June 2009 Blog Posts (73)

Fit Tip- A Do it Yourself Exercise!

Ball Hamstring curls

This is a great lower body exercise with an emphasis on the hamstrings. The core musculature is also activated while maintaining a stabile spine.

For first timers, it may be difficult to balance the ball (keeping it straight while pulling under with the heels). You know you are progressing when it becomes easier to move the ball on a straight line. This means your hamstrings, abdominals, lower back and calves are getting… Continue

Added by Nick Clark on June 15, 2009 at 11:03am — No Comments

BPWFL State Conference in Key West

I just returned home from a wonderful state conference of the Business and Professional Women of Florida. What a great place Key West is!!!

The conference was perfect. Our speakers were great - very educational and interesting. One of our surprise guests at the conference was Miss Piggy! What a surprise that was. Unfortunately, Kermit was not able to be there.

I was elected First Vice President of BPWFL and the installation banquet was Saturday evening. Lavish and lovely… Continue

Added by Esther Bird on June 14, 2009 at 11:09pm — No Comments

Relationship Tip of the Week: Take a Tip from the President

Much ado has been made about President Obama’s date nights with his wife, Michelle. Yet President Obama is modeling a ritual that all couples would do well to incorporate into their relationship. I recommend weekly date nights to all my clients as a way to make space for true intimacy, to connect on a stress-free level away from kids and work, and perhaps most importantly, to keep the fires burning.

Do you only get dressed up for your husband when an event calls for it? Have you… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on June 14, 2009 at 6:00pm — 2 Comments

Free Self Defense Demonstration June 20th, 9AM

I couldn't help wincing as I read what I thought would be funny. The Dating Horror Stories were very funny but also very disturbing. Many of the stories had enough information to make a pretty safe call that the men in question were likely abusers or future abusers. I'm no expert but I know a few signs: pushy behavior (trying to keep you from doing what you want to do like ahem... Leave!), chasing you out the door, running you down with the car,… Continue

Added by Frank Gomez on June 12, 2009 at 6:30pm — 3 Comments

I am in need of direction.

Our church each year has a fireworks tent to raise money for the taxes on the church. This year though the place that we always had the tent at fell through due to a death in the family. So far we have been unable to locate a place willing to allow us to put the tent up and sell the fireworks.

It needs to be out of the city limits and away from any gas stations. So if you have any ideas I would really appreciate it. We were paying $1,000 to the person that passed so we could have the… Continue

Added by Bonita on June 12, 2009 at 3:48pm — No Comments

Eco-Conscious Jaszy's Jewelry on Channel 8!!

Jaszy's Jewelry was the spotlight of a news brief on Florida's WFLA Channel 8 News with Gayle Guyardo!

It's kinda surreal to see yourself on tv and very exciting! I am thrilled that I had this opportunity and so very thankful.

Check out the interview here.

Jaszy’s Jewelry specializes in eco-conscious jewelry using Fair Trade gemstones, recycled metals… Continue

Added by Jaszy McAllister on June 12, 2009 at 3:00pm — 7 Comments

Do You Twitter?

Follow me here!

Added by Nick Clark on June 12, 2009 at 9:30am — 1 Comment

How to Donate Money Effectively

Whether it’s the holidays or an unexpected disaster, Americans are always willing to donate to those less fortunate. It’s the easiest thing in the world for us to open our checkbooks to a worthy cause without a second thought.

Yet your donation, regardless of size, should make the largest impact possible on your cherished causes and issues. When you support a charity’s best interests, you’re not selfish to support your own as well.

Give to efficient… Continue

Added by Wendy B Namack, CFP® on June 12, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Fit Tip- Heart Rate Training

In order for your cardio to be more effective, you should incorporate your training heart rate. This can be tracked through wearing a heart rate monitor or a piece of cardio equipment (most have sensors). Monitor it throughout the cardio session.

Training Heart Rate formula:

Find your maximum heart rate:

220 – Age = Maximum Heart Rate (MHR)

Find your training heart rate, which will be 65% to 85% of your MHR:

.65 x… Continue

Added by Nick Clark on June 11, 2009 at 9:12pm — No Comments

Should You Invest in Art?

Art as an investment certainly seems attractive. We’ve all read the headlines when

Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, or Warhol set new auction records. Or maybe you’ve seen an episode of Antiques Roadshow where a 50-cent yard sale purchase ends up being the long-lost work of an obscure master artist.

The fine art market is a $10 billion-a-year industry in the United States alone. Over the past 50 years or so, art has returned a compound annualized rate of 10.47 percent, according to… Continue

Added by Wendy B Namack, CFP® on June 10, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Battle Your Health and Wellness Challenges & Start Winning Today!

Battle Your Health and Wellness Challenges

Start Winning Today!

What can you buy today for 1.3 trillion dollars?

