Dad's Day Roundup

Father's Day has snuck up on me this year.  You too?  I for one marvel at the accomplishments, generosity and spirit of the two dads in my life, my father and my husband.  Here are a few LM ways to show them the love.

The best things in life can't be bought.  It's also a reality that sometimes even the most wildly organized among us fail to produce a winning gift in time for the big day.  In this case, we suggest the beloved voucher.  Consider it your husband's get-out-of-jail-free card to sleep late, play golf, fish, ride or do whatever makes him smile.  Please note, you cannot grimace, moan, or make any other derogatory gesture when he actually redeems it.

For needlepoint belts that won't require you to sew a stitch, look no further than Tucker Blair.

If seersucker and bourbon make you swoon, Southern Proper captures the endless charm of the well-tailored gentleman.  The Hound Dog Gent Tie and the Trout Beau Tie caught my eye.  Don't take my word for it.  Check out the entire collection to see what suits daddy dear.

And now for my absolute favorite shopping spot for men, Vineyard Vines.  How adorable are these margarita-themed swim trunks?  If your guy won't do pink (mine won't.....boo hoo!), they also come in blue.

This year I opted to encourage my husband's new-found interest in grilling since our move to the burbs.  Naturally (and quite selfishly) I am vitally invested in nurturing this hobby.  To get the grill on, turn to Williams-Sonoma Gifts for the Griller.  By the way, I waddled my very pregnant self to the store to try every single one of the BBQ Sauces and they were all amazing!

If your goal is to make dad cry, look no further than Snapfish, Shutterfly, or one of the host of other online photo sites.  These websites make it turn-key to create a sweet memory book of the year--pictures of dads with children, grandchildren.  Their reaction makes the time investment worth every minute.  I'm no techie and it took me about two hours.

With x's and o's and a Happy Father's Day!

Run Baby Run

A Guest Posting from one of our favorite Lipstick Money Ladies, Tara Cameron, a great runner, mom, friend, and fabulous all-around lady!

Memorial Day marks the beginning of Summer, glorious Summer.  With sunnier days upon us, it is so fun to head outside to get some exercise.  Running outdoors is my most favorite thing to do, but I also love swimming in an outdoor pool or the ocean, playing tennis or lacrosse with my kids or horseback riding.

All of these fun outdoor activities require physical preparation so we can stay healthy and uninjured!

Here are just a few things to remember as you head outside for some cardio:


1.  Stretch, stretch, stretch - before and after you exercise.  Our bodies need to get warmed up and stretched in order to prevent sudden strains or injury.  Try a FOAM roller, if you haven't already.  They are excellent for stretching and releasing any built up lactic acid in your muscles.  You can buy one for $18 at Power Systems.

2.  Hydrate.  You need more than your daily 8 glasses of water in the summer heat.  Drink water before and after outdoor activity.  Flavor it with a single dose of the new Crystal Light Pure line or Iced Tea if you get bored with the taste.  Gatorade and Propel are decent options but have chemicals and additives, so if you can, stick with ice cold H2O!

3.  Take a daily supplement.  I like Metagenics Wellness Essentials for Women.  They come in a 30-day supply of daily "AM" and "PM" doses.  It is a comprehensive vitamin and can be purchased through a nutritionist, chiropractor or doctor - as well as some places online.

4.  Buy some jolly workout clothes to motivate you!  I like the Nike running skorts because they are feminine yet sporty.  The Nike tennis skorts come in a variety of jazzy colors - such as this one.  They also have some new running shorts with compression shorts built in that look fun yet functional.  Of course Lululemon and Athleta have cute workout gear as well.

5.  If it is too hot to go outside, try out the TRX system (core suspension straps).  These straps are excellent for their versatility as you can do a variety of workouts with them.  Focus on stabilizing your core while challenging every muscle group to build stronger, leaner muscles.  You can find them at TRX Training.  A set of dumbells are another great multifunctional tool to build core and joint stability - start off with 3-pound hand dumbells.  You can find some great simple routines at Self Magazine's site.

6.  If you do get injured or need some medical attention, seek out an Active Release Therapy practitioner in your area.  ART providers utilize highly developed skills and anatomical knowledge, in conjunction with symptom patterns and functional testing, to locate scar tissue on and in between muscles and nerves.  A precise hand or thumb contact is applied to the problem area and the patient is directed to move the region of the body through a specific range of motion.  I have had a recurring tendonitis and IT band pain and my ART doctor used a variety of modalities to eliminate my knee and IT band pain.  These include: a hands-on contact to break up any scar tissue, lasers to reduce edema in the knee area and chiropractic adjustments to ensure my running gait was proper, to prevent further injury.  It worked for me after 8 visits and most insurance policies cover this type of physical therapy.  (Be sure to see your doctor though as this isn't medical advice - just one running girl's experience!).

Have fun and enjoy a great summer!!  xoxox