Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Drink Water Before A Meal To Lose Weight: Fact Or Fiction?


Could one of the easiest ways to slash calories be as simple as drinking a big glass of water before we eat? Yes, according to a recent study by the University of Birmingham in the UK.

RELATED: 5 Tips To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Elta MD UV Daily Tinted Sunscreen Review

EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Sunscreen Review, EltaMD UV Tinted Sunscreen Review


EltaMD's UV Daily Tinted Sunscreen is, hands down, the best tinted moisturizer with sunscreen I have found. It has no scent, applies beautifully with no chalkiness at all and protects against the sun's UVA & UVB rays. That's huge. 

It also contains hyaluronic acid which is moisturizing while helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. EltaMD also offers a version that has no color, if you're looking for something to wear under makeup. Both versions come in SPF40 and SPF46.

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About A SkinPen Facial
Friday, December 4, 2015

Louis Vuitton Monogram Insolite Wallet Review

Louis Vuitton Insolite Wallet Review, Louis Vuitton Wallet, Louis Vuitton Wallet Review
Louis Vuitton Monogram Christmas Animation Insolite Wallet
Finding the right wallet is like finding the right partner in life: once you find a good one, don't let it go. Wallets are such a personal thing and it's hard to find one that suits your needs perfectly.

They're also a pain in the you-know-what to find. Once I find a wallet that suits my needs (pockets, pockets, pockets), I keep it for years.

RELATED: How I Buy Designer Purses For Less...And You Can, Too!
Tuesday, December 1, 2015

How To Do Eye Makeup For TV, Videos & Webinars

How To Do Makeup For TV, How To Do Makeup For YouTube, How To Do Makeup For Webinars,
Mark Starr Applying Eyeliner

After 15 years of working in TV news I thought I knew how to do my makeup. When I started working with the talented team of makeup artists at KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles, I learned that I knew nothing.

Find More Camera-Ready Makeup Essentials

While I was there I tried to soak up as much knowledge as I could. Our wonderful weekend makeup artist (and former Soul Train dancer) Mark Starr, let me shoot a few of our makeup sessions. In this video, he shows us how to apply eye makeup for TV.

If you work in local TV news, produce YouTube videos or webinars, this will add some polish to your overall look. Mastering Mark's tips takes work but if you practice you will get better at applying your makeup.

RELATED: How To Fix A Broken Powder Compact
RELATED: You NEED MAC's Spice Lip Pencil. Here's Why
RELATED: Learn More About The Wardrobe, Hair & Makeup Products It Takes To Get Camera-Ready
Wednesday, November 25, 2015

The $23 Dress

TV Anchor Dress, Meteorologist $23 dress, what tv anchors wear
The $23 dress in pink, blue, purple, green & red. 

Let's talk about that $23 dress meteorologists are wearing. Its clean lines, figure-hugging fit and bright colors make it the perfect dress for TV anchors, reporters and mets. The price can't be beat. The black on the side panels creates a slimming effect that is a female anchor's best friend.

That dress illustrates one of the biggest headaches professionals, primarily women, who make their livings on television have: finding affordable, clothing that looks good on-camera. It's harder than you could ever imagine.

Before you roll your eyes, read on.

RELATED: Learn From CBSLA Makeup Artist Mark Starr How To Do Eye Makeup For Television.
RELATED: On-Camera Wardrobe Tips For Women

TV Anchor Wardrobe, $23 dress, What TV Anchors Wear

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Thanksgiving Diet Tips

Thanksgiving Diet Tips, HOw To Enjoy Thanksgiving with blowing your diet.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday planned. We were in Paris last year for Thanksgiving (a few pics here). I have spent countless Thanksgivings covering Cowboys games (their spread is fabulous, btw). We'll be home this year spending it with the family. 

Thanksgiving tends to kick off the holiday eating season. If you're not careful, you can pack on a few pounds during the final six weeks of the year. To avoid doing that, here are a few diet strategies that can help you survive and enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner without wrecking your healthy eating plan.

RELATED: 5 Tips To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
Tuesday, November 17, 2015

How To Use A Foam Roller


Foam rollers are absolute gamechangers. They're fitness accessories that hurt so good. They help you exercise better, ease aches and boost your energy. With the right foam roller you can target a variety of pains. I use them primarily for my back and IT band.


