The Suburban Jungle

Get-Fit Guy's Guide to Achieving Your Ideal Body Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:34:00 +0000

Just because your best friend can eat anything she wants and still stay thin, doesn't mean the same rules apply to you. Yes, this is unfair, but it's life. We all have different body types and that means we respond differently to diet and fitness approaches.

The Get-Fit Guy's Guide to Achieving Your Ideal Body addresses those diet and fitness needs for every body type. I had a chance to read it and I think it would be helpful to most people that are struggling to find a diet and exercise plan that works for them.

These are the things I like about the book:

This book is quick and easy to read. It is from "Quick and Dirty Tips" after all.
The test is easy to follow to determine your body type.
The information seems accurate and easy to implement.
It covers information for both men and women, separating the two appropriately.

These are the things I think need improvement:

You may not find your "exact" body type and that might be frustrating.
While the book gives you plenty of information on "how" to change your body, it may not motivate you to change.

All-in-all, it's a great book with good advice. I would recommend it and you could finish the sections pertinent to you in less than an hour.

*I received a complimentary book for review purposes. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Can You Make Your Own Bone Meal for Fertilizer

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:28:00 +0000

As an organic gardener (and a huge proponent of eliminating waste) I am always looking for ways to use things completely.

In the garden, I use Fish Fertilizer almost exclusively, but have also used bone and feather meals. Since I make a lot of homemade chicken broth, I have often wondered if I could use the leftover bones to make homemade bone meal.

I've read about it and most people recommend burning the bones in a fire, then using the ash in your garden. Hmmmm.... I thought about it, but it would eventually mix with wood ashes that may be detrimental to my ever so picky blueberry plants.

So I decided to try it a different way. I made the chicken broth as usual, then gathered the remaining (and very crumbly) bones into a ziploc bag and smashed them with my hands. It was super easy. Like smashing graham crackers.

Bones Right after being boiled for broth

Close up of crumbly bones

Completely smashed bones (red color is bone marrow)

I smashed them all up then let them dry on the counter (you could do this in the oven or dehydrator) until it was dry and pebbly.

It's a little scary, but I'm betting it will be a great source of organic material. I'll keep you posted if it works out well. Or if it attracts vermin. Or if it becomes a regular thing....

Dieting with HCG drops

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:24:00 +0000

Last year, I attended a party where the host had recently lost a ton of weight. Everyone commented and she finally said, "I had been watching my friends lose all sorts of weight losing hcg drops and I finally decided to do it."

Now taking anything to lose weight isn't something you should head into lightly, but if you do decide to use hcg drops, read up on it. My HCGSource is a site that sells, discusses, and blogs about losing weight with hcg. They even have coupons, frequently asked questions, and a way to contact them if you have questions.

Read up before you put something into your body and find out what's best for you.

Taking Care of Your Oral Health

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:40:00 +0000

Last winter, we were without health insurance for a few months. It was a scary time because of all the "what ifs" but somehow we made it through. The worst part was not having dental insurance.

We delayed check-ups, but I was so glad when we could go back to regular visits. Your mouth is the doorway to your overall health and keeping up with dental visits (along with flossing, brushing, and making healthy food/fitness choices) are a huge part of keeping your teeth healthy.

When Life Gives you Asparagus....

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:06:00 +0000

2012 First Asparagus Shoots Coming up in the Garden

When I was young, we would regularly explore the abandoned railroad that used to run through our town. We'd pick blackberries, dodge badgers, roll in the poison ivy (I never said it was all good!) and pick asparagus.

For some reason asparagus grew like wild in the ditches around the railroad tracks. But we didn't look at it as a weed, we ate it. Lots of it. It was awesome!

Eventually, my parents started growing it and we always had enough. I love asparagus. Let me say that over. I LOVE asparagus.

My parents had a hard time getting their asparagus started and always told stories of how tough it was to grow. So I never tried to grow it. But I looked for it everywhere. Finally, I found wild asparagus growing in a field behind our house. Wahoo!

One day later, we moved. But since I had seen it again, there was no stopping me. I had to grow it. My husband said NO. One year later, I saw asparagus crowns on clearance at the garden store. I couldn't help it.

I sneaked it home and popped it in the ground. I couldn't wait to slowly cover it inch-by-inch, and I buried it in the ground. I didn't want him to find it and make me take it out. This is childish, I know. I'm a grown woman and I can grow asparagus if I want to, right?

Well, I did grow asparagus. It came up and got huge. I diligently let it be so it could feed the roots below. Then I anxiously waited for the next spring so I could pick and eat it!

