Watch Your Step!

We often talk about how long we should keep a lipstick or the shelf life of our food but we rarely stop to think about the length of time we should keep our athletic shoes! My dear friend Franklin is an avid runner. She works out every day and she works out hard! When I was visiting her recently I noticed that she had two pairs of exactly the same tennis shoes! When I questioned her she told me that it is wise to alternate the same pair of shoes so that they last longer. I thought she was crazy so I did a little bit of research and it turns out she was right (as usual!). The life of a running shoe is much shorter than I would think. Researchers from The University of Texas recommend that you retire your sneakers after 200 miles! The old data used to recommend that you tossed your shoes after 350 to 550 miles! The midsole of the shoe wears down first and the problem is that we can't see that part! The damage really occurs long before we see any wear and tear to the sole of the shoe. The weak midsole causes more stress to our feet and legs and our sneakers loose stability and shock absorption. That translates to an increased chance of injury! So, Franklin was right....again!

All of this sneaker talk let me to order the Reebok Easy Tones I have been wishing for. They claim to help shape legs and "behind" faster! They also make them in flip flops!

More time to consign!

Last week I wrote about Romper Runway and I was so thrilled to get so much feed back! Since then, I have learned of two more fantastic consignment sales for Babies, Kids, Teens, and Maternity!

Divine Consign will take place March 7th thru 9th at the Plano Centre. They have a presale on March 6th for consignors and volunteers.

Just Between Friends has several upcoming events. The next one starts today and runs thru March 1st at Will Rogers Exhibit Hall in Fort Worth. Future sales are listed on their website and include March 25th thru 28th at the Cotton Mill in McKinney and May 6th thru 8th at the Denton Civic Center.

One little tip for shopping the sales: do your homework first! Find out what kind of payments are accepted and go prepared. Some only accept cash or select limited types of credit cards.

Birthday Countdown Chain

Who doesn't love to countdown the days until a birthday? Every child loves to and, I must admit, I love to do it too! To make the countdown a little more exciting for your child, you can have fun helping them make a countdown chain! It is so simple! Cut paper into strips about 1/2 an inch wide and 6 or 7 inches long. Cut as many strips as there are days to count down. Let your child decorate the strips or use fun scrap-booking paper with a cool design. Make rings with the paper and staple them together. Loop the next ring around the first one and staple it. Repeat it for the number days you are counting down.

Hang the countdown chain in a visible spot and allow your child to cut or rip a ring off every day!

If you are not crafty and you prefer to purchase one, check out Big Day Chains!

Fire place safety tips

There is nothing like curling up next to a fantastic fire when it is this cold out side! I love it!

Here are few tips to keep your fires safe and comforting....

1. Always keep a clear draft and remember that Fire Wardens recommend that you have your chimneys cleaned once a year by a certified Chimney Sweep.

2. Keep a screen closed in front of your fire. I got ours at Target (pictured above).

3. If you have glass doors in front of your fireplace, remember to keep them clean of buildup by using a razor blade on them when they are cool.

4. Install a chimney cap if you don't already have one. It prevents nesting animals and debris from collecting.

What do you do when you need to run to the loo during a film

I am so excited about the new app I found to help me catch the important parts of the movies I go to see. Isn't it just the worst when you are at the movies and you find yourself needing to run out to the loo? RunPee tells you the best times during each film for you to run out. You input the movie you are at and press the timer button after the previews finish and the film begins. Your phone with vibrate a few minutes before each of your ideal breaks! How simple! Enjoy!

Fashion Fast Fix Kit

Do you have a wardrobe emergency? How many times have you noticed deoderant on your dress or run in your hose? It happens to me all the time!

I have finally learned to keep a Fix it Kit in my drawer. Her are the contents:

-A sewing kit that I took from a hotel

-Super Glue to adhere a flapping heel

-Madame Paulette Professional Stain Removal Kit ($13) could truly save your favorite outfits. It contains separate cleaners for earth-, protein-, and oil based stains. They are perfect for me because I rarely have a coffee with out spilling it on my blouse!

