While the CPSIA is a terrible law that has wreaked havoc on many small businesses, there is some good that has come of being involved in trying to have it amended: I met wonderful people. Even though I am not as active as I once was in the CPSIA amendment efforts, I have stayed in touch with more than a handful of people and because of one of these connections, I was recently introduced to the wonderful music of Charlie Hope.

When you check out her website, you’ll see her music is not targeted for the older set (although I’ve never argued with those who claim I’m a kid at heart), but several of her songs ring true for any age listener.

The song most applicable to this month’s mantras is “I can!” While the whole song is a subtle reminder of the power of our bodies, the lyrics that resonate most with me are these:

I can reach up high, grab a piece of the sky and bring it back to you.

I have feet as fast as lightning bolts in a storm.

In hearing her sing those two lines, I get a distinct visual of what a body CAN do, not what it can’t. As we move toward a goal – especially one related to our physical health – it’s easy to get caught up in what we haven’t accomplished instead of what our bodies are capable of doing.

The song may be intended for small children learning how their bodies work, but even adults need to remember how fortunate we are to have bodies we can move and to ‘grab a piece of the sky’ whenever we have the chance.

After having stepped away from the shop and the blog for a bit, I’m back and excited about all that Fall and the holidays will bring. I’m even more excited because, for those of you familiar with the WTSB site, I’m guessing you’ve noticed that it has had some work done.

The initial visual design of the site didn’t represent the ultimate brand that I saw in my head therefore I worked with a great designer, Kyle Gallant, to take the images I had in my head and bring them to the screen.

It is only fitting then, that this month’s mantra is “If only ______ could see me now.”

Words to Sweat by: If only _____ could see me now.

While some have this mantra take on a ‘neener neener boo boo’ tone, I have always thought of it as a ‘those who would be proud of me’ mantra. There are so many people who have supported me throughout the years – not all of whom are still in my life – who would be tickled by how Whimsical Walney, Inc. has been reinvented after the CPSIA put an end to my children’s products.

The Words to Sweat By™ products may have a health and fitness focus, but the mantras are meant to hold a deeper meaning than just getting in your workout. So this month’s posts are going to focus on remembering how to be our best both because of and in spite of what we think of ourselves and what other people think about us.

How would you fill in the blank?

I’ve already blogged about ditching your single serving plastic bottles and would like to learn more about what’s important to you when buying a bottle.

By taking the following poll, I can learn more about your thoughts. If there is something missing from the list, please leave a comment below.

Thank you for your time!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

There will be no mantra of the month and related posts for July and most of August because I will be on vacation and therefore will be offline most of the time. There will be a return to blogging mid-August and the shop will reopen with some fun new items for Fall and the holiday season.

I hope that everyone is enjoying all that Summer and the outdoors have to offer in their own hometowns and beyond!

In health,

Whimsical Walney

I already talked about ditching the single-serving water bottles both for health and environmental reasons. To take things one step further and minimize not only your plastic use but also your garbage, stainless steel straws are a great alternative.

When I bought them initially, I wondered how they would work. Would I chip a glass by mistake? Would they feel weird while I was drinking my favorite beverage? After my first use, all of my concerns were alleviated. It’s actually quite nice to have such a sturdy straw and they’re so lightweight they don’t go clinking around the glass.

It’s key to stay hydrated and using a straw is sometimes quite helpful when you’re on the run.

So try these (or something like them) out and let me know what you think!

We’ve all heard the various theories about how much water we should consume from family, friends, and workout buddies so it was great to learn more from someone who is an expert in the field.

This conversation with Dr. Grandjean, a hydration expert, provides some very useful information about water consumption and how we can stay appropriately hydrated.

Summer has arrived here in the Bay Area and many cities across the US are seeing temperatures in low 90s with little-to-no cloud cover which means it’s imperative that everyone stays as safe in the sun as possible.

Staying informed about the latest on sunscreens is also very important and the Environmental Working Group put out its annual report on  sunscreens as well as a list of the best beach and sport sunscreens so that you can easily find one to suit your needs. If you want to see how your sunscreen rates or find different options, then check out their tool that lets you find your sunscreen.

Regardless of how you decide to keep your skin safe, remember not only to apply sunscreen liberally but also every two hours throughout your time in the sun; and don’t forget to include those often forgotten areas: the tops of your ears, the back of your neck, and the tops of your feet.

