What if you hate exercise?

You know it's good for you, and every doctor in the world will tell you that you should  exercise every single day. But what if you hate exercise? 

So many of my friends look at me like I'm a freak when I declare that I looove exercise. And believe it or not - they usually ask me if I'm anorexic. Nice!

Yes, I'm a thin person and yes I really do like to exercise. But it's not because I have an obsession with being thin or some other mental illness. (And for the record, I eat a ton!)

I like to exercise because I look at it from a different perspective. 

Blah, blah, blah - here comes the healthy mumbo jumbo. Yes, I like to exercise because I am obsessed with health. Exercising makes me feel better. I need it to feel better. I love knowing that I could run and run and run and run if I had to.

I like knowing that I could scale a wall, climb a tree, hoist my body up, crawl, scratch, kick, fight, and gnaw my way out of any situation. I also enjoy the mental clarity and balance. You can not buy these things.

But beyond the health - it's just plain fun. What?!??!? Yes, exercise is fun. Walking, riding bike, surfing, kayaking, swimming, jumping, playing games, hiking, skiing, sledding, dancing, yoga, kickboxing - all good stuff!

Actually, all really great stuff. I love that type of exercise.

But as a naturally thin person (and a Vata to boot!!) I have to watch it with all the fun exercise. Or I become quite skeletal. And I've seen what happens to older ladies with my body build - it's called osteoporosis.

So that's where the "non-fun exercise" comes in. For the last 15 months, I've been exercising in the "un-fun" world of lifting weights and endurance intervals.

This is the sweaty, grunty, holy crap this hurts, when is it going to end? - kind of exercise. I don't like it anymore than anyone else does. But I still do it. And if I don't my body feels like crap and I make myself do it.

October brought some horrible changes in my life and a lot of stress. In the thick of it, wanted to give up. One day,  I walked out of the gym after only 10 minutes of an intense interval circuit. I wanted to quit. I quit for 4 days - while my mind tried to deal with the trauma.

Then I dragged myself back into the gym and I worked out (hard) until I cried. It was painful. It was horrible. But it was so healing. And it's a reminder that no matter what happens, you have to do what's right. You have to stick to your goals. And you need to push on.

So if you're one of the people out there that "hates" exercise, get up and do it! Start slow, but just start! You may not lose a ton of weight - but who cares. You should feel better. Your life should improve. And that's all that matters anyway.

Bonding over Board Games

This fall has brought a ton of great bonding experiences for my family. The secret: board games. Now that my kids are school-age, they understand how to play games.

They get the concept of taking turns, they love to win, and most of all they love the "family time." Since the weather has turned chilly, we've been spending more time indoors. That can mean a lot of boredom. And a lot of TV watching!!

I don't want my family to be huddled around the T.V. all night. Thank goodness for board games! We spread out on the floor and play various games together.

We've played cards, dice, and marbles, but board games are our favorites. There's just something awesome about knowing the rules and having something to follow along with.

Board games are my top choice for activity outside of TV - but it's not just because they're fun. It's because we can play them "together."

While we're playing, we talk. We share stories and make memories together. We all learn about sharing, considering other people's feelings, and being a good sport.

It's a wonderful, "low-pressure" time when people can just be together. I've learned a lot about  my children while we've been playing games. And they feel closer to us because of the time we put in to playing. So they're better behaved and come to us outside of game time.

That's something I want to continue.

I'm very grateful for the hours we've spent playing games this fall, and I look forward to keeping the tradition going (especially in the teen years!)

This the newest game in our arsenal:

Imagine legos with mazes and game play. Awesome!

How are board games a bonding experience for your family? Reply for a chance to win one of five ultimate LEGO® Gamesprize packs!!

LEGO® Games are the world’s first collection of board games that can be built, played and changed, that delivers a whole new way for families to have fun together the LEGO way.  Whether challenging friends or family to a LEGO Gamein a variety of themes and types – guessing, strategy, memory, logic and chance – no two LEGO Gamesexperiences are ever the same!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of LEGOSystems. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the LEGO Brand.

ChoozOn - Saving Money and Time!

Saving money is awesome. And deal sites are even better! Or at least, they can be. In an effort to stay on top of all the best deals, I've signed up for all of the deal sites - Groupon, Crowd Cut, Living Social....

And my inbox is a zoo!!! But what do you do? You don't want to miss out the deals that are relevant to your interests, but you can't keep wasting time sorting through messages. 

That's where ChoozOn.com comes to the rescue. ChoozOn was founded by former Yahoo! executives to help personalize your deals. In essence, ChoozOn does the weeding for you - and you only have to check one  place to see all your relevant deals. 

ChoozOn works with over 1500 major brands, deal services, coupon sites, flash sales and loyalty programs to make sure and find you the best deals.

It's free to join and the first step is laying out your interests. As I was looking through the available options, I suddenly realized with more than half the deals that come across my inbox aren't right for me. I was only interested in a few select categories.

The categories that apply to me (groceries, entertainment, and home decor - if you must know) are super important to me and I'd love to get deals specialized in those areas. Plus, ChoozOn is designed to get better and smarter as time goes on. 

That way your deals are more and more tailored to what you actually want. You can access the site through Facebook, the main hub or through mobile devices. You can have the deals YOU want, right at your fingertips. 

ChoozOn just released in beta-version and I signed up. I can't wait to see the deals it selects for me. And how much better and faster it gets as the program is improved.  Making deal hunting a cinch is what I'm most excited about!

I can't wait to score some major deals!!

