Recipe for a Clean House

November 27th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (5 Comments)

I love to live in a neat and tidy house, but naturally-neat-and-tidy I am not.  Items collect on our dining room table, clothes gather on furniture, colored pencils and drawings scatter like plastic bags in a windstorm.  In a perfect world I would stay on top it of regularly – but the reality is that I get behind and end up needing to devote time to picking up and cleaning.

I feel like the Slobbiest McSlobberson to admit this, so I take comfort in messy house memes because it leads me believe I am not alone.

Messy House Prayer  Read more...

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A 40 Day Challenge: Paleo, Yoga or Whatever You Want

October 6th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (9 Comments)

Zak’s been talking about doing a “40 Day Paleo Challenge” for a couple of weeks now and he’s invited all of his (Facebook) friends to join him.  He asked me to write up a brief guide to Paleo for anyone who wants to play along, and when I was putting it together I decided to extend the invite here to you too.  It’s not a contest or competition, just an opportunity to try the Paleo lifestyle for 40 days, to give it a fair shot and to see if it might make a difference for you.  Read more...

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You Need a Reason in This Season

February 15th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (13 Comments)

This is the time of year that can be the most challenging when it comes to finding the motivation to exercise.

Bike

It’s cold. It’s dreary. Your bike is in the river.

(That’s not my bike, but you get what I’m saying.)

Here’s a little ditty that has nothing to do with bike riding, unless you like to ride for exercise in the winter. Then this can have everything to do with bike riding.  Read more...

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The Life Changers of 2011

December 26th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (13 Comments)

With New Years right around the corner, I’ve been thinking about some of the things that made a huge impact in my life during 2011. I’ve decided to wrap them all up into neat little list for your consideration if you might be looking for some direction, motivation or new ideas as we approach 2012.

The Secret

The Secret

I’m a little embarrassed to admit I liked The Secret as much I did, but it’s true.  There’s the book, but there’s also the movie. (P.S., You can watch The Secret through Watch Instantly on Netflix).  Read more...

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The Lunchtime Puzzle

October 20th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (4 Comments)

Two days a week, the girls go off to class for three hours in the afternoon.

That means two days a week, I have three hours to myself.

Sometimes I stay and help out in class, sometimes I run errands, sometimes I do housework, sometimes I work on a blog post.

Lentil Taco Salad

Sometimes I eat leftover lentil tacos on a bed of lettuce with salsa, Greek yogurt and 1/2 an avocado for lunch in front of my computer so I can watch Modern Family on Hulu.  Read more...

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A Little Link Love: Coconut Oil, Food Addiction and Willpower

September 19th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (9 Comments)

First Things First:

Do you know who Miranda Kerr is?

Miranda Kerr Loves Coconut Oil

I didn’t – but I do now! An article just surfaced about this Victoria’s Secret model, wife of Orlando Bloom, new mother and coconut oil lover.

I will not go a day without coconut oil. I personally take four tablespoons per day, either on my salads, in my cooking or in my cups of green tea.

Rock on girlfriend! NOW I’ll remember who you are! You’re that chick who digs coconut oil! Orlando Bloom, Schmorlando Schoom.  Read more...

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Forks Over Knives

September 6th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (6 Comments)

The documentary Forks Over Knives was in select cities this spring and just recently became available through NetFlix and their “Watch Instantly” option –

Forks Over Knives Documentary

and oh yes, I watched it instantly!

The premise of Forks Over Knives is to show how the foods we eat play a role in the diseases and conditions that plague so many people who live on the Standard American Diet – the Big Ones of course being obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

(Notice the “knife” in “Forks Over Knives” is at the bottom of the movie poster – a scalpel!)  Read more...

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Don’t You Know That You’re Toxic?

April 15th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (5 Comments)

Sugar Ad

(Yeah, right.)

From the NY Times yesterday, Is Sugar Toxic?

I don’t know, but I do know that as former sugar addict, (who still indulges from time to time – and will as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow indulge again) I cannot deny that I truly feel my best when I’m consuming little to no sugar.  I guess that’s all the evidence I need.  Articles like this are just further motivation to limit sugar in all its various forms whenever I can.

Exercise Trickery

April 6th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (5 Comments)

I woke up today with plenty of time to exercise before the husband left for work – but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my bad self on this dark, cold and damp Wednesday morning.

I laid there for a while pondering my options. Head to the gym to run on the treadmill? (Again?) Head to the gym and just walk on the treadmill? (Again??) Run outside in the sunless, frigid air? (Again!!?)  Read more...

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Nobody

November 29th, 2010 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (9 Comments)

I want to do more trail running.  Hiking too. While we live in the city, there are plenty of places around here to do both – so this is definitely feasible.

I got the trail running itch after that trail race a few weeks ago. But then my finger tip was hacked open blah blah blah and all sorts of routines were thrown off – exercise included. It only follows that any trail running plans were put on hold too.  Read more...

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