June is also Women's Golf Month, and there's no better time to get started with the game. Here are a few resources to help you begin:
Visit playgolfamerica.com for tips on how to find a course, lessons and other players. Make sure to check out their Women's Golf Month page, which has links to clinics and activities throughout the month -- beginners welcome. (Also, think about getting your daughter involved during "Take Your Daughter To The Course" week in July.)
The LPGA has a great online community for amateurs: Ladies Links for Golf. Each month they post new video tips. Here's one from professional Debbie O'Connell about getting started, including finding an instructor and figuring out proper golf attire (hint: you don't want to wear jeans!).
And for a fun perspective, check out Real Women Golf, a blog by a self-professed "golf-obsessed mom."
Do you and your friends play together? Or do you gather as a group for other workouts? Please share with us and you might be featured in an upcoming Southern Living Fitness Buddies feature!
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, April 21, 2011 in Activity
, Balance
, Fitness Buddies
This month's Southern Living Fitness Buddies is about a group of women in Miami who practice yoga at Equinox Gym and on the nearby beach. But, you don't have to live in Miami to get on the mat. In fact, there are more opportunites than ever for Southerners to practice, whether in a studio, a gym, in their own home or neighborhood park.
Don't be intimidated -- yoga is for everyone! Here are 5 Tips To Get You Started:
Find a yoga studio through the Yoga Alliance. Their website allows you to search for locations via zip code.
Check out programs through your local gym. Many yoga teachers who practice in dedicated studios also teach in gyms and community centers, which are a great place to start (especially since classes are included in your monthly fee).
Look for outdoor classes! With spring in full gear, there are many opportunities to find classes in parks. This year, Birmingham's beautiful Railroad Park started offering free fitness classes, and yoga is one of them. Check out your city park to see if there's a similar offering.
Don't feel intimidated because you're not a certain body type. Yoga is practiced by people of all shapes and sizes. Check out Nashville yoga teacher Anna Guest-Jelley, whose website CurvyYoga.com provides resources and encouragement for people of all sizes to develop a lifelong practice.
If you think you don't have time for yoga, take a few minutes to stop and take a few breaths. Breathing is the foundation of life, and yoga. FIve minutes of deep breathing will help you de-stress ... and get you on your way to life as a yogi!
We'd like to hear from you: where do you practice? A studio, gym or park? Do you have a favorite DVD or app? How has yoga helped you? Please share with us!
Related Links:
Yoga, A Way Of LIfe: Miami yoga instructor shares how to stretch the body and calm the mind with children in at-risk neighborhoods
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, April 15, 2011 in Fashion
, Mother Daughter Style
Our May “Mother/Daughter Style” duo — Kentucky Derby regulars Chris and Hannah Fulkerson (shown above) — prove that the secret to a great outfit is all in the hat. And when these Louisville ladies want a show-stopping Derby headpiece they turn to C.K. Nobles, the official milliner of the Kentucky Derby Museum.
With the 137th Run for the Roses just weeks away, Southern Living has teamed up with C.K. Nobles to celebrate the signature Southern event with our first ever fashion giveaway where one lucky winner will win a one-of-a-kind millinery from the renowned shop.
How to Enter: Describe for us here in 50 words or less your perfect Derby Day outfit. Entries should be typed into the comments field of this blog post. Entries are due by Tuesday, May 31 at 12:00 p.m. EST.
Editors will select their favorite based on originality, creativity, and how well you address our question. Winner will be notified via email by Friday, June 3. For full contest rules, click here.
One of the great things about tennis is that it really is accessible to everyone, which is part of the reason it's the fastest growing traditional sport. It's never too early to start, either. In fact, one of the United States Tennis Association's biggest initiatives is to introduce kids to the sport.
Here are the USTA's tips to get your kids started with the game:
Introduce them to "10 and Under Tennis" -- The USTA created "10 and Under Tennis" --a a scaled down, child-friendly game that can be played just about anywhere you have an open space: your local playground, driveway, cul-de-sac, or even in the back yard.