That year, we decided to improve the garden. This was an overall good thing, but I lost a lot in the remodel. A few of my blueberry bushes were severely damaged. The raspberries had to be started anew. And the asparagus.... It was dug into, trampled over, and ultimately buried under mountains of clay.

Oh the sadness.

Another season goes by, and I check the stores for asparagus as soon as the sun shows it's face in March. I check every week. Bingo! I find asparagus and I plant it while it's still cold outside. I dig three "graves" in my garden areas. I carefully cover the plants inch-by-inch as the start to grow.

One grave never grows. But the other two start growing steadily. Then surprise! Right in the walkway of my garden, I spot 4 big fat asparagus spears. I drop to the ground and get my face as close as possible. Yes, these are asparagus! From my original patch!

But growing in the walkway will not do. They'll be trampled for sure. Like a protective mother bear, I start digging in the ground with my bare hands. I did deeper and deeper and deeper. And I can not find the roots. Eventually, the spears break away and there are no roots or crowns to be found. Wow, they really got buried under that clay. But they made it!

I have no idea if they will make it again, but I am hopeful. Next time, I will just let them grow in the path, and walk around them. Then I'll eat them. And all my other spears that will hopefully return next year.

Next year just might be an asparagus bonanza! It's been a long 5 years and I will be so happy to have more asparagus than I can eat. If that's even possible....

Hello Oregano!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:08:00 +0000

There are two truths to gardening. One - you will never have enough space. Two - anything can happen. Since I always feel like I need more places to garden, I added an indoor herb garden. Well; herbs, aloe, and some miscellaneous house plants.

I planted the herb garden with basil, oregano, thyme, parsley, and catnip. It's an odd sampling, but they are all plants I use on a regular basis and they're beautiful in their own way.

Every week or so, I use up all the basil. And I routinely have to remove the catnip. Kitty is happy about this. My thyme, parsley, and oregano is us much more sporadic. In fact I haven't used the oregano at all. So I decided to make a something where oregano could shine.

Before I could use it, I noticed the plants were forming flowers. Hmmm.... The flowers were looking mighty familiar and not at all like oregano.

They opened a day or two later, and they were not oregano at all! They were petunias! (See above photo!) I'm letting them grow because they're pretty, but I'm disappointed that the seeds labeled "oregano" were, in fact, not oregano.

And you can tell by the big bald spot in back, that I pulled out the catnip. It was taking over the whole show. I planted more basil.

Then I planted more basil and cilantro in the porch and went out to check on my "real garden" as well as my forest gardens. It's never enough.

Lucky for me, my neighbors are getting more into gardening. I'm helping a few neighbors start their first gardens this year. So - "my gardens" are spreading - at least in my work and influence.

But I'll take it. Hey, I'm the kind of girl that runs around and randomly prunes my neighbor's shrubs and perennials. I can't help it. I just like to grow things. Now if I could only grow money....

Methods to Enhance Male Health

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:06:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Vianda for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As a woman, I rarely think about male health. That's not because I try to be insensitve, it's just not high on my radar. But just as women experience changes as they age, so do men.

And a lot of men need help enhancing their sexual functions. It's something that eventually needs addressing and both men and women are happy that solutions exist.

Enzyte has been available for male enhancement since 2001. It's the original supplement for natural male enhancement and millions of men have used it.

Now, there’s Enzyte 24/7, an advanced formula capsule for peak performance. Enzyte 24/7 is a premium blend of natural herbs and extracts that is taken just once a day with results that intensify over time, giving you confidence to perform when the moment arises.*

Enzyte 24/7 not only supports erectile function and promotes critical blood flow, it also guards against nutritient deficients that may impact volume and potency.

Check out one of their commercials.

Do you remember their old commercials. Do you remember Smiling Bob?

Like Enzyte on Facebook and get interesting facts and information, plus access to the best prices. You can even sign up to receive a $10 coupon of an Enzyte purchase.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Enzyte products should be taken as part of a healthy lifestyle and individual results may vary.

Bettering your Skin with Plant Stem Cells - #EclosBeauty Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:58:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of éclos Skin Care for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Stem cells are absolutely fascinating, but did you know that there are products available using plant stem cells that may minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and tired skin?

They used to only be available in specialty brands at department stores, but now éclos Skin Care is bringing this Stem Cell technology to mainstream stores (I recently saw it at Walgreens.)

