Shopping Secrets in Lafayette

Homewood Suites by Hilton Lafayette has some highly fashionable gems for our shopping connoisseurs.  We don’t mind sharing these little treasures with you because when you are here we want you to get the most Lafayette has to offer! 

Vertigo Clothing - opened its doors in the fall of 2000 in Baton Rouge, LA. Their close proximity to LSU’s main campus forged a great relationship with the fashion-minded students and faculty of LSU. They then decided to open a second store in Lafayette, LA in the Shops @ River Ranch in the fall of 2004.  In the fall of 2011, Vertigo opened its third store, this time in Shreveport in the Shoppes at Bellemead.  While maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, Vertigo strives to offer impeccable customer service and offer their clients a wide variety of items and styles to choose from. With their main goal to offer their customers the key trend items of the seasons while stocking classic jeans, tees, dresses, etc., and maintaining an affordable price range for all. Vertigo offers several collection designers but also focuses on stocking trendy pieces that are reasonably priced. The stunning array of items from cocktail to casual will surely find you leaving with something you just had to have!

http://vertigoclothing.com/

Artesia - clothing, shoes, accessories and gifts for the stylishly minded.  Artesia opened its doors in 2002 to eager fashionistas looking for great style at an affordable price. Owner, Gina Babineaux, wanted to create a place that offered unique pieces, great customer service and a laid-back atmosphere that would make any shopper feel like part of the family. Nearly 9 years later, Artesia is still one of the most popular shopping destinations for stylish gals of all ages. Voted Best Women's Clothing Store in the Times of Acadiana Reader's Poll for the last 5 years in a row, Artesia is sure to have what you are looking for. The charming store offers a wide selection of affordable clothing, accessories and gifts from casual to cocktail, classic to trendy and subtle to sparkle.

www.iloveartesia.com

Shoefits - quickly becoming the premier place to shop for the latest in footwear, handbags, and accessories.  This rapidly developing company opened its first store in Houma, Louisiana in September 2004 and its second store in Lafayette, Louisiana in September 2006.  A third location is already under consideration.  Shoefits is owned by two Houma natives, a mother and daughter team--Shanna Trosclair and Jodi Webb. The duo makes a dynamic business team.

They travel heavily to pick up the latest trends and hot fashion.  Due to their extensive traveling they have been the first to bring back and introduce trends to their customers.    Their words to live by: “Buy it, Wear it, Flaunt it because our idea of changing a flat is putting on a new pair of high heels.”

www.shoefitsonline.com

Finding Water in the Airport

When I fly I like to stay well-hydrated, but I’d rather not add to landfills by buying bottled water at the airport.  So in preparation for my next trip, I investigated the question: “Can you travel with an empty bottle, such as sports top bottle, and refill it at water fountains past the TSA checkpoints? ”

The short answer is yes.  

In fact, many airports around the country are actively encouraging travelers to bring their own empty water bottles along, in part because it’s time-consuming and expensive to cart away all those full or half-full bottles, cans and cups that passengers discard at the security checkpoints.  A growing number of airports around the country are installing beverage collection stations at the checkpoints to try to cut down on what gets carted off to landfills. “Travelers can pour beverages into the drains and keep the bottles,” said Steve Johnson of Oregon’s Portland International Airport.

For travelers like me, who want to make sure they can find a place to fill a water bottle post-security, airports such as San Francisco International Airport and Chicago’s Midway and O’Hare airports are  installing special water bottle refill stations.   The hands-free, sensor-activated stations at O’Hare also have counters that have been tallying the number of 16-ounce bottles diverted from landfills.  According to Gregg Cunningham of the Chicago Department of Aviation, since their installation in June and July 2010, the two stations at O'Hare have saved 220,717 bottles.

So next time you travel, feel free to bring your own water bottle.  Do your part to help reduce the number of plastic bottles being put into landfills. 

How to Prepare as Kids Ready for College

High school graduation can sneak up on kids and parents alike. One moment, you are changing dirty diapers or wiping running noses, and the next, you are cheering as your child walks across a stage and receives a diploma.  College is a big step for many kids. No longer do they have their parents or guardians to wake them up, make sure they get to class and make sure they do their homework. When at college, kids also are out on their own living on college campuses, many for the first time. They are responsible for caring for themselves and for studying on a daily basis. You can get your kids ready for college with some preparation

Get kids ready for college years in advance by challenging them to work hard on their college preparatory courses in middle and high schools. Help kids develop strong study habits by sitting down with them at the same time each night to complete school work. Help them study for tests by giving them practice tests verbally and in written form. Check their work and help them learn from their mistakes.

