In the not so distant past women had more of a support system in raising their children. It was more common to have several generations living in the same town, if not in the same home. Times have changed but women haven’t. We still need to learn from one another and to support one another.
Marilu has provided this community where we can share with one another, encourage one another and support one another in making healthy choices for ourselves and for our families!
Starting today, join Coach Robbie in discovering the new normal for your family. You CAN take back control in your home. It’s not just your right to do that – it’s your responsibility!!
Create the habits that shape the healthy, vibrant, energetic life you want. Get started here with five days of THE NEW NORMAL.
***s p e c i a l * o f f e r *** Sign up for the Mother’s Day special, and get three months FREE when you buy 6 months. In 9 months, you can birth a whole new YOU!
Memorial Day honors the vast numbers of men and women who have died in service to their country.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, and observed on May 30, 1868, when Arlington National Cemetery decorated the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers. The symbolism of wearing a red poppy on this day comes from the poem “In Flanders Field,” which likens the splash of red color to the blood shed by soldiers on so many fields.
Possible Memorial Day activities –
Attend a parade (or march in one)
Have a picnic
Fly the flag
Wear (or sell) red poppies
Visit a cemetery
Attend a memorial service
Visit a veteran
Make a thank-you card and mail to the local VFW or American Legion or VA Hospital
One of the signs of summer is seeing more feet! Coach Lyrical had some great suggestions during Booty Camp.
Exfoliate your feet, top to bottom. You may need something more than a skin brush for the bottoms of your feet. If they’re really rough, try a filer (or maybe a Ped-Egg) you can pick up at a drugstore or discount store. Whatever you use, make sure your feet are exfoliated before you go on to step 2.
*note – If you’re a runner or distance walker, you’ll want to leave some of the callouses on your feet so you don’t get blisters.
Moisturize your feet. Now, your feet are a lot drier than the rest of you, so you’ll probably need something heavier than what you use elsewhere. If you haven’t tried Marilu’s “overnight sock trick” (heavy coat of Vaseline, pop on a pair of socks, leave on overnight), it really works! Or try Lush’s Lemony Flutter. They market it as cuticle butter, but it works really well on feet and smells yummy too.
Polish. Your feet are on display a lot more in the summer, and you can have fun with color on your toes. OPI has some new brights with names like In My Back Pocket, No Time For The Blues, and Shorts Story. If you’re not a polish kinda gal, get a four-sided buffer at Sephora and keep your toenails buffed and shiny and groomed.
*note – if you just moisturized, you’ll want to remove the lotion from your toenails before polishing them. Rub the nails only with a little witch hazel on a cotton ball.
Sandals. What is summer without a pair of sandals? Whether they’re sporty so you can do a lot of outdoor stuff, or dressy for work or parties, or somewhere in between, show off those beautiful feet!
Are you looking for a picnic-friendly salad that everyone will love? Try this one, from Healthy Holidays / Party Hearty – it will become a favorite. Also good for buffets, potlucks, and all those other times you need something delicious, healthy, easy, and crowd-friendly. This recipe doubles (and more) easily.
3/4 pound tiny new potatoes
3/4 cup vinaigrette (try Annie’s Tuscany, or Newman’s Own Olive Oil & Vinegar, or make your own)
1 13-oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and halved
1 small red or yellow pepper, cut into strips
6 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup pitted black or kalamata olives, halved
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
Cook the potatoes in boiling water for 15-20 minutes, or until tender. Drain well; cut into quarters. Add the remaining ingredients and toss gently to mix. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
If you think about it, 5 cups of produce isn’t so very much.
A salad for lunch is easily 3 cups of vegetables.
Add some fruit for breakfast or a morning snack, and there’s another cup.
A side salad and a portion of veggies for dinner should get you past 5 cups without any problem.
Here are a couple of strategies to help you boost your servings of fruits and veggies.
The more varieties of produce you have available, the more likely you are to prepare them and to offer them, and the more likely you and your family are to choose to eat fruit or veggies.
How many different kinds of fruit (please skip the jams, jellies, and juices) do you have in your house right now? Count all fresh, frozen, and dried fruits. More is better.
How many different kinds of veggies (no fries with that tally, and no ketchup either) do you have in your house right now? Count all fresh and frozen veggies. More is still better.
The easier it is to “grab-and-go,” the more produce your family is likely to eat.
Are at least some of the fresh fruits and veggies prepped to grab and eat?
Is there a bowl of ready-to-eat fruit on your counter or table? (Bonus if you don’t have any other snacks visible – no cookie jar, no candy dish, etc).
Is there a plate or container of veggies washed, peeled, sliced or whatever – ready for snacking or salads?
Do you encourage snacking on fruits and veggies?
Here’s a weekend challenge – how many cups of fruit and veggies can you and your family eat each day? Strive for a minimum of 5 cups a day.
Fewer than 1 percent of adolescents, about 2 percent of adult men, and only 3.5 percent of adult women meet the USDA guidelines of 3.5-5 cups of produce a day, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (January 2009).
This is despite the fact that the researchers counted jam, jelly, and juice as fruit, and french fries and ketchup as vegetables. Seriously.
When did it get so hard to eat fruit and vegetables?
Do this for clothes that have been worn once and can be worn again before getting washed. These usually include pajamas, sweatshirts, sweaters, and jeans. If you don’t want to use a basket, try a shelf in the closet – just a place where you know there’s another day left in these clothes.
This not only cuts back on the wear and tear on your clothes (not to mention money on water bills, and just plain using too much water), but it will also teach your children to recycle clothes rather than throwing them in the hamper or on the floor!
It works for bath towels, too. Add one day to your towels to save a lot of water and cash!
Fresh Breastfeeding Ad Campaign Challenges U.S. to Help Moms Beat the “Booby Traps”
On May 25th, the Best for Babes Foundation will launch a clever and provocative new ad campaign designed to change the public perception of breastfeeding and expose the “booby traps” – the myriad cultural and institutional barriers that keep moms from succeeding. The ad debuts with an exclusive in the June/July issue of Fit Pregnancy. The campaign has been endorsed by Dr. Joan Meek, Chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee and celebrities Gabrielle Reece and Marilu Henner.
