A Good Tea

I love tea.

Green tea is my most favorite and this time of the year there is a special treat at the market.

It is by the Celestial Seasons brand and it is a green tea with all natural peppermint added to it.

It is called Candy Cane Lane.

Last year was the first time I tried it, and I was hooked.

I bought a couple of boxes this year, and it is a good thing I did.

When I was last at the market, I noticed they were all gone already.

The mint in this blend gives a cool, fresh feeling to the mouth.

It is a great blend, and if you can find a box, give it a try - it is delicious, and the green tea is filled with healthy antioxidants which are an added benefit!

Starting Anew

I have been very lax in recording my food intake and exercises in my daily journal.

I have been using the My Fitness Pal app on my iPhone and tablet to record all of that info for the past eight months.

But during the last couple of months I ran into a few health problems that have thrown me off track plus a death in the family didn't help with the emotional side.

Starting today I have been recording my food and exercise, and I hope to keep it up as I did in the past.

I am not happy with myself for letting it lapse, but sometimes things happen that one has no control over.

I am also trying something different in my diet to see if I can help the body feel better.

I have been more fortunate than most with my lupus, but sometimes it does get to me.

Will post more about my experiment as time goes on - fingers are crossed that it works!

A Meal of Tilapia

The supermarket has been having tilapia fish at the counter for the past few months.

Having not tried it, I was curious to see what it was like.

But paying $6.99 a pound to try it was risky just in case it wasn't something we liked.

When we found it on sale for $1.99 a pound, we were pleased and anxious to have a meal of it.

We had read it was quickly becoming a favorite through out the US for it's very mild flavor that didn't have a fishy taste.

We cooked it on the grill, as we usually cook our fish to avoid the smell indoors.

The fillets were thin and it didn't take very long.

The cooked texture reminded me of salmon, not the like the other white fish of cod or haddock.

The taste was extremely mild - not much flavor at all.

But the thing that got me was the texture in my mouth.

It was mushy.

Salmon is not mushy.

Mush and me do not get along.

So glad we got the tilapia at such a deal - we will not be buying it again.

I can say the cat sure appreciated it though!

Raw Honey

We have always enjoyed honey - especially in our tea.

It gives it a smooth flavor with just the right amount of sweetness.

I never really paid too much attention to the different kinds of honey though.

As long as it looked clear with a golden color, I figured that was how it was supposed to be.

And when it begins to crystallize and look cloudy, as it tends to do over time, that is something that is easily remedied.

By setting the jar in a warm pan of water it will go back to it's clear, smooth condition.

But my daughter told me about the raw honey that she has been using these last few weeks.

I checked it out, and there is a difference between it and the one I usually buy.

The raw honey is completely unprocessed.

No pasteurizing or heating it to destroy the natural yeast cells in the liquid.

It's not filtered to remove the pollen grains or small particles from the comb.

Nor has it been strained either.

It contains all the minerals, enzymes, and propolis which all work together as an antiseptic with antibiotic properties.

An all natural product that tastes good too.

It must be used in moderation though as the unprocessed variety may contain toxins from certain flowers that the bees gather the pollen from.

There is no way of controlling the way the bees work.

But when used in small amounts, the health benefits of the raw honey far outweigh the risks.

Conquering Those Raised Beds

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

Help is on the way for us with our raised bed gardens.

For years we have used these beds - some for vegetables and some for flowers and herbs.

And each year the yield from the veggies is okay.

The green beans are our best growers, followed by the cucumbers and the tomatoes.

The flowers and herbs don't do too badly, but I am sure their beds could use some new life put back into them.

And we try to do that by adding manure and soil each season.

But this season we are going to go by the books - or videos as it is today.

The Gardenieres has some great info for us gardeners, and one I will be paying attention to is the one for choosing soil.

I am sure that by using the tips that Coach Dave has to offer, my gardens will be doing much better next season.

