Happy to be Blogging From my New Toshiba Lap Top

I am happy to say that I am blogging on my new lap top. I figured out how to access my cable with my router:)

Now I can sit on my new patio and create websites, answer emails and blog to my hearts content. Life is grand!

I love the feel of this Toshiba notebook keyboard. This has to be the easiest lap top I have ever used. Hopefully that will make me feel good about the price I paid for it.

Well, gotta run. My hair is drying on its own and it won't look too good if I don't take a round brush and blow dryer to it soon.

Happy computing:)

Bought my First Lap Top

I finally broke down and bought my first lap top. I spent way more money than I anticipated. I found a wonderful Toshiba notebook. It has a 13.3" screen, it has a Synaptic pointing device and it is light weight. I liked the feel of the key board. It has raised keys similar to a PC keyboard. The lap top was $899, but by the time everything else was added it was closer to $1,600. Unfortunately that did not include all the software I wanted, so I settled for less and decided I can add as I go.

Now I am trying to figure out how to access the internet with my lap top. I have cable internet on my PC and I bought a router, but I have never used a lap top before so this is all foreign to me. Hopefully the router came with decent instructions for setting everything up. Wish me luck.

I can't wait to start playing with my new toy!

I moved my Half Marathon Training Log

Since my sister Tricia and I decided to train for a half marathon, I decided to move my half marathon training log to my sisters running blog. I will focus more on web design ideas on this site.

Chi Running and Half Marathon Day 3

Yesterday, I did another interval Chi run of 4 min Chi running/2 minutes Chi walking for 30 minutes. My plan was to do 40 minutes but I think I pushed myself on the running end. I think I have convinced myself that since I am walking in between I can run as fast as I can. I end up running out of fuel before my run is complete. I was so hungry later in the day. The hunger felt like that after a really long run. I stayed the course though and ate healthy, foods.

Today was a cross training day for me. I bought a Gazelle by Tony Little a few months back when I injured my knee. I am using that on my cross training days. I'm sure many of you are laughing right now, but I can honestly say that this affordable, foldable machine is wonderful. You get a great, low-impact total body workout and it is so much fun to use. I feel like I am flying when I use it. For those of you who want to tighten your butt, this is a wonderful machine! I highly recommend it.

I am staying on target for the most part with my diet, although I did allow myself to have a Mike's Hard Lemonade with my husband while watching the Penguins game. The third period just started and the Penguins are ahead by one goal. Go Penguinios! I am going to close now so I can watch the rest of the game.

Keep running and stay fit and healthy:)

Chi Running Day 2

I have completed my second Chi run and I can honestly say my knees feel great! I think I am using the proper technique. As soon as I find my posture slipping, I realign my gait by gently pressing my left fist into my navel while taking my right hand (thumb and pinky) and placing it just under my collarbone and gently pulling down. This technique keeps me in proper form.

I am incorporating Chi running with a beginner walk/run 1/2 marathon training schedule. I use the walking portion to check my Chi As I near the end time of my walking portion, I realign my posture (as described above) and I lean forward slightly and I'm off running again in proper stance.

The combination of Chi running paired with a run/walk training schedule seem like the perfect prescription for my recently recovered knee.

Half Marathon Dieting Tips

I will be running a half marathon on September 6, 2008. My goal is to lose 15 lbs while training for my half marathon. Here is my weight loss plan and diet tips I will be following throughout my training:

• keep a log of my calories to include starting weight
  
• deduct 100 calories for every mile run
• eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables
  
• limit fatty food and sugary processed foods
• drink more non-calorie fluids
• limit coffee intake
• take sports drink or bite sized food for longer runs to avoid crashing
• take a couple of sips of water or sports drink for every 10 minutes on runs longer than 1 hour
• limit snacks
  
• stop eating after dinner
• limit alcoholic intake (although I love my 4oz of wine with my dinner)
  

Be mindful of my portions. Below is a good way to visualize what a true portion looks like:

• a deck of cards = a protein portion
• a fist = a serving of fruits or vegetables
• 6 dice = an ounce of cheese
• a tennis ball = a 1/2 cup of ice cream
  
• a compact disc = one serving of waffles or pancakes (this was a real eye opener for me!)
• a thumb tip = a tsp of peanut butter
• Computer mouse - about the size of a small baked potato

I purchased a small pocket sized notebook to track my daily food intake. My plan is to create a calorie deficit (more calories burned than consumed) and having a pocket sized notebook to carry with me makes it easy for me to write everything down. If I don't, I know I will forget to record something.

Always be prepared. I am a mother of two active children, so I am on the road a lot taking them from one activity to another. I find it helpful to keep healthy, portable foods in stock. Apples, pears and bananas are great for taking in the car. I slice my apples or pears and put them in a plastic zip lock for easy storage and drop them in my purse. Trail mix is another healthy portable snack. Peanut butter on whole wheat toast will keep me satisfied for hours. I also try to keep bottled water in my car so I can sip on it when I am feeling parched.

