Click on the exercise for full instructions!

1. K-Tread: This helps works your arms, back, chest, abs, butt and hamstring! This workout is much easier when you remember to squeeze your glutes and quads to keep your legs straight. (via Fitness Magazine)

2. Otter Roll: This move works out your back, abs, butt and legs! This does require a beach ball so make sure you’ve gotten one handy!  (via Fitness Magazine)

3. Spiderman: Wow your kids with your superpowers! Pick a side or wall of the pool and start in a standing position facing it. Walk in so that you are about one or two feet away. While wading water with your arms, to keep you afloat, try walking your feet up the wall. This move is a nice challenge to your core and back muscles. (via Life Script)

4. Pool Plank: Switch up your boring old planks for this water blast. You will need a pool noodle for this exercise. Grip the noodle with your hands shoulder width apart. Begin to lean forward, keep your feet touching the bottom of the pool. Bring the noodle underneath the water below your chest. This also raises your endurance so you can do the exercise longer while providing even more of a challenge to your core. (via Life Script)

5. Hydro Belly Blaster: This move targets your legs, shoulders, upper back and abs for a super intense workout. This does require a band to do the workout, so make sure there’s one handy! It’s also a mini circuit. (via Prevention)

6. Chest Fly: This is a basic chest fly using a resistance band…underwater! This move targets your chest, shoulders and abs. (via Prevention)

1. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream: Let’s start out with a classic: mint chocolate chip. Swap out some of the whole milk for lite coconut milk. The dark chocolate chips are a great change up from milk chocolate. (via Bite Of Life) 

2. Ginger Ice Cream: Sweet and a little spicy, ginger is a great way to relieve an upset tummy. (via Moveable Feasts) 

3. Columbia Roast Banana Cream: This recipe is under 4 ingredients! I love this idea of mixing coffee and banana flavors…especially when it involves Starbucks. (via Toastable)

4. Vegan and Dairy Free Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream: Don’t freak out — this recipe includes avocado! Trust me it turns out fine, just wait for the end results and add a little more honey to sweeten it! (via Vintage Mixer)

Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when consumed in adequate amounts, provide a health benefit to the host.

80% of your immune system is living within your digestive tract and that’s because your stomach is home to over 500 bacterial species. Yes, that’s right. These microorganisms are what activate our digestive system. Because of these reactions, health experts have been looking into their effects on overall weight management.

“Stanford University researchers already use probiotics to help gastric bypass patients loose weight more quickly. Scientists everywhere are excited about the future of probiotics as an adjunct in weight control,” says Registered Dietitian Mary Hartley, RD. Photo Credit here. 

Up to 10% of an individual’s daily energy needs can be derived from the byproducts of the good bacteria in your gut. (Dr. Oz) So here’s a breakdown of why probiotics are “hot” in health right now:

Probiotics:

• Are essential to maintaining the delicate gastrointestinal ecosystem and ensuring that enough friendly bacteria exists to offer health benefits.

• Are a proven, safe and natural aid for a variety of gastrointestinal illnesses.

• Can be used to help control diarrhea, whether brought on by illness or as a side effect of antibiotic treatment.

• Can be helpful in addressing difficult-to-treat illnesses such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcerative colitis.

• Can be helpful in addressing women’s urogenital health issues. 

• Some important nutrients made by this bioreactor include several B vitamins, vitamin K, folate, and some short-chain fatty acids

Research has shown that probiotics:

• May help in the treatment of allergies, certain types of cancer, and high cholesterol.

• Can be helpful in addressing lactose intolerance and constipation.

• Can be helpful in addressing eczema in children.

According to The Huffington Post, “that doesn’t mean that all probiotics, or probiotic-containing foods are created equal.” Technically, the probiotics are measure by CFUs or “colony-forming units.” Unfortunately, they are almost impossible to quantitate the actual numbers.

In a test conducted by The Dr.Oz Show, of the 13 products they tested more than half didn’t contain the amount of probiotics labeled!

Here are some quick recommendations:

• Choose plain over flavored yogurt.
• Go for unpasteurized versions of miso, pickles, tempeh, kimchi and kombucha tea.
• Watch for an asterisk on the packaging. Scamming companies will often claim a certain number of CFUs (Colony Forming Units) on their label, using an asterisk to footnote that this was the number “at the time of manufacture.” Be aware that an amount of probiotics listed “at time of manufacture” doesn’t tell you how many you’ll get when purchased, which can be much lower.

A front door that POPS as well as opens! It’s an easy DIY project and your front door is the most obvious eye-catcher, and here the bold red stands out against the more muted grey.

Adding symmetrical plants and fixtures creates a focal point for your eyes to follow. You can change out the plants based on season or holidays and allow the space to express some of your family’s personality.

Every window is a chance to make a lively statement with plants, whether they’re cascading or pops of bushy color. Window boxes are an easy way to add curb appeal and provide a touch of privacy.

For more ideas on how you can boost your home’s curb appeal over a weekend or a month, check out the full article HERE.

Don’t want to break the bank at the snack bar? Want something healthy for you and your kids to enjoy ? Check out these delicious, healthy snacks for the pool!