By using the correct soil for my flower beds this fall, they will get what they need to help them through the winter and they will be off to their best start for the next season.

I never really thought about putting the soil in the beds in the fall, and I will be anxious to see the results next season.

In New England, the ability to Find beauty in the Fall is all around us, and keeping those beds in shape will keep them lasting even longer.

Check out and "like" the Miracle-Gro Facebook page where you can find many other helpful tips from the Gardenieres.

 

 

 

Love That Bread

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nature's Pride Bread for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I must admit, bread is one of my weaknesses, but I have become more picky over the years.

Years ago, the soft white breads had my heart, but as I got older and began to realize that I needed to put the healthiest things I could in my body, the white bread took a back seat.

A back seat to the delicious whole grain breads that are available everywhere today.

Getting the most nutrition from my bread became a priority for me and I scoured those labels looking at what the different ones had to offer.

Then it became that just the nutrition wasn't enough.

As I became a more aware consumer, I realized that not all whole grain breads are created equally.

Some had artificial colors or flavorings in them.

I could certainly do without those ingredients in me.

And trans fats is such a no-no for me that nothing with it ever finds it's way into my cart.

So, that is when I was lucky enough to discover Nature's Pride Bread.

They only use all natural ingredients in their breads, and I am sure that is what makes them so delicious.

So delicious they can be used in a variety of different recipes, and nobody would even be the wiser that they are eating so healthy.

One of my favorites is the Pizza Panini.

It is so simple to make too.

Starting with a garlic butter mixture, spread it on one side of  the 12 Grain variety of bread.

Spread the other side with your favorite pizza sauce.

Top that with some turkey pepperoni - keeping it low fat too!

Then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and top the whole thing with another slice of bread.

Make sure you butter the top of it before sticking it in the panini grill.

When that cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, you have one delicious, low fat, healthy lunch.

If you have a great recipe using Nature's Pride Bread, please let me know it in my comment section.

And don't forget to Like Nature’s Pride on Facebook - you can enter their contest to win Free Bread for a month!

 

From Swimming to Walking

We knew it had to end.

Our daily swims at the lake have been over for about three weeks now.

Last year we made it into October, but this year it just wasn't possible - the weather didn't cooperate at all.

Last year I picked up yoga to replace the swimming, and I have stuck with it right through the whole year.

I miss the swimming, but joining the Y or a fitness club is just out of our reach at this time.

So, my husband tells me, "I would like to do something to replace the swimming"

Knowing that Yoga was not for him, I began to think.

We needed something we could do that didn't cost us anything.

Something close to home would be great too.

And nothing too hard - I didn't want him to quit before he began.

Walking was the just the ticket.

We figure a good 40 minute walk a couple of times a week would get us started.

Of course, the weather has been cooperating perfectly so far.

But I know it will get colder - New England can be counted on for that.

But hopefully by then it will have become such a desired thing that we won't let it bother us.

Fingers are crossed!

Chance to Win $100 Gift Card

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PULL-UPS® Night*Time for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

One area of child rearing has become a lot more fun for the kids over the past years.

I remember the days when our kids were learning how to use the "big" potty.

There was no such thing as the PULL-UPS® Night*Time Glow in the Dark training pants that the kids and parents have today.

It makes it so much easier and for the kids - so much fun.

They love to watch them glow in the dark after they have been exposed to a bright light for 30 seconds.

Parents can now save on these pants by clicking the above image which will take you to a page with a coupon to save $1.

And if you share that offer, the coupon doubles to $2 - a pretty good savings during these hard times.

And by sharing your child's nighttime routine with the PULL-UPS® Night*Time Glow in the Dark training pants, parents can enter to win a $100 Wlamart Gift Card.

Create as many Glow Show Stories as you want and enter them on the website for a chance to the gift card.

The more stories you enter, the more chances you have to win.

And be sure to check back often to see if you are a winner - they will be listed on that page.

Savings on these necessities is a must during these times, and winning $100 is even better.