Finally, I find that writing an affirmation or two in my food journal every morning helps me stay on track because it reminds me that I am committed to my half marathon training. An example of one of my affirmations is: I only eat healthy, nutritious, foods that will fuel my body and keep me running throughout the day.

Chi Running

I recently got the DVD Chi Running by Danny Dreyer. I have been running for about 15 years now and just recently developed knee pain, mostly in my right knee. I took the winter off from running to let my knee heal. I started running again about a month ago but I don't want to re injure my knee. I discovered Chi Running while searching for a Tai Chi DVD on the library website.

Does Chi Running really work? Does it take a long time to master? I decided to train for a half marathon which takes place on September 6, 2008. I would like to incorporate the Chi Running technique to minimize injuries. Does anyone have any experience they would like to share on this subject?

First Time Laptop Buyer

HELP, I am in the market for a laptop. This is my first laptop purchase. I currently use my desktop to design and create websites. My plan is to switch mostly to my laptop and leave the desk top for my family.
I currently use Adobe Dreamweaver to create and edit my websites. I use primarily Gimp to edit my graphics.

What key features should I look for in a laptop to successfully create and update my websites? I would like to keep my costs under $1,000. Is there a particular brand that is preferred right now?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Weight Loss and Half Marathon Training

I want to lose a pound a week while training for a half marathon. I recently started my training for a half marathon and need some advice on what to eat. I have completed 2 - 1/2 marathons in the past, but I managed to gain weight instead of lose. I would like to lose weight this time.

My goal is to lose 1 pound per week. What I would really like is a daily meal plan. I don't want to have to think too much about what I should eat. I need it to be simple, healthy and energy producing.

One of the problems I have with running distances is I have delayed hunger. The hunger from a long run hits me a day or two later and I can't seem to satisfy my hunger. What can I do to cut down on this?

Also, if you have any easy, tasty, lean recipes you would like to share, feel free.

Keep on running:)

Become a Passport Member at Chico's

I discovered Chico's about a year ago when I was looking for some teachers' gifts. I knew Chico's had fun accessories, so I stopped in to take a look at their jewelry. I found some great necklaces on clearance.

I was so impressed by the staff at Chico's. They were very friendly and helpful. They wrapped my jewelry in pretty bags with ribbon and they told me about their Passport membership. The Passport membership is free and as a member, you receive Chico's catalogs with coupons. Sometimes the coupons are as high as 50% off one item in the store. I am a jacket fanatic. I believe that jackets complete outfits. I especially love leather jackets but tend to shy away from them because of the sticker price. However, thanks to the Passport membership, I have been able to jazz up my wardrobe with a few beautiful leather jackets. My most recent purchase is the apricot leather jacket you see me wearing in the photo above. I have received so many compliments on this jacket. In fact, one person told me they thought I got it at SAKS 5th Avenue. They said the price at SAK's was $1200, I told them I got mine for $139 which was 50% of the original price. I think I may have sent Chicos a new customer.

So, stop by Chico's sometime. You won't regret it.

Oh, I forgot to mention that you will love their sizing too. I normally wear a size 8 or 10, but at Chico's I wear a size 1. Don't you just love it?


Take a look at the some of the other benefits you receive by becoming a Chico's Passport member http://www.chicos.com/store/account/passport.jsp

Open Office

I downloaded Open Office 2.4 today. I am excited to give it try. It appears to have some pretty great features. One feature is the ability to convert .doc files to .pdf files. I don't have Access on my PC so I will be trying to teach myself how to use Base. I believe it has many of the same features as Access, feel free to correct me if I am wrong on that.

If you are looking for some tutorials on open office, Here are two I stumbled upon:

• Open office Wiki
  
• Learn Open Office
  
• Sheep Dog Guide's tutorial for Open Office version 2
• Tutorials for Open Office
• e-Learning for OpenOffice.org and Star
  

If you know of additional ones, please feel free to share.

Chic, Comfortable Travel Clothes on a Dime

My family and I went to Disney over Spring break. It is always hard to judge what to wear to a place like Disney, especially in the winter/spring months. Since I am a seasoned Disney traveler, I know two things that are a must: pack for warm and cold weather, this means layers; and wear comfortable shoes!!! You do a lot of walking and standing.

I watched the weather report leading up to our trip and discovered that it was going to be in the mid-70's to mid-80's almost everyday and sunny. The evenings were going to be around 60. Then, my husband informed me that he bought 5 day passes to the Disney parks so I knew we would be walking a lot. With that information in mind, this is what I came up with.

Anything made out of jean material is a great way to go. For my plane trip to and from Orlando, I wore the same pair of jeans, a thin, long-sleeved shirt and a light-weight, navy double-stiched Fresh Produce Jacket which I bought last year at Marshall's for $10. I wore a pair of peds from the Dollar Store and a new pair of Sketchers, which was my most expensive clothing item: $50 from Kohl's Department Store. This is the first time I went to Disney without a pair of running shoes.

