May 14 - Hydrate!

I enjoy a big, tall, glass of delicious, soothing...Diet Coke!  You thought I was going to say Water, huh!  Haha!  No, water is tricky for me.  I don't know that I have ever been truly hydrated!  YES, it's true.  I love me some soda, juice, coffee...hell, I'll even take a Shirley Temple over a glass of water.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate water.  I just don't prefer it to my other thirst quenching options.  So today, I hydrate H2O style.  That's right, I will be drinking water, like it's going out of style.  Why is this a challenge you ask?  Well, let me explain...

First of all, water is healing and benefits your body in so many ways.  Check out this post from last summer.  Second, it is taken for granted.  Did you know that every 20 seconds a child dies from water-related illnesses.  However, thanks to a wonderful organization, water.org, you can help these children!  Lastly, after a week of putting your body through several types of exercises, we thought this week we would work on that outer confidence!  Thus this week's challenges are all about treating your body to some well deserved love!

So today, show thanks for the clean drinking water you have by treating your body to some of it and donating to water.org!

May 10 - DANCE, DANCE

There is nothing I love more than letting loose and dancing!  Woo, woo!  It's so liberating AND you burn calories!  So throw yourself a little dance party and lose some inches.  Take a picture of your BEST dance move and tag it with #LMLP.  Here are some fun links about dancing your ass off, literally!

10 Minute Booty Shaking Waist Workout
Live Strong Waist Exercises
Dance Exercises for your legs!
Let's Dance to Health
Why you should dance vs. traditional exercises!

ALSO, don't forget our AWESOME giveaway from Darker Blue!  CLICK HERE to enter!

May 9 - Walk/Run/Jog

So far this month, we have taken time to reflect and evaluate the things that make us happy.  We have taken time to meditate, time to enjoy the fresh air and even treated ourselves to something special.  We're not done working on our inner strength, but we are going to switch gears for a little bit and focus on our physical strength. 

For today's challenge we will be getting that heart pumping and sweat dripping!  Go for a walk, run or jog.  I would encourage you to complete this challenge outdoors, but if a treadmill at the gym works better for you, than do it!  

Take a picture of your workout shoes and tag them #LMLP.  Here are some great links to check out...

Couch to 5k

Benefits of Walking

Benefits of Barefoot Walking

25 of the Best Hip Hop Workout Songs

Trail Running

10 Ways to Sneak in a Workout

Also, there is still time to enter the giveaway for the lovely bracelet from Darker Blue!  Click Here to enter!

May 8 - Roll Those Windows Down

There is something so therapeutic when it comes to driving through the canyon or down a country highway, with your windows rolled down and the wind blowing through your hair.  Don't you think?

Picture courtesy of wherethesidewalkbegins.blogspot.com

So, today's challenge is simple...go for a drive, roll down the windows and breath in that fresh air!  Take this day to just enjoy your life!  Starting tomorrow, we will be working on our physical strength.  :)

Also, don't forget to enter the amazing giveaway from Darker Blue!  CLICK HERE to get to it!

May 7 - Treat Yourself

Hopefully, you have a few new journal entries in your summer journal and you have found time to truly reflect on your life and the things that make you happy.

The challenge today is simple!

Yes, you heard right!  Have a cupcake, go for a manicure, take a bubble bath, pop some popcorn, get a massage, go to a matinee, take a nap!  Buy yourself a special gift; jewelry, shoes, a new bag, music, etc.

"Why?", may you ask.  Let me explain, every time I reflect on my life, I tend to scrutinize the decisions I have made.  I wonder if I am headed down the right path, if I am making the right choices, if I am doing the best that I can.  Simply, too much time reflecting on one's life can be exhausting and can leave you feeling a little down in the dumps.  

WELL, cheer yourself up and don't allow yourself to regret past decisions.  The point of this is to move forward with a strong understanding of where you are and where you want to go.  So, treat yourself to something special today.  In fact, if you are on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook...take a picture of it and tag your picture with #LMLP so we can see how you chose to treat yourself.  :)

As a treat to our readers, we are offering a special giveaway from one of our sponsors.  Darker Blue is the wonderful sponsor and we are so excited to have them this summer!  You can find some lovely items on their Etsy shop, just click on their logo to the left.  Darker Blue is offering this lovely bracelet...

This giveaway will be available until Friday, May 11th @ 8:00 pm MST.  Here are the three different ways you can enter the giveaway...

