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HEALTH/ HOME/ Simplifying

Simple Workout Inspirations

I was blessed in a HUGE way when I was sick, with the gift of a year-long gym membership.  It has been so awesome, and when someone else is paying for your monthly gym fee, well…talk about motivation!  I HAVE to get my bum to the gym.

I recognize not everyone is able to do this, so I wanted to share some things I do around here on days I am not able to make it to the gym, hoping it may bring inspiration to anyone who needs it.

1. An area to work out in that works for you.  I found that my cold basement, even though it has a large tv & carpet, was not the place I wanted to be.  I wanted a bit more ‘zen’ feeling for yoga, and my bedroom has worked much better for me.  I keep my mat, a set of 5 lb dumbbells, and workout DVD’s in my room.  You can’t see it in the pics, but I have a TV/DVD player in our room.  Works for me!

{that brown mat is a yoga mat, I just roll it up when finished and lean it in the corner of my room. The DVD is Jillian Micheals}

2. Jillian Micheals 30 Day Shred–I kept seeing this DVD talked about all over the web, so when a few of my real life friends recommended it, I had to check it out.  This DVD is GREAT!  Jillian gets it done and works you hard, using simple, sometimes old-school (jumping jacks) but effective technique.

3. Good music always inspires.  Find what you love.  Here is a link to Fitness Magazines Best Workout Playlists.  They give you lists of music depending what type of workout you are doing.

4. Keep it simple.  Do what you can.  Something is better than nothing.  Starting on one body part may inspire you to continue on to the rest!

This leg workout would take minutes a day. How about some calf raises while doing the dishes, or while in the shower!

{found on Pinterest, can’t find original source}
 
Here is a quick workout that would work the entire body.  My sister in law told me that she will just randomly break out in jumping jacks while in the kitchen, waiting for water to boil, etc.  She said her family thinks she is a bit nuts, but IT WORKS FOR HER.  This confession made me smile and inspired me to just move!5. Is the treadmill your thing?  Mix it up with these awesome treadmill workouts from FitSugar.com.
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Source: fitsugar.com via Amy on Pinterest
 6. Need to target a certain area but not sure where to start?  This website is an exercise finder.  Click on the area of the body you want to tone and it gives you a list of exercises.  Found at Divine.ca.com.

7. Got a “pouch?” 3 sets of these held as long as you can, works the lower abdominal.

8. Nature, the most inspiring.  A simple walk outdoors, while paying attention to the sights and sounds that nature brings, inspires me in more ways than I can count!

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I hope these help inspire you.  They did me!  Is exercise something you have been able to conquer in your life?  With my health history, it must be a priority to me, which is a bit scary because it is something I have struggled to do on a regular basis my whole life!    I am not yet at the place where it is just naturally a part of my everyday life, but I am getting close!

Tell me what is working for you?  Did any of the above tips inspire you?
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Do you have a Pinterest account?  If so, I’d love to know.  To follow me at Pinterest and see more of my pins,  click here.

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HOME/ Organizing/ Simplifying

Five Things To Let Go Of In 2012


Guest Post by Robyn @ She Makes Hats
It’s the time for making resolutions, goals lists, and decide what we want to bring into our lives in the coming year. Every year I make a plethora of these lists, end up feeling overwhelmed, and end up checking off approximately 1/5 of what I thought I would. So this year I’m doing things a bit different – I’m writing a list of five things I want to let go of in 2012. Many of them are universal, so I thought I’d share!

01 / Physically Owning Books. I’ve got a Kindle, and read most of my books on it already, so I’m taking the plunge. My “desert island” shelf will be re-read one last time, and as I read each book I’m going to decide if I still want to keep it around. If I do, I’ll buy it for my Kindle and donate the physical copy. My goal is to have zero books of my own by the end of the year.

02 / Unused Supplies. Whether they’re craft, cleaning, or any other sort of supply, there’s no need for me to have a stockpile. Under our sink are cleaning products we haven’t used in over 2 years – gone. In our office are craft supplies for things I’ll never actually make, projects long forgotten, and crafty habits I no longer wish to have. Rather than try to use it all up, I’m going to let go of those things which will never actually be used, and enjoy the space!

03 / Coke Zero. Did you hear that? It was the sound of my heart dying just a bit – I love me some Coke Zero! The health benefits of cutting soda out of my life are too great however, and so I’m going to figure out a way to say goodbye. Maybe reward myself for kicking the habit with a long-wanted iPad?

04 / Most of my DVDs. I’m not going to touch the husband’s or the boy’s treasured disks, just weed through and let go of the ones that are clearly mine. 13 Going On 30? Gone. Along Came Polly? I haven’t watched it in three years. We have Netflix Instant, so there’s no need to hang onto so many disks. The goal here? From our three cases down to just one.

