Get Fit Friday: Work those Abs

Short on time but wanting to work your abs? If you have 10 minutes this standing abs video by Jillian Michaels has you covered.

.

Get Fit Friday, using your own body weight

I think gyms have a place and are great for some people, me not so much. I do however believe in weight training and I have a set of free weights but many people use their body weight to train with. This quick video shows you how you can too.


 

Blind Man, It's a beautiful day and I can't see it...!!!

Get Fit Friday

We all know that healthy eating and exercise are important to maintaining our health. One of the biggest problems though is how do I find time to work-out? For me the easiest thing has been to find short videos that I can squeeze in 4-5 times a week. Don't worry if you can't work-out that often; just do what you can as often as you can. Every workout makes you a little bit fitter than you were before you started it.

My goal on Get Fit Friday will be to share quick workout tips and videos with you. The work-outs will range in length and intensity. Are you ready, then lets get to it! 

 

Defining Freedom For Yourself

The Time You Have (In JellyBeans)

The Scarecrow

44 Body Weight Exercises

Cleaning Your Brevile Juicer

We have been juicing for about two years now. Our first juicer was a XL Juicer. It was a fine little juicer and perfect for getting started. It was at a price point we felt comfortable with while we tried to decide if juicing was really for us and it did what it was supposed to do, it made juice. The downside to it was it was messy,  it did not come with a pitcher that fit under the spout and had several parts to clean. It honestly got to the point that we didn't want to juice regularly.

Fed up with the mess and the lack of juicing I decided to Google "cleaning a juicer". I found the video below. When I saw how streamlined the Breville Juice fountain  was and how quickly he was able to clean it I decided to buy one.  The results from the juice fountain have been superb. We have been using it for about a year and a half and it is still juicing as well as it did on the first juicing and clean up is as easy as the video shows. I have very limited counter top space but the Breville juice fountain has certainly earned a permanent spot.

I only do two things differently from the video.
1. I always wipe down the lower half of the unit that houses the motor, including the underside, because juice will occasionally drip down there.

2. I never throw away the pulp! That goes into the compost bin for the garden.

Mindless Eating

For me mindless eating happens while I am on the pc. I'll grab a snack and then just keep munching even if I am not hungry. To curb that I now try to jot down a to-do-list or notes while I am watching a video or reading blogs. 

What If Money Didn't Matter

I met a friend yesterday for some coffee and we got to talking about our passions and work. She made a statement that I couldn't get out of my mind. She said that even if they offered me $$$$$ amount of dollars I wouldn't take the job because it doesn't fit in with my life's plan. She was serious too. She said it wouldn't necessarily be easy but she would turn it down. That's  how passionate she is about working for herself and living the life she wants.

Our conversation challenged me to dig deeper to find the courage I need to walk away from the things that I allow to hold me back.

Etsy Fort Worth Sets up Fund for Hood County Tornado Victims

This year's theme for the annual Etsy craft party is "Crafting for Community!" So our local team, Etsy Fort Worth, has decided to do something for our neighbors to the south in Hood County, who are recuperating from devastating tornado damage, and the lives that were lost.

 Those affected in Hood County don't qualify for monetary help from our government, so we'd like to do our part to help their community rebuild and heal. Join us on June 20th to fold 1,000 origami cranes to raise $1,000 to donate to United Way of Hood County. You can visit Etsy Fort Worth  for more information, including how to donate if you're unable to come to the craft party. Please pass this along!

   

Girl On Girl Hate

21 Day Vegan Kickstart Day 1 Lunch

What's In and What's Out?: 21-Day Vegan Kickstart

Have you ever wonder what a vegan eats? I think that along with how do you get protein are the most frequently asked questions I get when someone hears I am a vegan. This video will give you an idea of what to expect.