Watch this video for three simple exercises I do almost every day. I own this foam roller and perform these exercises at night before I go to bed or at the gym.

RELATED: Click HERE to download my free guide The 10 Easiest Diet Tips: Simple Strategies To Help You Lose Weight & Maintain Your Weight Loss For Good.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Eye Mask Review


Those HD television cameras I am on every day pick up every crow's foot and wrinkle. And while it's almost impossible to erase those pesky lines without a visit to the dermatologist's office (and a needle) there are certain beauty products that claim to help.

RELATED: Learn how to do your eye makeup for TV, videos & webinars.

Shiseido's Pure 'Benefiance WrinkleResist24' Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask (that's a mouthful) is one of them. These retinol-infused sheets claim to reduce the appearance of wrinkles around your eyes after just one application. Shiseido also claims that with each use, skin will become "more refined" and that the skin around our eyes will "look more vibrant and smooth as silk".

BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: Shiseido is offering 20% its entire site with code FF2015. Click HERE for their Retinol Eye Mask for $50!

RELATED: 
Sunday, November 1, 2015

The Best Cosmeceutical Products

Cosmeceuticals, best anti-aging treatments,

While they're a relatively new category in comparison to iconic beauty products like something from Estée Lauder, cosmeceuticals have been on the beauty market for years. Essentially, they are a marriage of cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals designed to give you a bit more anti-aging bang for your buck like a retinol face serum.

RELATED: 10 Instant Beauty Treatments That Work
RELATED: GlyDerm Face Lotion Lite Review
Sunday, October 25, 2015

10 Instant Beauty Treatments That Work

Instant Beauty Treatments, Instant skincare treatments, how to treat undereye bags
Wearing Shiseido Retinol Masks

While there's something to be said for drinking a ton of water, getting enough sleep, exfoliating, moisturizing and doing a little preventative maintenance, sometimes you just need a quick fix. You know, something to plump your skin or tighten those undereye bags.

When I am getting ready to go on-air, I will slap on some eye patches if my eyes are a looking like Hefty bags.

Here are some instant quick fixes that can help you solve some of your biggest beauty problems.

Interested in something a little more involved but is a beauty gamechanger? Read my photofacial review, SkinPen facial review and DermaPlane facial review.
Friday, October 16, 2015

How To Fix A Broken Powder Compact

How To Fix A Broken Compact
I go through powder like a Kardashian through lip plumper. (No judgement!). I recently fell in love with Neutrogena Shine Control Face Powder. It's a wonderful translucent powder that's also a great drugstore beauty bargain. I use it throughout the night to control shine on my face before I go on air. I wear so much makeup that I typically don't need to add additional color. I just need to control the oil and shine and this absolutely does the trick.

I dropped my new compact, literally, the day after I bought it. Don't you hate that? While it is a beauty bargain, I didn't want to spend another $13 on a new compact when I had a brand new powder on my hands. I had heard it was possible to repair a broken compact and decided to give it a go. Had nothing to lose, right? Turns out, it's easier than you might think.

RELATED: Wardrobe tips for on-camera or media appearances.
Friday, October 2, 2015

Outfit Of The Week: Steal My $49 Dress

How to dress for TV appearances, what to wear on television, what news anchors wear
The Dress | The Watch | The Bracelet (actually a discounted gold version of it) | The Earrings | The Lipstick
At the risk of sounding like a narcissistic tool, I am often asked about the clothes I wear on-camera and the type of makeup we use (I could devote an entire blog to that alone).  So here goes: a weekly edit of an outfit I wore as well as makeup and haircare products we used with a few tips thrown in.
Thursday, October 1, 2015

25 NFL & NCAA Purse Policy Approved Bags

NFL Purse & Bag policy, NFL Purse Rule, SMU Purse Rule

Purse and bag policies at sporting events are here to stay. From NFL stadiums to colleges (Hello, SMU), restrictive purse policies limit the type and size of bag you can carry into a game. This also applies to all non-sporting events held at an NFL venue. Going to a concert at AT&T Stadium? That tiny purse policy applies. The PGA Tour also has a restrictive bag policy.

Officials says it's about safety. Sure, that plays into it but it also gets fans into the venue quicker and eliminates that bottleneck at entry gates.

