Day 18: Pass the Honey, Please!

Okay, I don't really have a good excuse for being late on this one. I got home from work last night, and the only thing I wanted to do was sleep. I exhausted myself =p

Anyways, I learned this from my BioChem professor/nutritionist. Try substituting sugar for honey in anything you can. Coffee, cookies, etc.

It's still very high in calories and not great in large amounts, but honey sweetens just as well as sugar, but you also get the added benefit of the vitamins and antioxidant!

Such an easy switch to become healthier, right?

Don't forget to leave me comments to enter the giveaway!

Day 17: Do What Makes Your Heart Happy

No, I'm not talking about heart health today. I'm talking about doing something that you enjoy every. single. day.

Even if that means working hard on your birthday =P

I was born to be a laborer. I don't feel like I've done anything useful unless at least one part of my body is aching at the end of the day.

And I love it!

So do something that makes your heart happy today, whether it's spending an hour gabbing with your best girlfriend, playing catch with your kiddos (or pooch!), snuggling with your man, or even whittling in your backyard...

(Yes, that's seriously what I did today)

(No Yooper jokes, please! haha!)

Day 16: Feel Beautiful!

Day 16: Feel Beautiful

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A confident woman is a beautiful woman!

I always feel more confident if I know that I'm looking like one hot mama, haha.

Check out Makupgeek.com

She saved my beauty routine!

I love this website so badly that it's saved on my phone.

Maybe if you win all this free loot...

(Pictured: Elizabeth Arden makeup case, 2 Elizabeth Arden lipsticks: Beauty & Fiesta, and a cute red tote)

To enter:

Just leave me a comment on any "31 Days..." series post letting me know how you accomplish these goals.

Reupholstered Dining Room Chairs

My dining room chairs are getting quite old.

My mom reupholstered them about 15 years ago.

See the cracks?

I loved having the leather on there. It made for easy cleanup with my messy kids.

Walmart doesn't have white leather/faux leather.

(I acutally love the fact that the cushions ended up being the same color as my walls, but I really wanted to bring more white into the room)

So I purchased cheap/durable duck cloth to cover them. If I end up loving the white, you're darn tootin' I will head to the nearest Joanne's to get some white leather!

(Sorry about the pic quality. Nighttime shots are a pain!)

5 more chairs later, we have...

On a seperate note, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother, John!

1/4 century old today ;)

Day 15: Accomplish Something

Day 15: Accomplish Something

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A sense of accomplishment is so vital to our well-being. It boosts our self-esteems.

That's one of the main reason why I do so many projects. It's the same reason that I try so hard in school.

I'm proud of myself each and every day for both the little and big things I accomplish every day.

(Even if it does give me blisters...)

On another note, I finished up a project that I want to show you, but since I had to double up on my "31 Days..." series, I will save it for you tomorrow. No sense in doing 3 posts in a day =P

Day 14: Spend Some Time Outside

I'm terrible with getting these done on time. Sorry! I guess I was over-excited about getting my early birthday present last night (not so excited about the blisters from putting it together).

Anyways, on to...

Day 14: Spend Some Time Outside

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I'm amazed at how little people spend their days outside. Sleeping, working, going to school, maybe the gym. I know, it's tough.

Being outside not only boosts your mood, but you need at least 15 minutes outdoors to get your daily amount of Vitamin D.

Tips on making time:

1. Go outside during your work break. I wish we had an outside break area like many factories do.

2. Do the same at school. Most campuses have an outdoor eating area. Take advantage of it.

3. Take a walk instead of going to the gym. I work out at night, and no one should walk alone at night. Maybe I'll just work out twice a day ;)

4. Play outside with your children (or pet!).

5. Wash your own car instead of bringing it through a car wash.

6. If all else fails, make sure your shades are wide open in your house. It boosts your mood and makes your house look pretty!

Remember to leave comments to be in the drawing for the giveaway!

I finally received the giveaway gift, so I'll be showing that soon!

Day 13: Selfishness

Day 12: Be Selfish Once in a While

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This is especially hard to do while you have kids. I notice that everything I buy goes to the house, to the kids, or to my husband.

Once in a while, we need to treat ourselves, even if it's just something small.

We can't take care of others until we take care of ourselves first!

I made tuna salad. Yep, that was my selfish act. Nobody else likes it in my family, but it's my absolute favorite food.

So I made tuna salad.

Go out and be selfish today!

Day 12: Join a Health Website

Day 12: Join a Health Website

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This is my favorite.