The equipment is easy to set up and perfect for an entire family to enjoy together. Within the first hour, kids can actually be playing. Scaling the game down to their size helpsmake the learning process easier and a lot more fun! For more information on 10 & Under Tennis in your area go to www.10andUnderTennis.com.
Schedule a Day On The Court -- From the youngest member of the family to the most experienced, tennis can be the tool that brings your family closer together. Round up a group and head to the courts for a day of play – pair up for doubles, play a round robin, try some team tennis. You might start something hat becomes a regular family occurrence!
Sign up your child for USTA Jr. Team Tennis -- Designed for children ages 6-18, USTA Jr. Team Tennis offers a wide array of leagues, teams and programs for players of all ability levels. To find a team or league in your local area – or to start a league of your own – go to www.jrteamtennis.usta.com.
Reading these tips has me inspired to set up a tennis court in my driveway for my soon-to-be five year old! Check out this video to see how much fun -- and easy -- introducing your kids to tennis can be!
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, January 17, 2011 in Activity
, Balance
, Fitness Buddies
At Southern Living, we're big believers in testing what we write about. For my colleagues in the Test Kitchen, that means gathering at the tasting table to evaluate the recipes they work on each day. (And yes, sometimes they bring leftovers to the office, which disappear quickly!)
For me, testing things means trying the fitness trends that we write about. This month: Pure Barre, which is featured in our February Fitness Buddies.
(Here they are at the left -- members of a book club who work out together at the Chatanooga Pure Barre. Click here for the full story.)
Pure Barre is a 55-minute group class designed to create, long, lean, strong muscles. With franchises around the country, and it's particularly caught on among women throughout the South.
There's a serious amount of devotion when it comes to Pure Barre -- ask anyone who goes on a regular basis and they will swear by the exercises -- and the results. There's just something about it that keeps them coming back. So I tried for myself, and signed up for classes at Pure Barre Birmingham.
Walking into the studio at first I was a little nervous. But the teacher greeted me, handed me props (a ball, 2-lb weights and rubber tubing, all of which are used at various points in the class). I started chatting with another student, who said that despite being a runner, the workout was really hard for her at first, and that I should expect my body to shake during and after the workout. Yikes!
But make no mistake about it -- when class starts there is no chit chat. The Pure Barre environment -- great music, instructors calling out moves -- is designed to help women get in the zone as they tone and strengthen their bodies. Teachers repeatedly encourage students to focus on their bodies and technique. And believe me, you have to.
"The workout requires such focus that you block "life" out for the hour allowing you to obtain the mental benefits achieved in yoga or meditation. A transformed body and a clear head in just one hour- it doesn't get much better than this."
I quickly learned this to be true. As soon as I started thinking about deadlines back at the office or grocery lists that needed to be made, the burning sensation in my arms, legs, "seat" and abs reminded me, "Oh no, little lady, come on back here."
These were not the moves at the ballet barre where I learned as a girl -- Miss Peggy's Ballet Academy. No tuts, but plenty of tucking in our bottoms and watching our form -- as Miss Peggy said, "watch your turkey tails girls!"
One thing about Pure Barre: it's not all at the barre. You also do exercises on a mat, and with no props at all, just the resistance of your body. You feel it.
***
Not going to lie: the first class was hard, very hard. Although I had done yoga, danced, run, and even at one point swung on a trapeze, Pure Barre is unlike any other exercise. I used muscles that I didn't even know that I had. There were times when I started getting discouraged, like during an extended plank position that made my arms quiver and face turn beet red. But the instructor was reassuring, helping correct my form and that of others when we needed it.
After words, the teacher offered to help anyone who needed assistance with technique. This is important, because technique is everything in this practice. (A couple of times I thought that I was doing an exercise right until a teacher gently moved my leg or arm into proper position. And then came the burn.)
As challenging as Pure Barre is, a strange thing has happened: I actually look forward to going. Even when I'm hanging off a barre, legs quivering, I'm thinking, "when can I come back?" Each time, the instructors have been great, helping me understand proper form, encouraging everyone to push themselves just enough. It is challenging, but a challenge that makes me feel stronger.
