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Get Up and Groove: Tips for Motivating Yourself to Exercise in Middle Age

It's never too late to get up an dance yourself healthy

Well, howdy there, friends! I know that it’s been awhile since we at the Free Range have written! As the new year begins, many of us decide to embark on a fitness journey. Personally, I’m more than ready to get started anew, and I’m a firm believer that it’s never too late to start doing good things for yourself So, If you’ve found yourself sitting on the couch, wondering where the days have gone and how that last bag of chips mysteriously vanished, you’re not alone! As we glide (or shuffle) into middle age, keeping ourselves moving can feel like a daunting task. But fear not! We’re here to share some fun tips to get those hips shaking and the heart pumping without making life feel like a chore. Put on your favorite tunes and let’s get motivated!

Dance Like Nobody’s Watching (Because They’re Probably Aren’t

Seriously though, grab those imaginary maracas and turn up your favorite music! Dancing is a fantastic way to get your heart rate up while having a hoot and a half. Whether you fancy a little two-step or a full-blown boogie, just let loose and feel the rhythm! If you ever catch someone looking, just wink and say, “This is my exercise!” I’m not a great dancer, but I truly love to move to a great tune, and I make a point to turn on upbeat music while I’m cleaning or getting ready to go out.

Find Your Workout Buddy – The More, the Merrier!

Nothing beats sweating it out with a friend or family member! Gather your pals, and make a pact to hit the gym or take a brisk walk together. You can chat, gossip about that neighbor’s cat, and motivate each other to keep going. One person can bring their own favorite workout video they found on YouTube, and the whole gang can give it a try. Getting together with friends for a walk costs nothing, and it’s fun. Plus, those post-workout snacks taste a whole lot better when you’re sharing them!

Set Fun Goals – Not Just Your Average To-Do List

Okay, let’s set the scene: you want to work out, but to be honest, it’s as appealing as a rainy day. Instead of boring goals like “lose 5 pounds,” why not aim for something fun like “do the cha-cha for 30 minutes” or “try a Zumba class and giggle all the way through”? Make those goals sassy and sensational, and you’re more likely to stick with them! The simple truth is that you’re more likely to stick with any fitness plan if you make it enjoyable. We all know that we need to exercise for good health, but if we re-frame it in our minds as playtime, it becomes something we actually look forward to.

A couple of fun exercises I like to do involve exercise video games. If you have VR glasses, like a MetaQuest headset, you can try Les Mills Body Combat or Premium Bowling. Those are two super fun and physically demanding games that I incorporate into my workout routine. There are so many ways to make exercise fun!

Get Outdoors – Mother Nature’s Best Gym

Ah, the great outdoors! Nothing beats fresh air and sunshine. Take a walk in the park, try your hand at gardening, or embark on a nature hike. Just be sure to pack a tasty snack to keep your energy up. Nature has its way of lifting our spirits, and the world is your oyster (or your gym)!

Here in Sweden, we have a saying that “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” and that is something that I keep in mind whenever the weather is not perfect. For example, we have super cold winters here, but we still manage to get out and take a quick walk outside in freezing weather. You just need to dress for the weather. Of course, I’m not saying that you should get out in a hurricane or any other extreme weather. What I am saying is that a little rain or cold weather should not stop you from getting out and breathing in some fresh air. I always feel extra good whenever I come inside after a walk in nature. That feeling alone feels like such a victory to me, like, “yippee, I did something so good for myself!”

Mix It Up – Spice Things Up

Like Grandma’s secret chili recipe, doing the same workout routine day in and day out can be more dull than a day-old biscuit! Keep things fresh by trying something new each week. One week, it’s cycling; the next, it’s pilates. Get creative! Who knows? You might even discover a hidden talent for aerial yoga or underwater basket weaving.

It really is true, you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to new and exciting ways to get your body in motion. Keeping exercise fresh is such a key to making it a lifelong habit. I know that I used to force myself to walk on the treadmill for 45 minutes every single day, and it got to be such a chore for me, that I dreaded it. I had to find different ways to workout, and that is what inspired me to try something new. It is also what inspired me to write this blog.

Dress for Success – Or Just Dress for Fun!

Wearing the right gear can make a world of difference. Slip into those bright, funky sneakers or that quirky workout shirt that makes you feel like a superhero. Strutting your stuff in style can pump up your motivation levels faster than you can say “Workout Warrior!” Just the simple act of changing from your everyday clothing into active wear puts you in the right state of mind that you need in order to fully participate in your chosen workout.