RELATED: Visit the Purse Policy section on my blog. 
Thursday, September 24, 2015

Which Produce Is Best For Weight Loss

Fruit makes you fat, which produce is best for weight loss


Grandma was right, you need to eat your fruits and vegetables. When it comes to weight loss, though, starchy vegetables and stone fruits may not be the most effective allies for dropping pounds. Leafy and cruciferous veggies are the weight loss winners while berries and citrus fruits top the list in the fruit category.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

25 Great Bags For Work

Bags for work, best tote bags for work, Tory Burch Bags,
Gucci Swing Leather Tote | Kate Spade Lilly Avenue Carrigan Tote | TopShop Bucket Bag | GiGi New York Parker Satchel | Barrington Gifts St. Anne Tote

Are you constantly searching for the perfect bag for work? I am. It's a struggle to find one that is stylish yet functional and capable of holding all our crap: computer, iPhone, iPad, makeup, business cards, water and who-knows-what-else.
Thursday, September 10, 2015

How To Overcome Working Mom Guilt

Jordan with me in the Texas Rangers press box in 2013
I have had some conversations lately with mothers who are wallowing in the guilt of being a "working mom". They hate going back to work after maternity leave or are full of guilt every time they leave their child for the day while they're at the office.

All they think about is what they're missing: the kisses, the hugs and giggles. Moms, life is not a beautiful Instagram feed. There are drippy poops, melt downs and messes. As fabulous as being around your kids all day is, you need to look at the positives of being a working mom. There are many.
Sunday, September 6, 2015

Comfortable Heels For Work

Comfortable Heels for Work, How To Find Comfortable Heels for work


Besides "How tall are you?" (5'11) and "What's it like in a locker room?" (read THIS) by far the most common question I am asked is:
"How the heck do you walk in those heels?"

I am notorious for wearing high heels, despite my height. I have worn them for work for years: to ballparks, stadiums and on-set. I have worn them so long that walking around in them in second nature.

Having worked with athletes most of my life and hosted the Dallas Mavericks pre- and post-game shows for seven years, the extra height looks proportionate when I am interviewing 7-foot NBA players. Although, I have had a few pro athletes ask me to take off my shoes when I interview. (I'm saving those stories for the book...)

RELATED: Click HERE to shop the Cole Haan sale & score the fabulous Bethany Pump for less!
Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Photofacial Review: Everything You Need To Know About This Gamechanging Procedure

Photofacial review, photofacial before & after, photofacial cost, photofacial benefits
About five years ago my dermatologist told me that one of the best preventative measures I could incorporate into my anti-aging routine was to get photofacials.

Done. Sold. Where do I sign up?

High definition television cameras show every flaw, wrinkle and brown spot. Since then I have had about one photofacial per year. I could easily scale that to two or three per year but I just can't find the time. Without question, in terms of bang for your beauty buck, photofacials are worth it.

RELATED: 5 Content Ideas For Dermatologists & Aestheticians.

The result is gorgeous, plump and glowing skin. Photofacials help reduce fine lines but, for me, their biggest benefit is a smooth complexion. They reduce or even eliminate, in some cases, those brown spots caused by the sun. It can also help with acne scarring. I had terrible scars from the cystic acne I suffered from as a teenager. The scarring I had on my jawline is virtually gone.

Interested other beauty gamechangers? Read my SkinPen facial review, DermaPlane facial review find out about 10 instant beauty treatments that work.
Friday, July 31, 2015

Does Too Much Fruit Make You Fat?

Doe fruit make you fat, How much fruit is too much, is fruit fattening

I will never forget talking to a trainer in the late 90's who warned me of the dangers of fruit. Yes, fruit. He told me that while it was healthy, it was full of a simple sugar called fructose. He stressed I would never get as lean as I wanted to eating it.

This advice seemed counter-intuitive in regards to eating a healthful diet. Fruit is packed with nutrients, antioxidants and is full of fiber.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Little Dom's Monday Supper: An Awesome Dining Deal


Sticker shock in Los Angeles is as ubiquitous as Botox (no judgement....I'm a fan). From homes and gasoline to cocktails and parking, there a sunny SoCal surcharge on every day life.

