That Sports Girl by Gina Miller

How to Win the Weight Loss Game by Focusing on What You CAN Eat vs What You Can't

2013-05-23T11:39:00.002-05:00

A debate with a friend turned heated recently. He's trying to lose weight and get in "fighting shape". He is incorporating a low calorie weight loss plan that is, frankly, pretty bland and boring. He also lamented the fact that he couldn't have beer, breads, ice cream, the chips he loves, blah blah blah blah.

Ice cream chocolate chip sandwich/Courtesy: Bon Appetite

I countered with two points. First, you CAN have those things once in a while as a part of a balanced diet. He thought he had to eliminate them completely. Wrong. Think once a week, not twice a day.

Then I presented him with this: "look at the great food you CAN have": fish, chicken, lean steak, sweet potatoes, greens of all sorts, peppers, fresh berries, red wine (HELLO), dark chocolate, blah blah blah blah."

He couldn't get over the fact that he CAN'T have certain food items. I say focus on what you CAN have if you're trying to drop weight or stay withing a healthy range. Doing the latter makes the sometimes taxing mental process of trying to win the weight loss game much more bearable.

If you prepare for the day thinking "Crap, no 4pm cookie, no afterwork beers, no pretzels during the Rangers game" you will go crazy. The thought of what you can't consume can consume you so much so that you end stuffing your face with all the stuff you swore off eating.

The best, healthiest smoothie ever.

Instead, approach your day this way: "This oatmeal with apples and peanut butter for breakfast is so much food!" "Spinach and raspberries are so fresh right now they will go well with the chicken/tuna/ I am having for lunch." "This smoothie full of bananas, berries and kale tastes like fresh gelato!" (it really does) "This corn is so ripe, it's going to be a perfect side dish for my Mediterranean halibut recipe."

That's not some pollyanna way of thinking. It works. Succeeding at eating a healthy diet is as much about mental execution as it is the physical. We know the right foods to eat. It's just hard to do it. Get your mind focused on what you CAN eat instead of what you CAN'T and you WILL succeed.

Promise.

Looking for a great way to eat a bounty of fresh produce, wine, chocolate, nuts and more, try the Mediterranean "diet". I hate using the word "diet" because it's much more of an approach to eating that is wonderfully balanced and so inclusive you won't feel like you're depriving yourself of anything.

A Simple Question For You To Answer

2013-05-22T09:26:00.001-05:00

What do you want from this website?

Okay, maybe that's not so simple a question but I would like to know.

I started blogging in earnest about three years ago and fell in love with it. Then, the focus was on DFW sports because I really didn't have that outlet professionally to share my perspective. (You MUST read about my trip to an Oklahoma State game on T. Boone Pickens plane, btw.)

Boone Pickens leading the OSU band

Since then, ThatSportsGirl.com has evolved into grab bag of anything that piques my interest dictated by my genuine belief that cultivating the best out of life is a sport.

Topics have included:

My internship series focusing on how to win your internship and parlay it into a successful career. I also shared a LONG yet normal day-in-the-life of a sportscaster. I'm thrilled to announce that I am turning the internship series into an ebook!

Hosting the Fan Sports Show with guest Marty Turco

Healthy living ideas including everything from juicing to awesome Mediterranean Diet recipes, the 25 best diet tricks of all-time and the best smoothie recipe ever (really).
Exercise advice featuring the 7-minute workout, the awesomeness of the Nike Training Club app & more.
Stories of tackling new motherhood while still trying to grow a career I love. I'm tackling breast feeding AKA "breast arrest" next.
Travel stories from visits to Tel Aviv, stories from Paris on travels with Jordan and my observation that French women DO get fat plus tips on where to stay and play in Cabo San Lucas.
Lessons in buying quality goods, not crap and where to score luxury finds for less.
The awesomeness of Good New Friday.

I want to build ThatSportsGirl.com into a real community and you are a part of that. What do you want to see more of on this blog?

Career and internship advice?
Healthy living and exercise tips?
Beauty secrets culled from a life in the TV makeup chair?
Stories from the working parent front?
Travel tales?
A chance to network and meet other likeminded sports fans?
A peak behind the DFW sports curtain?
Something else?

Please post your thoughts in the comments section and tell me a little bit about you. Don't want to go public? No sweat. You can also email me at thatsportsgirl@gmail.com.

I can't wait to hear from you!

Putting The 7-Minute Workout Into Action

2013-05-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

So Monday was all about getting caught up in the buzz of the"7-minute workout".

Guilty.

But I did more than blog about this new fitness discovery. I actually did my own version at the gym.

Here was my Monday plan:

Thirty minutes on the stepmill. I love it because I can read and work up a good sweat. I have to do so much homework for my "day job" that if I can multitask and do my Rangers/Cowboys/Mavs/Colonial/Nelson/Whatever homework while exercising, I am a step ahead.

Following that, I did (most of) the exercises suggested by the American College of Sports Medicine in their sample workout:

Photo: American College of Sports Medicine

1. Jumping jacks Total body

2. Wall sit Lower body

3. Push-up Upper body

4. Abdominal crunch Core

5. Step-up onto chair Total body

6. Squat Lower body

7. Triceps dip on chair Upper body

8. Plank Core

9. High knees/running in place Total body

10. Lunge Lower body

11. Push-up and rotation Upper body

12. Side plank Core

I followed their practice of performing each exercise for 30 seconds followed by a 10 second transition time to the next exercise. It totaled, yes, about seven minutes per circuit.
I did not have a chair, so in place of Step Ups (#5), I did reverse side angle lunges. In place of the Triceps Dips on a Chair (#7), I did simple floor dips with bent legs.
I performed this routine twice.

You know what, I feel like I got a workout. As I write this at 9am Tuesday morning, I'm a little sore, especially in my upper body. I attribute that to the push-ups (#3) and push-ups with a twist (#11).

The thing is, those 12 exercises are not the end-all/be-all. You can do a variety of exercises for a quality full body workout. Any health and fitness magazine can suggest some great exercises for you to do.

The key was the intensity and the speed at which I did the work. There was no dawdling. The workout was quick, intense and challenging. It's a good option but, like I reiterated Monday, not the only way to go when it comes to getting in shape.

The 7-Minute Workout. Really?

2013-05-13T10:31:00.000-05:00

Is this the workout of your dreams? In your own home? No gym required?

Perhaps.

The latest research from the American College of Sports Medicine's Health and Fitness Journal indicates all you need is a high intensity, seven-minute workout for fitness. Again, we're not talking about professional athletes or people who need to look a certain way for their jobs. This is about the average person. The key is you have to WORK for those seven minutes. Don't donkeyjack.

The study is pretty intensive in its scientific jargon. Sunday's New York Times Magazine does a good job putting the results in layman's terms.

In 12 exercises deploying only body weight, a chair and a wall, it fulfills the latest mandates for high-intensity effort, which essentially combines a long run and a visit to the weight room into about seven minutes of steady discomfort — all of it based on science.

Photo: American Council on Exercise

I love that wall squats are included in this. I have been doing them since I was 14 years old. Professional athletes in all sports do it to this day. I spent a morning wall-squatting in a hotel gym with Jason Kidd on an offday during the Mavs championship run.

After training for marathons and spending hours in a gym, I've learned it's truly the quality of the exercise that counts. Forty-five mindless minutes on an elliptical aren't quite as effective as 25 quality minutes of running sprints. But, sometimes you need that 45 minutes on the elliptical to read a magazine, watch a movie or just get the blood flowing.

I think this shorter, quality workout advice is great to take to heart but don't make it your mantra. It's a solid concept to incorporate into an overall routine that works for you. For me, I need that hour-long walk or lengthy pilates class for my mental well-being as well as the physical part.

Here is a link to my quickie workout that is very similar to the seven-minute workout philosophy. This is my "pressed for time, I didn't get to the gym but still need a booty kick" routine.

I believe 30-minutes of exercise a day will change your life. Read the research.

Here is a sample workout from ACSM:

The following is an example of a 12-station HICT program. All exercises can be done with body weight and implements easily acquired in almost any setting (e.g., home, office, hotel room, etc.). The exercise order allows for a total body exercise to significantly increase the heart rate while the lower, upper, and core exercises function to maintain the increased heart rate while developing strength.

Exercises are performed for 30 seconds, with 10 seconds of transition time between bouts. Total time for the entire circuit workout is approximately 7 minutes. The circuit can be repeated 2 to 3 times.

1. Jumping jacks Total body

2. Wall sit Lower body

3. Push-up Upper body

4. Abdominal crunch Core

5. Step-up onto chair Total body

6. Squat Lower body

7. Triceps dip on chair Upper body

8. Plank Core

9. High knees/running in place Total body

10. Lunge Lower body

11. Push-up and rotation Upper body

12. Side plank Core

'The Great Gatsby'-Inspired Edition of Good News Friday

2013-05-10T08:04:00.001-05:00

From "The Great Gatsby" movie's release (and all the wonderful collaborations to go along with its release) to Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp literally giving a special fan the shirt off his back, it's been another outstanding week.

Read this story. Tell me it doesn't impress you. Kemp is a great guy. This reaffirms it.

You also had some great news to share!

Gorgeous!

‏@jsc20051: My little niece went to her first recital!!

Brian Ethridge: My wife's daughter Maddie Linyard, has just completed her first year at UNT! She is a Zeta, she has been working at WinStar hotel as a night admin and front desk person and maintained her lifestyle wonderfully! On top of it all she has a really good chance of making the deans list!

Awesome!

