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!

Every year, I take down Christmas and my home looks so un-inspiring and blah!  I miss the twinkle, the glow, the excitement!  The days are cold and dark, and it's so easy to get the winter blues.

This year, try to keep on top of those blues with a few easy DIY's to keep yourself, motivated, creative and inspired!

One of my favorite ways to decorate for winter is with big blankets and cozy pillows!  It invites warmth and cuddling!  Two of my favorite things.

This Chunky Blanket looks perfect!  It's a 45 minute arm knitted blanket!  What the What!??  Have you tried one of these!?  I think I need to this winter!


Blanket How To

And while you are de-cluttering and cleaning out your home and closets, save some of those winter sweaters to make some pillows.  I have done this before and I love them.


Sweater Pillow


One of the easiest and most effective ways to decorate for winter is with candles.  I love the glow of candles at night, after dinner, when we are all gathered in the living room, reading, watching T.V. or talking.  It just feels like family to me!







































Jar Candle

Another simple way to decorate for winter is to re-use some of your less "Christmas-ish" Christmas decorations.  I made these beautiful winter trees a few years ago, and I keep these out on my buffet long after I put my Christmas decorations away.


Cone Trees

Looking for something to do with the kids!?  I love these snowflakes made out of popsicle sticks.  Hang them on a bare wall and you have instant winter decor!


Snowflakes


We hope you liked these tips for winter decorating.  If you are still looking for some inspiration on freshening up your home for the the new year, check out our Instagram giveaway of a flower delivery.  Hurry!  Ends Monday January 11th.

We picked up these cute little burlap bags and black and white tags at Target - Dollar Spot.
We put a Chap Stick, Breath Mints, and a few Chocolate Kisses in each bag then wrote on the tag,
"Kiss Me At Midnight".  We had these little Kiss goodie bags for each of our guests.




We used a glass vase from the Dollar Store that we taped off and then spray painted Gold Stripes to hold the props for our Photo Booth.  An inexpensive way to make an elegant statement, don't you agree?  The Cute little Chalk Board Easel we picked up at Target - Dollar Spot, Score!

Photo Booth Props of Fun    A Photo Booth is easy to set up and guests of all ages have fun with it.  Just make sure to have lots of fun props to choose from.  We picked up a pack at Walmart that had a bunch of props in it for around $4.00 bucks. Most of all cut loose and be Silly! Beverage Bar    We covered our Sparkling Cider bottles with some gold glitter paper for a touch of sparkle.  (on a side note we covered our table with left over wrapping paper from Christmas) We picked up the paper straws with Tags at Target - Dollar Spot, and we put them into a mug that we picked up on clearance at Target.   We served Sparkling Cider and Sprite with garnishments to add to the glass like; frozen cranberries, lemon and lime wedges, assorted frozen berries and frozen peaches and mangos.   We also had some Cranberry juice to make "Mocktails" we mix 2/3 Cider or Sprite to 1/3 Cranberry Juice over ice or and add a wedge of Lime.  So Yummy!   Paper Fortune Cookies   We used the tutorial in the link above to make our Paper Fortune Cookies.  But instead of already having the fortunes in the cookies, we used it as a fun game.  We had slips of paper already cut and we gave one to each guest as they arrived and asked them to right a prediction for 2016 then place it in a cookie.  Later in the evening we read them out loud as guest tried to guest who wrote the prediction. (the link has printables for fortunes if you want to use those)    

Easy Peppermint Vanilla Sugar Scrub