Laundry Hack

What really qualifies as a hack?

My opinion is that anything recommended by a friend as a tip to make life easier, safer, saves me money and adds quality to my days most certainly qualifies! 

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Take for example, the dryer sheet. In its beginnings, it was a busy woman's hack. Little did we know that the seemingly harmless toss-in would be linked to toxic chemicals potentially leeching through our skin. I really don't know if this is true or not, but my friends say it is a fact and at my age, I'm willing to look into an alternative... especially when it saves me money in the long run.

Enter rolling and bouncing is the new rage with the FELTED WOOL DRYER BALLS to be purchased from Norwex, WalMart and Bed, Bath & Beyond, online, in-store or at home parties! 

I helped a friend selling Norwex (which I really do like) by ordering a set. I love them! They stay in the dryer, bouncing around my towels --which do not have fabric softener added during the rinse cycle-- making them fluffy! The little woolies keep wrinkles at bay in my cottons and jeans. 

FIT TIP or FITNESS INSTRUCTOR ALERT!  My favorite reason to love these dryer balls is when I decide to machine-dry my fitness apparel instead of hang-dry it. Today's active wear fabric is not designed for fabric softener nor fabric sheets. The residue the liquid and sheets leave behind inhibits the fabric's ability to whisk away sweat and moisture so you feel cooler, drier and less stinky-ish, because bacteria isn't setting up household! 

Common challenges:

"But, I love the smell of dryer sheets." How about you choosing the scent! A couple of drops of your favorite essential oil --trust me, somebody ya know is selling it-- onto each ball and your load of laundry will be smelling up the entire room! See the pic above, the two spots on one of the balls is from tangerine essential oil. I love love this one, but because there is a little bit of color in the oil, I don't use these balls on my husband's dress white shirts!

"But, I heard those balls create static cling." They can, especially in the winter. The internet has hacks for this remedy. One hack is to put each ball into an old white sock or hose, tie the top and wash in hot water only and, then, dry in the dryer. I guess this gets rid of the clothing fibers and some of the essential oils thus helping to renew the natural wool magic!

Have you tried this hack, yet? You may love 'em! I do! Leave a comment...

A Laundry Hack

You just washed your sports bra, socks, leggings, tank or tshirt and it smells spring clean... 

...UNTIL the first 5 minutes of your next workout. Then, the foul odor of B.O. or chicken noodle soup or funky monkey butt or that fishy down-there-smell rises to your nose. 

TIP: Add a cup of plain old white vinegar to the laundry detergent in the washer. Initially it may take a couple of washings to remove the smell. 

Repeat, as needed, throughout the year to keep your fitness apparel, activewear and athletic swag smelling clean and fresh! Works for everyday undies and bras, too!

Gotta laundry hack? Lemme know!

I LOVE Skirt Sports

I'm in, again! 

It's my second year to be selected as an Ambassador (captain) for my fave sports apparel! 

I LOVE this company! 

When the media exploits only thin is healthy...
When too many fitness clothing companies overlook women with curves...
When strong and beautiful doesn't match popular opinion...
When you personally feel "modest is hottest"...

...there is a company which dares to be different empowering women --sizes 0 to 22-- with self-confidence and providing flattering prints and designs made of high quality, industry tech fabrics!

Skirt Sports® knows real women move!

Skirt Sports@ is aware real women have real bodies!

Skirt Sports® believes real women are real inspiration!

Skirt Sports® celebrates real women being real athletes!

Skirt Sports® outfits real women who want to look cute!

Just look at this picture. There is no body-shaming among women who seek to build each other. These women are confident and look amazing. They are athletes. All of the marketing is based around friends, ambassadors and customers, just like these women pictured!

Whether you are a girl who walks around the block or runs ultra marathons, Skirt Sports® is for you!
Whether you ride, spin, mud, lift, climb, toss tires or nail the crow pose, Skirt Sports® is for you!
Whether you do fitness solo or in a room full of friends, Skirt Sports® is for you!
Whether you feel you have limited ability or are a skilled professional, Skirt Sports@ is for you!

I challenge you to look around SkirtSports.com and not find something that catches your eye or meets your need. When you do find something, use the current discount code to the right of this article just below the Ambassador Stamp which will save you 20% off full-priced and sale-priced items. Hey, just for signing up for the Skirt email gets you 15% off!

The Dessert menu for some of my fave pieces?

• Heartbreaker Skirt for the Hot Chocolate 15K
• Lotta Breeze Capri Skirt for the Run with Nat Half
• Happy Girl Skirt for the Skirt Sports® 13er
• (kinda pictured) Kelly bra

If you have questions about some styles, ASK ME. I may be able to answer how it fits me.

CONVERT to SKIRT!

My First Running Skirt

2016 Hot Chocolate 15K ... 14 degrees at Finish Line!

After my hubby's heart attack in December 2012, we launched into a desperate change of lifestyle. Nutrition and fitness were the chosen shovels to dig our unhealthy selves out of the poor physical pit. He liked running. I did not, but knew I had to get moving. 


I joined a dance fitness class which met three times weekly and hid in the shadows of the back row, each week, wearing long sleeves and long athleisure pants hoping not to embarrass myself. I was overweight and weak and, by the first 20 minutes, out-of-breath, but I kept at it determined not to be a statistic of failure.