What’s the best deal you’ve ever scored?
ChoozOn wants to know and is giving away a $1000 shopping spreeto one lucky person who registers for their fantastic new deal site. Let ChoozOn scour the web for amazing deals tailored to you!
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1. Leave a comment sharing the best deal you’ve ever scored
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3. You are now entered to win!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of ChoozOn. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Contest Rules.

Fascinating Earthworm videos

I gotta tell you - I am learning so much about earthworms it's creepy. I wish it were spring so I could get out and dig for some. Did you know that earthworms are damaging some of our northern forests? Did you know that the earthworms that inhabit most of America are imports from Europe?

Did you know that they can pick up big rocks, sticks, and leaves!!!? You have to see them do it here: http://youtu.be/kU7DTjf52i0. I was so grossed out by this video. It's unreal. Who knew what went on in the night?

I just might take the kids out on summer nights to hunt earthworms and watch them in action. You'll also like this video on the Giant earthworm of Australia. You can hear it gurgling underground. Now I need to go to Australia not only for the boxing kangaroos, but to hear the earthworms gurgling.


 And this video shows an earthworm collecting seeds. OMG!
 And this is what I contemplated building to make even more compost:
 The worm exploration just keeps growing. Woo! I'm all excited for Spring....and it's only November. It's going to be a long winter.

Make a BETTER pumpkin pie this year!

Pumpkin pie is the best. I mean, the BEST. I could eat it every day. And when I make a pumpkin pie - I usually eat the whole thing in one day. It's that awesome.

But not all pumpkin pie is awesome. Here are my top 3 tips to make your pumpkin pie BETTER this year.

#1. Skip the crust. It's gross, loaded with yuck and is completely unnecessary. Don't add flour or bisquick or anything else to your pie. Just put it in an ungreased pie pan and it will all work out. I have been making crust-less pie for almost 8 years.  All the yum without any of the yuck!

#2. Use Coconut Milk instead of condensed milk. Condensed milk is a processed sugar bomb. Get it out of your life. Make your own coconut milk (so easy, by the way - here's how) and use half the amount in your recipe. So if your recipe wants 8 oz of condensed milk, use 1/2 cup (4 oz) of coconut milk.

#3. Cut the sugar. You don't need a whole cup of sugar in your pumpkin pie. You can swap sugar for maple syrup or honey (use less of both of these since they are sweeter than sugar) or just cut the sugar down. Try using 3/4 of the amount of sugar. I bet you'll never notice.  You'll start to notice when you drop it to 1/2 the amount of sugar, but not as much if you adjust the spices. Try adding a pinch (and I mean a pinch!!) of cloves. They are powerful and will confuse your mind. You won't realize it's a little less sweet.

Your pies will be amazing. Experiment a little. Make them healthier. Use better ingredients and make yourself a better pie.

Brave Irene Book & CD - Review

For the record: I love William Steig's children's books. Love, love, love them. And I was shocked to see a title I hadn't read before - Brave Irene. My children will roll their eyes if you ask how many times we've read "Sylvester and the magic pebble," "The Amazing Bone," or "Dr. De Soto." Mostly because I read them in a "John Lithgow" style of voice. I can't resist.

They know how I love those stories. And Brave Irene proved to be just as wonderful. Steig has a great way with words -so articulate and thoughtful - and not at all "childish." His stories are always full of great lessons and insights.

The characters always find themselves in dire situations - often so juicily dire that you wonder how they can actually be in a "child's" story, but that's what makes his stories so great. The story lines are unbelievably unexpected and the words tell the entire tale (feelings, subtleties, and all.)

Brave Irene is exactly like that. The story of a brave, caring and tenacious girl that battles it all because of her love and respect for her mother. The way she loves her mother reminds me of my daughter and it's really wonderful to share that type of story with her.

The book I received also came with a CD - narrated by Meryl Streep. My children love to hear other people tell stories and having the CD's to go along has been amazing for my budding 5 year old. She has learned to read much more difficult words by following along with this CD. And of course, Meryl has a wonderful voice and is an excellent story teller.

Get your hands on a copy (and the other William Steig stories mentioned above. I can't pick a favorite, but if I had to....The Amazing Bone is pretty...amazing.) Now, I'm off to see what other Steig books I may have missed. Google awaits...

*I received a complimentary Book & CD for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and no compensation was received.

How to Travel for the Holidays without getting Fat!

Travel really messes up a workout routine. Long  hours in the car. Junk food at every turn. What can you do to make sure you don't lose your fitness level over this holiday season?

Travelling has always ruined my fitness in the past (especially by car!!!) but since our last vacation, I think I have an idea how to keep it in check.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Workout HARD the week before you leave. Workout in a major way - giant sets, increase the weight/speed/distance - so that you HAVE to rest the next week or you risk over training/injury.

2. Pack your own snacks. If you are going to be in the car for hours - pack fruits and veggies, cheese, meats, and lots of WATER!

3. Pack things to occupy your mind - movies, books on tape, whatever - just so you don't eat out of boredom.

4. Get out and walk around when you pump gas, stop to eat, or stop for the bathroom. Get your body moving - at least a little.

5. When you arrive at your destination, hit a grocery store to stock up on healthy items that might not be available where you're staying.

6. While you're on vacation, relax - walk everyday if you can, but let your muscles recover from the previous week's intense workout. Have dessert once in awhile, but don't eat something just "because it's there."

Good luck if you're travelling this year. We'll be in the car for 40+ hours (barf!!!!!) and I am packing myself a big cooler so we won't be limited to chips and whatever gunk gas stations have available.

Rethinking Worms

How often do you think about the worms underneath your feet? I rarely give them a thought - except when I'm digging in the garden.

