The Perfect Work Bag for Women

Is almost impossible to find!

I know because I've searched for decades.  Only recently have I found some quality options.  I bring this up because the Wall Street Journal writes about the conundrum working women face when schlepping around their work items, along with their personal stuff in a solid bag that is functional yet stylish.

The woman profiled, Silicon Valley executive Kim DeCarlis, seems quite the practical professional carrying a medicine kit, eye mask and ear plugs in her surprisingly fun Johnston & Murphy computer bag.

Gucci Soho Shoulder Bag aka the Kitchen Sink Bag

I jaunt across North Texas from sports facilities to my story shoots to Mother's Day Out carpool lines.  I have a bag that goes everywhere and carries everything: my Gucci Soho Shoulder Bag.

Gucci Soho Metallic Leather Shoulder Bag

It comes in a variety of colors.  The metallic color is chic and versatile, too. I call it a Kitchen Sink Bag because it would truly hold that and more while still being stylish enough to take someplace fun and not scream "WORKING MOTHER WITH A SIPPY CUP IN BAG!"  Candidly, I think if it came between the husband and the bag, the bag would win.

Sophie Hulme Leather Tote

I am also in love with the Sophie Hulme Leather Tote.  It's professional, structured and holds my iPad, notebooks, cell phone makeup and jumbo bottle of hairspray.  I get more compliments on this bag than any I have ever carried.  Both men and women comment on it.  It also comes in tan and burgundy.  Just gorgeous.

Quality Work Bags Under $400
Both of those purses are investments but I will use them for years to come.  Here are some stylish options for under $400.  Still some major bucks, yes, but for something you will use daily, this is money well-spent.

Michael Kors Hamilton North South Tote, $358

Coach Madison East/West Leather Tote, $298

Lauren Ralph Lauren Tote, $268

Get These Fabulous Work Bags

A Paris Refresher for Traveling with a Baby

The Eiffel Tower from Les Ombres restaurant on top of the Musee du Quai Branly

Ah, the sport of travel.  Perhaps my favorite sport of all time.  I don't golf, play tennis or meet friends for bridge.  I save my time and money for traveling.  Nothing refreshes my soul or or energizes my spirit like getting the heck out of Dallas.  We're heading to Paris one week from today.  We're taking Jordan (a challenge itself) but I am looking forward to spending full days with her, something I never get to do in Texas while working.

While I'm good about assimilating into the local practices whenever I travel, I revisited my observations from my last trip to Paris in the summer of 2010.  I learned a valuable lesson from a bartender, that has really stuck with me, in town or out of it.

Harry's American Bar

My crash course in French culture came to life in, of all places, Harry's American Bar.  Cliche spot to drink, I know, but we stumbled across it and were thirsty.  It was dead empty save for the bartender, a Frenchmen named Gerard, and a British man who now lives in Paris.  We gave our customary "Bonjour" to both men and went to the bar.  We waited for Gerard, who was sharing a glass of champagne with the expat Brit, to come to us at the bar to ask for our order.  We ordered our champagne and thanked him. 

A couple of glasses later, the expat Brit left for his family's Sunday dinner and Gerard was deep in conversation with us.  About this time, an American couple walks in wearing jeans, tennis shoes and, yes, dual fanny bags worn tightly around their waists.  Already fitting the stereotype the gentleman barks "two Bloody Mary's!".

"You can always tell the Americans," Gerard whispers to me.  "They never say hello, please or thank you.

A great, yet basic lesson: manners!  Politeness is something every grandmother tells us to practice, yet it's forgotten in our harried world.  While graciousness and manners should be exhibited daily, traveling avec l'enfant is the absolute perfect time to be extra diligent about being polite, particularly when she's screaming.

Here are a few photos I stumbled across from our last hop across the pond.  They can occasionally cure my travel bug.

If you have any fabulous new suggestions, please share!

Arc de Triomphe

Monks at the Louvre

Jean-Michel Othoniel's Metro Station Kiosque des Noctambules (kiosk of the night-walkers)

I love their street signs

The Cell Phone Diet. Really? Really. Sorta.

Ok, when I saw the headline "How the 'Cell Phone Diet' Works" my eyes immediately rolled and acquiesced to the full idiocy that seems to be invading the weight loss world.

But once I got past the headline, I realized, it's not that ridiculous.  Not so much the "diet" part but the essence of making your smartphone work for you to help you accomplish certain things.  And, at the end of the day, your cell can help you shed some pounds.

Follow me here:

Psychotherapist and weight loss expert William Anderson is touting his book, The Anderson Method - The Secret to Permanent Weight Loss and recently offered some advice on the Huffington Post.  The book title itself is a bit eye roll inducing.  Want to know the weight loss secret: move more, eat less crap and more of the good stuff.  I digress.  His clients are incorporating their phones into their broader plan of attack to get lean.

• He has clients make their ringtones and other alerts motivate them to stay on the track.  The theme from Rocky works for one lady.  Ok, I'm all for whatever works. 
• Use a picture of yourself at your target weight or some other inspirational photo as your wallpaper or screensaver.  I've done this.  I've used not a pic of myself but something that motivated me as a screensaver.  When trying to lose weight in the past, I have put Post-It notes of my target weight on my mirror.  Just a subtle, almost subliminal reminder. 
• Download a calorie counting app onto your phone.  I've raved about The Daily Plate, my personal favorite diet log app.  This is a smart move.  Studies routinely show that logging your caloric intake is an effective weight loss tool.  I would also suggest logging your exercise, too.  It's a great way to track your progress. 