05 / All those clothes I’ll never actually wear. We all have them in our closet – we hang onto them season after season thinking “someday” or “in five more pounds”, but we never put them back on. I’m thinking of participating inhttp://www.theproject333.com/Project 333 again, and it would be the perfect way to weed my closet out for good!

Is there more to add to this list? Most certainly. But by letting go of just these five things, I’ll lighten my footprint, my conscience, and my spirit! What all can you let go of in 2012?
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Thank you for your post, Robyn.  I loved having your words and inspiration here at New Nostalgia.

Robyn is a beautiful soul.  Here is just one of many reasons why, taken from Robyn’s blog, “She Makes Hats”:

“A few years ago, I decided to try to live a  more remarkable life and set a goal to knit One Hundred Hats for charity in a years’ time. I met that goal, and continued knitting for charity like mad. But I missed the challenge … and I missed the hats!

So I’m beginning again, on January 1, 2012. This time I’m setting the goal a bit higher, and making the reach a bit broader: I aim to knit and give away 10,000 hats in my lifetime for friends, family, and charity.I have blogged about many other things, and in many other spaces. And for many different reasons. This time it’s for me – a way to honor my goal, a way to track my progress, and a way to document a life lived with hats always on the needles.”


How amazing is that?  Robyn has a new blog, if you love her idea of knitting for charity, won’t you go on over and join her site?  You won’t regret knowing her.


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HOME/ Organizing/ Simplifying

Organization Ideas

**A repost…tis the season for organization!

Would Love This In My Sun Room!

Source: marthastewart.com via Amy on Pinterest




Everyone Should Have A Donation Station!




A Pretty Pegboard Could Be Used For So Many Things!

Source: bhg.com via Amy on Pinterest




A Simple Magazine Rack




Yes, Please.




Organizing Bins From Spray Painted Bread Pans

Source: nataliejost.com via Amy on Pinterest



I Need This For My Little Laundry Room

Source: ana-white.com via Amy on Pinterest




Cable Storage With Toilet Paper Rolls-Smart!




Organize Measuring Cups



Art Supply Organization

Source: icanteachmychild.com via Amy on Pinterest



Use A Small Tension Rod For Spice Organization

Source: familyhandyman.com via Amy on Pinterest



Store Hair Ties On A Carabiner

Source: lifehacker.com via Amy on Pinterest



Use A Soap Box To Store Card Games




Must Find Pants Hanger!!



Easy Ribbon Organization



Tension Rod To Hand Spray Bottles

Source: smg.photobucket.com via Amy on Pinterest



Old Dresser Painted With No Drawer Fronts-Pretty!

Source: bhg.com via Amy on Pinterest
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Want to see more of my pins?  Follow me on Pinterest.

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HOME/ Homemaking/ Organizing/ Simplifying

26 Tips and Tricks To Simplify Life

I have been collecting all kinds of clever tips to make life just a little bit more simple.  Here are some of my favs!

1. Cord organization tips.  I am SO doing this. {link}


2. Marshmallows in brown sugar to keep it soft. {link}


3. Reuse salt pour spout with mason jars. {link}


4. Hash browns in the waffle maker.  Makes them nice a crispy! {link}


5. The secret to an easy to peel, boiled egg.  {link}


6. Use an old glue tip to draw or write with acrylic paint.  {link}


7. DIY picture hanger.  Smart!  I had a friend try this and she said it worked great!  {link}


8. Clean that screen!  {link}


9. Slip proof your rug with acrylic caulk.  Apply a line every six inches, and let dry.  Brilliant!  {link}

 

10. No brown apples for lunch.  I used this tip and it worked great.  My youngest came home from school and said, “Mom, why was there a rubber band around my apple?” {link}


11. Use a rubber band to remove a stripped screw. {link}


12. Did you know a Parmesan cheese lid fits a regular lid canning jar? {link}


13. Hanger chip clip. {link}


14. Magnetic strip inside a medicine cabinet to hold metal hairpins. Genius. {link}


15. For neighborhood kids during homework and chore time. {link}


16. Dry up grease stains with chalk.  Rub on stain as a laundry pre-treat. {link}


17. Take your favorite liquid fabric softener and soak an old hand towel or flour cloth completely with it. Wring it out and let it dry completely, then throw it in with your next load. This mega-fabric softener sheet should be good for at least 40 loads of laundry WHAT A GREAT IDEA!! {link}


18. Great idea for corraling meals for road trips. {link}

19. Spray vinegar on windshield before a winter storm & car windows will not frost over.  Click on link for more winter car tips. {link}


20. Soak old paintbrushes in vinegar for 30 minutes.  Good as new! {link}


21. Makes an old sweater look new. {link}


22. Grow green onions on your window sill. {link}


23. More cord tips! {link}


24. Since I  now cringe to take the time to make anything with sugar in it, I may keep it simple this  Christmas morning and make these!  Cinnamon roll waffles!  Throw on a pot of coffee, serve with fruit and voila’ –a simple, easy Christmas breakfast.  Imagine how your house is going to smell!! {link}

……………..
 
