The nutrition bar market is crowded. After watching Fed Up (watch it!) and reading It Starts With Food (read it!), I am always checking ingredients to make sure the products I love most in the world are made with wholly good stuff. Sadly, lots of the products I’m in love with are not. i.e. alkalized …

“I have written 11 books,” said the late Maya Angelou, who was renowned as a novelist, poet, and memoirist, “but each time, I think ‘Uh-oh. They’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody and they’re going to find me out.’” Angelou was a remarkable talent, but she was equally remarkable in …

I have oft heard the argument or sensed the belief that faith is a crutch for the feeble-minded.  Hollywood’s response to anything God-involved is to laugh. I recently saw the critically-acclaimed movie Boyhood. The film was groundbreaking because it was a fictional depiction of a boy’s maturation filmed over a twelve year period with the …

 I’m a Jane Austen snob. Snobby enough to think that if I lived in the 18th century, I’d be friends with Jane. She would think I’m super clever and I would learn fanciful adjectives from amiable Jane every day. I recently told someone Pride and Prejudice was my all-time favorite book. The setting in which …

After being away from home for almost two weeks, I was wagging nearly as exuberantly as our puppy greeters after crossing the threshold of our home. This was our post-summer season vacation/Matt’s only real break from swimming during the year. We kicked it off with two swim clinics, one in Kansas City then one in …

Looking good while sweating has never been a concern of mine. But since I often live in workout apparel for hours before/after my workouts, I figure looking presentable makes sense. Following are the newest additions to help you feel less like a scrub prior to/during/after a workout. Top and leggings from Fabletics. Sports bra from …

Sparkling eyes really draw me in. I’m not talking about physical attraction like that I have to Matt’s dreamy light eyes. I could rave about that man, but I’m not writing to make you vomit from my lovey gushings. There are a few ladies in my life who have eyes that exhibit a vigor for …

Jobs. They sure are not what I thought they were growing up. Swimming was my first job. Dream job! I remember bitching about practice and Matt drilling sense into my noggin: “You do realize we’re working out for a living.” Swimming is all about self-improvement. Long ago Phelps understood he was immensely talented. He knew …

I’m not always joyful. Some days my self pity sinks me. When I rain self pity, I pour self pity. Snowballing pity is a recipe for misery. Here’s a recent example of me wanting to make my life sad:  I’m at work on my birthday. No one knows it’s my birthday. I guess I could …

Early this morning, I discovered Yogi Nora on YouTube. Her high-on-yoga smile and sporadic looney laugh leads me to believe she may be high on more than yoga. What she can do with her body is truly amazing and she has a pleasant voice, which is the primary trait I look for when doing my …