectful everyone was at the memorial.  It so important to remember the sacrifices that were made so that we can enjoy this country now.

This is Greg pretending I'm pregnant.  Let's just say he has been a tad baby hungry.

Kylee and I went at 6 am to wait for free tickets for the U.S.S. Arizona.  In the picture below notice Kylee sitting all the way on the right and then notice all the people behind her.  We might be straight up crazy to go that early, but when 6 am is that bright and beautiful, it certainly ain't too hard to roll out of bed.

#9 Polynesian Culture Center and the temple...
We spent our last evening in Hawaii walking the stunning temple grounds and seeing a show at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  When I went to BYU-H all of my friends worked at the PCC; it was weird to be on the other side- just some tourist shelling out $50 to watch the show.

 This is neither the Polynesian Culture Center nor the temple, but it IS the house I lived in six years ago when I went to BYU Hawaii.  So freaking insane to be back.

This is us all trying to get Greg's mom to come be in the picture.

#8 Snorkeling at Haunama Bay and Shark's Cove.  I discovered on this trip that I don't love snorkeling like I used to.  It gives me a major headache because the mask is so freaking tight, but then if I loosen it the salt water gets in and burns my eyeballs to pieces.  Seeing all the colorful fish and all is purty cool, but so not worth the headache.  Any suggestions?

Greg helping his mom snorkel.  He's about as kind and thoughtful as they come.

This is Haunama Bay at 7 am and what Greg calls my "Sleepy Bon" face.  I made everyone go at that hour because the internet said the parking lot would be full if we didn't get there before 7.  It was nowhere close to full.  Oops.

#7 Dole Pineapple plantation Kind of crazy that this made it above the gorgeous snorkeling, but I totally adored the Pineapple Express train ride around the plantation.  It was chill and laid back and there was a hilarious dialogue that explained the pineapple plantation to us while randomly pausing to play Hawaiian songs.  I suppose it was just one of those moments where everything seems totally right in the world.

#6 The Food Half of any vacation is about the food, right?  We had mostly totally delicious food and a little bit not so great food and even a couple of stops at The Cheesecake Factory which was right across the street from our hotel.  You can't say no to a $10 slice of cheesecake, can you?!

We splurged on fresh lobster one night.  Totally worth it!

Pineapple ice cream.  I didn't love it as much as I was supposed to.

Matsomoto's shaved ice.  Not as good as I remember- it could be because I took the suggestion of a 17 year old to get sour green apple flavoring.  Note to self:  Never listen to 17 year olds.

Eggs n Things breakfast: Banana Crepes with coconut syrup- by far my favorite thing I ate in Hawaii.  (Also, notice how happy my pop in law looks in the background... we had to practically force him there because he wanted to go to Denny's!)

... and somehow it's almost midnight and I can't keep my eyes open.  I had every intention of doing the whole vacation in one post, but it looks like you will have to wait until tomorrow for the other half.  I just can't stay awake, my friends!