When we built our first garden in our new home 4 years ago, I thought of earthworms - because there weren't any! I had never experienced clay soil before. It was hard, heavy, and devoid of life.

But we made a garden anyway; turning in compost and peat. Fast forward a few years to when we remade and expanded the garden this spring. While digging in the current garden space, we encountered numerous worms. Even wire worms (oh no!)

But as we dug to create the new garden boxes, we were in fresh clay again. Heavy, thick, and wormless. I mean zero worms. Not even the yucky wire worms. Or slugs or pill bugs. Or anything.

We've since amended that soil as well and my kids are constantly relocated worms to the garden. You know the ones that almost drown after a rain storm? My kids collect them and settle them into the garden every time it rains. Is it helpful? I don't know - but it sure is cute.

If I could, I'd grow worms in a compost bin indoors. The red wrigglers. Or outdoors if we didn't get such cold winters. Neither of those are going to happen, so I've made plans to wormify my new raspberry beds for next spring. The plans include layers of cardboard, grass clippings, leaves, and compost to create a worm haven that will eventually become a hospitable raspberry location.

And in the meantime - I am learning far more about worms than I could have ever imagined. If you are a gardener or somewhat interested in "how the world turns," then I recommend you check out The Earth Moved from your library.

It's a fascinating story about worms - told from a gardener's perspective. It's seriously fascinating. And if that's not enough to satisfy your gardening itch for the winter - I'd also suggest you take a look at The $64 Tomato and Square Foot Gardening. The first is an all-out riot (garden comedy??) and the second is just an amazing way to look at maximizing your space.

I've read them all this last month and am open to suggestions if you know of any great garden reading for the Winter months. Spring can never come soon enough!

Playmobil Robbers Amphibious Vehicle Play Set Review

For a short time, my husband and I were watching a show on television called "Take the Money and Run." It was an interesting show, but we had no idea our kids were even paying attention.

That was - until the Playmobil Robbers Amphibious Vehicle Play Set arrived at our house. I kind of assumed my son would play with this in a "cops and robbers" sort of way, but the first thing they did was grab the case, drive around, and hide it. Then the pirates from their lego set interrogated the robber, trying to get him to tell them where the case was.

It was a little freaky, but super cool at the same time. My son loved the little play money and case. And the robber was mysterious enough to be believable. The amphibious vehicle was perfect for high speed chases (through the beach, up hills, wherever) and fit into all sorts of story lines.

My kids loved this toy - for what it was and for how it could incorporate into their other toys at home. Toys like this encourage active and creative play. I'd highly recommend it.

*I received a complimentary playmobil set from Growing Tree Toys for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and no compensation was received.

150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes - Review

When you think of a slow cooker, do you think mushy food? Well - if you do, then I'd recommend getting your hands on the 150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes cookbook.

This book is loaded with beautiful recipes. Literally. There are so many great pictures in this book, you'll want too cook them based on the images alone!

But you'll also be surprised by the types of recipes in this book: soups, appetizers, meats, casseroles, and desserts! Did you know you can make a cake in a slow cooker? Pudding? Oatmeal?

Maybe you knew all this, but it was news to me and I enjoyed thumbing through the book and dreaming up dinners that I could set in my crock pot and forget about until dinner time (or breakfast!).

*I received a complimentary book for review purposes.

Please VOTE - Last Day is Thursday!!

PLEASE take a second to vote for me in this contest zoneperfect.com/contest-vote! It only takes a few seconds. You won't need to enter any information. All you need to do is click on the story titled - "surrounded by berries." 

We are in the running to win $5,000 toward our lifelong dream - which for me includes and is 100% about berries. I'd love to expand into our neighbor's unused lot and create a large "giving" orchard, full of berries.

November 17th is the last day to vote! So please vote today if you can. I really appreciate it!

Pumpkin Soup Review

With the cool fall air blowing leaves all around, it's the perfect time to snuggle up with your kids for extra story time. We have been reading more than ever lately, and recently had the opportunity to read Helen Cooper's Pumpkin Soup.

This is such a cute story about three friends: Cat, Squirrel, and Duck. My kids loved this story. What made it even better was the fact that this story came with a CD so my children could "read" it over and over again.

My daughter is blossoming as a reader and she loved being able to read it multiple times along with the CD.

At the end of the book, there's even a recipe for pumpkin soup. I'm tempted to make it, but every time I think of pumpkin, I start getting crazy for pumpkin pie.

It's a good book for fall - and for anytime. Good friends and good books are worth keeping, and revisiting.

*I received a complimentary book for review purposes. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Cheerios Cheer Giveaway

Cheerios wants to help spread a little "cheer" to military families this season! Now through November 2011 - specially makrd boxes of Cheerios cereal will feature Cheer postcards on the front of the box. You just cut it out of the box when you're finished with the cereal, write a message of thanks on the back, add a stamp and drop the pre-addressed card in the mail

The USO will then deliver the Cheer cards to military families across the country. And that's not all. For each postcard received through November 2012, Cheerios will make a $1 donation to the USO to help fund programs that support military families.

Cheerios has already donated $150,000 to the USO to kick start the campaign and will donate up to an additional $100,000.

And to help the Suburban Jungle readers get in the giving spirit, MyBlogSpark and Cheerios are offering a Cheerios Cheer Giveaway:

Here's what you could win:

This prize package includes:

• 1 Cheerios cereal bowl
• 1 Cheerios cereal spoon
• 1 cereal dispenser
• 1 “Cheer” box of Cheerios

To Enter to win: Fill out the rafflecopter form below.

 This contest is open to US/Canadian residents 18 and older. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. Disclosure: Cheerios cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark

HotPants Review

When it comes to new trends in health & fitness, count me in! One of those new trends is HotPants.  What are they and how do they work?

