Total Body HIIT Workout

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Looking for a simple, but great workout to get you sweating?  This HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout will get you sweating, burn fat, and build muscle!  Try it out and let me know what you think! If you like it, share it!

80 Years of Workout Songs

I love music.  I grew up in a musical family.  My dad plays guitar.  My mom sings.  My sister played flute.  My brother played drums.  My twin brother can sing.  And, due to many hours of practicing with Amy Grant, Celine Dion, and Crystal Lewis, I can sing too!

My family's love of music rubbed off on me.  I love a bit of most genres and a little from nearly every decade.  This is what inspired this post.  My favorite genre to workout to is simply rock. These songs are sure to get you moving and keep you moving!  So, without further ado, here are my favorite workout songs over the last eight decades!

(All songs are linked to Amazon music.  Feel free to download your favorites!)

80 Years of Workout Songs

1930s

Sing, Sing, Sing (Benny Goodman, 1935)

1940s

Chatanooga Choo Choo (Glenn Miller, 1941)

1950s

Aint That a Shame (Fats Domino, 1955)

Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley, 1956)

Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis, 1957)

La Bamba (Ritchie Valens, 1958)

1960s

Barbara Ann (The Beach Boys, 1962)

Twist and Shout (The Beatles, 1963)

Respect (Aretha Franklin, 1967)

1970s

Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1974)

Carry on my Wayward Son (Kansas, 1976)

Already Gone (Eagles, 1976)

1980s

Eye of the Tiger (Survivor, 1982)

Beat It (Michael Jackson, 1982)

Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi, 1986)

I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Whitney Houston, 1987)

1990s

What is Love? (Haddaway, 1993)

U Can't Touch This (MC Hammer, 1996)

Song 2/"Woo-hoo" (Blur, 1997)

All Star (Smashmouth, 1999)

2000s

Beautiful Day (U2, 2000)

Dare You to Move (Switchfoot, 2000)

Hanging By a Moment (Lifehouse, 2004)

Viva La Vida (Coldplay, 2008)

2010s

Firework (Katy Perry, 2010)

Stronger (Kelly Clarkson, 2011)

Let it Out (Switchfoot, 2014)

Shake it Off (Taylor Swift, 2014)


Disclaimer:  I do not live by the lyrics of the songs, or even promote them.  I simply enjoy the beat of these songs to workout to. These songs were chosen for their BPM (beats per minute).   I did, however, try not to put any songs with vulgar, profane, or sexual lyrics on this list.

I hope you enjoyed my eight decade long playlist!  What are some of your favorite songs to workout to?

Smoothie FAQ's & Recipe Round-up

For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links.

June 11, 2012 was a good day.  This was the day that after months (possibly years) of considering it, we went to Costco and bought a Vitamix.  We had gone through two other blenders and we needed something reliable to blend our smoothies.

Over three years later, we are still making a least one smoothie a day, if not two!  They make a wonderful, cold, easy dinner on hot summer evenings!  Read on for answers to my most frequently asked questions regarding smoothies and some pretty yummy smoothie recipes!

My husband has had great results with having a smoothie daily!

Smoothie FAQ's

Why Smoothies?

When we decided to drink smoothies, we were prompted by watching the documentary, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead.  In this documentary, a man lived for a whole year on juice.  We were inspired by his health improvement by including more fruits and veggies in his diet, but we didn't want to juice.  We wanted the fiber so we could have a meal replacement.

The smoothie is the solution to this.  Of course, juice is more nutrient dense, but lacks the ability to keep you full.  Also, we add protein to our smoothies.  So, in the end, the smoothies we consume have fruits, veggies, and protein.  They are a very healthy meal replacement.

Also, kids love them!  They are a great way to fill your kids with fruits and veggies they may not otherwise eat!

Why a Vitamix?  

As I stated, we went through two blenders that didn't survive our daily smoothie making.  Kitchen Aid was one brand and Cuisinart was the other.  We had already decided that we wanted to drink a smoothie on a daily basis, so investing in a good blender was a necessity.  We read reviews and also had relatives who used a Vitamix.  We were able to sample the use of a Vitamix while on vacation as well.  There was no question that it was a wonderful product.

