Even though the end of July is near that doesn’t mean it is too late to do some spring cleaning! You can clean out much more than your closets to feel completely renewed and refreshed. Even though you have gotten rid of last years flip flops and some frayed towels try cleaning out your mental closet to get ready for a new greener healthier life.
Here are some quick tips to make your summer and self have greener:

1. The Summer is the perfect time to eat lighter and healthier! It’s too hot to cook heavy meals in the kitchen. You want to cook outside and keep yourself cool. Try sticking to local & organic fruits and vegetables if you can. When or if cooking meats find lean, organic meats for summer grilling. Try new things with your healthy diet to keep you interested and learning how to stay healthy. You can carry your summer healthy habits over into fall and winter with the more you know. Melissa’s Everyday Cooking with Organic Produce: A Guide to Easy-to-Make Dishes with Fresh Organic Fruits and Vegetables

2. Be Inspired! The warmer months inspire everyone to want to get into better shape. Take advantage of the warm weather by eating outside, going on walks, riding bikes, or going to the beach.   Enlist a friend for support. It is sometimes easier to stay motivated when you have some one to share your “thin-spirations” with. Start a routine by yourself and with a partner use the DVDs  and equipment that sit back of the closet collecting dust. The days are longer and the nights are perfect for evening swims or after dinner walks. Try 10 FREE at-home, online yoga classes. Yoga expert Rodney Yee guides your one-on-one practice through videos and podcasts!

3. Get involved! Again with this wonderful weather you are afforded the advantage of outside events. Children are off from school have a yard sale or bake sale. Get the block involved and have a summer block party for everyone to enjoy. Talk to local charities about helping with fundraising or volunteering. Talk neighbors and families about going on group day trips together. How about home wind turbines?

4. Clean out the crap! Go through your kitchen cabinets, pantry, refrigerator , freezer and donate or throw away anything that will not help keep you on your summer healthy track. Change curtains, wash rugs, open windows or grow some in door plants. Than clean your house from top to bottom. While doing this get rid of/donate anything you don’t need or haven’t used in the past 8 months or so.  If you cannot find a way to reuse any of these items there is no reason to hold on to them. Go to your locak Goodwill or drop box and donate!

5. Help your environment! Get your family to grow an organic garden to help you save money and eat healthier. Talk to your family about composting and collecting rain water. Learn about your environment by hiking, visiting parks, beaches or go camping. Use the time to observe your local environment, this way you can understand what it takes to keep your environment greener. Take the time to visit local farms, you can get excellent tips and ideas for your garden at home. Try to maximize your effort by keeping track of your carbon footprint.

6. Stay positive! Making any changes in life can sometimes be difficult. But holding on to what isn’t working for us won’t help either. Set goals for yourself in short and long time-frames, you don’t have change everything all at once but you want to stay motivated in the right direction. Make your own goal related affirmations to remind you of what you have done, where you are and want to be. Keep a journal of the entire process. Being negative doesn’t help you feel better ever, don’t waste your time with it. 160-Page Recycled Paper and Sugarcane Journal

You may not always have the time to go to the spa or the money. Why not make your own spa treatments at home? You can invite some friends over and have a spa party or make your own recipes in your spare time. It’s a fun way to learn about the healing and nutritional properties of the foods you love.

Organic Yogurt Walnut Scrub

This treatment works best on normal or combination skin. The nuts exfoliate old dry skin while the yogurt soothes, and the honey promotes calmness.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup organic plain yogurt, chilled
1/4 cup organic walnuts; ground or pulverized
1 tbs Organic Fair Trade Raw Honey

Instructions:
Stir ingredients together. Apply to freshly cleaned face and gently massage to exfoliate. Let the mask sit on your face between 5-10 minutes, then wash off with warm water and pat dry.

MATERIALS:
Fibrecraft Foam Sheets
(any colors you want to make your monsters and garden)
Cloth, buttons, any odds and ends you can find to dress up your monsters and garden
Sparkling Glitter Shakers(if you have)
WASHABLE MARKERS
Glue-On Googly Eyes
Recycled Construction Paper
Pipe Cleaners Assorted Colors
Multicolored Poms
Recycled Scissors
Natural Children’s White Glue

DIRECTIONS:

First cut out the shapes for your monsters, flowers, plants and trees. If you have stencils or want to make stencils go ahead! You can use them for future projects. After getting your pieces cut out figure out what pieces you want to glue to which. You can either glue everything on to a paper or box or make everything loose to rearrange over and over again.  Then begin gluing everything together.  You can even tie things together if you have ribbons lying around.  You can sew buttons and other odds and ends to them.  You can use anything you find lying around the house.  You don’t even have to use foam to make your monsters, use news papers or magazines, use cotton balls if you don’t have pom-poms, what ever you want to decorate.  Use your imagination!!!