As someone always looking for deal, I was thrilled to learn about Little Dom's Monday Supper. This weekly tradition at the popular Los Feliz Italian spot offers a three-course dinner for $15. You can also pick up a (full!) bottle of house red or white wine for $15 as well. It's one of the best dining deals I've come across since free sushi night Steel in Dallas.
Friday, July 10, 2015

Scenes From A Hike: Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House

Frank Lloyd Wright, Ennis House, Frank Lloyd Wright Homes Los Angeles

It's not every day you stumble across a Frank Lloyd Wright house while on a powerwalk. When you do, though, it's a magical moment and worthy of sharing. That's what so great about Los Angeles, you never what you might find.

I am working in LA this month, serving as a sportscaster for the legendary CBS duopoly KCBS/KCAL. Working most nights until at least 11pm, I spend my days getting to know the greater LA area which includes a fair amount of hiking in Griffith Park's trails or hoofing it in the hilly streets of Los Feliz. I am also a house nut, primarily obsessed with architecturally significant homes.

Plainly put: beautiful and interesting homes make my architecture pants go crazy. This city is a treasure trove for house lovers and today might have been a holy grail experience.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015

7 Ways To Burn Calories Without Hitting The Gym

7 ways to exercise without hitting the gym, 7 ways to exercise without thinking about it.

The warm summer months are perfect for sneaking in exercise without even trying. Take advantage of the outdoors, pools and playgrounds to burn some extra calories. The great thing is that moderate exercise is the best way to improve your fitness level and burn fat. Click HERE to learn more.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015

The 5-Day Fasting Diet

5-day Fasting Diet, Fasting Mimicking Diet

Do you hear that noise? It's the buzz surrounding a recent study which indicates reducing your calories for as few as five days a month can reduce risk factors for aging, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The nice bonus? Weight loss.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015

4 Amazing Summer Salads You Need To Try Now

Salad Recipes, Summer Salad Recipes, Watermelon Salad

Summer is my absolute favorite time of year, food-wise. The produce is delicious and the heat lends itself to eating it.

The warm weather is also motivation to keep us in shape. Why? Wearing less clothing in warmer weather is incredibly motivating. The easiest thing to do? Go for a simple 20-30 minute walk after dinner, three to four times a week. Do this in addition to your normal workout routine. That extra calorie burn will make a difference over the summer.
Monday, May 25, 2015

4 Simple Diet & Fitness Tips To Help You Get Ready For Summer

Diet & fitness tips, diet tips for summer, fitness tips for summer, stephanie hanson, innergy fitness


With Memorial Day behind us, summer has unofficially started. Pools are open which, in turn, means bathing suit season is here.

Are you ready? Me? Sorta.

Innergy Fitness owner, trainer and nutrition expert Stephanie Hanson recently shared a few secrets with me to help us feel better during the summer months. You know the routine: we're wearing tank tops, shorts and bathing suits. We want to feel good about doing that. Stephanie's tips can help. They don't require any crazy weight loss regime, diet pills or ridiculous exercise program. They're along the lines of the smart, simple strategies that I have been preaching for years.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015

How To Eat Healthy In Restaurants

How to eat healthy in restaurants, dine out eat well.

Most restaurant meals are absolute fat pills. You can eat an entire day's worth of calories in one sitting. Whether you dine out for work or leisure, there are a number of strategies that can help you survive eating in restaurants without blowing your diet.

Monday, May 11, 2015

How To Reduce Wrinkles With Ingestible Collagen: Glotrition REPLENISH Review

how to fight wrinkles, ingestible collagen, antiaging, skincare, glotrition replenish review

When it comes to beauty, what you put in your body is just as important as what you put on it. You can put all the anti-aging creams and potions on your skin you want but if your diet is crap, your skin will look like crap, too.

As we age our skin loses elasticity. Two 2014 studies by Skin Pharmacology and Physiology show that a daily regimen of collagen can improve skin's elasticity and improve eye wrinkles by around 20%. I'm all in for something that works.

Collagen is important because it maintains our skin's firmness and elasticity. In English: collagen keeps our skin tight and youthful-looking.
Sunday, May 10, 2015

Paris Travel Tips | VIDEO

paris travel tips, paris hotels, paris restaurants, pont alexander bridge

"Paris is always a good idea."

Audrey Hepburn said that memorable line in the movie Sabrina. It's the truth. 

It's the truth. From the heat of summer to the chill of winter, the French capital consistently offers history, culture, diversity, entertainment and plain old fun. We haven't even talked about the food.