éclos features Apple Stem Cells extracted from a rare Swiss apple which have shown tremendous ability to stimulate skin stem cells and encourage your skin to act younger. It contains extracts, vitamins and anti-oxidants that combine with the Apple Stem Cell technology to help minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and tired skin.

I was sent a sample kit of éclos beauty and had the chance to use it for the last 2 weeks. The sample kits contains small sizes of the complete product line: Facial Cleaner Skin Prep, Cellular Activator Face Serum, Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream, Restorative Eye Cream, Instant Radiance Facial Scrub, Skin Renewal Clay Mask, and an éclos Terry Cloth Head Band.

My favorite product was the Cellular Activator Face Serum. It was so light and thin. It completely dissolved in my skin and, presumably, went to work. The eye cream and regenerative cream were also very wonderful.

I used all of the products, exactly as specified and really hoped that I would be wrinkle-free by the time the bottles ran out. Unfortunately, they ran out before I was free from wrinkles, but not before I was free from dull (and acne laden) skin.

My complexion has really improved since using the products, both in skin tone and in breakouts. I'm happy with the products and am going to use the coupon that came in the sample pack to buy another set of products. Check out these before and after shots.

It's hard to see the impact, but I can feel/see it when I look in the mirror. Here is my after:

My only issue with the éclos products was the scent. It's not horrible or super strong, but for some reason it reminds me of baby products. I must have used something on my children at some point with a similar scent, so when I use it I always think of changing diapers and babies in general.

But I'm up for the challenge of using éclos as my main products to see if I can get further improvement in the wrinkle department. I love the idea of using Plant stem cells and it's neat that they come from apples. An apple a day, right?

How would you like to try out the éclosAnti-Aging Skin Care Starter Kit? One lucky Suburban Jungle reader will get the chance to try the éclos sample kit themselves. To enter: leave a comment on this post stating which product in the kit you are most excited to try.

I will select randomly select a winner and notify them by email. This contest is open to US residents 18 and older.

Enter to win a 7 day cruise for 4 from Norwegian Cruise Line

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:23:00 +0000

Summer means fun, and what's more fun than taking your family on a cruise to the Caribbean or Bermuda? We went on a cruise a few years ago, and it was tons of fun. But in all honesty, cruises are met for families. There are so many great activities for kids and adults, and the worry-free atmosphere just makes it that much more enjoyable.

Right now Norwegian Cruise Line and The Children's Place are joining together to bring you The Children's Place "A Place in the Sun" Sweepstakes. You can enter to win a 7 day cruise for four to either the Caribbean or Bermuda (your choice!) This prize includes roundtrip air transportation, cruise ship accommodations for seven days and six nights in a Balcony stateroom, and an all-inclusive meal plan for four!

Can you say awesome? Having been on a cruise myself, I can tell you how important an Balcony stateroom is! Especially if you're bringing your kids. And you will not be disappointed with the amount of entertainment available. Norwegian Cruise Lines recently redesigned their kids programs, Splash Academy and Entourage (for teens) and it's all included in your ticket price.

Just thinking about it got me in the Cruise spirit, and I headed out to The Children's Place where I found this super cute outfit for my daughter.

I love how versatile this outfit is! She can wear this light cotton skirt with anything. The little halter tank top is so adorable! And the jacket can be worn on chilly nights up on deck...and even to school next fall.

I would love to take her to the Caribbean in this cute outfit! Wouldn't you love to pick out a great outfit for your little one and take a chance at winning a Cruise?

Well, enter The Children's Place "A Place in the Sun" Sweepstakes for your chance to win the cruise, and leave a comment here telling me something about how you shop at The Children's Place to be entered to win a Norwegian Cruise Line Prize Pack (which includes a mug and beach bag) from MomSelect and Norwegian Cruise Line.

The winner will be selected on May 31st and notified by email. This contest is open to US residents 18 and older.

**I received free products as part of a promotional program from MomSelect and Norwegian Cruise Line. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Organic Gardening with Fish Rich Fertilizer - Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:24:00 +0000

Last year, I used Fish Rich fertilizer in my garden for the first time. You can read all about the origin of my Fish Rich experience here. I have been gardening for a long time, and I have to tell you that using Fish Rich has changed the productivity of my garden tremendously!

It's almost night and day. Actually, I'm embarrassed by how poorly my garden performed in the past. If you want to see proof - check out the post I wrote last fall titled "Berries + Fish = Wow!!" Yes, that's a lame title, but it pretty much explains it all! I have never had so many berries.