21 Day Vegan Kick-start/Reboot

I have been eating primarily vegan for about 18 months now. I do still eat meat and dairy on occasion but it is no longer the focus of my diet. I have noticed over the last few months that the occasional splurge was becoming more and more frequent. I am not gaining weight but I have started noticing some of the health issues that led me to go Vegan in the first place are returning.

I had to be honest with myself, those splurges were causing issues and if left unchecked I knew I would be right back where I was. Over weight, out of shape, acne, tired, stomach aches and dealing with that sluggish feeling that left me unmotivated.

I have slowly been getting back on track and plan to do the 21 day vegan kick-start starting June 1. If you have been considering giving vegan eating a try or need to get back on track this is a great program to use. It includes menus, recipes, shopping list, motivational tips,a forum for support, and much more. Oh, did I mention it is free? That's right completely free, all you have to do is sign up.

If you are planning to sign up and start June 1 leave a comment below.

Out to pasture

 The bluebonnet ride was a lot of fun but it was also emotional a few times. One of the spots we stopped to take some pictures had a pasture of cows, including a calf that was nursing. The cows had plenty of room to roam, a variety of grasses to eat, and from what I could tell they seemed content.

Before I knew what was going on my emotions got the better of me. I found myself teary eyed and my mind racing with the thought this is how it should be. Even if these animals are being raised for food they are being treated humanly.

It is not the goal of this blog to push anyone into a certain lifestyle but I would like to think that we can all agree that living creatures should be treated with respect and care regardless of rather they are a pet, wild or being raised for food.

A love Story

Take a Back Road

Do you ever listen to a song and think that's what I want to do,  that's what I need today? That happens every time I listen to take a back road. I want to hop on the back of my husbands bike and get away, far away. No noise, no work, no cooking and cleaning, nothing going on,  just relaxing and watching the scenery go by. Problem is we both work full time, he is off on the week-ends and my job basically demands I work every Saturday and rotate Sundays. However every once in a while something catches my eye on the calendar and I do whatever it takes to get off. That happened when I saw the bluebonnet ride on the calendar.  Most rides he goes on involve riding across the state to get a burger or something of that sort, not exactly every woman's dream ride.

 More often than not the ones I get to go on are short distances on either highway or bumpy roads and it is almost always cold.  Don't get me wrong, I always have a great time it's just not usually your ideal riding conditions especially since my husbands bike doesn't have a back rest. A bluebonnet ride though, how could that be anything but perfect?

After overcoming the scheduling issue the next obstacle was the weather. Spring in Texas is a beautiful yet unpredictable season. Despite conflicting weather predictions all week this day turned out to be perfect. The morning was cold , bitter cold, but within a few hours it warmed up to the perfect temperature. The sun was shinning but not scorching hot, there was a light breeze but not so much wind that it made riding uncomfortable what more could I ask for.

On most rides I hang on for my life but this ride was a lot of back roads, just taking it easy and going slow. I was actually able to take pictures from the back of the bike which was something a few months ago I never would have imagined myself doing. The bluebonnets were blooming and animals were everywhere basking in the sun.  You can read more about the ride and watch a video here. Most of the pictures he has up are the ones taken by me from the back seat.

Blue Bonnets and Indian Paintbrush

How it should be for these creatures

Bluebonnet fields every where you looked

We ended the day with a stop at the Ennis Bluebonnet festival. They had a car show, arts and craft booths and lots of food. Instead of junk food we knew we would regret we ate roasted corn and then stopped at  a local Mexican restaurant for lunch. 

Real Beauty Sketches

If only we could see what others see....

Making The Connection Vegan Diet -- A Documentary About Vegan Lifestyle

The following video explores many of the reasons people choose to become vegan. I won't get into my reasons right now and to be honest I still eat a small amount of meat on occasion when we go out. I don't beat myself up over it instead I keep making changes, trying new dishes, and educating myself on ways to become healthier.

  WARNING: The video does briefly touche on animal cruelty, the clip is only a few seconds long but disturbing.

