Tristan of Artisana (remember that awesomely chocolate-covered company?) emailed me and asked me to send a picture of myself with my beloved Artisana Cacao Bliss. There was only one problem…
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I didn’t have any pictures to send him! Shocking as it may seem, I don’t make it a habit of photographing myself holding nut butters. But then again, this isn’t just any old nut butter. I think it’s worthy of some photo-love, don’t you?
Old McDonald had a farm. Sing with me! E-i-e-i-oooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Yup, she’s lost it now.
And speaking of Artisana, I came home the other day to find this on my doorstep:
Another box of Artisana free samples??? How did I get to be so lucky?! I’m thinking it must have been some kind of fluke… but hey, who’s complaining?
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I want to share the luck with one of you. Look out for my next post! 
In the meantime, check out this post for more info on the amazing Artisana Nut Butters.
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P.S. Sorry about the messed-up link in my post from yesterday. I always forget that you can’t just write in a link from an outside website. I did fix it, once I realized. Sorry again!
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I adore my running sneakers… but the poor shoes are on their last legs (feet?). So I finally broke down and bought new ones (the same exact brand). But, after a few runs in these new shoes, I began to notice a bit of soreness in my left knee. I reverted back to my old shoes, and the soreness disappeared… but—as I said earlier—these shoes aren’t going to last much longer. My question: When you buy new running shoes, are you supposed to break them in somehow before running in them? I’m afraid to use these shoes again—do you think they’ll be fine if I switch off for a while, alternating between my new and old shoes? Or did I somehow manage to buy a defective pair? Like any runner, I want to be super-careful about being nice to my knees!
*first comment!
can’t wait to here the artista coconut butter reviews!
Those look so awesome
That looks amazing, checking out the website now! Thanks for the post!
You are too cute! And that sample pack looks great!
LOL at your photoshopped photo … ya sure look gorgeous in it!
WOW another Artisana butter samples??? You lucky duck!!
Speaking of ducks – have I mentioned that my campus is FULL of ducks?! We call them the Reid Ducks (coz they are always at the Reid Building) They are SOOOO cute … they totally do wag their bum when they walk!! (ok enuf with the weird comment Celia!)
P.s.: Tristan, if you send me some artisana samples all the way down to Australia … I will scrub your floor clean with my bare hands for a whole year …
Ooohhh Artisana…more free samples?! You are so nice to share.
I’ll be on the lookout for your next post.
It’s getting warm here, too! Hooray!
you’re so sweet to include the link.. i was crying when i found out and i barely know jenna. so sad!
i love those nut butters though! free packages are so fun to see in the blogworld
yay for nut butters! and that first photo is hilarious!
For your knee question. When I used to break in shoes, I would wear them once, wear the old ones, wear the new, and alternate back and forth. Then I would do the new ones for two days or whatever until I eventually got the old ones out of the rotation. The other thing I suggest-once you see the knee pain go away, buy the same pair again and alternate everyday with those shoes, letting them “rest” and allowing them to decompress after the runs.
Though I’m not sure you should listen to me since I had knee surgery, but that’s what I read should work when it comes to breaking in shoes!
Cool pic
You look cute as a farm girl! I was just reading car.ncake’s blog and she got her little sampler and i was thinking how jealous I was and that I should check out their website to see if i could get in on the deal……what kind of a yummy giveaway is your chocolate covered brain coming up with???……-Monica:)
hooray for more tasty samples, Katie! i just picked up a wee jar of the cacao bliss the other day just to give it a try – it’s soooo good! i’m gonna have to give other artisana yummies a try if i can find more! your picture is just too cute! i love it!
totally gonna keep an eye out for another one of your rock’n giveaways! superw00t!
Have you thought about calling the shoe company and asking them about the difference in the shoes? I was thinking that they may have changed the design since you got the last pair.
If they have changed the design, they may be able to suggest a different model that is more like your old shoes.
That picture is really funny. Oh, so much fun can come out of photoshop
That would be so awesome if you did a giveaway!!! I have been wanting to try those but they are so expensive!
lucky girl with all those samples!
i’m not sure about the knee issue, but I hope you figure it out! That’s never fun.
Katie! You are absolutely be-a-uuu-tiful! You and that Cacoa Bliss make such a great couple
Haha!