But the best part - the kids will have fun learning how to use the potty with the glow in the dark training pants for night time!

 

Salmon on the Menu

It has been awhile.

The price of salmon in the fish market has been way too much for our budget

Even when it had been on sale.

And usually it was the very pale farm raised variety of salmon that was being offered on the sale.

We arrived at the market at just the right time today.

We heard another customer state as we walked by them:

"Look at all that fish for two bucks" as he spoke to his partner and pointed to his basket.

We both turned and looked at each other mouthing the words: two bucks?  

Without another word we headed directly to the fish counter.  

They were clearing it out and the beautiful wild caught Alaskan sockeye salmon was $3.99 a pound.

Deep red fillets - just like the ones we watch the bears in Alaska catch on the webcams.

And the pollack fish was $1.99 a pound.

Dinner was the best with the salmon and the freezer has a couple of pollack meals awaiting us.

Man, that fish was delicious and what a treat!

Making Steps Count

As most of my readers know, I keep a count each day of my steps.

I also count all my calories which has become an easy task thanks to the MyFitnessPal app on my smartphone.

At the end of each day, I log my steps (or miles) at the beewellforlife.com website.

I get "credit" for the steps and calories, and a donation is made to the American Diabetes Assoc and the Women Heart group from the Bumble Bee Foods that sponsors the program.

I have done this for a few years now, and it only takes a minute to help out others in this small way.

I have just recently joined the Walgreens Rewards program, and have checked it out online to track my "points"

There is a load of info on that site, and I discovered the Walk with Walgreens program that they have.

Wouldn't you know, I can track my steps there too, and with the new rewards program they have, I can earn points on my account with my steps.

And when I have earned enough points, I can redeem them for a discount when I check out in the store or online.

Saving money is always right up my alley - so it is a win-win situation all the way around.

Free Layaways!

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

Free is always good, and when you find a free layaway progam, it is even better.

I haven't used a layaway program in years, but I can see where this holiday season , it might be just the thing to do for all those holiday gifts on the list.

So many times we have gone shopping only to find that what we wanted to get was already gone - and the remaining selection was not going to fit the bill.

So, shopping early this season, and putting everything on layaway makes sense, especially now with the Kmart's Big Layaway Giveaway that is going on until 11/17/12.

Beginning 9/9/12, K-Mart will be giving their layaway customers a chance to have their remaining balance paid in full.

Each week there will be a lucky winner, so the sooner the layaway is placed, the more chances you have of winning.

And to make using this service easier - layaways can be placed online - and the payment can be made online too.

That certainly makes it easier than in the old days when you had to drive down and make the payment each week at the store. These days that saves on the gas too!

And everything in the store can be put on layaway, unlike many of the other stores such as Walmart, Best Buy, or Toys R Us.

Time to go shopping for some high-tech gifts on that holiday list:

Check out why layaways at K-Mart are the best deal compared to some other major retailers:

 

Serene Swim

The days are getting shorter as the sun sets earlier and earlier each evening.

The swim area at the lake is now closed for the season - there was hardly anyone in it the last couple of weeks anyway.

The cooler nights have made the water too cold for most folks.

But not us.

We are still down there everyday - parking outside the gate and walking down to the beach.

I will admit, that lake water is a bit chilly at first, but once we get ourselves motivating along the swim lines, we are just fine.

In fact, the air is colder than the water when we finally drag ourselves out of it.

And yesterday was one of the best days this past season that we have had for swimming.

The water was pure glass - we were gliding through it slowly - taking care not to create splashes that would disturb that serene surface.

It was beautiful - and the late afternoon light added to the mood perfectly.

As we were drying beside the water's edge, just before we left, Mother Nature gave us a wonderful gift.

According to my phone, it was exactly 5:40, and that must have been when the underwater dinner bell was rung.

All over the surface of the lake, little mouths were popping up and catching the floating bugs for their dinner.

It was quite the site, and to think we almost left directly after the swim due to the chilly air.

