Chic This Week » Pamper Your Papa

Last update: 15-03-2010 11:45

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Chic This Week » “Finishing Touches” Trunk Show

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Last update: 12-03-2010 13:32

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That's right, my friend... bikini season is right around the corner.

 
All the cold weather - especially this last big snow storm - fooled me. In the fall, and even early winter, I was doing so good, running a couple times a week, spinning and going to Bikini Bootcamp religiously.

 
But I started layering on the sweaters and not wanting to get out of my warm bed to venture out into the cold weather just to work out. On top of that, my 6am spinning classes that I've been teaching for the past two years got canceled... which also meant that my free gym membership that came with being an instructor also went away. So, I got hit with a tri-fecta of hurdles that kept me from keeping up with my exercise routine.

 
But now that it's getting nicer out... and dare I say "spring-like"... I all the sudden came to the painful realization that it's almost bikini season! *gulp* That gave me even more reason to want to get back into the swing of going to my bikini bootcamps!

 
So I went, and of course got slack from my instructors Melissa and Johnnie. But that's good. Makes you realize that people notice when you're not there, and they hold you accountable! I learned that they also have weekday morning classes at 6am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I want to start making those, but I have yet to make it out of bed at the 5:15am I would need to get up at to make it to one!

 
I was talking to Melissa after class about how quickly bikini season (officially Memorial Day on May 31 when pools open) and she suggested I have an official countdown to bikini season, and have that be my motivation for coming to class more often! So, that's what I'm doing with this blog. I'm going to bookmark it and check back to this page whenever I need a little reminder for how long I have until the tiny bikini makes it's big debut (hopefully not a "big" debut though haha)! If you need a little motivation too, feel free to do the same! : ) Ok... now I need to go to bed so I can get up early enough and start this workout routine I'm blogging about! Oh, and I'm also going to post a pic of the bikini I just bought at Victoria's Secret... seeing this and the countdown is a sure fire way to get me to class now! 79 days and counting!!!

Last update: 12-03-2010 00:41

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Chic This Week » Save Green! Two Spring-Themed Sales!

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Last update: 12-03-2010 00:05

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Chic This Week » Dress Up Your Dude 

Last update: 08-03-2010 10:06

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Chic This Week: Hitting B-Low the Belt – Saturday ONLY Sale at Soho!

Last update: 06-03-2010 10:24

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Chic This Week: Blowdries and Baubles

Last update: 06-03-2010 10:23

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Chic This Week: Monkee’s of Madeira

Last update: 06-03-2010 10:22

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Chic This Week: Drastic Discounts on Designer Shoes

Last update: 06-03-2010 10:22

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Chic This Week: Amanda Kelly Salon Opens Downtown

Last update: 06-03-2010 10:21

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Last update: 02-03-2010 13:42

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New NYC Fashion Week Trends

Today marks the end of a 17-year era, as the New York Fashion Week event was held at Bryant Park for the last time. As I type, the park’s famous tents are being torn down and packed up as the last Fall 2010 collection (Tommy Hilfiger) was presented a short while ago. The tents will go up next year at Lincoln Center.

I’ve been keeping an eye on each collection as they live stream video, fashion reporters report and style bloggers blog. It’s been very exciting.

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Last update: 22-02-2010 12:11

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Last update: 16-02-2010 00:16

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The fact Harold was higher on the hierarchy than tomatoes really stuck with him. So, when living off the land at his farm wasn’t paying the bills, he decided to try something new… fashion.

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Last update: 15-02-2010 10:18

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Last update: 14-01-2010 11:08

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Last update: 11-01-2010 14:49

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Last update: 09-01-2010 15:10

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Last update: 23-12-2009 12:57

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Last update: 15-12-2009 17:35

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But I'm in good company, because the average American consumes 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving. But I decided I actually liked my wardrobe and wouldn't want to trade it for a closet full of elastic waist pants and oversized t-shirts (one pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories afterall). And I drove up to Keep it Tight fitness for my weekly bootcamp class.

I swear, these women never cease to amaze me. The second I think I have them figured out. The second I get good at one of the new exercises they throw at us, they switch it up and do something completely different and muscles I didn't even know I had are sore for weeks.

This week was a ton - and I mean a ton - of cardio. I asked them why afterward and they said it was to burn a high level of calories. Tawnia said you don't want to build muscle after you bulk up on calories. You want to burn it off and then do weight training. What we did was really interesting and I might try it at home. One minute on a cardio machine (stair-stepper or treadmill), then do 10 frog jumps or push-ups. Do that for 15 minutes. It really gets your heart rate up there.

I don't know if it was my hormones, their rock-star music playlist (had some good Rihanna, Kings Of Leon and Black Eyed Peas playing) or if I was just gasping for air, but I got a little choked up at the end of my workout. Maybe a little of all of the above... but I was proud of myself for getting back on the wagon. I was dedicated to burning off each one of those yummy delicious 4,500 calories.

Check out the video below from Melissa and Tawnia who have an inspirational message to anyone who might have overeaten this Thanksgiving (aka everyone) :)

Last update: 01-12-2009 00:27

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Last update: 16-11-2009 10:42

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Last update: 12-11-2009 08:34

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So, quite fittingly for Halloween, I immediately turned into Count Dracula. I went home and like a crazed woman, I scoured the cupboards and fridge to get an idea of how many calories I had been consuming on a daily basis, and what I needed to change moving forward. It was - and still is - an amazing experience.

I found a great calorie counting program online that helps me keep track throughout the day. Since I'm on my computer all day, it's easy for me to document everything going in and keep my total intake top-of-mind. At the end of the day yesterday, I only had 500 calories left to consume. If I hadn't tracked everything, I would have at least estimated 700-800. But the trail mix I had in the morning was about three times as many calories as I thought it was and my chai tea latte had a whole latte more calories than I expected. So, with only 500 left, I struggled to find something for dinner that stayed under my 1600 calorie limit. You'll be happy to know that I did. But I had to be careful with portions and my drink selection at dinner to not take me over. And typically, I wouldn't think twice about the amount of salad dressing, sauce or spoonfuls of food I slopped onto my plate. I will now though!

Drinks are where a lot of my hidden calories are. Just this morning for example... I took my vitamins with a glass of juice and mid-gulp I realized that the juice was probably super sugary and filled with calories. I made a mad dash for the container and, sure enough, it was! I swear, the little calories DO add up! Ah! It's driving me nuts! They're everywhere! haha!