There is also a 7 year warranty, which we have used, and is excellent!  We have a family member that has a vintage Vitamix that is still going strong!  You can also use your Vitamix to make ice cream, but butters, dressings, dips, flours, and soups!

What if I can't afford one?

Save up.  We did just that.  That is why it took us so long to buy one!  But, it is WELL worth it!  You can also buy certified refurbished ones on Amazon (Click here for link).

Why do I need to include a vegetable?

It is easy to get quite a bit of servings of fruit in a smoothie.  Adding a vegetable evens things out and adds even more nutrition.

What vegetables do you recommend adding to smoothies?

Spinach and carrots are two wonderful options.  Spinach isn't as bitter as kale can be, and it is very nutritious.  You can add any citrus fruit, with a bit of the rind included to take away any bitterness.  I also recommend carrots!  Carrots are naturally sweet.  The kids enjoy the color the carrots add!

What protein do you use?

We use Jarrow Whey for our unflavored protein powder (Click here for link).  We use this if we want to make a fruity flavored smoothie and we want to just be able to taste the fruit, not any other added flavor.

We also use Designer Whey's chocolate protein powder for our chocolate spinach smoothie (Click here for link.)  We vary the flavors of that smoothie by adding coconut milk and/or peanut butter.

Will I notice a difference?

ABSOLUTELY!  You will see improvement in your digestion (the FIBER), and, as you can see in the photos of my husband pictured above, eating a balanced diet (clean foods, limit processed foods, and a lot of produce), and adding a smoothie a day to your diet, may result in weight loss, and if you add protein, aid in building muscle.  My husband has lost weight and improved his cholesterol!

What about traveling?

This sounds crazy, but the Vitamix is wonderful to travel with.  Our Vitamix machine has traveled thousands of miles with us.  If your hotel doesn't have a healthy breakfast, no problem!  Staying with a relative?  No worries!  Just plug your Vitamix in, add the ingredients that you can bring or buy, and you are good to go!  Having regular smoothies while traveling definitely helps prevent tummy troubles that can come as an effect of traveling.

Packing protein and smoothie supplies for travel makes healthy eating easy while traveling!

What are some good Smoothie Recipes?

I am so glad you asked!

Our favorite recipe is simple!

Chocolate Spinach Smoothie

2 cups of coconut milk (no sugar added), 1 very ripe banana, 2 scoops of chocolate Designer Whey protein, 1 1/2 tbsp peanut butter*, 1 1/2 cups frozen spinach.  Blend well and enjoy! (Serves 2!)

*You can vary the recipe by omitting the peanut butter and adding mint leaves!

Here are some other recipes you may enjoy:

Coconut Lime Smoothie

PB&J Smoothie

Little Bit of Everything Smoothie

Green Pina Colada Smoothie

Pine-Berry-Orange-Kale Smoothie

Orange Pineapple Smoothie

For more yummy smoothie recipes, please follow me on Instagram and Facebook! 

10 Frugal Ways to Build Your Home Gym

(For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links)

I am a firm believer in the fact that you don't have to spend much money to get fit.  That's right.  No expensive gym memberships that you don't use enough anyway.  No pricey workout dvd programs.  No $1,200 Boflex machines.  You just need simple, creative tools you can use in your own home, backyard, or even take with you to the park.  Here's a list of ways you can frugally build your home gym!

1)  Craigslist.  I once got a weight bench, 120-lbs in weights, a barbell, a curl bar, and two dumbbell bars for twenty bucks!  I searched Criagslist off and on on for a couple months.  When I saw the post, we called, and snatched up the amazing deal!  Big ticket items can go for pretty cheap if people are moving and/or are desperate to get rid of the items that typically take up space if they aren't being used.

2)  Garage/Yard Sales.  Dumbbells, exercise bands, and other smaller exercise equipment are commonly found at garage sales.  This is where I scored my Acu-Hoop hula hoop for two bucks!  Know the price of the equipment that it is sold for in stores, so you can know if the seller is giving you a good price.

3)  Local Facebook rummage sale groups.  "ISO" or "In search of" is a way you can post an inquiry about an item you are looking for.  In these groups, for example, you can say "ISO weight bench with weights," and hope to get a reply.  You can also scroll these groups for deals on what you are looking for.  Search Facebook for local sale groups in your area. 