Our lake has given us many gifts through the years, and I can see she still has a few surprises left for us.

Haircuts for School

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

I remember well those last couple of weeks bofore the kids went back to school.

All the rushing around to get just the right clothes.

And the shoes had to be a certain brand and style.

They were not usually too fussy about the paper and notebooks, or many of the other classroom supplies.

As long as they had what was required they were fine.

The book bags were another matter though - even worse than the clothes or shoe shopping.

Color, style, name, size and gadget pockets were a choice that had to made by them alone - my suggestions didn't count here.

But one of the toughtest chores of sending them back to school was the haircuts.

According to them it took too long, could never be scheduled at the right time, and worse of all, they hated how they came out - even if it was the same old regular one they always got.

We learned to get it a couple of weeks before school actually started.  That way it would have time to grow a bit and settle in.

My kids have been out of school for years now, but I am betting not much has changed in getting them ready to back with today's generation.

There are many salons now that cater to kids and actually make it a fun thing for them to get a stylish haircut.

And to make it easier on the pocketbook, Haircut Coupon-a-thon is having a great deal - haircuts for $7.99 or $9.99 at many of your favorite salons.

And this coupon can be used by adults too and it expires on 9/30/12.

And are you using your coupon on a mobile device? To redeem your coupon: Touch and hold to save the coupon image.  Show coupon to your stylist.

Are you having trouble printing the coupon? Email department@regiscorp.com with the salon brand you'd like to visit and we'll send you a coupon.

Whipped Butter

I just discovered a really great frugal idea, and it has been around for years.

Whipped Butter - and not the kind you buy at the market.

That is not a frugal idea since it costs as much as the un-whipped kind we are all familiar with, and you get half the amount.

I did buy a small tub of it at the market as that was my only choice for the situation I needed butter for, but that will be my last time buying it.

My husband actually liked it.

And he was getting less of that fat each time he used it as whipped butter has a lot of air in it.

It still looked like he was getting a lot though - and that's what counts to him.

So, by using whipped butter, one is cutting down on the fat intake in their diet.

And by whipping it yourself, the savings really begin to add up.

I used two sticks of softened butter and 1/4 cup of milk to make mine.

I used the whipping attachment on my electric mixer, and I set it to the fastest setting.

It took quite a bit longer than I thought it would, but eventually I began to see an increase in the amount of butter in the mixer bowl.

It close to doubled the amount of un-whipped butter.

I keep it stored in the refrigerator in a covered container and can take it out when it is needed.

It spreads so much easier even when it's cold - so you don't have to give it time to warm up to use it on the soft bread.

I will advise though - don't use it for recipes, as they need a certain amount of fat so it turns out correctly,  and whipped butter with all it's air will not work.

Two Great Shoe Deals

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

Much as the kids don't want to think about it, the first day of school is just around the corner.

The ads have been coming out with all the sales on everything that they will need for the new school year.

As we all know, the clothes and shoes are the most expensive supplies they will need, so we are all looking for the best deals we can find.

And finding the right deals on the shoes the kids actually want to wear is a job in itself.

So that is where Famous Footwear comes in.

They have all the right styles and brands of shoes that the kids all want and they make it easy for them to shop and find what they want without spending all day in the store.

Right now they are offering a BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon that you can print out and take into the store with you.

That's two discounts on this back-to-school deal.

And if you are already a Rewards member, then make that 15% discount a 20% one!

In addition, as a Rewards member, you earn one point for every $1 you spend with them.

Those points add up and you can earn $100 in certificates a year.

You get another discount just for signing up, as well as special discounts and perks just for being a member.

And all of this is free - so there is no reason for not becoming a Rewards member.

Well, that takes care of the shoes for the kids for a new school year and it saves the family a great deal too.

Don't forget to print out your coupon to redeem in any store between 8/2-8/18 so you can Buy One, Get One Half Off as well as save 20% because you are Rewards member. 