Tonight is my weekly "Champagne Tuesday" get-together that I do with my girlfriends. I did my research and each glass is about 90 calories. So, I will make sure I have enough calories in my diet to have a glass or two, but I know I won't have many calories to spare - or else I will be weak and hungry - so I will have to sip slowly. Again, these are all things I never thought twice about. But I will now!

Knowledge is power, and power is being able to fit into my skinny jeans! haha!

Last update: 03-11-2009 09:19

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It all started when I went to put on my workout outfit and it was tight. I have been BUSTING my butt the past few months, between my bootcamps, spinning and running, and to put on an outfit (let alone my workout outfit) that's tight is just absolutely discouraging.

So, I went to my Keep It Tight bootcamp, and went through their grueling exercises thinking about my tight workout outfit the entire time (hey, it was good motivation to work hard!). And afterward I talked to Melissa and Tawnia about my disappointment in my results. The first thing out of Melissa's mouth was "Are you eating too much?"

It was kind of an eye opener to me because I don't really care too much about what I eat - I mean, I'm not sitting around eating fried chicken and bon bons all day - because I do work out so much. So, to have that be the first question kind of came as a shock. When I couldn't answer her with a definitive yes or no I confessed that I didn't really know what was "too much."

She took me over to her computer and she asked me my weight, age, workout frequency and intensity and a bunch of other questions, and determined that my body will maintain its weight if I consume 2000 calories, will have moderate weight loss if I consume 1600 and will have dramatic weight loss if I consume 1300. She strongly encouraged me to not shoot for the dramatic weight loss because that could cause me to have a metabolic syndrome, and send my body into a starvation mode. She told me to shoot for 1600 calories.

I really don't have the time or patience to count calories, so I did a little research to help make this process a little easier. It would be a ton easier if I had an iPhone because ... as they say ... "there's an app for that." But I don't, so I found another solution: iGoogle. iGoogle is a homepage where you can access everything you need all in one glance on your web browser's homepage. You can check facebook status updates, twitter "tweets" and now I can check my calories. They have a really simple calorie counter widget that makes it easy to add items to my counter, and then I can check it at any time for a visual meter for how many calories I can (or can't) consume for the rest of the day.

Some things that will help me cut back on the calories is to sleep more and drink less. Socializing is a big part of my job, so I find myself at a ladies night trying the cocktails on special, or going to a networking wine tasting event, or taking a client out for drinks to celebrate. Melissa and Tawnia said they rarely drink, so to avoid the annoying "why aren't you drinking?" question, they get a spritzer water and lime and drink that all night. Sometimes with a splash of cranberry to give it even more of a cocktail look. I really like that idea and am looking forward to using it - and not consuming all those empty calories!

I'm also going to have to sleep more ... as I write this at 11pm when I need to be up at 5am... haha! :) No, but seriously, not only is lack of sleep negatively affecting my metabolism, but it also causes me to get fancy coffee drinks at Starbucks. And my iGoogle calorie counter is definitely not a fan of my favorite s'bux drinks! eek! I had no idea!

So, check back soon to see if I'm still on track to make this big change!

Last update: 01-11-2009 23:07

Published in : Chic Blog, General

Well, I do feel better when I don't have to feel like a magician every morning trying to make bulges magically disappear with a sweater or waist belt. And I feel healthier and sexier after a rock star work out. And I'm usually happier and more up beat after I work out. So, I really really do want to keep up my fitness routine.

One of the things that really helps is to get it done early before the weight of the day unloads on me. I swear, when I used to do spinning and pilates at night I would miss about half my classes because a meeting would go over or I'd have to run a last minute errand before a shop closed. Then I'd be mad at myself for the rest of the day, and then I'd eat some Graeters to make myself feel better. haha! It was really a vicious cycle, seriously.

I started to do a morning run with a friend - which I really recommend because they will keep you loyal to your routine - then I started a 6am spinning class and then I started my Saturday morning Bootcamp classes at Keep It Tight Fitness! I love it and I've rarely missed a class!

Melissa and Tawnia my trainers at Keep It Tight highly recommend the morning workouts and just started a new 6am classes throughout the week. I cant make those because of my 6am spinning classes, but I do recommend going! It's a great way to start the day and beat those cold, wet fall blahs! And work off all that Halloween candy you'll eat tonight! Have a great Halloweekend!

Check out the video below where Melissa and Tawnia share some tips on how they "Keep It Tight"!

Last update: 31-10-2009 09:52

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Last update: 30-10-2009 01:18

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Last update: 23-10-2009 12:04

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Translation: Skip the workout and stay under the covers.

I really don't want to backtrack on all that I've worked for the past few months. I asked my trainers, Melissa and Tawnia, at Keep It Tight how to avoid the winter wanders from my regular workout routine. They gave me some good advice I'd like to share:
- The second you think you don't want to go to the gym, just make yourself put on workout clothes. Melissa said she doesn't this and every time it gets her in the mood to workout. I'm definitely going to try this!
- Make yourself a priority. Schedule an appointment just like you would a doctor's appointment or board meeting. Don't break it.
- Get up and workout early. You get it out of the way before a busy day gets the best of you. Tawnia said that people who leave exercising until the end of the day will have last minute things to do, or a deadline to meet or even just be too exhausted to workout, so they don't.
- Think about how it will make you a better mom, friend or co-worker when you workout. It releases stress, increases your endorphins and makes you feel better about yourself.
- Don't hide under sweaters. Winter fashions provide some weight wiggle room so you can gain a couple extra pounds and hide under all the layers. Keep in mind that winter will be over soon and you won't be able to drown yourself in clothes! *cough, cough bikinis* haha! :)

Last update: 17-10-2009 09:45

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Last update: 05-10-2009 14:56

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Last update: 05-10-2009 13:52

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Description:
The Cincy Chic PR/Marketing intern is responsible for writing weekly press releases for Cincy Chic, helping to coordinate PR campaigns for Cincy Chic events, updating social media outlets and online event promotion.