1. Replace carbohydrates from sugar and refined grains with “good carbs” from fruits and vegetables. Orang-hued foods were found to be the most effective substitutes. Being that fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, they keep you full longer, high levels of antioxidants like vitamin C and beta-carotene fend off the fat. You can get a good amount of beta-carotene from carrots, cantaloupe, squash and peaches.

2.About 25 percent of your daily calories should come from protein, but you should choose lean sources like poultry, fish, low-fat yogurt, and fat-free milk to keep your calories down. Protein helps to you boost your energy, aiding in calorie burning.

3.
Selenium can lower rates of abdominal obesity. Several foods contain selenium, so it’s difficult to know if you’re getting the recommended 55mcg per day. The best sources are nuts, whole grains, poultry and seafood. Foods rich in vitamin E, like nuts and seeds, will increase the effectiveness of selenium in the body. Natural Raw Organic Cashews

4.    Several studies suggest that alcohol is fine in small amounts, protects against weight gain. Data reviewed have suggested one 4-ounce glass of wine as the best bet. While one glass has great health benefits, having more is just going to add inches to your waistline.

5.

Eating good fats like monounsaturated and omega-3s make it easier to stay slim, these fats are found in fish, nuts, olive oil, & avocados examples of bad fats, like saturated and trans are found in butter, shortening, pre-packaged cakes and cookies.

Shop The Latest Eco-Fashion Sneakers & Sandals Available Now at SimpleShoes.com

I used to have these sneakers in high school! They were my favorite! The soles of the shoes were speckled with different colors and they were canvas. If I wasn’t wearing my Converse these were it! After a while finding them became extremely difficult. I was beyond disappointed. Then when I started watching Curb Your Enthusiasm I saw Larry David in what looked like my favorite old style! I am not sure if those were the brand of  his sneakers but I am almost positive! Larry David’s now ex-wife is an environmental activist so I was hoping Simple Shoes were back in action, and so they are!!
In my sneaker search I found these comfy slip-ons. They come in a variety of colors and to top it off they are soo very environmentally friendly!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

• Men’s Gumshoe – Organic Cotton.
• Midsoles and arch cookie made of carpet padding for at-home comfort at all times.
• No glue was used in the assembly of this shoe! Thanks to a lot of stitching, it’s made with less than a thimble full of water-based adhesives – most shoes use 2 shot glasses worth of glue.
• The small amount of glue that we do use is water based, not petroleum based.
• Just another way to reduce our dependence on petroleum, and it also means no nasty smelling glue for the people who put your shoes together.
• Partially recycled shoe – the bottom of this shoe is made from a recycled car tire blended with natural rubber.
• The foot form inserts are made of post consumer recycled paper
• Shoebox made of post-consumer recycled paper, soy based printing ink, natural latex and starch based glue.
• Part of the Green Toe™ collection.

KettleWorx Totaly Body Workout

I have been hearing things about Kettle Bell work outs for a while & I admit I wasn’t completely sure what exactly a Kettle Bell was. I knew a kettle bell was a weight but I was unsure what the big deal really was. Then I came across The Kettle Worx program and decided why not try it. An at home workout never seems to have the results for me that I get from working out regularly at a gym or taking classes. Six weeks of my time I was however willing to devote to this program being that you only have to work out 1 hour a week or so it claims.

Week 1: DVD Cardio Level 1: I am aware I am not the most in shape individual that has ever graced this planet but I do work out regularly. After 10 minutes of this video I am almost positive my thighs died and left me for good! Days later my thighs still hurt. I was sweating like an animal and I felt “the burn” immediately. I could barely finish the video. I did finish slowly after the second set because my body physically was shaking! Mind you these are no complaints! I was loving it. Walking was painful for a few days but well worth the pain I hope!

Week 1 DVD 2 Core Level 1: This time the work out seemed much easier. I didn’t sweat as much but I did feel I worked out my body thoroughly. These videos are sneaky because the next day!!!!! I felt every muscle in my core!! It is definitely a good feeling!

Week 1 DVD 3 Resistance Level 1: I did this after dinner last night which was great because it helped me push myself a little bit harder than usual to work off extra calories. The Resistance DVD had many exercises I already recognized from the first 2 DVD’s which I appreciated. I was no where near as tired as the first time I Kettle Bell’d. Make no mistake my body was shaking all over and I used my muscles but the workout seemed easier for me which is exciting. My body feels like it had a good workout but I am in no pain!! I am loving this workout!

Week 1 DVD 4 Fast Fat Burn Level 1: I figured a 10 minute quick cardio session I could handle after these first 3 dvd’s. My body wasn’t as ready to quit as the first time but in 10minutes I was feeling it. There was a feeling of accomplishment. Again these workouts are sneaky in that you don’t usually feel the pain immediately after your body stops shaking but the next day and possibly the day after that you are reminded of your efforts.