Ahhh I’m so excited for a new giveaway – your giveaways are always the most exciting, and chocolately! I am determined to win one of these days
I wish I had some advice for ya about the running shoes, but I don’t
sorry girl! But I know there’s lots of bloggies who have some amazing tips 
Love, Meg
Lucky you to find another yummy package waiting for you!
I have no advice about the shoes, I am such an amateur runner. But, I am desperate for a really good, supportive pair of running shoes. Any suggestions?
Wow I’m so jealous of those cute little nut butter samples! About the shoes: maybe try wearing them around (but not running in them) If there is still discomfort even when you’re NOT running, that’s something to think about. Maybe it’s the shoe not you!
1. The nut butters look delish! How is it that you get so many free samples?
2. I recommend getting Asics. I have knee problems, and they provide a good deal of support and cushioning.
3. I love the American Gothic imitation. So classy.:)
I would suggest going to a specialty running store to find some shoes. I know some in our area will put you on a treadmill in bare feet to check your running style, stride, etc. and then fit you with a pair that is best for you.
I absolutely think it is worth the investment (much like the Artisana nut butters…), and can make a HUGE difference in your comfort while running!
More Artisana love? Jealous! You should get your new BFF’s at Artisana to send some love my way
Hopefully you get your shoe situation worked out. Sore knees are not cool.
That photo is too funny!
Hey Special K! Depending on how many miles you run per week, you should have about two (or more) pair of shoes that you alternate regularly – the goal is to have various levels of “broken-iness” so that you’re not running on over-used shoes all the time.
I would alternate your new & old shoes, ever other run for a little while until your new ones are a bit more broken in. If, however, after three runs you still feel funky-knees, you should probably bring them back to the running store with your old shoes and see what they say (assuming you went to a spcialty running store). Some brand’s models change from year to year, so be sure that they didn’t go from a support shoe to a stability shoe or something like that, too.
Good luck – and I’m so jealous of your nut butters!
Oh wow, I almost burst out laughing when I saw the picture you Photoshopped with you and your Artisana… LOL you are so hilarious! (And you did a great job Photoshopping, by the way!) I still haven’t tried Artisana though, so maybe I’ll be lucky enough to win your giveaway… Oh wait, I just realized mid-sentence that they started carrying it at my Whole Foods – maybe I shall invest!
Sorry, I don’t know the answer to your running-shoes question, but I have bought the same pair of cross-training shoes twice in a row now. I remember they were super stiff when I started out wearing them, and they even cut into the back of my ankle/heel/in between area. I just had to break them in for a week or so… Good luck!
No you did not get more samples from Artisana!?! Awesome delivery Katie, and I am once again so freaking jealous. I’m still working on the jar you sent me, and I’m going to stock up when I go visit my in-laws next month in Arizona. Yum – love that stuff.
Sorry about your knee pains. I for one don’t think you should be experiencing any knee pain from new shoes. I’d take them back and and get fitted for another pair.
Haha, I just laughed out loud when I saw that picture…you are the cutest thing!
Ahhh, I need to get the hookups with these free samples, too! Lucky duck! I’m so sorry about your knee troubles…I wish I could help, but I’m just now trying to get into running…I never knew that starting would be so difficult, but I have to work on that stamina! 
I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend girl!
I second Kate, and suggest that you try alternating your old and new shoes each day for a couple of weeks until you feel adjusted. I’m sorry I’m not of more help! Although I do want to mention this awesome new shoe company I discovered recently, called End Footwear (http://www.endfootwear.com/). They are a shoe company that is dedicated to sustainability and corporate responsibility, plus their shoes are vegan! I just ordered my pair, so I can’t yet tell you how they work for me. But I’m already in love with the company!
OK… SSOOO jealous of the artisana you’ve been getting. I’m really wishing I had bought more of their products at the Green Festival I went to. Can’t wait to see what more you create with the nut butters!
you lucky girl with all those little cute bottles of goodies!!!
The spreads look amazing! You are a lucky girl! Love the pic!!
