Workout Ideas

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I desperately need to find new ways to get my butt in shape. I eat healthy (mostly), I do a ton of housework each day, and attend two 1 hr sessions of Zumba twice a week. However, my vacation to Majorca is looming over my head, since I know if I left today I wouldn't be comfortable in a bikini (not that anyone's ever entirely comfortable in one.) I'm not into dieting, so I'd rather find new ways to workout. I'll be doing some research, and I'll post what I come up with as soon as I have a decent list. Here goes...

Off to Majorca!

                                                                       
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In another attempt to see as much of this part of the world as possible while we're stationed here, we've booked tickets to a resort on the stunning island of Majorca! Whoot! We're thrilled to have this opportunity for family time and memory-making, and absolutely can't wait for April to get here! To reduce stress, we've booked our trip with an all-inclusive company; everything from the train to the airport to cocktails at the resort are covered. Phew. Now I just have to get my butt to the gym, ha ha.

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So proud of my hubby, he's officially a college student! He finally bit the bullet and enrolled for his first course. He's beaming with excitement, and I'm absolutely thrilled for him. I'm a seasoned college girl (3 courses til I have my MBA), and I've always wanted to know whether or not he'd like it. So far so good, and I hope it's everything he wants it to be from here out!

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Recently, I've been trying to implement a lot more healthy choices into my household's menu. I've found that the easiest way to do that is to incorporate better ingredients into things we already like to eat. One example is that I add a bit of ground flax seed to our morning cereal (and in recipes instead of eggs), and another is using more wheat flour instead of white when I make things from scratch (which is also happening a lot more lately.)

I prefer to cook things myself instead of buying pre-made items, since that's the best way to know what it's truly made of. It takes a bit more time, but the peace of mind is worth it. Lastly, one of the best way to keep us from eating unhealthy foods is not bringing them into the house at all! Instead of processed snacks and junk food, I stock the fridge and freezer with whole fruits and veggies that we can eat alone or use in healthy recipes for snacks.

When I absolutely have to have something, I'll make or buy just a little for that serving. Everything in moderation is one of my favorite mottos, since completely denying myself something just makes me want it more! ;-)

The Walking Dead Returns Soon!

                                                                     
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I am thrilled to announce the return of season 2 of AMC's hit "The Walking Dead!" At first, I have to admit I wasn't sure what to think about the show. It was a bit gruesome, and a bit depressing. However, after a few episodes, it was easy to connect with and fall in love with the characters. I'm completely hooked now, and genuinely care what happens to Rick and the gang. Check it out February 12th, @ 9/8c.

Yes to Facebook, No to Twitter (At Least for Me)

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In order to 'tweet', it seems that you need to have an incredible amount of time, and be constantly tied to some form of technology. Since postings are so brief, they're quick to post, and they're created at an amazing rate. Since I don't have a desire to participate in such ramblings, I've chosen to stick with Facebook for now. With Facebook, I feel like it's as personal as social media sites get, and it's also much easier to navigate. I can keep in touch with my friends and family with relatively little effort. Although I realize the value of Twitter, it just isn't for me.

Downton Abbey?

                                                                          
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I recently read a comment about the show Downton Abbey, and I'm thinking about trying it out. It's produced by PBS, and is receiving many acclaimed reviews. The show is is set in England on a lavish estate around the era of World War I. The costumes and scenery are absolutely stunning. This certainly looks like a show I'll be adding to my playlist.

Check it out!

Angelina Scores Again

                                                                          
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 Love her or hate her, Angelina Jolie is a force to be reckoned with. She's incredibly talented, while also maintaining her status as one of the most famous humanitarians in the world. I recently came across a Marie Claire interview with her, and was pleasantly surprised at just how inspiring she can be. Her newest undertaking is behind the camera, as the writer and director of her film, "In the Land of Blood and Honey." The film explores the horrors of wartime; specifically the war waged by the Serbs against the Bosnian Muslims in the 90's. The depth of the subject matter is immense, and I've gained a new level of respect for Angelina. She could have written about absolutely anything, and she chose to shed light on something many of us may never have known about. It'll make us uncomfortable, we may even shed some tears, but it's truth...and history has a much better chance of repeating itself if we don't know how to recognize these things. Knowledge is power.

Check out the article here.

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Looking for a feel-good, inspiring, quirky read? Kate Dicamillo's "The Magician's Elephant" may be just the book for you! It's a short book, but it's just long enough and vivid enough to leave you with a renewed sense of belief in the strength of the human heart.

The story follows a young orphaned boy named Peter Augustus Duchene, as he holds out hope for his search of his long lost sister, even though he's been told she died at childbirth. Something inside him tells him she's very much alive, and he plans to keep his promise to his mother that he'll always take care of her.

 Enter a bit of magic, a large elephant, and some help from very dear yet unlikely friends, and you have one incredible tale of triumphant love.

Find out More!

Not your everyday donut!

                                                                            
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An incredibly yummy new twist on the traditional 'PB & J'! So simple and quick to make, and this will literally melt-in-your-mouth. Everything in moderation, of course, but make room in your treat menu for this one!

Here's the link: http://www.puffpastry.com/recipe/60670/pb-and-j-doughnuts

Unhealthy Exposures

                                                                         
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My daughter is 5 1/2, and I'm already worried that I'm losing control over what she's exposed to. Between school, television, magazines, and her friends, it's becoming more and more difficult to shelter her. For a long time, I didn't allow her to have Barbies, so she wouldn't think she had to have an impossible body shape when she got older. I've since relaxed a bit, but there are still so many things I'm constantly having to watch out for. Most importantly, I do not criticize my body in front of my daughter. I believe this is the fastest way to give your child a complex far too early. They need strong, confident mommies (even on those dreaded "fluffy" days.)

Women are constantly bombarded with images of unrealistic expectations of how we should look. Can't we lay off the Photoshop a bit? I mean, after all, aren't the women they're "fixing" gorgeous enough as they are?

On a lighter note, need a good laugh? Check out this site: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/19/funniest-photoshop-fails_n_731037.html#s142134&title=Check_THIS_Out