Where should I stay? What museums are worth my time? What stores should I visit? What day trips should I plan? Where should I eat? 
Friday, May 1, 2015

What To Wear To A Golf Tournament


what to wear to a golf tournament, what to wear to a pga tournament.
Click on any item to get details on it! 

Golf season is here. The PGA Tour makes two stops in Dallas/Fort Worth in May with the Dean & Deluca Invitational May 26th-29th and the AT&T Byron Nelson May 19th-22nd. I'm thrilled to be moderating the PGA Tour's Executive Women's Day panels at both tournaments against this year.

I am constantly asked what to wear to a golf tournament. When it comes to dressing for these events, consider style and comfort. You will be walking a few miles in the sun. To that end, you need wear comfortable shoes and lots of sunscreen. Those are key factors to enjoying a day on the course.

RELATED: What to wear to the PGA Championship.
RELATED: Shoes to wear to a golf tournament.

Comfort does not mean you have to sacrifice your style. You can go dressy or super-casual and still look great by using the two looks you see here as inspiration.

Keep in mind PGA tournaments have specific rules on what you can bring onto a course, including purses and bags. Here's a list of the PGA Tour's prohibited and permitted items. Check out my purse policy page for more bags that fit within the PGA Tour AND NFL's purse policies.

I own this Barrington Gifts Crossbody! Perfect for any sporting event. Comes in thousands of team color combinations!

Barrington Gifts Stadium Crossbody is the perfect bag for golf tournaments, football games and any other sporting event. It fits perfectly within any purse policy. Click HERE to see my review of the bag. 
Thursday, April 23, 2015

What It's REALLY Like Being A Lady In The Locker Room


sports media, sports, lady in the locker room
You will usually be the only woman in the majority of your work photos! 

As graduation approaches, I am doing my tour of college and high school campuses speaking to sports broadcasting, sports management or sports marketing classes about careers in the sports industry. I love visiting with young professionals and hearing their questions.

RELATED: 5 Things You Need To Get Out Of Your Sports Media Internship

Inevitably, I am always asked about being a "woman" working in sports media. The questions are generally these two:
  • How do you handle the feeling of having to prove yourself working in a male-dominated business? 
  • How you handle being a woman in a guy's locker room? It's not just students who ask. I get this question. All. The. Time. 
I was asked one of these questions today.

Let's pull back the curtain and discuss what too many professors, teachers, mentors and hiring managers won't:

What It's REALLY Like Being A Lady In The Locker Room.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015

The Best Diet Advice You Will Ever Read

Simple Rules For Healthy Eating, Simple Diet Tips

I found a breath of fresh diet-advice air recently. It happened in the form of a New York Times article written by Aaron Carroll, a professor of pediatrics at Indiana State University School of Medicine titled "Simple Rules for Healthy Eating".

Carroll advocates the smart, simple approach to eating that helped me lose 50 pounds and keep it off for more than a decade. Here's the condensed version:
Sunday, April 12, 2015

The Story Behind Where Is Pidge?

Where Is Pidge?, Michelle Staubach Grimes, Roger Staubach
Click here to learn more about Where Is Pidge? 
Any parent understands the turn of events that happened right before I snapped this grainy photo. My three year-old was in toddler purgatory: tired and cranky yet too tired to settle down and go to bed. Jordan had one of those days in which she had been blowing and going since 8am: school, an after-school visit to the grandparents house (which is usually filled with too many sweets) and a late dinner.

I told her we were going to relax and read a book. She stopped her fussy/cranky/tired crying and picked up Where Is Pidge?the story of middle child Pidge Hoobler who feels lonely, somewhat overlooked and decides to run away but gets stuck in her family's laundry chute.

As soon as Jordan opened the book, she settled. She studied the first few pages and simply said, "Mommy, read this book."

Done. It was the calm after the storm.

Since then it has become a book we revisit three to four times a week. Out of the blue, Jordan will ask "Where is Pidge?", "Why was Pidge crying?" or even better "Pidge is happy?".

Ultimately Pidge realizes she's not forgotten, instead she is loved and appreciated by her family. A message that resonates not only with my daughter but with just about anyone.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015

How To Set Goals For Your Internship

how to set goals for your internship, intern's playbook, internship, internship confidential,

I have worked with too many interns who came into the experience without direction, objectives or focus. They didn't know what they wanted to get out of their internship. That, my friends, is a mistake.