Healthy Life Summit Day Seven

	Healthy Eating TECHNIQUES FOR MAKING REAL FOOD EASY & AFFORDABLE Jenny McGruther, Nourished Kitchen Learn from a farmer's market manager & busy mom how you can get real food on the table quickly & inexpensively. Jenny shares her secrets for pleasing picky spouses & children & how to utilize meal planning to save time and money. Click here to listen!
	Healthy Body NEUROCRANIAL RESTRUCTURING (NCR) Dr. Dean Howell, ND Expand your skull -- feel & look better! Learn how NCR can eliminate sleep apnea, chronic pain, TMJ, depression & anxiety, straighten teeth and expand the palate, improve eyesight and hearing. NCR is a revolutionary new treatment that can optimize your health. Click here to listen!
	Healthy Babies & Kids RECOVER FROM AUTISM WITH DIET Cara Comini, Health, Home & Happiness Cara's daughter, Hannah, recovered from autism. Learn from  a mom who has walked the walk how dietary changes and supplements can make miraculous improvements in children on the autism spectrum. Click here to listen!
	Healthy Living HOMEMADE BEAUTY PRODUCTS: SAFE ENOUGH TO EAT Heather Dessinger, Mommypotamus Did you know you can whiten your teeth with activated charcoal? Did you know that talcum powder can cause  cancer? Let Mommypotamus teach you her tricks for awesome homemade skincare products that are safe enough to eat.   Click here to listen!
	Healthy World FROM CAFOS TO SUSTAINABLE, GRASS-BASED AGRICULTURE Graham Merriwether, Director of American Meat The new movie, American Meat, exposes the truth about the industrial production of meat in America and why grass-based, sustainable farming is the only way to go and how we can get there. Click here to listen!
	Missed one of the presentations? Too busy to catch them all? Own ALL of the presentations -- on sale now for only $79. (Save 60%!) Click here to order the entire Healthy Life Summit to listen anytime, anywhere -- on your computer, mobile device, or tablet. Hurry -- the price goes up to $199 when the Summit ends on March 31.

Healthy Life Summit Day Four

Have you been listening to the seminars? What has been your favorite one so far? Today I plan on listening to NESTING REFRAMED: CREATING HEALTHY HOMES Mary Cordaro, MaryCordaro.com first.

Healthy Eating PRACTICE SAFE SOY Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of  The Whole Soy Story "Naughty Nutritionist," Dr. Kaayla Daniel exposes the dangers of modern soy foods, uncovers the corruption in the marketing of soy, and teaches you how to enjoy soy foods safely. Click here to listen! Healthy Body MOVEMENT FOR ELIMINATING CHRONIC PAIN AND WEIGHT LOSS Robin Konie, Thank Your Body Learn why the recommendation for 30 minutes of exercise per day is flawed. Reduce and even eliminate chronic pain and lose weight with simple exercises. Click here to listen! Healthy Babies & Kids GENERATION RX Robyn O'Brien, author of The Unhealthy Truth and founder of Allergykids.com Like a lot of moms, Robyn used to feed her kids fluorescent mac & cheese & blue yogurt. Find out what happened when she woke up to the reality of our modern day food supply and how it's harming our kids -- and what you can do to feed your kids healthier. Click here to listen! Healthy Living NESTING REFRAMED: CREATING HEALTHY HOMES Mary Cordaro, MaryCordaro.com Lead, mold, semi-volatile organic compounds, EMFs, oh my! It's in your couch, your carpet, and in your cell phone. Learn about the hazardous contaminants in your home and how to get the toxins out. Click here to listen! Healthy World SUSTAINABLE GRASS-BASED FARMS CAN SAVE THE PLANET Chris Kerston of Chaffin Family Orchards Chris, Farm Manager on a 2,000-acre California olive ranch, explains how grass-based farming builds topsoil and how ruminant animals can restore the land and environment. Click here to listen! Missed one of the presentations? Too busy to catch them all? Own ALL of the presentations -- on sale now for only $79. (Save 60%!) Click here to order the entire Healthy Life Summit to listen anytime, anywhere -- on your computer, mobile device, or tablet. Hurry -- the price goes up to $199 when the Summit ends on March 31.