And it didn't stop with last year. My black raspberries went wild! They multiplied like crazy and are full of flower buds. They basically sat there and did nothing for 4 years straight, now they are all over.

My blueberry bushes sent up new branches for the first time in 4 years, my tomatoes were the only ones in the entire neighborhood that didn't get blight, and I was almost successful at growing corn.

It was a banner year in my garden, and the only thing I had changed was using Fish Rich fertilizer. This year - it's on! I didn't waste any time. I started feeding my plants Fish Rich organic fertilizer as soon as the buds started to break.

Look at what my raspberries looked like in July 2011 (one month after starting with Fish Rich)

And look at what they looked like a month ago (April 2012.) If you can imagine, they are even taller and more robust already after just a few more weeks of growth. This picture is at a different angle, but the plants are already over 4 ft tall and loaded with flowers.

Bear with me on the dates not matching up perfectly. I only take sporadic gardening pictures. My hands are usually dirty when I'm out there.

So I mentioned that this year, I was going to be using Fish Rich fertilizers extensively, and I mean it. And since last year, Fish Rich has made some big improvements.

The product I used in my garden is OMRI Listed and allowed for use in organic crop production under USDA National Organic Program rules. That's Fish Rich 2-2-2 (Organic.)

And there is a new product - Fish Rich+ 6-3-3 with extra nitrogen and potassium. It's still a natural fish based fertilizer, but with a little more oomph to give plants additional nutrition.

You can find both of the products here if you'd like to purchase them. All of the Fish Rich products are made from toxin- and mercury-free fish.

I'm going to use the Fish Rich+ product for my tomatoes since they are such heavy feeders and save the organic 2-2-2 fertilizer for my berry plants. I'm so excited to have additional Fish Rich options and can't wait to see what comes out of our garden this year!

Oh, and in case you are wondering - the products do not smell bad at all. Maybe you'd notice or be grossed out if you stuck your nose IN the container, but the fish smell is very slight (like a fish oil capsule) and is gone as soon as you add it to your plants.

My garden is out in the open and I talk to at least 2 or 3 people about it every single day. They all want to know what I use and how I get my plants to look so A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I am proud to tell them that I garden organically, to show how I compost, mulch, and use natural fertilizers. I've even been fertilizing when people have walked by and have let people smell the Fish Rich fertilizer. They are always shocked at how easy it is to use and how great the results are.

I'll update this blog with our gardening results as they unfold. I am hoping for a bumper crop of tomatoes this year and will let you know how they fair with Fish Rich +.

*I received complimentary fertilizer samples for review purposes. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

PopPhysique Exercise DVD Review

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:36:00 +0000

Who says you can't get a good workout at home? Not me! I've been working out at home, on my own, for the last 4 years (6 years if you count my wobbly start to fitness) and I'm here to tell you that it can be done.

I've worked out with all sorts of equipment, DVDs, and body weight routines, but since I haven't set foot in a gym in more than a decade, I hadn't heard of Pop Physique.

Pop Physique is a studio workout designed to get your butt in gear - termed "butt school" - and it's highly sought after. Of course, not all of us can get to the studio, so it's now available in DVD format - newly launched by Watch it Now Entertainment (WIN.)

I read a little about the classes before I got started with the videos and was pretty sure I was in for a "ballet inspired" workout. So I did what any ex-ballet gal would do and dug out all my old leotards and skirts from college. Yes, I saved a few. And I put one on, then popped in the tape.

Bad idea. First of all, I'm going to recommend that no one workout in a leotard in a room with mirrors on all walls. It's really demoralizing. Plus, Pop Physique is not really like a ballet class.

It's a really tough workout! I thought I'd work through the tapes as an active recovery following some heavy weight training. No!

If you watch the workout as an "observer," you might think it looks pretty simple, but guess what - body weight exercises can be really tough (even tougher if you're watching yourself in a leotard... just saying!)

If you are looking for a tough workout to give you the same hardcore toning you would get in the studio, then I think you'll like these workouts. Heck, you can even buy the whole set for under $30 on Amazon which is less than the cost of a class at most studios.

You might actually prefer the videos to actual classes and end up saving a ton of money by workout out at home. Either way, give them a try - just wear appropriate gym clothes (no leotards!)

*I received a complimentary set of DVDs for review purposes. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Pack BloodSTOP in your to-go bags

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:41:00 +0000

It's summer, and every mom knows what that means - cuts, scrapes, bruises, breaks. I recently had the opportunity to review a great new product (newly available at area drug stores) that stops bleeding in 60 seconds.