The World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Report of 2002 reported that although 1.3 trillion was spent on health care in the US, we were number 1 in the world in usage of drugs, while we rank number 37 in performance and number 72 in level of health.

We may be best in the world in emergency medicine while losing the battle in health… Continue

Added by Bonita on June 9, 2009 at 6:57pm — 2 Comments

Progress not Perfection

Whether you're looking at fitness, nutrition or other aspects of a healthy lifestyle, it's a good idea to seek progress and not perfection. Set out doable goals for yourself that are realistic and achievable. And be happy with all progress that you make. Remember, striving for perfection almost always sets you up for disappointing failure. Focusing on progress helps you see the movement on your wellness journey.

This comment was brought to you by Sara Canright...Personal health and… Continue

Added by Sara Canright on June 9, 2009 at 2:45pm — No Comments

Jewelry for a down economy

Hello all, this is my first blog and I must say I am excited to finally enter the world of e-chatter. I love this site and hope to meet many new friends and share my passion for jewelry.

I currently work fulltime but have a wonderful jewelry business on the side. My jewelry business is a small endeavor with big value. I shop for the latest fashion jewelry across the country and then sell it at a great discount. I am not part of a chain but an independent that believes every woman can… Continue

Added by Pamela Watts on June 9, 2009 at 11:17am — No Comments

Continuing to Savor Sarasota’s Restaurant Week

If you haven’t gone out to dinner or lunch yet for Savor Sarasota’s Restaurant Week, you’ve been missing out! I had a fabulous three course lunch at Derek’s for only $15. I started my lunch with spicy Roasted Chicken Soup with hominy and lime in a smoked chili broth. That course was followed by the freshest mussels I have ever tasted in my life—no fishy taste here! The mussels were cooked in a sauce of garlic, shallots, tomatoes, white wine, herb butter and topped with fries –yum! I couldn’t… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on June 8, 2009 at 9:30pm — 1 Comment

Fit Tip

I gained 20 pounds- So what, right?

A list of what an extra 20lbs of fat comes with.

✓70,000 extra fat calories stored

✓It would take you roughly 70-80 hours of running to burn that many calories, that’s the equivalent of doing 20 marathons.

✓Your clothes don’t fit.

✓Increased intra-abdominal fat, which places stress on your organs.

✓Chance for increased blood pressure.

✓Chance for… Continue

Added by Nick Clark on June 8, 2009 at 10:40am — No Comments

Being Proactive in Challenging Financial Times

Confused, stressed, afraid? These are just a few of the emotions people across our country are experiencing in light of the current market situation. Whether you are starting to build a nest egg, or are close to retirement, the reality is that negative market performance has likely impacted your investments. That’s not going to make you feel good, and you shouldn’t pretend otherwise. We are humans, not machines, and humans react emotionally to circumstances beyond (and even within) our… Continue

Added by Wendy B Namack, CFP® on June 8, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

RELATIONSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK: Keep Your Eye on the Prize

When I say keep your eye on the prize, the prize is a loving and cherishing relationship. Once you are in a committed relationship, it is important to view that relationship as something valuable and to be mindful of doing whatever you need to do to maintain its value. No matter what is happening between you, remember that your ultimate goal is to have a happy relationship and act accordingly.

If you are arguing, remember that what you want in the long run is to be happy together. Is… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on June 7, 2009 at 10:00am — No Comments

The "Flexitarian" Diet

The Flexitarian Diet

A recent article in Natural Awakenings caught my attention. The author talked about a new concept called the Flexitarian way of eating. This idea makes so much sense and is in fact what most informed health conscious people are gravitating towards anyway.

Nothing you like would be off limits but the because of the incredible health benefits from eating a wide variety of whole plant based foods the smart thing to do is increase the consumption of those things… Continue

Added by Gerry Davies MD on June 6, 2009 at 5:05pm — No Comments

Don't Settle for a "Ho Hum Life"

Are you happy with your life? Or do you feel something is missing - but you just don't know what it is?

86% of women in the United States are unhappy with the quality of their lives!!! WOW! that's huge! Are you one of those women? Do you have dreams of a better, happier life but are being held back by fears and blocks? If so, I can help you.

I am a certified life coach who specializes in helping women improve the quality of their lives. I belive that coaching is extremely… Continue

Added by Esther Bird on June 5, 2009 at 5:03pm — No Comments

A Milestone in My Life!

I will keep this post short but I have to share with you an amazing moment in my life this week. As many of you that have met me know I have been working on becoming healthier. Well, I hope you are setting down for this one.

On Tuesday I had an appointment and something just told me that stairs were going to be involved. Now it had been over 10 years since I climbed my last stair case and that consisted of only 3 or 4 stairs.

We pulled up in front of the destination and… Continue

Added by Bonita on June 5, 2009 at 2:51pm — 1 Comment