Photo: Warner Bros

"The Great Gatsby" opens today. The reviews of Baz Lurhmann's interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic novel are mixed. Some good. Some bad. Some in the middle.

I'm excited and anxious at the same time because I love the book so much. My daughter's name, Jordan, was inspired by the novel's Jordan Baker. Here's hoping the movie in some way lives up to its fabulous literary counterpart.

Photos: Warner Bros

I'm thrilled to the see the clothes. Costume designer, Catherine Martin, collaborated with designer Miucca Prada on the costumes and they are gloriously stunning.

Deco Fan Bangle, Photo: Tiffany & Co

I'm also excited about the new collection from Tiffany & Co inspired by the movie. While I won't be purchasing any of Tiffany's notoriously overpriced baubles, I do love to look. (You HAVE to read this story about Tiffany's markup vs Costco's LACK of ridiculous markup, if you're jewelry-obsessed).

Photo: Tiffany & Co

This breathtaking flower ring from the Great Gatsby Collection is set in platinum and features a 5.25-carat diamond in the center. The price? $875,000.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said about his main female character, Daisy Buchanan: "her voice is full of money."

This is a ring worthy of that voice.

Check out last week's edition of Good News Friday that celebrated professional growth and a college-bound high school senior earning a full scholarship!

A Weight Loss Guide: It's About Calorie Intake, Right? Sorta

2013-05-07T09:07:00.003-05:00

It's simple: burn more calories than you consume. This is a tried and true formula, yes?

Yes, but.....

Many times those calorie estimates are inaccurate. You could also miscalculate the serving size you consume (I only had ~~one handful~~ of M&M's, okay three). Basically calories in vs calories out is akin to being good on paper but bad in bed.

courtesy: mass.gov

The Mayo Clinic has an OUTSTANDING website that tackles all sorts of health issues, including the calorie conundrum. Read this excerpt from their Nutrition Wise blog in a post titled "Calories Reconsidered: Old Assumptions Questioned":

Calories and weight loss
The traditional calorie calculation goes like this: 1 pound of body fat equals 3,500 calories. So if you decrease your intake — or burn — 500 calories a day, you should lose 1 pound a week (500 x 7 = 3,500).

Although this equation works mathematically, researchers are noticing that it doesn't seem to work as well in the messier real world. (see: good on paper, bad in bed)

Nutrition experts agree that many factors — in addition to calories — affect the rate of weight loss. These include your genetics, your metabolic rate, what your body is losing (fat, muscle or water), how your body adjusts to fewer calories and more exercise, and even how much sleep you get. All these factors can alter the prediction of weight loss. And that makes it difficult to predict how fast you or anyone else will lose weight.

Calories in food
Also being questioned is the century-old Atwater method for calculating the number of calories found in foods according to their carbohydrate protein and fat contents. It's long been thought that if you know the grams of carbohydrate, protein and fat in a food you can get a fairly good estimate of the total calories in that food. So, for example, 1 gram of carbohydrate has 4 calories and 1 gram of fat has 9 calories — knowing how many grams of each are in the food, you can estimate the total calories.

However, food and nutrition experts are having to rethink this assumption. It appears that the Atwater method overestimates the number of calories in a food or mixed diet by as much as 25 percent compared to more precise measurements that mimic what a person may actually digest, absorb and metabolize. If that's the case — and that hasn't been proven yet — it may mean that food labels and tables listing calorie content of foods might be off.

All of this news shouldn't leave you frustrated or running to fridge for ice cream saying "Screw it! I can't win!"

Not true. You can.

It's not about the HCG diet, the Atkins diet, the grapefruit diet or some other wacky weight loss regime. It's about eating smart. Focus on food that is high in nutrients and colorful. Think about it: red bell pepper, green spinach, yellow banana, pink salmon, orange sweet potatoes, even white cauliflower. You get the idea.

courtesy: visual.ly

I am biased because I experience a ton of success and enjoyment from eating this way. I love the Mediterranean "diet" or, better stated, "approach to eating". It's not a diet. There is no deprivation. It's time and again touted as being the healthiest way to eat, most recently helping to fight dementia.

Here is one of my favorite, easy Mediterranean diet recipes, a wonderful halibut dish.

Weight loss and maintenance is a journey. One that has wrong turns, switchbacks and downhill sprints.

Crap, just last night I mowed down a basket of french fries. I was miserable because I had some awful dental work done, my mouth was sore and I was on drugs which made my stomach wonky. I needed soft, substantial food. I still feel those fries in my belly but they were damn good. Today I'll be focusing on veggies and fruits for my daily intake.

It's not about perfection. It's about finding that balance that works for you.

Good News Happens! Here's Proof

2013-05-03T08:25:00.000-05:00

Here's proof:

‏@ShaundaPoster I found out that I will be co-hosting the pregame show for the Dallas Cowboys all home games next season!!

Shaunda is still in school and started as an intern for the Cowboys television department. She has proven herself time and again. She's professional, engaging and willing to do whatever it takes. That's a recipe for success. SO happy for her. She deserves it.

‏

@CBS11Tracy What a night: Luke commits to play for Vanderbilt AND my daughter chats with me on the phone for a good 30 minutes! #lifeisgood

Talk about a proud mom! Tracy Kornet's son, Luke, committed to play basketball at Vanderbilt this week. His father, Frank played there. All THREE of Tracy and Frank's kids play college basketball. WOW! Read her full account of Luke's journey here.

‏@timmytyper

Here's why I will soon not be the editor of @DMagazine: http://d-m.ag/18dADyV If you think you can do it better, then step up.

Mavs Game Night circa 2010

Tim is a legend for many reasons. One of them being perhaps the most awkward on camera hug ever when he co-hosted a Mavericks postgame show with me one night. Thrilled to see what's next for him.

‏@cbs11doug Hard work paying off. Found out this am I qualified for @usatriathlon National Championships in the Olympic distance :)

Go, Dougie!

Enough on the friends front. Here is your good news:

‏@circlelranch69 #GoodNewsFriday 1. Granddaughter weekend 2. PAYDAY

‏@SergieFresh @favor_and_union has been donating proceeds to help those affected in Boston & West, TX. #goodnewsfriday

‏

@Tweave00 I had a pimento cheese sandwich today #GoodNewsToday

‏@sgcr99 the crappy month of April will be finally over #GoodNewsFriday

Let me share a few things. I work with THESE guys:

The Boss, the Reporter and the Babe

Exceptional!

And finally, if you still don't believe good news happened this week, let me just make you laugh:

This is Lakehill Prom 1991. I was a junior. My date, Robbie Wiles, was a dashing senior. Not sure if he goosed me or if I stuck my finger in an electric socket. I'm just glad I don't have that hair (and more) anymore.

See! Good news happens.

You Don't Have Any Excuses: 30 Minutes of Exercise a Day Will Change Your Life

2013-05-01T10:09:00.002-05:00

Whether it's aerobic exercise, yoga or weight lifting workouts, exercising for as little as 30 minutes a day will change your life. I promise. It bears repeating: 30 minutes. That's it. In the time it takes you to watch "Modern Family" or an old episode of "Sex and The City" you can squeeze in a workout and save your life.

If you're a relatively healthy adult, there is no excuse.

Swim with your kids. It counts as exercise!

You don't have to spend hours in the gym, researchers have repeatedly proven this. I blogged about less being more when it comes to exercise in February. Gretchen Reynolds outlined reiterated in Sunday's New York Times Magazine in a Q & A titled Double the Workout, Double the Benefits?

In a notable study from 2011, people of all ages who exercised very moderately, for about 15 minutes a day, or approximately half of your current regimen, reduced their risk of dying prematurely by about 14 percent, or the equivalent of three additional years of life. Those whose workouts were twice as long — like yours, 30 minutes per day — saw an additional drop in the risk of premature death, but only by 4 percent. Using that data, other scientists have estimated that people who go really big with their workouts, increasing their exercise time from 50 minutes per day to 120 minutes per day — a 140 percent increase — achieve only about a 5 percent added decrease in their risk of dying too young.

Exercise beyond a certain level may even be counterproductive. When researchers tracked 52,000 adults for 15 years, those who ran 5 to 20 miles a week at a fairly pokey pace of about 9 to 10 minutes a mile received the optimal mortality benefits, the study authors write. The fastest runners and those who completed the most miles every week did not live significantly longer, on average, than people who didn’t run at all.

Every day, I meet women and men every who ask me how I squeeze in my workouts. I have made it clear that working out is my "non-negotiable". I don't give those up. I get at least five workouts in a week.

But here's the thing: they aren't always ball-busting, go-all-out-affairs. Some days it's a brisk walk, a treadmill run, yoga, pilates or a quick weight workout.

I use a weighted jump rope which gives a bonus arm workout.

Tuesday, for example, I was in a time crunch, so I walked 10 minutes to the park with Jordan and the dog. While she was playing, I jumped rope for about 20 minutes, on and off, and walked back home. That was a quick workout that also allowed me to spend time with the kid. She had fun watching me jump rope, as well.

The majority of us aren't professional athletes, models or actors. We don't need to "look a certain way" for the cameras or be able to dunk a basketball. But we DO need our bodies to work for us in every day life: lifting the kids, moving furniture, running up stairs, even getting in and out of chairs.

A simple, easy 30-minute session of exercise to get the blood flowing, stretch your muscles and strengthen said muscles will not only make you feel better but will also save your life.

Some of my favorite quick workouts include:

The Nike Training Club App - LOVE LOVE LOVE
Daily Yoga - just found this on iTunes. They have a great free back workout which is good for those of you sit in a chair all day.
My quickie full-body workout that doesn't require any equipment.
A run or walk

When you're pressed for time, what do you like to do?