HotPants are workout shorts that increase your body's natural perspiration. They look a lot like yoga pants - black and form fitting. But they stop just above your knees.

Here's what I thought about them:

When I first put them on, I was really happy with how they fit - except in the crotch. The fabric is thicker than my normal workout gear, and it doesn't bend as easily as cotton or lycra. So it makes weird creases between your front legs. That's what I thought anyway. They looked great everywhere else.

The first time I used them, I went for a run. Everything was normal until about a mile in to the workout. That's when I started to notice the increased sweat. The rest of my body was dry but my legs and rear felt wet.

After 3 or 4 miles, I was wishing they were off. I wasn't a fan of all the wet, but I know sweating is great for removing toxins and according to the HotPants website - all that extra sweating heats up the deep tissues in your legs/thighs. That sounded like a fair trade off to me.

It was odd to be so sweaty after a brief workout, but I took it as a good sign. I did find them very difficult to manage during stretching and yoga moves because the fabric is not as stretchy as my usual gear. I worked around it and decided I'd try them a new way.

I started wearing the HotPants under my jeans while running around outside. Why did I do this? Well, I thought I would benefit from the extra heat in our frigid temperatures and why not continue to  sweat out toxins and keep the blood flowing in my hips and thighs - which don't circulate as well as my other parts.

I really liked wearing them under my jeans. They were not visible, and they really did keep me warm. I could imagine wearing these all winter long, while skiing or tubing, and while shoveling snow. Extra warmth is always welcome.

It is a little odd, to pull them down and see how wet your skin really gets. But that means they're working.
I might wear these for walks, but I won't wear them in hard-core workouts like tabata intervals, running, or giant strength sets. The sweat is just too intense in those workouts already and any limited mobility (no matter how small) would be too much in those cases.

In the 2 weeks I've been wearing them, I have not lost any inches or size. But I am already at my goal size (or below) and don't really have a lot to lose. If you carry a lot of excess water weight, these might really help you lose some of it. And if nothing else, they will keep you warm through the winter.

If you buy a pair of HotPants - don't forget to share your story on their facebook page. They are giving away cool prizes for interesting HotPants stories.

*I received complimentary HotPants for review purposes. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Make Your 2012 New Year's Resolutions NOW!

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? If so, then make your resolutions for 2012 right now!!! Especially if you are serious about keeping them.

Research suggests that it takes the average human 66 days to form a habit. I happen to believe you could beat the "average" but it's worth noting how long it takes for a habit to form. We are of course, talking about "good" habits.

So if you start today, you'll be almost there by the time New Year's rolls around. Then you'll have that New year's burst of energy and purpose to push you through to the end and wallah.... habit formed. And you can cruise past the 90% of other resolution makers that have failed in the first few weeks of January.

Best of luck to you!

Should you mow down your Fall Raspberries to get a better crop??

This year, we moved all of our berries into their new "permanent" homes and I was very worried about how many berries we'd actually get. It was very slow in the summer, but to my surprise, we were pulling handfuls of berries out every single day until the end of October.

That got me thinking - did we have such a great fall harvest because there were very little to harvest in the summer? Or was it the fish fertilizer I had been using?

Most gardening websites and books recommend that you sacrifice the summer crop to get a robust harvest in the fall. I've never done that because I like having berries from May - October and I would miss the summer raspberries.

But I have a separate patch of summer raspberries that have been producing quite well, so I think it might be time to give it a test.

This is the way I will manage our fall berries if we are able to build the orchard we want, so why not give it a try now?

I'm so scared! Cutting down all my berries is the scariest thing. It's even scary waiting for new shoots to show up in the spring. You just never know what's going to happen.

The more I think about it, the more I think I might really do it. Maybe it's my lack of garden activity lately - I just want to get there and work - or maybe because I have berries on the brain. Either way, I'll post a picture of my chopped garden if I decide to go for it!

Train Your Brain to Get Rich

I just finished reading:  Train Your Brain To Get Rich. Anyone who knows me, knows that this title really appeals to me. But the book was not at all what I expected.

The book contains scientific evidence for how we can manipulate our brains to think/believe/do almost everything, but it's not a "guide" to becoming rich or gaining wealth. I guess there is no fool-proof guide or we'd all be rich, huh?

But what it does offer is a good look at your brain's functions, how you can change your perspective to increase your chances of success, and some overall good tips for healthy living.

In fact, I'd probably change the title of the book to something like "Train your Brain to live a Rich and Full Life". Not as catchy, but it's definitely accurate. The book offers a lot of good insight into living a more full and rewarding life - if you happen to get rich along the way, all the better.

*I received a complimentary copy of Train Your Brain to Get Rich for review purposes. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Piczzle Review & #Giveaway #Win

 

Picczle creates custom-made jigsaw puzzles from your photos. If you have young children, then putting together puzzles is probably a regular activity. It is in our house. And my kids only like puzzles that have themes they like. What better theme than a picture of them!! Even the box shows their picture!

I ordered a medium sized Picczle puzzle of me and my daughter harvesting sunflower seeds. She loved it from the moment she saw it since it starred her two favorite people and I hope that it gives her memories for years as she remembers the ginormous sunflower she grew and how we harvested the seeds together.

Now, if you've ever bought a "cheap" puzzle then you know there is a huge variance in puzzle quality! And the Picczle puzzle was top notch - nice thick pieces that didn't fray or "turn up" at the edges. 