Specific Duties Include (but not limited to):
• Produce at least one original press release a week and send to specific outlets
• Develop unique PR campaign initiatives for events/editorial
• Reach out to and develop relationships with specific reporters to get coverage on
events/editorial correlating to their beats • Update social media outlets weekly
• Post Cincy Chic events on Cincinnati event listing websites as needed

Optional Additional Responsibilities:
The Cincy Chic PR/Marketing internship, an unpaid position, will give the intern hands-on experience, valuable contacts as well as practical PR and marketing tools. However, Cincy Chic often needs representatives to cover events and/or write editorial for publication on the Web site; both of which are paid opportunities available to the PR/Marking intern.

Hours/Compensation: The Public Relations/Marketing Intern, an unpaid position, is required to dedicate 20-25 hours per week to this position.

Please send resume and cover letter to: Amy Storer-Scalia astorer@cincychic.com

_____________________________________
Position: Cincy Chic Sales Support Intern

Description:
The Cincy Chic sales support intern is responsible to assist the sales execs in ensuring that all aspects of the client’s purchases are implemented.

Specific Duties Include (but not limited to):
• Follow up with client after sale is made to schedule ads, collect logos and copy for ads
• Complete work orders for graphic designer
• Create and process event listings for the Cincy Chic calendar and all other marketing orders
• Assist in promoting Cincy Chic events • Assist sales execs as needed

Optional Additional Responsibilities:
The Cincy Chic editorial internship is an unpaid position. However, Cincy Chic often needs representatives to cover events, which are paid opportunities available to the sales support intern.

While this is an unpaid position, the intern will gain hands-on experience and develop valuable sales, advertising and online media skills.

Hours:
15 to 20 hours a week

Please send resume and cover letter to: Amy Storer-Scalia astorer@cincychic.com

_____________________________________
Position: Cincy Chic Editorial Intern

Description:
The Cincy Chic editorial intern is responsible for writing weekly editorial content for Cincy Chic as well as a monthly makeover story. Also, the editorial intern will assist the Cincy Chic editor with copyediting, maintaining the editorial calendar and editing photos on a weekly basis.

Specific Duties Include (but not limited to):
• Copy edit all editorial, which includes fact checking; preparing stories for HTML posting; and correcting errors in punctuation, grammar, spelling and style.
• Write one department story each week.
• Write a monthly makeover story.
• Attend weekly editorial meetings and present new story ideas that cover local people, products or services and pertain to the theme of the issue.
• Edit photos each week.
• Assist the editor in updating the editorial calendar each week.

Optional Additional Responsibilities: The Cincy Chic editorial internship is an unpaid position. However, Cincy Chic often needs representatives to cover events, which are paid opportunities available to the editorial intern.

While this is an unpaid position, the intern will gain hands-on experience and develop valuable writing, editing and online media skills.

Hours: 20 to 25 hours a week

Please send resume and cover letter to: Amy Storer-Scalia astorer@cincychic.com

Last update: 21-09-2009 15:51

Published in : Chic Blog, General

I think this is a huge question I've been asking myself ever since I started on my health kick more than a month ago. After my first session at Keep it Tight Fitness, my muscles were sore and I felt like I had literally carved away all my imperfections with one session with how hard they made us work. But when I looked in the mirror, I didn't see anything different. I just felt different. And honestly - in this world of instant gratification - I was disheartened because I didn't just want to feel better, I wanted to look better immediately.

But disheartened or not, I've been sticking with it, realizing that soon I'll feel and look better too. Slowly but surely, I've noticed a few little things here and there - like jeans fitting a little better, or catching a glimpse of new arm definition in the mirror. Seeing those small differences are like eating little morsels of motivation.

You have to stick with it and realize that even though our phones, internet, cars - everything - seems to go faster and faster these days. There's no fast track to truly improving your health.

So, I'm sticking with it and seeing little changes along the way. I've been going every Saturday to Keep it Tight, I picked up an extra Spinning class each week and my running buddy and I have been doing really good at mixing up our morning run routes. It's been fun!

To my friend (and everyone else out there) who's at the foot of a self improvement hill, here's a little video from Tawnia with some motivating tips to help you climb with confidence!

Last update: 10-09-2009 09:43

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I sit here reading my last blog wondering who the heck wrote it. I was talking about getting to bed early because a healthy lifestyle will help me live longer! Yay! Rainbows, butterflies and unicorns! Well, let me just tell you that after I wrote that blog, I decided to sign into my e-mail account just before I went to sleep. I got sucked in and ended up working about four more hours that night, which put me on three hours of sleep for my big two-a-day workout day.

You know how it is when you don't get much sleep, you're all jittery and sleepy. I had to go into my 6am spinning class like that, then into all my meetings that day like that. Then at the end of the day I got stuck in a stressful traffic jam (to be expected when you're driving from NKY to Mason) and was 20 minutes late to my training session.

Stressed out, frazzled, jittery and tired. Not exactly the picture of health I had envisioned. But I was proud of myself for not just throwing in the towel and skipping out on training.

I walk in to Keep It Tight Fitness expecting to get dirty looks from the trainers for being late but as I walk up to the door, Melissa opens it with a smile saying "I'm so glad you made it! We have a spot saved for you right up front, come on! We're in the middle of a kick butt workout!" What a relief! Someone who knows what it's like to have a busy schedule with unexpected detours.

So I hop right into it. We did a few exercises on the chairs, then some abs on the ball and then... they brought out the rubberbands. We proceeded to strap this rubberband apparatus around our ankles and side gallop around the building twice. It was difficult - ahem, very difficult - but it was fun and definitely nothing I would have thought to do on my own. Which is exactly why I wanted to go to a trainer in the first place. What I was doing on my own just wasn't working anymore. I needed something more.

I actually talked about that very thing to Melissa and Tawnia after class. They told me that my body fat percentage was about 24%. (Just as an example, they're 13% and 14%). They asked me what my goals were. I told them I wanted to lose about 10 pounds to shed some of that body fat... I know there's muscle under there! You just can't see it! :)

Tawnia and Melissa said this is such a common problem for active people. They are doing a good thing by getting in a routine and carving out time to exercise x-amount of time, x-amount of times per week. But unfortunately, your body gets used to this routine and it doesn't produce results if you're doing the same thing for the same amount of time, every time. They said it's ok to run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday but it's not ok to do the same route each time. It's also not ok to just RUN the whole time. They suggest doing sprints, lunges, side stepping or take a detour up a steep hill -- for the sole purpose of shocking the body out of a routine. So, starting this week I'm going to do my MWF runs, but they're going to be different each time! I'll let you know how the body likes the "shock" of a non-routinue run!