About Buying Quality Goods: Don't Go Into Debt Doing It! Plus Tips on How To Maintain Your Investment Purchases

2013-04-28T13:18:00.001-05:00

You know quality counts. Just about anyone will tell you that it's about quality not quantity in your investment purchases. French fashionistas believe in buying quality goods versus cheap crap. Cheap crap will cost you more in the long run because it needs more repairs, doesn't last and isn't timelessly classic.

Case in point: just a few weeks ago I blogged about basically paying $50 over the course of six years for a brand new, authentic Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote. I sold it on ebay in March for a little less than the full retail price I paid for it in 2007.

But there's a caveat about this whole "buy quality" thing: don't buy something if you can't afford it!

It serves you no purpose to buy a great handbag or piece of jewelry with the hope of selling it in the future if you bought it on credit while paying 16.39% interest. If you can't afford it, don't buy it!

That $1000 purse can end up costing double what you paid for it if you take years to pay it off on your credit card.

I get it, ladies. The lure of a sumptuous, designer handbag is intoxicating. But the hangover that is bad credit and debt stays with you for years.

If you want something so badly it hurts, put aside a bit of money for it every month. It makes the purchase that much more rewarding when you can afford to pay cash for it. It also forces you to really assess how badly you want it.

Want to earn extra cash to help pay for that bag you covet? Sell older items you no longer love on ebay or take them to consignment shops to sell for you.

I have developed a nice wardrobe of designer goods over the course of 20 years by following my own rules:

Don't buy it if I can't afford it. Again: don't buy it if I can't afford it.
Buy quality, authentic items that are timeless.
Take care of those investment purchases.
Store them in their original dustbags.
If you plan on reselling them, keep the original packaging and receipts. They're worth more in original boxes and bags.

Every piece I own has been paid in full at the end of every month using cards that give me cash back or mileage. Bad credit and debt scare the heck out of me. I live below my means and only buy what I can afford.

No handbag or piece of jewelry is worth buying if you can't afford it. Even if you buy with the intent of reselling something a few years down the road, the broken record still applies: don't buy it if you can't afford it.

Like the approach of scoring quality for the best price possible? Here are some tips on scoring luxury designer goods for less. Also, here are the details of one of my favorite stores in the world: the Prada outlet in TX.

More Good News Happened This Week. Here's Proof.

2013-04-26T08:57:00.000-05:00

‏
my son is getting married this weekend Gina!! OY VEY! And I'm going to Vefas to watch and cover Mayweather/Guerrero fight!

(YAY, Elf!)

‏
Justin Jordan I have a dream of becoming a police officer helping people but was to heavy. I had surgery and have lost 180!

Kristen ‏

I learned this past week that my college is paid for completely and I don't have to pay a dime!

Terri Head
haven't seen you since our Cowboys days. Next week, I get my chemo port removed. Woot Woot!

‏

I am taking a break from winning Xbox hockey to see a sonogram of my son with my pretty and smarter than me wife. #chea

My week was a good one for the following reasons:

I had two questions answered by the great Guy Kawasaki during a chat for an online course I am taking. Very helpful!
I had a blast broadcasting the NFL draft with Bill Jones and Steve Dennis.
I visited with friends on Thursday night and reconnected with a person from high school.
THIS is my daughter:

The girl is funny.

Like the good vibes? Share yours in the comments section. Email me at thatsportsgirl@gmail.com or tweet me to be included in future editions. Let's make Good News Friday happen!

Good News Happens. Here is Proof.

2013-04-18T17:47:00.001-05:00

From the tragedy in Boston to the awful explosion in West, TX, it has been one story after another dominating the headlines, the conversation in the lines at Starbucks and more this week.

But in a week that wreaked havoc on our emotions, good things happened. I asked you to share some good news and, friends, you didn't disappoint.

Just read what an awesome week you had. If the past few days taught us anything, it's that our time is precious. Let's enjoy every minute of it.

Hope you smile at some of these wonderful photos, fabulous stories and brilliant musings from a four-year-old you shared with me on Twitter.

I sure did.

Patrick Lopez: ‏ heard our babys heart beat and sonogram picture for the first time today!

‏Becky Crist: I'm gonna be a grand mother for the first time! Yea!

Linda Dietz: Helped a client basically pro bono. My heart needed that this week.

Bill Holcomb‏ No picture, but my daughter, Michelle Blanton, is celebrating 2 years cancer free on Saturday!

Janice Carter I personally had a good week. My family and friends are safe and well, and I'm grateful!!

Shoes:‏ father/daughter dance tomorrow!! Pow

Jay Davis‏: My four-year-old told me yesterday that chickens dont wear socks

A number of you shared the video of a cat playing with the vacuum. It will have you peeing-in-your-pants laughing.

Another great tweet I received from a friend showed a picture of her at the Rangers home opener playing hooky from work with a friend. To protect the privacy of all parties involved, I'm keeping that pic to myself.

Nathan McLain This photo of our dog, Otis, is always good for cheering me up.

Matt Craig ‏ Hawaiian day at my kid’s school.

Sean Stacey‏ First trip to Wrigley!

The fabulous Emily Jones shared a picture of my daughter's future husband, her son Henry. Arranged marriages are alive and well in DFW sports!

Here's my little Ranger fan. She thinks today's loss was ruff.

Maffew. BABY

Daniel Nash‏ baby girls making their first brownie

M. Hob‏ Here's my girls having fun with their theatrical makeup class at quad c....does this count? Have a great day!

Darla Gardner and her dog, Joey, couldn't wait to watch the Rangers/Cubs game

Gilbert Padilla rocked a Star Wars convention

And, finally, this gem from TankPuncher:
We won 7 games in a row on NHL 13 on Xbox. Sorry that's about the best news I have for ya.

Why Rangers/Cubs Matters. Plus Travel Tips if You're Planning a Visit to Chicago

2013-04-16T10:34:00.000-05:00

The Cubs. The Rangers. Wrigley Field.

Just typing those words makes me feel better. In the wake of Monday's events in Boston, a sense of ceremony and the opportunity to take the mind off enormous tragedy is comforting.

The thought of travel, sports and American traditions does that for me. I hope this can be just a brief respite for you, as well.

The Rangers begin Interleague play Tuesday against the Cubs in Chicago. It's their first visit to Wrigley Field since 2002. Texas returns to play the White Sox in August 23-25th.

Chicago is one of the best cities in America of which I haven't experienced enough. I spent a weekend there during the famed Chicago Air and Water Show. What a sight to see planes flying over Lake Michigan with the beautiful downtown skyline as a backdrop.

Sofitel.com

My husband and I stayed at the gorgeous Hotel Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, located in the heart of the Gold Coast. It was a great, stylish base for exploring the city on foot. This French-owned chain always has deals on rooms. Check its website, Travelzoo or any of your other favorite travel-related sites.

My friend, Bryan Dolgin, is a Chicago guy. He was the White Sox radio pregame and postgame show host in 2005. He later served the Rangers in the same capacity for three seasons. He has some great tips if you're interested in visiting the Windy City this year for a baseball game or quick getaway. I second his suggestion on Gibson's Steakhouse. It's a classic.

Here are Bryan's suggestions:

Chicago is my kind of town, and State Street is not the only great street.

I grew up in a northern suburb of the Windy City, but I also lived in Chicago for almost a decade before moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Add those credentials with an appetite for great food, fun nightlife and good times, and you can thank me later for a well-planned trip to Chicago.

Lou Malnati's

Eat
Let’s begin with where to eat…and talk pizza. My favorite is Deep Dish at Giordano’s, but my wife favors thin crust from Lou Malnati’s. Either way, you can’t go wrong. Deep Dish, though, will send you into a food coma, but it’s the best pizza you will ever eat.

For the meat eaters…I’m a fan of the Chicago Cut at Gibson’s Steakhouse on Rush Street. I also recommend sitting in the bar area. If you have a party of 12 or more, then I recommend getting a private dining room on Gibson’s second floor and that means you can hear the conversation at your entire table. By the way, Gibson’s shares its kitchen with Hugo’s Frog Bar and that mean’s plenty of seafood selections. Get the Crabmeat Avocado appetizer.

Pot Roast Nachos/Chicago.Grubstreet.Com

If not Gibson’s, visit Ditka’s just down the street and enjoy Pot Roast Nachos. Perhaps the best ribs in the country, are at Carson’s which is just a mile from Gibson’s. Yeah, you read correctly—the best ribs.

Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field
If you are headed to Wrigley for the any of the three games between the Cubs and Rangers, there are a bunch of restaurants and a million bars to choose from in Wrigleyville. Try Bernie’s. It’s just outside the center field bleachers. Before a Cubs game once, I bumped into NFL football players Ronde Barber and Mike Alstott (retired). Barber and I had a great conversation about the last college football game I broadcast in college when my Miami Hurricanes beat his Virginia Cavaliers in the Carquest Bowl. Good times.

U.S. Cellular Field

U.S. Cellular Field
Later in the season when the Rangers visit the White Sox, check out Manny’s Deli on the near South Side. If you order a corned beef sandwich and replace the bread with potato pancakes, the guy behind the counter might say, “you want the Ohio?!?” Sure, whatever. I just wanted a tasty corned beef sandwich the size of my head. This is an extremely popular spot and usually has a line out the door.

Bar-wise, visit Cork & Kerry about a block and a half north of US Cellular Field or visit the classic South Side watering hole, Schaller’s Pump.