Internships are about more than just getting college credit. They help you establish habits, learn tangible career skills in a contextual setting and create a network that can be a springboard for a successful career.
Sunday, March 22, 2015

Negative Calorie Foods: Fact or Fiction?

negative calorie foods list, negative calorie foods, low calorie foods

Are there really miracle foods that are negative in calories? In theory, yes. In reality, it's a bit more complicated.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015

How To Become A Sportscaster: Work In Sports Interview

How to be a sportscaster, how to become a sportscaster, WorkInSports.Com
Image via WorkInSports.com

I am often asked about becoming a sportscaster. From breaking into the industry to creating a demo tape, I receive hundreds of email a month from young professionals looking to enter the business as well as mid-career professionals wanting to purse their dream careers.

This interview I did with WorkInSports.com's Brian Clapp let's you inside the virtual locker room to share what a sportscaster's career narrative is really like. In short it's fun, exhilarating, exhausting, frustrating, rewarding and challenging. It's a lot of things, rolled into one. It's also a career that requires multiple talents and an open mind.

Read the entire piece. It answers a lot of questions you may have. Also read these stories:

You can also watch my Google Hangout in the box below.


Want More? 
I believe in the value of internships. Unfortunately, too many young professionals don't take advantage of that experience. I am putting the finishing touches on a guide that offers advice to help you (or your kid) do just that: maximize the internship experience. It features advice like this: "10 Mistakes To Avoid Making During Your Internship".

Want to be the first to know about the book launch AND cool internships, like these? Sign up for my internship newsletter. I'll send you career advice, amazing internships opportunities and details on my upcoming internship book.

Have a question about anything mentioned in this story? Leave a note in the comments section. Know someone who could use this? Please pass it along.



Wednesday, March 11, 2015

10 Healthy Foods That Can Cause Us To Gain Weight

healthy foods that make you fat, 10 healthy foods that make you fat

While certain foods are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and healthy fats they also contain carbs and calories. No matter how healthy, if you eat too much that can lead to weight gain.
Saturday, March 7, 2015

14 Things You Need To Know If You Want A Career In Sports Media

sports media, sports broadcasting, things you need to know about a career in sports media
Sometimes you WILL get handed a beer...on live TV
With graduation only a few months away, this is the time of year my inbox fills with requests from students (and parents of students) who want help, insight and guidance on landing a job or internship in sports media.


Truth be told, it's one of the most exciting, challenging and downright fun career paths anyone can choose. You're covering games. You're interviewing All-Stars. You're traveling around the country, many times the world, to attend sporting events. You're doing things stuck-in-their-cubicle 9-to-5ers only wish they could do. Indoor sky diving with the Dallas Cowboys? Flying on a billionaire's private jet to watch his favorite football team play? Touring NBA players' mansions? Done. Done. And done.  It's the coolest of cool jobs.

But it's not all jets, games and glam. A career in sports media requires more than just a passion for your favorite team, reading ESPN and trolling Twitter. It's work. Hard work. It also takes a fair amount of resilience because you will make mistakes, you will get criticized and you will get scooped on a story.

RELATED: 5 Things You Need To Get Out Of Your Sports Media Internship

I have learned a lot during my sports media career which started in 1994 as a media services intern with the Houston Rockets and included stops in Guam, Knoxville, my hometown, Dallas and most recently Los Angeles. From truths about myself and the nature of individuals considered icons to the rhythms of a season and how to pose a question after a terrible loss, sports media is very much a business about people and relationships. To that end, there are certain things you should consider if you want a career in this industry.

Here are 14 things you need to know 
if you want a career in sports media:

Friday, March 6, 2015

Nuxe RĂªve de Miel Lip Balm Review: A Gift From The Lip Balm Gods


I have spent a small fortune on good lip balm. No mas! I finally found a lip balm that hydrates and lasts: Nuxe RĂªve de Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm.

Made by the legendary French skincare company, (which is now available at Target!) this lip balm is a honey-based product that truly does moisturize. Even better? You don't have to continually reapply like you do with Carmex or other lip balms.

I bought this in Paris last November for about €12 or ($13.23 at the current exchange). It retails for $19 in the US but is worth it, IMO.

Get The Goods Featured In This Video



Thursday, March 5, 2015

Currently Crushing: Barrington Gifts Spring Collection


Barrington Gifts St. Anne Tote, Barrington Gifts
Barrington Gifts St. Anne Tote

I have a thing for Barrington Gifts. The Dallas-based company allows you to customize their bags, accessories and gifts so that your piece is a true reflection of your personal style.

