WIN THIS: A free box of customized goodies from YouBar!

And so it begins, another week—and for me, it really feels like the first week of the new year (even though it's the second week). I love vacation, trust me when I say there's nothing like escaping reality for a few days, but there's also nothing like getting back into the swing of things. And yes, that is both a positive and a negative statement. When your life is somewhat schedule-oriented, it's hard to upend yourself and it feels oh-so good to get back to your way of eating. Your way of life. In your house and in your bed. But damn, it feels good to not worry about things for a few days. Think work, groceries, bills. It feels good to do everything and nothing in particular. To sit back and relax, to live a life so very different from your own and to soak up vacation in every sense of the word. That escape is what makes getting back into the swing of things really, crazy hard. But I'm doing it. It's Monday, which means I'm back in the gym.

I spent all of yesterday getting organized. We unpacked suitcases and Christmas gifts, plus grocery bags and Target bags. Which means I didn't have much time to organize the photographs I took down in the land of sunshine and high temps—and if you live anywhere near me, you know that I am not at all in sunshine or high temps. Mother Nature welcomed me home by dumping my town full of snow. Yeah...blech. So as you anxiously await some visual evidence of my adventures in Cozumel, I shall entertain you with a giveaway.

I know, right...another giveaway! Isn't it great?

So a few weeks ago, the friendly people at YouBars sent me a box full of goodies.

I'd tell you about the company, but I think I'll let the company speak for itself:



Clearly these people are cool, and I'm more than willing to promote their products—they definitely fit the fit life mold. In addition to YouBars, you can also create YouCereal, YouTrailMix, YouShakes and YouCookies. All with healthy ingredients that YOU pick. I can't speak for the YouCookies, but everything else I sampled was quite delicious. Particularly the protein-filled Breakfast Shake.

I tend to shy away from protein shakes. I'm partial to fresh fruit smoothies, mostly because they never taste gritty or fake. I think a lot of protein-filled shakes taste both gritty and fake, which is never a good thing when you're thirsty and hungry. This Breakfast Shake...not so much. It basically tasted like a nice, cold glass of chocolate milk. I must admit, however, that I drank it mid-afternoon. It got me through a 4-hour night shift at the gym, which is something my apple/nut butter combo doesn't usually do. So I was quite pleased and ultimately eager to try the other two mixes.

Best part: 100 calories. 10 grams of fat. 9 grams of sugar. And not an ounce of unidentifiable ingredients in the mix. Next up, snack time. When I know I'm going to be gone for a bit, I tend to pack snacks in my purse. On two separate errand-running occasions, I some of my samples with me:

1) YouTrailMix

2) YouBar

Both of which were very, very tasty. And so now, here's the fun part: You could win a customized box of, well...whatever you'd like! YouBars, YouCereal, YouTrailMix, YouShakes or YouCookies. YOU decide.

YouBars is giving this opportunity to one lucky Daily Dose reader. To enter, take a look at the YouBars website and figure out what you'd like to customize. Share your recipe (don't forget to name it) in the comments section of this post. Bonus entries are yours if you "like" YouBars and Daily Dose on Facebook (if you haven't already). Extra bonus entry if you subscribe to Daily Dose (just click on the envelope in the column at right).

All entries must be received by Friday, January 14, 2011 at midnight EST. The winner will be announced on Sunday, January 16, 2011. (Please note that I will contact the winner if, and only if, I have your email address. Otherwise, you'll just have to stay tuned and contact ME if you're the lucky winner. In which case, if I don't hear from you, I'll be forced to pick someone else! Rules, rules...how boring, but necessary.)

Can't wait? Customize your box today and enter code "DailyDose" at checkout to save 10%!

Best of luck to all my participants!