Fitness Friday Update!

It's been awhile since I've written an update.

I'm still going strong although the weightloss has slowed down quite a bit. I'm sure it's because I'm at the end of the line. 8 more pounds and I will have reached my goal! I've lost 3 inches off of my middle and hips, and several inches off my bust and thighs. Most of the weight still wants to hang around my middle. That might be because my muscles were stretched out from having my children. Who knows!

I've been doing great with my exercising. I'm walking every weekday morning with a friend. It has been in the 20's this week but we are still bundling up and getting out! It's not only good for our bodies but also for our minds and spirits. Then 2 days a week we also go to a gym and work out with a friend who is a personal trainer, and 1 day a week we do water aerobics. I think the water aerobics is my favorite.

Getting out and doing these things with a friend has really helped me step up and keep going. I lose interest with the same old thing over and over again. I also really enjoy being around other people. I never thought I would but surprisingly I do!

So, my next goal is to drop 5 pounds in the next couple weeks. I'm sure it'll be tough with the winter upon us but I know I can do it! I'll report in again in a couple weeks! :)

Unplugged Challenge: November/December 2012

I hope you've decided to join me in Unplugging! 

For the rest of November I'll be unplugged Thursday (29th) and Friday (30th). The only reason I'll get online is to check my email for business purposes. If you see me posting anywhere it is because I have scheduled them.

During December I'll be unplugging on Wednesdays plus a few extra days for the holidays. I hope you can join me! If not, pick a day (or even a half day) that works for you!

• Wednesday, December 5
• Wednesday, December 12
• Wednesday, December 19
• Monday, December 24
• Tuesday, December 25
• Wednesday, December 26

Not sure about 'unplugging'? Read about it: HERE! 

Unplugged Challenge

It's back!!! Are YOU up for the challenge???

Have you ever thought about unplugging.. turning off your computer, TV, and cell phone..just for a day? Did you ever wonder if you could survive without those things? Do you even remember when no one had them and what they did all day without them? 

I have wanted to challenge myself to unplug for awhile now but I keep putting it off for another day (or week). I stay home and I get so fed up with myself when I realize all my time has been sucked away. I've considered completely doing away with my facebook page for that very reason but I don't think I could do that! And I wonder if I could really survive without checking my email or updating facebook or vegging out in front of the TV or texting just for a day and I wonder how much I could accomplish for that day. Well, I'm about to find out!

And, I challenge you... to join me in unplugging one day a week! 

Leave the computer off, those emails can wait & if someone really needs you then they can pick up the phone. Turn off the TV, give yourself a little media & commercial break. Don't check your cell phone, turn it off all together or mute it. If you only have a cell phone & not a land line then turn off the bells and whistles that alert you to texts and emails. Resist the urge to check your phone for those texts & emails. *Work and school will be the only reasons to use the computer.

I will post a schedule every month for the days each week that I'll be unplugging. You are welcome to unplug on those days too or pick days that you would prefer. 

So what are you going to do on the days you unplug? 

Here are some suggestions (if you have anymore, let me know and I'll add them to the list)…

• Read a book (when was the last time you read a book? Went to the library? 10 days? 10 months? 10 years? Did you even know they still have library's?)
• If reading isn't your 'thing' then listen to a book on tape/CD (you can check those out at the library too!)
• Work on a craft/sewing project/quilt/crochet/knit/scrapbook/woodwork/etc.
• Do your chores (is the laundry still sitting on your bed folded or unfolded? Then go finish it...)
• Take a walk (if it's cold then put on a coat!) or go play in the snow or ride a bike...
• Play a game (card game/board game/peek-a-boo with the baby/etc.)
• Write a letter (you mean people still do things like that?)
• Start or write in a journal (see note above)
• Is there a subject that interests you? (ancient religions/biology/astrology) Now would be a good time to study it.
• Take up a new hobby (photography/embroidery/model car building)
• Plan and create an elaborate dinner for you and your hunny and eat by candle light, after you put the kiddos to bed… who knows where it could lead and what special tradition you might start by taking the extra time to plan a date like this. ;)
• Pamper yourself (do your nails/hair/make-up just for the heck of it)

Get creative!

So there you have it! Do you think you can handle it? I hope so!

Link up and spread the Unplugged Challenge!

Grab the Button!

Wanna read about what I accomplished on the days I unplugged? Great! Links are below!

Coming soon! :)

Wordless Wednesday: Move Over!

I'm not sure you can tell what the black fur balls are here- the big one is obviously the cat, Meowie, who has taken over Bella's bed. Bella is the small fur ball on top side. I just love this photo! :)

P2RL: Slime

Pinterest to Real Life: Slime

A while ago, my boys and I were getting a little bored with playdough, so I thought I'd look up something new and fun to do. What I found was Slime! This is such an easy project to create and it leaves you with hours of fun play time! 

I used equal parts glue and liquid starch. I only had the white glue on hand but you can also use the clear kind for a different look. It's also really fun to add some food coloring to the glue before mixing it with the starch (I did the other way around and it didn't mix as well). After the color and glue is mixed, stir in the starch, the whole thing will begin to solidify, and you can then take it out and work it with your hands. We had it on the cookie sheet at first while we worked in the rest of the starch to contain the mess but once it was mixed in then we could just put it right on the table with little mess. For storage, we put it in a plastic baggie, squeezed out the air, and put it in the frig. I have no idea if keeping it cold helped extend the life but after awhile the slime picked up bits and pieces of yuck and I tossed it out. So now we need to start all over... maybe with a different color! :)

At first Jameson did not want anything to do with it! He didn't like the texture but once he saw his older brother playing with it then he had to do it too!! There have been many a happy hour with the slime in our house (read: the kids were busy so mom could get something done)!

Closing Up Shop

Sometimes things just don't work out and it's best to let them go. You know?

I've decided to shut down my main Heather's Green Home Goods website. The URL will point to my blog instead. I'll be keeping the name, used as an umbrella term, and keeping the facebook page. The website became a real headache and source of stress to try to manage. Driving traffic to it was also not really working out well. So, I decided to just push that off my plate and stick to Etsy. :)

And right on the heels of that decision I decided I needed to close up shop at Heather's Custom Sewing. It's sad to see this shop go! It was my first online selling site and I've run it since June 2008. However, my life has turned in a different direction entirely from where I started! I enjoy sewing aprons, tote bags, etc but doing so has just taken up too much of my time lately. I really want to put all my focus into my green cleaning shop and my cloth diaper shop.

Micromops and Hen and Chick Cloth are staying right where they are on Etsy and hopefully we will see some growth from them in the coming months. I have new items I'd like to add and a few new products I'd like to develop. Keep an eye out for what's new!

Heather's Custom Sewing will be shut down at the end of this year, 2012. Everything in the shop is currently $5.00 and under. I would LOVE for these products to go to a good home for the holiday season (and I would love the extra space in my sewing room)!

Oh and use coupon code BLOG15 for an extra 15% off your purchase!

Happy Shopping!!!

Vacation!

Hi Friends!

Things just seem a bit overwhelming sometimes. The best thing I can do for my family and myself is to take a few things off the burner.

I've put all of my Etsy shops on vacation and have deactivated my facebook account. I'm thinking (hoping) that this will just be for today and the rest of this weekend. I will probably open everything back up Sunday night after the boys are off to bed.

So until then, have a great weekend!

~Heather