To Do
Let’s look at some other entertainment possibilities. I used to live in Old Town on the near north side. That is where you will find the comedy clubs of Second City and Zanies. For the guy looking to take his significant other for a nice dinner before or after a show, try Topo Gigio or Trattoria Roma which are both steps away from the comedy clubs.

For music, check out Buddy Guy’s Legends on the South Side, the Aragon on the far North Side or the Metro in Wrigleyville.

Millennium Park

The architectural tour on the Chicago River is a must. The Lincoln Park Zoo might be one of the last remaining free zoos in America. If it’s a clear day, head to the top floor of Willis Tower (formerly The Sears Tower) or the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building. When/if the weather is nice, just relax at the outdoor bar/café near The Bean in Millennium Park.

Chicago is a vibrant city. Whatever you choose to do or wherever you go when you are there, it’s probably the right choice. If you want more choices or ideas, send me a message at www.facebook.com/BryanDolgin. Also, visit my blog: thecoolfactorbd.wordpress.com.

Interested in more Rangers-related road trip tips? Check out where to eat, drink and play in Houston and Seattle plus places in San Antonio that don't suck.

Food As Medicine? It's Definitely a Form of Prevention.

2013-04-15T09:39:00.001-05:00

"Our food should be our medicine and our medicine should be our food." -Hippocrates.

From acai to mangosteen you have probably seen superfood claims. The LA Times had an interesting examination in the theory of food as medicine recently.

"The idea of food as medicine falls under the umbrella of holistic health, a philosophy and approach to medicine that takes into consideration the interconnectedness of the body, mind, spirit and emotions, and emphasizes balance."

"They're add-ons that bump up the nutrient value of her repertoire, including goji berries, cacao, maca root and hemp seed, bee products and aloe vera, spirulina and other "super blue-green algae," sea vegetables and fermented foods like kimchi, burdock root, dandelion root and stinging nettles."

Gojiberries.us

I am certainly no expert but I can attest to the fact that when you eat well you feel better and look better. I feel better after eating my yummy kale, lentil sweet potato soup versus a plate full of enchiladas. While I love the latter and enjoy them on occasion, the meal doesn't always feel so good going down during the digestion process.

The article elaborates about packaged "superfoods" like goji berry capsules, etc. I don't want to debate the benefit of those things. I do know something that is not up for debate: it is MUCH easier to prevent disease and medical issues that to treat them. From diabetes to obesity-related diseases, it has been proven time and again that eating a healthful diet is a vital key in disease prevention.

I'd rather take my medicine in the form of an apple or cauliflower any day.

Mediterranean diet staples

Any easy way to adopt a "food as medicine" type diet? Try the Mediterranean "diet", or perhaps better stated, Mediterranean approach to eating. It has been lauded as the healthiest "diet" you can consume. Double bonus: it's delicious, too.

Here is one of my favorite Mediterranean diet fish recipes.

Why Quality Counts: A Lesson From a Louis Vuitton Tote

2013-04-14T11:08:00.001-05:00

"In this world, you get what you pay for."
Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle

"Cheap is cheap."
Inez's mother, "Midnight in Paris"

You get the idea. I am a believer in investment purchases but I hate paying the full retail price for them. Whether it be a better price on a Gucci hobo bag, Louboutins for less or Prada for pennies, I've blogged about my love of discounted designer goodies. But after this weekend, I might just be changing my philosophy on certain items.

Hear me out:

In 2007, I purchased a Louis Vuitton Monogram Neverfull MM (medium size) at the Neiman Marcus boutique at Northpark Center. I remember browsing in the boutique (I'm not a huge LV fan) and, while I saw the purse, it didn't jump out at me.

Another customer purchased one and was just going gaga so I decided to look at the bag more closely. It was a great tote. Louis Vuitton canvas bags last forever so I bought it, thinking I could carry it for work and travel. All things being relative, the price wasn't crazy expensive. If my memory serves me correctly, it was about $645.

The bag has since become quite a popular accessory. The current price for the same bag is $940 on Louis Vuitton's website. If only my investments did as well!

I carried the damn thing everywhere. From Rangers spring training to the Mavs NBA Finals run in 2011 where in Oklahoma City I spilled water in it, the bag was a workhorse. I took it to Paris, Tel Aviv, Barcelona, Mexico City and more. It was the perfect travel bag because I could cram a ton of magazines, my iPad, phones and sunscreen in it.

In March 2013, I was tired of carrying it. I tried to consign it one on of my favorite sites, Fashionphile, but they declined. So I took a chance and put it on ebay. I was clear that it wasn't in perfect condition but I had some documentation and staked my reputation on its authenticity. I started the auction at .99 cents and set the reserve at $125.

I was shocked at what happened. The bag sold for $606! I carried that purse for almost six years and basically paid about 50 bucks while doing so! I couldn't rent that purse on Bag, Borrow or Steal for that price!

Before you get all cynical, I get it: it's a freaking purse. Fair enough. But if you love accessories, like I do, why not buy quality items that are timeless? My shopping philosophy, in general, is to buy classics, particularly in jewelry and handbags.

The accessories my grandmother wore are ones that I still wear today. Definitely shop around and try to find them for a great deal. But if you really like something and think you will use it for years to come, it might be worth it to pay the full retail price.

Not all handbags will appreciate in "value" like this one did. Certainly not every one is as popular as Louis Vuitton or a Neverfull. But there is a lesson here: quality always has a place in the market. Always. Anytime, I have "invested" in a timeless classic, it is a purchase I have never regretted whether I have sold it on ebay or kept it for 20 years.

Inspired by the Rangers Road Trip to Seattle? Here are Great Places to Eat, Stay, Play and More!

2013-04-12T13:40:00.000-05:00

It is one of the most beautiful, delectable and exciting U.S. cities you can visit. If you have the chance to visit Seattle, do it. It's a trip you will always recall fondly. Plus, if you're a Gen-X Pearl Jam lover like me, it will help you re-live your early 90's grunge spirit.

View of Pike Place from Matt's in the Market

I have been there twice for Rangers baseball coverage, twice for Cowboys games, twice on my own for vacation and once as a pit stop en route to the beautiful San Juan Islands.

Driftwood on Orcas Island

If you're heading that way for a baseball or football game, stay downtown. Both Safeco Field and Century Link Field are within walking distance of most downtown hotels. You could easily take a cab if it's too far for you. It shouldn't cost more than 10 bucks.

Here are some of my recommended spots and activities gathered over a decade of visits.

Seattle Waterfront Marriott lobby

Hotels

Waterfront Marriott - probably my favorite Marriott experience. Great location on the waterfront, featuring gorgeous Chihuly-inspired art work.
Grand Hyatt - a typical chain hotel but more luxe than your average Hyatt. Wonderfully comfortable rooms. It is located next to the Phiten store where you might see a number of professional athletes picking up items.
Alexis Hotel - this is a stylish pet friendly hotel operated by Kimpton. I took my dog, Birdie to Seattle with me and needed a hotel that would accommodate her. The staff there was wonderful. The hotel is close to Pike Place Market. Here is my review on pet friendly hotels that included Alexis Hotel.
Four Seasons Hotel - perfect location, on the water with amazing views of Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. Close to everything.

Yes, I keep menus

Eat
This is a city in which you need to arrive hungry. If you eat a bad meal here, it's your fault. There is way too much good food to consume. I could write a book on Seattle restaurants. These are just a few of my faves:

Matt's in the Market menu

Matt's in the Market - I always come back to this restaurant overlooking Pike Place Market after I discovered it during a Cowboys road trip in the early 2000's. It features fresh seafood and produce from the market as well as regional wines. Trust me on this: you must eat here for lunch.
Etta's - a Tom Douglas restaurant. You really can't go wrong with any of his offerings (and there are a lot of them). This one might be my favorite. It's expensive but you get what you pay for: fresh, locally sourced food that's outstanding. He also has a great bakery/sandwich shop near Pike Place Market called Dahlia Bakery.

Lark menu

Lark - claims to be one of "the Pacific Northwest’s premier, artisan-focused restaurants." I just remember it being one of the best meals I ever had despite the three bottles of wine that went along with it. *This is the only thing on the list that might be a bit too far to walk. Take a cab*

Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market - this falls under the "Eat" & "Play" category. Walk to the market. Stroll the aisles. Eat seafood. Buy flowers. Kiss a fish (really). Grab a bag of apples. Repeat. You can't go wrong. Evan Grant and I did some serious damage here when I was pregnant.
Lagniappe - Check out Beecher's Handmade Cheese shop and Piroshly Piroshky Bakery across the street from Pike Place.

Play
Definitely visit Safeco field. It's a great place to see a game. Here are some other fun options:

Experience Music Project

Experience Music Project - thank you, Paul Allen. This is a shrine to music in a gorgeous Frank Ghery-designed building.
The Original Starbucks - yes, you must do it simply to say you did it.
The Space Needle - touristy but fun. The views are absolutely breathtaking.
Move your feet - seriously. Just start walking. It's a great city and downtown area to explore.

And finally......
You can relive in your inner Gen-X 90's heyday with a tour of locations featured in the movie that spoke to my generation, "Singles". I won't bore you with the details but here is a tipsheet with spots you should visit from Cameron Crowe's genius film.

Want to Go Bare But Not TRULY Naked? Here Are a Few Ways to Do It and Look Fabulous

2013-04-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

Get your minds out of the gutter, boys.
The fabulous Tracy Kornet and I are discussing ways to run errands, hit the gym and more without wearing a full face of makeup but still look refreshed and presentable in the latest edition of the Real Botox Diaries.

For more, check out Tracy's YouTube channel.