Here's another suggestion: set motivational reminders as appointments or tasks.  This might sound a tad Tony Robbins-esque (talk about eye-roll, ugh) but I have a 10am daily reminder of things I want to accomplish.  It can be as simple as working on my financial and professional goals or little notes to myself to serve as motivation.  Kind of corny, I know.  But it's a gentle nudge in the right direction.

If you need one to get you going on the exercise path, try this one I fully embrace:

“To keep the body in good health is a duty; otherwise we shall not be able to keep our minds strong and clear.” -Buddha 

In Our Time-Crunched World, What Counts as Exercise?

A simple walk?  Dancing with your little one?  Cartwheels on the lawn?

Yes to all of the above!

I had the "what counts as exercise" discussion with a time-starved mother the other day.  She lamented the fact she didn't have to exercise and she was desperately looking to drop the fat that she couldn't lose almost 18 months after giving birth.  She was shocked that I work out at least five days a week, work full time and have an 11-month old at home.  I've said time and again I exercise in place of going to therapy because nothing makes me feel better.  I'm not spending hours at the gym.  It's 30 minutes to an hour tops, many times just a quick half-hour.

Much of her issue has to do with diet but she feels as if she doesn't have enough time to devote a simple 30 minutes a day to some form of exercise, which in turn, means herself.

I had to cry BS.  Of course she does.  We make time for what we prioritize and, while she has a full schedule, she can definitely carve out a block to focus on her health.  The Department of Health and Human Services suggests 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, as well as strength training twice a week.

150 minutes equates to 30 minutes five times a week.  Anyone can do that without a gym.  Go a little more intense to shorten the time.  Here are some examples of moderate activity:

• A brisk walk, kick it up a notch by pushing that kid in a stroller.  Try walking briskly up some hills.
• Dancing with your kids.  Ever try to do the Chicken Dance for 30 minutes?  Yeah, killer workout.  Seriously.
• When was the last time you played on a playground or took a ride in a swing?  That counts, too.
• Mowing the lawn, cleaning the house.

For more vigorous options try a combination of running, jumping rope and jumping jacks.  You can also incorporate exercise apps.  I recently professed my love for the Nike Training Club app and finally did an advanced workout without feeling the need to puke.  I also use Pocket Yoga HD and Air Boxing.  Nike Training Club is free while the other two apps cost $1.99 each, I believe.  I also have pilates workouts from ExerciseTV, which is now available on Hulu, on my IPad that I use all the time. 

If you're just looking to start toning and get a bit stronger, push-ups, squats and dips are the perfect way to start.  Spend some time stretching.  Flexibility, in my opinion, is the fountain of youth.

One crazy tip: do 10-20 squats every time you get up to use the restroom at work or home.  You'll get the blood pumping.  I do it in-studio sometimes in breaks during the hour-long Fan Sports Show on TXA21.  The floor crew giggles but the squats are an instant energy boost.

In my experience, simply getting the blood going, experiencing the fresh air and noticing your clothes fitting a bit looser are motivation to move more.  No matter how busy you are or how much the kids are driving you crazy, getting those vital 30 minutes of "me-time" will reap benefits in all areas of your life.

Fabulous Boutique Hotels in Texas

As much as I love my hometown, I've always lamented that those of us in Dallas and across North Texas aren't so geographically desirable.  Sure, we're a three-hour flight from either coast but if we want a quickie weekend getaway, there aren't a lot of awesome options. 

Think about it: LA has Montecito/Santa Barbara 90 minutes north on the 101, New York has the Hamptons, Phoenix is two and a half hours from skiing in Flagstaff.  You get the idea.

What do we landlocked North Texans have?  Cedar Creek Lake.  Possum Kingdom.  Eh, I guess.  Personally, I'm not a lake person.  In fact, I've taken to relaxing and insulating at hotels for mini-getaways.  I'll do a weekend at the Ritz-Carlton with a spa treatment, some pool time and a stack of magazines.  It's decently refreshing.

But what about really getting out of town to decompress?  Taking advantage of new experiences in-state?  It's easy to fall into that "let's go to the lake this weekend" rut.  Close to DFW would be great, but hardly anything in Texas is close.  

November's issue of Texas Monthly offers inspiration for great Texas travel in The Wanderer :: Where To Stay Now 2012 // The Ten Best New (Or Improved!) Texas Hotels.  I love a good hotel and this has a list of interesting new spots as well as some familiar ones that have gotten a facelift.  How fun was this assignment?

Here are some of the suggestions:

• Hotel Zaza, Houston - I've stayed here a few times.  Zaza is pet-friendly and in a wonderful museum district location, directly across the street from the Museum of Fine Arts outstanding sculpture garden.
• Hotel Galvez, Galveston - this is my go-to Galveston spot. It truly evokes turn of the century glamour.  It's gone through a much-needed renovation.
• Rancho Loma Restaurant + Rest, Talpa - fabulous-sounding modernist outpost near Abilene.  This sounds like a great place to digitally detox.  Honestly, I'd never even heard of Talpa.  It's 200 miles west of Dallas, just north of Brownwood.
• The Inn at Dos Brisas, Washington - I've been dying to try this luxury resort that offers perhaps one of the most luxurious Texas escapes with an indulgent culinary focus. It's expensive, both financially and calorically, with rooms starting at $665 per night during high season. 

The complete list has a more options in Marfa, Austin, San Antonio and also features Dallas' Joule Hotel.

Courtesy: Gage Hotel

I would add the Gage Hotel in Marathon.  It's a heck of a haul from DFW but is a great rustic resort near Big Bend National Park.  It's a Vaquero-style oasis in the middle of nowhere but a decent base if you're looking for a higher-end retreat while hiking Big Bend.

