Month: July 2013

Ebook Bundle of the Week #28: Writing

BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Are you a writer? Do you want to be a writer? If so, this bundle is for you! With five incredible resources from well known and successful authors, this collection is packed full of inspiration, practical tips and strategies to help you take your writing to the next level and earn an income from your craft.

Get this bundle for 70% off this week only!

You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins
You Are a Writer {So Start Acting Like One} is an ebook about the process of becoming who you already are. It’s a guide for those called to a life of words, a book about passion and calling, striving and sacrifice. Mostly, it’s about writing: the glorious and grisly process of putting your butt in the chair and creating something worth remembering. This ebook will challenge you, call you out, and launch you into the life you should be living — a life of writing.

Self-Publish: Moving from Idea to Product by Erin Ulrich and Teri Lynne Underwood
Self-Publish is an ebook for writers intrigued and/or intimidated by the world of self-publishing, writers who value quality and are prepared to devote time to creating an excellent product. With detailed information about each component of a great self-published work, Erin and Teri Lynne guide you from idea to product to help you ask yourself the right questions about four key elements of a successful book — content, design, audience, and marketing — with 20 worksheets to help you plan and prepare to write and release your book.

31 Days to Become a Better Writer by Kristina J. Tanner
Written for every writer who longs to hone their craft but is pressed for time, 31 Days to Become a Better Writer covers 31 different aspects of your craft with a daily exercise to reinforce that day’s topic. This book is beneficial for individual writers by themselves, but can be used effectively in a group setting as well!

How to Market and Sell Your eBook by Sarah Mae
Why should print books have all the fun? You can earn a full-time income with e-publishing, and you don’t have to be a superstar to do it. Based on her own experience (she’s sold over 40,000 in eBooks) and by studying the experiences of other’s, Sarah Mae shares the lessons she’s learned about communicating your passion to others in a new way and then getting those ideas to the world, one practical and thrilling step at a time in How to Market and Sell Your eBook.

On Becoming a Writer by Denise J. Hughes
The world of blogging has revitalized people’s interest in the craft of writing. They want to improve their craft too. In On Becoming a Writer: What Every Blogger Needs to Know, Denise answers thirty-four of the most important questions about writing that bloggers need to ask. What’s the difference between writing advice and editing advice? What if I hated English class? How do I tell my story? With the answers to these questions and more, this e-book will help you become a writer who has something to say and says it.

Ebook Bundle #28 ends this Sunday July 14, 2013.  Order yours today by clicking on the above buy now link – you pay through paypal – quick, easy and reliable check out.

Categories: Books

Proactive Health and Fitness Plan

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First off, let me start this post by saying I am not a health or fitness expert.  I am a mom of 3 boys, ages 15 and two 12 year olds, who has developed a plan for maintaining good health and working out regularly.  I do this on my own, mostly, by reading books and magazines and using various fitness dvd’s  to work out.  I have never belonged to a gym or been on any type of diet plan.

The following is my guide to being proactive with health and fitness:

Exercise – 4 to 6 times per week for at least 20 to 45 minutes each workout.

  • plan your workouts in advance, for the week – see this workout schedule table by kimberlees korner – it is what I use – it is a blank table that you can fill in your schedule for the week
  • Do your workout at a convenient time – like before your kids get up – get up 30 to 45 minutes earlier each day.  It will be hard at first but you get used to it and then your workout is done for the day.
  • Rotate your workouts for variety.  I like to do a variety of different types of exercise.  I do cardio one week then yoga the next week then maybe strength training alternating the strength workouts with biking outside or swimming laps.  Variety keeps you from getting bored and it keeps the metabolism going strong.  There are tons of different dvd’s available – check your local library.  That is how I started with yoga and pilates 10 years ago by checking out books and dvd’s from my local library and then I started buying them.

Meal Planning – a must for anyone who has a busy family or a busy life

  • Plan meals at the beginning of each week so you will know what you need to buy to cook and you won’t have a last minute excuse of not having the right ingredients to cook a meal and have to go out to eat.
  • Find healthy recipes via books, blogs, pinterest or from friends.  There are lots of blogs that feature easy to prepare meals that are healthy.
  • Try to eat only fresh food and not pre-packaged food that is filled with things that you don’t want to be eating – I know sometimes this is hard to do with a family and a busy schedule.