Although I did not notice the physical changes, by spring my body was getting stronger and leaner! Hubby was going out for a run and to his surprise (and mine), I asked to join him. Something short of a miracle happened, that day. I did 3 miles feeling strong and enjoying being out with him with the sunshine on my face! We kept running, together, on the days I wasn't doing a fitness class. We weren't fast and our form incorrect, but we were moving!

That's me in the doorway wearing the blue Heartbreaker Skirt
with a few members of the local running group!

Summer cooled down to nice running weather through November. It was during this time, I stumbled upon a Facebook promotion of the Holiday Challenge led by Running Coach Jenny Hadfield, co-author of Running for Mortals. Each week runners, walkers, fitness enthusiasts logged miles and "miles." Each mile walked or run counted an actual mile. A "mile" was earned for each 10 minutes of exercise (cycling, yoga, dance fitness, etc.). Weekly challenges were issued with prizes to be won or randomly drawn from our group of challengers.

One such week the requirement to win the prize was to post why you should be chosen. The prize was donated by Skirt Sports® founded by Nicole DeBoom. What an eye-opener! I never knew there was such cute, stylish and modest fitness clothes for someone like me. The models on the website were real women with curves who were running and active!

Something rose up in me. I popped my knuckles and crafted a paragraph to capture the attention of Coach Jenny's elves as to why I needed either the sports bra or the running skirt. By Sunday, I had received an email stating I was the winner of the blue Heartbreaker Skirt!

The staff at Skirt Sports® was helpful and didn't crush my shaky confidence, but supported me in choosing the right size...a smaller size than what I would have ordered. Then, I nervously waited for the thing of beauty to arrive hoping it would fit and I would look decent.

Holy Cow! An Oscar trophy dipped in gold could not have been more treasured than my first running skirt. The shirred skirt draped off my healthy backside in a flattering way and offered the coverage across the crotch I needed. The two pockets under the skirt were genius! I didn't even know I needed them until I started stuffing them full of, well, stuff! The description on the website read: You're a heartbreaker... dream maker... and we know that you were born to rock this skirt. My response? YES, I AM!



It's 2017, and Hubby and I are still running and walking and hiking, together. He makes me smile when he says, "I've been chasing her skirt for a long time!" Now, I have many more Skirt Sports® skirts for him to chase, but my first skirt holds a special place in my heart.

#31DaysofSkirtSports Week 1

Why YES, I AM a Skirt Sports Ambassador Captain! Earlier, this year, I was selected to represent this company because I believe in their mission and their products! While Skirt Sports offers shorts and capris for the real women, it's the skirt that drew me in to "Convert to Skirt." I love the compression gear underneath the skirt, which keeps the jiggly from being all wiggly! And, at age 52, I require coverage -- 
cover-age! (I'll leave that one, right there)

Skirt Sports converts, everywhere, are getting in on July's #31DaysofSkirtSports. Let me take you through my first 7 days via my social media accounts...

Day 1. TGIF - Freshly laundered Skirt Sports because #realwomenmove in the Tennessee sunshine!

(Some of my Skirt Sports swag. The grey visor is a BOCO visor for Skirt Sports with a headband at the front to soak up sweat.)

I suggest drip drying your tech gear, but you can always toss it in the dryer on low.

Day 2. Nourish with GOOD FOOD, errday!

(Wearing Happy Girl skirt, colorful Tantrum print)

If you find something you're interested in on the SkirtSports.com website, be sure to enter COP20 at checkout for a 20% discount!

Day 3. A long weekend to run and watch Shark Week shows is like a mini VACATION!

(Skirts Sports Ambassador Trucker Cap - totally free when you become an ambassador! How cool is that?)

Day 4. Feelin' PATRIOTIC, but not skilled at cornhole on Fort Loudon Lake!

Fitness apparel is for any day, not just for fitness activities.

(Wearing Happy Girl, the monochromatic gray Gotham print)

Enter COP20 at checkout for a 20% discount! And, if it's not your thang, the friendly folks in customer service can help you return your purchase.

Day 5. A little TRAILHEAD at Cove Lake State Park of LaFollette, in the Cumberland Mountains of East Tennessee with our little Zuzu the Shihtzu!

Pictured is my wonderful and supportive hubby who says, "I've been chasing your skirt for years!" 

I'm ok with that!

Day 6. After a day of leading REFIT® fitness classes, foam rolling is tonight's hurt-so-good RECOVERY tool on tight calves and sore glutes. 

#stay dry #alldaylong because #realwomenmove 

(Wearing Happy Girl skirt, Tantrum print)

Day 7. Isolate other muscle groups for whole body fitness  = CrossTrain‬‪

Runners tend to focus on strengthening the legs when all over conditioning makes for a stronger runner. I targeted my core, this evening, doing mountain climbers, planks, sit ups, roll ups, crunches, and this modified version of mountain climber.
TIP: My wrists don't have a full range of motion, so I elevate using weights when holding a plank or doing mountain climbers.

(Wearing my Skirt Sports Ambassador swag a.k.a online as the "Don't Sweat It Long Sleeve" which is soft as buttaaaahh!)

Totally authorized to extend to you a 20% discount by entering COP20 at checkout, at least through December 2016!