The Indian Lodge in Davis Mountain State Park is a unique option built with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps.  The adobe buildings are a gorgeous contrast to the west Texas skyline.  The rooms feature the most beautiful handmade wood furnishings.  It's a really cool place.

Courtesy: Indian Lodge at Davis Mountain State Park

All of these embrace that Texas lifestyle I would love to have: one that travels the expansive state and takes advantage of the diverse cultures and topography it offers.  Unfortunately, real life gets in the way.

Sleep - The Solution for Weight Loss and Overall Health

Remember when an all-nighter used to mean a wild night of partying?  Now that I'm a mom, an all-nighter refers to Jordan sleeping through the night.  Fortunately, she's been a solid 12-hour a night sleeper since she was about six weeks old.  Any parent knows a good night's sleep is important and it continues to prove to be vital to overall health.

Study after study cites the importance of sleep in weight loss.  The sleep sweet spot seems to be between seven and nine hours a night.  A new study publish Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that not getting enough sleep seriously affects metabolism by damaging the body's cells and causing insulin resistance which is a precursor to diabetes.  This disease runs rampant in my family.  I've seen it's devastation firsthand and it's beyond ugly.

The Best Green Smoothie Recipe Ever

The amazing green smoothie recipe keeps getting better.

It's a perfect "kitchen sink" recipe because you throw whatever you have on hand in the blender for a fabulous breakfast, snack or quick lunch when paired with a few nuts or some string cheese.

The double bonus: your kids will love it.  My daughter, Jordan, has a spinach smoothie almost every day at breakfast.

My original green smoothie recipe  featured berries, bananas and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk.  Easy, delicious and only about 220 calories.

Add two handfuls of spinach to make the smoothie a nutritional game changer.  It packs a powerful antioxidant punch with few additional calories.  The crazy thing is you can't even taste the spinach.

I've started added frozen kale to the mix, too.  It offers the amazing nutritional green boost while thickening the consistency.  The kale does add more of a "green" flavor, though but it's not overwhelming.

Here's the basic base recipe:

• Eight ounces almond milk (again, I love Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla)
• One big handful of berries
• One banana
• Two handfuls of spinach
• Optional: chia seed or flax seeds

Another view

The finished product

You can use any fruit combination with a few greens.  Pictured below is another version with the Almond Breeze, half a mango, half a banana, a few strawberries and two handfuls of frozen kale.  Delicious!

Mango Kale Smoothie

These are so good that they can be served as a frozen dessert treat.  Just use less milk and add more frozen ingredients for a thicker, soft-serve consistency.

*Almond milk is not safe for those with nut allergies and should not be used as a substitute for infant formula or breast milk.

What Says 'Dallas' to You?

The New York Times recently published a great series offering "The History of New York in 50 Objects" inspired by the BBC's radio series "A History of the World in 100 Objects."  The idea was to feature tangible things that capture the essence and history of a city.  New York items such as the ubiquitous MetroCard, the AIDS button, the Greek coffee cup and a bagel all immediately come to mind.

New Orleans Water Meter

New Orleans has things like the fabulous water meter lids.  Las Vegas has casino tokens.  Chicago has pizza.  You get the idea.

What about Dallas?  What captures the essence of our town?

Reunion Tower

Reunion Tower?  That's a building.  Pegasus?  The new Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge?  Sure, they come to mind but they don't quite fit the bill.

A large can of hair spray?  A Neiman Marcus credit card?  Big diamonds?  A Mambo Taxi?  Lee Harvey Oswald's bullet?   

Those pop into my head immediately.  But I struggle to think of something so iconic that truly screams DALLAS.  Can you?

Is it because our city has a branding problem?  Does Dallas have an identity?  You can say it's one of commerce.   Dallas is a relatively friendly environment in which to do business.  I say this coming from a long line of self-made entrepreneurs.  My grandfather was an early real estate developer in  Oak Cliff.  My stepfather had a gallery in Caruth Plaza for years.  My mother still has her boutique residential real estate firm headquartered in Lakewood.  My biological father started and sold an oil and natural gas company in the 70's before the big 1980's Dallas payday that had everyone building ranches in downtown Dallas or buying diamonds by the ton.  You can make a lot of things happen in this town.

But can you name something, a simple tangible object that says "Dallas"?  If you could tell the story of this city through items that represent it, what would be on the list?  A State Fair of Texas food coupon?  A Tolltag?  Help me.

How to Get Great Arms With Just A Few Moves

Staying in shape not only improves your appearance but also helps you keep up with the kid.  Who knew!

We all did. 

Perhaps I didn't know just HOW important staying strong for a little one was.  From picking her up and putting her down to leaping up from a sitting position to chase her, I've learned the hard way that one must be physically ready to handle a kid.  My arms were sore the first few weeks I had Jordan because I wasn't used to carrying a child in so many different positions.  I've also dealt with a sore back because I wasn't ready for all the lifting associated with moving her around the house.  Instead of complaining about it, I'm proactive in my exercise routine to combat any muscular weaknesses.

But enough preaching.  Onto specifics.  A Facebook friend asked me to share my arm workout after seeing this recent picture.

My arms are not as "cut" as they could be.  I tend to carry fat just below my rear deltoids and above my triceps.  I'm benefiting from a good pose here (and not benefiting from a bad shirt that makes me look pregnant).  Regardless, my arms are pretty strong after a lifetime of lifting weights, practicing yoga, taking pilates and riding horses (an excellent full-body toner).  If I was more diligent with my diet, I would have that true "cut" look you see so many really lean women possess.