Vacation Savings

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

It has been a hot summer across most of the United States.

There have been many heat temperature records broken, and the summer is only a bit over half way gone.

August has been known to have even higher temps so we don't expect too much relief in the near future.

Even with the heat though, it is possible to have a fun family vacation that includes outdoor activities.

Many of the businesses in the Town of San Antonio have come up with a way to help families have fun and save money at the same time.

The SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience makes it easy to go online and find all the latest deals and discounts being offered from their many partners.

Some of them are Limited Time Offers, so if you see something that interests your family, snatch it up to enjoy the savings it will bring you.

One Partner, the Hilton Palacio del Rio is having a limited time offer right now - an extra 10% off the SAVE discount.  That's two discounts in one!

To beat the heat, a visit to Splashtown is a must - each admission ticket will have a savings of $7 by going through SAVE.

Seaworld is a good cool spot for everyone - and a savings of $10 per ticket is quite an incentive to visit.

Six Flags is offering a discount of $17 per admission ticket - that's a savings of $68 for a family of four.

A cool ride in an Alamo Helicopter Tour will have you saving 10% on the flight.

A trip to the cool Natural Bridge Caverns will save you $2 for each adult and $1 for each child's ticket.

Be sure to follow @SAVEinSA on Twitter to keep updated with all the deals and limited time offers that get posted.

No GMOs

Our favorite local farm stand is now open for the summer season.

It is our favorite place to get our sweet corn that we love so much.

Granted, it is more expensive than what the supermarket has to offer, but it tastes oh so much better.

And fresher, and sweeter too!

I had noticed when we walked into the barn that there was a sign on the wall that stated:

No GMOs used here.

Now, I know that was a good thing, as I had been reading  about how many of the seeds have been changed genetically - supposedly for our benefit.

 But I wasn't aware of what the letters stood for.

GMO = Genetically Modified Organism

The DNA molecules in the food are altered with different organisms that usually come from different species.

More and more this is being done to our food supply in order to make it more disease and pest resistant  from inside the seed itself.

It is my thought that if the bugs cannot eat it, how can we?

How will our insides cope with it after years of eating it?

I do know that the corn I had from the market earlier this year played havoc with my intestines.

I wonder if it was GMO corn.

I was almost afraid to eat my favorite local treat when it became available this season.

But it was fine.

And with the assurance of no GMOs, it was even finer! 

Bright Colors!

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

The colored construction paper has come a long way since my elementary school days.

I can remember the choices of colors were few - and the paper always looked "faded" to me - the projects that we made with them actually did fade as they were displayed around the class room.

But the kids today have some really good choices when it comes to creating their class projects.

They get to use AstroBrights papers that come in 23 different colors.

They do not know how lucky they are - they can stretch their creativity and beyond with these bright colorful papers.

If I remember correctly we were limited to a whole four colors - red, green, yellow, and blue.

And you had to be really quick to snag a blue or yellow sheet - most of the pack contained the red and green sheets.

These Astrobrights papers are great for catching attention and they aren't for just the classroom either.

Flyers and presentations will really stand out and give your ideas a second look.

Around the house, office, and school, projects done with these papers will show off your creativity to it's best.

And they are holding a sweepstakes that can win a great prize for your local elementary school.

The Give a Brighter Year Sweepstakes will award the winning school a $30,000 prize of cash and school supplies.

Check out the above link for all the details. 

They also have design challenges that anyone can participate in.

The Make Something Astrobright design challenge is a family-friendly competition that will award astrobright papers and other prizes.

You can share your creations with photos and videos on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter - and be sure to use the hashtag #goastrobrights to connect with the other contestants.

 

 

Yoga in the Morning

We have been very busy lately, and my yoga routine has been taking a back seat.


With the heat, swimming was naturally to choice to go with for exercising.


When it was cooler, I would go through a small yoga routine right after the swim, but that hasn't been the case for the past couple of weeks.


I have been lucky to eek out about one routine each week.