Simple Lemon water.  Simple fruit infused water. Check out this ZingAnything Aqua Zinger. Infuse drinks with fruit and herbs, keep lemons in your water bottle. Get yours here . Read about how I use mine daily here.
 
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Brunch/ HOME/ RECIPES/ Simplifying

Oatmeal Freezer Pucks

If you have read New Nostalgia for any length of time, you will know I am a huge oatmeal fan.  I eat oats in some form every morning for breakfast, and usually end up snacking on another form of them during the day.  I eat them raw, cooked, in smoothies, in breads, in cookies and muffins.  I love my oats!

In the summer, my favorite fast breakfast is raw oats, almond milk, and frozen raspberries.  I let it sit a couple minutes for the oats to soak and raspberries to thaw.  It is a great on-the-go breakfast when thrown in a small mason jar.  I sweeten it with date paste or maple syrup.  Yum.

Now that it is getting chilly outside, I want the comfort of a warm porridge in the morning.  I love steel cut oats and their slightly chewy texture, but did not like the amount of time they take to prepare in the mornings.

Enter Trader Joes.

I found already prepared steel cut oats in the freezer section of Trader Joes.  I loved how they came, frozen in pucks and ready to heat.  They had simple ingredients with no preservatives.  I loved everything about them, especially that they spurred on the idea of this post!

The price at TJ’s is good, but I knew I could make them for much less money, and sugar.  So I did!
I bought Bob Mills Steel Cut Oats.  Any brand will do!

 Prepare according to package directions.  Let cool slightly.  Pour into muffin tins.  I did not grease mine, it was not necessary.

It made 6 large pucks and 12 small ones.  I had a couple leftover servings in the pan and ate ’em up!

Here is how I placed them in the freezer.  A simple cookie sheet in between the pans did the trick. 

I froze them solid, then took out of the freezer.  I filled my sink with an inch of warm water, let the bottoms of the pan soak in it for a couple minutes, then used a knife at the edge of each puck to pop them out.  They came out very easily. 

The small muffin pucks were the perfect size for my three lil’ muffin girls.  They love helping themselves to a frozen oatmeal puck in the morning.

The larger size was perfect for me!  

Keep in freezer bags, and pull out when needed.  Microwave 2 minutes for large, 1 minute for small.  Stir.  Heat in additional increments of 30 seconds until heated through.  Serve with maple syrup & cinnamon, and whatever toppings you prefer!

 More Of My Oatmeal Loves:
Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Oatmeal
Cinnamon Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal
2 Minute Steel Cut Oats (another fast way to make them)
Oatmeal Whole Wheat Quick Bread
No Cook, Overnight Chia Oatmeal
Oatmeal Fully Loaded
Chewy Granola Bars/Best Chocolate “Candy Bar”

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HOME/ Simplifying

A Giveaway From UPrinting!

I recently got my hair done at an uber cool salon here in Lincoln.  As I got up to leave, my stylist handed me her business card.  It caught my eye, because it was not the typical, square cut business card.  It actually was round, and had an image that also oozed coolness.  It was too pretty and unique-shaped to get lost in my pile of typical business cards. I loved it, and as I stuck in in my purse, I thought, “I would love to have my own card for the blog.”  
Shortly after my I got my new hair do, I was contacted by UPrinting with an offer to do a giveaway and have my own set of custom business cards.  I jumped at the chance.   UPrinting is an online printing company that offers different print products such business cards online. 

The word “custom” got me excited and I explored their website.  They offer standard business cards, but also Die-Cut (Specialty Cut) Business Cards.  I am going to get my very own, round shaped business card after all, and one of your lucky winners will also receive your own Die Cut Business cards.
Remember, you don’t have to have a business to use these cards.  They could be printed with your own personal information and used as an easy way to give out your digits. 🙂
The site is very easy to use.  They have a “create your own design online” where you can add your own images and text, or you can use one of their ready made templates.
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Here are the prize details:



~250 pcs Die Cut Business Card for one winner

~1.75” x 3.5”, 2” x 3.5”, or 2” x 2”; 2.5”
Diameter (Circle) Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded Single-Corner,
Half-Circle Side, or Circle; 14pt Cardstock Gloss / Matte / High Gloss (UV), or
13pt Cardstock Uncoated,

~6 Business Days Turnaround, *Free shipping

~die-cut business card templates available for download

~Restriction: Limited to *US residents 18 years old and above only.

~You can follow UPrinting on Facebook and Twitter, but not required for the giveaway.


~Giveaway will end next Thursday, November 17th.
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To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below with a way that I can contact you.  

You could also tell me how you would use these business cards if you won!  


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 Disclaimer:
This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive a die-cut business cards for hosting.

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HOME/ Simplifying

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