BloodSTOP is FDA approved and until recently, was reserved for hospitals and Operation rooms. I had never heard of it before, but it sounded like a great idea for cuts and scrapes.

I have ran to the hospital more than once to have doctors sew up gaping wounds on my children's faces, legs, arms.... I even cut my own thumb down to the bone. At that time, I tried to super glue my skin closed (something I once saw a physician do to a scalp that had been torn open) but there was too much blood. BloodSTOP would have been an excellent alternative and would have made getting to the hospital a whole lot easier, and way less messy.

In fact, I may not have even needed to go. It's that good!

So I patiently waited for an opportunity to give BloodSTOP a try. After only a few days, my daughter came running into the house with a bloody ear. I quickly checked it out, cut a piece of BloodSTOP to the right size, and stuck it on the wound.

The product feels and looks just like gauze, but somehow it sticks to the wound and stops the bleeding. According to the packaging, as soon as it comes in contact with blood, it transforms into a gel that promotes clotting and controls the bleeding.

Then it washes off with water when you're ready to remove it - no sticky bandages or tapes.

My daughter's wound was small, but the bleeding did stop pretty much immediately and after she took a shower that night, the fabric was no where to be seen. The wound healed and she forgot all about it.

I really, really liked this product. In fact, I took the bandages out of my purse and hiking bag and replaced them with BloodSTOP. Now, if someone falls while we're out biking, gets nicked by a branch, or gets cut in any other way, I'll use BloodSTOP to stop the bleeding.

I'll even use it if we are in a "needs stitches" situation. I love having this type of product on hand. It's something that belongs in every emergency kit.

*I received a sample box of BloodSTOP for review purposes. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Gardeners - Protect Yourself from the Sun!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:41:00 +0000

Gardening is great for your health - mentally and physically. But it's not without it's risks. Common sense dictates that you wash your hands after working in the garden, but are you remembering to protect yourself from the sun?

I tend to visit my garden at least once a day, and sometimes I don't plan for how long I'll be out there. I think I'll just peek in the garden, and 40 minutes later, I'm still fussing around the plants. So I recommend that every time you think you're going to "visit" the garden, you at least wear a sun hat.

I recently had the opportunity to try out the Women's Crusher Hat and Long Sleeve Action Shirt from Duluth Trading Company and they are amazing! The hat is my favorite. Not only does it have built in UPF 50+ Protection, but it's comfortable and it stays on! I usually wear a floppy beach hat into the garden, and it has blown off more times than I care to remember.

Something about the hat really makes me want to take it on vacation. Or hiking. Or fishing. Someday I will, but for now, it's following me into the garden. This hat has mesh sides for ventilation and is completely crushable. A bonus for vacation packing!!

I have a harder time wearing long sleeves in the summer, but it's a great reminder of how important it really is to protect your skin when you're outside.

Duluth Trading Company has a wide assortment of sun protection garments as well as a whole collection of men's and women's outdoor gear. Best of all, they use real people in their advertising. Real women (not models) are wearing their clothes in their ads and videos.

Check out this video for May's Melanoma Prevention month campaign:

Enjoy your gardens this summer, and remember to keep it a safe activity. Check out all the outdoor clothing at Duluth Trading Co here.

*I received complimentary clothing samples for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

Treat your Anxiety - online sources

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:16:00 +0000

Do you suffer from anxiety? Are you taking Ativan? If so, did you know that you can buy ativan online? On this site, you can not only find information about buying ativan online, but you can find dosage, risks, and benefits information.

Seek out as much information as you can before you decide to use a medication or buy something online. There are plenty of high quality resources available to point you in the right direction.

May is National Melanoma Awareness Month.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:07:00 +0000

May is National Melanoma Awareness Month - so consider sun safety as you're out gardening, working the yard, or just having fun.

Cardio Core 4x4 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:59:00 +0000

Are you looking for the next hit Celebrity workout? Even though Jay Cardiello does train celebrities (including rapper 50 Cent,) he's the first one to tell you to skip the fads and stick with what works.

In the book, Cardio Core 4x4, Jay gives you an all around approach to a healthier lifestyle. As a whole, I really like the book. It's an easy, quick read and all of the advice is solid and easy to follow. I especially like the emphasis on prehab - preventing injury and keeping your body healthy and strong.

The book briefly covers nutrition, mindset, lifestyle, and overall health tips.

Then there's the meat of the book - the workout plan. At first, I didn't see how I could ever do the workout. I'm not making excuses; it's just that I was convinced I'd have to rip the pages out and lay them on the floor in order to the exercises, and I refuse to rip books!

