For the active or not-so active New Yorkers, here are some free or low-cost events in the city and surrounding boroughs.

Rock Climbing

Brooklyn Boulders- 575 DeGraw Street, 347-834-9066

For only $20, check out NYC’s only rock-climbing gym.  18,000 square feet of climbing surface and a skilled staff. Gear not included. For more information, go to brooklynboulders.com

Fencing

Fencer’s Club – 229 West 28th Street, 2nd floor, $150 for three sessions.

The country’s oldest fencing facility; equipment can be rented on site.  For more information go to www.fencersclub.com

Ice Skating

Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers

If you are looking for another activity to shape up or just want to cool off, Sky Rink is offering private or semi-private lessons for kids and adults.  Call 212-336-6100 to arrange a lesson with an instructor or visit chelseapiers.com

Boot Camp

Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp

Workout prides itself on being NYC’s toughest.  Classes takes place mornings, evenings, and weekends.  $15 for first-timers.  For more information, call 646-354-0039 or visit brooklynbridgebootcamp.com

Gym Guest Pass

Lucille Roberts -all locations

Download a free guest pass to this all women’s gym.  The pass entitles you to a one day of fitness at a location of your choice.  Must be 18 years or older.  Download the pass at lucilleroberts.com

Swimming

Asphalt Green

Looking to join a pool/fitness center?  Download a free three-day pass to Asphalt Green.  Must be 23 years of age or older.  For more information and to download pass, visit asphaltgreen.org

{image:  found via Weight Loss Women’s Diary}

Happy Labor Day!

Enjoy your day!  Enjoy your day of traveling. Enjoy your picnics and parties. Enjoy your day at work.  Enjoy your day at home.  Whatever you are doing today, enjoy!

{image:  found via Studying in EWU}

I found another Eversave deal on natural beauty products made from organic ingredients.  This deal  is to purchase $20 worth of products for only $10 at MBeze.  This deal expires in 3 days.  If you are interested in switching your current deodorant to an organic one called a deodorette, here is your chance.

In this video,  Sadie speaks about how we are all connected, my mission in my blog. It’s a quick video and I encourage you to watch it!

Golden Gate Bridge

The Bridge to Action

I cannot believe summer is almost over and the kids are back to school. What happened to 2010? Gosh, this year is flying. Next thing you know it will be the holidays again. Accckkkk…..

For some people September is a time for change. School starts. Leaves change colors and start falling. It’s a new season and some people are really excited to make those changes in their life.

For me, September is Action month.  You know all of those ideas that have been brewing in your head for the past months and with the coming of fall, it is time to put those ideas into action.  It’s time to get out of the hammock and engage with the world.  Don’t let hear or old habits lock you in inertia.  Why not take charge and inspire others?  If your motives are sincere, any projects you launch are likely to have a real impact.

Set your intention

I am ready to assume the role of leader and be a force for change.  I can accomplish even more when I partner with others.

Practice:  Starting off Strong

Whether starting a new endeavor or just making an important phone call, prime yourself to succeed with an ancient Hindu mantra.  This one calls on Ganesha (Vinayaka), the elephant-headed god known as the remover of obstacles.  Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and chant the Sanskrit phrase Om Vinayakaya Namaha (Om Vee-nah-yah Kah-yah Nah-mah-hah).  Repeat 108 times, or set a timer for four minutes.

Project:  Announce Your Engagement

No, not that kind of engagement.  Social or political engagement.  Become active in local affairs, or on a wider stage.  Be willing to stick your neck out on critical matters.  Pick a cause you really connect with-an upcoming election, or the environment, or a social issue such as women’s rights, animal cruelty, cancer care, or elder abuse.  Be a spokesperson for the change you want to see.

{image:  photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge, taken by Eddie Ching. May use picture if link back to www.eddieching.com}

NYC is having a heat wave again.  Here are some tips to survive without an air conditioner.  In reality, some apartments in New York do not have air conditioner.  Or,  some people may not want to turn on their air conditioner because they want to save energy.  Whatever your reason is here are some tips to survive without an air conditioner without going into heat stroke.

I am hosting a giveaway!

To kick-off my new “Green Living” series, I thought I would host a giveaway.  I have not had a giveaway in a long time so I thought since I liked the Scotch-Brite greener clean sponge so much (see review) I would give away all four sponges seen above to a lucky winner.  All you have to do is comment below and you can enter as many times as you wish.  Also, if you tweet, share on Facebook, or write up a blog post to my giveaway, please let me know in the comment section.  And don’t forget to write down your email address so I have a way of getting in touch with you.  This giveaway will end on September 15th and I will announce the winner on September 16!  Good luck!