-Rubber Bands are the perfect way to get a few extra inches out of your pants. At the begining of my pregnancy, I would put it through the buttonhole in my pants and then loop it around the button!

-Sharpies in black and brown are the perfect fix it for scuffed shoes.

-You can shorten your slacks and jeans so that you can wear them with flats or heels the re-usable adhesive snap strips from Hemming My Way ($22 for 4).

-Dryer Sheets can quickly get rid of static in everything from your dress to your hair!

-Hollywood Fashion Tape ($9 for 36)is a lot like double stick tape that can adhere to your skin. It can hold your bra straps, reattach hems, or manage a low cut neck line.

The Romper Runway!

Attention Moms! Clean your child's closet today and check out www.romperrunway.com! This fantastic consignment event will be accepting your clothing, toys, stroller, and more up until Monday the 22nd of February! You pick the price you want to sell the item for and tag the item on your own, drop it at the warehouse and you will get 65% of the sale price back!

If you are not ready to consign but are looking to purchase then mark your calendar for the sale taking place on Friday, February 26th and Saturday, February 27th from 10 to 6 at 118 Parkhouse at Industrial and Commerce in the Dallas Design District.

This years sale not only has lots and lots of clothing but also has a BOB stroller that has only been used twice, a tri-cycle, rocking horses, mini pianos and much much more!

Now the really exciting part is the Pre-Sale! If you want to volunteer to work the event for a minimum of two hours, then you get the first chance at all of the wonderful consignments. You get to shop from 5-7 pm on Thursday the 25th. If you are pregnant or a new mom with a child under the age of 9 months then you get an early invitation too! You can shop on Thursday from 7 to 9! For more details check out the website or send an email to details@romperrunway.com.

Rent the Look for Less!

This is New York Fashion Week and the fashion world is all a-buzz with new styles, designs and trends. If you like to follow fashion but hate the expensive price tags then you will love Rent The Runway! This amazing service takes runway looks and rents them out to you for one time wears! You browse thru their selections, place your order on line, set a date that you need the garments and it will appear on your doorstep in two sizes just to be sure one will fit! You return it in the pre-marked package that arrived with it and forget your guilty feelings for only wearing your dress once!

A Fabulous Photo of the Chef Michael's Be My Valentine Doggy Dinner Party!

Random Acts of Kindness Week

This is Random Acts of Kindness Week and I don't think there could be a lovelier follow up to Valentine's Day! Simple little acts of kindness can be incredibly powerful so take a moment to pay for the coffee for the folks behind you in line or deliver a casserole to a neighbor or friend in need. Even though you should do these things to benefit others, there are significant health benefits for you too! The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has a terrific website that explains that there are numerous health benefits of kindness! Here are a few:

-The "helper's high" is a rush of euphoria followed by a longer period of calm that comes after a kind act. We have all felt it! It is followed by a long lasting period of improved emotional well-being. Who doesn't want that?

-A decrease in both the intensity and the awareness of physical pain can occur.

-An increased sense of self-worth, greater happiness, and optimism, as well as a decrease in feelings of helplessness and depression is achieved.

They also have a fantastic list of random acts of kindness that you will love! They are simple and sweet and very inspiring. Write to me and tell me your stories. Did a random act ever have a great impact on your life?

The Purina Chef Michael's Be My Valentine Doggie Dinner Party

We had such a great time at the event last night, in spite of the Blizzard. All of our four legged guests showed up in the finest and enjoyed the Chef Michael's Canine Creations served off of a silver tray! There are more photos up on my facebook page so check them out! My favorite part of the evening was having the honor to announce Purina's donation of $7500 to www.adopt-a-pet.com.

The lovely Elizabeth Rohm, the star of Hero's, shared a heartwarming story about her dog, Homer. She rescued Homer and was told that his leg was in bad shape. Instead of giving up on him, she spent hours with him going to physical therapy and nursing him back to tip-top shape! She calls Homer her "boyfriend" and has declared him her Doggie Valentine.

