Picnics Can Be Fun! Into my third week of Body Back!

I had a lovely day with my children at the park today but was worried about making the right choices for all of us while wanting to have a picnic! I knew this would be one of the last nice days we would have for a while, so I wanted to take advantage of it! My daughter reminded me that it would not be a picnic unless we brought a blanket and sat on the ground. I was just glad she was as excited about it as I was. So, with hesitation about actually being able to eat as I wondered if my 2 1/2 year old would sit long enough to let me get something down, we headed off.
Packed in my handy thermal tote were 2 turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread with hummous and lettuce (for myself and my 6 year old) , a peanut butter and jelly sandwich sandwich for my 2 1/2 year-old (natural peanut butter and real fruit spread), carrots, grapes, string cheese, and organic chocolate bear cookies. I of course just had my turkey sandwich and some carrots and was fine, and my children thouroughly enjoyed their healthy lunch on a beautiful fall day! So here I am into my third week of eating clean and on my way to getting my body back, I feel great that I can be a good role model for my children and help to form their ideas of what eating well is all about!

Good Food Tastes Good!

I have been working out 6 days a week, eating completely whole, real foods, now for almost 2 weeks. I truly can feel such a difference in the way I feel. Don't get me wrong, I still get tired, but my energy is up and the best part to me anyway is that I have realized that food tastes good! I know how strange that sounds, but maybe it's because I have not eaten any salty, sugary, processed foods and for some reason, that makes good food taste really good. I never have taken the time to cook or prepare good food for myself. For my family, and children, yes...but as far as taking the time to cut the veggies for a salad or sandwich or gather the 3-5 ingredients it takes to make a meal for myself, this is all new to me and I am loving it!! I am proving to myself that if I respect myself enough to make these changes, everything else will fall into place around me!

I want my Body Back!!

Well, I am not really sure I ever had it in the first place, but I am lucky enough to have just started this journey with Kim Strassman who is an amazing fitness guru and is on the Stroller Strides corporate team. The program is called Body Back and is an 8 week results driven program geared towards moms. I want to bring this program on along side my current Stroller Strides program but I think that it will be more successful if I go through the program first my self. So I started Monday, October 25th and I am on day 4. I am feeling good, and sore, which means I am working my body hard! I was working out 2-3 times a week. Well, I thought that was enough. Ha, Kim has me working out 6 days a week. I look forward to sharing my journey here with you!

The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect is an unforgettable story about how our world is an incredible life of permanent purpose. It's about how every move we make and every action we take, matters not just for us, but for all of us...for all time. When you know that everything matters, that every move counts as much as any other, you will begin living a life of permanent purpose. A life of permanent purpose will make you a better parent, a better spouse and a more valuable friend.

Luna Moms Club Weekly Tip

Eat Smart www.pureprevention.org/act_eatsmart.php
Studies have found potential links between pesticides and breast cancer risk. Pesticides and other synthetic chemicals are found in our food. Read labels, ask your grocer to stock organic produce and hormone-free meats and dairy products, and look for organic food at your local farmers’ market. Look for natural alternatives to chemical weed and bug killers and take preventative measures such as mulching for weeds and using traps, barriers, fabric row covers, or plant-based repellents to get rid of pests.

The pesticides of greatest concern for breast cancer are used in the agricultural setting. To take a step further, visit the Pesticide Action Network website (www.panna.org) to clean up the environment beyond your home.

Fact: Did you know LUNA bars are made with 70% organic and 100% entirely natural ingredients?

Luna Moms Club Weekly Tip

The average consumer wraps 20 gifts during the holidays. If just 3 of those gift were wrapped in reused paper or a paper alternative, the paper saved could cover 45,000 football fields!
Use decorative newspaper ads, colorful pages from magazines, old book pages, music sheets, old maps, calendars, or Sunday comics to wrap with.
Use children's drawings and paintings that you don't want to throw away for wrapping paper.
Cut wrapping paper or children's art to fit the top and bottom of a gift box and permanently attach it, so it may be reused.
Reuse old ribbons and wrapping paper (if wrinkled, press with a warm iron)
Use flowers, evergreen sprigs, rosemary, pinecones, yarn or reusable hair ribbons instead of plastic bows.
Use the fronts of old holiday cards as name tags for this year's gifts.
Create a scavenger hunt in your home by hiding unwrapped gifts and giving each of your family members clues to find them.

Luna Moms Club Weekly Tip

Give a unique gift that eliminates holiday clutter and makes a difference. Leave the wrapping paper on the shelf and give back in a philanthropic way. You can make a difference in your life, your family's life, in the life of your community and the world. Committing green towards charitable giving is a gift that truly gives back.

Consider: Healthy Child Healthy World, The Breast Cancer Fund, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Heifer International, The Nature Conservancy, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Sustainable Harvest International, UNICEF, Donors Choose