Heya Katie! You said in your post that you try to be nice to your knees, which got me wondering if there’s anything a person can do as a runner to specially help your knees? Do you ice them after every run or something? I am a runner and would love some tips on things to do, because even though I don’t have knee pain now, I don’t want any in the future. Thanks Katie!
you shouldn’t have to “break in” new running shoes, so that’s not a good sign that they are hurting your knee.
first of all, what’s the return policy? cause if you can only wear them once or twice before the store will refuse to take them back then i’d go right to the store and tell them your story and see what they suggest.
if you don’t want to return them/can’t return them i’d try rotating your old and new ones first and see how that goes. if it doesn’t work, then the new model of the Pegasus is probably just different from the older one in a way that your foot/knee is finding hard to adjust to.
but i’d definitely ask the running store employees, it’s their job to make customers happy, right?!
have a great day!
I love that picture of you with the nut butter! How creative!
I’ve had that happen where I went and got the new version of my old running shoes and they ended up giving me some serious injuries so take care.
Have you worn them in? i.e. walked around in them (not running) for a week? Running shoes need wearing in before you take off on a run in them so maybe that’s it.
But the best thing would be to go to a specialised sports shoe store. Do you have shoe stores where you go in and they film your running style and find a shoe that suits your foot? We have a couple over here and I’ve found I’ve had no more problems with shoes.
Katie
Thanks so much for that last comment.
I was so uncomfortable with that doctor. I plan on talking it all over with my nutritionist tomorrow morning. I’m going to make sure she reads the post too, and since they work in the same office and communicate jointly about patients.. maybe I’ll get a few answers out of it. Anywhoo, enough about me..
…another hilarious (and fabulous) photo. Gosh I love you girl!!!
-E
Hope you figure out your shoe dilemma! And what a lucky day…double nut butter!
2 boxes of samples?!?!? I’m completely envious (in a good way of course!) Love the photo! And I have no advice because I don’t have a clue but I hope you get the knee/jogger situation sorted!
haha I love the pic! Lucky you getting more samples.
Wow, I’ve been shopping around for the Cacao Bliss but no luck yet! I picked up their coconut butter though so hopefully that one’s just as tasty
I got a new pair of sneaks recently and they killed my feet every time I wore them. I just kept wearing them though (they were the only ones that work with my nike sensor!) and now they’re fine. I don’t know if this relates to the knee problem but I would definitely try to break them in before giving up on them!
I love your photoshoot!!
[...] I know I promised a post with info on how you can win some of those yumlicious Artisana Nut Butters. But I haven’t had time to finish said post, so it’ll have to be tomorrow. Right [...]
are the shoes the same model or just the same brand? I always swore by asics but would get a new model every time and continuously had problems with my knees, I finally decided to give brooks a try and they seem to be a lot better for my knees. Maybe you should try switching brands?
each new update to a shoe can bring changes (fortunately or unfortunately), so if it hurts, listen to your knees! I like to go to a running specialty store, they often let you return them with some wear, as you really don’t know how they’ll work until you run in them!
Ah ha! I can’t get enough of that pic. Too funny. =) Thanks again, and hopefully those extra jars will do well in some kind of give away. If not, then I’m sure they’ll have a safe home in your tummy.
-T
You look as cute as though little samples do!
Wow, the people over at Artisana must really like you.
As for your running shoe question, new shoes usually take a few uses to feel more fit to your liking. Also, if you don’t already, you may want to try out stability shoes(which I have, but then again my feet are flatter than a pancake, so I need them) and insoles as well, which help with cushioning, arch support, and so on and so forth. Hope your shoes work out(haha no pun intended.)
Katie –
I recently discovered your blog via La Belle Vegan, and though I know it’s sort of out of the blue, your comment about knees brought it to mind. Do you have any advice you could give me with regards to running with knee problems? I’ve been told I have a runner’s build, and my father is a long-distance runner, but during ED recovery, I injured my knee (I think it was to my ACL, but I never went to a doctor) and it still causes me problems. More recently I sprained my ankle, and that doesn’t seem to be doing much either. I know that partially the knee injury was related to being underweight. If it’s not too personal, do you find that being very finely built affects your running? Fat and cartilage between the joints etc.
Oh, wow, this comment turned into quite the beast on me! Sorry… and if you’ve read this far, thanks!
[...] few months ago, I wrote a post lamenting the fact that my new shoes were aggravating my knee. After the post, two girls left comments asking if I had any advice about taking care of one’s [...]
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