Is That Christmas Music & Holiday Cards?

I know, I know. It is barely Halloween and I'm here talking about holiday cards. But if you are like me and like to have creative and unique greetings to send out come Christmas time it's never too early to start -- think Michaels or AC Moore!

So we've been active with our children all year and hopefully you've been snapping pictures, here's some wonderful ways to put them to work for you with a little help from www.PurpleTrail.com.


1. Create a holiday card that incorporates pictures from each of the seasons. It will give new meaning to "Seasons Greetings". A photo from the Santa Run, one from the Daffodil 5K, the Fourth of July 10K, and of course the good 'ol Turkey Trot would be perfect!


2. Keeping with the spirit to be active with your children, walk to your local park and collect different items to make a picture with -- leaves for hair, sticks for a mouth, acorns for eyes, etc. Once your masterpiece is complete, scan it into your computer, upload it to www.Purpletrail.com and, using their design center, create a truly unique and inspired personalized holiday card.

3. You could also take an end-of-the-year trip to the beach and create a alternative snowman, a sandman if you will. Dust off your Santa hat, get some carrots from the fridge to finish him off, then snap that photo! Make sure you end your trip with a brisk walk on the beach!

4. For that truly personal touch to your holiday cards get out the stamp pad and utilize your children's fingerprints. You can make wreaths, reindeer, trees, an entire holiday scene, the ideas are endless and just like snowflakes no two will be the same! Scan them into your computer and upload them to, you guessed it, www.Purpletrail.com, and create your one-of-a-kind holiday card. Then do 50 jumping jacks with the kids!

5. Finally, print photos of you and your children smiling and laughing while being active. Cut them out and spell the words Happy New Year. Scan it into your computer, upload it then get to www.purpletrail.com/winterholidays/holiday-cards to create your inspiring and uplifting holiday card. You won't be sorry and it will be a wonderful keepsake too!

I truly believe in making life unique. Stay active, include your children, and you will have a lot more time to do just that!



Please note: I am participating in a giveaway for PurpleTrail.com which makes me eligible for a PurpleTrail gift code. You can find information on this contest at http://www.purpletrail.com/blogcontests.

Just Keep Swimming

With the middle of July comes, you guessed it, swimming. While children would swim from the time the sun comes up until the sun goes down it isn't really feasible. But a few hours a day will do the body good! And don't forget a suit for yourself! An easy way to laugh and have fun while getting the body moving is noodle races. Straddle a pool noodle like a horse and start bicycling your legs. That's all there is to it. Race older children the length of the pool and younger children the width. You can even have a relay race! Just enjoy, keep the legs moving, and keep the mouth laughing. Now get moving!

Batter Up!

Spring has definitely sprung which means it must be time for...baseball! So why not play a modified version of it in your backyard! Get your wiffle ball, bat, mitts, and bases out and get moving with your kids! Name your teams, coordinate your shirts, and start pitching! Remember, ACTIONS speak louder than WORDS!

Dance the Night Away!

Turn off the tv and turn on the music -- whatever kind of music that gets you moving. The children may be a little hesitant at first but they will be laughing and moving with you in no time at all. Start out with something a little slow and then really turn it up. Use iTunes to create a playlist and make it a weekly family night. Need a few new moves? Watching 'So You Think You Can Dance' always helps here! It premiers in a few short weeks on Fox. What a great way to connect with your family and get moving with your children. Enjoy and dance the night away!

A Good Old Fashioned Walk

There is nothing like a good old fashioned walk to get moving and spend some quality time with your family. A wonderful time to head out is after dinner while it is still light. Make sure everyone is wearing appropriate foot wear and has a bottle of water! Get your body moving and enjoy nature, regardless of where you live. Listen for the sounds of birds and other animals, breathe in the aromas of your area, look for different leaves, interesting rocks, beautiful flowers, and animal tracks if you are on a trail. Talk about your day, your hopes, your dreams. Connect with the world around you and with your family. It is a wonderful way to wind down your day. Collect some items from your walk and make a collage or a shadow box. Just get out there and get moving!

Rain, rain, go away!

What to do on a rainy day? Can't really play outside (well, yes you can but...) so blow up a balloon and play balloon tennis. All you need is a space to play, a blown-up balloon, and a line to make the "net" -- that's it! Flip a coin to see who will be the server (the person to start the balloon in motion). Once you determine the server, throw the balloon up and hit it over the net to the other person. See how many times you can bat it back and forth. See how high you can hit it, then how low. Set a timer and see how long you can volley (volley means hit the balloon back and forth without it touching the floor). See if you can spin around and then hit the balloon back. There are plenty of 'tricks' to try.

For the more competitive, keep score. The first person to 10 or 12 wins. You score a point if the other person fails to hit the balloon before it drops to the floor or if the other person fails to get it over the 'net'. Just make sure to have fun and MOVE AROUND! Now grab your kids and get moving!!

An Oldy but a Goody!

Break out your hula hoops! It doesn't matter the weather, you can do it indoors or out! Hula hooping is a fun way to get moving. Shake those hips, rock your arms, swing your neck, wherever you decide to hoop the hula you will be moving and laughing with your kids! It's not just for girls, boys will take on the challenge as well. Get out a timer and see if you can hula hoop for 1 minute or 2? Line everyone up and see who can hula hoop the longest. Can you do it on your knees? Play some music and see how fast you can hula hoop! Just get a hula hoop, your children, and get moving!