4)  New Years Sales.  I know New Years Day may be a while from now, but it is when every store takes advantage of New Years resolutions and puts all their fitness equipment on sale.  If you want deals on brand new equipment, this may be the way to go!  Keep your eyes peeled for sales around the end of the year and through the beginning of the year!

5)  Make your own gym.  I made a homemade version of a kettle bell, a "kettle bottle"  for VERY cheap (view here).  I'm moving on to a homemade balance beam for my daughter.  Pinterest is a great way to find instructions on how to make almost anything for your home gym.  Weigh out the price of the materials and then go for it!

6)  Use your space.  Don't have money for a pricey gym membership?  No problem!  Set your gym up in your garage, spare bedroom/office, or a covered patio, weather permitting!  

7)  Use items in your home or yard for equipment.  A blogger, "Diary of a Fit Mommy,"  uses her couch to workout.  Use your stairs or steps if you have them.  Pinterest has some great stair workouts.  Use sandbags or bags of (clean) kitty litter to do squats with.  Use wash cloths under your hands or feet on a slick floor to make plank exercises more challenging.

8)  Turn your backyard into an obstacle course.   Use stools, chairs, or benches, outdoor toys, pool noodles, balls, You can set it up in a way that is challenging for adults, but fun for kids as well.  Is it hot?  Throw the sprinklers on for an extra "challenge."

9)  Use your kids.  Be safe and mindful, of course, but if you have small kids that aren't afraid of riding on your shoulders while you do squats or sitting on your back as you plank or do push-ups, then include them!  Use them as weights!  Chances are, they'll enjoy it!  You can use this post as a reference! 

10)  Amazon.  If you aren't a DIY-er, don't have time to go to garage sales, and don't want to wait till New Years to get a good sale price, Amazon just may be the way to go.  I bought a 40-lb weight set for my hubby nearly three years ago.  It is still about the same price, and at $49.99 for 40-lbs of adjustable weights with the dumbbell bars, that is a great deal.  I've looked in stores, and can't find a set at this price.  We still use them three years later!  The best thing about Amazon is that you can compare prices around the internet and you can also read a good amount of reviews before you make your purchase.

What ways have you built your home gym on the cheap?  How have you saved money while getting fit?

Did you like what you read here?  Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for more frequent fitness and nutrition related posts! 

Pretty Powerful Protein Products

(For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links.)

(I love alliteration.  Can you tell?)

In the last few days, I've had a few readers and friends ask me what protein products I use.  I thought it would be helpful if I posted what I use here so I could include links to the products. This is not an advertisement, but just simply sharing with everyone what products you will find in my pantry.  So, here it goes!

Protein Powder

I love Designer Whey protein powder.  Any of their chocolate flavors will suit me just fine.  However, I have a friend who is allergic to chocolate (!!!), so I have to say, their French Vanilla flavor is pretty good as well.  This protein powder is what I use for my quick protein smoothies with just frozen spinach and coconut milk.  It tastes amazing with just those two ingredients!  If I'm feeling in need of carbs, I add 1/2 a banana!  This protein is sweetened with Stevia and has all natural ingredients.  And, at about $0.70 a serving it's a cheap source of good protein!  (Protein: 18g, Carbs: 6g, Sugar: 2g, Fiber 3g, Calories: 100)

For fruity smoothies, I prefer the unflavored Jarrow Whey protein powder.  I like using unflavored protein when I have fruity smoothies so I can taste the fruit and not the flavor of the protein powder.  You can view some of my fruit smoothie recipes here. (Protein:18g, Carbs: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Fiber: 0g, Calories: 94)

Protein Bars

Questbars are my favorite.  They aren't so frugal, running at least $2 a bar, but they are SO good!  If I am going to a party or gathering that I know will have a yummy dessert, I bring one of these and my hubby and I split it to treat ourselves while everyone eats dessert.  I can pass on dessert for one of these.  Yes.  They are that good!  My favorite flavors are Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookies and Cream, White Chocolate Raspberry, and  S'mores.  They have 20 grams of protein and between 1-4 grams of sugar and natural ingredients!  They are also gluten free.  That makes this hypoglycemic girl pretty happy!

