Listen...you might just learn...

The final day of LEAP YEAR February... I started with something I'm listening to (like the 'rules' says)  which was the ever popular YO GABBA GABBA in my house :D

But that quickly changed to:

The news of Davy Jones passing away at the age of 66, is still, somewhat, hard for me to grasp.  It's not like I KNEW the guy, but I grew up adoring The Monkees - all 4 of them.  Yes, I'm only in my mid 30's, but I have been a HUGE Monkee fan since I was probably like 7 or 8 :)  It's kind of like my Elvis :(  RIP Davy...may the music live on!!

One more heart tip: Take a hike. Because it's leap year, you get an extra day to work on your heart's health! Go for a walk today--even if you only have 10 minutes. Short bursts of light activity strengthen your heart, just like longer, intense workouts do. Take advantage of this extra day and your heart will thank you!  Please try to keep this up for the whole year/the rest of your life :)   We enjoy you reading our blog, we enjoy you in our lives and we want you around for many, Many, MANY years to come ;D  

"Those who haven't loved somebody else, more than they love themselves haven't even begun to live" ~ Source Unknown

I want money...

Or at least that's what the picture Day 28 is saying ;-)

Heart tip of the day: It's never too late to start a healthy lifestyle. By implementing small lifestyle changes like these each day, you can improve your heart health and quality of life. The important thing is to stick with it.  That's exactly what we're working on this year (and hopefully FOREVER) in our house!  We want to be around for many more years to come - we have two small kids that need us, a grown son-who soon enough-will have his only family that we want to be a part of, and many years of living ahead of us!!!

"I laugh, I love, I hope, I try I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things too, So we're really not that different, me and you." ~ Colin Raye

You can have your cake....

And I ate it too :)  Day 27 is something I ate.  It was my wonderful husband's birthday, so the kids and I made him brownies!  They were SO excited to bring him home from dinner to the presents and brownies :D  They get so excited for the little things and it's so refreshing to look at life through their eyes!

Tip for heart health: Go fish. Fish like salmon, tuna and halibut are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health. Six to eight ounces of baked or broiled fish each week will do your body good!  We LOVE fish and we probably have it two or three times a week!  Not always the kinds listed, but still fish (Tilapia, walleye, etc) Also, just read that it stops the signs of aging (wrinkles, gray hair, etc...) MAYBE I should have started eating it more regularly a few years ago ;-)  HA!!

"When we extend ourselves to another human being in any way at all, when we positively touch the life of one person, we benefit the whole of humanity." ~ Gail Pursell Elliott

The night belongs....

To day 26 :)  Our moon - at least we could see it!!

Healthy heart:  Breathe. Slow, deep breaths can help conquer stress and lower blood pressure. With your eyes closed, practice inhaling deeply into the belly and exhaling slowly. Try this several times a day.  This works wonders for A LOT of things...wanting to pull your hair out, wanting to cry because of stress, JUST BREATHE!!!! :D

"True love is knowing a person's faults, and loving them even more for them." ~ Mandy Hampton

Green is the color of ....

My downstairs bathroom floor (rugs) :)

Heart healthy tip:  Move more. Every bit of activity you do can help you strengthen your heart and maintain your weight. Find opportunities for fitness by taking the stairs, parking further away, doing yard work and more.  This really isn't hard, just takes some 'thinking' about, especially in some cold air, and the 'easy' way we like to do things these days.

"You don't need to be on the save wavelength to succeed in marriage. You just need to be able to ride each other's waves." ~ Toni Sciarra Poynter

Look inside, you will find....

Nothing exciting in our bathroom cabinet!! :)

Yes, it's REALLY that clean and organized... I just went through and cleaned them out not that long ago :)

Heart tip:  Cook at home. Homemade meals are usually lower in fat, salt, and cholesterol and higher in fiber and nutrients. When you do the cooking, you control the ingredients and the cooking method.  This is a HIGH priority goal in our house right now.  Not only does it help healthwise, it also saves money in our budget conscience lives :)

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing." ~ The Bible, I Corinthians 131:3

If the shoe fits....

Today was your shoes... but my wonderful 4 year old likes to 'line up all our shoes'.... she's so funny!!!

Heart healthy tip:  Know your family history. Certain health risks are partly genetic. For example, if your father had a heart attack at a young age, you should start preventive care and screenings sooner yourself.  SO TRUE...for any medical history!  It sucks to think about, but wouldn't you rather know early enough to maybe prevent something terrible from happening?!

"Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives." ~ Louise Hay

Work, work, work....

Sometimes I think my job is the craziest thing ever, but I wouldn't trade it for a million $$!!!

This is 'visiting outer space'.... :)  

Heart healthy: Hold the salt. Consuming too much sodium can elevate blood pressure, increasing your heart disease risk. Look for low-sodium foods and try to limit your sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg daily. This is actually VERY easy to do 90% of the time for our house.  We don't use a lot of salt and we're really starting to watch the labels carefully!!

"But true love is a durable fire, in the mind ever burning. Never sick, never old, never dead. From itself never turning." ~ Source Unknown

My favorite things...

Or in this case, my fav picture of me... So I went WAY back :-)

That's my 2nd grade picture :)   I LOVE the early ones of my school pictures....

Heart friendly tip of the day:  Limit alcohol. Recent headlines about the benefits of alcohol are controversial since alcohol can cause other health problems. If you don't drink, don't start. If you do, limit alcohol to one drink daily. Absolutely!!  I am not one to preach about drinking, but let's just say some days you need that relaxing moment of an adult beverage...just don't go overboard!!


"The madness of love is the greatest of heaven's blessings." ~ Plato

The writing is on the wall....

Or the menu ;-)  Today's picture - handwriting!  I realized, I usually only write the menus, the grocery lists (about half of the time - otherwise it's on the phone) and checks for bills :(   PATHETIC!  We should start a letter chain just so we have to practice writing!HA!

The tip of the day: Catch some Zzz's. If you average less than 8 hours of sleep a night, you could be putting your heart at risk. Getting 8 hours of restful sleep is an important part of a heart-healthy lifestyle.  So two things 1) For me to get 8 hours of sleep, that means going to bed around 10 (I TRY to do this during the week or when my husband is home...) 2) They say restful.... HAHAHAHAHAHA!  I can't honestly remember what 'restful' sleep is anymore!  I've become a light sleeper so the slightest sound wakes me up :(

"Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude."  ~I Corinthians, The Bible

I hate everything about you....

Okay, not really, but I really dislike DISHES (grocery shopping and doing bills/budget too)...

but these are NEVER ENDING!  This is 1 hour after I ran the dishwasher.... :(  Two kids, two adults and a weekend.....

Heart tip: Get screened. After age 20, you should get your cholesterol levels tested every five years. Discuss your results with your health care provider for recommendations.  Hmmm, had NO idea!  But now it'll be on the list ;-)

"Some people never say the words 'I love you' It's not their style to be so bold. Some people never say those words: 'I love you' But, like a child, they're longing to be told." ~ Paul Simon

Put A Drink In My Hand....

Day 18 -after a night out - A LOT of water (most of the time this is the drink ANYWAY), a little caffeine, and a beer to relax (and almost fall asleep on the couch at 9:30pm :D)

Just in case you are looking for another tip:  Choose whole grains. Foods like brown rice, oats, whole wheat and barley are packed with fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients. A diet rich in whole grains can help lower cholesterol and improve heart health.  Again, we are on the road to this tip!  I like whole wheat bread, we're starting to do more brown rice - and USUALLY whole grains is fiber filled which helps with other areas as well ;-)

"Two lives, two hearts joined together in friendship united forever in love." ~ Source Unknown

Time keeps on ticking....

Day 17- time!  It was time to relax, time to clean, time for a mommy night out, time for FUN!  Although, the faster time goes, the older we get and the older we get, the faster time goes!!

To help your heart healthy:  Limit saturated fat. Foods to avoid include: bacon, beef, butter, full-fat dairy, coconut oil, ice cream, lard, palm oil, and pork. Read food labels, aiming for less than 15-25 grams of saturated fat daily.  Nothing like calling out 60% of my diet ;-)  We're again, working on this... TRYING to aim for less!!


"Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop." ~ Source Unknown

New things....

Day 16 - something new :)  We went to the Penny Carnival at the kids' school - Abby came home with a new facepainted rainbow :D

The tip for a healthy heart:  Practice yoga. Research shows that yoga, like meditation, can reduce blood pressure, improve arterial elasticity, regulate heart rhythm, and increase the heart's efficiency. Try a class or video 1-3 times per week.  Lord knows I spent many hours in meditation and prayer the past couple weeks.  I used to Yoga with my Wii Fit on a regular basis - guess I should start back up ;-)

"Love is not a matter of counting the years -- it's making the years count." ~ Wolfman Jack Smith

Operator...

(I think I have it figured out - I fall behind on the weekends :D, which is just fine with me because it means we're BUSY!!!)
The next topic for pictures was PHONE.  This is a sample of them in our house :)

Heart healthy tip: Crack up! Recent studies are showing that laughing may protect your heart by improving circulation and blood flow. Tell a joke, watch a comedy, or just laugh out loud. After all, heart health is serious business! Please, if you don't laugh at SOMETHING everyday, what kind of person are you anyway?!?  Or, if you need something, I can always add my kids' stories of the day ;-)  They crack us up daily!!!

"I can think of no better way of redeeming this tragic world today than love and laughter. Too many of the young have forgotten how to laugh, and too many of the elders have forgotten how to love. Would not our lives be lightened if only we could all learn to laugh more easily at ourselves and to love one another." ~ Theodore M. Hesburgh

Heart

Of course today is Valentine's Day, so they make us have pictures of hearts ;)

 A chocolate human heart.... Who wouldn't want this?!?! :)

 My heart (and soul!)....

 A big piece of my heart with their stuff from school :D

Not bad for two little kids with a total of 23 'friends' in two classes!!

Happy Heart Day tip:  Satisfy your sweet tooth this Valentine's Day. Studies show that dark chocolate helps prevent heart disease. Milk chocolate doesn't offer the same benefits, so look for at least 60-70% dark chocolate varieties.  If you're anything like me, it took a few times of eating dark chocolate to decide I liked it :)  Don't get me wrong... I still sneak a piece of milk chocolate once in awhile ;D

"Put love first. Entertain thoughts that give life. And when a thought or resentment, or hurt, or fear comes your way, have another thought that is more powerful -- a thought that is love." ~ Mary Manin Morrissey

Blue......

These are a sample of the blue things in one little boy's room ;)

Tip of the day for a healthy heart: Fill up with fiber. Soluble fiber (found in oats, rice, bran, barley, dried beans, and apples) can help lower your cholesterol levels, which improves your heart health. Aim for 25-35 grams of fiber each day.  I know for a fact that this house is horrible at getting fiber! We're aiming to get it back on track... we are eating yogurt with fiber, I take one soluble fiber tablet a day (just swallow with water) and I can see a tremendous change in more than just my heart health ;-)  ha!!

"It is a lovely thing to have a husband and wife developing together and having the feeling of falling in love again. That is what marriage really means: helping one another to reach the full status of being persons, responsible and autonomous beings who do not run away from life." ~ Paul Tourneir

AH......

Don't judge....it's a downstairs closet that we haven't gotten to yet... but of course, they want a picture of YOUR closet...  ;-)

Heart friendly tip:  Consider aspirin therapy. Taking baby aspirin (81 mg) can help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by preventing blood clots. Since it's not safe for everyone, talk to your doctor first.  I'm on the fence with this advice.  I don't feel like it's necessary, BUT I do a few people that have suffered heart attacks/strokes and it's been prescribed (OTC) by their doctor and they've seen drastic changes in their hearts.  My grandmother was recently told to cut her dose of aspirin each day because her heart looks great (she's never suffered, it was just recommended because of age and family history)

"When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or our family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change" ~ Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh

If it makes you happy....

These two make my world go 'round...along with their daddy and big brother!! LOVE.LOVE.LOVE!

The quick tip of the day for a healthy heart:  Sip green tea. Iced or hot green tea is packed with antioxidants that prevent plaque from forming on artery walls, relax the blood vessels, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Brew and enjoy 1-2 cups each day.  I have ALMOST gotten rid of my dependency on caffeine because of green tea!  I brew a warm cup in the morning and most days try for a second after lunch (during quiet time!)  In the summer months, I HOPE I like chilled/iced green tea, but if I don't....I'll continue to brew myself a cup or two a day of warm tea :D

"The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say, What are you going through?" ~ Simone Weil  (PS -  I LOVE my neighbors!! :D)

This is me...

Self portrait time - not a huge fan, but here's those are the rules ;D

Heart healthy and happy tip:  Lose weight. ONLY IF YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT by a few pounds or more!! Dropping just 10% of your body weight (if you are overweight) can significantly improve your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and overall heart health. Again, I'm sorry for stuffing it down your throats, but we are currently working on our weight loss goals in our house too.  We would like to lose 10% of our weights by summer.  Right now, it's a challenge for each of us, but we're doing little things to help each other out!!

"Love was as subtly caught, as a disease; But being got it is a treasure sweet, which to defend is harder than to get: And ought not be profaned on either part, for though 'Tis got by chance, 'Tis kept by art." ~ John Donne