I visited my parents this weekend, so I have lots of detours (aka mom's cooking) to burn off with my detoured running routes! :)

Check out the webcast below to get this week's secret to bikini body success from Melissa and Tawnia!

Last update: 24-08-2009 20:13

Published in : Chic Blog, General

Again, per my first blog this quote could be seen through economic-tinted glasses, or it could be seen through diet-TAINTED glasses. haha... I'm hungry and bitter that I'm dieting. Sorry. :)

Tomorrow, I'll be doing Spinning class in the morning and then doing my training session at Keep it Tight Fitness in the afternoon (I'll be out of town this weekend so I bumped my session up a couple days). I was just thinking about how a "two a day" was going to be tough as nails to get through. Then that quote popped up on twitter and inspired me to get a good night's rest and conquer the world (or maybe just my sanddlebags) tomorrow. The longer, healthier life I'm achieving is going to last a lot longer than any workout at the gym. I can doooooooo iiiiiiit! Wow, I need to calm down so I can get some sleep. haha :) Night all!

Last update: 19-08-2009 23:01

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Anywho, I go to the Livestrong Calorie Counter site - less wanting to actually count my calories ...booooring... I was more hoping for a steamy picture of Lance Armstrong. But regardless of why I went, I did get there.

I plugged in all the basic info: weight, height, lifestyle (I put light because I'm mainly at a computer all day). It says I need to consume about 1550 calories a day. Funny, because I always went by those nutrition facts on the back of everything I ate and drank and thought I could consume 2000! But now common sense is kicking in and I'm wondering why I just realized that not everyone is a 5'4" medium build woman. Better late than never though, I suppose.

So, apparently you can do a ton with this whole Livestrong website, but A) I don't want to pay for it to count my calories when I can do that myself and B) They dont have nearly enough photos of Lance on the Livestrong site.

But even just knowing that I shouldn't consume 2000 calories a day, I need to take in about 450 less with 1550, is a huge step in the right direction.

I'm still just keeping a mental tally of calories. I eventually want to keep a journal and stick to the "you bite it, you write it" rule. But I'm not there yet.

I did make huge strides tonight though in the whole "calorie consciousness" effort. Every Tuesday, my girlfriends and I go out (or go to a friends house) and pop open a bottle of champagne, eat good food and gab. I was good and made a homecooked meal of chunky spaghetti sauce with a small amount of noodles for dinner (that way I'd be full and wouldn't have the snack attack). And I checked how many calories a glass of champagne was, and that's about 90 calories a glass. So, I was careful to sip a litter slower, which made a difference!

After plugging everything into my Livestrong calorie counter site, it looks like I consumed just under 1500 calories today. That, combined with my Spinning class this morning, which burned approximately 400 calories according to my heart rate monitor means only one thing: I'm going to look like Heidi Klume soon. Watch out.

Last update: 18-08-2009 23:49

Published in : Chic Blog, General

A friend of mine told me about two women who recently started up their own fitness studio up in Mason, Keep it Tight Fitness. She told me to check out their site because the two owners - Tawnia and Melissa - post a ton of videos and it's a great way to get to know their personalities to see whether or not I'd like their coaching style. So, I did. And boy do they have videos! They have exercise videos, nutritional videos and even some funny/blooper videos. 

After watching the 4,000th video on their site, I felt like I was best friends with them already and I booked my first appointment this past Saturday. Now, let me just say that I'm in no way out of shape. I teach spinning two times a week and try to get in a couple good runs or walks in throughout the week as well. These things were keeping me from being out of shape, but they just weren't getting me IN shape (hence the increasingly "tight times" I'm having in my closet right now). 

Seeing as how Tawnia and Melissa both look like they're Greek goddesses chiseled out of stone (and might I just add that Tawnia - who is as thick as my pinky with washboard abs - is a mother of SEVEN), I figured they could teach me a few things about getting in shape. I walk in and I fell in love. Across the entire wall in the back of the studio was one of my favorite quotes by Eric Kwan: "Instead of giving reasons why I can't, I give reasons why I can." 

Feeling right at home immediately, I talk with Tawnia and Melissa and some of their other students (including 2009 Maxim "Hometown Hottie" contestant, Amanda Bentley) who were super nice. At this point, I made the following mental note: "If this is where Amanda gets her Maxim-worthy-body, you must come here more often."

We started off with a warm up on the treadmill. But I quickly learned that this wasn't just any treadmill warmup. On an incline, we faced one side (I'm embedding a video below so you can see an example) kind of galloping from side-to-side for a minute, running facing the treadmill regularly for a minute, and then facing the other side and galloping. And with each transition, we increased the incline a bit. So, after experiencing what they called a "warm up," I was intrigued to see what they called a workout.

So we walk over to the workout floor where everyone has a chair. I thought "How nice! They gave everyone a chair to sit and take water breaks in." I have never been more wrong in my life. These chairs were stepped on, lunged on, curled on, dipped on and thoroughly sweated on for the next 40 minutes. I can never look at a chair the same after this class! Click here to check out all the videos of exercises you can do with a chair! I really liked these exercises because you can do them at home or even on vacation. You don't need anything but a chair stable enough to step on! 

After all the leg chair exercises we did tricep dips, abs and used this contraption called the TRX (Click here to check out videos with the TRX). One thing I found interesting is that never once in the entire 60 minutes did we pick up weights. I asked the ladies about that after the class and they explained that women don't want to bulk up, so they do high reps and body weight resistance, which I thought was interesting.

As if all those exercises weren't torture enough :) they then did the body fat testing, took my measurements and had me get on a scale. I clocked in at 143 (I'll let you know all my other measurements when I get them). I'll keep you posted over the next few months on my progress as I go from tight jeans to a tight body!

Last update: 18-08-2009 09:04

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Last update: 13-07-2009 22:47

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My husband, Pete, is in broadcasting and I just found out that Regis and Kelly are looking for local broadcasters to be nominated to be co-host for a day! I think Pete would be perfect for it! I’m a bit biased, but if you feel the same, cast your vote!

