A blog about my journey as an athlete and a woman. Come step into her shoes...

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Time for Another Challenge: The Simple Life

How about a SIMPLE LIFE challenge that will get you to save money and eat healthier?? I don’t know about you, but I need to save some money and get back to the more simple pleasures of life.

The challenge comes in three parts!

First part give up eating out for the entire month of MAY!!! I know a lot of you wanted a challenge to get that bikini body, well this is a great way to get there.

Second part, Health Commute Challenge!! Ride your bike at least three times a week(or more) to work or to the store, or taking public transportation, walking, shoot even running!

Third part, Being Simple & Green. Here is a list of ways that you can get simple, and I would love to hear more of your ideas as well.

  • Having a date night out at the park
  • Inviting friends over for dinner instead of going out, have everyone bring something.
  • Do your own pedicure and manicure
  • Instead of buying that cup of coffee every day, make your own at home, or shoot give up coffee all together.
  • Make all your own breads instead of buying them
  • Have a garage sale and make some extra money!
  • Read the news online instead of buying the newspaper.
  • Do a cloths swap with your BFF’s
  • Making a gift for someone instead of buying them something, which is always better anyway.

This May challenge is keeping life in it's RAWIST and SIMPLEST form. I understand that some of you can not bike to work or take public transportation, but what about carpooling or riding your bike to the grocery store??Do you need to simplify your life and get clean inside and out, then this challenge is for you!

I am calling this challenge The Simple Life(TSL) . Not only will cooking ALL your meals at home be cheaper, but it will also be HEALTHIER. The more you cook at home the more you know what is really going in all your food. We all know that riding your bike and walking would be cheaper then gas, but it is also a great exercise for your body as well.

I chose these three things for several reasons;

  • May is National Bike Month
  • We are all trying to save money
  • We all need to  eat cleaner
  • We all could use a little simplifying in our lives

So what will the winner receive? Besides the satisfaction of feeling GREAT! I am going to be giving away 2 wonderful gift basket that will include some gift cards, biking gear, and other simple wonderful treats!

How you can you win? I will choose one winner who has the most points,  but also a random person will be chosen from all the participants.

Tracking your points:

  • 1 point for riding your bike, carpooling, taking the public trans, running, or walking to work or to the market or some place you would normally drive too.
  • 1 point for every meal you prepare at home(not snacks just meals).
  • 1 point for doing something frugal! This is where you can get really creative!

I don’t have a fancy form you will have to fill out, I just ask that you email me your points every Friday in May! Honesty is the best policy:)

Here is the best part of the challenge. Not only will you be able to win a prize at the end but I am making this a challenge that everyone gets something!

Yes that’s right if you want to be a part of this Simple Life Challenge you will receive a wonderful package in the mail at the end too. Here is how it works, I will pair you all up, so that at the end you will have a “Simple Life” Buddy to send a Simple FUN package to in honor of the completion of living a more simple life.

Throughout the challenge I will be writing posts about how to live a more Simple Life, and ways that you can creative with meals at home!

So what do you say, do you want a Simple Challenge? If you want to join me please email me at marie.bobbi@gmail.com so I can get everything together and get this started on May 1st!

I can’t wait!

36 comments:

Pearl said...

oh bobbi that sounds like such a fun challenge!

Rose said...

Great idea. Too bad I work an hour away from where I live :( But I could give up eating out for a while.

Anonymous said...

Bobbi this is awesome! I ride my bike to work every day during summer- haha it helps when you live in gorgeous socal right?? :D I also love the idea of having friends over for a potluck BBQ now that it's getting warmer..the food and company is way better than eating out!

Anonymous said...

Bobbi,
I am in. Sounds like fun.
Kita

Danielle said...

What a fun challenge!
I work to far from my apartment to bike or walk but I can definitely do some of the other things!

Chocolate & Chants said...

This sounds like so much fun! BF and I have been talking about taking our road bikes to the store to do groceries. I wouldn't mind if the road on the way to the store was safe, but just last week a girl on a bike was hit. :(

I wish I could join, but my commute to work is 45 minutes by car. I've tried carpooling but couldn't find anybody. Oh well!

Good luck with your challenge!

Moran said...

I already do so many of these things! I totally agree that public trans should be used more often! So I am in!