In decades past, workout gear was expensive and very uncomfortable. It also was not the most flattering for the figure. But, thankfully, times have changed for the better, and workout clothing is not only better quality, but also more budget friendly. Just about any discount clothing store now has good clothing suitable for either a traditional workout, or for many other outdoor activities.

Celebrate Those Small Wins – You Did it, Partner!

Every little success counts! Did you walk an extra block today? Celebrate! Started using the stairs instead of the elevator? Throw yourself a mini-party! Reward yourself in fun ways like a bubble bath or a cup of hot tea. Remember, every baby step gets you closer to those bigger goals. Also, take a moment to write down these wins and take the time to reflect on how good it feels to be making such positive strides in your fitness journey.

Dance it Out Before Bed – Shake Off the Day’s Sillies!

End your day with a little shimmy in your living room before bed. Turn on your favorite tunes, grab a partner (or dance solo), and let those worries shake off like confetti. Not only will it bring you joy, but it’ll help you sleep like a happy baby. Personally, I like to do a little dance while brushing my teeth at night. Just those couple of minutes of movement adds to your daily exercise time. Every bit you can do really does help.

Wrapping it Up

So there you have it, friends! A handful of tips to help you wiggle, jiggle, and boogie your way into a fit and fabulous middle age. It is my fondest wish to be able to help others get motivated to exercise more. I hope that you feel more inspired to find a new workout that you will love. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection; it’s about moving your body, having fun, and embracing this wonderful stage of life with open arms. So lace up those sneakers, get your groove on, and let’s make exercising the best part of your day! I wish you all happy days filled with dancing and healthy activities, my friends!

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It’s September and time to kick start Autumn entertainment!

Kitty is ready for autumn.

It’s Fall, Y’all!

Or, at least pre-fall, as the official first day of fall this year is September 23rd. The -ber months are, in my opinion, the best months of the year because they symbolize cozy times together with the ones you love. Here, in Northern Sweden, there’s already a slight chill in the air in the early mornings, just that first hint that cooler temperatures are on the way. I truly love autumn, and would like to share some of the ways that I like to kick start the season in order to get the absolute most from this most colorful time of year.

It’s prime apple picking time!

Get That Autumn Feeling Even On Warm Days

Even if the weather is still a bit warm, I love looking for the first signs of fall. I watch for the first signs that the leaves are starting to change colors, go outside to try to feel even the smallest hint of coolness in the air, or go in to town and see the new fall clothes and decorative items arriving. However, with some creative thinking you can always fake that fall feeling until it’s like you’re living in your own personal Hallmark cozy movie.

Fall Atmospheric Series and Movie Recommendations

Nothing gets me feeling more autumnal than watching a movie or series with a cozy, warm, or even spooky vibe. Here are just a few of my personal favorites that I absolutely love and highly recommend to get into the spirit of fall:

The Good Witch On Hallmark Channel or Netflix

Hallmark channel The Good Witch

This show has all the elements of a cozy fall feeling. Every episode is like a hug from someone you love, a cozy blanket, and a nice fall beverage. But seriously, it’s that good! The show is about Cassie, who runs the Bell, Book, and Candle shop and the Grey House Bed and Breakfast in the town of Middleton. Cassie has special intuitive gifts that enable her to understand others, and she’s also a healer. She uses her intuition and knowledge of healing herbs to help others, hence the good witch element. This series is very wholesome and something that the entire family can watch and enjoy together. The whole town has a lovely fall aesthetic, a funny mayor, and a whole cast of town residents who have their own quirks that keep the show binge worthy.

There are also The Good Witch movies, that are equally charming and give those fall cozy feelings, but these movies are very hard to find on any streaming platform. They are, however, available for purchase through the Hallmark Channel and Amazon. I haven’t seen them in years, and hope to re-watch them this fall.

Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls is another series that is abundant in autumnal vibes. The fall aesthetic is in almost every scene, from the overall look of the town of Stars Hollow, to everyone’s coffee obsession, and even the clothes. It just feels and looks like fall.