Set up a savings account for kids and help them contribute to their college funds starting in elementary or middle school, if possible. Contribute as much money as you can afford each month and watch the savings compound for their college lives.

Apply for college early. Ask the kids to meet with their high school guidance counselor to look at different college options. School guidance counselors typically maintain files for many different colleges and have a wealth of information ranging from student life to academic programs to applying for colleges. Colleges typically admit new students for fall courses during the spring months. Applying for colleges should be done during the fall and winter months prior to admission to programs. Help the kids apply for the programs of their choice and make sure they have all the materials they need for the applications. Wait to be accepted to the schools and help the kids select which college to choose by visiting different campuses in person and by talking with current college students and staff members.

Prepare a budget for the kids prior to entering college. Make a list of all the expenses that will be included with going to college. This will include costs for room, board, tuition, dorm room supplies and extras. Look at how much money that is saved for school. Help your child apply for financial aid through scholarships and grants by making sure the child fills out the applications on time, completes any corresponding essay questions and tests and sends in the materials.

Shop for dorm room supplies for the kids before sending them off to college. Dorm room supplies will include: bathroom supplies like towels, toiletries and soaps, flip flops for the showers and bathrobes; bedding materials like clean sheets, blankets, pillows and pillow covers; a small dorm refrigerator, if you would like, with beverages and snacks for studying and studying supplies like a computer, notebooks and pens.

Answer any questions your kids have about your college experiences. The more knowledge they have about what can be expected, the more relaxed they will be on the day when they go off to school. Many kids report having a great deal of anxiety during the days they go to college. You can alleviate some of that stress by being calm yourself and telling them how great they'll do in college.

Tips to Stay Fit on the Go

A vacation can do wonders for reducing stress levels, but it often reeks havoc on your fitness regimen. Fortunately our onsite gym can make sure your lifestyle remains uninterrupted but some people are not comfortable with working out in a new environment.  We understand. 

Even some of the most die-hard exercisers find it difficult to stick with a workout program when away from home. Sure, many have good intentions. They may even pack their workout attire. Unfortunately, it usually never makes it out of the suitcase until it’s unpacked when their back home.

But travel from home doesn’t have to result in an interruption or complete abandonment of your healthy habits. You can still fit in exercise time when away from home, regardless of whether you find yourself in a warm or a cold climate. Even if bad weather forces you into seclusion in your hotel room, there are exercises you can complete without a single piece of equipment.

Below are some tips to help you stay fit away from home. 

Be realistic. You probably won't be able to fit in your normal weekly workouts and that's okay. Shoot for completing at least 50% of your normal regimen.

Plan ahead. Before leaving town, find out what facilities your accommodations will have or if there is a nearby park or jogging track (weather permitting, of course).

Scope out local gyms. If you are staying somewhere that doesn’t provide a workout area then inquire at the nearby local fitness centers or community centers for their rates. Often they offer day passes for minimal fees.

Pack a resistance band in your suitcase. The band takes up very little space, yet can provide you with an entire upper and lower body workout routine.

Don’t deprive yourself of all local delicacies. You can enjoy some special meals without going overboard. Ask the restaurants to prepare your favorite dishes with a few lower fat ingredients.

Be creative. Find unique, fun ways to exercise instead of doing the same routine you do when you are at home. Try biking, hiking, a pedal boat excursion, water skiing, beach volleyball, etc. Effective workouts aren’t limited to the standard fares of walking, jogging and fitness machines.

Try out your travel routine at least once at home. A new workout that you’ve never done before will require more time and preparation. This type of frustration just makes for an easy excuse to skip the workout.

Prepare snacks. If your journey includes a lot of time in the car, be sure to pack some healthy snacks so you aren’t forced to eat at all the fast food and convenience shops along the way.

Play in the pool. If lounging poolside is part of your vacation plans, then hop in the pool every 20 minutes for 5-10 minutes of pool walking (try it in waist-deep or higher water for a really challenging workout).

Get comfortable. Don’t forget to pack comfortable workout attire that fits your destination’s climate.