Two-Day Detox, Done!

Wifey’s Weekly Q and A

Dear Wifey,

A detox? Really? What kind? Why? How do you feel? Would you do it again?

That’s just a sample of the questions that I’ve been asked over the past two days about my recent detox, so, I figured I’d answer them in today’s Q and A.

Yes, really, this past Monday and Tuesday I did Arden’s Garden Two-Day Detox. For two days, every hour I drank their mixture of grapefruit juice, orange juice, lemon juice and distilled water. I also had distilled water as desired. You can read more about the detox here. (No, Arden’s Garden did not sponsor this, but hmm lightbulbs are going off.)

Why? Because I needed a change. I’ve been dipping way too much into the cookie jar and was starting to feel really unhealthy. I liked the idea of a harsh, but controlled, change in my behavior that could rejuvenate my system, physically and mentally, and get me back on track. The 9 pounds I lost doing this didn’t hurt either.

Gasp!

Yes, I lost 9 pounds, but don’t be deceived. As soon as I resume eating at least half of that will come back – quickly. It is nice to see the scale moving in a positive direction even though I'm not a big fan of the scale because numbers fluctuate so much. I like to focus on how I feel, how I look and how my clothes fit.

How do I feel? Great! During the detox I had moments of hunger but drinking the juice so frequently really kept me full. I functioned better during the first half of the day, pretty much like normal, but by 3 p.m. my energy and focus were low. Some might say I got a bit silly, ahem. I had planned on attending tennis practice Monday night but quickly reconsidered by the time 7 p.m. rolled around. Two days was perfect for me. I believe in eating and wouldn’t want to go much longer without food.

Would I do it again? Sure. It’s not something I would do often, that’s not the purpose, but I had a positive experience and I’m motivated to resume my healthy habits. If you’re thinking about doing a detox make sure that you do plenty of research, follow the instructions and of course get your doctor’s approval first.

How about you? Any detoxers out there? What do you do to stay on track? Healthy wives want to know…

Winks & Smiles,

Two-Day Detox, Done!

Back on Track

A Sneak Peek Inside Wifey’s House

They say, "you are what you eat" No wonder I’m so cheesy (insert laughter here).

Seriously though, for me, I feel like what I eat. When I eat good healthy foods I feel good, energetic and healthy. When I eat crap, I feel like … crap.

So if it’s that simple, why do I do that to myself? I like most people have moments of weaknesses when my wants (chocolate, pasta, beer, did I say chocolate?) win over my needs (lean protein, healthy grains, green veggies). Fortunately, since I began embracing a healthy lifestyle – working out and eating better – those moments of weakness don’t last as long. My body rejects too much crap which keeps me on the correct path.

Times to come clean … my wants have been kicking my needs ass winning over my needs. I’m excited to say that I’ve had enough chocolate (no, there’s really no such thing as enough chocolate, but it sounds good) and I’m ready to get back on a healthier track.

For the next two days this is my life …

Yup, I’m detoxing. Cleaning out my system – and my mind – with a two-day detox program that will still provide me with the essential minerals and vitamins I need each day. After that I’ll stay on course with a new workout program and better food choices. The holidays are coming. I need energy – and extra room in my jeans – to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.

How about you? Are your wants beating up your needs? How do you get yourself on a positive healthy track? Healthy wives want to know …


Winks & Smiles,

Back on Track

New York, New York: Big City of Dreams ... and Penne Alla Vodka!

Wifey Travels

Ever since Christie and I launched The BlogRollers I have been rolling – literally. Kentucky, Chicago, New York, North Carolina and Florida are just a few of the places my recent adventures have taken me. It’s a far cry from last year’s big excursion to the Mediterranean, but I love traveling so it’s fine with me. As I continue to stay on-the-go I decide I would include some travel posts at Ask Wifey. I love reading about other people’s journeys and enjoy sharing mine, too.