It Was Only a Matter of Time: The Starbucks Diet

Jared Fogle dropped 245 pounds eating Subway sandwiches in the 90's.  Some random chick lost weight eating only Taco Bell drive thru fare.  Now a 68-year old Virginia librarian claims she has lost 85 pounds over the past two years getting her meals from Starbucks.

Here is a sample of Christine Hall's daily diet.  

She usually starts the day with oatmeal and a black coffee (140 calories)  while her lunch and dinners consists of either a bistro box - a selection of cheese, bread and meats - or a panini which  total around 220-460 calories.

So Too Much Soda Can Make You Fat...Shocking!

Shocker.  Consuming too much of anything can add extra heft to your body.  The New York Board of Health is expected to approve Mayor Michael Bloomberg's ban on the sale of large sugary drinks in restaurants, stadiums and movie theaters tomorrow.  In theory, it is supposed to help fight the obesity epidemic spreading like warm butter on toast across the country.  People will still be able to get their sugary soda fix.  The plan has flaws.

I think this is ridiculous not so much because it infringes on residents' civil liberties, which you could argue it does, but because it takes away the personal responsibility factor in controlling your health.

I was 50 pounds overweight at one point because I drank Mountain Dew and consumed M&M's like they were going out of style.  No one forced me to eat copious amounts of that junk.  I wasn't fat because it was sold or advertised on television.  I was fat because I chose to eat too much of it.  I promise that when you take personal responsibility for your choices and health, your life will change for the better. 

I digress.

Healthier Options for Your Cowboys/Giants Noshing Pleasure

For some, you know who you are, the best part of tonight's Cowboys/Giants season opener is the festivities surrounding the game.  I'm not talking the "Glory Hole" vs the "Beat the Giants ass!" smack.  I'm talking about the revelry: the parties, the food and cocktails.

Unfortunately, one snack-filled night of football can be a diet killer.  I watch games for a living.  The mindless munching can wreck havoc on your body and leave you bloated, backed up and regretting what you ate.  The good thing is there are some great alternatives and ways you can enjoy all those wonderful snacks without consuming a day's worth of calories, fat, sodium and sugar.

Here are few tips for your football party pleasure:

Cut the Cheese with Veggies

Have your favorite queso but just a tablespoon or two.  Instead of chips, dip some broccoli and cauliflower in the queso.  It's outstanding.  The vegetables provide the crunch that chips would while satiating your cheese fix.

Salsa Salsa Salsa
Not salsa of the Victor Cruz touchdown celebration variety but of the chunky condiment kind.  Salsa is the perfect choice for almost everything.  I use it as a salad dressing, a topping for baked potatoes, a dip for vegetables.  Use a low sodium, all natural version.  There are a ton from which to choose.  Serve the salsa with baked tortilla chips, vegetables, pretzels, whatever you like.  

I Lived on Guam for Six Months and Lived to Tell About It....Barely

"Hafa Adai, Guam!" 

That was how I started my sportscasts at 6pm and 10pm at KUAM Island News for six months in 1996 as the Sports Director of the tiny NBC affiliate.  It's the typical greeting for Guam residents and natives, called Chamorros.

When I tell people that my first, full-time on-air job right out of college was on the U.S. territory located below Asia and above Australia there is always an immediate double take followed by questions.

RELATED: 14 Things You Need to Know If You Want to be a Sportscaster

Sitting at Your Job All Day Will Kill You. Tips to Fight Back

There are few things I hate more than sitting at a desk all day.  Report after report after report reinforces that it will kill you.

Sitting stops the electrical activity in your muscles the moment you put your booty in the chair.  If you sit six or more hours, you're at a greater risk of dying 15 years earlier than someone who sits less.  The decreased muscle activity results in a drop in your metabolism, resulting in smaller caloric burn.  In turn, enzymes that break down fat decrease as does the body's ability to control blood sugar levels.

Say you exercise.  Sorry.  That doesn't make much of a difference.  

When I'm anchoring shows for my day job, I spend a solid 7-8 hours in a chair, in front of a computer working on scripts and researching stories.  I feel the effects: sore hips, tight back, ankles and feet that fall asleep.  So I've developed a few tactics to combat the terrible effects:

-Squat while surfing the web. It might sound and look silly but squat for a minute or two at various intervals throughout the day and you will feel a burn, the good kind.
-Stand while you are on the phone.  Again: standing better than sitting.
-Take a walk break by getting some water, walking to the restroom on a different floor, talk to someone in person versus phone or email.  You get the idea.
-Stretch: just a simple cat/cow pose or pike stretch can do wonders.
-Stand, take a deep breath and arch your back, almost a full back bend with your arms raised over your head.  This is a truly invigorating move that gets blood flowing.

A Heck of a Shopping Haul.....At a Hotel?

Trina Turk Cover-Up I bought at the Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey

You can score fabulous finds at hotels.  Really.  The Wall Street Journal explores the rise of niche luxury hotel boutiques in Thursday's edition.

"The traditional hotel gift shop is getting an overhaul. Upscale properties hope to turn them into places where guests, and even locals, will want to linger and spend money—day after day."

The thing is, you don't have to spend a ton of cash.  Sure, there are some hotel boutiques that stock items that cost a fortune but many will discount their goods in effort to move them.

Good Juice Doesn't Have to Cost a Fortune

I love great hooch more than the next person.  I will spend triple digits on a quality bottle of wine if it's part of an experience that my friends and I will cherish for years to come.

Praying this has been stored properly!

But even more than great pricey bottle, I love a good wine value.  Eric Asimov has a great feature in Thursday's New York Times profiling what he considers "12 Values in American Wines". 

