We interrupt this blog for an important announcement:
Toni-Lynn and my good friend, Barb at WeFitFamilies.com have asked me to talk a bit about our healthy lifestyle. Their awesome site is dedicated to “Making Families Stronger” through healthy choices and habits and has been a wonderful community for those working toward their goals and supporting others.
For our family a healthy lifestyle encompasses so much: from eating all-natural and organic foods (shown to supply more nutrients, as well as benefit the environment), to avoiding things like chemical cleaners or harmful ingredients. But, in my opinion, the most important factor in a healthy lifestyle is living authentically, simply and joyfully. Of course, life is still life and part of its beauty is in the seemingly less-than-perfect moments. But following our passions through unschooling, choosing a simple life through urban homesteading and finding times to connect and relax have been what has kept us happy and healthy in the deepest sense of the word.
I guess because Barb knows how much I like to play photographer she chose me to giveaway a $25 Gift Certificate from PhotoFiddle.com. This neat site takes your favorite photograph and turns it into anything from an oil painting to a watercolor (my personal fave). Check out their gallery for great examples or meander through their entire site at http://www.photofiddle.com.
The rules to enter: Rules, schmules – I’m an unschooler! Okay, there are rules but I didn’t make them. 
To enter this giveaway, leave a comment by April 30th at 11:59pm EST telling me what you find to be the most important aspect of your own healthy living. And be sure to leave your Twitter ID . Only Twitter.com users are eligible to win, but signing up for Twitter is easy and free. Want some extra entries? Blog about, Stumble or Tweet this post and leave a separate comment for each action to be entered more than once.
While I’ve got your attention, skip over and check out a few more Mother’s Day Bashers (that didn’t come out right) and Giveaways at Backdoor Homeschool Tools, A Simple Kinda Life and Saving Everyday and join us all on Twitter May 1st at 6pm CST/9pm EST (#fitfam) to see if you won! 
(Need not be present to win.)
We’ll now return you to our regularly scheduled programming….
Update April 30th: Comments are now closed. The winner will be announced tomorrow at the #FitFam party!
Update May 1st: And the winner is…
Amy @hillfam2005
Congratulations!
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I really can’t say I have been healthy since I never have the time to go to the doctors like I should-but having 2 close relatives pass away in 2 months really was a wake up call for me. I know I am way overweight, and don’t eat as healthy as I should. While I don’t expect to get healthy overnight, I do have a dr. appt set up next week for a physical AND will be discussing things I can do to get myself turned around so I can be healthy and watch my kids grow up. To me, the most important aspect right now would be learning to eat healthy-and sticking with it.
micaela6955 twitter ID
sent out at tweet: http://twitter.com/micaela6955/status/1560532783
micaela6955 twitter ID
I’d say the most important aspect of my healthy living would have to be these chocolate chip cookies I’m currently devouring.
Oh wait . . .
Okay, so I’m not so great at the food part of healthy living–I eat tons of good stuff, but also enjoy sugar a little too much!
My main focus is more along the lines of emotional health–learning how to live together in a family and communicate my values to my kids while meeting their needs for love, attention, and autonomy.
My twitter id is simplymother.
And I’m curious: urban homesteading? What/how? The only homesteading I’m familiar with is the Little House on the Prairie kind, so I’m having a hard time imagining it with the “urban” attached. I’m sure I’m just uninformed though!
Hmm the most important would be to try and be healthy, its nto always easy!