Keep a Food Journal

  • Keep track of what you eat throughout the day to see how many calories you consume – see what you need to adjust.  Personally I don’t keep a journal but I think it is helpful if you are just starting a fitness and health plan to do this for a while.

Keep Healthy Snacks on Hand

  • Get rid of all junk foods items and pre-packaged snacks that may tempt you  
  • Keep lots of fresh fruits and vegetable around for snacks
  • Look on pinterest or the internet for tips and ideas of healthy snack items
  • Do not drink any soda

Don’t Deprive Yourself of Things You Like 

  • Have dessert 2 or 3 times a week – a reasonable portion!  Personally I eat ice cream with my kids at least 2 or 3 nights per week for dessert after dinner – but only 1 or 1 1/2 scoops, not 3 or 4.

Don’t Eat Late at Night – I try to never eat anything past 7:30 pm at night.

Don’t Skip Breakfast or Any Other Meals 

Drink a Protein Shake Every Morning for Breakfast

  • This is a great way to start your day right with some fruit and protein and some added fiber to keep you full.  Personally I think this gives me a lot more energy each morning than eating a big breakfast.
  • Here are 2 of the shakes-drinks I have been making lately and really enjoy.  Both recipes make a pretty large shake so I often save some to drink a couple hours later for a mid morning snack.
    Chocolate Cherry Protein Smoothie from Kimberlees Korner blog
    Chocolate Cherry Protein Smoothie from Kimberlees Korner blog
    cina-cranberry protein drink from kimberlees korner blog
    cina-cranberry protein drink from kimberlees korner blog

     

 Drink Plenty of Water Throughout the Day

  • Add lemon slices to water for a little flavor and cleansing of your insides
  • Add a splash of cranberry juice or make cranberry ice cubes from the juice to detoxify the liver

Take a Quality Multi Vitamin Every Day

The above information are the things I do daily to take care of myself and be fit and healthy.  I began my fitness and health journey over 10 years ago when my twin boys were about 2 years old.  It really helped me with my energy and keeping up with 3 children when I started incorporating healthy habits with regular workouts.

Discipline is the key in making a fitness plan work.  I discipline myself each week to write down my workout schedule and hold myself accountable to it each week.  Most research and experts agree it takes 21 days to form a new habit but you have to get started and stick with it.  Eventually it will just be part of who you are and part of your daily routine.  My daily workout is one of the best parts of my day.

Thanks for visiting my blog.  To receive future updates you can subscribe via RSS feed or through bloglovin by clicking on either icon in the sidebar.  Have a great day!

 

Share the Love Blog Hop

Welcome to July’s Share the Love Blog Hop!!

Every month the Share the Love Blog Hop will be on both Serenity You
and Sew Much Crafting along with the co-hosts’ blogs.

Here are the rules for this party:
1. Please follow your hosts @ number 1 & 2. Please also follow your co-hosts at number 3 – 7 {and any others that you like!}
2. Please leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you are a new follower and found them on the Share the Love Blog Hop.
3. Link up your blog’s home page {not an individual post}.
4. Copy and paste the code at the bottom into a new post on your blog {optional}.
5. Have fun!!

Categories: social networking

Tank Tops made from T-shirts

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I just love pinterest!  It is such a great way to find ideas and inspirations for just about everything.

These tank tops were projects I found on pinterest and decided to make.  Both of them use a t-shirt to make the tank.

No Sew Tank Top made from Wobisobi tutorial
No Sew Tank Top made from Wobisobi tutorial
Back of No Sew Tank Top - tutorial from Wobisobi
Back of No Sew Tank Top – tutorial from Wobisobi
Tank Top made from pinterest tutuorial with my own i-cord strap idea and couched hem
Tank Top made from pinterest tutuorial with my own i-cord strap idea and couched hem

The royal purple one above was made using the directions I found from the Wobisobi site.  The project is called No Sew Halter and if you click on the highlighted text it will take you to the tutorial.  It is very easy to follow and requires no sewing.  I have made two of these now.  There are lots of other no sew t-shirt ideas and tutorials on this blog as well.

 

The red one to the left was made using a tutorial from crafterhours blog.  It is called tee to tank and if you click on the highlighted text it will take you to the tutorial.  I also found this through pinterest.  This particular tank does require a little bit of sewing.  I added a little of my own creativity to this one by hemming the bottom by couching down a variegated yarn that I had leftover in my stash from another project.  I also used this yarn to knit some i-cord for the straps at the top and neckline.  The i-cord then ties on one side.  I really like how this tank top turned out.