It's such a fantastic idea too. If you have great pictures from this year, consider putting them in puzzle form and giving them to your children as a gift. They'll love opening up and putting together their own face. If you want to see the Picczle photo puzzles in action - check out this youtube video or visit them on their Facebook page.

One Lucky Suburban Jungle reader is going to win a Small Cardboard Puzzle. To enter to win - just fill out the rafflecopter form below: 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disney Junior's Jake and The Never Land Pirates Review

Disney will be launching a brand new 24-hour Disney Junior channel soon, and one of it's big shows is Jake and the Never Land Pirates. This hit show is cable's #1 series for boys ages 2-5.

And it was a long time coming. As a mom, I can tell you that preschool programming that can compete with the "older" cartoons is hard to come by. Kids know when they are being shown "baby tv." Especially when their friends tell them that it's baby tv.

We had never seen Jake and the Never Land Pirates until Team Mom sent us a copy of the program to view. And my kids liked it. It's well animated and is interesting to children. The kids in the show are active and doing "pirate" things - well, except for the looting, violence, and swearing.

And that might be the only complaint my kids had - there were no real "bad guys" and everything turned out okay. I think that's really important for preschool aged kids. Really, why do they have to worry about that stuff yet. But my elementary aged kids (5 and 7) know that the world doesn't turn out that way.

Either way, they were happy to watch it and were excited to play with the pirate themed toys they also received.

If you want to catch a glimpse of Jake and the Never Land Pirates, you can tune in on the Disney Junior channel. And be sure to catch the holiday special, "It's a Winter Never Land/Hook on Ice" scheduled for Friday, Dec 2nd 2011 at 8:30-9:00 a.m. EST/PST

*I received complimentary Jake and the Never Land Pirates items for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and no compensation was received.

TheraMat review

Looking for something unique this holiday season? You are going to want to check out the TheraMat. It's the perfect gift for any of your green, fitness, organic, or yoga friends. Plus - it's something so unique that you can give it to the person who has everything. Maybe that's you.

When I first heard about the TheraMat - an acupressure mat - I was a little freaked out. Something about pain.... But I was so excited when it arrived at my door and it looked like this:

Here is a close-up of the sharp points:

These "spiky flowers" are totally do-able and since no blood is drawn you can share it with your family and friends. The TheraMat is said to be a useful tool for dealing with stress, insomnia, headaches, poor circulation, back & neck pain, and improved overall well-being.

It's also said to be good for cellulite and improved metabolism/digestion.

I can't say for sure if it helped me in any of those areas, but it has been fun to use. It has been a huge hit with our family and when we've had people over. Everyone wants to try it. Even kids! On their back. On their feet. In yoga poses. 

Does it hurt? Um...kind of. It hurts on bare skin. And it hurts if you press into it with a lot of force. It doesn't hurt me when I lay on my back or do a shoulder stand. And it doesn't hurt when I walk on it barefoot. But if I try to put a lot of force on my bare arms on the mat - ouch. 

The "hurt" is mostly in a "hurts so good" kind of way. Like the way a back "scratch" feels good. For me - I think the best use is when I'm reading books or sitting in a chair for a while. I'm definitely using it to try and help my upper back pain issues (shoulder stand anyone?) but like all things acupuncture - the effect is most likely cumulative and although it feels good when it's over - I haven't had an all out "cure" from pain.

Next stop - to see if it can help with cellulite. ;

*I received a complimentary theramat for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

New Health & Wellness Center - Plus save $4 on Zyrtec!

Are  you suffering from seasonal allergies? If yes, then listen up! Walmart has just launched a new Health and Wellness Center where you can find helpful information on over the counter (OTC) products, like Zyrtec.  And right now you can even get a $4 off Zyrtec coupon (on the 40ct or higher packs) by checking out the site.You can find it directly here: http://see.walmart.com/healthandwellness/#/zyrtec or by clicking the allergy tab at walmart.com.

This is a HOT $4 off Zyrtec coupon and there are other big dollar coupons for other over the counter products too. Plus - you get information about those medications and the issues they treat.

Head over to Walmart's Health and Wellness Center soon to print your coupon before they run out. For those of you who have allergies - you know fall is a big season for allergies and $4 saved here and there really adds up!

Plus you can watch videos and  get tips/tricks for managing your seasonal allergies. If you click on any of the other tabs in the Health and Wellness Center you can find out about other issues like digestion and pain. Check it out and come back here and leave a comment telling me what you thought.

*This post is sponsored by Walmart and the Double Duty Divas. All opinions expressed are my own.

How to Shop at Costco or Sam's WITHOUT getting Fat, Wasting food, or Wasting Money!

Everybody loves a good deal. And because we're always looking for the best prices, I've always wondered whether people really save all that much shopping at warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam's.

Then - I got a membership. At both warehouse clubs! That should both shock and disgust you. It disgusts me. But I have both memberships because they were free. And I decided to take advantage of those free memberships and find out whether there were any real deals to be had.

For the record - let it be known that I am a health food snob. I do not like packaged foods. I am completely against rampant accumulation and most of all WASTE. Wasting of money. Wasting of Food. Wasting of Time.

And that's the person I take into Costco and Sam's on a weekly basis to do some of our grocery shopping. I have been a member at Sam's for about a year and Costco for 6 months.

If I had to pay for the membership I would not join again. 

Phew. I got that out of the way. I just wanted to be honest. Now I can talk about how you can shop at warehouse clubs and not waste your time/money/food or get fat.  

Why do I say "get fat?" Am I just some skinny bitch that focuses on weight? No. Yes. No. But honestly, have you walked around a mall lately? American has a problem! 

