Excercising with your dog is a great way to keep both of you in shape. My sister, Cheryl, regularly takes her dog on a 1 mile walk. Our dogs aren’t quite as athletic, but we still get out and stroll around the neighborhood with them. After one lap around, my little doxie is usually struggling to keep up, but she tries her best! My sister and I know of a few dog parks in our area, and we’ve taken the dogs there to let them off leash to mix and mingle. It’s a great way for your dog to have some downtime with other dogs. If you’ve got a dog you can let off the leash, you can try the local beach for some frisbee or fetch too.

If you’re a dog lover, dog owner, or just interested in dogs, be sure to check out these Dog Forums. From dog health to dog grooming, dog training to dog pictures, they’ve got it all. The only thing missing is a board about getting your dog in shape! The forum is growing in leaps and bounds and it’s a great place to have conversation with people who love their dogs as much as you love yours. Cat lovers need not apply!

I forgot to mention the Thanksgiving tips on The Biggest Loser last night. They were a week late with their advice, but I think it’s great that the show is not so focused on the prize and the competition, and they’re offering healthy advice to the contestants and those of us watching at home. How delish did that oven ready Jennie O turkey look? My mouth was watering. Their tips about substituting splenda for sugar and using yams instead of potatoes were right on too. I checked out the diet center on their website and it’s got lots of great info, including holiday eating tips!

Did anyone do any shopping last weekend like I did? After walking 2 malls over 2 days, I’m thinking online shopping is where it’s at. I’m on the hunt now for a canopy for my daughters bed. I found one I absolutely love at Pottery Barn, and with their prices, I won’t buy anything unless I have Pottery Barn coupon codes! Thank you Coupon Chief, for coming through for me once again. If you’re searching for online coupons, look no further. They’ve got EVERYTHING on there. If it’s not listed on their site, it doesn’t exist!

The Biggest Loser was AMAZING last night, and I’m not just saying that because Adrian went home. Ok, I AM just saying that because she went home, but there were other high points too. How cool was that challenge? It makes the weight loss that much more amazing, when you see people carrying around weights to show how much they’ve lost. Adrian started annoying me during that challenge, whining at the end to Jaron about how homesick she was. Yeah, he’s going to blow the challenge and miss out on seeing his WIFE because YOU are homesick. Seeing as how Adrian has only been at the ranch for 3 weeks, I didn’t have a lot of sympathy for her. I was SO glad to see her go home. She wasn’t making any friends with her attitude and whining. Quitters never win, Adrian! I was also surprised that her video update showed a GAIN! I guess we know who won’t be on of the home contestants winning any money…

We love some football in this house. If Jim is home, the game is on. He’s involved in Fantasy Football also – he even won last year or the year before in his league! He plays with a bunch of guys from high school. It’s kinda funny to me that when they were in high school they all played “real” sports together, and now they play fantasy football online. There are softball and baseball leagues for grownups – why aren’t there any touch football leagues? I’d even play in one of those! For now, fantasy football will have to do – at least Jim has the chance to win some cash and prizes. He still diplays his bobblehead tropy from his last win!

Did I mention we’re taking a break from hockey lessons? With the holidays coming, it was just going to be too much. We drive about 45 minutes each way to the ice rink, and I knew we’d miss several lessons due to trips out of town and other things we have planned. My son took it in stride – maybe Jim will be able to take him to a real hockey game during the Christmas break.

I asked for an iPod for Christmas. And something to hold it on my arm so that I can listen to it while I’m working out at the YMCA or doing my 3 day training. And a radio thingamajig to play the iPod in my car. And I think I’d like to get Jim a new clock radio – that kind you can dock the iPod in! And my son wants a combo radio/CD player for his room.

I’m going to spend a bit of time today looking through this digital radio guide so that I can figure out what features we all NEED, and what we can live without. I’ve heard about digital radio but I don’t really know that much about it, and I always like to have a clue when I go into Circuit City, so that I don’t have to put all my trust into a salesman. Anything would be better than the current clock radio we’re using in our bedroom. Jim had it before he met me, and that thing is ANCIENT! It’s got the old school tuner on the side so you can’t ever get the station to come in just right…and a CD clock radio would be sweet!

And you know what that means, right? The Biggest Loser is on tonight! This is the 3rd season of the show, and due to the success, NBC has just picked up a 4th season of The Biggest Loser. The finale on December 13th will bring back all of the home contestants to the ranch. The home contestant with the greatest percentage of weight lost will win $50,000, and the best performer who was voted off will get $100,000. The “Biggest Loser” will win $250,000!

Last night I watched THE wedding of the year. Err…of several years ago that is. I DVR Beverly Hills 90210 every day, and last night was the series finale where Donna and David finally say “I do”. Awww! Watching it made me all verklempt. I wish I knew someone getting married so I could experience all of that fun again. One of my good friends is having a vow renewal ceremony in 2 weeks out at the beach – she did formal invites and everything, they were really beautiful. I don’t know if she’s ordered any wedding favors for the ceremony, but I came across this site offering truly unique wedding favors. Wedding favors sure have change a lot in the 10 years since I got married. When we exchanged vows, our favor options were matchbooks with our names and the date on them, or those nasty candy almond things in a net bag. Neither one screams “classy”, you know? But brides today can send their guests home with wildflowers to plant, or a monogrammed votive holder and candle, or even a mini photo album. This photo glass coaster is really cool – it’s a thank you note and a memory all wrapped up into one neat little package. This heart bottle stopper is nice too – that’s something that will continue to be used by your guests and bridal party LONG after your wedding day is over. I’m rally shocked by the prices – they’re so low! That’s important when you’re on a budget and still trying to make your wedding have a certain look or sense of elegance. You don’t want cheesy wedding favors to ruin the whole image you’ve worked so hard to create! And there’s tons of unique wedding favors and gifts to choose from, so you don’t run the risk of being just like everyone else out there. There’s nothing worse than making your wedding like every other wedding out there – make it special and unique, just like you!

My husband is still jogging, and he’s up to almost 3 miles now. He’s been really dedicated to it, and I’m proud of him. As for me, I’m still being lazy. But, I’ve decided that since one of my kids is at the YMCA every Saturday morning for a guitar lesson, that I’ll use that time wisely. Rather than driving to the YMCA, dropping her off, going back home, and then repeating it in reverse, I’m going to attempt to stay at the YMCA and work out on the equipment during her hour lesson. It’s annoying me to pay $60 a month for a membership we’re not using.