So, I decided to try doing a routine this morning instead of the weights and lifts that I usually do before breakfast.


It felt really good to do them, but I will say, it was a bit rougher getting through the routine.


By late afternoon, all the muscles are well stretched out from the day's activities - especially after swimming.


No so in the morning.


But I think I will stick with them off and on in the AM, alternating them with the weights just so I can keep the routine up.


Then once the swimming is over for the season - which hopefully won't be for a couple of months - I will get back to doing them in the afternoons like before.

Swimming the Lines

It has taken about a month of steady swimming - just about everyday, but we have finally accomplished it.


We are back to swimming the entire lines of the swim area at the lake.


The water has been on the warm side lately, so getting in and getting down to business is very easy.


The days with no wind make the swimming very smooth and almost effortless as we glide through the water.


The windy days are a struggle to get to the other end with our faces being swamped and smacked by the oncoming waves.


The way back on those days though is a breeze with the wind pushing us along.


Late afternoon is still the best time for us, and sometimes we are even lucky enough to have the whole lake to ourselves.


That would be when the chance of rain is high.


We figure we are going to be wet anyway, so as long as there is no thunder and lightening, the swim is still on.


We love this type of exercise - just wish it was a year round thing!

Savings on Western Union Gift Cards

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

Receiving money as a gift is always welcomed by just about everyone.

But sending it through the mail is not always a good option.

And sometimes it seems so impersonal when it is given tucked inside a greeting card.

Gift cards are great too, but most of them are very limiting.

They can be spent only in the store they are purchased in.

Well, Western Union has a solution that covers everyone.

The new Western Union gift card can be used anywhere a debit MasterCard is accepted.

That means both online or in any retail store - and it's easy to activate and keep an eye on your balance.

And what makes it even more personal, these cards are available for many different occasions - holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, congratulations, and more.

You can even write a message that will appear on the inside of the greeting card.

They can be loaded with any amount from $5 to $100, and they will ship this card for you for free.

There is a $5 fee to purchase this card, but from now until 9/1/12, if you use this promotional code: WUGIFTPROMO8,  you will receive 25% off this fee.

You can also call 1-866-953-6490 to record a personal message that the gift receiver will hear when they call to activate their gift card.  I like that little feature - and it is free!

Here are a few of the legal requirements that I need to let you know about:

This blog post is paid for by Western Union.

The Western Union® gift card is issued by MetaBank™ pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. MetaBank, Member FDIC.  A $2.50 per month servicing fee applies after 12 consecutive months of non-use.

Gift Card only for sale and shipment to the 48 contiguous states excluding AZ, PO Boxes, US military bases and correctional facilities.

Receive 25% off the $5 gift card fee when purchasing a gift card at wugift.com.  Limit one (1) coupon per transaction.  No cash redemption value.  Cannot be combined with any other offer.  Void where prohibited.  Offer expires 9/1/2012.

Easy Living on the Deck

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

It's that time of the year again for repairs around the house.

Just when one thinks the expensive winter months are done, the expensive summer ones start to kick in.

Instead of the heating fuel to keep warm in the winter, we now want to keep cool in the summer.

And that means time being spent out in the backyard and dinners on the deck.

The deck will need some sprucing up though before the summer starts to get too hot.

It's a big job, and it can get expensive, so it is imperative to get the right products from the start.

The folks at Flood® Wood Care are known as the Wood Care Specialists.

Their quality products such as stains and wood cleaners protect and preserve wood to keep it lasting longer and looking it's best.

They have been in business since 1841 and they really know their stuff - which makes it an easy choice for us to select their products.

Protection of the wood on the deck is the most important to us.  By keeping the wood properly cared for, it will last longer and will not require even more expensive work - replacing the planks.

 And we feel confident that Flood® Wood Care products will do the job just perfectly.

Right now, they are having a sweepstakes that may make even thinking about the cost of fixing the deck a moot point.