Here are the items we mention:

Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream in SPF 40

I love this stuff. My absolute fave.

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream, Light and medium, 2.5 Fluid Ounce

My first BB Cream experience. Not bad.

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 1.4 oz

Very weird, ashy color.

L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur Cream, 1.18 Fluid Ounce

Good as a primer or to wear alone.

Here is my initial take on BB creams.

Places to Eat and Drink in San Antonio That Don't Suck

2013-04-09T07:52:00.000-05:00

Mavs/Spurs circa 2010

I always seem to be in San Antonio for one reason or another: a Mavs/Spurs playoff series, Cowboys training camp or, most recently, Rangers spring training. I have spent the better portion of a decade visiting the Alamo City at least once a year.

With Rangers third base coach Gary Pettis at the Alamodome

Eating well on the road is a sport, won at which I've won and lost. While I was pregnant, covering the Mavs championship run (ah memories!) in 2011, I searched in vain for fresh, non-fried vegetables in downtown Oklahoma City. I failed. Trust me, this is a sport.

Fresh off a quick weekend in San Antonio, here are some can’t miss spots to try near downtown:

The interior at Feast

Feast – a modern, eclectic tapas spot in the beautiful King Williams Historic District. My photographer had lamb kebabs and corn fritters while I had mussels and brussel sprouts. We enjoyed it on the uber-hip patio. All of it was outstanding.

Patio at Feast

It’s a good mix of families, the San Antonio gay fab crowd and husbands trotting out their second or third trophy wives. Great food, great people watching, a definite must-try.

Patio at Mad Hatters

Mad Hatters Tea House & Cafe – a funky tea room in the King Williams Historic District. A perfect breakfast or lunch spot. I ate two meals a day here during Cowboys Camp 2011. They do wonderful whole grain pancakes and omelets for breakfast and outstanding salads at lunch. They also have a lovely hot and iced tea selection. This is a girlie spot that can satisfy a guys appetite with hearty sandwich offerings. Bonus: free WiFi!

The River Walk
I think eating on the River Walk is a give up. Most of the restaurants offer bad, overly seasoned food that have you regretting it the next day. But if you're geographically stuck these aren't bad choices:

Wavy Gaudi iron entrance to Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas in the H otel Contessa - hotel food in a gorgeous setting. If you’re dying for a Catalan vibe without the trip to Spain, this is a good option. You can find jamon serrano, paella and shellfish stew. The décor is inspired by famed Barcelona architect Antoni Gaudi. Worth it if only for the trippy Gaudi vibe.

Exactly what you would expect at Biga on the Banks

Biga on the Banks - nothing too terribly innovative. You will find typical spinach salads, cheese plates, steaks and fish. It works because it doesn't suck.

Boudros

Boudros - a "Texas bistro on the Riverwalk" in a pretty setting. A menu heavy on Gulf shellfish, quail, garlic mashed potatoes, all the stuff you would expect. Again, a good choice because it doesn't suck.

Starbucks - really. I can't count the number of meals at the Riverwalk Starbucks I have eaten over the years. Seriously, they have some healthy options: oatmeal, spinach/feta/egg white wrap, protein box, decent sandwiches, fruit and veggies boxes. Gotta love free WiFi.

Lagniappe

The Quarry Market is a solid retail and restaurant space north six miles of downtown that features a Whole Foods, My Fit Foods, Canyon Cafe, Piatti Italian Restaurant and much more.

Mi Tierra Restaurant and Bakery is the popular, open-all-hours Mexican spot. The food is fine. The real reason to go: you never know who you will run into there at 2am.

The Menger Bar

For cocktails, one of my favorite spots is the Menger Bar in the Menger Hotel. It's "an exact replica of London’s House of Lord’s Pub. " Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders here. It's a fabulous bar, full of history and interesting characters.

The Vbar

The Vbar in the Hotel Valencia is very hip. It's the equivalent of the Menger hotel's hot, younger daughter who just got a boob job. It has won a couple of "Best of...." awards.

Bar Roj o the new-ish Grand Hyatt isn't bad.

SWIG Martini Bar on the Riverwalk was a favorite spot for postgame cocktails following a Mavs/Spurs playoff game. A tad cheesy but popular and filled with tacky tourists like yours truly.

Hitting the Bayou City? Check out my recent must-hit list for places to visit in Houston.
Interested in Austin? We just had a fabulous visit to the state capitol.

Healty in a Hurry: A Delicious Baked Apple Dessert in a Snap

2013-04-04T22:04:00.001-05:00

Actually, it's faster than a snap. This apple dessert recipe took about seven minutes from conception to completion.

After the delicious (really!) kale, lentil and sweet potato soup I made for the main course, I wanted something sweet but not a sugar overload.

We had a bunch of apples in the house, so I pulled this recipe out of my you-know-where. It turned out to be a winner.

2 apples, cored and quartered
all-natural apple juice, enough to wet the apples
liberal sprinkling of cinnamon (I'm a cinnamon lover - I go overboard)
handful of rolled oats
small handful of dried cranberries

I placed the quartered apples in a microwave safe dish and poured just a bit of the apple juice on them. I used Jordan's Gerber apple juice. Add cinnamon to taste. Again, I like a lot. You can also add nutmeg or pumpkin spice. Sprinkle apples with cranberries and oatmeal. Use as much oatmeal as you like as it provides the "crunch".

Cook in the microwave for four minutes or until apples are soft. You could also bake it in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes. I didn't have that much time.

Again, this is not a super-sweet dish. I think that is a good thing. It would be delicious served warm with ice cream.

You can add a variety of "topping": granola, walnuts, apricots, anything that works with a "crumble" dessert.

Jordan doesn't actually like raw apples. She devoured this after I cut the slices into manageable pieces. I love that it has no added sugar. I'm telling myself this healthy sweet treat will quiet the sugar noise in my head after I obliterated the Easter candy I bought (and proceeded to eat) at CVS on Wednesday. The whole bag. Gone. It was on sale...

I know this apple recipe might resemble a dirty diaper. Here's a healthy oatmeal, peanut butter and apple recipe that also has that poop-in-a-bowl look but it's a really filling first meal that keeps you going for a few hours.

Healthy in a Hurry: Kale, Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup That Doesn't Suck!

2013-04-04T21:42:00.000-05:00

But did the baby like it? That's the million dollar question.

I'm doing the single mom thing this week while my husband is out of town. I wanted to cook on my one free night and stocked up on vegetables Thursday for a kale, lentil and sweet potato soup recipe I found on Eat Live Run.

The recipe on the blog was simply a guide. Here is my variation:

1/2 cup red lentils
10 diced baby carrots, peeled and small diced
3/4 large onion, diced
1 tsp garlic...I didn't have any, had to use garlic powder
4 stalks celery, diced
1 bunch lacinato kale, torn
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped into small 1/4-1/2″ cubes 2 tsp olive oil
2 cups chicken (or vegetable) stock
Mrs. Bragg's Organic Sprinkle Seasoning to taste
red pepper flakes to taste

Directions:
Heat the oil in a medium sized pot. Once hot, add the onion, celery, carrot and sweet potato and cook for until softened.

I tore the kale while they were cooking. Add the garlic and kale and continue cooking until kale wilts.

Add the lentils, seasoning and stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until lentils and sweet potatoes are tender and have absorbed most of the liquid.

I served this with a warmed baguette and bit of brie. This soup is delicious and had a deep flavor. The sweet potatoes and lentils add a hint of sweet, the kale provides a great texture and the red peppers add some heat. This soup didn't need any salt or pepper.

The real test is the kid, though, right?

She dug it! She would pull a piece of onion or kale out of her mouth if it was large; otherwise, she loved it, particularly the lentils and sweet potatoes.

This recipe took about 45 minutes to make, start to finish taking into account my remedial knife skills. It freezes wonderfully.

The one downside: with a toddler learning how to use a spoon, I had lentils and sweet potatoes all over the carpet beneath her high chair. Cleanup nightmare.

For my 5-minute, spinach-filled, toddler-approved breakfast, check out this omelet recipe.

If You Love Luxe, You MUST Check Out Heritage Auctions Upcoming Offerings

2013-04-04T08:11:00.001-05:00

The fine folks at Dallas' Heritage Auctions have done it again.

Aquamarine, Heliodor, Morganite, Goshenite, Gold Necklace - WOW!

They have me saving my pennies in anticipation of their April 28-29 Spring Handbags, Luxury Accessories and Jewelry Signature auction. There are offerings from Bulgari, David Webb, Cartier, Tiffany & Co. Chanel, Harry Winston and more.

Must-read material!

You want names, no-names, fabulous finds? Heritage has them. There are a ton of amazing items. You can browse their catalogs online. While 99.9% of this is stratospherically out of my price range, it is damn fun to window shop virtually.

Before you get all cynical with the "who in the heck is buying these things?" tweets, read this from Thursday's Wall Street Journal. Trust me, a lot of ladies and men are dropping serious cash on these baubles and bags.

These are a few of the items that made my heart stop:

This bag is ridiculous whimsy but so fun. The Hermes Limited Edition Bleu Sapphir Gulliver Leather Quelle Idole Mini Kelly Bag. The reserve is $1,000.

Can you believe, I mean BELIEVE this ring from Harry Winston? This Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond stunner is breathtaking. It features more than 10 carats of diamonds with the center stone a covetous 7.05. The reserve is set for, gulp, $80,000.

What is it about colored diamonds? I'm drooling over this double doozy, too. Bvlgari makes this Colored Diamond, Diamond, Gold Ring. The ring features two pear-shaped yellow diamonds, checking in at more than 4 carats each. The reserve? {sigh} $60,000.