Included on the list are two of my favorites:

Qupé Santa Barbara County Marsanne 2011, $20

Bob Lindquist is one of the unsung heroes of California wine, and his Qupé label is consistently overlooked, possibly because he makes wines of little-known Rhône grapes like marsanne. This is actually a blend of two Rhône grapes, 79 percent marsanne and 21 percent roussanne. Pleasantly weighty and harmonious with persistent floral, nutlike flavors. 

Heitz Napa Valley Grignolino 2009, $20

Grignolino? From Napa Valley? While other producers have converted their Napa vineyards of esoteric grapes into more lucrative cabernet sauvignon, Heitz has held out and continues to make this ruby-colored red, bone dry with dark, spicy flavors and a refreshing bitterness.

Both wonderful bottles and perfect hostess gifts that will never disappoint.

A 2014 Cowboys Training Camp Travel Guide

Jordan at Training Camp, 2013

On the fence about about visiting the Cowboys in Oxnard for training camp? Get off it and go.

It's a great opportunity to watch the Cowboys practice, something you can't do during the regular season.  You might also be lucky enough to snag autographs as players willingly sign for fans once practice ends.  Fair warning: the afternoon practices are packed and there is a fair amount of jostling for space to get certain signatures.

The Cowboys opening press conference is 5pm on Wednesday. Here is the full training camp schedule. You can still get relatively affordable August airfare to Los Angeles on Virgin, Southwest or American.

Cowboys RB Demarco Murray has looked strong during #TrainingCamp. #Oxnard #NFL pic.twitter.com/iP9eXmW626
— Joe Buttitta (@KEYTNC3Joe) August 12, 2013

Visit Ventura
Here's the thing: Oxnard, as a city itself, isn't that great.  It's like any other American suburb, granted with the Pacific Ocean hugging its edge and strawberry fields rolling along the interstate.   Lodging options are basically limited to the Marriott Courtyard and the Residence Inn where the Cowboys practice.  Getting rooms at the latter are nearly impossible during camp.

If you can, stay in Ventura.  There is a nice Marriott with beach access, a gorgeous running trail along the beach and, of course, the legendary Ventura County Fair.  Downtown Ventura is darling with eclectic shopping and decent dining.   Here are some restaurant where I have spent my hard-earned per diems in the past:

• Fuji Sushi Ventura - great sushi and Japanese food.
• Watermark on Main - upscale dining, great bar.  
• Nature's Grill - wonderful healthy options, my go-to spot.
• Winchester's Grill & Saloon - incredibly popular with the DFW media contingency.

Ventura Pier/Image Via City-Data.com

Try Montecito & Santa Barbara
Again, Ventura is lovely but if you're up for a GREAT side trip, head 35 miles north on the 101 to visit Montecito, perhaps my favorite city in the U.S.  

I have been going to Cowboys camp in Oxnard since the team held it's inaugural camp there in 2001. By some grace of God, and courtesy of well-connected friends, I've been visiting Santa Barbara and Montecito, the area that some call the American Riviera, since I was child.

My family shows Arabian horses.  We have participated in and attended horse shows at Santa Barbara's world famous Earl Warren Showgrounds for more than 30 years.  I try to get there at least once a summer and the experience never disappoints. July 30th-August 4th is Santa Barbara's legendary Old Spanish Days. The celebration is definitely worth visiting if you'll be in the area.

I prefer to stay in Montecito, the cozier, albeit wealthier and more exclusive town just south of Santa Barbara.  Montecito is home to race car legend Andy Granatelli, Oprah Winfrey and a slew of other multi-millionaire celebrities.  Montecito is separated into two villages: the lower, on Coast Village Road, and the labyrinth-like upper. 

Image Via Montecito Inn

The lower village is one long street right off the 101.  There you will find the little hotel I always enjoying visiting, the Montecito Inn, which is quite reasonable.  Once you are there and plan on staying in Montecito, you really don't need a car.  The hotel will give you beach cruisers to explore the area.  It is next door to the town's hottest spot, Lucky's steakhouse, owned by the founder of Lucky Brand jeans. On any given night, you will find Carol Burnett, Kevin Costner, and, during Cowboys camp, members of the Jones family.

Other great spots include Cava, a spanish tapas joint as well as the bar and restaurant scene at the Four Seasons Biltmore, located right across from the beach.  The sunset views are glorious.  If you stay at the Four Seasons or happen to be a member of a reciprocal club, you can gain access to the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana. 

Courtesy Coral Casino

The Coral Casino was a tony exclusive club that opened in 1937 before falling into disrepair.  Beanie Babies founder-turned-hotel-entrepreneur Ty Warner has remodeled and rebranded it as an exclusive beach club for the west coast elite.  It is delicious.  Think beach club, California chic with an outstanding saltwater pool and first-class fitness center.

Montecito estate

The best part of the upper village is the estates.  The mansions and villas are breathtakingly stunning.  Take a drive through the hills and play the guessing game of "who lives there".  There is a great little shopping center which features Pierre LaFond, a market that is a perfect place for a break after driving around Montecito's winding hills.

The upper village is also home to the Rosewood-managed San Ysidro Ranch, one of the most luscious (and expensive) resorts you'll find.  John F. Kennedy spent his honeymoon there with Jackie.  Skip the stay and dine in one of the hotels two restaurants, The Stonehouse or Plow & Angel.  They make outstanding margaritas.  

Montecito coastline

The best part of Montecito is free: just walking along the beach.  So, if you visit Cowboys camp, make the drive to the sleepy, yet luxurious village and simply go for a sunset stroll.  It will make you forget any triple digit temperatures haunting your friends back home.

Save on Summer Hotels
If you're thinking about heading that way, Hotels.com is offering 10% off on select hotels with the code JUL1410NA! Book by 7/27/14, Travel By 9/28/14. Might be worth checking out.

