Get Fit Without Breaking the Bank

A lot of great gyms offer free Saturdays or a week trial membership for free. Check out these tips for getting fit without breaking the bank.

New year, new you – right?! Well, have you gotten started?

A lot of great gyms offer a free week trial or free Saturday classes.  If you, like most of us, have weight loss or get in shape at the top of your new years resolution list here are some ways to help you find your niche without spending a fortune on a place that you will never go back to once January ends.

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Here are few examples to get you started on where to look for free or cheap trial classes in the Salt Lake area.

Firehouse Fierce

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Cross training and Crossfit gyms have taken the fitness world by storm.  I have made a home for myself at a cross training gym where I started out attending only the free Saturday morning class.  I really loved being able to try it out without feeling like I had to commit.  You can also try if for a week for free to really get the feel of the weekday classes. This particular gym hosts periodical 12 week challenges for a GREAT price (psst there’s one starting in February).  That’s what really got me hooked.  Being part of a contest really helped me get that boost I needed to make a lifestyle change.  I recently convinced my sister to give a 12 week challenge a try.  She lost 17 lbs and 9% body fat.  She is amazing.   If you’re ever in the Bountiful, North Salt Lake area on a Saturday morning give Firehouse Fierce a try.  You will be glad your did.  However, you will definitely not be able to walk the next day.

The Front

 

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If you’re an adventure seeker, The Front in SLC might be the place for you.  You can try your hand at rock climbing with a monthly membership, or get the punch pass.  They have instructors on hand to help you out if you’re new to rock climbing.  Do not underestimate this as a total body workout.  It will kick your butt.  That’s why they offer yoga as well, to help center you after an intense session.  The first yoga class is free so be sure to give it a try.

Pole Fitness

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There are several establishments throughout the Salt Lake area to try your hand (and legs) at pole dancing fitness classes.  Pole dancing takes more balance and strength than the movies make it seem.  It’s tough, but a lot of fun and a killer workout.  LaBombe Pole Fitness is right in SLC.  They offer a drop in rate of $20/class or you can get a punch pass card for a better per class rate.

The Big Chains

Several of the big chains will offer a free session or even a free week for people who haven’t ever been a member.  Orange Theory offers a free class.  Vasa will let you visit and check them out for a week trial before paying.  You can always try out a free group class at Golds before signing as well.

Are you on track to get in shape in 2017? What’s your secret to success?

Seven Simple Savory Super Bowl Sides

The Super Bowl is almost upon us. Hosting a Super Bowl party or get together can be a daunting task. Here are a few of my favorite sides and treats to make any Super Bowl party a real winner.

The Super Bowl is less than two weeks away.  Hosting a Super Bowl party or get together can be a daunting task.  When you host a group of any size for a party like the Super Bowl you need to not only be prepared but be over prepared. How much food do you need? How many drinks per person? Appetizers vs. entrees. And what about desserts? Cookie tray? Ice cream sundaes or cupcakes? All of these things need to be taken into consideration before the big day.

Here are a few of my favorite sides and treats to help make any Super Bowl party a real winner.

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Bacon wrapped tots with homemade ranch

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Chocolate covered strawberry footballs

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Saucy chipotle maple baked chicken wings

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Football deviled eggs

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Ham and cheese sliders

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Jalapeno popper dip recipe

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Crack dip

What are your favorite Super Bowl foods that you are going to serve this year?  Check out one of my favorites from last year.

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Skinny Boneless Chicken Wings

2016 Kids Holiday Gift Guide

We put together a kick-a kid’s holiday gift guide. We hope that you are able to find at least one item for someone on your list!

*This post may contain referral/affiliate links. Read the full disclosure.

Due to the number of items we have split the guide up into three different sections – kids, 18+, and tech. You can check out our 18+ picks here and our tech picks here. Enjoy!

2016 Kids Holiday Gift Guide

Game Truck

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Party Game Express helped us become parent of the year, as far as your kids are concerned, a party with Party Game Express is how to make that happen.  This 32 foot mobile video game theater has all the latest games for Wii, WiiU, and XBox. It comfortably accommodates up to 24-50 people at the same time.  Several packages are available to fit any price range.  My favorite part, everything takes place on the truck so I’m left with zero party mess in my house.  This is sure to be a BIG hit for your next birthday party, family reunion, graduation party or just for fun.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8

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Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera (Grape) With Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film Twin Pack (20 Sheets) + Compact Bag Case + Batteries & Battery Charger  This great camera is auto flash and focus free. Take bold, vibrant pictures, even in low lighting. Automatically determines the best brightness and suitable setting by lighting the corresponding mode (Indoors, Cloudy, Sunny, Very Sunny).  This would make a great activity for creative expression for younger kids, and adult kids alike. In a world of all digital, my kids have loved getting an actual photo to share with friends.

Cozmo

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Cozmo is a real-life robot like you’ve only seen in movies, with a one-of-a-kind personality that evolves the more you hang out. He’ll nudge you to play and keep you constantly surprised. He doesn’t just learn; he plots and plans. He doesn’t just see you; he gets to know you. Cozmo expresses real emotions in response to your actions. This is more like a friend than a toy, and he’s fun on a whole new level.