A survey by Purina showed that 60% of dog owners will include their dog in their Valentine's Day celebrations! I hope you will include your dogs in all of your holiday celebrations too! We came up with a sweet acronym for the word LOVE to help you make your dog feel fantastic.

L - Lounge around with your four legged friend and watch tv or a favorite movie. There is nothing like that quality snuggle time with your dog!

O - Order in for yourself and serve a thoughtfully prepared meal for your dog.

V - Valentine's Day gifts go a long way with dogs! A new bed or collar will perk them up!

E - Extra special pampering means making your dog look as good as she feels!

Let me know what you do to make your dog feel loved!

Long Live my Flowers

Many of you will be getting a bouquet of flowers this weekend in honor of Valentine's Day. I love getting flowers but hate that they last for such a short time. In order to make your flowers last longer, you should keep your water clean so that your stems stay healthy. Your blooms will last longer if you change your water every other day or more often if you can see that it needs to be changed. You should also cut 1/2 inch off of your stems with a sharp knife. Enjoy and teach your children to always smell the roses!

No more wrestling matches in bed

I can honestly say that one of my least favorite things to do is put my duvet or comforter blanket into the cover after I have washed it. It is so hard to get it in there right and it never stays where it should! I was thrilled when I discovered this amazing new comforter cover ($250) by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. It has an L-shaped zipper that makes stuffing the blanket inside a breeze! Genius! The problem is that I can't find a comforter from their line that co-ordinates with the linens I already have. My solution was to take my current cover to my tailor and they worked their magic on it! Voila! I never need to have a wrestling match with my bed linens again! I can save my energy for a pillow fight instead.

PhotoJoJo Craft for Valentine's Day

There is nothing like a hand made gift but I especially love the idea of making one with photos! I found a clever new book called Photo jojo! that I just adore. it is filled with really fun photo craft ideas for any time of year. I especially love the idea of making a little "brag book" out of an altoid's tin! The instructions are so easy and it is such a great way to carry around photos of your loved ones. When you are finished you will have a great little box filled with images that fold out like an accordion. I would be thrilled to make one of these for my Valentine!

Clover's Valentine's Day Gift Suggestions

You have all heard me sing the praises of a gift that lasts so I was thrilled when I found that the on-line magazine Clover had featured some fantastic suggestions for lasting Valentine's Day gifts. Founder and Editor, Chesie Breen is so chic and I would take her advice on ANYTHING!

She suggests an amazing Silk Carnation Wreath ($220) from Sebastian Li. If this is a bit over your budget, I suggest you head out to the craft store and try to make one on your own. You could use a feather boa instead of flowers for a dramatic effect.

She also suggests a fantastic "Love" umbrella in a plum color by my favo

rite calligrapher (or artist rather) Bernard Maisner. Bernard is incredibly talented and I sometimes have parties just as an excuse to have him create something for me! This umbrella ($95) is the perfect way to carry his art work around!

Leontine Linens is one of my favorite resources. This year, Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day fall on the same day so Leontine is marking the occasion with an adorable "Be Mine" pillow embroidered in Chinese Red "Chop Stick" pattern. Celebrate Valentine's Day with Chinese flair this year and order in your from your favorite Chinese delivery, set the table for a romantic meal for two and put the pillow on your loved one's seat!

5 Tips to Sell Your Home

My sister, Kari, is a residential Real Estate Agent with Allie Beth Allman & Associates. She absolutely loves what she does but says that this is a really busy time of year for home sales. The market is very competitive so she says that you really need to take a few extra steps to make your home stand out. Here are her five tips sell your home:

1. Stage your home or keep it furnished. If you home looks liveable, your potential buyers will be able to imagine themselves there. Get rid of clutter but also remember that it they are not looking for a hotel. Family mementos and personal touches are appealing to a buyer.
2. Know your competition and price your home appropriately. Check out the other homes for sale in your area so that you know what you are up against.
3. Price your home to sell in 60 days. The longer your home is on the market, the more people will think that they can get a deal out of you.
4. Counter every offer you get. In this market, an offer is an offer and even if you don't like it, are offended by it, or can't believe how low it is, counter it anyway! Keep the deal alive.
5. Hire a Realtor that is an expert in your area. Choose someone fresh and motivated who will help you get a deal done.