Week 1 DVD 5 Fast Abs Level 1: This is yet another 10 minute quick work out. By this time I wasn’t feeling anything. I was getting a little cocky about my progress. The next few days didn’t bring any pain either which was exciting. I am hoping that for the rest of this trial it will only get easier and less painful.

Week 2 DVD 1 Cardio Level 2: This time the cardio got easier. I could go through the entire video will less shakiness and sweating. It was more fun and I felt more comfortable with the routine. I still felt worked out and there was still considerable shakiness but the next day and the following days I was good. I can feel muscles I didn’t even know I had. I think I feel the work outs working but I’m not sure.

Week 2 DVD 2 Resistance Level 2: The resistance video the first time around was difficult but I assumed as with the cardio DVD, it would get easier. I was wrong! I sweat just as much as the first time and it just as painful. I wasn’t sure I could even finish the video! My body was shaking and tired. However I did get trough it which was motivating and I felt like I was stronger going through it. The next day I completely felt it in the back of my thighs and my butt!! Also right after I put on a pair of my skinny jeans that I hadn’t been able to wear in a bit and although my waist was still a bit tight the thigh and but area definitely fit differently. It wasn’t a huge difference but its there!

Week 2 DVD 3 Core Level 2: The Core work out seems to be the easiest for me at this point. I didn’t break a sweat but I definitely felt my muscles being toned. I have yet to see a difference in the way my body looks which is a little disappointing but it is only week too. I will admit however I am not on any particular diet which would maximize my progress. I eat healthy enough but I think I would notice more of a difference if I were on a diet.

Week 2 DVD 4 Fast Fat Burn Level 2: The 10minute workout videos are the most difficult in terms of sweat and activity. The Fast Fat Burn is the most painful and my body felt like it couldn’t go any further after the first 5 minutes. I was hoping the 10 minute workouts would be the easiest due to the short time but even in week 2 I am completely feeling the burn.

Week 2 DVD 5 Fast Abs Level 2: The 10 minute workout seems to be my favorite. Its quick! How difficult can a 10 minute work out really be? The Ab workouts don’t seem to exhaust me the way the 20 minute workouts do. The ab workouts are to be the easiest for me still but I by no means have toned abs so this does confuse me a bit.

Week 3 DVD 1 Cardio Level 3: The cardio work outs are the most intense. No matter how Kettle savvy I feel I am this is the one work out still makes me feel like a beginner. I have to admit I don’t notice my body really changing or my clothes fitting any different but I am still not dieting sooo I can’t blame the workouts.

Week 3 DVD 2 Resistance Level 3: I think at this point the Resistance workouts are becoming my favorite because they don’t make me feel like I’m going to die but I can feel my muscles working. Its an invigorating feeling even if you don’t actually see results. After the workout and even the next day I feel a little sore but when I stand I can feel muscles in my abs in ways I hadn’t before. That is a feeling I appreciate very much.

Week 3 DVD 3 Core Level 3: The Core work out isn’t my favorite even though I don’t think I’m doing the workouts incorrectly. I don’t sweat or huff & puff. I can feel every exercise and set but again I see no actual results. At this point I am frustrated but at the same time the all of the other work outs are challenging. I am definitely accountable for my lack of diet and I can’t see anything different but I am not giving up.

Week 3 DVD 4 Fast Fat Burn Level 3: OMG! This 10 minute session is probably the most difficult to date. The time is tricky because it is a 10 minute exercise which seems easy enough but easy the workout is not. The levels gradually increase in difficulty without you really knowing it. The 10 minute workouts may in fact be the most difficult workouts in the series. Kettle Worx doesn’t miss a beat with these quick ones.

Week 3 DVD 5 Fast Abs Level 3: Again the ab work outs don’t seem too difficult but I can feel muscles I don’t think I have felt in a while. I am starting to notice my posture and it correcting as well. The 10 minute workouts are still more intense than the 20 minute work outs but over all the work outs in general are all intense. I want to say the ab workouts made a difference in my clothing or my over all physical look but I still see no actual results.

Week 4 DVD 1 Cardio Level 4: At this point for some reason either my DVD player or the DVD’s themselves started not really working and I got discouraged. I wasn’t as into my workouts because actually going through with them became difficult because the DVD kept stopping or resetting itself which was incredibly irritating. So this workout wasn’t very successful.

Week 4 DVD 2 Resistance Level 4: This workout proved to be better because the DVD worked which was great for me! The level 4 workout put me in check for my few day’s of discouraging behavior. Again I will mention I wasn’t on a diet of any sort soo most of the discouraged feelings were really my own fault but you like to believe the DVD when it tells you all you need is 1 hour a week worth of workouts. I however believe you need to be on a very good diet and exercise regiment to really see results by this point. However most people that dedicated workout for more than an hour a week.