Here’s where you can learn more about the contest: http://alturl.com/k42y
And here’s where you can cast your vote: http://alturl.com/oq4v (you have to register for the site to cast your vote, but it’s super quick and you can uncheck the spam boxes)

Here’s the info you’ll need to nominate him:
Name: Pete Scalia
TV Station: ABC 22 Good Morning and FOX 45 City: Dayton
State: OH
Link to broadcaster bio: http://www.wkef22.com/sections/station/newsteam.shtml
Link to video of broadcaster: http://www.youtube.com/user/psfelix

Forward to friends if you’d like! He got his previous job at Channel 5 from an online voting contest... how cool would it be to get this opportunity through another online voting contest?! :)

Last update: 29-06-2009 16:45

Published in : Chic Blog, General

•    Social networks closely resemble us in real life. On a piece of paper in front of you, write:

o    Something interesting you learned/did recently
o    Something you need right now

o    Story about projector

•    Tried to get one today through traditional routes; didn’t work
•    After putting a request on Twitter/Facebook with my phone, I knew about 6 local projectors, free for our use today, within two minutes    

o    Image – customize the look of your site/social networking page to match your branding/ a top-notch website says there’s a top-notch person behind it
o    Updates – social networking sites allow you to easily update all those that are interested in learning more about you. Hundreds or thousands (depending on how hard you work on building your online connections) with a few keystrokes. Efficient communication!
o    Network – social networking sites (algorithms to find people you might know) and the “googbability” of your personal website can end up working as a dating service for your business. Let it do the work for you.
o    Engage – Get people to respond. Start that relationship and develop. Really let them “in”
o    Rise in popularity – More people will know you, think of you, refer to you – and it boosts your web traffic!

o    Twitter – instant updates, many mobile apps for on the go info
o    Facebook– instant updates, many mobile apps for on the go info, event invites and instant chats
o    Linkedin – by far most professional. Updates, recommendations, connecting with colleagues (past and present) and getting leads based on industry/friend recommendations
o    MySpace – instant updates, mobile apps, bulletins, event invites (time consuming though)… still on top (but slowly losing market share, quickly to Twitter) but still effective, according to Nielsen
o    Podcasts – allow people to subscribe to your feed, new podcasts are automatically downloaded to their iTunes (it’s always best with the information automatically goes to your users, instead of your users remembering to come to you)
o    Streaming video – increase your viewing audience with free streaming video sites like ustream
o    Classmates.com – third most popular social networking sites – you already have a relationship with these people!

o    Twitter

•    DMs
•    @replies
•    twtvite.com
•    Updating status
•    Overview page of “followers” tweets
•    Engaging example

o    Facebook

•    How to sign up
•    Adding friends
•    Events
•    Updating status
•    Overview page of “followers” tweets
•    Engaging example
•    http://apps.facebook.com/twitter/ - update FB & Twitter status at the same time

o    LinkedIn

•    How to sign up
•    Adding friends
•    Recommending others
•    Joining Groups
•    Updating status

o    Have your website/emails link to your social networking sites so people can join your “entourage”
o    Be more personable on your SN pages than on your professional site. Give them the “behind the scenes” on your SN pages

Last update: 24-03-2009 15:38

Published in : Chic Blog, General

“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to”
-John Ed Pearce 

Over the past week, I've learned the true meaning of the saying "Home is where the heart is." Last Monday night, my childhood home was lost to a devastating chimney fire. My parents no longer live there (they moved a year and a half ago) but we did find out that the family and their dogs made it out unscathed. That is the good news.

Now, my family never moved around. This is the place where I spent my first 18 years of life. And we lived out between Harrison and Ross (yes, the "boonies" to some), so I didn't have neighbors' houses to go visit much. I spent a large majority of my time exploring every facet of this home and property.

When I heard the news of the house fire, memories came rushing like incessant waves crashing in my head. I remember there was a crawl space under my parent's waterbed. When I was little, I would crawl under there and hide. I remember feeling like a "big girl" when my parents moved my room from right next to theirs to in the basement - as a teenager, this made it very easy to sneak out of my bedroom window! :) I remember hot tub parties with my friends downstairs. When I was little, I thought the boogie man lived under the stairs so I learned how to sprint up and down. I remember being fascinated with the pocket door between the living room and the kitchen. My cat Sarah had several litters in our garage and I'd sneak out in the middle of the night to check on them. The tree house and tire swing in the yard captured many of my lazy summer days. My dad even made a pulley system for the tree house so my mom could put lunch in the basket and I could wheel it up. I played in the creek, built dams, swam, fished and even ice skated on it! There was a full length "skinny" mirror going down the steps that I always managed to catch a glimpse of myself in before heading through the high school hallways that dripped with self-conciousness. My dad had a poster in his office that had a cigarette that curved back at the smoker and looked like a gun at the end - that was graphic enough to seriously make me never touch a cigarette in my life. I remember having to stick duct tape on a yard stick if we dropped things through the front deck. My dad - an 8th grade science teacher - kept his tonsils, a cow tongue and a lamb brain in his right desk drawer and it totally freaked me out any time I'd see them in there. At my senior graduation party, I took a hose and dish soap to a tarp for a make-shift water slide. I remember all the Christmases with the family at that house. I can almost smell the cedar walls right now.

These memories began as soon as I heard about the fire on Tuesday. By Thursday afternoon, curiosity got the best of me. After a long day of meetings, I was on my way to my current home in Ft. Thomas and eventually found myself driving to my old home in Harrison. I needed to see it. I needed to say goodbye.

Even though my parents moved out of this property over a year ago, and I technically "let go" then, I think I still romanticized about living there later in life, or buying it when we won the lottery just to keep it in the family. And even though I never did, it was nice to know I could drive by and smile at all the memories that were made there.

On my way to the house, I took the route our family would take on the way to church every Sunday. It was the same route that had a nudist colony and my friends and I would always giggle at and sometimes even try to sneak in to see what we could see. This was also the same route I'd take to my first internship. I felt like I could drive on that twisty turny road with my eyes closed. It was a mild night, so I rolled down my windows to smell that country fresh air and feel the comforting wind in my hair. I stopped at the four way stop that's right down the street from the house - it reminded me that my dad fought to put that light there when he was a township trustee because many unnecessary accidents happened at that four way stop. Almost in sight of the house, I crossed the railroad tracks. Ba-bump-ba-bump...ba-bump-ba-bump...these were the familiar bumps that would wake me up when I was little if I had fallen asleep in the backseat. I see our old driveway, which was at the foot of a steep hill in the road. I remember sprinting up this hill during track season for extra training once I got home. I head up the driveway, which we shared with other neighbors in the neighborhood. I see the bus stop that I used to stand and wait in.