D. Wade’s Get It Hoops

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This toy is a lifesaver on yucky weather days when the kids are stuck indoors.  The included app communicates wirelessly with the hoop to keep score and record playbacks. This is not the usual indoor basketball hoop.  My boys really like that they can play arcade style, solo, one on one or full court. This is available at most toy stores and, of course, Amazon.com.

ClickBlock ClickWhiz 3-D Magnetic Construction Toy Space Gear Set

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ClickBlock ClickWhiz 3-D Magnetic Construction Toy Space Gear Set, 21 Piece This is a toy your kids can grow with from the time they’re just putting blocks together, to the time they’re building technical works of architecture.  When play and learning collide, it’s a win.

  • 21 pieces total: 4 squares, 4 right triangles, 3 large gears, 2 small gears, 5 base, 3 accessories, and 10 bonus symbol cards
  • Develop creativity, imagination, mathematical, and scientific thinking
  • Create movable rockets, house, spacecraft’s, words, animals and towers
  • High resistance PC plastic which will not break or crack, pa-free plastic
  • Patented cogwheel structure (U.S. Patent pending) allows stronger binding strength compared to other leading competitors’ products

Laura Ingalls 18″ Doll

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Who remembers Little House on the Prairie? Did you read the books or watch the series on t.v. Check out this gorgeous doll that we found locally for those of us that want to share the love of Laura Ingalls with the next generation. We were sent this doll for review and it has been one of our favorites from the whole year. My girls love it!

Little House on the Prairie Laura Ingalls 18” Doll, made by The Queen’s Treasures.  The Laura Ingalls 18” Doll is available online at TheQueensTreasures.com and Target.com.  A full-line of accessories is available on TheQueensTreasures.com.

Check out the Little House on The Prairie website as it has so many helpful and educational resources about Little House on the Prairie including a historical timeline, and many history articles, as well as fun crafts, recipes and more.

Discovery Kids Foldable Tent

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Saving the best for last! I have 2 girls and they can’t get enough of this! My older daughter babysits quite a bit and ever since we got this tent the whole babysitting time is spent playing and having tea parties inside. Your little one’s imagination will run wild while playing in this foldable tent. This cute piece is made with durable wood poles to sustain all of their imaginative play for years of use. Great for indoor or yard use. Best thing is that it is available at Toys R Us, Belk, Kohl’s – so right in your neighborhood (or just a click away).

  • 52-in. x 37-in. x 39-in.
  • Assembly required
  • Cotton – Spot clean only

*Sometimes we accept product or payment for our review. As always opinions and comments about the products are our own.

Back To School Means Back To Sports (And Their Smells)

Ideas to combat those nasty smells that come with back to school. Kids play sports and bring home their smells. Tips to keep the home smelling fresh.

My kids will tell you that I like my house to be clean. But not just any clean. I like my house to be so clean that you can smell the clean. I have a super nose when it comes to stinky odors. I have been known to search the whole house to find a dirty sock that I could smell from two floors away. (My lovely dog, Mojito, steals and hides dirty socks if someone takes them off and doesn’t put them away immediately.)

With the kids back in school I have lots of time to make sure that my house is as sparkly clean as I want it to be during the day. My morning consists of a short list of things to tidy up so that I don’t have to worry about the smells that messes create.

  • Wipe down the bathrooms
  • Start a load of laundry
  • Wipe down kitchen counters
  • Tidy main living spaces

Back To School Means Back To Sports

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With everyone heading back to school it means heading back to school sports as well. I have four kids, two tween girls and two teenage boys. Having the teenagers and a sport loving husband participating in cross county, hiking, basketball and weight lifting on a daily basis I have a lot of odors to battle. Between the muddy uniforms, sweaty socks, disgusting gym clothes and “teenage smells” I have a lot to contend with to keep my house smelling good. I can spend all day cleaning but if one running shoe is left out or one pair of socks isn’t taken to the laundry room right away I will know it. Since we can all be forgetful and leave socks by the stairs I have come up with some ways to keep the “smells” at bay.

Dryer Sheets

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Every 3 months I place a fresh dryer sheet in each air vent in the house. I use a non perfumed sheet that just smells “clean” to me. Every time the air conditioning or heat pops on it blows a clean scent throughout the house. I have friends that will still comment to me that “it must be laundry day, it smells so good” whenever they come over. (Forget the fact that I have four kids and everyday is laundry day.)

Plug Ins

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Oh I love plug-ins! In the basement (where it can smell musty) they are a life saver. They get rid of that touch of ‘I’m underground’ scent that you might otherwise dread. I also secretly placed them in all of my children’s rooms without them even knowing. I use my 14-year-old son’s room as an overflow to my guest room when people visit, and guests would never know it. Even my son says, “It is a good thing I keep my room smelling so good so when people come over so there isn’t any cleaning to do.” Sure Jason, you keep thinking that it is you.

Candles

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We like to cook dinner and we experiment with lots of different foods. Burning candles keeps those smells at bay in the dining room or front hallway where the door is located. In all of my main living areas (we have a great room and a front room with offices) I like to have a candle lit to help with the ambiance when people are over. I have found some great seasonal scents the past few years. Some that are perfect for fall give off just the right amount of scent without overwhelming the room. They work great if the runner in your family leaves his cleats by the back door after cleaning them off or if the husband leaves his SWEATshirt on the back of his office chair.

 

What are some of your tricks to keeping back to school smells at bay?