Gumby007
The most important aspect of my own healthy living is having to do it with poor health so I am fighting a harder battle. I already quit smoking so I don’t have that holding me back any longer, now I have to get through the pain from surgeries and get healthier while living around unhealthy attitudes.
blp3 is Twitter ID
DH and I got bikes for each other for our birthdays =) Hoping to use them to get active this spring. (POPOLOCO)
I would say my most important part of healthy living is my mind set. I have never really wanted to do long runs or eat healthier and my weight was the result. Now, I am always trying to stay active. My husband and I are running our first mini-marathon this weekend and I am pumped about it. I have not felt this good since high school. I am off soda and sweet tea (which being from the south is killing me, but I am surviving one day at a time) and I am trying to cut back on my sweets (can anyone say chocolate!) If you really want to live a healthy life, you have to get your head in the game (literally).
twitter id: ymustang01
My healthy lifestyle? Uh. Yeah. I think the healthiest thing I do is cave to my girlfriend’s badgering about the fact that a person can’t live on M&Ms and Captain and diet Coke alone…and thus take a One-a-Day Vitamin. Does that count? My Twitter ID, whatever that might actually be, is sroeben.
Healthy lifestyle – hmmmm. I had gastric bypass to lose 90+ pounds and came off my diabetic meds. I retired, moved from Calif to Vegas, and took up my love of photography which helps keep my head in the game. My twitter ID is – sharonj8372
I always ate healthy ,I thought!! I just had a broken heart, heart attack. My son a beautiful passed and I had a heart attack 5 days later ,all this in the past month. I am adding more fiber maybe that will help.
twitter id velvet1116
tweet
TheOrganicSister is giving away $25 GC to Photofiddle
The most important aspect of our healthy living is our food because if you put good food inside then it is half the battle. I ensure we eat healthy in my home. The next would be psychological, spiritual etc.
Twitter ID: calliesan
I think the most important aspect of my healthy living is staying active. I have a job that keeps me moving nonstop (I’m a middle school teacher), and it really helps!!
I stumbled this post:
http://3boyzmom916.stumbleupon.com/
I forgot in my 1st comment to say this, my Twitter ID is 3boyzmom
Tweet Tweet!
http://twitter.com/3boyzmom/status/1590834443
Twitter ID is 3boyzmom
We as a family try to make better choices about what we eat. Going with more veggies and staying active. Making sure we make wiser choices, instead of the chips we are heading more toward the fruits and veggies.
Twitter ID @its_me_betty
I’m working on having a healthy lifestyle. I want to get fit and stay healthy so I can be around for my kids. The most difficult obstacle is trying to keep my blood pressure under control.
Twitter ID: lesleypeck
The most important aspect of a healthy lifestyle is to keep moving! Take a walk while talking on your cell!
twitter: lindsaymckinnon
tweeted!
lindsaymckinnon
stumbled
http://lindsaymckinnon.stumbleupon.com/public/
lindsaymckinnon
blog!
http://themckinnonclan.blogspot.com/
blog above twitter id: lindsaymckinnon
Right now we’re starting to work on a getting healthy routine, beginning with eating healthier meals. With summer coming up I hope that we’ll be able to get outside for more exercise and activities as well.
@deew27
The most important thing for me is eating healthy and getting lots of exercise. Sadly I fall short on both of these, but my goal is to greatly improve both over the summer. After all I have a little one to stay healthy for!
breasmommy
Eating healthy food and monitoring my blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Twitter ID: Naddez
Tweeted @ http://twitter.com/Naddez
Twitter ID: Naddez
Right now, I’m trying to take a walk with my boys everyday- and make sure that we all eat as healthy as possible
@savingsense
The most important aspect of healthy living is having a good time while you are doing it.
hillfam2005
I stumbled: hillfam2005
The most important part of healthy living to do healthy things together as a family. Get everyone involved!
twitter ID = bluefroggie
The most important aspect of healthy living for me is incorporating exercise into my family’s daily routine. Need to clean the house? Let’s create some fun dance moves to get the heart pumping! We quickly forget about the cleaning and the exercise and just enjoy ourselves!
I’m – @cravingsavings
being around to see my great grandchildren is a reason for me to be healthy!
pricousins
My most important aspect of healthy living is trying to make sure my family eats healthy. We try to eat healthy food(Sometimes we-enjoy too many sweets)We try to eat lots of fruits & veggies. We try to do fun activities(that way you don’t realize its exercise)& my children take vitamins.
shawnmh