Pure Protein Bars are a great option and good for your wallet.  These are cheaper, so they are more doable on a budget.  Costco, Target, and Amazon carry these. Our local grocery stores carry them as well.  You can find them for a little over $1 a bar if purchased in bulk. The have 20 grams of protein and 2 grams of sugar.  My favorite flavors so far are the Chocolate Caramel Peanut and the Chocolate Brownie.

Other Protein Products

The Complete Cookie is in a whole other ball park.  I first bought this protein packed cookie for our vacation, which we traveled 3,500 miles by car.  That called for some satisfying snacks!  In comes The Complete Cookie.  My hubby and I shared this cookie, but were still able to only eat 1/2 a serving!  It was delicious and rich...just what a chocolate cookie should be!  They run between $1.50 to just over $2 each, but have two (or if you are like me, 4) servings in each cookie.  Each serving has about 15 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.  A very satisfying snack, indeed!  My favorite flavors are Chocolate Chip, White Chocolate Macadamia, and Snickerdoodle.  


I have always been a fan of Kodiak Cakes.  And then they outdid themselves! They came out with a protein-packed version of their flapjack mix, Power Cakes! You can still have your light, fluffy pancakes, and get protein with that too! These delicious, all natural flapjacks have 14grams of protein per serving, 5g of fiber, and 3 grams of sugar.   The carbs are a good 30 grams, which is great for breakfast.  I usually pair these with eggs and fruit and have an awesome, protein-packed breakfast! Now, the tricky thing about Kodiak Cakes is that they are manufactured in Southern California, but you can't find them in bulk here!  For some reason, Costcos in California haven't yet clued into the fact that this product is AWESOME!!!  So, every year, when we vacation in Utah (where the company's headquarters are) or in Washington, we stock up for an entire year.   You can, however, find this product on Amazon (linked above) for at least double the price of Costco.  You can also find smaller boxes at about the same price per ounce as Amazon at Target and Albertsons.

FREE Fitness Blender Jump Rope Workout

Every once in a while, I come across people who are doing exactly what I would want to do if given oppurtunity.  Daniel and Kelli at FitnessBlender.com are doing just that.  The married couple is taking on the fitness world in a way that most don't:  They are making their workouts available for FREE.  There is no catch.  Everything at FitnessBlender.com is run on donations.  What an awesome gift to give people!  I am so glad someone is doing this!  I am a true believer in the fact that fitness shouldn't cost, or at least it shouldn't cost much.  

Kelli does the workouts in a garage-turned-studo and they edit them in their home office.  The result is professional workout videos that are very easy to follow.  I recently bought my kids jump ropes, and because of my lack of height, I realized those jump ropes were actually the perfect length for me!  Ergo, my inspiration to find a good jump rope workout!  I had to look no further than FitnessBlender.com.  

I completed the workout and was covered in sweat.  It was only 6 minutes (aside from warm up and cool down), but extremely intense.  This workout challenged my coordination as well!  The kids enjoyed seeing their mommy jump rope!  Do you have a jump rope handy?  If you are around 5'2" like me, you most likely can use your kid's jump rope!  Try this workout and let me know how it goes.   (This particular workout is not for those with lower back, hip, or knee pain or problems.) 

Visit Fitness Blender's You Tube Channel to get access to all their FREE videos!  They have over 400 workouts for every fitness need and level!  They can be an unbelievable blessing to the everyday person who cannot afford $50+ workouts!  And by the way, they didn't pay me to say any of this!  I just want to spread the news of how good FREE fitness can be!

Frugal Fitness: DIY Kettlebottle and 25 Minute Total Body Workout

 No workout equipment?  No money?  No problem!  You can make a Kettlebottle (a cheap alternative to a kettleball) for under $5.  Here's how!

Materials:
A funnel (If you don't have one, it's $1.47 at The Home Depot)
All Purpose Sand ($2.67 for 50 lbs at The Home Depot)
Milk Bottle (I used a vinegar bottle, but discovered a milk bottle had much more room for grip!)
Garden Spade
Water, if needed

Directions:
1.  Place funnel in bottle.
2.  Put small amount of sand in funnel.  If sand is wet, you may have to keep tapping bottle on the ground until the sand goes through the funnel.  Keep repeating until bottle is full.
3.  Tap bottle hard on ground to settle sand and add more until sand is firmly packed in bottle.
4.  Weigh bottle and add water if you'd like to make it heavier.  To add water, do it slowly to allow air to escape and make room for the water.
5.  Put lid or cap firmly on.  If the cap just snaps on, make sure it is secure!