When I got to the private drive that led down to the house, I got a stinging in the pit of my stomach and I didn't turn in. I second guessed myself. "Don't you just want to remember it how it used to be?" "Don't you want your memories of this house to be untarnished... not burned... not runied... not lost?" I drove past and kept heading up the hill away from the house. I looked down through the barren trees and felt a sharper sting when I didn't see the familiar lights on the porch or in the kitchen. I sat in my neighbors driveway sobbing. Mad at myself for driving all this way and not having the courage to drive down that driveway to see the house. Mad at myself for not buying the house when my parents decided to move out. Mad at myself for not visiting it when I could have. Mad at myself for not knowing this was going to happen.

Finally, I pulled myself together and practical Amy took over and said "You drove all the way here, so you *will* see that house, whether you like it or not." I put the car into gear and I drove down the hill and into our old private drive. My windows were still down and I started to smell the searing scent of burnt wood. Usually this was a happy, familiar smell to me as my dad would always make a toasty fire in the wood burning stove on a cold winter night. But this smell was not happy or familiar at all. I knew this was the smell of a very special home that was now lost as we knew it.

It was dark out at this point, so I couldn't see too much. But as I slowly edged down the driveway my headlights peered on a tattered, charred, shell of a house. The garage door had been peeled open, the wood siding had been ripped off the front of the house, and the roof was curled back as if some oversized fiery hand ripped out the insides from above. I cautiously opened my door and slowly walked closer to the house. It was still dripping from all the firefighter's water. As if it was sobbing in disbelief with me. All I could do was stare. At times, I would admire things the new owners did to the house, like the new flowers that had just been planted in the flower bed out front. And the front door was painted a fun maroon color. But then I noticed that the glass above - where one of my mom's favorite stained glass windows hung - was bashed out, either by firefighters trying to ventilate or by the shear heat. The greenhouse window off the kitchen was also bashed out. That's actually the window I recognized in the news coverage of the fire. I remember my mom had plants in that window that she would lovingly water every week. I peered inside the garage and saw a crushed van, fallen victim to a roof that failed to the burned beams above. I walked around to the side of the house, where I could see my old bedroom window in the basement. It made me smile to see it was still in tact - like I said, many "sneaking out" memories associated with that one. :) And the room where the hot tub used to be was still in tact, so that was uplifting to know that all was not lost.

I didn't stay too long. I felt weird being there. I felt like it was "my" house, but it wasn't "mine" any more. I had mentally let go of this place and hung my hat on the memories we made there. Luckily, no fire can ever erase those. After a few pictures (which you can see below), I walked back to the car, looked back and said "goodbye." I got in the car and backed out of the narrow driveway, on the edge of a steep hill. I pulled onto the road and remembered it was that driveway that my father painstakingly taught me the art of reverse, and to this day I'm really good at reversing in tight spots. That made me smile as I drove by my old house. Because that house is - and all its memories are - still there in my heart.

Last update: 10-03-2009 14:39

Published in : Chic Blog, General

Posted by astorer, on 19-03-2009 13:03, , Registered 1. thanks ladies I love that all my high school friends took the time to read this blog! I made lots of those memories with you there. Thanks for caring to comment!   » Reply to this comment... Posted by Vicky C., on 19-03-2009 12:57, , Guest 2. Childhood Home I was just browsing around Cincychic, which I love by the way, and saw the blog about your old house. Reading your blog brought tears to my eyes. Your entry was very well written and made me think about all of the fun times that we had in that house. It is very unfortunate that other children will not be able to have the same experiences as you once had at that beautiful home.   » Reply to this comment... Posted by Sara, on 10-03-2009 17:43, , Guest 3. Hello Very nice things said Amy. I remember riding the bus everyday and stopping by to pick you up for school. It was a very nice house!! Like you said, no one was hurt and the memories can never be forgotten.   » Reply to this comment... Posted by Leah S., on 10-03-2009 11:03, , Guest 4. Where the heart is... I'm so sorry! My prayers and thoughts to the family that lost their home. The hometown spaces we grew up in are so unique and rare these days!   » Reply to this comment...

“I'm becoming more and more myself with time. I guess that's what grace is. The refinement of your soul through time.” - Jewel

 Ok, I'm going to get straight to the point of this blog... I MET JEWEL!!!!!

It was kind of on a whim. I got an email (yes, I'm a card carrying member of the Jewel fan club) saying we could get backstage passes to meet Jewel at a few upcoming shows. Merrilville, IN was one of those locations. I Mapquested it and it said it was only 4 hours away, and just south of Chicago. So, I called one of my very best friends, whom I affectionately call "Sebass" :), who is a huge Jewel fan. She lives in Milwaukee, so the concert would be right in the middle! We decided to go because we didn't want to put off this dream any longer! We heard Jewel (now that she's married) is "trying" if ya know what I mean, so we don't know if she'll be MIA after this tour.

Sebass and I actually came *this close* to meeting her in 2004. We bid on VIP tickets to go backstage with her, spend time with her, get a bunch of stuff signed, etc. etc. Well, her bassist died just a few days before the concert and the rest of the tour was canceled. So, we've been to lots of concerts, bought every CD, memorized every song, downloaded all the ringtones... Sebass was even inspired to produce her own Jewel-esque CD and gave her credits for the inspiration in the CD sleeve! (no one wants to hear me sing, so a Jewel-inspired CD is not gonna happen for me)

I can't even begin to tell you all the random ways Jewel has been intertwined in my life. From inspiring me to start my own company, to being the song (You Were Meant for Me) I walked down the isle to at my wedding... this woman is such an idol to me. I have such a special place in my heart for her. And it's been on my "bucket list" for a VERY long time to meet her. 

Well, like I said, Sebass and I decided to finally check this item off the "to do in my lifetime" list. And on Jan. 25 at 7:45pm CT, we met her. Sebass even got to sing with her (that was her dream). I on the other hand, don't have a detailed bucket list. I just had "meet Jewel" on there, so I didn't have a plan. I didn't know what I wanted to say. I didn't have anything to give her... meanwhile, Sebass knew she wanted to sing a line of "You were meant for me" with Jewel, and she had a handwritten note carefully tied with a perfectly alligned ribbon around a gift for Jewel.

