Dear Easter Bunny

10 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Your Athlete

1.) Massage / spa day - There's no better way to pamper especially if the person you are pampering abuses their body regularly for fitness or sport. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE.

2.) Health resort / Canyon Ranch - Exercise, eat well and enjoy the spa for a few days on location. This is an expensive gift but one that will surely be appreciated and has great potential to be romantic if you and yours aren't too worn out from all the workin' out.

3.) Road I.D. - If you're alive you should wear one of these and as a gift, your loved one will know you really, really care.

4.) Vibram FiveFingers - They may look unusual but they feel absolutely amazing and so do your feet and legs after wearing them for a few days. Warning: wearing normal shoes might start to feel odd and even uncomfortable.

5.) Camelbak - Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I don't know a single athlete that doesn't own one of these and couldn't use another. Even if your athlete's sport isn't conducive to wearing one, chances are some of their cross-training activities are.

6.) An intro session with a nutritionist / personal trainer / coach - there are tons of amazing athlete's out there who haven't tapped into their full potential. One way to help them along is to put them in touch with the right people who have the experience and know how to harness it all.

7.) iPod nano - Most everyone I know enjoys listening to tunes when they work out, environment permitting of course.

8.) Heartrate Monitor - this is a really nice gadget to help analyze how your body reacts to athletic activities…

9.) Fitness Journal / Software / fitbit - Keeping track of input and output is often part of an Athlete's routine and more and more companies are putting out products to help; from software and gadgets for the technology geek to a beautifully bound paper journal for the traditionalist, there's no shortage of choices.

10.) Event Tickets - What athlete doesn't like watching their favorite sport live?

Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

-Amanda

2012

Happy New Year SLaMmers!!!

10 Ways to Celebrate NYE

1) Throw a party - I don't know about you but when I think of NYE I think "PARTY!" and what better way to party than in the comfort of your own home. You don't have to have a blowout, just invite a few friends who you won't hate in the morning if they throw-up on your favorite armchair.  

2) Go to a party - If you and your friends have the tendency to go big, this might be a better option than lighting up your own abode. There's nothing like waking up to the destruction of someone else's home, putting in a light obligatory cleanup and slipping out sans steam-cleaning and/or light wall repair duty.

3) Go out to dinner - What better excuse to get dolled up and drop some coin on a fine dining experience than NYE. The vibe on New Year's Eve at a nice restaurant is often better than on any other night of the year; just be sure you make reservations well in advance because walk-ins are often laughed at.

4) See a movie - I'll take in a good movie every night of the year and NYE is no exception. A trip to the big screen is an especially nice option if you don't feel like getting dressed up.

5) Go on a date - There's no better way to tell your significant other how much they mean to you than by spoiling them for the last few hours of the year. The caveat here is to make sure you and your date are romantically on the same page; New Year's tears SUCK. 

6) Watch fireworks - Some cities and towns put on a show and if you're lucky enough to be in one of those locations it can be a really fun way to celebrate with both friends and loved ones. If your town has no such offering, buy your own fireworks and light up the night sky … providing your local laws allow of course.

7) Get out of town - If all the hoopla of taking in the New Year locally is too much, jumping ship is a fine solution. It's likely there are plenty of places close by that you can bail to and celebrate quietly or raucously. Anonymity can be your best friend.  

8) Go on a staycation - If leaving town is too much of a hassle, grab a room at a local hotel and let other people take care of you. You can invite friends to the hotel bar or stay in your room and keep the headcount romantic. The best part is you'll feel like you're miles away and supposing you don't drink too much, you'll likely remember your evening for years to come.

9) Go to a concert - going to see one of your favorite bands is a guaranteed way to remember the New Year and the company you're in for life.

10) Stay home - The least exciting option but one of my favorites, staying at home with a few friends and/or loved ones usually means just the right amount of fun; remember, good food, good drink and good company often make location irrelevant.

Please drink legally and responsibly and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A Sparkling Almond

Almond Creek Sparkling Wine

My choice for a bow basher come midnight New Year's Eve is Almond Creek Sparkling Wine from Trader Joe's. It's definitely no Cristal, Dom Pérignon or even a Veuve Clicquot but at $5.99 a bottle it doesn't have to be.

If you primarily use bubbly to boost your reputation, save a bottle for the next time your accountant stops by; he'll think you're a rockstar.

Zona Snow

Snow WomanLens Bound SnowballThe fam and I jumped in our truck and made the short drive up Mt. Lemmon  several days ago to play in the snow and to be quite honest I'm not sure who had the most fun; unsurprisingly, Blaise thoroughly enjoyed the snowball fights.

The trip isn't a tradition for us yet but I have a feeling it's going to be. 

Letter to Santa

Christmas Pageant

Shepherds & Sheep

Holiday Beauty

Ladies, for an adorable holiday nail idea from a great blog check out the beauty department. Men, pass this on to your ladies for some brownie points.

Last Minute Gift Ideas on a Budget

If you're down to the wire this holiday season, short on cash and need a last minute gift consider these:

• Home Baked Goods - Bake some cookies, Rice Krispies Treats, muffins etc. There's no faster way to someone's heart than through their stomach.

• Lottery Scratchers* - Unwrapping a scratcher (scratching it) and the associated anticipation is what makes them so much fun. In all likelyhood that's all the recipient is going to get but if they're lucky it could be the gift of a lifetime … and they might just share with the person who gave it to them.

*Caveat: Don't give this to anyone with an addictive personality; a gambling problem isn't a gift. Also, make sure the recipient is of legal age.

• Mixed CD - It's corny and dates back to your high school days but it's personalized and if you introduce a friend or loved one to music they end up loving, they might be thanking you for years.

• Art/Photos - Everyone loves art. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece; give your best friend a photo of you two together or give your parents a painting done by their grandchild. One of my favorite places to get inexpensive frames is Crate & Barrel.

• Gingerbread House Kit - If you give someone a gingerbread house and they aren't thrilled consider putting them on next year's naughty list.

• Gift Certificate - This is perhaps the least personal of all gifts but often the most appreciated. Amazon is my favorite becasue they have a plethora of options for almost anyone. iTunes is another great option.

12 of My Favorite Christmas Movies

1)  Christmas Vacation

2)  A Christmas Story

3)  The Muppet Chistmas Carol

4)  A Muppet Family Christmas

5)  Scrooged

6)  Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas

7)  The Santa Clause

8)  Frosty The Snowman

9)  Rudolf The Rednosed Reindeer

10)  Miracle on 34th Street

11)  Home Alone

12)  The Ref

Christmas Town

My Geekiness on Display