I haven't gone long enough to report real results, but I feel good. I notice that I'm paying better attention to my posture throughout the day, and even don't being a little sore, because I know that I'm working my muscles.
Plus, it helps me feel a bit better about snacking on Test Kitchen cookies from time to time ...
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, December 15, 2010 in Activity
, Balance
, Fitness Buddies
With holiday parties in full swing, it's easy for workouts to fall to the wayside. But not for these ladies!
Meet the women of Dance Trance Jacksonville -- they are the Southern Living Fitness Buddies for January. Dance Trance, which was founded in Birmingham, is now based in Jacksonville and spreading across the country, with tons of locations in the South.
You don't have to have dance experience to attend this high-energy class -- just a willingness to learn and move!
From the Dance Trance website:
"In every location, Dance Trance classes are jam packed with students every night waiting for their next dose of hair-raising adrenaline. There are students of all ages participating in this all-out dance marathon. In any one class, you can find first time students and seasoned class veterans all dancing together and enjoying the heck out of their fitness class. It is really a unique experience."
Here are our Fitness Buddies in action, lead by DT co-founder Beth Handline:
Our December issue is hot-off-the-presses and the beauty department is feeling festive. Why? Well, we not only have another great installment of “Southern Beauty Secrets” to show-off. (This month, Atlanta make-up artist Nyssa Green demonstrates how to apply a smoldering smoky eye.) But we’re also debuting our first-ever “Beauty Secrets” videos. Check it out to see Nyssa’s easy-to-follow tips, as well as a behind the scenes look at our smoky eye photo shoot.
But wait there’s more (sorry, we couldn’t resist): In celebration of this inaugural video, we’re giving away Pür Minerals Eye Prep—Nyssa’s go-to product to prime eyelids before shadow application—to ten lucky readers!
How to Enter: Describe for us here in 50 words or less your time-saving tips for applying eye makeup. Entries should be typed into the comments field of this blog post. Entries are due by Friday, December 3 at 12:00 p.m. EST.
Editors will select their favorite based on originality, creativity, and how well you address our question. Winner will be notified via email by Friday, December 10. For full contest rules, click here.
We asked what you're doing to educate people about Alzheimer's. Here are our winners:
"My maternal and paternal grandmother have been diagnosed with Alzheimers. The road to diagnosis and caregiving has taught me a lot about family and how important it is to communicate with your siblings regarding the care of your loved one BEFORE your loved one worsens. I make sure to tell my friends who are experiencing the same challenge, to make sure you discuss the diagnosis while your loved one is still coherent. Make any necessary legal arrangements, such as, legal guardian or changes to wills, while your loved one still can. This way, everybody involved is very clear as to what your loved one wants. Most importantly, once there is a diagnosis, educate yourself and do not live in denial of Alzheimer's. Understanding the disease is the best thing you can do for your loved one and your family."
-Trina Nix
"I am a dental hygienist and see a variety of patients on a daily basis. I was encouraged to take a continuing education class with another one of my friends who is also a hygienist, that will deal with some of the same issues the educational links mentioned. I am hoping that this will better prepare me to educate our patients and possibly even their families about this disease. Early detection and treatment is the key as well as support from family and friends."
-Lisa Hogue
Thanks Trina and Lisa for sharing how you're educating people about Alzhiemer's.
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, November 16, 2010 in Balance
, Your Family's Health
Leeza Gibbons may be best known for her work as a television host on programs like "Entertainment Tonight" and "Extra," but in recent years this Southerner has become an advocate for people with Alzheimer's Disease, and their caregivers.
Leeza, a South Carolina native, knows caregiving first-hand. She cared for her mother, Gloria Jean, who died from Alzheimer's in 2008 (her grandmother also passed away from the disease).
Leeza founded the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation and Leeza's Place, a community gathering place for caregivers impacted by chronic or progressive illnesses, and has also written a guide for caregivers called "Take Your Oxygen First."
Leeza is also working with Alzheimer'sDisease.com, which launches today as a resource with information on the disease, caregiving, and resources to help caregivers stay healthy.