A Slave to Your Blackberry or iPhone?

Are you a slave to your Blackberry or iPhone? Do you have a list of things to do or some type of schedule you keep? Then be sure to schedule "30 minutes of quality active time with children"! We ALL need time for ourselves but our children need their closest and best bosses too, YOU!

If the day seems to slip away and you haven't been active and spent some quality time with them than you need to schedule it in with all of your other duties. Trust me, you will be glad you did and more importantly so will your children. It doesn't have to be high impact, crazy fitness stuff just something fun with movement. When was the last time you played hopscotch. It's a cinch right? Try it, you might be surprised. Get to the park, if weather permits, and do the monkey bars. Or better yet, make an obstacle course out of the playground equipment and race. What kid doesn't love to race their parents? Make it even more interesting with the winner having to take the garbage out for a whole week!

Whatever it is you choose to do: ride your bikes, walk the dog, who can do 50 jumping jacks the fastest just schedule it in and be sure when the alarm goes off that you grab your children and get moving! You might even laugh!

A New Twist to the Old Easter Egg Hunt

Are you getting ready for the Easter Bunny? There is nothing children like more than an entire basket filled with treats! Who doesn't? But why not get them moving BEFORE they dive in!

Make an treaure hunt out of finding their baskets. Use the back of an inexpensive puzzle that they first need to put together to create the map. Then give them clues to where their treats are hidden. Make the clues far apart and your kids will be running from one to the other. The more clues the more movement!

Or how about an egg hunt challenge! Make them hop on one foot from egg to egg. The hunt will last longer and there will be a lot of laughs along the way too! Don't forget to have the video camera rolling!

Happy Hunting!

Only Sneakers Required!

Grab your sneakers and hit the ground running! The easiest way to get moving is to run. All you need is a pair of sneakers and you're off! You don't have to run fast, you just need to get moving! You're children will love it especially if you challenge them. Challenge them to see who can get to the fire hydrant first, the next tree, whatever! And who knows, you might just inspire the next great Olympic Runner!

Have an infant? Grab a jogging stroller and take them too. Don't worry if you have multiples, you can still do it! And it's a great opportunity to get outdoors and stimulate your infant(s) with the sights and sounds of spring! What ever you choose, get moving!

Have 20 minutes and $15.00?

Jillian Michaels hasn't won more seasons of the Biggest Loser than not by accident. The woman knows how to get results! Have 20 minutes and $15.00? Grab your kids and a copy of her DVD '30 Day Shred' for $15.00 ($8.99 on Amazon.com) and get moving!

My two year-old LOVES to do the jumping jacks, my 6 year-old LOVES the plank jacks, my 7 year-old LOVES the oblique twists, and I LOVE the way I look 30 days later (no kidding - you will notice a difference in just weeks). There is something for everyone I promise and even if you can't do it all you will get moving and spend some quality time with your children! Twenty minutes isn't too much to ask and your body and your children will thank you! Now get some water and get moving!!

Two Birds, One Stone -- Read and be Active

Everyone can carve out 15 minutes in their day to spend some quality time with their children. Why not slay two birds with one stone and read while being active! How? With Eric Carle's book From Head to Toe. It's reading and movement combined! Can you arch your back like a cat? Bend your knees like a camel? No matter the age (mine are 2, 6, and 7) they will enjoy moving to this book! Now get reading and get active!

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

This one is simple. If your children see YOU drinking water they are more likely to grab water than a coke. If your children see YOU snacking on vegetabels, fruits, or trail mix they are more likely to do the same. If instead of sitting in front of the television YOU get out and roller blade, play tennis or wiffle ball, or even jump some rope they are more likely to do the same. SHOW your children how to be active, healthy, and fit.

*Make water your drink of choice.
*Snack on foods that do your body good like fruits, vegetables, trail mix, yogurt.
*Eat fish at least once a week. A tuna sandwich counts!
*How about good old fashioned oatmeal or cream of wheat for breakfast. Cheerios or Kashi are a good choice for the time challenged.
*A few activities to enjoy (your kids will LOVE them as well): jump rope, wiffle ball, roller blading, tennis, or just ride your bikes!

Remember, your children are ALWAYS watching you! Make your actions speak louder than your words!

Jump and Laugh

Rain or shine, grab a jump rope! You’ll burn 11 calories per minute and your kids will laugh, A LOT! If you’re child is too little or not quite coordinated enough to jump rope, lay the rope on the ground and move it like a snake. Have them jump over it as many times as they can without landing on it.

Need a verse to jump to? Try:

Bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish
How many pieces do you wish?
1, 2, 3,…

(Count how many times you jump over the rope without missing for the answer!)

Hydration

Being the human body is comprised of 60% of water and every system in the body depends on water to function properly, DRINK! Water contains zero calories, has no fat, no cholesterol, and is low in sodium. Drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day. Don't like the taste of water? Try a slice of lemon, lime, or cucumber in the glass.

Need a little extra inspiration? Try one of my favorite bottled waters, Aquamantra. It comes in 'I Am Loved', 'I Am Grateful', 'I Am Healthy', and 'I Am Lucky'.

Just DRINK!