Bobbi's The Simple Life Challenge

Bobbi, author of N Her Shoes, has created a new challenge, The Simple Life Challenge, which is all about living in a more simple matter and cleaner. During the month of May the focus is on eating out less, driving less, and living simple and green. For the challenge Bobbi is pairing us up with a buddy who we share our progress and the number of points we've acquired through taking these steps. We'll also create a package for our partner at the end of the challenge. I am so excited to have a buddy. I love meeting more and more people (via the internet) who have the same goals and interests about fitness.

I am very excited by this challenge because Husband and I are very concerned about becoming greener and and I love the idea of living more simply and cleaner. It is very motivating to see that a lot of her recommended activities for the challenge are things I or we already do.

• I eat on average 18-20 meals from home or at home on a given week (excluding take-out).
• I use my own cloth bags at the grocery store.
• We recycle everything possible. Husband even drives slightly out of his way to a special recycling center that recycles more things.
  
• I utilize the library as much as possible.
• I use a plastic refillable water bottle.
• Husband and I have started taking our own cloth washcloths to the gym so we don't always have to use a paper towel.
• I'm making some Christmas gifts for people.
• We are having a major yard sale this month.
• Husband is looking into buying carbon offsets from our power provider.
• I try to recycle all papers in my classroom and encourage my students to do so too.
• I have designated students in my class to turn off computer, lights and our c.d. player.
• I have given up getting my nails done (mani or pedi). This past weekend I got a manicure but that was a part of a girl's day with my mother-in-law.
  
• Husband and I are going to visit our local farmer's market on Saturday.
  
• We rent videos from Netflix instead of driving to the video store.
• My mom is planting a major garden this summer (eggplants, tomatoes, strawberries, onions, potatoes, corn, squash, etc.). I intend to help but mainly eat what she grows.
  

What I wish I could do in order to live more simply and healthier:

• Carpool to work. I live about 10 miles a way but no one that lives close to me works at my school.
• Remove my desire to buy new clothes. Since I've lost weight I need more spring/summer clothing but I feel guilty buying more.
• Run to the YMCA instead of driving. I live in a rural area and it is hard to walk or run anywhere.

What do you do to live simply and healthy?