Healthy Life Summit Day Three

Today is the day that most compelled me to buy the downloads! Today's lessons are the same beliefs that put me on a mission years ago to change the way my family lived. The belief that the what we eat has a direct effect on every part of our body, inside and out, from the hair at the top of your head all the way down to your toe nails. ~It all starts on the inside~

Healthy Eating HEALING THE MIND AND BODY WITH FOOD Julia Ross, author of The Mood Cure and The Diet Cure Julia reveals how nutrition can cure depression, anxiety, & other mood disorders & how to overcome addiction to junk foods and dependence on drugs. Click here to listen! Healthy Body CONQUERING SYSTEMIC INFECTION: ESSENTIAL TO GOOD HEALTH Donna Gates, author of The Body Ecology Diet Candida overgrowth and the lack of beneficial bacteria in our digestive tracts has become an unpublicized epidemic. Learn to use fermented foods & proper food combining to restore health. Click here to listen! Healthy Babies & Kids TREATING ECZEMA FROM THE INSIDE OUT Emily Bartlett, LAc, of Holistic Squid Emily is a holistic practitioner who cured her daughter's eczema. Learn what causes eczema and other skin disorders, how to clear inflammation and remove triggers, and how to eat to cultivate a strong immune system. Click here to listen! Healthy Living NATURAL DIY PROJECTS: SAVE MONEY & IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH Matt & Betsy Jabs, DIY Natural Matt & Betsy Jabs teach you how to easily make DIY cleaners and personal care products that will save you money and improve your family's health. Click here to listen! Healthy World PALEO TECHNOLOGY: ANCIENT SKILLS IN A MODERN WORLD Tamara Wilder, Paleotechnics.com Humans are totally dependent on modern technology. Discover how ancient skills such as starting fires, butchering animals, carving stone tools & working with fiber can empower you. Click here to listen! Too busy to catch all the presentations? Own all of the presentations -- on sale now for only $79. If you are unable to join us online the week of March 24th, you can order the entire Healthy Life Summit to listen anytime, anywhere.

Healthy Life Summit Day Two

Today is Day two of the Healthy Life Summit! Yesterdays speakers were great. Healthy Eating MAKE IT PALEO Bill Staley and Hayley Mason, authors of Make It Paleo Bill and Hayley share their tips for transitioning to a grain-free, paleo-friendly diet. They explain how to stock your kitchen, how to source healthy meat and seafood, how to cook with natural fats, and how to make delicious grain-free dishes. Click here to listen! Healthy Body LOSING WEIGHT & HEALING YOUR HORMONES IN YOUR 40S Vanessa Romero, Healthy Living How To Vanessa reveals how she healed her hormones, reversed adrenal fatigue, eliminated TMJ and melasma, and lost 25 pounds. She also shares how she keeps the weight off and stays in shape. Click here to listen! Healthy Babies & Kids FEEDING AND CARING FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN Sally Fallon Morell, author of Nourishing Traditions Learn the how to feed babies and children, how to navigate pregnancy and childbirth, vaccinations, childhood illnesses, circumcision, and why child spacing is critical for healthy children. Click here to listen! Healthy Living HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS OF GMOs Jeffrey Smith, author of Seeds of Deception and Genetic Roulette Jeffrey covers the health and environmental hazards of GMOs, or genetically modified organisms. Learn how you can avoid being a lab rat in this frightening science experiment. Click here to listen! Healthy World WELCOME TO THE SAUSAGE PARTY: HOW TO SLAUGHTER ANIMALS AT HOME Brandon Sheard, Farmstead Meatsmith Brandon talks about how he started Farmstead Meatsmith, a personal abattoir, butchery and charcuterie service that teaches people how to humanely slaughter and butcher animals. Click here to listen! Too busy to catch all the presentations? Own all of the presentations -- on sale now for only $79. Click here to order the Healthy Life Summit Download Package to listen anytime, anywhere -- on your computer, mobile device, or tablet. Hurry -- the price goes up to $199 when the Summit ends on March 31.