The workout is set up so you can do it anywhere (literally!) and you only need your own body. Every move comes with pictures and instructions. You just do the moves in order and you're done.

After reading through the whole book, I was going to recommend that the author include a pull out poster or cards that could be used to go through the workout. But then I did the workout.

I opened the page, did the moves, then flipped the page. Easy enough. Why did I think it was going to be so difficult? Maybe it's because I NEVER bring a book into the gym? I don't know, but either way, I didn't have to rip out any pages. I just did the workout. Easy as pie...sort of.

This is not a super difficult workout, but it is challenging. I did the workout with 20 reps for each move. At the end, I was a little sweaty, but not really.

I felt like I do after a yoga or pilates workout -good, balanced, warm. All of the moves were helpful for strength, balance, and flexibility. I especially appreciate the focus on balance moves. I started incorporating similar moves into my routine a year or so ago, and they make all the difference. Next time I follow the Cardio Core 4x4 plan, I'll probably add some weights.

But I will keep doing the plan - for at least the next few weeks (a change is always good) and whenever I'm traveling. This is a PERFECT routine for the days when you are stuck in a hotel or visiting relatives. But since I travel light, I'll probably end up ripping the pages out for travel. Sorry...

Now, what every girl wants to know - will you lose weight with this plan? Oy! Here's my honest opinion. If you are sedentary and you adopt the lifestyle and stick to the workout in this book, you will probably lose weight. You'll also feel better. There's no better time to start than right now!

If you are moderately active and eat clean, you may or may not lose weight, but you WILL improve your athletic performance, balance, and overall strength.

If you are super active, you will also improve your balance and strength, but probably won't lose any weight. You probably don't have any weight to lose. Instead, you'll find a few moves you haven't tried that you can mix into your regular circuits. You'll also end up with an excellent travel workout. And maybe, you'll learn a few things about preventing injury so you can keep living a super active lifestyle.

*I received a complimentary copy of Cardio Core 4x4 for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and no compensation was received.

Let the Good Times Roll....

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:32:00 +0000

This year, I had a fantastic Mother's day. I broke out my inline skates for the second time in 8 years and we went for a family ride. My kids are both finally old enough to ride bike for miles, so my husband and I can skate. Woo!

Then I skated again today! The weather is so beautiful, there's no excuse to drive and pick her up from school. On the way there, a neighbor came out of her house to talk to me. She said, "Are you going out for some skating?"

Then she saw the scooter and helmet strapped to my back as I told her I was going to pick up my daughter from school. "You are just so active. It's so motivating."

That was really nice. She went on to say that when her youngest is finally old enough, she hopes to be as active as I am. I just wanted to go out and have some fun, and in the process I inspired her to be more active (and to be hopeful for a more active future.)

And of course, the other pick-up moms noticed as well. They had seen me walk/ride in the winter, but never on skates. They all marveled at the idea that we could walk/ride/skate to school. Maybe a few of them will be on bikes or scooters tomorrow?

Make your child's jeans into a skirt!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:18:00 +0000

When your little girl wears out the knees on her jeans or outgrows them altogether, don't throw them out! You could repurpose them into shorts or a super cute skirt.

My kids have little waists (so skinny they could still wear baby clothes if it weren't for the length!) so their jeans have the potential to last a long time.

When my kids get holes in their jeans, I've mended and patched them, but I prefer to chop off the legs and turn them into (FREE) shorts or skirts.

My daughter had a ton of jean shorts (some with cute ribbons or lace sewn into the hemline) so I took the last two pair she outgrew and turned them into skirts.

It's really simple to do.

This is her favorite skirt. It's made from the legs of her other jeans:

This one is made from jeans and the bottom of a top I no longer liked.

So before you toss it out, think about what you can do to reuse it. You just might be surprised.

Make your own Homemade Dog Food

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:47:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of homemadedogfood.com for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever wanted to make your own dog food? I wish I would have made Homemade dog food when we had a dog. Instead, I bought the most expensive discount store brand and she suffered with allergies her whole life. The vet recommended another high priced, corn based diet, and the allergies continued.

It doesn't have to be that way. I've learned a lot since then and even make raw food for my cat on occassion. Of course, cats are different from dogs. Dogs may be easier to feed. But both of them deserve excellent (more natural) nurition. And contrary to popular belief, that doesn't mean it has to be expensive.