How To Squeeze In Exercise With A Newborn

It was almost fitting that I found this Wall Street Journal article Thursday morning while stretching after a killer Tabata class at Equinox.  Titled "Don't Hate Her for Being Fit" the piece touches on the sentiment I've been preaching for years: exercise will change your life, save your sanity and make your body better.  Simple as that.

"Fit moms spend nearly every free minute working out, cross-training for triathlons and scheduling regular boot camps and yoga," writes author Elizabeth Holmes.

Recipe Review: Cooking Light's Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

If you know me, you know I can't cook. I can make awesome smoothies, excellent toast, rocking oatmeal, a decent salad with the dressing to boot. Other than that, I'm a failure. I once attempted a lowfat key lime pie that my dog wouldn't even try.

To the point: Cooking Light magazine had an interesting Cheesy Chicken Enchilada recipe that I decided to try.  I posted it on Pinterest as soon as I found it but didn't actually read the ingredient list.  It called for flour tortillas.  As a Tex-Mex purist, I don't do flour tortillas in an enchilada.  I substituted Whole Foods blue corn tortillas for the flour, which lowered the calorie count.

Image via CookingLight.com

These were pretty easy to make.  The mixture itself was a breeze.  I bought grilled chicken breast (I seriously don't know how to cook a chicken breast) and just cut them into little pieces.  I sliced the onions, green onions and garlic and the rest of the ingredients. The most tedious part was warming the tortillas in a pan.

I assembled the enchiladas and while they cooked for 20 minutes, I made the suggested salad with greens topped with fresh pre-sliced jicama and mangoes from Whole Foods (my knife skills suck).

After topping the enchiladas with cheese and green onions and heating them an additional six minutes, I served dinner to the husband and sister with a bottle of Waterbrook chardonnay.  This fruitier chardonnay worked wonderfully to cut the creaminess of the cheese.

The end result was jawdropping.  They loved the enchiladas.  They really loved the dinner, lowfat cheese and all.  No one loves my food. Being so used to wonderful, grease-filled enchiladas I am surprised at how good these were.  The uber-light and fruity salad was a perfect complement and the juice was just right.

Having said that, I would have kicked the spices up a notch.  I don't miss full-fat cheese but these definitely could have used perhaps more garlic and onion.  I would also purchase a can of "hot" green chiles, not mild.  Definitely don't do these with flour tortillas like the recipe suggests.  Go with the corn for more texture and more authentic flavor.

$14,000 a Year + 45-Plus Hours a Week = Your 1st TV Job!

I can always tell when graduation is upon us.  About this time of year, I receive a slew of email from soon-to-be May grads asking for advice and networking suggestions on how to break into the TV news and sports business.

The email typically has an optimistic tone.  I love it.  There is nothing like that naive enthusiasm a 22-year old who is about to "take media world by storm" has.  That enthusiasm usually turns into stone-faced sobriety when I share with said 22-year old (or the relative that is doing the work for him or her) just how brutal this business is.

Here is the advice I had for someone whose uncle emailed me more than two years asking for help breaking into the television news business.  It's disappointing his niece didn't have the initiative to get in touch.  Regardless, the  response I sent then pretty much holds true today.  There are a few things, however, I should update.

START NOW BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY TARDY FOR THE PARTY.
If you're a college senior asking about job opportunities in March with a May graduation on the horizon, you're already behind the game.   I feel, you need to have an internship in place by the first semester of your senior year.  If it's not for college credit, that's okay.  Volunteer one day a week somewhere.  You can put it on your resume.

In addition to that, you need to be submitting quality material to hiring managers that Fall.  Even if they are just "feeler submissions",  sending your work, writing the cover letters, working on that all-too-rare phone interview can only help and prepare you.  The more you do, the better you get.

BE READY TO WORK.  REALLY HARD.  AND NOT GET PAID.
I can't tell you how many aspiring TV journalists tell me "I want to be an anchor".  "I want to be a sideline reporter for ESPN."  "I want to be the next {insert network reporter/anchor here}".

You and almost everyone else wants that job.  That is an awesome goal to have and you can absolutely do it and be the best the person who has ever done that job.  I am living proof that you can have goals, reach them, create new ones and be happy doing so.  BUT, you have to work your ass off to get there.  When I tell wannabe network stars that I started out shooting, reporting, editing, producing and anchoring in two small markets, I am met with colorless, blank stares.

"You mean you shot with a camera?" they ask.
"Yes.  It IS television," I respond.
"What if you just got a manicure?" one May grad once queried.
"Girl, I couldn't afford a manicure," I deadpan.
CRICKETS.........

That really happened.

Granted, quality news cameras are much smaller and easier to work with than the 40-pound behemoths I lugged all over Guam and Knoxville in the mid-90's.  The point here is, very few talented individuals start television careers at the network level or in a top 10 market.  Sure it can be done.  I work with an incredibly talented producer who got a job at my current station following his college internship with us but he is in the minority.  You have to be ready and willing to do a variety of jobs you may not like to get the job you want.  All that experience gives you credibility and will help you later on in your career.

And, yes, the money starting out isn't good.  Flat out it's sucks.  I had a friend who was a weekend sports anchor in a small market who lived in a mobile home and qualified for food stamps.  She worked 50 hours a week and made $14,000/year.  This was in 2009.   Competition is stiff and hiring managers will be quick to tell you there is someone out there who will do your job for less money.   The truth is, they're usually right.

