iPhone Apps

I have a new toy that I have become quite enthralled by


I have a new iPhone.


This is the first smartphone I have owned, and I am very impressed with what it does - although it is a bit scary that it knows so much.


I have downloaded an app called My Fitness Pal.


Man, is that thing good.


It tracks all I eat and adds up the calories, fats, sugars, fibers, carbs, proteins, and fats just by reading the bar codes with the camera on the products I eat.


All my exercise can be put in it too.


After getting a few specifics regarding weight, age, and lifestyle, it calculates the correct calories I need each day in order to loose weight.


And as I put the food in, it also gets added to the website online so I can keep track of it there too.


It really is amazing how it all works.


I will be posting more as I go along and see what I need to change in my diet and lifestyle to get those pounds off.


I can see where this little app is going to be a big help.


And to top it off - it is a free app.


It really can't get any better than that in this weight loss battle!

Yoga Anytime

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

I like to do my yoga workout from my home - being able to progress at my own speed and fitting it into my schedule is the main reason for not going anywhere else. 

I knew practically nothing about Yoga when I started, so I kept my eyes open for previously used videos and dvd's in my travels.

I found plenty, and I would watch them before I used them to see if they were something I might like.

It didn't take me long to figure out the ones that I liked the best.

They were made by Gaiam, and they always had the best set-ups, instructors, and workouts.

Well, now there is another way to get videos for yoga, fitness, and health and wellness, and it doesn't involve fiddling with the video and dvd machines.

It is GaiamTV, which is a streaming video subscription that brings all things health, wellness, and exercise right to the computer, iPad, or smartphone.

You can take your workout with you where ever you go.

They offer over 2,000 titles of all types of workouts - yoga, cardio, pilates, and all the health and wellness info you can use.

Many of the top instructors will help you with your workout.

The best instruction is important to get the most benefits from your workout.

Each workout can be customized for each user, whether it be to loose weight, increase your energy, or sculpt your body.

One can make playlists and preview their selections before they use them, so finding the perfect one will be very easy.

I think the best part about GaiamTV is being able to to have access to their service all the time - twenty-four hours a day, seven day a week.

It is available when I am, with just the workout I want.

And it goes with me - I don't have to be in my living room with the VHS or DVD player.

I won't be interrupting the TV viewing to do my workout - I can use my computer or smartphone.

Gaiam offers a free ten day trial to check it out.  Then, it is just $9.95 a month to stream unlimited content.

And one can cancel at any time since there is no commitment or strings attached.

Right now they are having a contest to win a free month's subscription and a yoga mat.

Keep updated on Twitter by following them @GaiamTV.

A Cooking Afternoon

Today was a freezing one outside, a high of 17 degrees.


But we were cooking up a storm on the inside, keeping the house nice and toasty and smelling good.


We made an extra large batch of cabbage rolls, and while we were at it, we added in a couple of stuffed peppers too.


Five pounds of cooked ground beef and pork mixture combined with five cups of cooked rice for the stuffing.


And two very large cabbages, precooked to make the baking part quicker.


We layered the leaves and filling instead of rolling them, and topped the whole thing with two large cans of pureed tomatoes that are seasoned just right.


The baking pan just barely fit in the oven it was so large.


There will be plenty to eat, freeze, and share for several meals.


And all for under a total of $20.


Wholesome, healthy, and homemade.


Can't beat that!

Man, I Hate That Scale

I don't usually get too mad.


I tend to take things in stride and work through things that need it.


But when that stupid scale told me I gained 1 1/2 pounds this week, I was seeing red.


I have been very diligent these last few weeks on my morning and late afternoon exercise routines.


Very diligent.


And the eating has not been out of control either.


It is quite discouraging, and it makes one wonder: why bother?


As my husband kept telling me: Because it makes you feel good to do your exercises.


And that is worth it.


Besides, muscle weighs more than fat, but it's denser and smaller.


I suppose, but I still despise that scale.


I really felt like throwing it right out the door this morning - but I just would have regretted it later.


Perhaps not.

Saving Clips

Ever find something while searching the internet that you are sure you can get back to at any time?

Other than bookmarking it, which can get very confusing very fast in the bookmark bar, there is a new way.

