I have never worked with a personal trainer, but I’m sure considering it. The cost is low, and the payoffs seem very high. Don’t know how to go about finding one or what your options are? Check out today’s WichiTalk story.
Have you worked with a personal trainer and lost weight, conquered a fitness goal or found another benefit? Tell us about your success story. We may feature it in a future WichiTalk issue.
Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt
I love to eat outside. It’s been a bit chilly, but I ate my oatmeal outside on the back deck yesterday and my toast out there this morning. I just enjoyed a sunny lunch outside today. I’m already craving grilled seafood, hamburgers and veggies. There’s something about feeling the breeze, listening to the birds chirping and watching the clouds pass that make the food taste even better.
Do your eating habits (where you eat, what you eat, etc.) change once it warms up? Where’s your favorite Wichita area place to dine alfresco? Some of mine (other than my back deck, of course): Heroes, Larkspur, Il Vicino, Sedgwick County and Riverside parks.
Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt
I wanted to do a little Snoopy "happy dance" this morning: It was the first time this year that I’ve left the house without a coat. I did wear a jacket, but it’s an inside jacket, not an outside one. And Suzanne sent the kids to school without their coats.
The little celebrations in life are fun, aren’t they?
Yesterday, I celebrated being able to drive both to work and home again without the headlights on. Again, first time this year.
And today, you’re celebrating . . . what?
Posted by Karen Shideler
On the "Early Show" this morning, I saw an interview with Jessica Weiner, author of the new book "Do I Look Fat in This?" She said that women too often say they "feel fat" when they really mean they feel depressed, sad, rejected, nervous, etc.
She has declared this Friday as "Fat Free Friday" and is challenging women to stop "speaking the language of fat." According to her Web site, that includes calling yourself fat; laughing at fat jokes; thinking in terms of weight, diet, food and fat; and asking "Do I look fat in this?"
Have you read this book? Do you think people talk about feeling fat, looking fat and being fat too often? Do you have friends who obsess about weight? Post your comments here.
Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt
My mom and sister get really excited about the Oscars every year. They don’t obsessively predict who’s going to win Best Picture or anything, but they’ll clear their Sunday night schedule and hunker down in front of the TV to catch all three hours of the awards show.
I myself don’t usually get into all of the buzz. By the time the Oscars roll around, I may have seen one or two of the movies up for the big awards. Most of my enjoyment during the show comes from seeing what the stars are wearing (or in some cases, not wearing).
I’ve never been to an award show party, but there seems to be plenty of information out there on how to throw the ultimate Oscar shindig. Do you throw a viewing party every year and go all out for your guests? Post your favorite Oscar party ideas here, and let us know how you spend your evening with the stars.
Posted by Missy Good
Running errands today, I saw trucks with Shocker flags and people decked out in yellow and black. My mother-in-law and I looked at fabric this morning for a custom-made Shocker sweatshirt. And at a dinner event tonight, the organizer frequently announced the game score. Everyone cheered when he announced Wichita State’s win. I have a friend who always wears her lucky WSU earrings to the games and several other friends and family who were not as generous sharing their Shocker season tickets as they were in past years, unwilling to miss games this time around.
It’s been a lot of fun to see the community catch Shocker fever. Do you have it? What have you seen in your home or around town that proves everyone’s hot for the Shockers?
Now if KU can just tromp Texas, it’ll be a good day …
Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt
Congrats to the winner of our coffee contest: Kay Brand is the recipient of the $25 Spice Merchant gift certificate.
She was one of two people who correctly tabulated the 113 "coffee"
mentions in this week’s WichiTalk coffee issue. We put both names in a drawing
and selected her.
From the nearly 40 people who entered the contest, we randomly selected three names. These people also win a mug and ground coffee courtesy of The Spice Merchant:
Ted Jillson, Anita Thomas and Sharon.
Thanks to all who participated. Watch for our next WichiTalk contest for more chances to win.
Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt
What are you doing to celebrate Mardi Gras? Heading to New Orleans? Throwing a masquerade party at home? Cooking a New Orleans-style dinner this weekend? Stuffing yourself on Fat Tuesday? I get a kick out of watching live coverage from the real Mardi Gras online.
Check out this story from today’s Eagle for three local ways to celebrate, and watch for more ideas to come in Monday’s WichiTalk.
Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt
Who knew it would only take a new vacuum to make me love vacuuming? When the vacuum my husband has had since college finally wimped out recently, we headed out to buy a replacement.
We were floored (no pun intended) by how much vacuum technology has developed since he went shopping for one as an undergrad. Bag, no bag. Revved up power. Cyclone, cordless, self-propelled. We choose a Dirt Devil bagless model, letting us see immediately what kind of dirt and pet fur we’re sucking up from our carpets. (And with two Golden Retrievers and a cat, that’s a lot!) You simply empty a plastic canister after you’re through.
It reminded me of when I was a kid and a door-to-door vacuum salesman came to our house to sell us a new upright Hoover. To prove how well it worked, he snapped on a bubble-like attachment that showed all the junk the thing was sucking up. My parents sent my sisters and me to bed to close the deal. When I awoke the next morning, I ran out to inspect the new toy and was sad that the attachment was only a sales tool and wasn’t part of the package.
Now it’s like having a bubble-like attachment of my very own. I was so giddy that our new beauty worked so well that I wanted to call everyone I knew at 10 p.m. when I was trying it out to let them know. I finally figured out what makes those Merry Maids on TV so happy. The chore was so fun that my husband and I politely fought over who was going to finish it. ("No that’s OK honey. You’ve had a long day. Why don’t you go sit down and let ME finish the job?" "No, you have an early morning. Let ME handle it …")
Do you have a cleaning product or household appliance that just makes you downright happy? Tell me about your favorite gadget and we just may feature it in a future WichiTalk issue.
Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt
I had a late dinner last night at Jason’s Deli in west Wichita, where I was pleasantly surprised to find a TV showing the Olympics. It was fun to watch alongside the other customers there.
Is there a local place (besides your living room) where you’ve been watching Olympic coverage? Waiting rooms? Bars? Gyms? Let us know so fans know where to flock.
Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt