Fit Mommy Friday - Verse Update

Isaiah 43:18-19
Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
It will even make a roadway in the wilderness
Rivers in the desert.

Fit Mommy Friday

Checking in! Week 1 - I did GREAT!

Worked out 5 days, did 2 pilates days AND 2 days with weights in addition to a cardio day....and one pilates day I ALSO did weights/cardio workout! WOO HOO!

I ate my 5 fruits and veggies every day, it helped that I made a big ole batch of veggie soup at the beginning of the week, so I had a big ole bowl everyday for lunch...in addition to other things each day.

I chose Tuesday for my no sugar day, wanted to check it off early in the week. To often I have waited to the end, and then accidentally forgot I was not supposed to have sugar, eating it, then losing my challenge opportunity. So, I did good, no sugar day accomplished!

I did not eat after dinner 5 x per week! This is such a good challenge for me and I truly feel so much better when I do this.

And I reflected on my verse each day, it sits in my kitchen window. I will come up with a new one this weekend.

Not a bad start, feeling great! Thanks ladies for making this challenge possible!

PG Key Review

I would love it if my kids could surf around the internet without worry, but that is just not the world we live in. My children do a lot of digital scrapbooking as apart of their homeschooling, as such we find images from the internet to add to their pages. The problem is, I cannot allow them to surf through pictures without supervision. The general rule around here is, I look for a page of images, I scan it and after I let them look through. You never can tell what will pop up under a seemingly innocent search title.

When PG Key arrived for review both myself and my children were excited at the possibility that they would be able to do some hunting around for themselves, and from the reviews I read about this product prior to trying it, it seemed like a very real opportunity! Here is a little snippet from their site:

"Simply plugging PG Key into a child’s or teen’s computer allows parents to follow the advice so often given by law enforcement and parenting experts: 1) Control when and how long the computer is used, 2) Properly setup your system with filters and web site blocking, 3) Create the “over their shoulder” environment that encourages kids to act the same way “on line” as they do in every other part of their life.

Simply put - PG Key does NOT replace parenting with technology - It ENABLES parenting with technology.

PG Key is so easy to install, that any Parent or Grandparent, – no matter how “technically challenged” can plug it in, and within a few seconds have everything they need to apply their parenting skills and strategies, to their kid’s “online” world."

It seemed like something we could really use around our home. And SO simple to use. Sadly, this product did not work for us. There seems to have been some glitch between our computer and their product. However, since I am not able to give an adequate review on the product due to this glitch, I do want to take a moment to highlight their customer service.

Now, this is a good area for me to review, as I highly value good customer service. I feel the customer is the life blood of a retail establishment and as such there should be mutual respect between customer and representative. Let me just say for PG Key, their customer service was impeccable. They did everything they could to help me with this product and have asked me to further help them in working out this glitch so other customers never have to experience it. They were friendly, patient and kind. I am truly sorry this product did not work for us, but I am so glad I can give their customer service team a glowing review. And for informational purposes, when I would first call in I would never tell the rep I was a reviewer of their product, I wanted an unbiased representation of their service. They get an A+ for doing a great job in this area!

So, PG Key can be purchased for just $49.99, total price, no subscription needed. If you would like to try it before you buy it, check out this free trial they offer! You can also head on over the The Old Schoolhouse Magazine if you would like to read more reviews on this much needed product.

Disclaimer: I am a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. As such I have received this product free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion and review of this product. I have not received any additional compensation for my review.

10 Week Challenge!

It's not like I don't have enough things on my schedule...I do not suffer from boredom, yet here I sit taking on a challenge with some wonderful ladies. It is a good one and a goal I seem to be constantly working on; health. So, I have to write up my personal goals for a 10 week Fit Mommy Challenge. It begins today and ends December 31. What a great way to start the new year right? Have your "resolutions" checked off already? Love it. So here goes:

I am beginning this challenge in level Two: This level is for those who are already exercising at least 3 times per week on a regular basis. Goals here might include one additional 20-30 min workout each day/week, or incorporating a new exercise or tool (kettle bells, stability ball, bands, dumbbells) into your fitness routine, etc. It should also include some sort of nutritional goal.

1. Exercise 5 days per week, one day with weights and one day pilates, the other three days are cardio (which can be mixed with weights). I have a tendency to want to do all cardio forgetting that the other aspects are just as important. Each day I will exercise a minimum of 30 minutes.
   
2. Eating 5 fruits and veggies 5 days per week. I need a couple of days to not be perfect at it, but I will try. Doing it 5 out of 7 days is a good goal I think.
3. Drinking 8 oz of water a day. Water is my first choice of drink, I just don't always get enough if it is not laid out as a personal goal.
   
4. Lose 8 pounds by the end of this challenge. That would be wonderful!! :)
5. Each week I will have a no sugar day - sugar is in EVERYTHING, and I want to work on not consuming it so often.
6. No eating after dinner 5 days per week. I will brush my teeth after dinner and be done for the day! Nighttime snacking is a serious downfall for me.
7. I want to have a bible verse I can reflect on each week of this challenge. I will post my new verse each week on my blog.

Here is my verse for this week:

Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
1 Chronicles 22:13

I think that is it! So, let the fun begin!! I will be checking in this coming Friday and let you all know how it went!

Siritual Seasons

Recently a fellow brother in Messiah was sharing how he was feeling "spiritually unfit" lately. I thought that was a great way to put it. I know I have those experiences as well, times when I feel very connected spiritually and times when I am feeling rather lost, and unsure of where my connection went. Interestingly, I have been really digging into the principal of the seed from a biblical perspective and thinking a lot about seeds, how they produce like kind, which can be either good or bad. How so much in the world both spiritually and physically is rooted in this very basic principal. When I thought about my friends' comment, that they were not feeling so spiritually fit, the thought popped in my head it is like the seed again, sometimes the seed has grown and is in full bloom, sharing it's God given beauty with the world, then the season changes and the bloom dies off and it returns to seed again, where it is hidden in the earth being nourished by the soil waiting for the seasons to continue so it may again sprout forth through the earth and push up toward the sun, once again coming into bloom. God's cycles are amazing....and there is just so much to learn from there. I would say during those tougher times, when we feel more disconnected, we could possibly be in the part of the cycle where we are in the earth, being nourished by the rich soil....waiting for the season to change. It's not a bad place, it's just a part of the cycle. However, I can't wait to be blooming again though, because when we bloom for Him, it is quite magnificent! Shabbat Shalom.

Sukkot Moments

Last night was a wonderful celebration to end the festival of sukkot. We sat outside, the night could not have been more perfect, beautiful and warm. We enjoyed dinner out in our sukkah, a little singing, a little wine/grape juice (depending on your age in this scenario) and a wonderful time sitting out under the stars remembering God's amazing promises. After a delightful time outside, we moved this little family party inside where we put on some music, some good bumpin' music and had a dance party for about another hour or better! It was a total blast! Finally we were all pooped and ready for some couch time, we closed up the evening with an inspirational movie and some desert. Perfect evening, such fun memories, what a blessing.