Their Spring 2015 collection is on-trend yet timeless featuring a vibrant palette of colors and an updated selection of fun patterns.

The Best Paris Restaurants Right Now


This blog post has moved over to my new website, FabFrenchFinds.com. 
Monday, March 2, 2015

A Brief History Of Fad Diets

fad diets, history of fad diets, paleo diet
Image via Wellcome Trust
Perhaps it's because I have a tried a slew of fad diets (and failed) but I love diets. I enjoyed learning the history of them, the science behind them, the failure rate behind them. You get the idea. There's even a fun, new book by New York magazine writer Rebecca Harrington chronicling her adventures in celebrity dieting titled "I'll Have What She's Having, My Adventures In Celebrity Dieting". This book is heaven for a diet lover like me.

The History Of Fad Diets
The LA Times had a great feature this weekend on the history of fad diets, starting all the way back in 1825 when French gastronome Jean Brillat-Savarin introduced a low-carb regime called "The Physiology of Taste".

Since then fad diets have included eating all caribou and whale blubber (GAG), bananas and skim milk, food combining, the grapefruit diet and the Drinking Man's Diet (which is exactly what you think it is). They also include more popular ones like the Paleo Diet, the South Beach Diet and the Zone Diet.

The thing is that many of these so-called "fad diets" don't work because it's almost impossible to adopt these habits permanently. Think about it: can you eat only grapefruit forever? Or caribou? Can you go Paleo in perpetuity? Probably not.

You can do almost anything for a few days. That's why many of these fad diets take off initially. You drop a few pounds at the start and start feeling like a million bucks.

Then, reality sets in and you realize you can't eat only skim milk and bananas or diet bars or cabbage soup for the rest of your life. That's why "diets" don't work. 

If you read this blog, you know how I feel about dieting: eat well, mostly real food (produce and lean meats), get moving most days of the week and enjoy it. That's a recipe for success. As for dietary approaches, I love the Mediterranean philosophy which emphasizes plant-based food, replaces butter with healthy fats like olive oil, uses herbs and spices to flavor foods, limits red meat, advocated red wine and dark chocolate in moderation.

Your Fad Diet Experiments
Have you experimented with fad diets? I would love to learn about your crazy diet experiences, what worked and what didn't. Please share your diet disasters and success stories in the comments section. Don't worry. This is a judgement-free zone.

When I was fat, I tried the Zone & Atkins (hated them both).  It wasn't until I made permanent changes, like closing the kitchen after dinner, that I experienced real weight loss. Want to learn how I did it? Get my free guide "The 10 Easiest Diet Tips: Simple Secrets To Help You Lose Weight & Maintain Your Weight Loss For Good". It's yours when you sign up for the The Real Skinny, my weekly newsletter that features simple diet and fitness tips designed for busy people who live in the real world, not fantasy-diet-land.




Shop Diet Books

Monday, February 23, 2015

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Rangers Spring Training But Are Too Afraid To Ask

texas rangers spring training, rangers spring training 2015, texas rangers

Do you have a trip planned to Surprise, AZ for Rangers Spring Training? Wondering about the Rangers schedule? How to meet players? Where to stay, eat and play?

So many questions! I got your answers.

Check out "Everything You Wanted To Know About Rangers Spring Training But Were Too Afraid To Ask Hangout".

I cover anything and everything Rangers Spring Training.

Press PLAY to watch the Hangout HERE

How To Watch The Hangout
There two ways to watch the hangout:
  1. Click THIS link to watch on YouTube. 
  2. Simply watch from the video box in the blog post.
Click HERE to download my Rangers Spring Training cheat sheet featured in the video.

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Sunday, February 22, 2015

Is Our Breakfast Cereal Is Making Us Fat? Maybe.

breakfast cereal makes you fat, does breakfast cereal make you fat

There are few things I love more than a huge bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Seriously. The cinnamon-y sugar goodness on top of those little squares is better than, well...you know...a lot of things.

