
I believe that one of the hardest things about being a mom to the 5 and under crowd
is finding time to exercise. There are no lunch breaks to go to the gym, and the thought of getting up before my children do to go for a jog is just preposterous. However, I've found that walking is a pretty sustainable form of exercise, and I personally make it a point to get outside, rain or shine, and go for a walk 5 or 6 days a week. On two of those days, I have at least one, if not two children in tow which means I'm also pushing a stroller. I got a cool new phone for Christmas, and one of the first apps I downloaded was CardioTrainer. I LOVE the app because it keeps me walking at a much faster pace than when I was just walking with my regular old phone. Plus, it saves all my previous workouts so I can challenge myself to try to beat my previous times. One of the challenges of walking and pushing a stroller is that when I try to either find my phone buried somewhere in the folds of the stroller canopy, or I let go of the stroller to try to dig my phone out of my jacket pocket or my diaper bag, I inevitably end up slowing down. OK, maybe not a huge deal, but when you're challenging yourself, you don't want to lose a step! A few weeks ago, I was contacted to review a new product called the texthook. After using the texthook for a few weeks now, I wish that I could have had one since day one of my stroller pushing years! Click on Read more below for my review of the texthook and for details about how to win one for yourself.

Review is based on a 4-star scale.
Functionality **** - The texthook couldn't be easier to use. I struggled with the Velcro for a couple of minutes the first time, but if I had been more on the ball, I would have noticed that the people at texthook sent me a very detailed description of exactly how to wrap the Velcro around the handlebar of my stroller. Regardless, after I had done it once, it was a piece of cake. My phone fits perfectly into the phone holder, which is also easy to use. You simply pull up on the slider, fit your phone in, push the slider into place and you're good to go. I walk about 4 to 4 1/2 miles each time I'm out, and once I tightened the Velcro, I didn't have to readjust for the rest of the walk, and my phone stayed securely in place the entire time. The texthook is also easy to move from stroller to stroller if you find yourself using different strollers on different days. Yesterday, I had the texthook on my Bugaboo, but today I need to move it to the Indie Twin. It took about two seconds to switch. I also like that on the Bumblieride Indie Twin, I could attach the texthook on the side of the handlebar, out of my way, and then twist it around 90 degrees so that my phone was facing me. Most importantly, I LOVE that I can set my little fitness app to start recording my "workout" and then all I have to do for the rest of the walk is occasionally glance down to see how I'm doing. I really enjoy not having to dig around for my phone. Even if you're not recording your workout, the texthook is great for simply a place to store your phone when you're out and about the neighborhood. You'll always know right where it is, and never miss a call because it was buried in the bottom of your diaper bag, or hidden away in your back pocket.
Style - The texthook comes in white or black.
Price *** - The texthook currently sells for $25.95. You can buy it directly through the texthook site. Or, you can also order a texthook from Amazon.com with free super saver shipping.
Overall Rating ***1/2 - I really do think the texthook has proven itself worthy of the three and a half stars I just gave it. Before you go poo-pooing the idea of needing to email or text someone while you're out for a walk, I'd like to remind you that I have yet to do that since the addition of the texthook into my life. I look at the texthook as a way to safely store your phone when you're just out for a stroll, but even more importantly, I feel like it's such a great product for all of the moms out there who are getting in their exercise with a stroller in front of them. Whether it's walking or jogging, it's nice to be able to just glance down at the phone to get the time, etc. Another use I've heard of for the texthook is as a holder for your phone on a treadmill or exercise bike at the gym, too. You could track your workout, keep track of time, watch videos on your smartphone, or whatever you can manage to do while working out, too! I'm certainly not suggesting that my life is so busy that I can't take a break from emails when I'm out for a walk, BUT I will say that I love how texthook has changed my "workout"!
Are you HOOKED on the idea of the texthook? We have a discount code that will save you 15% when you go to www.texthook.com. Enter the code KIDBUY15 at checkout.
Life just got even better! We also have a texthook to giveaway to one lucky stroller-pushin' momma! To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post about why you think you'll love the texthook. Your comment will enter you to win a texthook for your stroller. All entries must be received by 11:59 CST on Tuesday, February 16, 2009. Winner must be 18+ and a resident of the United States. If you're not familiar with the rest of our giveaway rules, you can read them here. Good Luck!
Read more...













