Ouch....waxing

OUCH! Is that what you think about waxing? Actually it isn’t that bad.  Today I went to Johannes’s school and got my eyebrows and arm pits waxed.  I get 50% off of services there so I figured I should give them a try.  I have done both eyebrows and armpits before so I knew what to expect and they did a great job. 

Here are some of the things I have learned about waxing.  I am not an aesthetician so make sure you ask lots of questions while making an appointment.

Before Waxing

-Take Tylenol or Advil 30-60 minutes before waxing.

-Make your appointment for a few days before an important event. This will allow time for any bumps or bruises to heal.

-Hair should be 1/4 inch long.  Ask when making an appointment for hair length every location is different. 4-6 weeks is normal

Waxing

-Hair will grow back slower and thinner than with shaving.  Over time, hair will grow finer, with less hair.

After waxing

-Do not wear deodorant for 24 hours

-Do not go swimming or use Hot Tub for 24 hours

-Do not touch the waxed area for 24 hours

I feel it is well worth the time and “pain” to get these services done. If you haven’t ever been waxed, give it a try.  Its not so bad!

Did you really think I would put a picture of my "hairy" armpits on here? Isn't he handsome!!!

Cardio Jump Rope Workout Video

                        
It's Friday! Ready for the weekend workout? Your challenge is to keep up with me and do the WHOLE workout!

Random acts of Fitness

 
Random acts of fitness are creative ways to fit exercise into your life every day.  It is also a chance to add some fun into your workouts so you don’t dread doing them.

Random acts of fitness will look different for each person.  For my husband, its chopping wood for our fireplace. For me, its taking a quick walk to clear my mind. For others it might be taking the stairs, parking in the furthest spot at store, or playing with your kids at the park. 

When you enjoy exercise, you are more likely to succeed in improving your health.  Exercise is fun! Don’t dread it.  Find something that you enjoy doing and turn it into some kind of exercise. Be creative and you can make activities that you already do into ways to improve your health.

Family Meals

Growing up eating together as a family was very important.  I remember my parents waiting patiently for my sister and I to get home from basketball practice so we could all eat together.  
 

It was a great time to talk with each other and—more importantly—listen to each other.  We may talk about our day or even learn something from a situation that came up. It was also a fun time to hear stories from their childhoods.  For my sister and I, it was always our goal to make our Mom cry because she was laughing so hard from telling a silly story.

 My Mom is a wonderful cook and she took the time to prepare nutritious meals for us to enjoy. I learned that it was important to eat your veggies.  I am not picky about vegetables so she did a good job! My Dad loved to bake bread, so he taught us about grains.  Fresh baked bread is still one of my favorites.

I think the most important part of eating together as a family is the sense of belonging.  The feeling of unity as a group of people that belong together for a specific purpose. I knew that no matter what happened at school I had a family that loved me no matter what. 

Phil and I have made meal time an important part of our day.  We talk about what is going on but mostly Phil makes us laugh.  I try to make a nutritious meal. And at the end of dinner we have a short Bible Study. It is so nice to slow down and just sit and talk and enjoy our time together as a family.

MuffinsvsMuffintop Cleaning Service

MuffinsvsMuffintop Cleaning Service.....

We bought our dream home about a year ago. It’s a big house and I needed a way to spread out the cleaning so I could make sure I got it all done each week.  I came up with this list.  Each day I do what is listed for that day. 

It works because its not a long list each day.  I don't need to hire someone to clean because its actually doable. 

Make a list of everything that needs to be cleaned in your house. If you break it up into daily lists its much easier to get done than trying to do it all in one day.

Date night questions

 

Do you want to grow in your relationship with your boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse?  Here are some questions to ask each other.  Find a quiet spot, maybe popcorn on the porch, and talk these questions through. Listen as the other person is talking.  Ask them more questions about their answers and get to know each other a little bit more.

Last night after Dinner we took our coffee outside and talked through these questions.  It was great to learn some new things about each other.  Give it a try.

Meal Planning

Planning meals ahead of time will help you not be stressed at meal time.  

It can also help you save time and money. 

Plan Menu

•  Look for coupons or sales and plan menu around those items.
  