The Take it Easy Sweepstakes will give the winner all the supplies they need to stain their deck, and they will provide the labor to prep and stain it too.

That means no expenses or hard work for us.

And to top it off, they will also give the winner $2,000 to have the deck party of their dreams.

Definitely a contest worth entering for us - check out the above link to enter it too!

.

 

 

Yoga is Breathing Too

It is not just all exercise.


Yoga combines exercise with meditation, relaxation, and breathing.


It all works together to deliver a well rounded regimen.


It is all very progressive.


It isn't something that you notice right off in your daily life either.


It sneaks up on you over time, then you begin to notice the benefits in some of your daily activities.


And then there are times when it really hits you how far you have come.


Much of the breathing has become quite routine with the yoga positions and exercises.


Without thinking about it, you pretty much know how to breathe when new exercises are introduced.


The deep breathing when stretching really expands the lungs.


This breathing helps to build stamina that you can feel.


It makes many of the internal organs function with more ease as they are supplied with rich oxygenated blood.


It struck me how far I have come with the breathing when I took my first swim this year.


No out of breath for me.


And something else that I could be imagining, but I swear I noticed - I floated better.


Perhaps the lungs have expanded to hold more air that makes me more buoyant.


Probably crazy, I don't know, but I do know I certainly feel a lot better because of my yoga breathing!

Skin Care with #EclosBeauty

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

As most of you know, I do not use much in the way of makeup or skin creams and lotions.

My skin has been so sensitive my entire life, that using products on my face is a recipe for disaster.

What is suppossed to make it look better usually ends up making me break out and needing to pile more on to cover it up.

And ultimately looking worse because of it, not better.

Years ago I ditched all that stuff.

Keeping things as natural as possible is my philosophy - for what goes in my body and what goes on it.

It has been a much better arrangement for all of me.

And the pocketbook is better for it too - hard to believe how much money gets spent on all the stuff that goes on our faces.

So when I heard about the éclos Skin Care products, I had to take a closer look at them.

They are all natural products that use Apple Stem Cells to stimulate the skin cells and make them look younger.

Younger is good, especially when one is reaching middle age.

All natural ingredients such as, vitamins and anti-oxidants, is also a good thing.

So I thought I just might try this new line of skin care for the face.

I was excited to receive a free starter kit in the mail.  It contained several different bottles and a head band to keep my hair out of it all.

First I used the Facial Scrub to get the skin deep down clean.

 

Next came the Skin Prep which is a cleanser also.

The Face Serum is light layer that is a cellular activator.

The Regenerative Cream added the needed moisture and the Eye Cream dabbed around the tender eye skin completed the routine.

There was also a Clay Mask included, that I used a couple of times during the trial.

And the results after two weeks of using the éclos Skin Care system:  I was really impressed with how soft my skin felt.

I didn't break out - which was something new for me.

In fact, the one blemish thtat I did have went away extra quick.

I think these rejuvenation products made it heal much quicker than it would have normally.

Do I look younger than my 47 years?

Well, I didn't see a difference in any of those lines and wrinkles, but my skin did appear "fresher" as it did when I was younger.

I liked the Face Serum the best for it's light feel and application - I think sticking with that product will be the best for me.

And since the folks at Eclos sent me an extra set of these products, I will be giving it away in a contest.

The first one for this blog!

To be entered, leave a comment to let me kow which product you are most excited to try.

The contest will close on June 2 at 11:59pm, and the winner will be chosen at random from all who comment.

In the Lake

It has began again.


Another season for swimming at the lake.


Today was the first day we went in, and it was gorgeous!


The lake temp was 63 degrees, and the air temp was 83 degrees.


A bit warm for this early in the season for both the water and air.


But it only took a couple of minutes to get in it, and we enjoyed it for about 20 minutes.


For the first time ever, I was not winded.


My arms had plenty of strength, and my shoulders had a great range of motion.


In the past they have held me back, and there have been some seasons where the shoulder pain would only allow certain strokes for a short period of time.