Flower Alternatives

Everyone knows that flowers are more expensive on Valentine's Day. The demand is greater than any other single day of the year. This year, I suggest you invest in something that will last instead of sending a typical bunch of roses. Arlington sister-in-laws, Alyssa and Joslyn Krismer, make the most amazing fabric flowers. They craft incredible stems that can be used in much the same way living flowers can: in a vase, as a centerpiece, or presented as a gift. They are also often ordered by brides for a bouquet or a boutonniere. Prices range from a set of three stems for $21.50 to a potted "plant" for $40. You can check out their creations at www.janejoss.etsy.com or visit the Coffee Haus Downtown Roasters in Arlington. They will also be exhibiting at the Funky Finds Spring Fling Craft Fair on March 13th at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Forth Worth. Mark you calendar! I hope that Justin is listening because I would prefer this as a Valentine's Day delivery!

Annual Appointments

One of the fantastic tips I got from a friend recently was to take some time at the beginning of the year to schedule all of your families medical appointments. It is so easy to let a year slip by with out these essential appointments and if you take the time to schedule them properly you will have the time to prepare for them and to get the most out of them. Take an hour to schedule your regular Dentist, Pediatrician, Vet and Doctor appointments now! Here are a few tips to help you get the best appointments:

-Call from a quiet place with few distractions and call at a convenient time. Most offices get the most calls in the 30 minutes after they open. Unless it is an emergency, wait until an hour after they open to make your call. Never call at lunch time or in the hour before they close. You will not get the best attention on the other end of the line!

-Select a few ideal times and dates before you make the call and begin by asking if those appointments are available

-Collect your personal information before you call. You may be asked for Social Security numbers and Health Insurance information.

Lists for Life

Julie and I love lists! We are always sharing tips and ideas for keeping our to-do lists organized. Life is hectic and crazy so my list is a tool that helps keep me sane! Just writing down my list of tasks helps me feel like I have it all together. I am so excited about the new Lists for Life book by Rory Tahari, the creative director of the fashion design house, Elie Tahari. Her book contains over 100 lists to help you tackle life's challenges one step at a time. She tackles tough transitions such as planning a wedding and buying a house as well as stressful situations such as handling an emergency or preparing for a hospital stay. Her lists for raising children and becoming a parent are very insightful too. She includes great questions to ask a potential care taker and a list of questions you should be prepared to answer in a parent/teacher interview. I hope I don't ever need her chapter of navigating through a divorce! She even has a travel packing list application available on iTunes!

Consign Time!

Happy Birthday to my fantastic Father-In-Law, Stuart Whitman. Stuart is a true cowboy and played one in many films and Television shows. He was also nominated for an Academy Award! His birthday made me think of an incredible sale of Movie Posters that I recently heard about. Justin and I love admiring some of Stuart's old movie posters but I didn't realize that there was such an incredible demand to collectors. We don't plan on selling any of ours right now but if you are in the market to sell something special then please keep reading! There is a fantastic auction house right here in Texas that can help! Heritage Auction Gallery is the World's largest collectibles auctioneer and will not believe some of the things that they recently sold. They sold Jack Ruby's Fedora for $53,775 and JFK's last signature for $38,837. They also sold an ancient Egyptian Mummy's Head for $31,070 as part of a Natural History Auction and the most important Babe Ruth Game Used Bat on Earth for $537,750! Amazing! The great part about HA is that you can take in your items and receive a free auction evaluation. The experts at Heritage Auction Gallery will check out your item and tell you what kind of price it might receive at auction and then you can decide if you are ready to put it up for sale! There are great tips on the site to help you authenticate your items and give you an idea of their value. Some of their categories are Coins, Comics, Currency, Entertainment Memorabilia, Stamps, Rare Books, Sports Collectibles and Movie Posters.