You can use the rest of the sand to make many more bottles!  I plan to have many ready for others to join me in workouts!

Our bottle weighed in at 15 lbs!  Include your kids in this process!  My kiddos enjoyed putting this together and it was nice to have the company and help.  With the kids, it took about 20 minutes to fill this bottle.

Kettlebottle Total Body Workout

12 reps, 3 x's through (takes about 25-30 minutes)*

1. Russian Twist: Hold bottle firmly with both hands slightly away from abdomen.  Twist from side to side.  Repeat.
2. Clean to Press: Take hold of bottle while you are in a squat position. Use core muscles to bring bottle up to shoulder and then continue (carefully) up to full extension of your arm.  Switch sides.
3.  Concentration Bicep Curl:  Hold bottle with hand.  Stay in squat postion.  Rest elbow on thigh and curl up slowly.  Concentrate on your negative movement, or the movement on the way down.  Switch sides.
4.  Shoulder Rotation:  Stand with feet shoulder width apart.  Take bottle in one hand.  Hold arm next to bottle and keep bent at elbow (90*).  Rotate arm up, leading with elbow, keeping arm bent at 90 degrees.  Stop when elbow is level with shoulder.  Switch sides.
5.  Overhead Tricep Curl:  Take bottle sideways firmly in both hands and over head.  Start with elbows bent and arms at 90 degrees.  Press bottle up with keeping elbows firm in place.  Press until arms are nearly straight.  Return to start position.  Repeat.
6.  Hammer Curl:  Grip bottle with one hand.  Hold arm next to body.  Curl bottle all the way up and back down. Repeat.  Switch sides.
7.  Upright Row:  Stand with feet shoulder width apart.  Hold bottle with both hands and arms close to body.  Keep bottle close to body as you bring it up and your elbows out.  Bring the bottle chest level and then return to start position.  Repeat.
8.  Squat and hold:  Hold bottle firmly with both hands.  Squat down, keeping knees behind toes and chest up.  Return to standing and repeat.  After reps, hold squat for 12 counts.
9.  Swing Through:  Hold bottle firmly in both hands.  Use your core muscles.  Bend knees and swing through your legs and then back up no higher than your neck.  Repeat.

*Please remember to warm up before hand!  Like any workout, please check with physician and/or make sure you are healthy enough to do this!

Below is a card you can print out or click on to make larger so you can read it.  Save it to your phone.  Share it.  Spread the word!  Fitness doesn't have to cost big bucks to get big results!

 Have a happy, frugal workout! 

Welcome to My Garden!

I've had this blog for 7 1/2 years now and I've never shared my love of gardening.  That is just a shame!  I've been gardening in my backyard for about 3 years.  Last fall, we took a huge step and turned our not-so-nice front lawn into a front yard garden.  It was a huge amount of time and effort, but it was absolutely worth every bit of it!  Everything in my front yard garden is now on a drip system that is saving us money, but we get a beautiful garden that produces food and beauty for us instead of a lawn that never looks good.  I'd say that is a pretty good deal!

The fruits of our labor!

Frugal Gardening

Our family chooses to buy organically what is called "The Dirty Dozen."  Most other things we buy from our local farms, which we are very blessed to be surrounded by.  These farms are cheap and, although they are not officially labeled organic, they are organically grown and pesticide free.  Cheaper than buying any of this produce, though, is growing it!  

In our entire yard, we are currently growing (most of which are producing or will produce soon) crookneck squash, zucchini, five varieties of tomatoes, seven varieties of bell peppers, two varieties of blueberries, several varieties of cucumbers, two varieties of strawberries, Bartlett pears, Fuji apples, Pink Lady apples, red grapes, Hass avocados, tangerines, two varieties of peaches, Mandarin oranges, navel oranges, lemons, limes, Santa Rosa plums, apricots, watermelon, cantaloupe, sage, rosemary, dill, cat mint (cat nip), lavender, artichoke, onions, garlic, lemon mint, and spearmint. Most of those plants and trees are actually in our front yard.  