Healthy Life Summit Day One

The Healthy Life summit is a 7-day online virtual conference streaming for free from March 24-30, 2013.   Today is day one of the Healthy Life Summit.

Healthy Eating THE 21-DAY SUGAR DETOX Diane Sanfilippo, author of NY Times bestseller, Practical Paleo 32% of Americans are obese. In 1890, the obesity rate was 3.4% & we ate 90 pounds of sugar per year. Today, over 50% of Americans consume over 1/2 pound of sugar per DAY. Learn how to ditch your sugar cravings in just 3 weeks! Click here to listen! Healthy Body SKINTERVENTION Liz Wolfe of Cave Girl Eats Learn what to eat for beautiful skin and hair. Liz teaches you how to ditch your soap and shampoo, hair dyes, and other toxic personal care products. She reveals her natural beauty secrets and explains why you should sleep naked. Click here to listen! Healthy Babies & Kids WHY PRE-CONCEPTION & PREGNANCY DIETS MATTER Kristen Michaelis of Food Renegade Learn how low-fat diets cause infertility, how proper nutrition can eliminate morning sickness, varicose veins & stretch marks, & what to eat to prevent ear infections, allergies and autism. Click here to listen! Healthy Living CHRONO-DISTRUPTION: THE DARK SIDE OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT Chris Kresser, L.AC Are you "chrono-disrupted?" Chris Kresser shares his research about how lack of sleep causes cancer, heart disease, diabetes & obesity. Learn how artificial light diminishes melatonin & discover practical yet surprising tips on how to get a better night's sleep. Click here to listen! Healthy World FOLKS, THIS AIN'T NORMAL! Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms Joel discusses the industrial agriculture system and how far removed we are from the simple, sustainable joy that comes from living close to the land and the people we love. Joel explains why kids need chores, how backyard chickens and edible landscapes are the future, and discusses the folly of the synthetic-fertilizer-fueled Green Revolution. Click here to listen!

Healthy Life Summit

 The Healthy Life Summit is a 7-day online virtual conference streaming for free from March 24-30, 2013.

There are 5 tracks: Healthy Eating, Healthy Body, Healthy Babies & 

Kids, Healthy Living, & Healthy World.

IMPORTANT DATES
March 10-23: Pre-Order Healthy Life Summit Package for $49 (PreLaunch Promotion) 
March 24-30: Free Live Streaming of Healthy Life Summit; Download 
Package is $79 
March 31: Download Package Price Goes Up to $199 (Post-Launch)

HEALTHY LIFE SUMMIT LOGISTICS

On each day during the Summit, 5 presentations (1 from each track) will be posted on the Healthy Life Summit website. These presentations will be available for FREE, streaming for 24 hours (from 

midnight to midnight Pacific Time). At the end of the 24-hour free viewing period, that day’s interviews will 

be taken down from our site and will be replaced by the next day’s interviews.

To register for the summit, all one has to do is sign up on the Healthy Life Summit website. Upon registering, the registrant will receive an email with all of the information that  needed in order to participate in the summit.

 Throughout the summit, you will receive daily emails with instructions on how to listen to the interviews.

Once an interview is removed from our site, it will only be available for purchase as part of the Healthy Life Summit Package.

THE HEALTHY LIFE SUMMIT DOWNLOAD PACKAGE

This downloadable package includes recordings of the entire 7 day 

online conference (35 interviews) and will be available in two formats:

● 35 Audio Recordings 

● 35 Video Slideshows 

Regular Price: $199

Price the Week of the Summit (March 24-30): $79 Pre-Order 

Price (through March 23): $49