Stay safe and have fun!

Sometimes we get so focused on the little things be it the ideal target rate or calorie counting, how to peak at the right time in your training or the number on the scale, that we forget the big things: family and fun.

Depending on several safety-related factors (heat, high sun, etc.) sometimes you may be enjoying the outdoors, while other times you may need to do something fun inside.

If you’re looking for ideas and like a little competition to go with it, Education.com has a Summer Activities Challenge in which you can participate. Even if you don’t want to compete, they have a great list of a variety of activities that should help keep you and the family busy. With ideas like hiking and water freeze tag, who could go wrong?

In addition to the Education.com site, there is also a great list of ways to play outside from The Daily Green.

So get together as a family and enjoy! If you have additional resources to share, please leave a comment below.

While reusable water bottles have been around for a long time, with stores offering single-serving water bottles at a reasonable price, many have opted for the convenience of being able to grab-and-go. The impact of these plastic bottles not only to the environment, but also to our health is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

For this reason, I strongly advocate ditching the single-serving bottled water and reaching for a reusable one as there are plenty of great options on the market. These aren’t the old-school Nalgene bottles of years past, mind you, there are bottles in all different shapes, sizes, and materials.

While some of the key things to consider when deciding on which to purchase are fairly obvious, it’s still important to list them. As you shop, ask yourself the following:

1. Is it BPA-free? Enough said.
2. Is the size versatile enough that I will use it throughout the day? If it’s too small, you may get annoyed having to fill it up too often and not do it. If it’s too large, it may not fit into your bag, your cup holder in your car, or be easy to drink from while you’re on the go.
3. What is the main purpose of the bottle? Will you be leaving it at work where it’s fun to have a bright-colored bottled on those days where you need a pick-me-up, or will it be used predominantly at the gym and in the car where you might want a more rugged bottle that will withstand the bumps it’s sure to encounter?

To get you started, I wanted to share some ideas. Two of the bottles below I have been using for the past several years and the third comes recommend from Joanna at Fitness & Spice who is a great resource for all things workout-related.

1. Kleen Kanteen – This stainless steel kanteen comes in a variety of sizes (and now colors too!) and is lightweight and easy to use. It is a standard bottle that you tilt up to drink from the open aperture or the sports top. It came highly recommended to me from an REI team member who was very conscientious about finding a safe bottle/kanteen for daily water consumption and I haven’t been disappointed.
2. Camel Bak Better Bottle – This is a BPA-free bottle that has a straw and a nib from which to drink. You do not have to tilt the bottle to get water therefore it’s a great option for the car because you can drink easily without obscuring your view from the road. It is also offered in a variety of sizes and the see-through bright colors are a lot of fun. The downsides that I have found are that you cannot just buy a replacement nib (you have to buy the whole set with the extra straws) and because of its design using a straw, if your car heats up the bottle can leak up through the nib depending on how much water you have in the bottle. I have returned to a cup holder full of water more times that I can count. The easy solution is to open up the top just slightly to allow for some air so that it’s not drawn into the straw, but I don’t always remember this trick.
3. KOR -  I have not seen or used the KOR bottle yet in large part because it was launched in 2008 and I have not been in the market for a new one for a while. I wanted to include a newer option in the list however, and since Joanna is a fan, I thought I would share her views and experiences.

So as the Summer heat kicks into full gear, make sure to stay hydrated while also being kind to the environment by ditching the single-serving bottled water in favor of a reusable one.

Share which water bottle or kanteen is your favorite and why in the comments below!

Please read my disclosure policy if you have any questions about this post.

Forget that with Summer comes the ever-popular Tour de France, why not ‘have your donut and eat it too’ by participating in the Tour de Donut? I can’t remember how I came across this, but after a little investigation it appears that there have been events all over the country at different times throughout the year.

Now, I’m not advocating that you stuff down a dozen donuts, but once in a while it’s OK to indulge your sweet tooth. So, why not do it on a beautiful day riding alongside other people who are enjoying the fun? Share a donut and a smile with you as you make your way from station to station.

This year, there is an event in Utah on July 17th. The Utah Tour de Donut is a fund raising event held by the Rotary Club. More information can be found here and you can follow @UtahTourdeDonut on Twitter.