The cheapest way to organically garden is to grow from seed.  However, this year both Costco and The Home Depot had organic plants for very cheap.  I did find than some of these plants carried blight, a disease that is very contagious among tomato plants and must be disposed of.  I threw away three plants because of this, but our fruit coming from the other plants has still outweighed our cost.

The price of seeds and plants, and even the minimal water used from the drip system to water these food-bearing plants doesn't come close to the fruit we see come from it.  It truly is a frugal way to get food. 

This is just a part of the process of converting our yard from not-so-green grass to a beautiful, water-wise garden.  In the lower right photo, I am laying rock with the help of my 78-year-old neighbor.  Whenever I was outside working, he was faithful to come and help, despite me verbally worrying about his physical condition.  He taught me all about laying and repairing pipe!  He was such a blessing in this process!  Now, back to the subject of rock.  I laid about 7 tons of rock by myself.  My hubby got to help with some, but, during the workdays, I plodded on, determined to get our yard done! That, by far, was the hardest I ever physically worked!  Core workout, anyone?

Fitness in Gardening

How does all this gardening fit into fitness?  Well, aside from the nutrition we get from all we grow, it is physical work!  Some may not enjoy this kind of work, but I actually enjoy trimming my plants, deadheading the roses, pulling the "occasional" weed, and, of course, picking our harvest.  Then there is the heavy occasional labor like hauling plants, digging holes, trimming trees, and moving soil!  A garden is living, and therefore you have to actively attend to it.  It is work, but it is work that helps keep me fit and feeds me good food, so it's a win-win! 

Family in Gardening

In addition to the physical fitness I get from tending to my garden, I enjoy the benefits of having an opportunity to teach my kids how to grow their own food.  That is priceless.  My oldest son told me the other day, 

"Mom, when I grow up, I'm going to teach my kids how to garden because you taught me to."

This garden-loving mom just about had her heart melt to the floor!  As a homeschool teacher, I can teach about nutrition, gardening, science, and nature all through my front yard.  Since putting in the nearly 200 plants that make up our front yard garden, nature comes to us.  We released lady bugs in our yard several months ago.  They've made themselves quite comfortable eating aphids and are still in our yard.  We get lizards and birds (although our cat keeps close watch on them!), beetles of all kinds, butterflies and dragonflies, moths, and praying mantises.  My children love to see all of this right outside our front door.  

Meet "Zippy,"  a hummingbird who watches over our yard!

One bird in particular has found his way into our yard and our hearts.  He (we think!) is a very territorial hummingbird.  He chases any other birds out of our yard, and perches himself in a tree or on our tomato cages and just sits and watches.  He comes close to us without flying away.  We can watch him dart and dash through our yard, protecting all "his" sweet nectar-bearing plants.  Because he made himself at home and claimed our yard as his own, we decided we would name him!  One of my sons wanted to name him,"Dusty" while my other son wanted to name him "Zip."  I just combined the names and so we call him "Zippy!"

I am so pleased that my kids get to experience nature on a whole new level compared to a lawn.  They get to observe how things grow, if they bear seeds, change color, or smell a certain way.  The education from our yard seems limitless!  What a way to enjoy God's creation!  

Left: "Zippy" the hummingbird enjoy nectar from our Mexican Sage.  Right: A Swallowtail butterfly enjoying our geraniums! 

Faithfully Gardening

Gardening and running are two activities that for some reason open my mind up to be in awe of God and prayerfully thank Him.  When I walk out my front door, I walk immediately into this beautiful garden with flowers blooming, birds chirping, butterflies fluttering, bees buzzing, and the warm smell of sunshine on herbs, and I am overwhelmed with what God has blessed us with.  I can see tangibly how He is providing for us in the Summertime (a time when money is tight in our household).  I am reminded often of this verse as I see the birds in my garden, 

"Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!" 

Luke 12:24

The Bible so often uses nature to describe the glory and works of God.  What a blessing to be reminded of that in our own front yard!

I love our front yard and I love to share it with people, whether that means bringing extra basil to church, sharing Zoodles from my garden with friends, gifting friends with flower arrangements, or letting friends and family walk through our garden and pick blueberries.  So, without further ado, here is our front yard garden...

