One Tank Trip: Snowboarding in White Tail

One thing's for certain about this One Tank Trip...

Markette snowboards backwards
down a hill... don't try this at home!

You will have a blast!

Where: White Tail Ski Resort in Mercersburg, Pa.

Distance from DC: 87 miles
Time in Car: 1 hours 51 minutes
Best time to Go: The peak season is winter, but they have outdoor activities all year round. The ideal snow conditions for skiing, boarding or tubing are just after a big snow. Additionally, you can always check the Snow Report for the most up to the minute details. 

Things to Do: Ski, Snowboard, SnowTube, See and Be Seen.

When I first arrive, I am frightened at the notion of riding a lift to the top of a mountain only to have to slide down with both of my feet locked into a standing sled... also known as a snowboard.

I know, I know. My hair looks a HOT mess in this video. I didn't see a reason to take it out of the pin curls since I was going to be wearing a hat all day. Anyways, enough of that! Let's get back to the trip... So at first, I really struggled to stay standing on my own two feet. I mean, I really struggled.

After a depressing first few runs on the bunny slopes, I decided to give something a try that I know I'm good at: eating! But I didn't have much luck there, either.

This chicken tender platter set me back a little over $8.

 The food was not bad, but definitely more factory made, than fresh. It was also overpriced, but a ski resort can do that because they a captive audience - a bunch hungry people on a cold mountain with no other food options in sight.

Travel Tip: Eat a hearty breakfast before you go, and pack bottled water and snacks!

My guy did better with his burger selection. But it still
set him back a pretty penny... more than $8.

With food in my belly and my mental block behind me, I went back to wrestle with the mountain.

Markette versus The Mountain: slowly, but surely
 there's triumph... who will win? Nature or (wo)man?

Victory over the mountain!

You know what? I think there really is something to that old addage,"If at first you don't succeed, then try, try again."

Earlier in the day, I had experienced a major mental block over failing at standing up on my snowboard and gliding down the mountain -- and I failed at it over and over again. But I kept trying and eventually I snowboarded and made it down the mountain without falling. 

Sure, Picabo Street would probably laugh and throw snowballs at my performance, while maybe whipping me in the face with one of her shiny Olympic gold medals... but whatever.

I'm not an Olympic athlete, but I'm also not a quitter. And that is what I learned on this latest One Tank Trip. Thank you, White Tail Mountain, for proving that to me.

xoxo,

Markette 

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P.S. - Check out our previous One Tank Trip to Colonial Williamsburg.

"Red Hot" Heel of the Week and Stop Heart Disease!

I love the month of February because it signifies that Spring is just  around the corner. So as we finally purge ourselves of the "winter blues" we get to start seeing, thinking and living in red. The color red can mean love, fire,  and passion. Red is hot and its counterpart for cold is blue and lets face it, I'd rather be red hot than cold blue any day of the week. It's all about roses, love, and passion this month, and I for one fully embrace it.

Oh and big shout out to my hubby who also just so happens to be born on Valentine's Day.

But this month is also a huge reminder, that if you have the passion, fire and desire to live--then you have to take care of yourself too. Heart disease is the # killer of women in the United States. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. It's the major reason people have heart attacks. And the older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But it can effect women of all ages. Just like it did with  Lauren and Amanda.

Click HERE to read about Amanda's story. (Scroll on right arrow)

Click HERE to read about Lauren's story (Scroll to right arrow)

This month DC on Heels is partnering with our sponsor ShoeDazzle to help raise awareness about heart disease and its deadly effects. We will be wearing our heartfelt Lauren pumps paired with our Amanda clutch and help share these two young girls incredible stories. 10% of the proceeds from these ravishing red beauties will benefit WomenHeart. Click HERE to signup now.

The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But women of all ages should be concerned about heart disease. All women can take steps to prevent it by practicing healthy lifestyle habits. So take the necessary steps to help knockout this deadly disease. Remember aging is a privilege  not a birth right. We owe it to ourselves. 

If you have a health story that you'd like to share please email us at dconheels@gmail.com. 

Besos xoxoxo,

Vanessa

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Buff Body of the Week: Super Bowl Edition!