“You need to nourish yourself mind, body, soul, and spirit and do that before you nurture others. That’s not a natural tendency for women,” she says. And while caregiving is a brave act of love, caregivers often suffer from emotional stress they're afraid to share.
“There is this unspoken anger and resentfulness that as good, gracious Southern women we don’t often have an outlet for, and it can manifest itself physically,” she says. (Caregivers are more likely than non-caregivers to describe their health as 'fair' or 'poor' and often report that caregiving negatively affected their health.)
Her suggestions?
Know it's OK to ask for help.
"I think the most heroic acts of courage are from caregivers who realize they can’t walk the path alone," she says. She suggests that when friends ask how they can help, be honest and tell them. For instance, while taking care of her mom, one friend told her she could call any time to vent -- and she did. It's also important to be honest when people ask how you are doing. (You'd be surprised how many people have gone through similar experiences and are willing to lend an ear.)
"Give yourself permission to tell the truth," she says.
Write down your emotions.
Or record them into a tape recorder -- that's what Leeza did when she was processing her emotions during her mom's illness. "I've never listened to those tapes, but it helped me get it out of my head," she says. (Journaling counteracts many of the negative effects of stress, and may even boost the immune system.)
Put together a plan.
Caregiving for anyone with a chronic or life-threatening illness is marathon, not a sprint.“When faced with a diagnosis, you're in such a cloud of confusion that being able to take the time and get educated can be difficult, but there are resources out there," she says. Although denial is a natural instinct, knowledge is power. Take time to educate yourself about your loved one's illness and the issues that relate to caregiving. Know that you're not alone.
We salute Leeza for giving a voice to caregivers! Keep telling your story.
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, November 15, 2010 in Activity
, Balance
, Fitness Buddies
With the holidays approaching, we know that you're busy planning your menus and preparing for parties. If you think you're too busy for exercise, check out this month's Southern Living Fitness Buddies.
These women from Jackson, Mississippi, are as Southern as they come. They're busy professionals, moms, and even grandmothers, and they make time for exercise by committing to attending an indoor cycling class together several times a week.
Their meeting place: the Northeast Jackson YMCA, where they talk about everything from books to babies, all while burning serious calories.
Mary Catherine Barlow, a mother of two who spins at the Y, “You get an amazing workout on the bike, but it’s also so much fun. The music and the cheers from my friends encourage me to push myself.” (For more of the story, click here).
You can't beat that. If you're interested in learning more about indoor cycling, click here for some tips on getting started.
To get you motivated, we've put together this playlist of some of the Jackson group's favorite workout songs. These high energy tunes are guaranteed to get you moving -- whether it be on a bike, the treadmill, or just cleaning up around the house!
"Bad Romance" - Lady GaGa
"Kiss" - Prince
"In The Air Tonight" - Phil Collins
"Living On A Prayer" - Bon Jovi
"Desert Rose" - Sting
"Feel Good" - The Gorillaz
"Pump It" - The Black Eyed Peas
"Get Up Off That Thing" - James Brown
"Flashing Lights" - Kanye West
"Beat Goes On" - Madonna
"My Everything" - Barry White
Thanks for sharing with us, Jackson cycling buddies!
If you're part of a group that gets together regularly to move -- whether it's biking, hiking, or going to aerobics together -- we want to hear from you!The sky is the limit -- we can't wait to hear from Southern women who exercise together for fitness and fun.
Want to be featured in Southern Living? Nominate your group for an upcoming issue! Tell us:
Where you live
What you do together and how often
Your fitness goals and results (to get toned? improve cardiovascular health? get more energy?)
Why you should be featured
You can post your replies here in the comments section or send us an email to fitnessbuddies@southernliving.com. We'd love to see your photos too!
Also, let us know: what kinds of exercise groups would you like to see featured in Fitness Buddies?
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, November 9, 2010 in Your Family's Health
Every 70 seconds in this country, someone will develop Alzheimer's Disease. More than 5.3 Americans have Alzheimer's, a number that continues to grow along with our aging population.