This is the bottom and main part of our front yard.  The stairs lead to an embankment of land that we also transformed with pathways, fruit trees, and water-wise plants like lavender, a butterfly bush, and lantana.

Almost everything in our garden that is not a plant, mulch, or rock, has been so kindly donated by neighbors and family who cheered us on as we worked months in our yard transforming it into a garden.  This child-sized garden bench and stones were donated by a neighbor who's grandkids had grown too big for the bench.  The figures of the children on the swing was my grandma's, and the fountain bird bath was given to us by my mother-in-law!  Now that is what I call frugal!

This is our outdoor/indoor kitty named Olive.  Since we've converted our yard, she's been busy keeping birds, lizards, and gophers away from our plants.  When she isn't busy doing that, she is soaking up the sun!

The steps in our garden were actually a diseased Liquid Amber tree and another tree that we had to cut down.  We repurposed them as steps by cutting them into the sizes we needed for each step.  We cut a flat end and left that at top, while we dug into the ground so the rounded end would stay put.  We made sure each log step stayed in place by metal pipes cut to size.   I originally wanted railroad ties for our steps, but in doing a little research and having Home Depot tell us that they can't be cut or handled by their employees with out long sleeves and chemical gloves, I decided that wouldn't be the best fit for our organic garden!

Although this purple pepper looks great, it was bitter.  Any tips for sweet peppers?

Thank you for letting me walk through my garden with you!  Do you like gardening or does the thought intimidate you?  I hear so many people tell me, "I don't have a green thumb!"  And to that I must say that my thumb isn't naturally green!  It took practice and trial and error to grow anything!  I'm still learning and will always be learning!  That is most of the fun!

22 Ways to Keep Kids Active in the Summer

(For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links.)

It's the first week of Summer.  The kids are out of school.  Now what?  Before your kids start saying the most common, "I'm bored!" complaint and beg to watch TV, take a look at this list of activities to keep them and you fit during the summer!

22 Ways to Keep Kids Active in the Summer

1.  Scooter ride.  For youngins, the three-wheeled Radio Flyer scooter is a great way to make it possible for them to participate in this!

2.  Bowling.  Bowling is a pretty cheap family outing, and you get a core and arm workout at the same time!  Many bowling alleys offer deals in the Summertime or during the daytime.

3.  Morning or Evening Jog.  For the little ones, put them in a jogger stroller and roll on out!  For the ones 5 and up, they can run along side you.  Walk when they (or you) are tired and then start jogging again when you catch your breath.  Running in the early morning or late evening can help your family keep a little cooler on those hot Summer days!  Be sure to bring water with you!

4. Backyard obstacle course/workout.  Be creative with the obstacles!  This activity can be free when you use things you already have.  Check out my post on how to set one up here.

5. Indoor trampoline park.  Believe me, unless you are an athlete, you will only last an hour with your kid.  Paying for an hour at the trampoline park can be a fun and cheap outing for the Summer. (Just ignore the sweaty feet smell!)

6.  Bike Ride.  The young ones can ride in a trailer at the back of your back or a seat in the front.  You can find cheap bike trailers on Craigs List.  Ride to the park in the evening and have the kids play on the playground once they get there.  They might just sleep in the next morning!

7.  Skating Rink.  Go retro and teach them how to skate.  There may be a lot of falling on your their part, but it's guaranteed fit fun!

8.  Run through the sprinklers!  This is a good, old fashioned way to stay active and cool.  Although, with droughts in some states (i.e. California), be sure to check to see if your city or area has restrictions on what time you can turn on sprinklers.  In my area, we cannot turn on our sprinklers between 10am and 6pm.

9.  Workout DVD with parents.  In the cool of air conditioning, you can pop a DVD in the player and let them join you.  Cardio can be easy for them to catch on!

10.  Swim lessons and/or a going swimming in a pool.  Go in the pool with your kids.  It's way better than just sitting and watching them and it keeps you both active!

11. Mommy or Daddy and Me Yoga.  Lay out a few yoga mats and teach your kiddos how to do the downward dog or the cobra.  Many yoga moves are pretty easy, teach coordination, and the kids will love to mimic animals!  Try these kid-friendly yoga moves from Parents.com.