And warehouse clubs can get you into that trouble. Here's why:

Huge Portion Sizes. You can't just buy one loaf of tasty bread. You HAVE to buy two (or more!). You notice that your favorite "snacks" are a better per unit price at the warehouse club - but you have to buy 50 servings - and if they are in the house, you will eat ALL 50 servings.

Free Samples. Servers give out Free samples down almost all the high traffic lanes. Those snacks add up. And they are often things you wouldn't normally eat or even want. 

Low Prices on Your Favorite Snacks. This is sort of the same as the huge portion problem, but worse. If you see all your favorites at a much better price than the grocery store, then you might as well get them while you're there, right? More snacks = less healthy food eaten = bigger waistline. 'nough said. 

Packaged Food. Most of the food for sale is packaged. Processed. Artificial. Unhealthy. And they sell huge packages of candy, chocolate, ice cream....

So how do you avoid getting fat if you shop at the warehouse clubs?  You have to exercise constraint. Don't buy the pack of 200 bagel bites. If you want bagel bites, make them a treat and by the 6 pack at the grocery store. You're much less likely to overdo it if you buy the 6 pack. The worst you can do is 6. With the 200 pack - you could easily eat 20 for dinner or a late night snack. You know the consequences!

If you absolutely must buy the packaged foods, then repackage them when you get home. Put them in reasonable sized packages and stick some of them out of sight. In a basement freezer. At the top of the cupboard. Anywhere so you don't over eat them.

You could also share with friends. Buy the tasty artisan garlic bread - but give one loaf away to a friend or guest. Easier said than done, I know. But your health is at stake!

By far the biggest problem with warehouse clubs is WASTE. Wasting Time, Wasting Food, Wasting Money.

If you've never been to the clubs, then you have no idea how full they are. People are everywhere. People with super big carts. Loaded to the brim. Eating samples. Waiting at checkout. Waiting to be processed on the way out. Waiting for a parking spot! These places are zoos. A lot of time (and patience) gets wasted.

I have an ex-friend (emphasis on the ex) who spends $500 a week at Costco. Wow, right?!!?? Guess how much of that ends up in the trash? A whole heck of a lot! 

She wastes so much food (and money) because she got such a great deal at Costco. No! You don't save money if you end up throwing it all away! 

That being said - let me tell you what the best deals are at Costco and Sam's. 

Boxed organic spinach - their prices beat the smaller packages at grocery stores, are organic, and are generally of good quality.

Frozen Berries - Excellent quality, price, and origin (organic etc.)  Costco has excellent organic raspberries and wild blueberries. Sam's club has the best frozen strawberries.

Nuts - Shelled almonds, walnuts, and pecans are priced extremely well at both clubs. I go through nuts like water, but if you don't, then buy smaller containers at the grocery store and keep them in the refrigerator.

Pure Maple syrup - Both clubs have maple syrup priced better than the grocery/discount stores

Pure Vanilla Extract - The price for vanilla extract is unbelievably lower at the warehouse clubs. If you bake a lot, then you will want to buy this at Sam's or Costco. Note: costco's pure vanilla contains sugar. I only buy this from Sam's.

Spices - Again, if you are a big spice user, this is a good place to shop for them. I go through cinnamon like crazy and always buy this at the clubs. 

Lemon Juice - Organic lemon juice containing only lemons can be found at Costco. You must buy 2 ginormous bottles. I buy about 4 per year. If you hardly ever use lemon juice - then buy an occasional lemon at Target for 29c. ;)

Artisan breads - Their bakery breads are pretty good, but you must buy more than you'd ever want. 

Organic chicken and beef- You can buy organic chicken at a good price at Costco but you will have to buy a lot. If you'll waste it, then don't buy it. If it will get freezer burn before you have a chance to use it, then don't buy it!

Grilled chicken burgers or sausages - Costco carries a great variety of all natural, preservative and artificial gunk free chicken burgers and sausages. 

Nitrate/Nitrite Free hotdogs and bacon - Costco is a good source for reasonably priced preservative free, uncured hotdogs and bacon. You will have to buy a whole lot - so be prepared to use it before it goes back. Remember, no preservatives...

Wild Salmon - You can get a great deal on all natural, wild salmon. Frozen only. 

Fresh Produce - This is a place where people can accumulate a lot of waste. I don't buy a lot of produce from the warehouse clubs. They generally have good prices for apples, berries, and pineapples. Lucky for me - when they have berries for cheap, I have organic berries for free in my own backyard. If you buy their monster packs of berries, eat them all in a few days or freeze them. Seriously, don't waste them.

I can tell you without question that my family could finish a Costco sized package of berries (any type) within a day. Actually, I can almost guarantee they will be gone by the time we get home. But if you can't - freeze them single layered and store in a ziploc bag - or puree and store for smoothies/pancakes toppings/baking ingredients. 

If you are going to buy warehouse produce - plan ahead to use it or preserve it. Most fruits can be dehydrated, frozen, pureed, baked, or used in a smoothie. If you throw it out - you are wasting money and food. Both are yuck!

Depending on the brands you prefer - you may also find good savings on dishwasher soap, bottled water, juice boxes, toilet paper, and big items (like Christmas trees, furniture, compost bins....)

My best advice - share a membership with someone else. Then you can stock up on frozen berries, wild salmon, and occasionally pick up a big ticket item you really need. But for day-to-day shopping, your time and energy are better spent looking for higher quality items at your regular stores: buying and Using what you actually need.

Veteran's Day Sale at Dollar General

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of DollarGeneral for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Veteran's Day is special to me because so many of my ancestors and friends have served in the military. Now to make it even more special, Dollar General is offering a discount to members of the military on  November 11, 2011 - Veteran's Day. 

