Double Portion Inspiration

Thanksgiving is on Thursday and that means the biggest shopping day of the year is upon us- Black Friday .  I have over 20 years of retail experience and wanted to share some of my top shopping tips with you. Black Friday is the biggest and busiest shopping day of the year.  It kicks off the Christmas holiday season.  The key to surviving the big day is to be prepared and have a plan. Tip #1-Research the stores most important to you -whether you are buying a washer/dryer, tv or laptop you want to figure out which retailer has the lowest price on that item -bring all your advertised prices to the store because most stores will MATCH the competitor's price -use a website that compiles all the information like: http://www.blackfriday.info/ Tip#2-Be prepared to stand in line -we often laugh at those that are 1st in line and camping out overnight to get a great deal but that is truly one of the ways to get the item you want - Insider secret : most st...

 Guest blogger-Casie Dussia Founder of Run with Endurance  My first half marathon is Sunday and I'm taking the week off from blogging.  If you missed last week's hair tips  click here .  Guest blogger Casie Dussia is sharing her top ten tips to help you stay focused, healthy and injury free! 1. It's all about the shoes! What is the most common conversation among runners? Shoes! They make all the difference! I highly recommend that you go to your local running specialty store and take advantage of their knowledge. Ask them how often you should replace your shoes. They will answer that question in miles, so keep track of how many miles you put on your shoes. If you're keeping a running log, this is simple - put a star on the date you start using your shoes! And only use your running shoes for running! 2. Drink some water, then drink some water, run, then drink some more water! General rule: take your weight, divide it in half and drink that in ounces per d...

  Ready to run UNCF 5K    My running series is coming to an end and it's hard to believe that my race is next week!  In the previous post I shared my training schedule.  If you missed it click here .  Last Saturday I ran a 5K to prepare my body for race day.  The weather was beautiful and I successfully ran 3.2 miles in under 35 minutes.  I'm sharing some great tips for maintaining your hair during a training program.  I'm sure there are some that feel this is a vain topic to cover, however, you would be amazed how many women forfeit exercising to protect their hair.     Francoise "Frenchie" Gomes For the past 10+ years, I've trusted my hair to Francoise Gomes**, owner of Frenchie's Hair Design.  She's been in the industry for over 20 years and graciously agreed to provide a few tips on maintaining healthy hair. Since there are many differences with hair type, texture, and length,...

I recently had a conversation with a young, bright college student.  The student asked me if I ever felt like I was "wasting time".  As the conversation progressed I realized she was wondering- what path do I take .  There are times in our lives when the decisions we make affect us only in a small way. This student realized that the decsions she is making will impact her future for years to come.  Don't we ALL have moments in our life when we wonder if we are making the right decision.  What job to take/leave, person to marry, when to retire or start a family. Life is a series of choices. "There may be a thousand little choices in a day. All of them count." ~Dr. Shad  Helmstetter Don't be discouraged if you feel like you are "wasting time" because of a decision that needs to be made.  Your choices are setting the direction for the rest of your life so CHOOSE WISELY . Don't be afraid, God offers great encouragement: "You will se...

I’m less than three weeks away from the race and I only have two more Friday’s before I will end this running series. ( If you missed last week’s post, click here .)   This week I’m going to share my training schedule. I initially assumed that running to build endurance needed to be my complete focus.   Boy was I wrong.   Variety in your training exercises is vital .   Make no mistake, you will need to run to build endurance, but in addition to your runs, make sure to incorporate strength training.   The combination of running and resistance training will help to strengthen your body, prevent injury, and increase your race pace.   When you incorporate strength training, focus on the lower body and core. I highly recommend that you follow a proven training plan designed for the race you plan to run.   I chose to follow the plan provided by Women’s Running magazine in their 2011 January/February issue.   Click here   for a link to their we...

 I recently had a conversation.  The person speaking told me, " Things just never work out for me ."  I wanted to agree and give into the pity party this person was throwing for themselves. I'm sure there are many people that you know that have the same sentiment.  You may even feel this way. You have given up on life and become negative.  You feel helpless. Each time you don't get a fair shake in life you get down on yourself. The events of your past caused you to develop a hard shell in your heart so you won't ever get hurt again. Here are a few ways to pick your head up: 1.   Change your perspective The person who said these words didn't take time to look at the blessings that were around. We must focus on what we've received.  Don't worry about what others have.  We spend so much time looking at how the "other" person might be getting ahead.  Stop and count the blessings you possess-health, car, job, family, house, et...

Taking on hurdles! The weekend is hours away and it's already week three of our running series.  Everything you need to start in a training program was discussed in the previous weeks.  If you missed it click here .  By this time you probably have your shoes and training attire.  Maybe you've even signed up for your first 5K.  What happens when you are well into your training program and an injury occurs?  A broken toe, a sprained ankle, or a pulled hamstring.  They all represent a number of injuries that can attempt to derail you from the ultimate goal of finishing the race.  That's the hurdle I had to face just a few months ago. I was two months into my training program when I found myself face down on the floor in intense pain and unable to move.  Just seconds before I slipped on the floor trying to run my son into the kitchen before his upset stomach spilled all over the carpet.  It took months to build my endura...