Feeding your pets the right types of food can save you money (dog and cat foods at the store aren't all that cheap) and can save you and your pet a lot of heartache because your pet will be in much better health. And it can even be fun.

You can find information (lots of great FAQs and advice) plus a video for an Easy cooked dog food recipe at homemadedogfood.com. It's a great video (it looks so easy to follow). Plus I love the advice on this site - so honest and to the point. It doesn't have to be tough, and this site makes it easy.

Get great beauty advice and a chance to win a trip for FOUR to Las Vegas

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:53:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bloom.com for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Finding the right beauty products is a full time job, and one that most ladies never quite master. Which products really work? What are your friends using? What are the celebrities using? What do people really think about it? It's all baffling. But maybe that's all about to change?

Bloom.com is a site dedicated to helping you find the right beauty products for you! Bloom is a social beauty network where you and read and find unbiased feedback on products and find out what is trending in the beauty world.

It's free to join and Bloom has 10,000 items from over 150+ top brands to offer as your BeautyMatches.

Plus purchases come with free gifts! You can get 10% back in Bloom Dollars with your purchase (30% back on your first order!) If your friends join and make purchases, you can earn credits to your account ($25 per friend, no limit!)

Right now, Bloom has a really great sweepstakes going on where you could Win a spa vacation for 4 girlfriends! All expenses paid for you and your girlfriends at the luxury 5 star Aria hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. All you have to do is join bloom (it's free to join) to enter.

And for every friend who joins you, you get an extra spa weekend entry! For every friend who joins and makes a purchase, you get a $25 credit to your account (no limit!) If you have a lot of friends, this could mean a lot of free beauty products. And who doesn't love free beauty products?

I just joined and it's super simple. Now I just need to spend some time going through every beauty category (sort of like starting from scratch!) and decide what will really work for my skin. Plus, I'd love to win the trip to Las Vegas. My sisters and I would have a great time.

Organizing the Garden Chaos

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:01:00 +0000

In 2011, I had an organized garden for the first time. I had planned in advance where things would go, I had adequate walkways, I felt good about what I had accomplished. But as I was planting this year's garden, I looked back at old photos and realized I was wrong!

Take a look at the rat hole I created:

What a gross spectacle. I should never have crowded my blueberries with nitrogen stealing plants. And knowing what I do now about lettuce bolting and 1 itty bitty seed becoming a whole head of lettuce, I am planting things much more judiciously. My other beds were crowded but still underutilized.

So...hopefully learning from the past, I am attempting a clean, mess-free garden this year - while still trying to pack in as many vegetables as possible, of course.

Here is what my garden looked like yesterday.

Everything has been planted. Early!!!!!!!!! But I have plans in case the frost decides to return....

Things always look sparse in the beginning but everything is growing and will soon be quite green. This year I planned everything with a ruler and pencil. Then I measured while I planted. Novel idea, right?

This garden contains tomatoes (black krim, brandwine, roma, sweet 100 cherry, better boy, and big boy), radishes, beets, swiss chard (white/green and rainbow), spinach, 2 types of leaf lettuce, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, snap peas, zucchini, buttercup squash, cucumbers, zucchini, leeks, blueberries (chippewa, northland, northsky and northblue), asparagus, marigolds, and basil! Yes, it's going to get a lot greener, bushier, and messier(!#@!) than this.

Chives, cilantro, more basil, thyme, oregano, strawberries, more asparagus, more raspberries (including summer red latham, black, purple and fall gold) are all planted in other areas.

Check out how awesome the red heritage raspberries look!!!

In our garden, this should be a good year for red and black raspberries, another starter year on asparagus, golden and purple raspberries, a fantastic tomato year (crossing fingers), a low strawberry year, an average blueberry year, and hopefully a good year for all the other vegetables. You can't win 'em all.

Helping women with Arthritis

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:34:00 +0000

When you think about womens health, you most likely start to think of pregnancy, menopause, and growing older.

There are so many facets to a woman's health, that all of these issues are correct at one time or another.

As you go through life, from your teenage years to your eighties, it's important to eat healthy food, exercise regularly, and spend time doing things that you love.

Be sure to get some form of active exercise every day. In your teens, this will help build your bones. In your later years, it will help you preserve valuable muscle tissue.

As you age, you will likely encounter new issues. Search for arthritis information and other age-related issues online or through your doctor. There is a wealth of information available.

Increase your Black Raspberry Yield

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Seeing lots of green always gets gardeners excited. Myself included! But if you want more berries, sometimes more green isn't what you're after.

