Carolyn Braden says "Vote for me to get my show on OWN!"

I'm going to blog this all the time now!  At least until July 3rd, when the voting window closes.  Please go vote for me to get Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary on Oprah Winfrey's new network, OWN!

Thanks so much and have a sparkling day!  Click the link below and vote as many times as you wish!

http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=add_video&entity_id=208208739

Carolyn Braden Says "Vote for me to have my show on OWN!"

Go to http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html

Put Carolyn Braden in the search box and vote for me!

I want Carolyn Braden's Turning the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary to move from YouTube to a cable network, OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network!

Vote for me every day as many times as you wish until July 3rd!  I need to be in the top five to be considered for a show!

Please vote for me and thank you so much in advance!  Have a sparkling day!

Carolyn Braden says "Jackie Warner is the best!"

I love my UbiSoft/Wii Your Shape game.  BUT, sometimes I just need to change it up.  Exercise should never get boring or you won't continue to do it anymore.  I started doing weights and running on the treadmill last August.  Then I moved onto Your Shape and Just Dance. Then, my mother-in-law mentioned going to our local cable's "Free Spot" to view Exercise TV's free workout videos.  (We have Insight cable here and we have "On Demand, Free Spot" that gives you many free movies and more to watch).  I was intrigued.

I was searching for something to alternate with Your Shape.  I tried the Zumba DVDS's, which were fun, but since they don't use current music, it gets kind of boring after a while.  I then tried Exercise TV's Belly Dancing, which was a lot of fun.  I tried Jillian Michaels' Yoga, Pilates, and Core Workouts but they just weren't for me.  I had a hard time connecting to her and her routines.  

Then I tried Jackie Warner.  SHE. IS. THE. BEST.

I tried one of her core workout routines and it kicked my butt!  She does one minute intervals of a series of three exercises, then does a power burn of all three at the end of the segment.  She started with the legs, then went to arms, then finished with abs.  I truly loved her routine because each segment was fast and I didn't fatigue my muscles due to her changing up each muscle group so quickly.  She was motivating and her whole philosophy on exercise is completely realistic.  

The routine is getting easier the more I do it.  I am considering finding some of her DVD's to try out too.  Having a DVD will be beneficial to take on vacation this summer to keep in shape.  Yeah, yeah, who wants to workout while on vacation.......I do!  Jackie has made it so fun that it's addicting!

Exercise people! And when winter rolls around.......don't stop!

Carolyn Braden: Hallmark Card Store Winner!

I just wanted to post that Hallmark e-mailed me last week and notified me I am now an in-store winner!  My card will not only be sold on-line, but also in stores!  It will be in stores on June 21st, 2010.  I really hoped and prayed my card would make it to stores.  To think, I will be able to go into a Hallmark card store and see my dog Vegas on the front of a card!  He is such a wonderful dog.  :)

Go here to view the card: 

http://www.hallmarkcontests.com/page/WINNERS/sub/Gallery/Contest/BirthdayYourWay

Speaking of animals, I am so sad to report that our beloved Maine Coon mix cat, Phoebe, passed away on March 5, 2010.  She was such a wonderful cat.  She was always the life of the party.  We had to always make sure there was a chair for her to sit on at any party we had because she loved being around everyone and being a part of the party.  The vet believed she had feline leukemia, a blood disease.   Her body was attacking itself and it was such a hard decision to make to put her to sleep.  She became secluded from everyone, lost a ton of weight, and just was suffering.  We couldn't let pain happen to her.  

On the same day Phoebe passed, another little kitten was born.  Our soon to be new kitten, Monica, will be her legacy.  We pick her up very soon and she is adorable.  She is a Maine Coon.  She will make our Phoebe proud.  

Carolyn Braden: Hallmark Card Winner!

Well, another contest entered, another contest won.

I entered the Hallmark birthday card contest last month and my card was a winner!  My dog, Vegas, was the inspiration for my entry.  The outside of the card is the image above.  I took it one day just on a whim.  I love taking photos of my animals.  William Wegman is an inspiration for me doing this.  The inside of the card says "They say the first to go are the eyes.  Happy Birthday."  My husband, Tommy, came up with the words.  Vegas won some cash and his card will go on sale on Hallmark's website in March.  The card will then be up for the chance to be a card made for stores.  

So now, Phoebe, my cat has been on HGTV and Vegas is on a Hallmark card.  It's now Joey and Reno's turn.  I wonder what they can do........

--Carolyn

Carolyn Braden's Your Shape/Just Dance Party

I just found a great website: www.houseparty.com
I know many many other people knew about this website long before I did, but I am so glad I came across it! I randomly went onto a website from my Reader's Digest magazine. There was link to houseparty.com. I read through the website and decided to apply for the Your Shape Fun and Fit party. I heard about Your Shape and saw the advertisements for Just Dance on t.v. (They both looked so fun!) I was selected to be a host, and then all of the sudden my "Party Pack" came in the mail right before Christmas. Inside were both of the new Wii games and all kinds of other great stuff. I started inviting people to host a Fun, Fit, and Fabulous party (part of the deal when signing up for parties), and couldn't believe how I was so lucky to get these games for free! Jell-o Mousse Temptations also sponsored this party so I got all kinds of coupons for free pudding for people to try at the party. (They also sent napkins and spoons!)

Needless to say, everyone had an amazing time at my party. They all came dressed in their fitness gear (I asked people to dress up as their favorite fitness guru), we ate healthy food options, ate the pudding, took a celebrity fitness quiz, and more! I made party favor bags for everyone to take home with them. (The party pack contained all kinds of coupons and things for the favor bags). I also put in some Crystal Light packets and a Soyjoy or FiberOne bar in the bags.

Check out the link below to see photos from my event!

House Party My Party

I've applied to host other parties, so I hope houseparty sees that I am completely motivated to sponsor the parties and give all my guests a way to try new things and have fun doing it too! I especially loved this party because it got us all motivated to have fun while exercising, something we all need to do post holidays. Your Shape is a great game (every time I work out with Jenny McCarthy's avatar, I never do the same workout twice) and I recommend it. I also truly hope they come out with a second Just Dance Wii game. It is so much fun and a great warm-up to do before Your Shape.

Ahhhhh....video games...... What will be next?

--Carolyn :)

Carolyn Braden, Resting Finally!

I am at home today.  There is no school for the next four days and I decided to not make any plans.  Of course I have a few things to do, but as far as needing to be anywhere at a certain time and being rush, rush, rushed all the time..........................I  A M  O N  A  B R E A K.  :)

Do you ever feel like you want to go into a quiet dark room for a few moments to just get away from it all? I know I do.  Maybe I feel that way because I haven't been feeling great lately (sick kids at school and sick people everywhere!!!!!!!!!) but I really think it's because I've been in "Go Mode" since August 12th (first day back after summer break).   I have stuck to the exercise routine every morning to keep the "Go Mode" going.  I got bored with just the treadmill so I alternate weight training with the cardio.  We've got to keep the exercise going for our health, but also because we all tend to be like hibernating bears in the winter.  We eat and eat and eat in the winter to stay warm.  We tend to start it all now because the hibernation process is starting.  People have started vanishing from their porches at night and pretty soon they will start vanishing from walking around during the day. 

I like to stay busy so I can avoid the whole hibernation thing.  But, we all have to remember to rest at times so we can go go go some more.

Daily life is tending to be entirely too robotic for me right now.  I was talking about this with someone the other day.  I don't need drama, I just would like to change up my routine a little.  Maybe after this resting period I'll figure out how to change it up a little.  :)

---C