The Dollar General's Veteran's Day discount applies to veterans, active military and their families. The discount is an automatic 10% savings - no coupon required! 

There will also be a 10% discount offered online from 11/11-11/3 using the code: VETERANSDAY at checkout.

You can share your support and thanks to the veterans by heading over to the Dollar General Facebook page and uploading a short video. 

Dollar General will also help you show your support to our troops by offering FREE SHIPPING on care packages. They will be offering a $20 and $20 option for servicemen and women separately. What's in these packages? They include things like toothbrushes, shampoo, nuts and some candy. And remember these packages ship free to valid US or military addresses. Awesome!

Looking for an Exercise Partner?

So many of my friends say they can't/won't/don't workout because they need/want an exercise buddy. Unfortunately, that's often their way of hinting that they want to workout with me. Ugh.

I'll do cardio with friends - just for fun - but not for a workout. For grunty, sweaty, effective workouts - I  work alone! 

Or do I?

She doesn't really wear this gear (except during dress up - poor kitty) but I realized that I do have an exercise partner and I almost never work out alone.

Like most children, cats are icky workout partners. They scratch and fight things while you're trying to focus. They crawl around and on you while you're doing tough yoga poses. And....they ask for attention.

The reason my cat likes to workout is because I used to throw balls for her between sets. She'd fetch them and wait for me to finish. I still do this occasionally, but I don't take a lot of breaks in my workouts anymore and she's noticed. She waits for my cool down and then starts the purring, rubbing, whining.

But she is a fantastic workout partner for one really important reason! She never lets me forget to exercise. Like any good stalker, she knows exactly when I exercise and if I'm not on time, she let's me know. She mews at the door. She wrangles around my feet and leads me to the door.

And if for some reason I am in my workout gear at any time other than exercise time, she runs to me and gives me so much love you'd actually believe she loved me. Then when she's got my attention.....she runs me to the exercise door.

So don't discount your kitty if you need a fitness partner. Yes, they know how to laze in sun and sleep for hours at a time (gotta love 'em) but they also know how to get physical.

Will you PLEASE do me a favor?

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time or you know me in real life, then you know that I love, love, love berries! I'm the type of person that tries to get everyone to plant berries. Any of my friends that don't have berries growing, often find me at their door with berries in hand - ready to plant - even if they don't garden!

I talk about berries, dream about berries, plan for berries.... In fact, my lifelong dream is to have so many berries that I HAVE to give them away. Up until now, that hasn't been a possible. I've maxed out the berry potential of my yard and am looking at buying land to create a "free orchard" - one that produces so much I have to give them away.

Here's where I need your help: 

I entered a fantastic contest here: Zoneperfect.com/contest-vote and am a finalist to win $5,000 toward my "flavorful dream". And my dream - of course - is all about berries. Please click on the link, find my submission ("surrounded by berries" about building a berry orchard) and vote for me. I would REALLY appreciate it.

You can vote once per day per email address. The contest runs from 11/3-11/17 and if you could vote every day, I'd be so grateful. Please pass it on to your friends and coworkers too. It's really easy to vote - just a simple click.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Words to Sweat By - Decorating your Home Gym

Any gym rat will tell you that having a positive motto can make all the difference when a workout gets tough. Think about it. When you're working hard, the world is quiet. It's just you, your body, and your thoughts. 

When your mind starts to wander or give up, it's helpful to think of a mantra like the ones you can find on the Words to Sweat by workout gear. 

If you can't put your mantra up on the wall or scrawl it across your mirror - how awesome would it be to have  it staring at you as you wipe the sweat from your face? 

We recently brought the Words to Sweat By towels into our home and I'll tell you why I like them: 

1. Decor - A gym can be a pretty ugly place. A down and dirty place. A sweaty... You get the picture. But you want your home - your whole home - to look clean, organized....special. These are perfect for decorating your gym. I put three of them together in a basket and my gym suddenly looks like a spa. Would you like a towel madam?  
2. Inspiration - The towels have a variety of phrases and you are sure to find one that motivates you - and others - while you are in your own gym or at the local club. Plus they just look cool.
3. Function - How often do things serve multiple functions? These towels look cool and they also work. You want small white towels at the gym. They just feel right. These towels accomplish a necessary task, while still looking pretty cool. 

 They come in a variety of colors and phrases. Here's my favorite:

Yeah - there are no excuses! Not in my gym!!!

You can find Words to Sweat By towels, t-shirts, tanks, and even holiday sets at Wordstosweatby.com.

*I received complimentary towels for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own. 

How to Save money this holiday!

The holidays are coming and what better way to kick off the holiday shopping season than by sharing our best savings tips! Things are tight for everyone this year - so to make things easier, I'm asking each Suburban Jungle reader to leave a comment on this post sharing a money saving tip.

Slimmies Weight Loss Chocolates

If you want to lose weight, then you know you have to eat fewer calories. For most of us that means eating less of what we already eat. And that's hard.

I'm not on a diet, but I have a very see-food approach to eating. If I see it, I eat it. And I'm sure my proportions are out of whack. And I seem to always have room for desserts and treats.

But what if I didn't have room for treats. That's part of the premise behind Slimmies. They are chocolate chews that fill up your stomach and prevent fat and carbohydrates from being absorbed.

The website (myslimmies.com) is loaded with before and after shots from people that have lost weight using Slimmies. I love those pictures. They're so inspirig.

So we gave them a shot. They were super easy to use. Just eat one chocolate chew 30 minutes before a meal and follow it with an 8oz glass of water. I never drink 8 oz of water, so I chased them with my usual 16 oz of water.

