Search Results for: blog warm up and cool down

Red, White and Ready for Santa

The countdown to Santa’s visit is officially on in my home.  My 8-year-old has already plumped up the pillows on the recliner, so St. Nick will have a comfy spot to sit before he unloads his sack and piles her gifts under the tree.  My daughter also penned a short note to Mr. Claus welcoming him to our home and inviting him to nosh on the cupcakes she is leaving out for him. Yes, cupcakes. This year we are deviating from the traditional sugar cookies because my child has deduced that it would be barbaric for Santa to chomp on … Continue reading →

Would You Get Secondhand Gifts?

Today we were at a large local thrift store. We love this store, and most of our clothes that aren’t hand-me-downs come from there. Yes, even my clothes once lived at this store, and I’m perfectly happy with that. We get other goodies from this store too. Kitchen items, sports items, and baskets for cookies are all there. Today I got some yarn for our Brownie group’s project, a parrot for my daughter’s Halloween costume, and shirts for my daughter. I also got Christmas gifts. This might seem tacky. Perhaps it is tacky. I am likely quite tacky without realizing … Continue reading →

Pros and Cons to Elliptical Machines

I am a pretty big of my elliptical machine. I have a NordicTrack, found at most exercise stores and department stores that carry exercise equipment (such as Sears). Although the elliptical machines are one of my favorite workout machines, like with any machine, there are pros and cons. Pros One pro to an elliptical, whether at the gym or at your home, is that it is an indoor workout. Indoor workouts are convenient when the weather outside is less than desirable. Indoor workouts can also be safer. Instead of running outside where you have to deal with terrain, the elliptical … Continue reading →

Grandpa’s Visit

We have been overrun with family lately. I love it. I love Texas, but I miss our families. We were so close to mine in California and we drove to Nevada to visit Chris’s often. Now we have to wait for them to visit us every few months or so. Chris’s parents were here for about a week. We had a few days to ourselves before my mom arrived from California. We all got to spend a few days with Grandma and then we went to the airport to pick up Grandpa. We were at the airport early. We watched … Continue reading →

Your Waist Size and Walking

People are often most concerned about their weight, using it a measuring tool to determine success. I know I am guilty of this too, but there is something else I am more concerned about- waist size. Research has show that the size of your waist can determine if you are likely to have heart disease and other health problems. Several research articles I have read encourage woman to have a less than a 35 inch waist and men to have less than a 40 inch waist. Following these guidelines can help save your heart and life. The research shows that … Continue reading →

Warm-up and Cool-down

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Sometimes we forget two very important aspects of working out. That is remembering to warm-up and cool-down. Before we start an aerobic exercise our muscles are cold and tight, meaning they are not totally prepared for a workout. Doing a warm-up helps prepare your body for your workout and decreases the risk of a muscle strain. A cool-down helps you bring your heart rate down and allows you to transition back into your daily routine. Your warm-up can be a less intense version of what your aerobic activity is. For example, if you are going to go for a three … Continue reading →

Home School Blogger Spotlight: Giving Up on a Clean House

I must say that I love the title of this blog. The title, Giving up on a Clean House, is not a statement of the state of her home but a reflection of her state of mind. The mindset that says children and family are more important than dishes in the sick or the socks on the floor. Stacy keeps her head above the piles of laundry (not to say she has piles of laundry) by slowing down a keeping life simple. That simplicity is the focus of her blog which reflects family. She says “I have slowed down, committed … Continue reading →

Keeping Your Preschooler Warm This Winter

I need to confess: this is an ironic blog for me to write, since I live in the Pacific Northwest. Not that the Pacific Northwest is never cold, but we certainly don’t experience the jaw-dropping lows that other parts of our country experience. However, I also work outside with small children and I have seen them plenty cold in our damp, cool winters, so consider this a public service announcement on how to keep your kids warm this winter. My one-word solution to the cold is this: wool. That is all, really. It’s naturally water-repellent and very warm, and if … Continue reading →

Barack and Michelle Obama Visit England

The Obamas have landed – in England that is. Our first family visited their Royal family and Barack gave the Queen quite a gift – a loaded iPod. That’s right; our hip president gave the 82 year old British monarch an iPod, but not just any iPod. He loaded it with videos of her 2007 visit to the U.S. and Broadway songs. There were 40 show songs on iPod including tunes from “West Side Story,” “My Fair Lady,” “South Pacific,” “The King and I,” and “Oklahoma.” Barack also gave the Queen a songbook for “The King and I,” signed by … Continue reading →

Updating Your Exercise Routine

You’d never know it by looking out my living room window, but according to the calendar, spring is on its way. For may fitness buffs, this means switching up the ol’ exercise routine and adding more outdoor calorie-burning activities. When the weather warms up I surf the Internet and plan hiking adventures. Backpacker magazine has an extremely user-friendly Find-A-Hike option that provides incredibly detailed maps. If you are looking for cool places to explore nature with your entire family, you’ll find this tool indispensable. The Find-A-Hike electronic helper allows you to simply scroll across any U.S. state and find detailed … Continue reading →