Random Products and Help Needed!

It's 'advice needed' day again!

First up, sugar. I used to use a ton of sugar a day in my tea back before I got pregnant with my first son. I would drink hot tea at my desk all day and in each cup, at least 1 pack (usually 2) of sugar. When I got pregnant, I stopped the tea which meant stopping the sugar. After he was born, I went right back on the sugar. Enter baby number two. Stopped sugar again, then right back on when he was born but a funny thing happens to your body when your second kid comes along and you are 33, the pounds don't just melt away in 6 weeks. I decided to kick the sugar habit and dabbled in the Sweet-N-Low then Equal sugar substitute area. Yuck. I hated both but suffered through until I found Splenda. I love me some Splenda!! So here I am, drinking at least 3 cups of coffee a day (usually more) each with a packet of Splenda in it. I think I'm a bit late to the party but I've been reading a lot of very, very scary stuff about Splenda lately. So my question to you guys is, what can I use instead? I know, I know, try drinking my coffee with just milk or just top drinking coffee! Yeah, um, no. Next? What about Stevia? What's the deal with that stuff? Anyone? Bueller?

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these SBIBelt running belts. I've seen them at a few expos and usually walk right on by because to be honest, they remind me way too much of a fanny packt and I can't be seen sporting a fanny pack y'all! However, I need something to carry my stuff in. I never run with my phone because I can't stand the bouncing if it's in my jacket pocket and if I don't have pockets, I can't stand the idea of carrying it. Also, I usually tie my car key to my shoe lace which is pretty annoying too. I really need to have my phone with me because I just know one of these days the school is going to be calling me because one of my kids is sick or got hurt and they wont be able to find me. Oh, and then there is always that chance I could get mugged - kidding Mom! Totally kidding! So what's the deal with these? They look pretty small. Do they bounce?

Also, I finally found a sports bra/tank that I'm digging. I don't exactly have a lot going on in the chest-like area...OK, so I've got nothing going on in the chest area...and because of that, I hate wearing tanks because (a) they usually flop right down/open/over because I've got no girls but if I get one tight enough so that it doesn't, I'm smashed like a pancake. Pretty. And, (b) I hate, hate, hate anything tight. It makes it harder (to me) to get a full breath in when the run is getting tough and I just don't like the restriction. And don't get me started on the headlight issue. Hello?! Can we get a little privacy please?? Typically, I wear a t-shirt if I'm in a class at the gym or on the treadmill which is fine although a bit hot. The spinning class on the other hand, is crazy super hot! I simply have to wear a tank in there if I have any chance at survival. Enter the C9 by Champion Yoga Tank that I found at Target on Monday. It's got "built in cups" which is nice because there is no see-thru action and I actually look like I've got a bit going on....a bit like small bullets, but still! It's a little tight around the ribs but it flares out a bit after that so it's not tight at all across my stomach or waist and it's a bit longer too so there is no ride up - yahoo! I wore it today for the first time in my spinning class and I have to say that I loved it! They are sold out on line (well, except for purple, but I hate purple). Has anyone seen anything similar to this?

Next up, a cooking magazine. I love, love, love watching the Food Network (especially when on the treadmill), reading cooking magazines and reading cooking blogs (um, hello, have you witnessed The Pioneer Woman's love of butter?). I'm not a cook though. I know, weird. I try stuff and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, whatever. It's the watching and reading that I really enjoy. But on Monday, I found a newish cooking magazine at Wegmans, Clean Eating. This thing is the bomb people! It's got fantastic healthy recipes that are easy looking and very non-preachy about eating healthy, aka: clean. I've dog-eared at least 10 pages of stuff I want to try and I think I'm going to go online and order the 4 back issues. Check it out if you see it!