Here are my thoughts:
They taste okay - like a tootsie roll. Tootsie rolls are not my fave but if I was going to try to lose weight and cut out really good tasting chocolate, a tootsie roll type of candy would probably suffice.

I chased them with 16oz of water and found that I was still hungry afterward. Please keep in mind that I have an unreal capacity to put away food. At just over 100 lbs I could put most men to shame. My stomach just seems to have no limit. Or I have no stretch receptors. Whatever the case, I was still hungry.

And to be honest, my body probably senses that I really need the calories and wants me to eat. I eat a very high calorie diet and am almost always hungry.  Because I'm always moving (or running or cleaning or weight lifting) I really need all those calories.

The idea and the science behind it sounded great. Even if it could offer you a placebo effect and you really needed to cut down on your calories it might be worth a try.

Best of luck on your weight loss endeavors!

*I received a complimentary box of Slimmies for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and no compensation was received.

The True Story of Puss 'N Boots DVD review

We are always looking for good kid's movies in our home and were excited that we were going to have the chance to review the new movie "The True Story of Puss 'N Boots" with William Shatner.

The cover art was fantastic and we knew the story enough to look forward to the movie. When I popped in the DVD, the first thing my kids said was "hey, this isn't puss n boots. Where are his big kitty eyes?"

Clearly, they were expecting a different puss n boots. And it all kind of went downhill from there. They couldn't stay focused. The characters were very flamboyant and theatrical - not what we're used to.

It was an awkward movie, and I'm sorry to say we didn't like it very much. But your family may see it differently. If you like plays and haven't been ruined by Dreamworks and Disney, then your family might really enjoy it.

*I received a complimentary DVD for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and no compensation was received.

Morphology - Review

As the weather starts to cool down, we are spending more and more time playing games as a family. One of the best parts of seeing your children grow up is being able to play with them on more of a peer level. So when we had the chance to review Morphology - a new game focused on creativity - I couldn't have been more excited.

Here are our thoughts:
I really like the premise of the game. It's a lot like pictionary or charades - but using little objects to create the secret word.

Somehow I missed the part where the game is recommended for ages 13+ and we had to modify the game quite a bit for our 5 and 7 year old to be able to play. Even with our modifications, the game was a bit challenging for them. They loved the idea behind it and were gung ho to play, but some of the words were just too abstract.

The toughest part about this game is that you need teams to play. You can't play the game correctly with just 2-3 players. You really do need more than 4. And they need to be teenage or adults.

I will definitely bring this game out at parties and events - but until our children get a little older, we probably won't play it much as a family. At least not the right way. ;)

*I received a complimentary game for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and no compensation was received.

Sumoku Review

Our family has been playing more and more games together. And it's been a blast. But after a while you want to play new games. As a mom, that also means I like to sneak in a little education. 

We recently had the opportunity to review Sumuko - a tile game that uses addition, subtraction and multiplication in a fast paced game. 

Here are our thoughts on the game:

The cone shaped case and colorful tiles were a huge hit. It's so unlike any game that my children have ever played that they were drawn to it right away.

The math portion of the game is challenging but refreshing. I haven't used my mathematical side in a long time and it was nice to turn those cranks again. But it is challenging! It's not really a game for young kids.

And that was the only negative. It was really hard for my little kids to play the game the right way (at least at this age). It was great for adults, but we modified it for them and made up addition and subtraction games only with the tiles.

We were able to have a lot of fun with it. The carrying case really does hold all the pieces. No bulging or ill fitting pieces. It would be fantastic to bring on a plane or over holiday travels. And at less than $20 (Less than $13 on Amazon,) it's a gift you can afford to buy for yourself or others.

*I received a complimentary Sumoku game for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and no compensation was received.

Lighten Up Review

Clutter is exhausting, depressing, and frankly - ugly! I keep a fairly clutter-free home, but there is always room for improvement. That's why I spent a few days reading through Lighten Up by Peter Walsh.

After flipping the cover to see his other titles like "Does this clutter make my butt look fat" and "How to organize just about anything," I knew I was going to like him.

And I did. The book was filled with solid advice. And not about being neat and tidy just because you have a perfectionist obsession with organizing. Because it really is a big part of freedom. The freedom from spending like crazy and being bogged down by "stuff."

This book is focused on the financial aspects of clutter and I found it to have very good advice. None of it applied to me - but that's okay. It was like talking to a close friend with my exact same opinion. Not a bad conversation. Not helpful. But good.

BUT - if you do need help with clutter or financial restraint/budgeting/fixing, then you may find some really good pearls of wisdom in this book. There are a lot of action recommendations but mostly this book is about a change of financial "spirit."

It has a lot of good lessons that we could learn from - and it would do us well to implement. So pick up a copy and read it if you need help. It might be a good place to start. Look for it November 8th.

*I received a complimentary copy of Lighten up for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and no compensation was received.

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway

My giveaway sponsor is the fabulous Shabby Apple!

Shabby Apple has the best women's dresses online!! And with all the gunk that goes into being a woman (and/or mother/employee/wife/etc) it's nice to have cute dresses to help you feel a little more feminine and free.


Check out this super cute white dress:

This giveaway is for the ahoy dress - in your size. All you need to do is fill out the rafflecopter form below. No purchase is necessary to enter and entry should be pretty simple. One winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email.


If you want to buy any of the beautiful dresses (women's or little girl's dresses) at Shabby apple: feel free to use this code: suburbanjungle10off to save 10%


The contest ends on November 25th, 2011 at 11:59PM EST and is open to US residents. *The giveaway product is being provided by Shabby Apple. I did not receive any products or compensation to host this giveaway.