So, I scribbled down a note and basically poured out my heart about how Sebass and I were going to "henceforth" celebrate Jan. 25 as "Jewel Day" because we finally got to meet her. I felt pressure to say something funny, different, and well-written. It probably just came out like a blabbering idiot who spent too much time with a thesaurus.

So, get up there to meet her. I pull the hand written note out of my back pocket, which I folded like a grade-schooler who passes notes in class. I gave it to her, said "Hello my name is Amy, I wrote you a note because I know you're pressed for time." And then I walked away! haha! Oh well! It was really neat, even if I was star-struck. We did get a picture with her, but they haven't been posted to her site yet, so I can't share that with you. But we did take pics at the show, so here those are! 

Here's me, aka Vana, and Jewel!

Here's the one of Sebass and Jewel... I honestly think Jewel is giving her bunny ears, what do you think??

Last update: 27-01-2009 22:19

Published in : Chic Blog, General

Here are my notes from a lunch 'n' learn I did yesterday about the benefits of social networking, interactivity, and other web-based wonders....I told them I would post my notes on my blog! So, here they are! Please contact me at astorer@cincychic.com if you have questions!

•    “It’s who you know…”
      o    Story about projector
•    Tried to get one today through traditional routes; didn’t work
•    After putting a request on Twitter/Facebook with my phone, I knew about 6 local projectors, free for our use today, within two minutes    
•    So, quite ironically, I was able to get this projector for my social networking luncheon talk, through social networking!
•    Social networks closely resemble us in real life
      o    Image - Make a lasting impression that people will remember, positioning yourself as the subject matter expert
      o    Updates - Like to tell people what’s new
      o    Network – Meet as many new people as you can
      o    Connect /Engage– face time with important prospects, building business
•    Social networking, your web presence, helps you do all of the above virtually, reaching many more people than a little networking meeting will do any day
      o    Image – customize the look of your site/social networking page to match your branding/ a top-notch website says there’s a top-notch person behind it
      o    Updates – social networking sites allow you to easily update all those that are interested in learning more about you. Hundreds or thousands (depending on how hard you work on building your online connections) with a few keystrokes. Updating your website regularly does that as well – suggest having an RSS feed of updates on your site for your social networking pages
      o    Network – social networking sites (algorithms to find people you might know) and the “googbability” of your personal website can end up working as a dating service for your business. Let it do the work for you.
      o    Connect /Engage– social networking sites help you suggest people that other people might want to know (facebook) recommend professionals you should work with (linkedin). On your personal site, I suggest developing an e-newsletter to connect on a regular basis with your database. Use polls/comments to initiate two way communication. Give behind the scenes look into your business.
•    Because I let social networking get the word out about my business, I don’t have to spend all my time in networking meetings.
      o    The sole reason we were able to get 14,000 opt in subscribers in two short years without spending a dollar on advertising.
      o    You either spend money or time to get in front of people
•    With money being so short, use your time to build your business with these effective online tools
•    Recommended social networking sites:
      o    Twitter – instant updates, many mobile apps for on the go info
      o    Facebook– instant updates, many mobile apps for on the go info, event invites and instant chats
      o    MySpace – instant updates, mobile apps, bulletins, event invites (time consuming though)… still on top (but slowly losing market share, quickly to Twitter) but still effective, according to Nielsen
      o    Linkedin – by far most professional. Updates, recommendations, connecting with colleagues (past and present) and getting leads based on industry/friend recommendations
      o    Podcasts – allow people to subscribe to your feed, new podcasts are automatically downloaded to their iTunes (it’s always best with the information automatically goes to your users, instead of your users remembering to come to you)
      o    Streaming video -  ustream
      o    Classmates.com – doesn’t get as much coverage but there are a lot of people on it, according to Rubi Consulting
•    Does skew younger right now, but this is our new generation and it will soon be mainstream
•    Don’t lose your MAIN web site in the mix, though
      o    Always have your friends click through to your site to “learn more” or “read the rest” …view pictures, etc (unless you have time, and then only post to Facebook and MySpace because of the tagging aspect)
•    You have to go to where the people are to lead them to your site. Don’t let them “get the milk for free” on these other sites, or waste time doing the same thing over and over on all your sites.
      o    Have your website link to your social networking sites so people can join your “entourage”
      o    Be more personable on your SN pages than on your professional site. Give them the “behind the scenes” on your SN pages
•    Don’t forget the power of Google in the mix of all the social networking hoopla
            o    Reference google tips

Click here for notes from a previous talk I did about boosting "googlability" and newsletter writing tips.

I also promised that I would give information about good Blackberry applications. Go to http://www.facebook.com/mobile/ and learn more about the FB app. Or go to facebook.com on your browser from your phone and download the application it suggests for your blackberry. And for Twitter, here's a link to learn about the Twitterberry application.

If you're interested in learning more about boosting your business with social networking, googlability, e-communications/newsletters, please contact Kendra at kendra@saleskonnect.com ...learn more about her company here: https://www.saleskonnect.com/

And if you need quality, but inexpensive Web design done, contact priya.j@sparksysinc.com ....tell her you’re a “friend of Cincy Chic” and she’ll give you a discount.

Last update: 29-01-2009 01:52

Published in : Chic Blog, General

Last update: 20-01-2009 09:23

Published in : Chic Blog, General

Pete and Me on the Almalfi Coast

Pete and I enjoying one of our many espressos on this trip in Sorrento

Pete and I in Capri

Entering Felitto - of course, we had to get a pic of the sign!!

Venice in our gondola

And the beautiful leaning tower in Pisa! Pete took this great pic!

Last update: 07-01-2009 11:55

Published in : Chic Blog, General

The countdown is on! T-minus four days before Pete and I leave on our honeymoon! I'm so excited but there's so much to do beforehand! I have to work ahead to be gone for two weeks of work (scary!), running around doing errands for the holidays/buying last minute Christmas gifts, packing and - oh yeah - cleaning the house from top to bottom because my parents are staying with us for a couple days this week.