This show features single mother Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory and their friends, family, and colleagues in the charming town of Stars Hollow. At the heart of the show is the relationship between Lorelai and Rory, as well as their relationships with their significant others. This show is more focused on romantic relationships than The Good Witch, and both are truly excellent shows.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

This series is more on the dark fantasy/dark academia side of fall, so it might be better suited for late September or October. One things for sure, it’s delightfully dark, and perfect for that autumn feeling. If you enjoyed the lighthearted camp of the late 90s show “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” well, you should also give this a try because the main characters are there, but with a satanic twist. Yes, in this version, Sabrina is the daughter of the Dark Lord, and she’s mighty powerful.

Sabrina and her family of witches and warlocks live in a funeral home in the town of Greendale. This town is teeming with supernatural activity and is rich with the whole autumnal aesthetic. It’s dark and gloomy, and to make the fall vibes stronger, Sabrina must attend the Academy of Unseen Arts. It’s peak dark academia at this school, where the dark arts are studied and perfected. It’s a must watch for dark fall nights.

When Harry Met Sally

What is more cozy and fall than a classic romance? This 1989 movie gem is just about on everyone’s list of favorite fall aesthetic movies for a reason. Not only is it a beautiful romance movie, but it is a gorgeous movie to watch. The cinematography is stunningly beautiful, especially so if you love the look of fall. Even the fall fashions of the late 20th century fun to look at in this movie.

Meg Ryan plays Sally Albright and Billy Crystal is Harry Burns, and this movie is the story of their relationship as it matures over the course of twelve years. It’s an absolutely lovely story, and even nostalgic for those of us who adore the look and dialogue of the 80s and 90s.

There are so many fall related series and movies, but this is just enough to get you started on this September 1st. I plan on a part two of this entertainment guide, as well as my favorite fall activities, books, and recipes. Happy September to All!

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Team Daenerys Targaryen Forever: My Thoughts on the Game of Thrones Series Final Season

This is what it looked like every night at our house through most of January 2022.

When the HBO series Game of Thrones began in 2011, I didn’t watch it because I didn’t have HBO, and it didn’t look like anything I’d want to see. Despite that, several people told me how great the show was and that they thought it was something that I’d like. Jump forward in time to 2022, and we now have HBO, and my husband I and decide to watch an episode to see if we like it or not.

One episode quickly became another one, and we were soon obsessed. We binge-watched the entire series, and loved it so very much. Game of Thrones is quite possibly the greatest series ever created, with characters that you feel so passionately either for or against. Along with that, there is suspense and intrigue to keep you needing to know what will happen next.

I am going to assume that whoever reads this has watched the series in its entirety, so I don’t need a lengthy description of the various plot points or character descriptions. What I’d like to do here is outline the reasons why I’m infuriated by the series ending, and why I love Daenerys Targaryen and feel that she should still be alive.

The Remaining Starks Should be Grateful to Daenerys at Winterfell

Bran, Sansa, and Arya should be thanking their lucky stars for being alive because they could not have won the battle of Winterfell without Daenerys’ and her army. Of course, Arya gets major credit for killing the Night King, and Bran gets credit for drawing the Night King to him. I don’t really know what good Arya was doing way up on that tower for most of the battle before she made it over to Bran, but that’s besides the point. Daenerys, Jon, and the dragons were saving so many lives by mowing down the zombie attackers. Also, so many unsullied and Dothraki soldiers risked their lives to save the North. No way could the combined Northern forces have defeated the Night King and his army alone.

Did Daenerys and her combined forces get any credit for that? Yes, but definitely not from the incredibly ungrateful Stark family. The Stark family really proved to be nothing but pure, ungrateful trash in my eyes. Meanwhile, true and brave fighters like Tormund Giantsbane and Yara Greyjoy were smart and always acknowledged Daenerys’ sacrifice to help them. Jon Snow was also grateful to the Mother of Dragons and her armies, but, of course, he is definitely not a Stark.

Daenerys is Betrayed by the People Closest to Her

Varys

In the beginning of the show, Varys was one of the most supportive people of Daenerys, even before they had even met in person. He knew that she would make a far superior ruler of the Seven Kingdoms than anyone from the House of Baratheon. He pretended to be loyal to the Baratheon Kings until he was able to meet up with Daenerys and her army. That is why it is so puzzling and surprising that he would eventually betray her.