NETWORK.  BE NICE TO PEOPLE. 
I started my television career as an assistant sports producer at the great KHOU in Houston.  I was basically a glorified intern but I busted my ass to earn my $7 an hour.  I worked with the most awesome group of pros that I am still friends with and see in a professional capacity today.

I bring this up because television and sports journalism is a very small, big business.  Everyone knows everyone.  Really.  There is so much movement in the industry that the news assignments person that you couldn't stand could be the assistant news director or the network producer at a place where you're applying for your dream job.

I'm sure I've burned countless bridges in my career but I've tried my best to be a professional, treat people with respect and maintain relationships with former colleagues.

I bring this up because I've seen a slew of interns over the years that I wouldn't dare recommend to a hiring manager.  Sure, those interns didn't think they needed to impress me with hard work or diligence but they should have.  You never know who knows whom in this business.  We've had interns at my stations through the years who were awful yet put us as references on their resumes.  Former colleagues I've known have called me about them.  While I didn't say a disparaging word about these particular interns, I did politely suggest another candidate.

On the flip side, I've written graduate school letters of recommendation and given dozens of phone interviews for former interns who were just awesome at what they did.  They went above and beyond the call of typical intern duty at excelled at it.  They were absolute pleasures to recommend and it's thrilling to see them working and succeeding in this industry now.

DO WHAT YOU CAN. NOW. 
You might not have the job you want but that doesn't mean you can't do it in some form or fashion right now.  If you want to be a news or sports reporter/anchor, do it.  Create a blog and develop a voice and some perspective.  Request a credential for a local high school or college basketball game.  Cover the game and create a multimedia feature story on a particular player or something compelling about the squad.  Put it on your blog and offer to link that story to that school's website or paper.

Start a video blog on YouTube.  Get on there and talk about various topics: the Saints bounty controversy, Tiger's comeback, etc.  Offer your unique insight on various topics.  This will help you get used to just "talking" in front of a "camera" while trying to be succinct and coherent.  (It's tougher than it looks).

All of this enhances your body of work and gives you an edge.  If you're a senior reading this and just starting to think about this now, you're a little late.  Get going on this TODAY.  Kick some ass tomorrow.

Rangers Better in 2012? Nolan Ryan Thinks So

He is truly EF Hutton.  When the Rangers president and CEO talks, we all listen.  At least that was the case when he met the spring training media throng in a tiny, hot tent Wednesday afternoon.

"I think we’re a better ball club," Ryan responded when asked to compare the 2012 Rangers to the 2011 unit that went to the World Series for the second straight year.

Ryan didn't need to be prodded to explain his reasoning.

"If you ask me why I think we’re a better ball club going into spring training in 2012?  We’re a stronger club than we’ve ever been because  of our young pitching and the number of innings they’ve logged and the success they’ve had getting a feel for what their durability is."

It's not just the young guys that give him such optimism. 

"We have a nucleus of guys, position players, that play every day and play hard," he continued.  "We have what I call established veterans on the ball club that aren’t at the end of their careers.  Their in the peak of their careers. "

"You can kind of go around the ball club and you look at Josh (Hamilton) and you look at Adrian (Beltre) and you look at Ian (Kinsler) and you look at Michael (Young), Nellie (Cruz).  That’s a nucleus of a ballclub that’s not yet growing old."

"The biggest thing you say, 'what would you like to see?'  Less time on DL.  When you look at what happened with our club last year and we did it key people spending time on the DL.  If we can narrow the amount of time those folks spend on the DL, it increases the opportunity for us to be an even better ball club."

I don't need to remind you how last season ended.  The only way to improve on 2011?  Go to the World Series and win in 2012.  Easier said than done.

Vinsanity 5.0 Working Well in Dallas

Vince Carter has won slam dunk titles, Olympic gold medals and had deep postseason runs but the Larry O'Brien trophy has eluded him.  The Mavericks are the fifth team the veteran guard has played for and Carter is hoping the fifth time is the charm in Dallas. 

The Mavs signed Carter as free agent in December.  He's started in 15 games this year and played in 25 of 30.  He's averaging 11 points, a far cry from the 22 points a game he's posted over the course of his 13 previous nba seasons and the career high 27.6 he averaged with the Raptors during the 2000-2001 season.

At this point in his career, Carter says personal numbers aren't his primary concern. 

"I mean, I'm asked that all the time.  I dont really know how to answer that," he said earlier this week.  "I'm about winning.  It's not about points, not about stats.  At the end of the day, if the team I'm on is winning, that's all care about.  That's what I came here for."

Interestingly, Dallas is 6-0 when he scores 15 or more points.  But Carter is clear, he wants a ring and feels that with the Mavericks his chances are good of getting one. 
　
"It is what it is, I'm trying to win. I'm here to contribute to a very good basketball team and hopefully it's enough to get us over the hump to win another one."

The Blake Show's Dallas Connection

The Mavericks cancelled their morning shootaround prior to their game against the Clippers Monday.  That gave us plenty of time to spend with the Los Angeles team that is stealing some star power from that other team in the City of Angels. 

It goes without saying that Blake Griffin is one the league's best young stars.  He's also one of the most likeable.  He's an uber-talented, marketable, smart young man who is also a thoughtful, humble interview. 

The Oklahoma graduate's parents are staying north of the Red River tonight but he will still have a long list of fans inside the American Airlines Center tonight.  Griffin has family and ton of friends who live in Dallas.

"I'll have a nice little ticket list tonight," he lamented with a smile.

I asked him which team those family members cheer for.

"They root for the Mavs when we're not playing," he said. "But, you know, they've started to watch a lot of west coast games."

Understandably.