And you can even share your finds with your friends.

You don't have to send a link in an email.

Posting a link on a social page gets buried pretty quickly as more info gets posted.

By using the clipix website, you can save anything you find on the net and get back to it very easily.

When you save it, it gets added to a clipboard already set up for the particular subject you want to keep in it.

It's very organized and easy to share if you want.

 

You can also keep your clips private or share them with friends or share them with the entire Clipix community.

The above is a shot of the clipboard that I made for recipes.

One can share them on Facebook and Twitter, and they can have comments made on them too.

Check out the Clipix website to see how easy it is to use.

If you find you like it, leave me a comment to let me know how it worked for you.

The uses for it are endless!

Promoted Post

Chicken Tortilla Soup

It has been a couple of years since I made some Chicken Tortilla soup.


I don't know why either.


It is easy and very inexpensive to make enough for several good meals.


Taking some chicken breasts out of the freezer, I thawed them last night.


I started the soup at ten o'clock this morning, and we were eating it for lunch a couple hours later.


Quickly cook the chicken, then add garlic, onions, two cans of diced or pureed tomatoes, chicken broth, cilantro, chili powder, cumin and broken up uncooked corn tortilla pieces.


Simmer for about an hour..


Shred the chicken and add more tortillas if it isn't thick enough.


Enjoy as-is or add some shredded cheese and crushed tortilla chips if desired.


Yum!

More Savings on Phones

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

We all need to save money where we can these days.

And if you are looking for a new cell phone, then Sprint has a couple of new smart phones that just might catch your eye.

And they are being offered at very great deals - all the newest technology at very inexpensive prices.

The first phone is the Nexus S™ 4G.

This super fast 4G phone from Google is being offered for Free when you open a new line of service or add a line to your account.

It uses an Android powered platform and seamlessly integrates with the Google apps that make life easier.

This true multitasking smart phone is available online only for Free.

The second phone that Sprint has to offer is the HTC EVO™ 3D.

This speedy smart phone has 3D display.

It also has an Android platform, and this phone is being offered for $49.99 when you have a new line of service or add a new line to your account.

As with the first deal, this phone for $49.99, is only available online.

The activation fees are waived by Sprint for new lines of service, and the shipping is free at sprint.com.

Good Deals For Us

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

We are always shopping for a deal.

Paying more for a product at one store just doesn't set well with us when we know we can get a better deal at another store.

This attitude towards shopping has helped us during these hard economic times.

And it is funny to hear others talking now about how they have discovered new ways of saving money by really watching how they shop.

This way of life for us is a new discovery for many today, and that is a good thing, especially for families with children.

And another way to save even more is with the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club that offers families and individuals the opportunity to get discount prices on over 8,000 brand name and all generic medications and prescriptions.

For $35 a year, the family plan offers these discount to a spouse, dependents 22 years old and younger, and the family pets.

An individual plan is $20 for a year.

The plan also includes discounts on flu shots, nebulizers, diabetic supplies, and pet prescriptions.

Bonuses are also earned when the Walgreens brand products are purchased and when you use their photofinishing services.

Keep updated with them by following Walgreens on Twitter and liking Walgreens on Facebook.

New Smells in the House

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

There are some new smells in the house these days and they are a welcomed change from the traditional smells we are all used to.
Packaged in a stylish and pretty dispenser, the new Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist is very easy to use.
It sits on a table top waiting to be squeezed so it can spray its scented mist into the air.
And when it is empty - it can be easily refilled with your favorite scent.
For those who like to have a continuous scent wafting through the home, there is the new Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser.
This option for fragrance lasts for 30 days and it doesn't use electricity to work.
It's pretty no-spill design works in any decor.
Both of these scent options offer long lasting fragrance that fills the home with life.
They both come with a fragrance satisfaction guarantee.
If you are not happy with your scent, just mail the original UPC and receipt with the purchase price on it within thirty days of your purchase.
They have a form available here  if you are unsatisfied.
Both of these products are available at Walmart.  And to save on their already low prices, there is a coupon for a $1.50  available here.
I will be checking out the Spice Lavender and Juniper Berry Spray Mist.  A new scent will be in the house shortly.