The thing is, a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch (or just about any other cereal, for that matter) can do more diet damage than good.
Here are 3 reasons why cereal makes us fat:
  1. 1. We don't stick to one serving size. Who does? I don't. A serving of Cinnamon Toast Crunch is only 3/4 of a cup. Really? NO ONE eats only 3/4 of a cup. It's more like two cups. That's serious damage: 325 empty calories and 22 (!) grams of sugar, without even adding the milk. Try eating your cereal with a teaspoon, instead of a tablespoon and out of a coffee cup instead of a bowl to trick your mind you're eating more. (Tweet this).
  2. 2. We add too much dried fruit and other crap. Craisins, raisins, dried apricots and the like can all be fat pills. They have barely any water which means they're dense in calories. While nuts are great, don't go too far. Add a few, not a handful. Use fresh fruit to get the benefit of more fiber and water content to help fill you up. Try higher-fiber and lower calorie berries. Half a cup of raspberries, for example, have 4 grams of fiber. 
  3. 3. We eat kids cereal. There's a reason I don't keep Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the house: I would eat the whole box. These children's cereals provide a ton of sugar but little nutritional value. Kinda scary, actually. Look for cereals with fewer than 5 grams of sugar. Or make this oatmeal with peanut butter, apples and cinnamon. Delicious. 
Why I Gave Up Breakfast Cereal 
I gave up breakfast cereal about 15 years ago. Not coincidentally, I believe, I lost weight. I have no "off button" when it comes to breakfast cereal. I can't stop eating it, that's why I rarely eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Even when I'm trying to be "healthy" and have something like Fiber 1 or Kashi Go Lean, I usually end up eating two bowls of it and, you know what, I'm hungry a few hours later. Cereal is not a satiating food. In my opinion, it's a fat pill (Tweet this).

When you're eating breakfast, get some protein in the mix, whether it's eggs, whey protein powder, nut butter, low-sugar/high-protein yogurt or lean meat. Protein takes longer to digest than carbohydrates and keeps you full longer. 

I love two scrambled eggs with salsa and spinach with a side of berries or a green smoothie with whey protein powder (make it with two handfuls of spinach or kale, half a banana and whatever berries you or other fruit you have on hand). When all else fails, I'll grab a few hard boiled eggs (boil a half dozen of them at the beginning of the week).  If you can't give up your cereal, here are some low-sugar cereal options.

Do you like cereal or are you like me and try to keep out of the house? I'd love to know what your favorite breakfast is. Let me know in the comments section. 

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Friday, February 20, 2015

More Coffee & Eggs, Please! The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Explained

2015 Dietary Guidelines, Eggs are good for me, is coffee good for me
Eggs and coffee can be part of a healthy diet. Whoo-Hoo!
Coffee and eggs are hip. In a big, fat healthy way.

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services assemble experts every five years to study and recommend dietary guidelines. Why? Because it's a dynamic thing. Scientists and experts are continually studying and learning new data. New dietary guidelines will be released at the end of 2015 but preliminary recommendations were released on Thursday.

Among the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's recommendations:
  • Eggs Are Ok - experts say that dietary cholesterol is "not considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption". In English - don't be so worried about the cholesterol in egg yolks or shrimp, for that matter. 
  • Coffee Is Cool - between 3-5 cups of coffee per day can be a part of a healthy diet and can actually reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Don't add extra calories with tons of milk, cream or sugar. Out on coffee? Drink green tea. 
  • Watch Added Sugar - added sugar should be no more than 200 calories a day. Average Americans are getting about 268 calories from added sugar right now. These are completely empty calories.
  • While You're At It, Watch The Salt - stay under 2300 milligrams per day. This can add up quickly. 
  • Eat A Plant-Based Diet - duh. We know we need to do this. 

Read the full 571-page 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report HERE.

So much of what they are promoting is good, old-fashioned common sense: eat more produce and lean protein, enjoy saturated fats and sugar in moderation. The news on cholesterol in eggs is a reversal of what the government told us for years.

Sounds A Bit Like The Mediterranean Diet, Doesn't It? 
Their recommendations sound strikingly similar to the principles that make up the Mediterranean Diet which focuses on produce, lean protein (fish primarily), nuts, olive oil, wine and chocolate. Learn more about the Mediterranean approach to eating (and why it's my favorite) HERE.

Want Smart, Simple Diet Tips?
diet tips, diet secrets, simple diet tips, simple diet secrets, easy weight loss
Get my free guide HERE.
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As always, take all this advice to heart but check with a trusted medical professional if you plan on making significant dietary changes.

Image via Justin Leibow