But there's good news: There are things that you can do to educate yourself about Alzheimer's. This month we're bringing you action steps that you can take to arm yourself with this knowledge.
If you do one thing this month, take a moment to get to know the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's from the Alzheimer's Association. (This page is packed with useful information, including the differences between Alzheimer's and typical age-related changes.)
Early detection is key in identifying and treating the issue -- click here to learn more about why if you suspect a loved one may be at risk you should encourage him or her to be evaluated.
We are giving away two of these Anna William bags (proceeds benefit the Association.) To enter:
1. Visit the above educational links
2. Leave us a comment below leeting us know how you've helped educate your friends this week. Write a blog post, share with friends over coffee -- be creative. We'll pick two of the best responses as our winners.
Contest Rules: Entries are due this Friday, November 12 at 5 p.m. EST. Winner will be announced Friday, November 19. For complete rules, please click here.
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, October 27, 2010 in Your Family's Health
Each month, more than 1,000 people around the country are injured as a result of golf carts. Recently, in the South (and in my own community of Hoover, Alabama), a number of children have been seriously injured.
It's an issue that's made me shudder as a mom, particularly when I see children driving and riding on golf carts on busy streets. Today I received a joint message from the Hoover Police, Hoover School System, and Children's Hospital System that I thought it important to share. They write:
"Recently, the loss of several local children has put a face on the statistics that reflect the dangers of these vehicles when they’re used on or near city streets. Nationwide, golf cart-related injuries increased an alarming 132 percent from 1990 to 2006.
A similar increase has been seen in the emergency department at Children’s Hospital where more than two dozen children have been treated in the past three years for injuries they received while driving or riding a golf cart. Most were younger than age 13 and their injuries included brain injuries, severe lacerations and broken hips, legs and arms. One in four required hospitalization.
Doctors at Children’s have also treated 26 children for crashes while riding motorized scooters and 34 resulting from go-cart crashes. The stats can be mind-boggling, but the bottom line is this: children are riding these vehicles in unsafe ways, often with disastrous and tragic results.
Hoover City Schools has partnered with the Hoover Police Department and Children’s Hospital to educate families about the safety risks of these vehicles. The timing is particularly important now as Daylight Savings Time is coming to an end meaning darkness comes earlier and visibility along residential streets decreases this time of year."
Golf carts can flip easily, don't have safety restraints, and weren't meant to be driven on roads, and especially not by children.
The good news: it's easy to keep your family safe from these accidents. The Release goes on to suggest these tips:
First, be aware of the dangers of golf carts, motorized scooters and go-carts.
Second, take action in your own home to monitor your children and teach them that "golf carts are for golf courses."
And, finally, practice what you preach – please remember that not only are these type vehicles not intended for use on city streets, but any non-registered motorized vehicle is subject to state law and posted city ordinances and subject to fine and violation.
Great advice. Please take a moment to talk with your family and friends about this issue and stay safe out there.
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, October 19, 2010 in Activity
, Balance
, Fitness Buddies
, Stress Less
When I first wrote about Julie Maloney's tremendous weight loss with help from the Ninento Wii, I was impressed. Julie's story resonated on so many levels -- not because I was a big video game person, but I know what it's like to come home exhausted. After long days of writing stories and attending meetings, then cleaning up from dinner, paying bills, putting my kiddo to sleep and chatting with my husband, exercise is often the last thing I want to do at night. (A scoop -- or three -- of ice cream seemed so much more pleasant.) Also the last thing I want to do in the morning many days. And I write about fitness!
As part of research for our story on the November Fitness Buddies -- which focuses on Julie and two other women who have remarkable exercise stories because of the Wii (Renee Ross and Sarah Downing) -- I decided to give it a try myself (click here for their story). Their comments resonated in my head when I unpacked the boxes in my family room. "There's no reason not to do it. You can pull it out when your family has gone to bed. It's just 30 minutes."
So here's what happened:
Forget waiting to pull out the unit when my four-year old whent to sleep. As soon as he and my husband laid eyes on the compact box, the while balance board that's used in many of the games and training sessions, it quickly became a family affair.