Why spend hours on Facebook (Farmville anyone?) when you can interact with tons of people who are striving for a similar goal: to get healthy?

I'm a member of Anytimehealth.com. I absolutely LOVE it! It tracks my meals, progress, and fitness routines. I just scan my key at Anytime Fitness, and it automatically records my workout online. LOVE it!

The only problem is that it costs money to join if you're a non-member.

Don't worry, ladies! One of my old favorites (and very similar to anytimehealth.com) is Sparkpeople.com

Click on the link above and wander around the site for a bit. If you like what you see, give it a shot!

Let me know how you like it!

Day 11: Organize Something

Okay, I know I'm a day behind. I'm sorry!

I was studying all day yesterday for an exam I took today. Studies come first!

I'll catch up, don't worry!

;)

Day 11: Organize Something

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Having an organized (I didn't say clean!) home always makes me happy. Not only that, but it drives me mad if I can't find something quickly due to disorganization.

Here's my junk drawer:

Dear Lord!

Yet I rely so heavily on this drawer. My life is in there. I use it daily, yet I waste so much time trying to find stuff in it.

K-Mart has awesome organizational apparatus.

I feel much better =D

Day 10: Donate

Day 10: Donate

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I can't stress about donations enough. My favorite: our local animal shelter (I like to bring all the pups Christmas presents every year, hehe).

Instead of saving all your old junk for a garage sale, just donate it.  You can write it off for your taxes later.  Just make sure you get a receipt of your donation incase you get audited!

My husband and I don't have garage sales anymore.  We both hate junk collecting at our house for an entire year. We need the space.

Anyways, the reason I bring this up is because the BonTon stores (Younkers, Herbergers, Boston Store, Carson Pirie, Elder Beerman...) are having their Goodwill Sale today! It happens only twice a year. It's BY FAR our best sale! (I get pretty darn excited when it comes...)

Reasons to donate to a BonTon store today:

1. Everything goes to Goodwill (of course)

2. Today is Double Coupon Day. Bring in one item, we give you two coupons

3. We take off ALL EXCLUSIONS (excepts Yellow Dot, hehe) That means Tech Trek (gps, digital photo frames...) Levi, Columbia, cosmetics, and fragrances.

I hope this gives everyone the push to do some Spring Cleaning and donate!

Day 9: Sleep

Day 9: Get the Right Amount Sleep

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We've all been told by our doctors to get 8 hours of sleep. In truth, however, that may not be the golden number for all of us. Some people truly feel their best after 6 hours, some can't function properly unless they get 10.

I average 6 hours a night. It's definitely not my golden number. In a perfect world, I need 10 hours of sleep to feel refreshed. However, with working, schooling, and child-raising, I rarely have the chance to get even 8 hours of sleep in.

But, so as not to become a hypocrite, I will definitely make an effort to go to bed earlier than usual.

You should, too.

Don't be these people:

Photo Cred

Photo Cred

Photo Cred

Become this person:

Photo Cred

Once again, I'm still not receiving any entries for the giveaway. I'm thinking that no one wants to send in pictures??
Let's simplify the rules:

Leave a comment telling:
1. That you already do this healthy, happy thing OR
2. That you completed it.

Day 8: Houseplants

Day 8: Houseplants

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I think everyone should have at least one houseplant. Not only does it add a decorative touch to your room, it also improves the quality of air in your house.

I have 28...

I still haven't gotten any entries for the giveaway!

Click "Contact Me" with a photo of you completing any listed activity to enter a drawing for a whole mess of goodies, including beauty product from Elizabeth Arden, a makeup clutch, and a tote!

It take only a minute to enter, so don't miss out!

Days 5,6,7: Recharge

Days 5,6,7: Recharge

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Take the weekends for a chance to recharge yourself, even if that means staying away from a computer.

;)

(Madison was amazing)

Day 4: Blueberries

Day 4: Add Blueberries to Anything You Can!

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Okay, maybe not on spaghetti, but you get the idea.

They are great anti-oxidants and a good source of fiber.

Try:

1. Blueberry pancakes

2. Blueberry shakes

3. Blueberry muffins

4. Blueberry yogurt

5. Blueberries on your cereal

I'm not getting any entries for the giveaway. Click on the logo below to check out how to enter the giveaway. Since I'm not getting any entries, if even one person enters, they will automatically win!!

So what do you get if you win? Some free cosmetics, mainly from Elizabeth Arden. About a $30 value. I chose this, because doesn't looking beautiful always make us feel happy? I might throw in a cute tote as well, a $10. Stick around for pictures of it!