Sparklers Sweet16 is a set of monthly challenges to help 2016 be the SWEETEST year yet.
February's focus is on our relationships, with the challenge to help nurture and build our relationship with our partner!

We have set up a 2 week LOVE challenge.  With daily inspirations for you to do for or with your sweetheart! The daily challenges will focus on building your relationship and helping to show service and love for him.  (Some of the challenges could be tweaked to do for your kids, or yourself, if you don't have a sweetheart.)

You can do the LOVE challenge whenever you want, but we set it up to start February 1st and to run the two week course, ending on Valentine's Day.  We would love for you to join us, and let us know how you are accomplishing the daily goals.

Here are the daily challenges, that way you can plan ahead if you want to.

1. Write a handwritten letter of appreciation.  Get specific with what you appreciate about him.
2. Give him an after work massage.  Help him relax and seriously, who doesn't like massages!?
3.  Have fun together.  Part of a healthy relationship is to get silly every once in awhile.  Take funny selfies, draw a portrait of each other, give each other tattoos with permanent marker.  Get creative and get to laughing.
4.  Pack a favorite treat of his for him to take to work.  Men love treats!
5.  Make a musical playlist that is special to the two of you. Listen to it while doing chores together, taking a bath, relaxing at night, road trips, etc.
6.  Go on a Random Acts of Kindness date.  Serve your community together.  This will strengthen your love for each other and you will want to make this a regular date night.
7.  Go through old photographs of the two of you and make a scrapbook together, or frame some new pictures of the two of you.  Having displayed pictures of the two of you happy, will remind you daily why you married him!
8.  Go for a walk/drive and talk about your future and discuss your dreams.  Get excited about your life together!
9.  Make him his favorite meal.  If you have kids, maybe feed them first, so that he feels he gets all the attention.  Make him his favorite dessert while you're at it!
10.  Give him time to unwind by himself.  Spoil him by taking care of everything this evening so that he can just relax.  Believe me, he will appreciate this.
11.  Leave him a silly poem in his car, or put sticky notes all over the mirror or send him cute little texts all day.  Get cute and creative, let him know you are thinking of him.
12.  Re-live your first date.  This may take some planning and/or tweaking.  Have fun with this!
13.  Serve him!  Do a chore of his for him.  Love is service!
14.  Give him a big long kiss for no reason when he's not expecting it.  Maybe do this one everyday!

Are you joining us and Sweet-Me for the Sweet-16 Challenge?
If not you totally should, it's going to be inspiring and fun, we promise!

January's challenge for The Sweet-16 is our Health.  We are focusing on getting a better nights sleep, drinking more water, eating for fuel, taking time to relax and movement.



Let’s face it, we live crazy busy lives.  So of course stress is a part of our everyday lives.  We need to learn how to relax and make an effort to practice relaxation in some form daily.  We need to learn to chill out and enjoy ourselves.  Relaxation can be a great coping strategy to help deal with stress and anxiety.  











Other benefits of relaxation are, lowers risk of; depression and anxiety, hypertension, heart related problems, and can help boost our immunity.


Make Time To Take Time For Yourself.

I like to Move it, Move it!

We all know that exercising regularly leads to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. But sometimes it is so hard to muster up the energy to get off of the sofa and move our bodies.  But if we think outside of the box, exercising can be not only rewarding, but fun!

Are you joining us and Sweet-Me for the Sweet-16 Challenge?
If not you totally should, it's going to be inspiring and fun, we promise!
Sweet-16 January's focus is on Health. We've done Sleep. Now Water.

Water is said to be the essence of life. 
We depend on it for survival! 


Every cell, tissue and organ in our body needs it in order to function properly.














Water keeps us hydrated.  It energizes us – dehydration can cause us to feel tired, have brain fog, cause headaches, cause muscle cramps and spasms, stomach pain.


Eat raw fruits and vegetables – they are dense in water.



Watermelon, strawberries, grapefruit, cantaloupe, peaches, pineapple, cranberries, oranges, raspberries, apricots, blueberries, plums, apples, pears, cherries, grapes.  Just to name a few.

Cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, radish, celery, tomato, green cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, red cabbage, peppers and spinach, broccoli, carrots, green peas, and the list goes on.  You get the picture!

Mama, was Right!  Eating your fruits and vegetables can replenish and hydrate your body with minimal calories and help provide a feeling of fullness.  Win-Win!
So DRINK or take a BITE of water and hydrate your body!




When frozen, water helps provide relief from pain and swelling. It can be effective therapy for sprains and strains. Cold packs can reduce blood flow and swelling in an affected area and also treat pain.

Working out in it (swimming, water aerobics, etc…) provides good aerobic fitness and offers cardio workouts with low impact.



Ever noticed how soothing the sounds of water are; rain, a running stream, babbling brook, waves crashing in the ocean?  Even watching waters movement can become hypnotic and soothing. 

― Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad


For some tips, ideas and recipes for Fruit infused water drinks you can make and enjoy the benefits.  Join us on pinterest, our {Health & Fitness} board.  Yum-I-licious! 