"Mommy, can we play bowling? Mommy, watch how I can run!" Instead of my envisioned calorie burning workout sessions it became a family affair, with the three of us laughing as we boxed, played baseball, and even ran in place with games like Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort. We even got our parents in on the action (which is especially neat because some of the games are great, low-impact activities for people with arthritis or other physical ailments).
On one occasion, after a long day with my friends at the spa (hey, everyone needs a break from such *serious* training), my husband reported that he'd worked his arm muscles better than he had recently at the gym. That did inspire me to set aside more time to work on the arm exercises that many of the games include (the rhythm boxing really is a workout). And I love working on my coordination with the hula hoop game, which seems remarkably similar to the movements of hula hooping.
I haven't been as disciplined as Julie, or Renee Ross, or Sarah Downing, the women in the story. Just like in real life, virtual fitness requires a commitment, and the same old excuses (hectic work schedule, conflicting social eents) get in the way -- that's something I'm working on.
Both Julie's site (The Wii Mommies) and Renee's have some fantastic tips on incorporating virtual fitness into your lifestyle -- and sticking with it. I'm eager to try the new EA Sports Active 2 software available in a few weeks, (Renee is a big fan of the first), which gives you that "trainer in a box."
So what has the Wii done for me? It's gotten me off my couch. It's improved my yoga practice a bit by helping me see how I distribute my weight in different poses. It's gotten me excited about returning to golf, which I played as a child and gave up years ago. And it's helped my family become more active. Will it replace my husband's regular trips to play squash and lift weights at the gym? Or my son's soccer and gym? Probably not, but it certainly adds to our movement.
Virtual? Actually those are very real results to us.
Please share with us: Do you and/or your family use the Ninento Wii or other gaming systems as part of your workout routine? Do you play virtual games together? What results have you seen?
Do you and your friends play together? Or do you gather as a group for other workouts? Please share with us and you might be featured in an upcoming Southern Living Fitness Buddies feature!
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, October 5, 2010 in Fitness Buddies
, Giving Back
Imagine walking through the mall and seeing this ...
It's what happened Saturday, October 2 at Birmingham's Riverchase Galleria mall. I was in on the secret, but many unsuspecting shoppers weren't. Birmingham's biggest "Flash Mob," this fun event was more than a dance to get people's attention -- it was to educate them about a local non-profit that raises money for breast cancer research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. (The group, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, has raised more than $2.5 million since their inception in 1996 through grassroots efforts.)
And if you are participating in any breast cancer awareness events in the South, please share your photos with us via erin_street@timeinc.com or our Facebook fan page. We may post your photos on our blog or on our Facebook account!
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, September 20, 2010 in Activity
, Fitness Buddies
We've received great feedback from our readers about our new Southern Living feature "Fitness Buddies," in which we share stories of women who work out together for fitness and fun. (Here's the debut story). And we're looking for more!
In particular, we're looking to connect with women who do the following together:
Hike
Snow Ski
Play Tennis
Outdoor Cycling
If you are part of a group that does one of these activities -- or something completely different -- we'd like to hear from you.
Please respond in the "comments" section with a few sentences about yourself, your members, and your activity. Include where you're from, ages, and a little about what physical and emotional benefits you get from being part of a fitness group.
If you're interested in being considered for a feature, please leave your email! For questions, email editor Erin Street at erin_street@timeinc.com.
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, September 16, 2010 in Activity
, Fitness Buddies
We recently asked you to tell us about how you stay fit and have fun with your friends. We received some great responses, from yoga on the beach to walking with friends, husbands, and dogs!
After careful review, our editors picked our favorite from Elizabeth:
"I have a group of friends I met through church and found that we have a lot in common. We all talked about how we would like to be one of those "runner-types". So we started meeting at the greenway in our town and have graduated from walking to running. We all completed out first half marathon in October. It has been so good to spend time with women and just talk about things that come up in our lives while getting in shape!"
Congratulations to Elizabeth, who, based on her submission, is the winner of our first Fitness Buddies giveaway, featuring these great products.