A couple of weeks ago, I flew to New York for one night on a magazine writing assignment. I hadn’t been to Manhattan in several years so I was super excited to get a dose of the big apple – and a slice of pizza, too. The public relations firm that invited me to cover an event put me up at The Premier Hotel – a luxury annex of The Millennium Hotel. I used to travel to New York from Atlanta at least once a month back in my record company days – before I left the business to raise my own little superstars – and loved staying at The Millennium.

Nestled right in the heart of Times Square, I had easy access to all the hustle-and-bustle of the theater district, MTV Studios and some of my favorite restaurants in the city. I was so pleased that The Premier lived up to my memories of The Millennium and then some. It’s a smaller extension of the hotel but the rooms were large and very swanky. I had plenty of space, a nice lounge area and a great view down West 44th Street.

I was only there for one night but felt it necessary to devour have some pasta from my favorite Italian restaurant – especially since it was right down the street. Um, hello, you cannot do New York and not eat. And, I mean EAT. After my event, I found myself sitting at the bar in Carmine’s, sipping a full-body cabernet, waiting for my order of Penne Alla Vodka.

That’s a lot of food, right? No, I didn’t realize that they would give me that much; no, I didn’t eat it all, ahem, … and yes, the bed at The Premier was warm and cozy.

Winks & Smiles,

This is a TravelingMom dedicated post.

New York, New York: Big City of Dreams ... and Penne Alla Vodka!

Sex: Lots, Little or Lack Of

Wifey’s Weekly Q and A – Reversed

You didn’t ask, but I’m just sayin’…

How often do you and your husband have sex?

Gasp!

That’s a rhetorical question, unless you would like to share those intimate details with all of us, but a question that you should ask yourself. Do you know how many times you and your husband have had sex in the past week? OK, month? Come on, year?

I was flipping through channels on Monday and caught a segment of The Dr. OZ Show. He and his guest Dr. Laura Berman, a leading sex educator and therapist, said that sexless marriages are at an alarming high and that sex in marriages are in a state of crisis in this country. With all the pressure and things people are juggling today – spouses, kids, bills, housework, and careers all in a terrible economy – its really not surprising that people’s sex-lives are struggling. But, it’s not good either. Sex is a critical part of a marriage and when it’s neglected, or even eliminated, the relationship undoubtedly suffers.

Dr. OZ is hosting a National Sex Experiment. He says it will start off slow and lead to the “best sex of your life.” Hmm. For those of you who are already swinging from the chandelier on a daily basis, kudos to you, but for the other 99.9 percent of us hopefully that sparked your attention.

This past Monday, Dr. OZ released his first three steps in the program:

Start Talking

Kiss and Cuddle

Just Do It

To learn more details about the experiment and these first three steps visit Dr. OZ’s website.

So, how about you? Do you make sex a priority in your marriage? If so, how? If not, are you willing to start today? Wondering wives want to know …

Winks & Smiles,

Sex: Lots, Little or Lack Of

There's a New Princess in Town

When the good folks at Walt Disney World invited me to come spend a few days at the most magical place on earth I quickly accepted their offer - Minnie Mouse and I have had a thing going on since I was 2. I knew Disney did things really big so I wasn’t surprised when they flew me down in style and put me up at the amazing Animal Kingdom Lodge in the Jambo House. I stayed in the Kudo Trail Guest Rooms and woke up every morning to wildlife right outside my window.

My room ...

Inside the intricately decorated resort ...

The view from my patio - look close there's a giraffe in the center behind a tree and a few elands.

When they picked me up last Monday morning for the parade and arrival of Disney’s newest princess I assured them that they did not have to go through all that fuss for me. Surely, no media would turn out for my arrival. Well, the media and a park full of people did gather at Cinderella’s castle to witness this historic event, except it wasn’t for me, ahem, it was for the beautiful Princess Tiana, Disney’s first African American princess and the star of the new movie The Princess and the Frog in theatres nationwide December 11.