Let me explain: I have been to Disney at least 10 times in my life so I know that comfortable shoes are a must. I am also a runner, so I always have to pack my running gear when we go on a trips. About 4 months ago I hurt my knee and have not been able to run, so I was determined not to have to pack bulky running shoes. Plus, running shoes are great for running but they are such a fashion faux pas! I was determined to find something that I could wear with capris, jeans, shorts, without compromising style and comfort. Sketchers seemed to be my answer.

My Daughter and I with Goofey. I'm wearing my new jean capris, my Sketchers and carrying my XO backpack

We were going from a Friday to a Friday. My jeans outfit took care of my Fridays, so that left 6 days of outfits. I am a practical person and I hate having to carry a lot when we fly, so I determined that I needed 6 short-sleeved shirts (one for each day we were there) one skirt, 2 jean capris and one dress capris. It turned out that I had everything I needed for my trip except for a second pair of capri jeans.

I made a trip to Macy's and found a wonderful, stretch jean capri by Levis for $38. They were so comfortable I wore them 3 times.

Our hotel had a pool, so I packed 2 swims suits one cover up and a pair of slides. The second swimsuit is imperative, because no one likes putting on a wet suit.

I packed 2 pairs of pajamas, a pair of slippers and of course undergarments. I hate walking on hotel floors in my naked feet, which is why slippers are a must!

I took one handbag. I bought a pink XOXO backpack that I bought from Marshall's 3-4 years ago for $5 for a Hilton Head trip. I have used that backpack for every trip we have made since then because it is easy to carry things in, it is small and it is stylish. I have decided though that it might be time to retire it if I can't clean it. It is starting to look soiled from all our vacations. I guess it is time for me to start shopping for a replacement at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. They carry great handbags, including designer ones such as Coach, Dooney and Bourke, Le Sport Sak, Liz, and the list goes on.

I should mention that we stayed in a place that had a washer and dryer, so I knew I could pack light. My family and I managed to stick to one suitcase per person. My kids brought their back packs for their mp3 players and other things that they were going to use while on the plane. I had my purse (back pack) and the rest fit in my suitcase.

I also learned over the years that packing extra jewelry is a waste of time and space. Also, if it is fine jewelry, you have to worry about how to store it safely in your hotel room. My solution to this problem is to stick to gold jewelry. Gold goes with almost anything. I wore a pair of 14k gold hoop earrings, a 14k gold 16" necklace and of course my wedding and engagement ring, which I never take off.

Create and Edit Websites with Open Source Software

I discovered open source software and portable apps about 3 years ago when I made it my mission to learn how to create websites. I had a limited budget, so I started with editing html and css by source code. In my opinion, this is the best way to start out because it forces you to learn the code, but once you know how to manipulate the codes, it is more efficient to use a software for editing existing web pages.

I started pricing web authoring software such as Dreamweaver and Frontpage and decided my budget could not handle it. That's when I started asking around and found out about free-open source software.

I started out using NVU and switched to Kompozer. They are very similar, but from what I understand Kompozer is NVU with fewer bugs. Both programs have a wysiwyg and the icons are similar to Microsoft Word, so there is some commonality between the programs, however, I am embarrassed to say I struggled a bit with the programs initially. Don't let this discourage you because these programs are capable of doing a lot. Have patience and you will figure it out over time. With a littler web surfing, you can find free tutorials on how to use the program. I found The Site Wizard web site offered some good information.

As I got better designing websites, I found that I needed a decent photo editor. Again, I didn't have the resources to buy Photoshop. It was and still is a little too pricey for my budget, but I eventually discovered Gimp an excellent photo editor. Gimp is another open-source software free to the public. Rumor has it that it mimics Photoshop. I am still learning how to use many of its features, but I am getting better with it. You can find a Gimp tutorial on their website.

There are also wonderful open source portable apps. I downloaded Firefox, Kompozer (a web authoring tool and Gimp). There is an office suite that can be downloaded too, plus many more that I have not had the opportunity to try out.

I don't have a lap top, so when I am visiting family members, I bring along my flash drive with my portable apps. I can update any website using Kompozer I can upload any file to my websites using Fireftp which is an add-on for Firefox, and I can view all my email securely because I view it through the Firefox program on my flash drive. I can also edit photos on the fly with my portable Gimp.

Isn't it wonderful that we have such gifted and generous programmers who spend their time creating amazing programs and offering it to the public for free?

I had been on a limited budget for a while and I did not have the disposable income to buy comparable computer programs for my computer. Having these resources available to me at no cost has been a life saver.

In return, I volunteer my web design skills to a non-profit, catholic school where my children attend and to a small, yoga studio whose resources are limited.

There are many ways that we can show our appreciation for the open-source software that is available to the public. We can give monetary donation to open source or buy some of their wonderful, creative products such as t-shirts, we can volunteer our programming services, or we can give back to our community by volunteering our skills.

Keep spreading the spirit of generosity and knowledge. We all benefit from it!!