Connecting You With All Things Yu

Now that Yu Darvish is officially a member of the Rangers, you can get acquainted with all things Yu.  The team will introduce him to DFW Friday at 7pm.  TV PLUG: I'll be live from the Ballpark with all sorts of Yu-related coverage.  But how can you really learn more about the 6-5 two-time Pacific League MVP?   Many ways.

Yu's Twitter Avatar

Yu is on Twitter and is pretty prolific, posting more than 3800 tweets as of 5:30pm CST Thursday.  He's posted a fair amount of pictures, as well.  The Google translate tool doesn't quite convey the message of his tweets but on January 15, he apparently tweeted something about the weather and then tweeted something about an Iphone to a follower on the 17th.  Riveting, isn't it?

Black Heart Charm

Yu has an official website that is simple but visually quite appealing.  If you're surfing via Google, you can use the Google translate tool to convert the Japanese characters to English.  He has links to a product page where you could purchase "a Black Heart" charm that features "the same uniform number "11" strap featuring an upscale luxurious Swarovski grains" (translate mixup, I think).  "The center is equipped with a metal plate logo was designed Darvish."  The charm is sold out.

You can purchase Darvish-endorsed cologne but his keychains, tote bags and "strap" are also sold out.

Yu also has a page promoting the various charitable causes he supports through the "Darvish-Yu Fund".   It appears he donated $1,000 to both the Japan Water Forum and the Children's Welfare Fund for each regular season win.  The Water Forum's mission is to solve "water problems in the world".

The website links to Yu's blog, which the site calls "Thoughts of Yu".  His recent entries include confirmation of his agreement with the Rangers as well the announcement that his divorce is final with Japanese actress, Saeko.   I find it interesting that his blog profile shares his blood type.   "A", in case you were wondering.

Green Tea + Pepper = Weight Loss Boost?

This is interesting.

You've probably read about consuming certain foods together to boost that food's health-providing properties.  Think broccoli with broccoli sprouts to up the anti-cancer effects or spinach eaten with eggs  combines protein and iron and, in turn, increases your metabolism.

According to a recent Rutgers University study cited in Whole Living magazine (LOVE that mag!) green tea and pepper is the new power combo to help you lose weight.  Sipping the green stuff, along with the spice improves the absorption of the tea's EGCG by as much as 130 percent.  EGCG which is the catechin found in tea that has a laundry list of good stuff that can rock your body.

So how do you get green tea and pepper together?  You're not going to sprinkle it in your tea.  Trust me, it's not so hot.

How about eating a salad with a liberal helping of pepper with some iced green tea (add mint to the tea for a delicious treat).  Try any dish whether it be chicken, fish, even meat followed by a cup of green tea after you finish the meal.  The tea acts as a nice digestif.  If you're in the cooking mode, you could ladle a cup of steeped tea over a mixture of brown rice and root vegetables.  Ok, maybe that's a stretch.

The point is, you can get creative with the green tea/pepper combo.  It's not that hard to work it in your diet if you do the salad with pepper or sprinkle liberal amounts of pepper on your food while consuming green tea.  This is an easy tip that might just do you a weight loss favor without trying too hard at all.

A 15-Year Old's Mission to End Cancer, One Autograph at a Time

Ten-year old Rudy Ramirez was a vibrant, friendly boy.  Brain cancer couldn't stop that.

Ramirez made fast friends with Houston native Jake Faust at a retreat for young cancer patients from Houston's Texas Children's Hospital at his grandparents' ranch, Squirrel Creek.

"He was really talkative, just like me," 15-year old Jake recalls. "I made a connection with him and stayed in touch.  He ended up dying this summer.  It just made me realize how fragile life is."

The Faust family has hosted week-long retreats for cancer patients for about 20 years.  Jake has seen firsthand what a devastating disease cancer is and in 2010 he decided to do what he could to end it.

Jake & Anahi Delacruz at Squirrel Creek Ranch Retreat

Jake started Autographs for Cancer, a non-profit organization that collects and sells autographed memorabilia online.  All of the profits help fund cancer research at Texas Children's Hospital.

"I was collecting autographs and I thought that just one autograph from an athlete or celebrity could turn into 300, 400 dollars to help (end) childhood cancer," Jake said.

Jake is a one-man autograph army, using a combination of boyhood charm and dogged persistence to get signatures. 

Jake and Colt McCoy

"I've been trying to step up my drive at Astros games and at Texans practices," says Jake. 

He was lucky enough to attend a Yankees game against the Rays this past August in the Bronx and made an impression on Tampa Bay outfielder Sam Fuld.  The leftfielder recruited his teammates to sign a bat for Jake.  Fuld then helped spread the teenager's message, tweeting @SamFuld5
"AutographsforCancer.com  Jake Faust is raising $ for cancer by auctioning off memorabilia.  Had the pleasure of meeting him at Yankee Stadium." 

This young Texans and UT fan doesn't discriminate when it comes to getting autographs to sell on his site.  His current inventory of autographed gear includes a jersey from Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware, an autographed bat from Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, a signed ball from Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz and an autographed football from Alabama coach Nick Saban.

"I just want to help these kids," Jake says.  "Over a thousand kids in Texas each year are diagnosed with cancer.  I'd like to know that just from my charity alone, even if just 10 kids are saved, that would mean the world to me." 

Nelson Cruz Baseball

"These kids are just trying to live their lives and they get diagnosed with this horrible disease.  Everything, from their family life to their school, everything changes because they just got diagnosed with cancer, which they can't help," he adds.

But Jake is trying to help so that he doesn't lose another friend, like Rudy Ramirez.

You can learn more about Autographs for Cancer and purchase memorabilia by going to Jake's website or Facebook.  You can also follow him on Twitter @JakeFaust.