You can pick up a Kelly previously owned by Kim Kardashian. Okay, my heart didn't really stop but this Hermes 50cm Orange H Swift Leather Kelly Relax Shoulder Bag withPalladium Hardware is timeless Hermes. It has a $7500 reserve.

If you know me, you know I love a Hermes scarf. I have way too many and am always hunting for more. There are more than 200 scarves for auction. None have a reserve. Definitely keeping my eyes on these. I am loving the Black "Mineraux," by Hugo Grygkar Silk Scarf.

Finally, and trust me, I could go on for hours this Turquoise, Enamel, Gold Ring, David Webb ring screams, well, David Webb. I love the marriage of the turquoise and ruby colored enamel. Bidding starts at $4,000.

I love my friends at Heritage but you have to pay to play. They charge a hefty buyers' premium:

25% on the first $50,000 (minimum $14)
20% of any amount between $50,000 and $1,000,000
12% of any amount over $1,000,000 per lot

The fine jewelry auction takes place in New York and Dallas on April 29th. The luxury accessories auction is April 28th in New York. You can preview these gorgeous pieces in Dallas April 12-14th at their Design District Annex.

These pieces are so fun to see in person and the staff is more than willing to let you examine anything. The experience can be a great girls' day out.

The Intern Survival Guide: How to Win the Internship, Win the Gig and Win Your Way into a Rewarding Career

2013-04-03T10:40:00.000-05:00

Whether you're looking for a summer internship, a paid internship or seeking to gain experience and change careers, you want to win your internship.

Over the last week, I have focused on just that. What does that mean? Well, there isn't one answer to the question. It means different things for different people. For some it might be about learning that a particular field isn't right for you. For others it means you gained wonderful experience that you will use in your first job and for the rest of your life. The payoff? A rewarding, fun career that benefits you and your family.

With Peruna IX & Jordan at SMU

The one thing you can do to win your internship is to maximize the time you are on the job. That means ask questions. Do as much as your supervisor allows you to do. Learn multiple roles whether, in the case of TV news, it is on-camera, behind the scenes or in the director's booth. This is the time to experience it all.

Finally don't forget to maintain relationships with the people you worked with during your internship. In the professional world, it's all about who you know. Cultivate those connections and nurture them!

If you're a future, current or even former intern reassessing your career, I encourage you to read this series. Here are some key points from each story with links to the entire post:

Persistence is your best friend. Dogged persistence helped me get an internship, and ultimately an NBA championship ring, with the Houston Rockets. Also don't fear taking an internship in a career field that might not be the exact one you want to enter. It could lead to wonderful opportunity down the road.
Here are nine things you should do to ensure a successful internship. It includes being nice, being a proactive thinker and always be willing to do every task asked of you, even the grunt work. If you do that, the glamour gigs will come.

Not quite sure this is "glamour" but you get the point

From donkeyjacking to jocksniffing, here are eight specific things you should not do to ensure a successful internship.
Chris Bullock, the producer who approves interns for CBS11/TXA21, tells interns to "take the bull by the horns" and "be outgoing".

Me, former Ranger & TXA21 co-host Mark McLemore and producer Chris Bullock

KDFW-TV sports producer Victor Nguyen forgot to share his story of showing Tony Romo where the bathroom was at KTVT-TV during his internship but reminds interns not to waste the amazing opportunity they have.

Casey Phillips on the job

Washington Wizards, Mystics and Capitals digital correspondent, Casey Phillips, encourages interns to "ask tons of questions, make yourself available more than is required of you, try not to say 'no' to any assignments, and do whatever possible to make your employer's life easier not more difficult."
Current intern Ashlea Bullington teaches us about the art of juggling and taking advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Do the work. It will pay off in the long run.
John Engelman's approach to his career is a lesson for all us. He won his internship at WFAA-TV and parlayed it into a number of great jobs. What happened? His TV station filed for bankruptcy. Now what? He parlayed his television experience into a rewarding career in public relations and says he won't ever go back to TV.
Finally, for those of you interested in what many consider a "dream job" aka a sports reporter, here's a day in my life. It's full of unexpected surprises but I wouldn't have it any other way.

One of those unexpected "surprises"

All of these are broadcast industry stories but the lessons are universal no matter what career you're interested in pursuing. It's simple: work, be a nice professional, maintain those relationships and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way to enhance your experience.

Please feel free to get in contact with me about this series to share it with your students, friends and colleagues. I'm always available at thatsportsgirl@gmail.com or on Twitter.

So You Want to Work in Sports? Here’s a Day in the Life of Your Dream Job

2013-04-01T12:38:00.000-05:00

I am asked some form of the following questions almost every day:

“What’s it like being a sports anchor and reporter? “ Fun but hard.

“How did you get into this business? “ Read this.

“Have you always wanted to do this? “ Yes. This and more.

But more and more, the individuals who want to enter the sports media world think we spend our days cheering at games, chugging champagne with owners and chest bumping athletes. Not quite.

THIS happened!

Take Easter Sunday 2013, for example. Photographer Bill Ellis and I left San Antonio at 10:30am, where the Rangers had just wrapped up their spring training schedule with a two-game series against the Padres. Our final destination? Houston for the season opener between the Rangers and Astros on Sunday night.

Bill Ellis & I heading to Minute Maid Park

Here’s a typical "day in the life" that includes everything from stale hot dogs to a drunken Astros fan bum rushing our live shot:

7:30am: Wake up.

8am: Head to the hotel lobby to FaceTime with my daughter and husband.

Jordan's 1st egg hunt. I missed all the fun this weekend!

8:15am: Workout for 45 minutes. I’m always fighting that extra 10 pounds a camera adds.

9am: Breakfast and blogging about things to do in Houston.

10am: Back to the room to pack.

10:30am: Leave for Houston

1:30pm: Arrive at Hilton Americas. Start getting dressed immediately with big hair and TV anchor makeup.

2:45pm: Leave for Minute Maid Park. It’s about 8/10 of a mile from the hotel, so we walk.

3pm: Arrive at the park, get credentials, go through security and get lost in the bowels of the facility trying to find the Rangers clubhouse. Talk to producer at the station about our plan for the evening.

3:30pm: Rangers clubhouse opens. We interview David Murphy, Lance Berkman, Mitch Moreland and Ian Kinsler. Adrian Beltre and AJ Pierzynski turn us down for interviews.

Ron Washington meets the media

4:30pm: Interview Ron Washington amidst a gaggle of reporters in the Rangers dugout. Once done with Wash, we start shooting video and gathering interviews with fans for our story on Opening Day that will air on the Score on CBS11 later that night.

Rangers waiting to take the field for batting practice

5:15pm: Fight our way upstairs to the press box to see if there is a seat for us to watch the game and space for Bill to set up equipment to begin editing our story. No space, as they are at maximum capacity. Reporters are sitting in the dining room and at spare tables in the hallway. Bill and I go downstairs to find a space to work.

5:30pm: Set up shop in the Astros press conference room on the completely opposite side of the Park from the Rangers clubhouse, about a four-minute walk. I begin logging sound and video to write my story.

6pm: Done writing story. It’s time to voice audio. There is no ideal sound proof area to record audio, so we use the Astros cloth press conference backdrop to muffle the sound. A photographer from a Houston station leaves the room in the middle of our tracking session, so I start over. Repeatedly. It takes me three or four attempts to get the audio recorded. By now it’s freezing in the press room. Bill and I are shivering. There is no cell service in this room. We have to leave the room and walk to a lobby area for text messages or phone calls. Luckily the building’s Wi-Fi signal works in this room.

6:20pm: Both of us are starving. I trudge back to the press room to grab something to eat. Bill is hungry but wants to edit this story and get it done. He asks me to get him a pretzel.

6:30pm: Buy media dinner for $10. I broke my fork trying to cut the meat offered. I take about three bites of everything: the freezing iceberg lettuce, the hard meat and greasy potatoes. I try the popcorn. It’s stale. The frozen yogurt isn’t bad. I leave to get Bill’s pretzel. Every concession stand is packed. By the time I have waited my 22 minutes and get to the counter for his pretzel, this particular stand has run out of them. I try to text Bill to see if he wants something else. He doesn’t get the text because of the bad cell signal. I march back to the press box to grab him one of three hot dogs left on the roaster. It looks like it’s been sitting there for four hours.


My view of the game from the bowels of Minute Maid Park

7:45pm: Finally get back to our base in the bowels of Minute Maid Park. Bill gets his cold hot dog. I finally get the chance to watch the game on a TV in the press conference room. I don’t actually see a single pitch in person. The Astros radio broadcast is piped through the TV. I use my MLB at Bat app to listen to Eric Nadel and Matt Hicks. In a rush to leave my hotel room, I leave my iPad charger in the room. I have to conserve battery life to use my iPad later in the evening so can’t listen to them continuously.

My view of Lyle Lovett from the bowels.

9:55pm: Top of the 9^th inning. We walk to the Rangers clubhouse to prepare for postgame interviews

10:05pm: It seems to take longer than usual to get into the clubhouse after the Rangers 8-2 loss. We enter Wash’s office. Rangers PR guy John Blake says that TV reporters will ask questions first followed by print media but every media person packs Wash’s tiny office. I ask two questions and leave.

10:30pm: Interview Matt Harrison, Derek Lowe and AJ Pierzynski. Get 1-on-1 interviews with Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus and David Murphy. Bill points out it’s getting late and we need leave for our live shot location.