** I will keep this post in the front until the giveaway is over

I love deals!  Who doesn’t with today’s economy.  Lori and I are lucky to have met Abby and Mandy from StealsDeals at BlogHer10.  Abby sent a twitter message about Eversave a few weeks ago and so glad she did!  Eversave is a really nice site to subscribe to.  It operates the same way as Groupon, Living Social, Lifebooker, and BuywithMe. It is on online site that searches for deals in your town. Each day, you get an email stating the deal and you have at least (Living Social , Buy With Me,and  Lifebooker gives their customers 4 days to buy the deal)  until 12 midnight to purchase the deal.  You get the stated deal if enough people buy that deal.  But, living in NYC all deals are usually tipped over after a few hours anyway.  It’s not a bad way to try out new restaurants, new products, new beauty and spa services.

How Eversave Works

You can review the video here to see how Eversave works.

Sign-up

It’s easy to sign up.  How?  Sign up here.  And you get a $5.00 credit for just signing up. For your first purchase, you can use the $5.00 credit and save!

Todays’ Eversave Deal

Today’s deal is in line with “My Green Living” series.  The deal today is you get $25 worth of organic beauty products from Lee-lai Natural Beauty for only $10.  Not a bad deal huh? This is a good way to ease you into switching your toxic beauty products for organic ones.  This deal is good until 12 midnight tonight.  To review the deal online, click here.  Oh, and I bought this deal. I will be back to let you know how it is.

Scotch-Brite Greener Clean products

Green sponge?  No, not the color green.  But, green living.  This post is a continuation of “My Green Living” series.

On behalf of our BlogHer ’10 experience, Lori and I met a ton of vendors where they gave out free samples. Most of the samples we received are from big name companies like Scotch-Brite. Just to let you know, Scotch-Brite did not ask me to write this post about their product.  I volunteered to review their products if it will help people with “green living”.  Now, I am all about sharing information and I will only give you information if I truly feel it has helped me and will help you as well.  I am in no way getting any monetary compensation for this review.

Most of the product reviews I will do in the future, I have either bought the item or have been given a sample.  The product reviews will contain my opinion only and I will only write positive reviews. I will disclose this information each time I write a review.

Product Review:  Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Scrub Sponge

I do not have a dishwasher and need to wash all of my dishes by hand and do not like to spend hours at the sink.  Time spent on an activity and cost are the ultimate factors in choosing my products.

I have to say, I am a sponge snob. I have a criteria when it comes to buying sponges and am also thrifty. I don’t like wasting money and I don’t like when sponges fall apart in a week, only to throw them away.

I am a loyal customer when I find a product I like.  I used the greener clean scrub sponge for my dishes.

My criteria for sponges:

1.)  Must be thick in size

With experience, thin sponges do not last for me. I admit. I rough handle my sponges. It is only because I want to get my dishes clean.

Thick sponges equals long lasting sponges

If a sponge is going to last me only a week, then it is cheap.  I can just imagine the mounds of my used sponges in the landfills.

2.)  Size does matter

I don’t care for sponges that are only the size of an index card when wet.  I like sponges that are at least 5 inches when wet.  It is faster to clean the dishes.  Remember:  I don’t have a lot of time.

3.)  Must have a scrubber attached on the other side of the sponge

I need a textured side to clean hard to wash grease or caked on food.

4.)  Must not scratch my dishes or cookware

So far so good. Has not scratched my expensive cookware.

5.)  Made from natural materials

The greener clean sponge is just that!  I believe in “green living” and am in the process of switching all of my current products to natural ones.  Some of the “un -natural” sponges contain a white powder. I always wondered what that white powder is on the sponge. Probably some kind of a chemical?  TOXIC!!!

Grade:  A

I have lots to like about the greener sponge line from Scotch-Brite.

Facts about the Greener Sponge

• Made from 100% natural materials (agave and corn)
• Scrubbing fibers made from natural agave
• Re-usable
• Recycled content and/or packaging
• Eliminates the need for daily disposable cleaning tools – so it can really save you money
• From daily dishes to stuck-on messes, it delivers scrubbing strength without scratching

I am in the process of switching my toxic cleaning products to a more green and natural environmental products. Why?  For the past two months, I am more aware of the toxic chemicals I am using to clean my home. I noticed a month ago when I sprayed my bathtub with CLR,  my eyes got all watery from the fumes.  If that can happen to my eyes, who knows what it is doing to my internal organs!  This was the first time I ever had a reaction like that to cleaning products and it scared me!

I made a promise to myself to get rid of all of this toxic cleaning products and to only buy natural and eco-friendly cleaning products.  I started with my sponges. I spend so much money on sponges only to throw them away. I can only image the landfills filling up. I started purchasing re-usable sponges that you can clean in the dishwasher or washing machine.  In addition, instead of using paper towels, I bought washable cloths. After I wipe up a spill, I can toss it in the washing machine instead of wasting money on paper towels and throwing them away.

This is only the beginning for me. I will be writing more about toxic chemical, green cleaning and product reviews in the future so stay tuned. Thanks to Scotch-Brite, below are some green cleaning tips I am following.  If you have some green tips that you would like to share with me, please let me know in the comment section below.