Staying Cozy in the Winter Months

I am easily chilled and quite often in the winter I can be heard complaining about the temperatures outside and in. I don't like to turn the heat up because we all know how that effects our wallets so I have been looking into different ways to stay warm. If you have a fireplace or wood burning stove, you already have a leg up in the winter but there's so much more you can do too. For all those without those free heating sources, lets look at some warming options!

1. Keep all the doors closed to rooms that are not being used. If you only go in there at rare or specific times, close that door and let the warmth breeze right by that area.
2. Coffee, Tea and Hot Chocolate are key to keeping you warm on a cold winter day. The warmth the drink creates allows you to wrap your hands tight around the mug and keep you a little toasty. Avoid alcohol though, it does the opposite by thinning your blood and giving you a bit of a chill.
3. Space heaters and electric blankets use electricity but on a much smaller scale. They are great for a small space and the blanket allows you to keep heat low at night while still staying warm.
4. After you cook dinner or bake shut the oven off, open the oven door and let that heat spill into the room and it will smell nice too!
5. If you have a humidifier, make sure to crank that baby up to high and keep it on as often as you can. Keeping the humidity will help greatly to prevent any dry air that comes along with heating your home. Keeping the shower door open when you shower will have the same effects as the humidifier.
6. You'll be surprised but candles do help. Even if it's not the biggest difference, they can help warm things up and when in a power outage, they light up entire rooms.
7. Unless you're living the good life with heated floors, keep your slippers on!
8. When its really cold and you're going outside or have no power, cover your head. You can loose the most amount of body heat through your head so make sure you have that cozy wool hat wrapped tightly around your noggin!
9. Winter is the only time of year you don't have to worry about your beach bod. Eat all the fatty foods your diet allows and your body will love you for it! Burning those calories off after by exercising also can keep you warm! Win, win!
10. My personal favorite way to stay warm is cuddles. I love when my son, husband and I are all cuddled up in bed watching movies on freezing winter nights!
11. This one should be obvious, but switch out those booty shorts and sports bras for long johns, sweats and pajamas. Maybe add a bath robe or a blanket and any other layer you want to rock  while relaxing around your home.
12. Curtains can play a large roll in blocking out the cold air. Not only can you cover your windows with a layer of plastic or even bubble wrap but close your curtains every night. Open them during the day to let the sun and natural warmth in but if its dark, windy or generally too "wintery", keep those shades drawn.
13. Reverse your ceiling fan so you are not blowing air but circulating it.
14.  My last suggestion is Exercise, Cleaning and Dance Parties!!

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Cliché Resolutions

The bright new year has arrived like a falling ball and it’s time to commit to all kinds of resolutions that we sincerely hope will last us longer than they did the previous year. I've never been the person to make resolutions or give things up but this year I felt a little different about it. I'm not sure if my decision is because I love my body but dislike the way I feel or what but I have decided to join the masses and my new resolution is as cliché as it gets, I'm going on a diet! My main goal is to get more fit. I like my body shape but the extra cushion REALLY isn't necessary, so I'm setting out to change it.

I know the idea is wicked unoriginal but I'm hopping on the bandwagon and I'm ready to shake my jiggle right off! My biggest issue with any type of weight loss, dieting or even just getting fit in general has always been the fact that I have NO clue what I am doing. I don't have the time to go to the gym every day or to get a personal trainer, nor do I want to pay the prices of what those options cost. I'm a young working mother working with my husband to grow our savings account and we just don't have the spare change around to pay to lose this spare tire I call my belly! Even if I did, I still wouldn't go to a gym with people, germs and sweat smells permeating through the walls.

So, I did what any good "Millennial" would do and downloaded an app on my smart phone! (This is not to say I identify with Millennials, but technology is amazing and this is a conversation for another time) The app I downloaded is 8Fit and its wonderful. I am not trying to endorse or promote an app but if you can’t find a fit life for dummies book, download this app and start slow.

I started with a 30 day free trial and it does everything I need it to do. It asks basic questions about my body and body goals, eating and exercising habits then BAM! They created a workout plan, a meal plan and grocery list for it, a weight and calorie goal and I have the option for tips and a contact with a personal trainer. When the trial ends, I will have to pay money to continue on the plan I choose and I am okay with it because it’s less money I would be spending if I got a gym membership, personal trainer and help on meal planning.

It’s an amazing app and even though it has only been a few days since I started using it, I am feeling great about the app and my workout. I don't exercise  much and even though I eat healthy, I love to snack. I went grocery shopping, cleaned out all the junk food in the house and loaded up on all the good stuff! I have been working out by doing warm ups and 9 minute exercises at a time. Since this is my first time actually exercising and following a routine, it's going to be something I will have to get better and work up to but for now the 9 minute beginner exercises are perfect. Aside from the app workouts, I like to do some yoga to unwind or prepare for working out or even just because. It helps loosen the mind and body which is exactly what is needed when you are making major changes to your lifestyle and habits.

I've lost one pound and I know that's a very small accomplishment, but the way I feel is the real accomplishment. It sounds so silly but I understand now why health nuts and gym rats are always chipper and ready to go. You feel better after working out and every time I make a smoothie and take my first sip, my whole body gets giddy. For a woman who loves chips more than any food and can eat a whole pot of mac and cheese, I never would have thought that a smoothie with fruit and spinach was going to get me so excited, but hey, whatever works!

My ultimate goal is to keep my body shape and curves, but to tone it up and get rid of the fat surrounding my undiscovered 6 pack! I want to get down to 160 lbs with less than 23% body fat. I want to keep track of my success each week so that when I am down to my goal, I can post pictures and non-sense stuff no one wants to see but gets motivated from anyway.

I hope your New Year resolution is as motivating and exciting as mine is turning out to be and if you are on the path of getting healthy or fit, please share your story with me and tune back soon for an update!

Happy New Year to all of you!