12.  Go on a hike.  The cooler Summer evenings are perfect for hiking!  In our area, we have a few hills we like to hike up.  Look up if there are any waterfalls in your area to hike to!  If you live near a lake, river, or the ocean, those are wonderful destinations to hike or walk to!

13.  Go "Mall Walking."  My first job was in the mall and in the Summer, the mall opened it's doors an hour before the stores did.  The Mall Walkers would come in every morning faithfully, and beat the heat with the AC in the mall.  The best thing about this is, you can treat your kiddos to a morning smoothie from Juice It Up or a frozen yogurt after you do some rounds in the mall!

14. Water balloon toss/fight.  You and your kids will be getting wet and running to avoid getting hit.  Fun and active... and almost free!

15. FREE workout videos for kids on YouTube.  Take advantage of YouTube.  It is a great resource for kid-friendly workouts.  Click on this link for a fun, free, kid friendly workout from Fitness Blender.

16.  Run through the water fountains/splash pads at local parks or shopping centers.  The drought in California has limited our city's water use, so all the public splash pads are sadly closed for the Summer.  I have found that privately owned splash pads in shopping centers are still running.

17.  Lawn games.  This rubber horseshoe set is a cheap way to have a fun, active evening in the backyard!  Lawn darts are fun as well!

18.  Include your kids in your exercise routine.  Whether you do CrossFit, weightlifting, BeachBody workouts, cardio, or HIIT workouts, your kids can participate.  Just be safe.  No heavy weights for kids!  There are barbell toy sets for kids, but I would recommend them just mimicking your moves if they are very young, or doing 1 or 2 lb weights if they are a bit older.

19.   Indoor climbing gym.  This is an amazing upper body workout.  It's no wonder mountain climbers end up on American Ninja Warriors!  These places usually run deals in local coupon magazines.  Check your "junk mail" for these deals!

20.  Family dance party.  Put on some fun music and boogey on!  This is honestly one of my favorite memories to make with my kids! You can do it in the backyard if it's cool enough or in the coolness of the AC in the living room.

21.  Build a fort on the lawn or in the living room.  Include your kids in the process.  When you are done, enjoy the fruits of your labor by enjoying a healthy snack or meal in the fort.

22.  Sunset "field day."  Take your kids to a field at a park or a local public school at sunset.  Enjoy the coolness of the summer evening and run around, kick around a soccer ball, do relay races or sprints, or throw a football!

How does your family keep active in the summer?  If those ideas aren't listed here, please leave those ideas in the comments!  Have a happy, active Summer!

Favorite Fit Gadget: Paderno Spiralizer

Top Left:  Zoodles sautéed with spinach, onions, olive oil, and herbs.  Top Right:  Spiraled cucumbers for a fun, quick snack.  Bottom Left: Baked curly fries.  Bottom Right:  Zoodles with fresh basil, sweet bell peppers, and onions, served with sausage.

One the the most common questions I get from Instagram followers, friends, and church family is "How do you make Zoodles?"  The answer is simple.  I use my Paderno Spiralizer!  This product, by far, is one of my favorites to use in my kitchen.  

The best thing about Paderno Spiralizer is the price.  On Amazon, it runs on average $35.  For this price, you get a spiralizer that has suction cups to stick to the countertop when in use, three different connections with very sharp blades, and the crank-like base---everything you need to make curly deliciousness!  (Except the fruits or veggies!)  

The spiralizer is so easy, fun, and safe to use, my kids run to the kitchen and fight over  ask very politely to turn the crank.  You can make a spiral out of a variety of fruits and vegetables, from zucchini to yellow squash, to cucumbers, carrots, and apples, and, of course, potatoes!  We use this tool a few times a week, and, I have to admit, it has prompted me to eat more vegetables.  I no longer eat spaghetti noodles because I prefer "Zoodles" over pasta!  

My son made a "vegetable salad" with spiraled carrots!

If you'd like to purchase the Paderno Spiralizer and see for yourself how deliciously wonderful it is, please click on the link below!

Paderno Spiralizer

For a website FULL of swirly, twirly goodness, ideas and recipes, please visit this wonderful resource at Twirly Bites!