Stay tuned for more contests, and keep sharing how you get fit with your friends!
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, September 11, 2010 in Your Family's Health
During the month of October, SouthernLiving.com will spotlight stories of breast cancer survivors from across the South. We're looking for women who will share a bit of their stories with us.
We'll feature a different survivor each day, including her photo and a link to the breast cancer charity of her choice. We'll also give each recognized survivor a year-long subscription to Southern Living Magazine.
To nominate someone (or yourself), please have her answer these questions. We just need a few sentences for each answer. Chosen submissions will be edited for clarity and length.
Please include a photo (jpg) along with each submission as well as contact information (email, phone and mailing address) for your nominee. Nominations must be submitted by September 24 to claire_machamer@timeinc.com
So often we hear the negative statistics about Southern health issues (it is a fact that we have some of the highest rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes in the U.S.) But there are also many positive stories about Southerners who are proactive when it comes to taking care of their health and that of their families.
We're eager to connect with Southerners who are taking small steps to improve their health. Beginning this week we're introducing a new way to hear from readers who are doing just that -- "Look Good Feel Great" giveaways!
Here's this week's prize package. It's filled with items to jump start your walk, including some featured in September's Fitness Buddies. We'll be giving it away to one lucky reader!
How to Enter: Describe for us here in 50 words or less why you love to workout with your friends and what you do to work on your fitness together. Entries should be typed into the comments field of this blog post. Entries are due by Friday, August 27 at 12:00 p.m. EST.
Editors will select their favorite based on originality, creativity, and how well you address our question. Winner will be notified via email by Thursday, September 2. For full contest rules, click here.
Posted by: Erin Shaw Street, August 20, 2010 in Activity
, Southern Living Mama Blogger of The Week
, Your Family's Health
So summer is winding to a close and kids are returning to school (collective cheers? Anyone?) It doesn't mean that travel adventures have to end (they might just be spaced out around school breaks.)
Travel can be an extension of a child's education and growth -- we believe that here at Southern Living (just as the children of our staffers, many of whom are pro travelers thanks to tagging along with mom and dad).
This week's Southern Living Mama Blogger of the week has a similar philosophy. Pensacola, Florida resident Jen chronicles her adventures with traveling with two small children in her blog "Two Kids And A Map."
Jen shares her adventures -- whether they are down the street, or around the world (including lots of dispatches from the South.)
By writing about her tales of travel with little ones (and great photos), Jen shows how family travel is within reach. We love this post about blueberry picking, complete with tips on how to have your own family farm outing.
We also like reading about her family's adventures in their own backyard, like this entry where she describes picking up shells and walking through the sand on their favorite beaches. She writes:
"We have a couple of trips planned for this summer, but for now I am appreciating what I already have right in front of me."
Thanks for sharing the joys of family travels with us Jen, and reminding all of us that it's within reach.
Is there a Southern mama we must know about? Nominate your pick in "comments" below and
she might end up being chosen for a future spotlight!
Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @southern_living
Posted by: Claire, August 16, 2010 in Activity
, Squeeze It In
No time for the gym? You can still find time for fitness in every day life -- that's the message of our new contributors, Brigette Polmar and Jenny Hein, the founders of Squeeze It In.
Squeeze It In is based around a series of exercises you can do anywhere -- at home, in the carpool lane -- even in the grocery store. Southern Living is teaming up with these DC moms to help you take small steps to health with these simple exercises.
From their website (which is full of useful tips):
Working out doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition. You can do a little at a time – as little as ten minutes, three times a day – and get results. And who says you can’t work out with a vacuum in your hand? Better yet, turning every task into a tighter tush, firm belly, or toned arms may help inspire you to live a more active life. You can make fitness fit – simply SqueezeItIn.com.
Brigette and Jenny developed Squeeze It In because they live it. As busy moms and professionals, they know what it's like to be pressed for time. Their hope -- and ours -- is that by doing these exercises you'll feel just how great it is to move your body, and be inspired to add in more physical activity into your every day.