Fruit-Infused Water - So Yummy & Good for You!

1.  Decide what steps you need to take to make your dreams come true.  Break your dream down into daily steps, and then decided on a daily plan of action.  Set a time frame, and don't and don't be flexible.  Word for it.  Don't let your dreams get away from you just because you were afraid to start on a plan.

2.  Create a Dream board.  Write your dreams down, put them into pictures.  This makes your dreams real and tangible.  When you get your dreams out of your head, then you can plan the steps you need to make them reality.


4.  Get a mentor.   Read inspirational biographies.  Talk to those you admire and who has followed their dreams and learn from them.

Getting a better nights sleep is part of the January Health Challenge for The Sweet-16.
Contributed by www.sweetmeblog.blogspot.com




1.  Move during the day.  Having a regular exercise schedule will help with anxiety, stress and a busy mind, making it easier to get a good nights rest in the evening.  Make sure you schedule your activity at least 2 hours before bed, so that your body has time to use up the post work out energy.

2.  Take a warm bath.  The heat will relax you and loosen your muscles, allowing for a better nights sleep.  Use essential oils to calm and meditate you.

3.  Slip into comfortable pajamas.   Pick something that is not too tight or constricting, but ones that won't bunch up and tug when you move.

4. Set the temperature.  Make sure your home's temperature stays at a between 65-73 to keep optimized sleeping temperature.

5.  Create a comfortable environment.  Leave your bedroom for only bedroom activities.  Invest in a good mattress, splurge on nice sheets, use white noise,......whatever you need to have a good nights sleep is worth the investment.

6.  Unplug.  Turn off the T.V., the laptop, the ipads and cell phones.  Try to unplug an hour before bed, so that your mind has time to quiet down and unplug as well.

7.  Journal or read before bed.  A good way to end the day is to write in a gratitude journal.  It's a good way to quiet  your mind and to chronicle your day.

8. Go to bed at the same time each night.  This will create a shut down habit in your brain, making it easier to fall asleep.

9.  Limit your caffeine intake after 3;00pm.  Doing this will help keep your body on it's natural sleep cycle.

10.   Listen to relaxing music.  Instead of falling asleep to the T.V.  try listening to relaxing music or sounds instead.

Contributed by sweetmeblog@blogspot.com


Today starts the first Sweet-16 challenge.  This month we will be focusing on our health.  I don't know about you, but 2015 was a doozy for me, health wise.  I was in and out of Dr.s offices, I tried a dozen different treatments and medications, and then ended up having two major surgeries within just a few months of each other.  I spent TOO much time, in bed watching Netflix.  (Pretty Little Liars, Gilmore Girls, Parenthood and The Originals were my past time.)  I missed a lot of life and doing what I liked doing.

This year I want to be in control of my body, not the other way around.  I know that there are some things I can't help, and I'm still figuring out all that ails me, but for the most part, I am feeling much better and stronger, and I want to keep it that way!

So January's focus will be to get/be/stay healthy.  We will start a habit that we can continue all year long that will help us feeling our best, so that we can be our best.

SLEEP
Commit to going to bed at the same time each night, and waking up at the same time each morning. By keeping a regular sleep schedule, it will help dramatically with the quality of your sleep.  Your brain will be trained when to shut off, so less laying in bed at night trying to fall asleep AND by waking up at the same time, your body will become used to it, and you will no longer struggle with the snooze button.

WATER
Drinking enough water during the day is vital to our health.  We all know we need to drink more, but we still struggle to do it.  This month commit to drinking more water each day.  This one thing will help you FEEL better more than any other thing you could do.

REST
Research shows that mental breaks increase productivity and encourage creativity.  Moments of rest also allow you to keep a sense of self and helps in motivating you to stay focused on your goals.
Taking time each day to rest and reset will actually help you to accomplish more than if you try to just plow through.  This month make a goal to have a deliberate resting period each day.

MOVE
Get up and do something.  You will sleep better, you will have more energy and will be able to focus that energy better by being active.  You can decide to work out at the gym or train for a marathon.
Moving can be something as simple as deciding to go on a bike ride with your kids or taking a walk in the morning.  It really doesn't matter how you move, just do it.  This month make a habit out of moving and focus on how this helps your sleep, your attitude and how your body embraces it.

FOOD
We all know that you are what you eat.  This month commit to being aware of what is going into your body, and how it makes you feel.   Commit to eating a breakfast full of protein, this one habit will set the stage for more energy in your day.  Cut out sodas, add more fruits or vegetables.  The key to this challenge is to be in tune with how food effects you, and make the necessary changes to get more out of your day.  By using food as fuel instead of a friend, activity, or an emotional crutch you will start to feel like you can do anything.

I will be posting tips and motivation on instagram and facebook, so make sure you follow me.  And join the challenge.  Be a supportive member and let me know what you are doing.  We can do this together!

Let's start off our year feeling good, so that we can tackle our dreams!

Here's to a Sweet-16!