 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
  |
|
Dear Zelda, While I'm big-boned and busty, I still want to look good in a bathing suit this summer. You're big-boned and sort of busty, but you're also a supermodel. Can you share your tricks with a small town girl who wants to flaunt what nature has given her? Big-Boned, Busty and Beautiful Dear Big-Boned, Busty and Beautiful, You sound like a gal after my own heart! Heck yes, get out your sun-screen, grab your beach towel, find a sexy suit, and get ready to head for the beach! First, however, let me say that being big-boned, especially as a supermodel, doesn't mean you can't also be fit. I'm big and I'm proud, but I also try to stay healthy. For me, that means running laps (okay, one lap) on a nearby track to trim off some of that winter insulation that seems to gather around my waist. So start by taking a good look in the mirror. If you see 'love handles,' you can begin by making them look less like 'handles' and more like something to love. My real trick for staying buff, though, is to always keep moving. Walk everywhere you can. Climb stairs instead of taking the elevator. Bicycle rather than take the bus. Walk in circles if there's nowhere else to go. Move move move. When you're feeling a bit more fit from all your movin' and groovin', it's time for my next piece of advice, which takes place in the dressing room. Remember when you're trying on swimsuits, don't ask the sales person's opinion of how the hot pink thong bikini looks... ask yourself. Only if YOU feel good flaunting what nature has given you should you buy that pink thong. And if you do feel comfortable wearing it, and have that much nature to flaunt, more power to you! As for the busty part, use good judgment. As I've said in the past, "all you need is a great set of coconuts." But understated is never underrated. Trust me, a great one-piece black swimsuit can look stylish, sophisticated, and sexy... just ask Audrey Hepburn. So buy the swimsuit that makes YOU feel good. The secret to balancing fitness and happiness is to be proud of what nature gave you, but still committed to taking good care of the wonderful body you've got, whatever its size and shape. Stay active, stay positive, and find yourself a knockout suit, and I guarantee it'll be a long, VERY hot summer. Zelda Dear Zelda, We have been having a heat wave here. My two dogs really don't like the heat at all. It's a good thing that we have air conditioning in our house, but I would like to let my dogs stay outside. I think they get tired of staying inside all the time. What is your advice to keep dogs cool in the "dog days" of summer without moving to the beach? Panting in Portland Dear Panting in Portland, Doggone it's hot, and in the summer the living isn't always easy for us canines. Actually, the summer heat can be extremely dangerous, especially for those of us with a little extra insulation (I'm not pointing any paws.). So here are a few of my tips for chillin' out on those hot, humid dog days of summer: My first, and probably most important piece of advice is that when we're outside we should always have cool, clean, refreshing drinking water available. I think a spill-proof bowl is de rigueur if your owner isn't going to be out there with you at all times. The second absolute necessity is shade. Never, never, never leave us without a place that provides all-day shade. It can be a large beach umbrella or an overhang, but it needs to remain shaded even when the sun shifts. And when it's extremely hot, or in the heat of the day, we need to move indoors. If your dog is feeling too hot under the collar try my latest discovery, Kool Collars, available at www.koolcollar4dogs.com. I love my Kool Collar. You just freeze the reusable and non-staining freezer tube or add ice cubes inside these colorful collars, put the Kool Collar around your dog’s neck and BINGO, bliss from any blistering heat. The packaging for the collars says, "FILL ME WITH ICE." What could be easier? These collars help prevent heatstroke, heat related problems, are vet recommended and non-toxic. Haute dogs need Kool Collars. Another trick my owner keeps up her sleeve is that she fills a big plastic bowl, or even an empty 1/2 gallon milk carton, with flavored water. She varies the flavors with a few squeezes of lemon juice or a dash of chicken bouillon. You can be creative here... pomegranate pickle juice or liquor-free margarita mix? Now we're talkin.' She pops the container in the freezer, and when the liquid turns slushy, inserts a sturdy stick in the middle. Think of it as a giant pup-cicle. When Zoe, ZeeZee and I are outside she removes the frozen giant pup-cicle from its container, flips it over and sticks it in the ground. In no time our treat has taken a licking... by us. And since we dogs control our temperature mainly through our tongues, it's a great way for us to beat the heat. Cool, huh? There are also a variety of products you can find in pet stores, like Fill-n-Freeze bones and Cool-It bandanas. There is even a product called an Outward Hound Hydration System that lets us carry around our own water supply for long walks (www.partipoodlepetsupplies.com)! And for the really cool canine, there are also Miracool Mats, that you soak in cold water. When we stretch out on them, we're cool and comfy for a long time. I hope my suggestions are helpful. When in doubt, be conservative and bring your dog(s) inside; it's amazing how fast we overheat, particularly when it's scorching outside. But here at Team Zelda we're definitely staying cool, and now you can be too! Zelda Share this column with a friend! |
|
|
||||||
 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