If you want to improve the yield of your black raspberry plants, then there's 3 simple things you can do to ensure you get more berries.

Head out to the garden in early spring (before the leaf buds break open) and pull your raspberry canes up to see how tall they are. Cut the tops off so that the plants are about 3 feet high. If you are between 5'2" and 5'4" that's about chest high. This will encourage lateral growth and more berries. If your laterals (side shoots, horizontal growing branches) get longer than 2 feet, trim them back.)
Fertilize them with a good quality fish emulsion or product formulated for tomatoes (to encourage more flowers: more flowers equal more berries) in the spring once the leaves start popping out.
Cut out and remove the old canes at the end of summer. This keeps everything clean and air circulating; preventing disease.

Then stick around in mid summer (around the 4th of July for zone 4) and enjoy all your tasty berries.

Slimmer - The New Mediterranean Way to Lose Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Sun, 06 May 2012 22:26:00 +0000

When we think of French or Italian people, we mostly think of gregarious, healthy people. People that eat fresh food and walk everywhere. I love that image. But according to Harry Papas, that's they way the Mediterranean used to be.

Big processed food companies have made big profits in the US and overseas, so now the world of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other lifestyle diseases are a global phenomena.

Harry wrote Slimmer - The new Mediterranean way to lose weight for the people in his home country of Greece. It became a bestseller. Now it's available in the US.

I had a chance to review an advanced copy. Having read a ton of health/fitness books, I have pretty much heard it all, but I'm always looking for something new.

Slimmer starts out with an overview of the clinical data surrounding the Mediterranean lifestyle and which characteristics are most important for health. I agree with all aspects of this part of the book and found the emphasis on the "slower" lifestyle, noticing the small things and enjoying your time on this Earth as the most important aspects of this book.

It's something that isn't discussed much in health/fitness books, but is ultimately as important as eating right and exercising.

The rest of the book is divided into a menu plan and a recipe section. The menu plan is easy enough to follow, but I would say it's the least important part of the book (at least for me.)

Where this book shines is as a cookbook. The recipe section is fantastic. The meals are made from whole foods, are SUPER easy to make, and include almost every type of dinner recipe imaginable (using Mediterranean ingredients of course.)

The recipes will probably remind you of things your mom or grandma used to make. Good, hearty meals full of lean protein and vegetables. Soups, casseroles, roasted meats. Yummy stuff that is surprisingly easy to make.

I only wish there were pictures of at least some of the recipes. The cover is beautiful, and I can only imagine how fantastic all of the different tomato and basil pictures would come out.

All-in-all, it's a good book about improving your health and lifestyle with tips that are easy to follow.

*I received a complimentary book for review purposes. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Sprouting Your Own Seeds

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

It was inevitable that I would eventually begin sprouting. Not baking sprouted wheat products (yet...) but actually growing sprouts.

I really love sprouts in sandwiches, egg rolls, and Asian dishes. But I'm not a fan of the price or quality of sprouts at the store. It's kind of like buying "fresh" herbs at the market versus picking them out of your own window or garden. There is no comparison for freshness or convenience.

So I ordered a huge pack of sprouting seeds on Amazon. For $15 (with free shipping -woo!) I got what turns out to be enough seeds for my lifetime. No joke! You'll see in a minute how many sprouts just one tablespoon of seeds created in less than 3 days (and they are still growing!)

All you need are the seeds, water, and a mason jar. You can get fancy with the lid (and you might want to) but that's really all you need to create tasty, nutrient rich sprouts, without preservatives, chemicals, dirt, or anything else. The seeds come with easy to follow directions.

These are my alfalfa sprouts (1 Tablespoon of seeds) on day 3.

Here they are on a tasty tuna and spinach sandwich.

I'm going to polish these sprouts off, then I'll start growing broccoli sprouts. Then radish sprouts. Then Mung bean sprouts. Then fennel sprouts and..... You get the idea. I have 12 varieties of seeds and a lot of each one!

These seeds are great for fresh eating, but also as an emergency food supply. They take very little room, last forever, and provide protein, vitamins, and minerals without requiring refrigeration or any fancy prep work.

Wondering why you can't just use seed packets from the hardware store? Have you ever planted pink corn seeds? Many seeds at the store have been treated with pesticides, herbicides, and/or fertilizers to keep them fresh and free of bugs/vermin while they are at the store and to discourage birds and others creepy crawlies from snagging them once they hit the dirt. When you eat a sprout, you eat the seed. You want it to be as clean as possible. Happy sprouting!