1. Leave a comment below and let us know in what way you live your life to the fullest.
2. Favorite our sponsor's Etsy shop (Darker Blue).  Make sure to note it in your comment!
3. Like the Live My Life Project on Facebook (LMLP), twitter (@LiveMLP), or subscribe to the blog.  Make sure to note it in your comment!

Good luck!

May 2 - Journal Entry...to LIVE!

Now that you have your summer journal, here is your first journal entry assignment...

What does it mean to you to truly live?  

Does it mean loving someone to the point you think your heart may burst?  Does it mean seeing beautiful and far away lands?  Does it mean laughing to the point that you pee your pants?  Does it mean that when your head hits the pillow at the end of the night, you have no regrets?  

The definition of living is such a personal and individual meaning.  So take some time and really think about it.  Write your thoughts out and don't be afraid to revisit it throughout the month!  Also, remember there is no right way to write this out.  It could be a list, two sentences or pages of deep and intricate thoughts.  Just think it out.

Love,

Ela

May 1 - Start a Summer Journal

HELLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO friends!  Welcome back to SUMMER!!  More importantly welcome back to the Live My Live Project.  I have a month full of GREAT challenges, challenges that I believe are designed to make the most of this summer!  

The summer projects are split into four different themes...

May - Finding Strength

June - Connecting

July - Making a Difference

August - Live, Laugh and Love!

So to start out the May challenges, I would like you to start a journal that you can use to record your progress throughout the months.  The first few challenges will be journal entries, inspired to make you think...build a foundation of sorts for the coming challenges.  Those challenges are listed on the left hand side of this page.  I will continue adding to it throughout the month.

The thing that makes this project so successful is you!  Don't be shy about sharing your thoughts and opinions!  They won't be laughed at, unless that is the purpose of your comment, in which case we will laugh boisterously!

Now back to day one, start a journal!  Write down your goals, what you hope to gain from this project, what you hope to share and then check back in with us tomorrow for the next challenge!

Love,

Ela

July 31 - Live My Life Day

There is something special that happens when one decides that their life is worth living FULLY.  When one decides that their life is more than simply working towards goals or accumulating wealth.  When we decide to truly live, to create lasting memories, to forgive past wrongs, to serve our fellow man, we find joy!

This project has so much more to teach me; YOU all have so much more to teach me.  I have loved all that this project represents.  I still struggle some days to remember what is most important in this life.  I instead let inconsequential things get me down.  But so much less now, than ever before.

So today, celebrate what makes you happy. 

Celebrate your life!  

Celebrate the ones who love you!  

Be content with who you are; quirks and all!

HAPPY LIVE MY LIFE DAY!!!

Love,

Ela

July 21 - National Junk Food Day

One of the things I really hoped to gain with this project, was a fresh perspective on how others live their lives. I think that's why I have been LOVING our guest posts! We have another great one for you today! This comes from Mindy Kane, you can visit her blog by clicking here. Her perspective on celebrating National Junk Food Day is so refreshing and I'm excited to share this with all of you! Leave her lots of blog love! Thanks Mindy for such a lovely post!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NATIONAL JUNK FOOD DAY

I'm definitely a junk food gal. I love candy and ho-ho's and (especially right now) snow cones ... but my body doesn't love all the unnatural stuff that comes along with those things. I've realized how important it is to put whole foods into my body, rather than processed things. And, I can still make yummy treats without all the preservatives and yucky stuff that comes with those processed snacks!

Here are a few of my favorites:


Homemade Banana Pudding - recipe found here


No Bake Cookies - recipe found here


Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups - recipe found here

I love Michael Pollan's books and especially his article, Six Rules for Eating Wisely where he encourages us to avoid high fructose corn syrup and not to eat anything our grandparents wouldn't recognize as food.



Another favorite of mine is Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle:

"This is the story of a year in which we made every attempt to feed ourselves animals and vegetables whose provenance we really knew . . . and of how our family was changed by our first year of deliberately eating food produced from the same place where we worked, went to school, loved our neighbors, drank the water, and breathed the air."

And some of my favorite healthy food blogs/websites:

GNOWFGLINS
Oh She Glows
Deliciously Organic
Delightful Delicacies
Finding My Niche

I hope this helps everyone get a little bit excited about eating whole and organic foods ... Happy Junk Food Day!