No sign of any problems today - I think all the yoga and lifting the weights has paid off.


And it really feels good!!

Pleasant Surprise

I know I have railed against that scale in the past.


Almost to the point of throwing it right out the door.


Well, I will have to say that this week had me singing a different tune.


I got on it, and couldn't believe what it was seeing.


It was telling me I had lost 2 1/2 pounds.


In one week.


That is the biggest loss I have had since I started watching everything more closely.


Down 13 pounds now.


It was a big lift emotionally as well as physically.


Yeah!!

Deal on Speakers

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

I love my new smartphone, as you know from how I have been using it to manage my daily calories and exercise routines.

But there is so much more to this little piece of technology.

And another great joy I get from it is the music.

I spent quite some time uploading many songs from my CD collection onto my computer.

From there, all those songs went onto my phone - all 832 of them.

Nothing like having them all organized into one place.

There is only one problem I have with listening to them though.

I really despise those little earbuds.

I use regular headphones - but they are big and bulky, and I really don't like having my hearing completely cut off from the rest of the world - especially when I am outside of the house.

I have a cord in my car that connects to the radio through a USB port.  That works great while driving.

I can always listen to my music through my computer, but the speakers I have hooked up to it are not the best.

I have been through several sets of them - one pair just got tired and gave out, and of course they were really good ones.

The sound that came out of the next pair I hooked up was just way too bad - I got rid of them in a hurry.

I picked up an older set with a big bass speaker and speaker bar, but the sound from them still isn't as good as the original ones, and it takes up a lot of room.

I have been giving some thought to these new Lenovo speaker.

These  guys are little, but they produce a big, bold sound with built in amplifiers and a sub-speaker all in one.

They can be used with the computer and the smartphones.

They get their power form the USB computer connection, and the speaker wires spool for less wire-mess around the desktop.

Four watts of power come out of these little speakers - should make the music sound really good.

And until 5/21, these speakers are on sale for only $11.99 - that's a savings of $18.00 off the original price.

If you have tried them, let me know what you think of their sound.

 

Adjusting the Weights

There has been an increase in the weights that I lift in the mornings.


Previously, the sets were done with 5, 8, and 10 pound weights.


The fives were way too easy and the tens were doable without overdoing it.


I have some adjustable ones, and I fixed them up with what I had available.


The sets are now done with 8, 11, and 14 pounders.


The first two are not much of a change and I can handle the whole sets of reps.


But the last set of reps with the 14 pounders are going to take some building up too.


Some of the lifts I can do the whole set of eight.


But some of them, especially the ones extended from the body, I am lucky to get even five or six reps before I have to move on to different lifts.


From what I have been reading though, if it is too easy to do them, then they need to be increased.


Well, it should burn more calories when I use those heavy one, bu it is going to take some time to get to where i need to bee.


But that is a good thing - it's making the muscles work and I haven't felt any soreness from the increase.

Time for Gardening

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

I have been spending some time in an uncultivated area of the yard.

I want to put in a few few flower patches this year - something I don't usually spend too much time doing.

The time that I have for gardening, I usually spend putting in and tending to vegetables.

I have raised beds for the veggies, and I think the soil is getting tired, so I am moving that dirt out to the flower areas.

I will be using organic soil  by Whitney Farms® in the veggie gardens.  

Growing and consuming the foods that are the best for us is something I have been moving towards over the last few years.

The most natural, out of the ground veggies, without all the added chemicals is the way of the future for the health of our bodies.

The plants can still grow big and beautiful with organic plant food too.

The Whitney Farms® products have beneficial microbes and they provide the plants with the needed macro and micronutrients that make the plants thrive and produce beautiful, healthy results.

 

Of course, the flower gardens will appreciate the plant food too - the less chemicals going in the ground tthat end up in our well water,  the better for us.

Whitney Farms® is also offering a $3 coupon and that is always a welcome savings.