About two weeks ago, I got an invitation to check out the premier of Country Dance for Wii here in Nashville. The invite was noted for “media and industry” so, naturally, I asked about bringing the hub (a singer/songwriter, performer, and record exec) and my kids. Luckily, it was cool. So …

The next week, I loaded the girls up and headed into town to pick up the hubs. We made the short drive over to the Country Music Hall of Fame to check out this new game.

Keep in mind, we do did not own a Wii (more on this in a minute). But the kiddo had played at friends’ houses (since pretty much all of them have one). I just have never been convinced why we needed to own one.

First off, it was a small and intimate presentation with demonstrations by girls who make a mom of 2 try to remember the last time she could wear jeans that tight (and look good in them). It looked like lots of fun, but then again those girls would make anything look fun – the question was, could I do it?

Then, they got the kiddo up to try it out with the PR gal and 2 other volunteers. She did great and then asked me to join in on the next one. I reluctantly agreed. But the baby had other plans – crying for Mommy. And so, I did it … while holding my 2 yo.

Um … Best. workout. in a LONG. time. No joke. (And I only partially say that because I was holding the babe.)

Not only was it a terrific workout, but it was a BLAST! We ALL had so much fun.

They gave us a free copy of the game and we left. What did I do? Dropped the hubs back off at his office, took the kids to Target, and yes … I bought a Wii. Seriously.

I play by myself after the kids have gone to bed as my “workout”. I have seriously already lost a little weight and have begun toning – just from this game!

Here’s a quick video out about the game:

It is LOADS of FUN (and I’m not just saying that because I got a free copy of the game)! It will be available March 29, 2011 in stores – and WalMart will carry a special copy with a bonus track (Alan Jackson’s “Good Time”).

QUICK NOTES:

• Songs are great – everything from “Achy Breaky Heart” to “Cowboy Casanova”
• Songs are ranked with 1-3 stars for difficulty level
• Lyrics are displayed so you can sing along
• Up to 4 players can “compete”

Learn more on the Country Dance Facebook page or by following Country Dance on Twitter.

Hurried Homemaker was not compensated for this post. We did receive a free game, but this is no way affected or swayed our opinions.

I’ve had the great pleasure of become online friends with Cathy from Let’s Be Green Together via Twitter. She is sweet, funny, and a great “greenie”. It only made sense when I was searching for guest bloggers that I ask her to write a post of the easiest ways you can go green. Luckily she obliged. Check out her site, too!

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When my friend on Twitter, the Hurried Homemaker, asked me to write a guest post, I said “YES” without hesitation. I am so excited to be here and share my top 5 ways my family lives a “green” lifestyle and how you could, too. First, I will say that I live green because it is better for my family. Sound selfish? Well, then I am selfish. I am not green because I love the planet and hug trees, but because I want the most healthy and non-toxic home for my family. The planet just gets to benefit, too. It’s so lucky, isn’t it?

Okay, let’s get started on what I would consider the easiest ways to green your family’s routine and even save money while doing so.

• Ditch the plastic water bottles! Do you know it can take around 1000 years for plastic to break down in a landfill? They are simply bad for the planet, but they are also expensive. Think of the money you could save if you stop buying plastic water bottles and buy a really cool reusable one? Everyone in my family has their own unique bottle (actually more than one at this point) and we take them with us everywhere we go.

• No Paper Products in the Kitchen! Okay, don’t get all crazy on me. I know you are thinking, “She said these were easy ways to be greener.” This is easy, I promise. It just sounds like it might make you hyperventilate, but it really isn’t that bad! We did it cold turkey. My husband broke out in a cold sweat when I made the announcement, but he survived, and we don’t miss the paper towels or paper napkins at all. Here’s what I did: I scoured for clearance deals on cloth napkins whenever I was out shopping and have now built a fun collection, enough to host a birthday party! For paper towels, I went through some old clothes that weren’t in good enough shape to donate, but that I couldn’t bear to just throw away, either. I tore them into various sizes and put them in an old container under my sink and another in my bathroom. Whenever we need one for a clean-up or to wash dishes, we just grab one, use it, and toss it in the laundry! We have saved so much money by not buying paper towels or paper napkins anymore. If you buy these items, do the math for about a month, and see how great the savings would be.

• Buy a Reusable Coffee Mug! Obviously, this one only applies to you if you are a coffee drinker like my husband and I are. We were going to the drive thru at our local coffee shop many times a week, throwing those awful cups in the trash and spending a lot of money! Then we made the change. I only buy organic and fairly traded coffee and we brew it at home. Honestly, I think it tastes better than what we used to buy. If we leave the house with coffee, we fill our travel mug and head out on our way. It’s just a way of life for us. Even if you don’t want to make your own coffee at home, at least purchase a travel mug and bring it with you to your local coffee shop. Sometimes they actually offer a discount for bringing your own mug. Just ask…. they may surprise you!

• Recycle! Recycling is possibly the simplest green thing that you can do and this one doesn’t cost any money at all. As a matter of fact, it will save you, especially if you pay-per-bag for your trash disposal. More in the recycle bin means less in the garbage. Even in the smallest of spaces, you can recycle. We live in a duplex and have a small area of our kitchen designated for our recycling. Cardboard, glass, aluminum cans, and some plastic are much of what we recycle.

• Shop and Donate at Your Local Thrift Store! I’ll be honest. I used to think only poor people shopped at thrift stores and they smell bad and everything is gross and dirty. Hey, I am confessing, don’t judge me. Now I realize people of many different income levels shop at thrift stores. They do, in fact, smell a bit different to me, but I am used to it. I love finding great deals and my husband even enjoys shopping for new work clothes and his favorite is the electronics corner. I have found clothing that’s barely worn, looks like new, and some that even still had the tags on them. Big score for me! Another important thing for me is to donate, too. I love that my store has a drive-up at their back entrance. I don’t even need to go inside. They come out with a cart to collect my stuff, offer me a receipt for tax purposes (yes, it’s deductible), and take my stuff inside and I drive away feeling pretty great!

I am so happy to have been invited into Hurried Homemaker’s home here on the web and to share with you, her readers, some of my favorite ways to go green without spending a lot of money. If this list seems a bit overwhelming, take it one at a time. Commit to one change each month. A gradual change might make it an easier transition for you and your entire family. On the other side, if you are ready, willing, and able to jump ALL in, then go for it!

Thanks for having me! Stop by my place anytime!

I was looking for something different and creative to do for the oldest’s Valentine Day cards for the oldest’s class at school. I wasn’t in a creative mood, and realized I needed to get it together and fast if I was going to get it all done on time. So, I of course headed to MarthaStewart.com for ideas. I found this great idea for a Valentine fortune cookies:

They were a breeze to make! I used a Tupperware dish for the circle template – super simple. I did not use ribbon over the floral wire, though – I used more felt (fewer supplies to buy and it used more of the felt up). So, here is a quick photo step-by-step of these little felt lovlies:

Like I said, these were super-easy to make! Get the exact directions from Martha’s How-to.

Then I made this little barrette from leftover felt and some embroidery thread as practice for an upcoming gift project:

What are you crafting for Valentine’s Day?

Since becoming a Mommy almost 8 years ago, I have made efforts to be more “green”.  We now have reusable bags for shopping, use all non-toxic cleaning supplies, eat mainly organic, etc.  I’ve managed to lessen my family’s footprint, but I think we can do better. I will post my projects – their progress, success, or failure. I hope you will share yours with me too!

First Project: Eliminate paper napkins