Skinny Butternut Squash Mini Muffins: Butternut squash may not be at the top of your kid’s favorite veggie list, however, they are too nutritious to eliminate from your child’s diet. Low in cholesterol, sodium and saturated fat, you can disguise this great veggie in our quick, easy and delicious Butternut Squash Mini Muffins! The best part about this recipe, is you know exactly what is in these mini-muffins, unlike the packaged, store bought varieties. (via Skinny Mom)

Skinny Cherry Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola: Want a sweet snack to munch on while you lounge? Check out this yummy recipe for that sweet and satisfying crunch!(via Back For Seconds) 

Homemade Fruit Roll Ups:  Fruit roll ups are a favorite snack among most children, however they are loaded in sugar. For a healthier alternative (and just as tasty), try this recipe for a homemade version using apples, raspberries, grapes, mango, banana and strawberries. (via Skinny Mom)

Skinny Funfetti Cake Batter Dip: It’s got all the sweetness of cake batter, without all the sin of actual cake! This is sure to please your kid’s sweet tooth and keep them from sugar overload! (via Six Sisters’ Stuff)

Skinny Trail Mix: Instead of packing your kid’s favorite chips, let them munch on a healthy trail mix filled with kettle corn, almonds, cereal, bananas and other dried fruit!

This workout will boost your strength, speed and coordination.

Moving Push Ups: Get into a plank position outside the right end of the ladder. Move to the left with your left arm and leg and go down to a push up position. Come back up, bring your right arm and leg back in and step out again to the left; repeating the push up. Your hands should hit every square; every time you get into push up position, your hands should be in separate squares. 

Side to Sides or Zig-Zags: This one gets a little difficult, so pay very close attention. Stand on either side of your ladder. Step your closest foot in the first square. Follow the other foot in. Kick the first foot outside the square and follow with the other. Repeat the shuffle back and forth in opposite order, advancing through the ladder. Make sure to weave through every square and keep trying to increase your speed. 

Double Step: Tap both your feet in each square before advancing to the next one. So you step in with your right foot first, quickly follow with the left, then forward into the next with your right again. Make sure to stay on the balls of your feet and go as quickly as you can! 

In and Outs: Alternate hopping forward with your feet together and apart down the ladder. Hop into the first square with both your feet. Jump forward to the next square, but this time straddle it. Your feet should land outside each side of the square. Jump to the next one and land with both your feet in the ladder. Think hopscotch! 

Single Leg Hops: Pick one leg to stand and balance on. Keep the raised leg up to create at least at a 90 degree angle and hop once in each square. Again, go as fast as you can and focus on the balls of your feet. Don’t let your raised foot drop! When you have reached the end of the ladder you can either sprint back to the start or you can turn around and hop on the opposite foot back. 

Many women spend lots of time planning their weddings and forget to prepare for the marriage that comes afterward. With the divorce rate consistently hovering around 50% we wondered what it is that couples who are married for the longterm say are the hallmarks of their union. From Dr. Phil to the self-help section at your bookstore, here are 6 ways that we found to keep your bond strong.

1. Maintain respect above all. This means no name calling or “below the belt” tactics during arguments. 
2. Pillow talk. In the evening before bed, take a few minutes to talk to each other. It doesn’t have to be big stuff. Just talk.
3. Focus on the good. Couples who stay together over the long haul make sure to tell each other all the ways their partner is fantastic.
4. Know that the grass isn’t greener. Grass is grass and we bring our half of problems wherever we go, so….”love the one you’re with!”
5. Give each other privacy. Either through separate bathrooms or separate activities, having some space is important.
6. There’s no such thing as a soul mate. We mate our souls together and happily married couples know that if they agree on 80% then the other 20% will work itself out.

Common symptoms of a stroke in both men and women include: numbness in face or limbs (especially on one side), confusion or trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden difficulty in walking or stumbling when walking, or a sudden, serious headache. 

Women can have symptoms mentioned above, or they may experience these unique symptoms:

• Sudden face and limb pain
• Sudden hiccups
• Sudden nausea
• Sudden general weakness
• Sudden chest pain
• Sudden shortness of breath
• Sudden palpitations

Quick action saves lives! Act F.A.S.T. Here is what you should remember if anyone near you is experiencing any of the above symptoms:

• F—FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face appear lop-sided?

• A—ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drop down?

• S—SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Do they have difficulty or are they slurring?

• T—TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 911 IMMEDIATELY.

The good news is there is an FDA-approved clot-buster medication that may reduce long-term disability, but it needs to be administered within THREE HOURS of the first symptom. It is crucial to act F.A.S.T.

There are ways to ensure that your odds of having a stroke remain low. Check your family history of stroke because they can run in families. Maintain a healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol count. Do not smoke. Keep your weight in check and get plenty of exercise. That being said, women do have unique risk factors including: taking birth control pills, pregnancy, using Hormone Replacement Therapy, having a waist larger than 35.2 inches and a triglyceride (blood fat) level higher than 128 milligrams per liter, and experiencing frequent migraines.

Know your risk factors, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and act F.A.S.T. This can save your life, or the life of a loved one. For more information, check out www.stroke.org.

[image 1 credit here.]