Fitnessista said...

whata GREAT idea for a challenge- count me in :D
i promise i'll get your cds in the mail this week. i've been slacking but i wanted to wait until you were home
have a great day!

Tina said...

Sounds amazing, but I don't think I could do #1!

Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point said...

sounds like a good challenge!!

RunToTheFinish said...

I am definitely in for this! My biggest challenge will be saying no to free lunches from clients and bringing my own...but that's so much better for me!

I'm working on eating more natural too so this is perfect.

I really want to ride to work but it's 9 miles and right now I'm not quite ready to do that distance, but hey now I have a goal to be able to by the end of may!!

Wendy said...

I would love to join!

Great ideas!

Liz said...

This sounds like a great challenge!

We are trying to eat out less and it has been wonderful. Sometimes it's hard, but then when you do finally go out it's an extra treat.

Sheri@phablifestyle.com said...

What a great challenge...sounds like fun! However, I live to far from work to be able to bike there!

Anonymous said...

Excellent challenge Bobbi! I do so much of that as it is right now to keep our expenses low...last night I did a pedicure while catching up on some TiVo. I've been doing my own for years now. The cooking challenge? I've got that one down- we eat out like maybe twice a month. The biking one is hard for me, living in a semi-rural area.

Thanks for the heads-up!

Hallie said...

This is awesome! I love that everyone gets something in the end...I am so that kid who wants a prize just for playing haha.

One thing I'm doing is having a "house party" for my birthday instead of going out somewhere. It's a little more work on my part (well, on BF's part more like it LOL) but I wanted to hang out with my friends without making everyone feel like they had to spend money on expensive food/drinks/entertainment that we would if we went out somewhere.

Rebeca said...

What a great idea!!!

I'm so in... I have a hard time with eating out... I do it way too much (always with excuses- laziness, tired, too busy, peer pressure)... that'll be the hardest part!

One question- what if we already do public transportation/walking for all our work/errands... can we still get points for it because I gave up driving long ago (well, I never really picked it up much as is lol).

I'm excited for this!

Kath said...

Sounds like a great challenge!!! The problem is I already have THREE vacations scheduled for May, so my life will be anything but simple Send me an email and I'll post a link over on KERF.

RunToTheFinish said...

HEYYYY how am i not going to eat out in San Diego?! :) sorry just had that thought and needed to share, luckily it's only the last 2 days of the month and I will probably bring my breakfast for the race day :)

Courtney said...

Yes, count me IN! :)

Meredith said...

I am so excited! I just emailed you. Thank you for hosting this challenge!

Trying To Heal said...

awesome challenge! def in and i just emailed you!

julie said...

the chalenge sounds great but my and most of my familys b-days are in may so not eating out is not an option

Heather said...

Saw this on Kath's blog - what a really great idea! I'll participate. Unfortunately I live too far away from work/school/civilization to bike/walk but I will participate in other ways.

haya said...

sign me up!!!

(does it count that i already do all this stuff anyway? i always ride my bike or take the bus because i *have* no car)

KB said...

what a good idea!

Unknown said...

great idea for a challenge girl!

Amelia said...

Such a good challenge idea! I just emailed you. :)

HangryPants said...

Bobbi, The challenge looks great and simplicity (and saving cash) is something I strive for. I don't think I will formally participate, but I will be more mindful of everything you mentioned.

MaryBe said...

I would love to do this too, but I treat my elderly parents to lunch every Wednesday, at places they've never been to and always wanted to try.
I have them over for dinner most nights, so I couldn't even swap lunch for that
Plus, we have vacations planned for May also.
Phooey.
What a great challenge though, Good Luck!

Anonymous said...

great challenge! love MAY challenge

Katharina said...

This is a great challenge! I'll definitely be spreading the word. I do this for the most part since where I live is an urban area and bike friendly.

RunningLaur said...

Love the idea!
My May plans are conspiring against my simple success though, with friends and in-laws visiting for half the month, I know I'll be thrown off like crazy.
Good luck with the challenge!

janetha said...

OHH i am definitely in for this challenge, i LOVE the concept and rules!!

postcollegecook said...

Haha as a journalist (who works for a newspaper!) I support KEEPING your newspaper subscription! That being said, I am a Web producer, so I fully support getting your news online too. And just remember newspapers are made from recycled paper :)

Christina said...

I love this idea! I'm totally in :-)