• Let each person in the family pick one meal.
• Look in freezer for other options. 
• Write each meal down- Protein, Carbohydrate, Vegetable, Fruit, and Dessert (optional)
• On menu write page number of recipe and what cookbook the recipe is in.
• My menu is to the right. B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner, S-Snack.

Make Grocery List and get groceries

• Get out each recipe in your menu and make sure you have each ingredient.  If not, write item on grocery list.
•  Get groceries using coupons or sales.
• Divide meats into individual packages and freeze. Wash fruits and vegetables.
• Put groceries away in refrigerator or freezer.

Teddy wants to go for a walk!

Meet Teddy. He was given to us by the former owners of the house. They were downsizing and couldn't take him with them. We were looking for a bigger dog and so it was perfect for both families.  Teddy is a Newdle.  That means he is half New Foundland and half Poodle. Teddy is full of energy and just a little bit dorky.  He gives us lots to laugh about.

Exercise Bingo

Are you ready for a weekend exercise challenge? How about some BINGO?! Every time you complete one of the items in the box, mark it off. When you get 5 squares in a row let me know.  Rows can go horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

Who will win? Put a comment in the comment section to let us know you are playing. Then when you are done put another comment so we know who wins!

Contest starts Saturday morning and ends Sunday night.

Fun, easy Butterfly lunch for school

School has started.  Are you ready for the lunch rush every morning?

You will need: 2-3 slices of bread, 1 large piece of lettuce, 3 slices lunch meat, part of 1 tomato, 1 olive, 2 tooth picks, 1 cheese slice, a few broccoli spears, ranch dressing. You will also need a cookie cutter and Ranch dressing.


Using the cookie cutter, cut 6 slices of meat, 1 cheese, 1 lettuce, and 2-3 slices of bread into the butterfly shape.



 Assemble the sandwich. bread, 3 slices of meat, lettuce, 3 slices of meat, bread, and cheese on top.  Out of the tomato, cut the middle section of the butterfly and lay on top of cheese.  Add the olive for the head and use the toothpicks to secure.



Place the broccoli on the bottom of the plate as trees.  Make clouds out of ranch dressing for the clouds.




Place assembled butterfly sandwich on plate and enjoy!

When taking to school, wrap sandwich in plastic wrap. Use a ziplock baggie for the broccoli and another one for the ranch. I added applesauce and pudding for my daughter.  Don't forget a spoon and a drink.

20 year class reunion

This year was my 20 year High School Reunion.  It was great to go back and visit some of the places I used to go and also see some of my friends.  

Riding in the parade.

 I was worried what my class would think of me.  But I shouldn’t have.  Everyone has gotten older and a little extra pudgy around the middle.  Nobody cared about how successful anyone else was.  We were all there just to have fun and remember our high school years. I think my biggest surprise was that some of the boys had grown a foot taller since graduation.  

This is where I attended school K-12.

In 20 years not much has changed in the school. Still looks like the same place I spent Kindergarten through my senior year.  They had added on a few more classrooms and a lunch room, but the biggest change was the gym.   Who knew that the basketball court wasn’t regulation size? In the past few years they have corrected that issue.  

We visited Goose Berry Lane where Phil proposed to me!

 Before returning home, Phil and I visited where I grew up.  It was nice to see my old house and think about the memories made there.

 I grew up near a River and so we walked back to see that. Phil figured out that almost 16 years ago to the day, he proposed to me right there in Goose Berry Lane.  So romantic.  

It was so nice to return to my home town.  I was nervous to go, but I am so glad I went.

BASIC Nutrition Label Reading

Do you know what you are eating? Take a look at the nutrition label and answer the following questions.

-How many servings are in this item?

-How many calories are in one serving?

It is also important to look at the lists in green, blue, and yellow. Included in the green list are Fat, Cholesterol,and Sodium. These are items that need to be limited. Included in the blue list are Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron.  These are good for you so make sure you get enough of these. The yellow list explain the percentage of the ingredient based on a 2,000 calorie daily diet.  

-Which item is higher than the recommended 20% per serving?

Knowing what is in your food  is very important.  Accurate information helps you make healthy choices for you and your family. 

Know what you are eating. Take the time to look at the Nutrition Label on your food.