10:50pm: Arrive to live shot location outside Minute Maid Park. We need to feed back the interviews we gathered. We are working with our Houston “sister station” KTRK. Their technology is not compatible with ours so we must feed our material a second time using our “backup” equipment brought with us from Dallas. The video quality is not that great.

11pm: Touch up hair and makeup for live shot. Begin gathering my thoughts to determine how I am going to introduce my postgame sound and story that we shot earlier in the day. A nice young lady from Dallas starts asking me how to break into the sports broadcasting business. I chat with her for about 10 minutes. I’ve only spent five solid minutes preparing what to say before I am on television.

The bum rush...wasn't nearly as bad as it felt.

11:15pm: In place for our live shot. An over-served fan shouts to us “Go back to Arlington!” His wife drags him away. Bill is still feeding material to our station. A photographer from KTRK is shooting my live shot. There is a monster truck cruising up and down the street behind us while sitting on his horn. Once I begin introducing my postgame interviews, I notice the KTRK photographer shaking his head “no”. I feel a brush of air over my right shoulder. Out of the corner of my left eye I see Bill rushing towards me. He pushes a drunken Astros fan out of the way. Bill says this guy was charging towards us. I turn around to see briefly what’s happening. I think I stumble on my intro.

11:19pm: Our live shot is over. Bill can’t believe that guy came out of nowhere. My heart is still pounding because it freaked me out so much. We break down our equipment and walk back to Hilton.

11:45pm: Arrive at the hotel. We’re starving. Again. There is a lone Easter basket leftover from the hotel’s egg hunt with some Reese’s peanut butter cup miniature candies. I grab six of those and go to the room for my “second dinner”. Bill later tells me he ordered room service. It finally arrives at 12:45am. $42.50 for a chicken sandwich and carrot cake.

Monday Morning:

8am: Leave for Dallas and write this post in the car on the way home.

Noon: Arrive home. My daughter runs away when I try to hug her. I think that despite FaceTime, she forgot about me.

While we’re not always on the road, we travel a fair amount. In fact our days are jam-packed a little tighter when we’re at home. Long days with unexpected surprises and a few speed bumps are the norm. Is this an easy job? No. Is it fun? Without question. We wouldn’t have it any other way….except the no-hug part from Jordan.

Where to Eat, Sleep and Play if You're Headed to Houston for the Rangers/Astros Series

2013-03-31T10:37:00.002-05:00

Visiting Houston this week or sometime this season to check out the Rangers take on the Astros? Not quite sure where to stay and what to hit while you’re there? Fear not! I have you covered. Enjoying yourself on a road trip is as much of a sport as is the game itself. For details on our recent trip to the Bayou City, which included a fan crashing my live shot and hard press box meat, check out my diary of your dream job.

Houston is a tough city. If you make your base “outside the loop” or outside Loop 610, you will wind up miserable, stuck in traffic and be relinquished to chain dining hotel and restaurant hell. If you stay "inside the loop", in Midtown, Montrose, in West University or near River Oaks you will discover the wonderful diversions that made my four college years there some of the most fun I've ever had.

This is a bit female-focused but if you're a guy taking your Sig O with you, you'll score big points by trying some of these suggestions.

Hotels
If you want the full baseball experience, stay downtown. I've stayed and enjoyed the Hilton Americas and Four Seasons. I also love Hotel Icon which is a gorgeous Marriott autograph property in the old Union National Bank building built in 1911. A colleague also likes the Marriott Courtyard at the Convention Center. All of these hotels are less than a mile from Minute Maid park and an easy walk there.

There is also a great park space called Discovery Green Park just a foul ball away from Minute Maid Park. This is a great place to let your kids burn some energy.

Courtesy Hotel Icon

Perhaps my favorite is Hotel Zaza in the museum district. It's pet-friendly, close to shopping in West University, right next to Hermann Park and the museums. I adore the (FREE!) Lilly and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden next door. Hotel Derek is also a decent option near the Galleria.

Play with various discounts: AAA, corporate ones, check out TravelZoo.com or the hotel's website. You can find deals.

Restaurants

Houston is a GREAT restaurant city with a ton of fabulous options. There are a slew of bars and restaurants around Minute Maid Park. They are all the generic, sports-bar-type establishments you would expect. Part of the fun is discovering your favorites. These are a few of mine:

Kim Son - popular Vietnamese restaurant just south of downtown. This place has become so big (literally) some say it's Vietnamese for white people. Fair enough. I still love it.
Irma's - A popular lunch spot that serves great Mexican food. Eat what the servers suggest. They don't deliver menus. Check to ensure it's open for dinner.
Doozo Dumplings in the Park Mall - this was my double secret spot in college. It started as a yogurt shop but the owners made the most amazing vegetarian dumplings and it has since evolved into a dumpling shop. I visited it in 2012 during the Rangers/Astros interleague series. Same family, same owners, same delicious dumplings! It's in a business mall, meaning it closes around 4pm or when the dumplings or gone.
Empire Café - a wonderful counter service bakery in Montrose. I lived on their coffee after class while at the University of Houston. All of their food offerings are outstanding: good salads, breakfast dishes and delicious cakes.

To Do:

Downtown Houston has experienced a revival since I left with the Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park taking up permanent residence. If you want to head out of downtown, here are must-visit areas which are all relatively close:

River Oaks Shopping Center - this is adjacent to River Oaks and features one of my favorite consignment shops, Twice New. Good dining, too. Check out La Griglia, a Vallone family classic.
Rice Village - a great shopping and dining center located in West University near Rice University (awesome running track around the school, fyi). There are fun shops, popular dining (try Ruggles Café Bakery) and a decent nightlife scene. Check out Benjy's and my all-time favorite college bar, Volcano, just down Bissonnet. Try a frozen screwdriver. If those walls could talk!
Highland Village - an upscale center near River Oaks, Uptown and Greenway Plaza. Lots of wonderful options.
The Museum District - a world class selection from the aforementioned Cullen Sculpture Garden to the Menil Collection, the Houston museum district is worth a visit.

The amazing Rothko Chapel.

I could go on for 500 more words. These are just a few tips. Have fun. It's a great city.

Like this? You might also like my Austin highlights.

So You Got the Internship AND Some Great Gigs, What Happens When You Change Entire Industries?

2013-03-29T08:48:00.001-05:00

Remember that neither an internship nor that first or second job following your internship are the end game. They are steps along your career path. That path will turn and might even double back but the opportunities you experience all shape your professional and many times your personal life.

John Engelman is well into his career and can attest to that. He started in the sports media world and is now in a rewarding role as a public relations professional in Arkansas. He can speak to the volatile nature of TV news and the importance of translating skills from one industry to another.

In the series "How to Win Your Internship and Parlay It into a Successful Career" we have featured the following:

The story of my internship with the Houston Rockets.
Part II focused on nine things you should do to ensure a successful internship.
Part III outlined eight specific things you shouldn't do during your internship.
Monday, Chris Bullock, the sports producer who reviews and approves sports department interns for CBS11/TXA21 shared his advice for getting the most out of your internship.
Tuesday, I introduced to you Victor Nguyen, a sports producer for KDFW-TV in Dallas.
Wednesday we featured Casey Phillips and outlined how she landed an amazing job as the digital correspondent for the Washington Wizards, Mystics and Capitals.
Thursday current Fox Sports Southwest intern Ashlea Bullington taught us about the art of juggling to internships, school and work to gain experience.

Let's hear John's story.

What did you do for your internship?
I interned at WFAA in *gulp* Fall of 2001. As an intern, I logged games we were taping (remember tape?) for exceptional plays, touchdowns, Home Runs, etc. I also carried tripods in the field, bounced light, and begged photographers to shoot my stand-ups. I was eventually allowed to do some "light editing." Much of what I did, in the early internet age, was look up facts either online, or in media guides.

What did you hope to achieve during the course of your internship?

I wanted to learn how to put together a sportscast, as well as put my first tape together.

Do you feel you did that?

I absolutely did. Had great guidance, too.

Did your internship help you get that first job out of school? Or did it lead to a career opportunity?

I was already doing Ticket Tickers part-time at the Ticket, but wanted to get into TV. My tape from my internship, guided and critiqued by several producers at the station, led to my first job at KXII in Sherman, TX.

From Sherman, I went to KDBC, the CBS Affiliate in El Paso. I went there to be the weekend anchor. My Sports Director at the time got the #2 position at the ABC in Philadelphia, and 4 months after starting there, I was a Sports Director in the State of Texas!

Sadly, we had 6 News Directors there in 4 years, and one of them landed at KFSM, the CBS Affiliate at Fayetteville/Ft. Smith. KDBC started to go through bankruptcy, and we weren't sure how long they were going to keep the doors open, so I jumped at the SD (sports director) opening in Arkansas.

What did you like the best about your internship?

The people at the station were extremely helpful in guiding me. I treated the internship like I was "gym-rat." I was there as often as I could be. Let people know that I'd do anything for anyone, and in exchange, I'd pick their brain (see how it's done). Always loved knowing that I couldn't be learning from a better crew. At the time, I was at the Harvard of local TV sports news.

What did you like the least about it?

THE DRIVE FROM ARLINGTON!!! Seriously though, for me, it was tough not being able to do everything there. I wanted to be counted on and contribute more. But, alas, it's impossible to count on interns, as they aren't employees.

What was your approach to it?

Work through it. That was my approach to everything.

Is there anything about your internship you would have done differently?

Nothing at all....

What was your approach to interns you worked with in TV news or ones you currently work with now?