June 14 - Bastille Day

Happy Bastille Day or French National Day!  I learned that the French celebrate the storming of the Bastille (a fortress prison) every year on the 14th of July and have been doing so since 1790.  You can read more about this day by clicking here!

The day is celebrated with parades, horsemen, fireworks and the President's garden party.  Prior to President Sarkozy, it was the one day that the President could pardon criminals for petty crimes.  I bet the criminals are booing Sarkozy.  Haha!

I've heard several times that the French don't like Americans, but I really think they would LOVE me.  I would appreciate their art, their food, their architecture, their language and well...they would love me and my cute French accent!  So I say, to the French, Happy La Fête Nationale!  I will be celebrating with French Bread, French Fries and I may even watch the movie French Kiss!

June 13 - National Dance Day / NOT!!

So...I thought today was National Dance Day!  When I heard Nigel Lithgow say, "National Dance Day is July 30th."  I HEARD, "National Dance Day is July 13th."  Dang British accents!!  Despite my silly flub, we can still prepare for National Dance Day!!  Here are some routines that you can practice for the big day, courtesy of The Dizzy Feet Foundation!

Beginning Routine


Intermediate Routine


Master Class Routine

July 2 - Zeppelin

On July 2, 1900, a German company flew it's first Zepplin model, the LZ-1.  It flew 5 passengers, 3.7 miles in 17 minutes.

The LZ-1

 This day marked the start of a 36 year period of building, improving and flying Zeppelins.  It ended however with the Hindenburg, which was the first Zeppelin that flew up to 100 passengers from Germany to New Jersey.  The total flight took 60 hours (can you imagine being stuck in an airplane for 60 hours!!!) and the Hindenburg completed a total of 10 successful roundtrips before it caught fire upon it's decent over New Jersey.

The Hindenburg

So now that you know the significance of this day, anyone have a suggestion of how to celebrate it?

* To read more about the Zeppelin, click here.

While you're here, don't forget to enter our giveaway for a $30 Amazon gift card.  Today is the last day.  

July 1 - National Postal Worker Day

Each day in July, we will be celebrating!  There really is something to celebrate each day; whether it be local, national or totally made up by a card company.  Let's get started!

Today is National Postal Worker Day.  In 1775, Benjamin Franklin appointed the first ever Postmaster General by the Continental Congress.  From New York to San Francisco, come rain, hail or snow postal workers throughout this great country work diligently to deliver our mail.  They really should be celebrated!  So leave a kind note in your mailbox for your mail person or write a friend and utilize the wonderful service offered, I'm sure it will be appreciated.

Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

Inscription on Main Post Office, New York City, adapted from Herodotus.

* More information on National Postal Worker Day, click here.

*Ways to celebrate this holiday, click here.

June 30 - Don't Worry & Giveaway

Well, we started the month off with Bob Marley and now we are ending the month with him.  This song suggestion comes from my brother John and I think it makes a fitting end for the month.  The message is perfect:

"Don't worry about a thing, 
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right. 
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!" 

Rise up this mornin', 
Smiled with the risin' sun, 
Three little birds 
Pitch by my doorstep 
Singin' sweet songs 
Of melodies pure and true, 
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:") 




I have loved this month, the challenges that have gone along with the songs, and the music!  What great music and what great song suggestions!  Thank you to everyone who has participated and helped to make this month a great one.

I have been desperately waiting for our giveaway, which was being donated by a local radio station, to arrive in the mail...but nothing.  UGH!  Hopefully I hear from them soon and we can give them away in July.  But that won't stop us from having a giveaway!  We will be giving away a $30 gift card to Amazon.com!!  Woo, woo!  Oh yeah!  To enter,

• Leave a comment.  In your comment, let me know what your favorite challenge of the month was.
• For an additional entry, follow our blog and leave a comment that you are now following.  You can do this by clicking on the FOLLOW link along the top of the page.  
• Our previous winner this month (Lorien) gets two automatic entries, which will be counted as 1 & 2.
• All entries must be submitted by Saturday, July 2nd at midnight.

Good luck everyone and stay tuned for July!  It's going to be a GREAT month of challenges!  Woo hoo!

June 28 - Summertime

WOOO, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince in the HOUSE!!!  LOL!  Enjoy this beautiful summer day!