Week 4 DVD 3 Core Level 4: I am still enjoying the variety of workouts and the routines but the core/ab workouts feel they aren’t quite enough of a workout for me. I don’t see any results although I do feel them. I’m not completely willing to give up but I do wish that I would see the results in my wardrobe at least.

Week 4 DVD 4 Fast Fat Burn Level 1: The 10 minute workouts only have 3 levels but they pack a punch! I am grateful that they are so short. On day’s I’m not in the mood or don’t have enough time I think these hardcore little sessions can become quite motivating. My diet however is still not up to par so I am hoping to step up both better eating habits and workout sessions. These videos are great but for someone who drives an hour each way to work then sits at my desk for 10 hours, 20 minutes 3 times a week coupled with a less than perfect diet isn’t enough. Now that the weather is nice I have started walking during my break.

At the end of this 6 week test I haven’t noticed any weight loss nor do my clothes fit better. I didn’t feel it necessary to detail the next 2 weeks because they seemed to all be repetitive. I had good workouts that I felt were doing good but over all no actualy visible changes. This is a definite testament that you need more than 1 hour a week and a diet is a must. Anything else is just lying to you I think. I have mentioned a few times in this test that although I was not on a diet I eat pretty healthy regularly. I do however have an office job that requires me to sit for almost 8 hours a day. I go for walks on my breaks but that isn’t enough. As much as I liked the DVD’s they didn’t do what I had hoped. I like the workouts and I still do them but I have to be 100% about it and implement a diet into this or it will never work.

Too Little Trees: Confetti Collection Little Jots Cupcake

Since July is my birthday month, and yes I celebrate all month, I was searching for cupcake themed party things and saw this extremely cute stationary set! This set is printed on recycled paper and for every item you buy from Too Little Trees they plant a tree! That is reason enough to buy all the items they sell.

Product Description
Confetti Collection Little Jots Cupcake; Buy a book… we will plant a tree. It really is that simple. And it is true for more than just books. In fact, we are planting a tree for every single Too Little Trees product sold. So pick up a notepad, or a journal, or some notepaper, or an organizer, or any one of our other Too Little Trees environmentally friendly paper products. We’ll be planting a tree every time you do.

School may just have ended for you or your children. Usually at the end of the year you want to give your teacher/teachers a gift for the good job they do all year long. Ecoisthas done it again! This M&M’s candy dish is a perfect gift for anyone! Your teacher can leave this on their desk to remind them of the importance of reducing, recycling & reusing! Your teacher will see they did a good job! Not to mention what kind of promotion for the 3R’s! Other students and teachers will see this candy dish, ask about it and learn who really cool the 3R’s can actually be.

Come join them for a Poker and BlackJack Tournament

Together we can save the lives of innocent foreclosure victims and give them a new chance at life!

Enjoy playing poker or know someone who does? Looking for something fun to do this Sunday (June 27) evening? Then check out Poker for Paws Tournament in Tempe, across from The Improv, from 5-9pm. The evening will be sponsored by ABC Bartending & Casino School and all monies received will benefit Lost Our Home Pet Foundation.

It’s free to walk in the door and be a spectator, but those interested in playing poker or blackjack with Lady Luck need to register and pay a $40 admission fee to secure their seat at the table.
http://www.lostourhome.org/poker-for-paws-tournament-2010/poker-for-paws-registration/

Prizes will be given to the top 3 winners and on-line registration makes registration a breeze. Whether you play or not, be sure to bring plenty of cash, as refreshments and food will be sold and raffle prizes will be drawn throughout the night; and we all know with raffles, the more you buy, the better your chance of winning!

Special Raffle Prize of an Autographed Baseball by Don Newcomb of the LA Dodgers and Football Suveneir autographed by Tod Heq – former ASU football player along with many other great prizes.

725 South Rural Road, Suite #210,Tempe, AZ 85251 (Across from The Improv)

Contact Stacy Katz for questions – 602-524-8169

Organic gourmet dog treats

How much fun is this? You can design your own environmentally friendly T-shirt! I have posted items from Element EcoWear before but I cannot believe that I never noticed the design your own Tee section! Men and women can choose the type of shirt, color and design you like. There are soo many different patterns you are bound to find a couple you must have!

Product Description:

Support the planet with a customized graphic t-shirt! All of  Element EcoWear’s Essentials are fair trade, organic tees for men & women that can be hand-printed with Element’s modern, retro, & vintage graphics; you can choose the shirt & graphic combination. Each finely detailed, durable print adds just $10 to the price of Element’s eco-tees.  To order a graphic tee–choose a design, select “Add to Cart”, and then specify your shirt style, size & color.