All the princesses, Mickey and the entire crew were on hand for Princess Tiana’s grand entrance. After the parade, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and other characters from the movie launched “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!” a jazz-filled Mardi Gras themed experience running through January 3, 2010. Not only is this newest attraction a treat to see, but to do, too! Each show, 30 park guest are chosen at random to participate in this fun-filled adventure. The singing and dancing was awesome and has me jonesing to see the movie.

Princess Tiana makes her grand entrance ...

Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!

Princess Tiana and friends put on a great show.

My princess experience didn’t stop there. I also had the opportunity to meet Princess Tiana and her charming Prince Naveen. They were extremely gracious – and he was a doll, just as suave as could be.

Royalty at its finest.

After leaving Disney’s newest royal couple I ran into a few other little princesses in the park.

Aren’t they just adorable? They each received the new Princess Tiana makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Magic Kingdom. While I seriously debated hopping in one of the salon chairs to get my pixie-dust makeover, I decided not to embarrass my family and bring my own little princess next time we’re at the park. She would so LOVE all of this princess fuss and I must admit … so did I!

Winks & Smiles,

There's a New Princess in Town

Trick or ... Scream!

A Sneak Peek Inside Wifey’s House

Just because Husband earned some cool points by cleaning the house while I was away at Disney doesn’t mean that he earned the right to scare the bejeezus out of me. Apparently, he thought it be cute to leave a little surprise for me in the closet:



That’s just wrong, right? The volume is kind of low on the video but, trust me, that thing screams loud in person.

How about your family? Do you trick or treat … or try to scare the bejeezus out of each other, too? Scary wives want to know ...

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

Winks & Smiles,

Trick or ... Scream!

Disney Magic

Wifey Travels

The past few months I’ve been traveling a bit more than usual. I like exploring new places and visiting ones that I already know and love. While I enjoy traveling with my family, most of my recent adventures have been without them. I’m fortunate to have my parents, my mother-in-law, my sister and most importantly Husband to take care of Wifey’s House while I’m gone.

Most recently the good folks at Walt Disney World invited me to spend some time with them to meet Princess Tiana, the star of the new Princess and the Frog movie and the first African-American Disney princess, during her debut at Magic Kingdom; and to explore some of the attractions and resorts on the property. I spent three magical days at Disney and will share several highlights with you over the next couple of weeks. What I didn’t realize was that Disney magic was taking place at my house, too.

Normally when I’m gone I’m happy to come back to the house still standing and everyone accounted for – and still in it. Seriously, I never worry while I’m gone – Husband is an excellent father – but let’s just say that I don’t always know what condition Wifey’s House might be in when I return. This trip, Tinker Bell must’ve come and spread some of her pixie dust on Husband because he knocked out his “honey-do" list and more. Not only was Wifey’s House clean, it was organized. While I was playing in the park, Husband, with a little help from my father, spent his vacation from work cleaning-out the garage, the junk-drawers in the kitchen, fixing the running toilet, putting a new fan in the bathroom, fixing the broken light fixtures in the house, putting together the new chair I won from Office Max and even cleaning the burnt smudge off the top of the stove. All this while taking care of my little pumpkins. Oh, he took them to get their real Halloween pumpkins, too.

What can I say, but the man is awesome.

My clean stove - trust me, you don't want to see the before pics.

My new bathroom fan.

My lovely new chair - thanks Office Max!

The princess at Cinderella's Castle.

OK, the REAL Princess Tiana making her Magic Kingdom debut.

My prince charming on vacation in September (he doesn't always stay home!)

I appreciate my wonderful Husband for renovating Wifey’s House while I was gone; my new family at Disney; and of course, the power of Disney magic.

How about you? What does your house look like when you come back from a trip? Do you have any secrets – or pixie dust – to share to get husbands to handle their “honey-do” lists? Moms on the go want to know …

Winks & Smiles,

Wifey's Weekly Q and A will return next week. If you have a question for Wifey, e-mail it to questions@askwifey.com.

Disney Magic