I was a Sports Director in El Paso, and Fayetteville, AR. I based internships that we offered for students similarly. In smaller markets with smaller departments, we allowed them to do more out of necessity, but rarely had a bad experience. I loved nothing more then helping kids get their first real gigs. I still talk to them all today, and I'm quite prideful of those little nerds.

What advice do you have for interns?
In both places, I always told interns that if they wanted to be in TV, they had to be self-starters. I wasn't going to chase them to make a tape. If their internship ended without them making one, oh well.

I also wanted to get them to think towards deadlines. In these smaller markets, if they proved worthy, I'd start to rely on them some. There was even a point where I put one on the air. He was exceptional, though, and "got it" pretty quick... He's now a chief photog at a station in Chattanooga (his hometown)...

What do you do now?

Account Executive for Mitchell Communications Group in Fayetteville, AR.

What skills and applications are using now that you used in TV news?
Well, there's the obvious: Being in TV News for 11 years, I know what news/sports departments are looking for as far as stories go. Additionally, learning how to be a storyteller was huge. Everyone loves a good story. It's what sets you apart in the news world, but it can also set you (or your product/brand) apart in the business world. As we all know, people pay a premium for engaging your audience. (my two cents - PR people should take a journalism class. Too many of them really don't understand the complexities of a good story).

More specifically, as I continue to learn my new field, I'm finding that my background in news has helped me in knowing what kind of questions to ask, and how to prepare to tell a story. I've had a leg up there thank to my past.

Was it a hard transition?
Yes and no. Yes, in that I'd had my own department (Sports Director for 7-8 years), and had people working for me in that time. Now, I'm mostly starting over in something that I didn't intern in, nor did I focus on it in college. It's BRAND NEW, and I'm starting the climb all over again. The part that's not as hard refers back to question #1, in that I know what News Departments are looking for.

Volatility in the TV News business climbs every year. Younger generations are growing up getting their news from internet portals (Twitter/Facebook/Websites). The "Here and Now" generation wants their news immediately, not at 5,6, and 10:00. Viewership is on the decrease, as are station hiring patterns (as compared to the early 90's and before). Stations are going out of business (went through bankruptcy at KDBC in El Paso), and stations are trying to figure out how to boost revenue per click on their websites. Just last week, I found out that my former station group (Local TV LLC) is now for sale. The future of TV News has never been as uncertain/volatile as it is now, and in the smaller markets especially, it will continue to be that way.

I LOVE how much fun he's having in his new gig

Would you ever go back into TV news?

I don't plan on it. For the first time since the late 90's, I have my nights and weekends free. I never knew how great that would be. Don't get me wrong, I love sports and sporting events. But I don't mind paying for a few tickets to games now, as opposed to having to go to every one of them with a camera on my shoulder, worrying about having post-game sound edited in time to trouble-shoot a liveshot that I'm delivering a game report on that I can't see since digital signals promote a delay, being run by a weekend producer that's most likely still in college!! So, I think I've had my fill of TV news...

Gina's takeaway:

What a story, especially in the "media is dying" world of TV news. It IS an evolving landscape and for those of you studying to enter this industry it is tougher than ever to succeed.

Changing jobs and careers is okay! If you make the most of the experiences you have you will be rewarded whether it's with a long TV news career, one in sales, life as an entrepreneur or as a stay at home parent. The world will always need ambitious, hard working individuals who want to make an impact. Many times, that first step on that path is with an internship. Make the most of it.

Want to Win Your Internship? Here's a Blueprint How to do It From One Current Intern Who is on Her Way

2013-03-28T10:58:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine who owns a television production company that produces programming for CBS, the Big 10 Network and more had a spot-on comment after reading a few posts in this series.

"When you get an internship it's a means to an end, not an end in itself," he told me in a Facebook message.

That is so true. Ashlea Bullington is living proof of that. She is currently studying broadcasting at TCU, while juggling part-time work and multiple internships. She parlayed her internship at CBS11/TXA21 to an internship with Fox Sports Southwest. She will have an outstanding resume and demo reel upon graduation. She's ahead of the game.

In the series "How to Win Your Internship and Parlay It into a Successful Career" we have featured the following:

The story of my internship with the Houston Rockets.
Part II focused on nine things you should do to ensure a successful internship.
Part III outlined eight specific things you shouldn't do during your internship.
Monday, Chris Bullock, the sports producer who reviews and approves sports department interns for CBS11/TXA21 shared his advice for getting the most out of your internship.
Tuesday, I introduced to you Victor Nguyen, a sports producer for KDFW-TV in Dallas.
Wednesday we featured Casey Phillips and outlined how she landed an amazing job as the digital correspondent for the Washington Wizards, Mystics and Capitals.

Wait until you see Ashlea's impressive resume. If you're a student, this is a must-read and a model for the type of experience you should be gaining while in school.

What is your career goal?
I want to be a Sports Reporter/Sideline Reporter/Anchor

What do you do now?
    •    Interning at Fox Sports Southwest
    •    Babysitter
    •    Student at TCU 18 hours
    •    Production Assistant for TCU sporting events broadcasted by the TCU Sports Broadcasting Department
    •    Teleprompter For TCU News Now

What did you do for your internships?
KTVT
    •    Assisted with remote location shows: set up, take down, runner for food
    •    Logged games, practices, interviews, and press conferences
    •    Learned to edited on Avid
    •    Gathered Data for talent (Babe)
    •    Worked on camera appearance and presence
    •    Attended games and helped with pre and post-game interviews
Fox Sports Southwest
    •    Logging Games
    •    Practicing editing skill on Avid
    •    Assisting with pre and post-game shows and team insiders
    •    Shooting video for team insider segments
TCU Sports Broadcasting
    •    Stage Manager
    •    Worked with Fox Box, EVS, Camera Operations, GFX, and TD for live sporting events
TCU Media department
    •    Edited videos on Final Cut Pro
    •    Filmed games, practices, interviews, press conferences
    •    Stats for games.
    •    Kept up the GoFrogs.com website
    •    Put together and cleanup table and chairs for events
    •    Work the door at TCU social events

What do you hope to achieve during your internships?
I want to gain knowledge and understanding of the entire broadcasting industry that will benefit me moving forward in my professional career. Make connections with the people I am working with. Take lessons from their lived experiences. Skills with editing on avid and final cut pro. Learn how to tell a story that people will want to watch. Learn what goes into the makings of live TV. (Notice she's focused on learning EVERYTHING - not just the glamorous stuff)

Do you feel you you are doing that?
Yes, I think I have gotten more than I could have ever imagined from my internships. I have been very blessed with great experiences.

Did your internship lead to another opportunity?
My internships have led to a good base for other opportunities. I am going to be hosting for the Cats this summer. I don’t believe I would have been able to get this opportunity if I had not been interning and constantly working to attempt to get more involved in the sports world.

What did you like best about your internship?
The connections I have made with the people I have worked with. I have learned so much from each person and I am so blessed that I got the opportunity to make those connections.

What did you like least about it?
Having to be in the studio for long periods of time without much to do. I love working and being on the go but sometimes things get done early because it is a “Hurry Up and Wait Business” so there were periods of time where I felt like I did not have anything to do. I just like to be busy or working on something.

What was your approach to it?
To learn as much as I could and be there as much as I could. Do whatever is asked of me. Ask a lot of questions. Have fun because these are experiences I will take with me throughout my entire life. Work hard to earn the trust of my superiors and gain more responsibilities. (What did I stress in Part I?)

Is there anything about your internship you would have done differently?
I would of taken more chances to be on camera: doing stuff on the desk, more stand ups to create more stories. Also, I would have made more packages and different kinds of them. Asked to do more editing with the talent to see how they put together their stories

Any mistakes you made during your internship?
I wore a dress to a Press Conference one time and it was not seen as appropriate for what I was doing. I ended up with a picture in a blog that was not saying very nice things about my appearance. This made me realize I have to be more cautious because I am constantly making impressions on people and want them to be positive one. Also, that women in this business have stricter standards so when it comes to dress attire more conservative is better. (Remember what I said in Part II about owning up to your mistakes and learning from them? Ashlea has done just that.)

Biggest lesson?
Seize an opportunity when it is presented to you. This is your own experience and the company won’t create it for you. You will get out of the internship what you put into it; the more excited you are about it the better.

Connections are important. Take the time to get to know the people you are surrounding yourself with and ask questions. They are in the business and want to help you learn.

Be there as much as you can. If there is something you want to do ask. The worst thing someone will say to you is no.

Nothing is beneath you to do! You can learn from everyone there, paying your dues early and learning everything will help you when looking for a job.

Be a part of everything, even if that means moving equipment up and down a hill in the rain in a dress and sandals. You will gain respect from the people you are working with by being involved.

Last, maintain the connections that you have made and be grateful and thankful for them. The connections last much longer than the experience is relevant.

The takeaway:
Ashlea is on her way. She is a proactive thinker who is taking advantage of multiple opportunities to learn while still in school. Sure, her plate is full. But the experiences she is having and lessons she is learning are worth missing a night out having cocktails with her friends.

There are sacrifices you will make if you want to succeed in the TV news business (or any business for that matter). Are they worth it? Generally, yes. I can certainly tell you that if you are not willing to make a sacrifice for the sake of learning, there is another young intern (AKA your competitor) willing to step in, make that sacrifice and take your place.

Another smart thing Ashlea did? She sent everyone in the CBS11/TXA21 sports department and members of the production department "thank you" notes. These go a long way. Handwritten notes in the business world are a dying breed. They are important and shouldn't be forgotten. For every job interview/internship/phone call/ moment a person takes to share advice with you/whatever send a thank you note.

Trust me on this.