I don't think I have enough going on, do you? :)

But it's very exciting that we're taking our delayed honeymoon to Italy for the next two weeks! We're going all through Italy (Pete's 3rd generation Italian and he's never been!).

Here's our itinerary:

Day 1, Fri. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2, Sat. ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY.

On arrival at Rome Fiumicino airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. There is time to unwind and relax or perhaps people-watch from a charming sidewalk café. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director and fellow traveling companions.

Day 3, Sun. ROME / POMPEII / SORRENTO

This morning, travel to view the Abbey of Monte Cassino and visit the World War II cemetery. Then on to Pompeii for a guided walking tour of the excavations of this Roman city, petrified and preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. On to Sorrento, on the beautiful Bay of Naples, to soak in the atmosphere of the Piazza Tasso and visit an inlaid wood factory to admire the local craftsmanship.

Day 4, Mon. ISLE OF CAPRI EXCURSION.

Cross the Bay of Naples by ferry to the beautiful Isle of Capri. Explore Capri town and the famous Piazzetta, a favorite of locals and tourists. There is time to shop in the boutiques, stroll through town or sip a cool drink in a café. Later return to Sorrento, where your evening is at leisure. On this day, after the tour to Capri, we're having a private driver take us to a little town called Felitto where Pete's distant family is from!!!!

Day 5, Tue. SORRENTO / NAPLES / ASSISI.

A morning drive takes you to "Bella Napoli." See the bustling streets of Naples before heading out through the region of Latium. Drive on into the Umbrian Hills to mystical Assisi. On a guided walking tour, see the Basilica with its serene Giotto frescoes, and the miraculous Church of St. Mary of the Angels.

Day 6, Wed. ASSISI / RAVENNA / PADUA / VENICE.

Your first stop is the Basilica of St. Apollinarius in Classe. Then on to Padua, to view the Basilica of St. Anthony before continuing to the magical floating city of Venice.

Day 7, Thu. VENICE

Savor the sights and sounds of this serene city by private motor launch on an included canal cruise to St. Mark's Square. View the Byzantine Basilica, Bridge of Sighs and Doge's Palace. After witnessing a demonstration of the ancient art of Murano glassblowing, the balance of the day is free to explore further on your own or relax in a café. Alternatively, why not take a cruise to the island of Burano, and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch (optional)?

Day 8, Fri. VENICE / MONTECATINI

This morning, drive along the scenic Brenta Canal with its beautiful Palladian villas. Head south via the Apennine Mountains, the Emilia Romagna region and picturesque Tuscany to the spa-resort of Montecatini.

Day 9, Sat. FLORENCE EXCURSION.

This morning, a short drive takes you to Renaissance Florence for a full day of sightseeing. Start with a walking tour, highlighting the Cathedral with its magnificent Baptistery, and visit the Santa Croce Basilica and the Piazza Signoria. There is free time afterwards. Florence is truly a shopper's paradise with bargains and gold jewelery. There are also many museums and art galleries to visit. Later, return to Montecatini.

Day 10, Sun. MONTECATINI / SIENA / ROME.

Leave Montecatini and head to Siena - famous for its biannual Palio horse race. There is time to admire the architecture from one of the open-air cafés on the fan-shaped Piazza del Campo or pick up some local pottery. Then, head to back to Rome. You'll also see a hidden treasure today.

Day 11, Mon. ROME.

Your first stop today is Vatican City to marvel at the Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and visit St. Peter's Basilica. Cross the Tiber to see the Forum and the Circus Maximus, where "Ben Hur" style chariot races were once the order of the day. Then visit the famous Colosseum. The rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps take an optional excursion to the Catacombs, ancient Tivoli or just relax and sip a cappuccino at a café. This evening, savor a Farewell Dinner with your fellow traveling companions.

Day 12, Tue. DEPART ROME.

Your homebound flight arrives the same day.

I will try to log in and blog along the way. Maybe post some photos! Stay tuned!

Last update: 23-12-2008 09:36

Published in : Chic Blog, General

Posted by RamonaFisch, on 26-12-2008 13:37, , Registered 1. Italy bound response Wow!!! What a great time this looks like. Is there time to sleep or do you do that when you are in transit? Guess you better sleep on the plane because from the looks of the agenda I think they completely left that out!! I hope you have wonderful weather and a safe trip. Keep us posted (although I don't know how you will find time), take lots of pictures and have a great honeymoon. Talk to you soon, Ramona   » Reply to this comment...

“Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

- Revelation 3:16

I'm not a crazy heath nut, but I'm not a couch potato either. I'm somewhere in the middle. Although I have trained (and I use that term loosely) for three marathons, I didn't Lance Armstrong train. I try to eat healthy, but I don't go out of my way to be *really* healthy. So, needless to say, I've been feeling a little lukewarm in the health department.

Although Pete and I haven't gone to church much lately, I did grow up in a family that reinforced the importance of going to church regularly when I was a kid. In fact, I had 12 years of perfect attendance at my church! During that time, I remember my pastor telling me about the above scripture. For some reason it has always stuck with me. So, anything I do, I try to go all the way or not do it at all because the last thing I want to be is lukewarm. No one wants to be spit out! :)

Of course, me feeling lukewarm with my health/wellness just hasn't been acceptable, but I was too busy to do anything about it. Luckily though, there's some light at the end of the tunnel because we brought on a new sales manager here at Cincy Chic last week and she will be taking on a large portion of responsibilities so I can 1) breathe 2) focus and 3) grow the business.

Long story short... I decided (ironically in the middle of being a major couch potato this weekend) to go on a huge health kick! I'm getting a trainer (Doug, our fitness columnist), I'm going to talk to a nutritionist and I'm going to bring that lukewarm to a BOIL! I'm so excited! I'm 87% sure I'm going to blog in detail about my journey, but haven't decided all the way about that. I probably should so you can keep me in check!

But I did want you to know about tonight's major decision to lose the lukewarm and heat up some hotness! :)

Last update: 09-11-2008 23:48

Published in : Chic Blog, General

Posted by Blokette, on 19-11-2008 09:00, , Registered 1. Give Zumba a wiggle! As a fellow couch potato that a couple of weeks cried "enough" may I recommend you find a Zumba class. I hate all forms of excercise but this one I can handle as it is just dancing along with eveyone else. It is challenging enough without being torturous and it does not matter if you look a complete fool, nobody cares   » Reply to this comment...