Varys did so very much to help Daenerys get support against Cersi. He went to Dorne to get their support, and he also got support from the House of Tyrell. Unfortunately, Cersi and her minions were already several steps ahead, but Varys did very good work to help Daenerys and her cause. His treasonous acts against Daenerys broke my heart because I really liked his character. The change in attitude toward Daenerys was so sudden, and there wasn’t really a good explanation of it in the show. We see Varys’ loyalty changing directly after the defeat of the Night King. He saw that all the people were openly supporting and congratulating Jon Snow. Also, he noticed that it hurt Daenerys’ feelings to be so under-appreciated. For some reason, that made Varys suddenly conspire against Daenerys in support of Jon Snow. Ultimately, Daenerys had to execute Varys not only because she had warned him what would happen if he betrayed her, but also because he truly deserved it.

Tyrion

I so loved Tyrion for most of the show, and eventually hated him because he betrayed Daenerys in the worst way. He essentially decided that he had the moral superiority to be her judge and jury after the Battle at King’s Landing. In my opinion, he is just as guilty of murdering Daenerys as Jon Snow is. You know how Charles Manson didn’t kill anyone, but manipulated others to kill for him? Well, Tyrion is a Manson figure in that sense because he convinced Jon Snow that Daenerys needed to go. Watch the scene where Tyrion convinces Jon to murder Daenerys and tell me that is no a master manipulator in action. He is a horribly despicable character for this action alone. But, I also hated him when he let Jamie Lannister go to Cersi, thus betraying Daenerys. He was also wrong for disagreeing with Daenerys’ decision to kill the rotten head of the Tarly family and Samwell’s stupid and overly proud brother. She had to do what she had to do there.

Jon Snow

Nobody in their right mind can hate Jon Snow. He is the moral compass of the show, and he is one of the truly good characters throughout every season. That said, I was furious at him when he killed Daenerys. It was such a shocking and unbelievable betrayal, and it is outrageous that he would allow himself to be so manipulated by Tyrion. I’ve already talked about the way that Tyrion suggested that Jon kill Daenerys, but there was also an interaction with Arya that helped convince Jon to commit cold-blooded murder. Arya told Jon that she knows Daenerys is a killer, and that Daenerys will see Jon as a threat.

It’s just incredibly foolish of Jon to believe Tyrion and Arya, when he knows that Daenerys loves him more than anyone. Daenerys exhibits nothing but loyalty to those she loves, and has never given any indication that she would be violent to Jon Snow. It’s just a terrible shame that Jon allows himself to be so easily manipulated.

The Attack on Kings Landing

This was a completely justified invasion on the part of Daenerys and her combined forces. I doubt there’s anyone who think Cersi needed to stay on as the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. After all, she mass murdered her own people when she blew up the big church where they were having a trial for Loras Tyrell. For Daenerys, however, it’s not only necessary for personal reasons because she is next in line as a descendant of the last Targaryen king. That is, at least until she finds out about Jon Snow’s heritage. Jon has told anyone and everyone that he doesn’t want to be king so he supports Daenerys. Another reason why Daenerys wants to attack King’s Landing is because she really hates Cersi after she has Missandi beheaded. Daenerys is extremely loyal and protective of those who are loyal to her, and Cersi really messed up when she had Missandi executed.

What Exactly Happened After the Bells Chimed?

This is a question that I’ve spent some time trying to figure out, and I have some ideas but no conclusive answers. First of all, there is nothing to suggest Daenerys knows that the ringing of the bells is a signal of surrender. It’s never something that was shown to be discussed in front of Daenerys. The first I recall hearing about it was when Tyrion tells Jamie to ring the bells if Jamie can convince Cersi to surrender. Tyrion says nothing about this plan to Daenerys. How was she to know that was the signal? And, who was authorized to ring the bells? From Cersi’s reaction, it sure doesn’t look like it was her idea to ring the bells. Anyway, I suppose that the reason why Daenerys is murdered is her behavior after the bells rang.

So, yes, Daenerys directs Drogon to burn and destroy almost everything and everyone in King’s Landing. Yes, that was overkill, when she should have just had Drogon fly directly over to the tower that Cersi was in and destroy that. She did let her grief over the execution of Missandi, and her hatred for Cersi guide her actions that day. Personally, I think she was justified in her actions because Cersi was the ultimate evil, and the civilians were incredibly stupid to stay in town when they had to know an attack was imminent.

That being said, we have a saying in our family where something in a movie or TV show absolutely makes no sense, we say, “It wasn’t in the script.” So, yeah, the writer of the show needed a dramatic or shocking ending and just put it in the script. It was a cop-out and a terribly disappointing end to a great heroine.