Friday Fitness...Run Nikki Run!!

I'm a lottery winner! I won a spot in the Twin Cities Marathon 10 mile run scheduled for October 4, 2009. I will officially start training for the run on Monday, so wish me luck! I am hoping to get fit, cross the finish line and reclaim all those size 8's in my closet.

I have decided to be honest and upfront with my battle against the baby weight and I will give updates about my weight loos, as well as progress on my training for the 10 miler, and yes I will include pictures of my fat ass and hopefully we can all watch it shrink...LMAO

My first update will be July 31...complete with pictures! My plan is to wear the same outfit each time I do a progress report so we can see the changes in my body better. Heck, I may even put on some of my "size 8"fitness gear...that way we can really, really see me shrink. Let me say ahead of time that these pictures will be foul (i will have to stuff myself in to a size 8 with muffin top and all spilling over) and only intended to humiliate myself into success and encourage others.

Again, let make the commitment to ourselves to be fit and the best that each of us can be.

Stay Tuned!
~Nikki

Remedial Grammar

Grown folk... please, please, please, figure out the difference between "your" and "you're." We are to old to be (yes I and intentionally using "be" as a verb/action word) messing up what I consider to be basic usage of the English language. At least once a day I see professional confuse the meaning of your and you're. So in an effort to keep Sister Delores's ( my grade school English teacher) head from spinning...take not eon the proper usage or your and you're.


A frighteningly large percentage of individuals fail to understand the difference between the words "you're" and "your". Here is a quick and dirty crash course on this common usage problem.

Understand the proper usage of the word you're. It is a contraction, or a combination of the words you and are. Other examples of contractions include doesn't, they're, and can't.
"You're a good friend." ("YOU ARE a good friend.")

"I don't know what you're talking about." ("I don't know what YOU ARE talking about.")

Understand the proper usage of the word your. The word your is the possessive form of you, referring to something that a person has, or something that belongs to the person in discussion [or, the person you are talking to].

"Is your stomach growling?"

"Your book is on the table."

Take a look at some examples. Each of the following examples shows an incorrect use of your/you're, and why it is incorrect.

"I can't read you're handwriting."
Incorrect because the contraction for "you are" is being used as the possessive form of you. It should be replaced with "your". Would "I can't read you are handwriting" make sense?

"If your hungry, then you should probably eat something."
Incorrect because there is no possession in question. This should be replaced with you're, or you are. Would "If my hungry..." make sense?

"Your very smart."
Again, incorrect. The "very smart" does not belong to the person that you are talking to — this doesn't make any sense. Replace your with you're, or you are.

Keep in mind that the word your will never be followed by the words the, a, or an.
Remember that the word your will usually not be followed by an adjective [a word that describes], when that adjective is describing the person that you are talking to. In other words, saying "Your very kind" or "Your stupid" will almost never be correct. "Your very kind" or "your stupid" would be correct if they were describing a noun.
"Your nice son brought me my coat."
Here, your nice is correct because nice is describing the person's son.

TIPS
Remember that you're is actually a combination of two words and thus fulfills two very important roles in a sentence or clause. Because it includes both a pronoun and a verb, you're will always be the subject and at least part of the verb of any clause in which it appears.


Try replacing “your” or “you’re” with “you are” if you are unsure which to use. If the sentence makes sense, use “you’re.” Remember that only “you’re” is a contraction, and it omits the letter “a.” The apostrophe in “you’re” signifies the omission of the letter “a.” If the sentence does not make sense, you will know to use “your.”


For example:
“You’re a good writer!” → “You are a good writer!”“You are” makes sense in this sentence, so you can use “you’re.”
”I cannot read you're handwriting.” → "I cannot read you are handwriting."“You are” does not make sense in this sentence, so you should use “your.”


Try not to think that proper writing is strictly "academic". It makes you appear more intelligent. More importantly, it eliminates the risk of bad habits "slipping out" in situations in which it is critical to convey properness, such as writing a college essay or a job résumé.

Dreamy Skin from LUSH Cosmetics

If you suffer from dry skin, eczema, or problem skin, I've got just the cure for you...but it's gonna cost you! Lush Cosmetics will clear up your skin and leave it baby soft with a one, two punch. Punch number 1...hop in the shower and slather Lush's Dream Wash Shower Smoothie all over your body. The cream has the consistency of pudding and it really doesn't take much to cover your entire body so an 8.8 ounce package of the stuff will last you a long time, and that's a good thing considering the price...$18.55. But beware, if it's lather you are looking for you won't find it in this "body wash." It cleanses wonderfully without actually lathering. Here's the product description:


Herbal and softly floral body wash gives troubled skin a break. In your dreams you have perfect skin: soft, smooth, with no bumps or flakes. We're usually born this way, but achieving baby-soft skin later in life often requires a bit of help. If scaliness, breakouts or dullness are a problem, try this cleansing smoothie to help restore your skin's beauty. Loaded with beneficial essential oils like lavender and chamomile, this fragrant shower cleanser gently but effectively alleviates your skin's worst problems.


This stuff is true to its product description and a definite keeper if you have problem skin or if you are like me and your skin begs for more in the dry winter months. I will say that the smell is more herbal than flowery...almost a bit medicinal, so some of you may be a bit turned off by that, but the product does rinse clean in the shower so the smell doesn't really stay with you.


Punch number 2...Dream Cream Body Cream. Now this stuff definitely has a herbal/medicinal like smell and because it's a cream the smell will linger with you for a bit. I suggest using this stuff at bedtime if you don't want to smell a bit like an old lady. My daughter has eczema and this stuff has worked its magic on her skin! Here's the product description:


Light and herbal body cream miraculously restores sore skin. We take every natural ingredient aimed at transforming dry, bumpy and unhappy skin and combine them all into an epidermal elixir of excellence. This moisturizer helps you banish alligator elbows and impress that special someone with your baby-soft skin. Use a small dollop every night before bed and find your skin silky and comforted within days.


This stuff is the TRUTH and I will gladly pay the outrageous price of $22.55 for 8.4 ounces of the Dream Cream anytime!! Again so y'all know I actually use this stuff...here's my stash!
~Nikki