This year we’re turning over a new leaf. For the start of a fresh decade, we’re making new year’s resolutions we can (and will) actually keep!

(1) Contribute to a greener Earth

The media will have us believe that it is impossible to live an Earth-friendly lifestyle without buying newfangled expensive products, such as a hybrid car or a high efficiency washing machine. It’s Easy Being Green begs to differ. This easy-to-read paperback offers simple, easy to understand suggestions that we can all afford to incorporate into our daily lives. With this book in hand, we are ready to make the next decade our most Earth friendly one yet!One thing we love about this book is that it has allowed us to set reasonable expectations and goals for ourselves when it comes to living a green lifestyle. We realize there is no need for us to purge our homes of all of our conventional cleaning products. But when they run out, little by little, we intend to replace them all with plant or castille based products. This is a good way to make a smooth, gradual transition. For other simple switches you can make around the house, take a look at this article from the Organic Fertilizer Sources blog, Beyond the Crap.

(2) Consume a more nutritious diet

For us, eating healthy isn’t about losing weight. It’s about preventing disease, promoting longevity, and fueling ourselves so that we can feel energized every day. We know that a raw diet is our key to achieving all of these things. A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that consumption of a raw foods diet lowers plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. A raw foods diet is also great food promoting healthy digestion, increasing energy, and improving skin appearance.Everyday Raw has all of the information we need to get started with this healthy and delicious way of living. This is a thorough guidebook for those who wish to make the complete transition to the raw food way of life. We here at aHa! Modern Living are just beginning to dip our toes into the raw foods waters, so we plan to take baby steps here. We are starting off by replacing just one meal per day with a raw foods meal. One of our favorite ways to do this is with a healthy raw smoothie for breakfast. Check out this green smoothie recipe from Planet Green. It is chock full of antioxidants without skimping on sweet flavor. A healthy smoothie, such as this one, is an easy way to incorporate a raw meal every day.

(3) Correspond with family members more frequently

Nothing brightens up our day quite like receiving mail. Not junk advertisements or fliers addressed to “current resident,” we mean real mail. With the increasing use of email, we find that good ol’ snail mail correspondence is fading away. This is why we resolve to correspond with our family members by mail more frequently. Email may be a daily occurrence, but opening the mailbox to find an unexpected present? Now that is an awesome surprise. First on our list, we’re going to send a Matchstick Garden to each of our loved ones. They’re small enough to tuck into an envelope with a Hallmark greeting. What a fun way to spread a little love!

(4) Kick our gardening booties into great shape

Okay, so it’s no great secret that there are a milli0n reasons we should all be exercising every day. As gardeners, we can add yet another reason to our long list. It is important for us to keep our bodies in prime condition so that we can safely complete all of the bending and squatting movements that are necessary as we get our hands dirty in our backyards. Regular strengthening exercise is the best way to prepare for everyday physical activity, and minimize stress on the body.

As fitness guru Stacy Walters points out in this video, it is essential for us to “prepare (our bodies) to safely perform the task at hand.” She and Carl Edwards lead us through a series of easy-to-follow core stabilization exercises that we are going to practice at least three times a week. We will, no doubt, see and feel the results when it comes time for spring stooping, planting, and weeding. Plus, we know we’ll see almost immediate improvements in our posture. What’s not to like about that?

New aHa! Monthly Newsletter

We will be “growing” our Grow Category this February, so check back soon for new products! Or why not make it easier on yourself? You can receive updates on new products, special promotions, earn aHa! Customer Rewards, and unique content you won’t find on the blog, by subscribing to our new aHa! Modern Living E-letter. Take a peek at our December issue.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at 11:02 am and is filed under Healthy Livng, Shopping. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.