June 27th - Beautiful People

What would this life be without the people that influence it?  Pretty worthless if you ask me. There were times in my life that I felt alone, all the time.  EVEN though I have family galore and amazing friends.  How does that happen?  I don't feel that way anymore and I really try to recognize the people in my life.  They make me strong, confident, funny, intelligent and good.  So today, celebrate those people!  Celebrate the person you are because of them.  Celebrate your life and theirs!

CHORUS:

Everywhere everywhere
Everywhere I go
Everywhere that i’ve been
The only thing I see is
Is beautiful people
Beautiful people
Beautiful people
Beautiful people
Don’t you know don’t you know
You’re beautiful don’t you know
Don’t you know don’t you know
Beautiful don’t you know know know

Live your life live your life
Let the love inside
It’s your life it’s your life
Got to play it right
Take your time take your time
Take your sexy time

Lose your head lose your head
Your beauty it’s inside you
Inside you
Don’t let ‘em bring you down no
The beauty is inside you
Don’t let ‘em bring you down
Cos you start your life today
Live any thoughts you’ve dreamed off

CHORUS

Take your time take your time
Take your sexy time
Lose your head lose your head
Your beauty’s deep inside
Inside you
Don’t let ‘em bring you down no
Your beauty is inside you
Don’t let ‘em bring you down no
The beauty is inside you

Don’t let ‘em bring you down

CHORUS

June 26 - Just Do It!

I first heard this song by chance on someone's blog and I loved it.  What a wonderful message of conquering your goals and dreams.  Today's challenge is two fold: first, meditate on your goals and dreams.  What is it you hope to accomplish, what would you LOVE to do one day, what is on your bucket list?  Second, plan your action plan and stick to it!  JUST DO IT!  Here are the lyrics and video:

I’m gonna walk a hundred miles,
I’m gonna whistle all the while,
If that’s what it takes to make me smile,
I’m gonna walk a hundred miles.

I’m gonna rend right up this hill,
Summer sky or winter chill,
If I gotta take a break I will,
But I wanna rend right up this hill.
CHORUS:
I wanna hold the whole wide world
Right here in my open hands,
And maybe I’m just a little girl,
A little girl with great big plans.

I’m gonna go and take a chance,
I’m gonna learn to ballet dance,
Learn a little something about romance,
I’m gonna go and take a chance.

I’m gonna live a crazy dream,
Impossible as it may seem,
Doesn’t matter what the future brings,
I’m gonna live a crazy dream.
CHORUS (2 times)

You tell me, don’t try it,
I’m warning you that I won’t buy it. 
All the failure is fleeting,
I trust it always has its meaning.

CHORUS (2 times)

June 24th - Road Trip

Get!  Hit the open road!  Don't hesitate, don't plan it, just grab some oranges, some water bottles, some gas and drive.  It'll be an adventure!  Go until you can't go any more.  Sleep in your car if you have to.  Or come back in time for bedtime.  Either way, open your window and feel the breeze against your face.  Turn up your tunes, in fact try this one on for size!

June 23rd - Write a love letter!

It is the quintessential love letter!  "I will do anything for love, but I won't do that!"  Lol!  Maybe not.  So take a crack at it yourself!  Write a love letter!  Write it to your spouse, children, BF/GF, your best friend, your secret crush!  Dear Justin Timberlake, ... (lol)!

If you comfortable sharing your love letter with us, please do!  Share the love!  You can leave it in a comment or email us at livemylifeproject@yahoo.com

June 22nd - Float On

I backed my car into a cop car the other day
Well he just drove off sometimes life's ok
I ran my mouth off a bit too much oh what did I say
Well you just laughed it off it was all ok

And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on any way well

Well, a fake Jamaican took every last dime with that scam
It was worth it just to learn from sleight-of-hand
Bad news comes don't you worry even when it lands
Good news will work its way to all them plans
We both got fired on the exactly the same day
Well we'll float on good news is on the way

And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on alright
Already we'll all float on
Now don't you worry we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Alright don't worry we'll all float on

And we'll all float on alright
Already we'll all float on
Aliright don't worry even if things end up a bit to heavy
We'll all float on alright
Already we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Ok don't worry we'll all float on
Even if things get heavy we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Don't you worry we'll all float on
All float on 


This song has gotten me through many self pity parties.  Shit happens, but it's okay!  We'll get past it or we'll learn from it; either way today's trials will inevitably be in the past come the next sunrise?  So float on my friends and remember that "this too shall pass."


Today's challenge is all about sending out those positive vibes.