After making the red tank top I got inspired to use my pattern making program, Bernina My Label, and make my own version of this tank.  I used part of the halter top pattern that is from the My Label patterns and this batik fabric to make the multi color version below.

Tank Top - idea inspired by pinterest - made using Bernina My Label halter top pattern by Kimberlees Korner
Tank Top – idea inspired by pinterest – made using Bernina My Label halter top pattern by Kimberlees Korner

 

All of these tank tops are super easy and quick to make.  A great way to recycle an old t-shirt and create something new to wear for summer.

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend.  It is hot here in Texas so I will probably be wearing one of these tank tops this weekend.

 

 

 

 

Sewing Pattern Review on Skirts

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sewing pattern review for skirt simplicity pattern 1662
sewing pattern review for skirt simplicity pattern 1662

I love to make skirts for spring and summer.  The fabrics they offer for these two seasons are just perfect for long or short skirts.  I also think that it is more comfortable to wear a skirt when it is hot outside than pants or shorts, sometimes.

I was recently at Hobby Lobby again – it seems I go there about every other week – and they had Simplicity patterns for .99 cents again.  I can not resist buying one when they are that low – even though I don’t need any more patterns!

This pattern, Simplicity 1662, offers 5 styles of asymmetrical skirts.  The skirts attracted my attention because they look comfortable, different than any of my other patterns, and easy to make.

simplicity pattern 1662 for asymmetrical skirts
simplicity pattern 1662 for asymmetrical skirts

 

So far I have made two of them using view A.  The navy one (photo above) is in a lightweight broadcloth and the red one (see photo below) is in a cotton print.  The red one I altered a little on my own to have a straight hem in the back.  I am always changing things on patterns, it seems, to create my own design.  The skirts have only a few pattern pieces and an elastic waistband.

red burst cotton skirt sewn with simplicity pattern 1662 view A

 

back view of red burst cotton skirt by Kimberlees Korner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These skirts are so easy to sew.  Definitely a project a beginner can make.  I have been sewing over 25 years and from start to finish, including cutting out the fabric, I made this skirt in a little under 2 hours.  A quick and easy summer project.  I am planning to make view E next, the longer version with the lower ruffle.

I hope everyone is having a great day and has a Happy 4th of July tomorrow.

 

Homemade Laundry Detergent

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I found this recipe on pinterest a few weeks ago for homemade laundry detergent.  I pinned it to my cleaning board and decided last weekend I would give it a try.  I have made my own household cleaners for over 10 years and decided this looked like a laundry detergent that was worth trying.  The recipe is from the blog howdoesshe and if you click on that highlighted name it will take you to the post about how to make the detergent and a printable recipe, as well.

homemade laundry detergent stored in large baking soda bag after all mixed together in large bucket
homemade laundry detergent stored in large baking soda bag after all mixed together in large bucket

First off I decided to cut the recipe down and only make a 1/4 of it to see if I liked it.  I hated to make this huge batch and not like it or have it not get our clothes clean and be stuck with a huge amount.  Also, my first batch I did not use the Zote soap I bought some Dr. Bronners soap at my local health food store, in the rose scent, and grated it up.

Well, let me tell you the detergent is awesome.  It got our clothes (I have 3 sons) clean and made everything smell wonderful.  Even my laundry room smells great.

I have now made a larger batch of the detergent using the Zote soap and all the other ingredients listed.  This detergent recipe is the best and only takes a few minutes to make up.  I set outside on our patio while my boys went swimming and grated the soap.  The soap grating seems to be the most time consuming part although it is not that hard to grate and the blog gives you some tips on how to make it easier.

grated zote soap for homemade laundry detergent
grated zote soap for homemade laundry detergent

If you do not want the detergent to be scented or you are allergic or sensitive to certain things I would omit adding the Purex crystals.  I had never used these before and they are kind of strong but they smell good.

Another thing I noticed is that if you have kind of hard water, like I do, then you may need at least 4 or 5 tablespoons of this for a large load of laundry.

I liked this detergent so well and was so pleased with the results I actually was looking for more things to wash the first day I used it – which is crazy!  Usually I do not have to look too hard to find dirty laundry around here with 5 people in our household.

homemade laundry detergent mixed in big bucket
homemade laundry detergent mixed in big bucket

Well, I hope you enjoyed this post.  Off I go to do more laundry with my awesome new homemade laundry detergent.  Have a great day!