Are you ready for some football?!?!?!

Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers 

VS.

Troy Palamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers 

This week's Buff Body award comes down to a FACE OFF between two of the hottest bods of Super Bowl XLV. 

From the Midwest we have No. 52: Clay Matthews, a long-haired Thor-like demi-God linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. (Read "Beyond the Lustrous Hair" for more.)

Steelers fans, don't hate. For you we have No. 43: the island boy wonder known as Troy Polamalu. The safety for Pittsburgh's "Black & Yellow"  is so hot, that his lovely locks are insured for $1 million! 

So who's it gonna be? The blond hunk from the Packers...

The biceps are legit... 2 legit 2 quit!

... or the curly haired beef cake from the Steelers? 

Now that's what I call the total package!

Who deserves the title of Buff Body of... SuperBowl XLV? 

Post your comments below, Facebook message your choice or Tweet your pick to @dconheels! The results will be shared Monday on the MoJo show during the DC on Heels TV segment!

xoxo,

Markette 

Let's Connect!

    

P.S. - Check out previous Buff Bodies of the Week:

- Kris Humphries: Kim Kardashian's new MAN CANDY

- Josh Duhamel: There's more than meets the eye!

- Tennis Champ Anna Kournikova

- Jason Cooper: A D.C. Original

- Fred Davis: Redskins Tight End

- The 'Old Spice' Guy

- Fola Awosika: D.C. Personal Trainer

According to the Chinese Lunar New Year--It's the YEAR OF THE RABBIT! Gong hay fat choy--wishing you a healthy, prosperous and happy new year. But what does that mean?

Well if you were born in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, then it means that you are articulate, talented, and ambitious. You are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog.

Famous rabbits include actress Angelina Jolie,

Actor Geoffrey Rush,

Apparently he prefers monkeys.

 and Prime Minister of Australia,  John Howard.  

Too bad there is no Year of the Kangaroo

According to the lunar horoscope, the rabbit is naturally happy and a homebody. So put up those feet and relax as it looks like it's going to be a good year for everybody. We just came off a pretty tough year-- The Year of the Tiger, so I think that this year will be a little more calm and relaxing. Maybe it's time to finish up those projects you started around the house and never got around to. Or maybe it's time to take that vacation to the Canary Islands that you have been planning now forever.

Oh and apparently, according to Chinese custom,  to truly honor the Year of the Rabbit, we should eat what rabbits eat. Jai, also known as Buddah's Delight, is a mild meatless monk's stew that brings good health and good fortune and typically features enough vegetables to feed a rabbit warren.

All of this got me thinking what animal am I according the the calendar, I was born in '80 and it turns out I am the...wait for it...Year of the Monkey!

Apparently people born int the Year of the Monkey ( 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004) are erratic geniuses of the cycle. Clever, skillful and flexible, they are remarkably inventive and original and can solve the most difficult problems with ease. There are few fields in which Monkey people wouldn't be successful but they have a disconcerting habit of being too agreeable. They want to do things now, and if they cannot get started immediately, they become discouraged and sometimes leave their projects. Although good at making decisions, they tend to look down on others. Having common sense, Monkey people are strong willed but their anger cools quickly. Monkey people have a deep desire for knowledge and have excellent memories. They are most compatible with Dragon and Rat. 

 SO WHAT SIGN ARE YOU?????? 

I can't wait to head over to Ping Pong Dim Sum  and celebrate the Year of the Rabbit! See you all there!

Besos xoxoxoxoxo, 

Vanessa 

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J-Stars Shine at NABJ Hall of Fame Awards

J-Stars (noun): TV, print or radio journalists who are so widely known and respected that they are celebrities in their own right.  

And boy did the "J-Stars" come out to shine as The National Association of Black Journalists inducted into its Hall of Fame five trailblazers and history makers in field of media. 

Anchorwoman Merri Dee, also known as "The Honeybee"

was honored for her 40-year career on air in Chicago. 

Markette and CNN's "Ol' Blue Eyes," Wolf Blitzer
of The Situation Room.

VIDEO: President Obama's top advisor Valerie
Jarrett reads letter from commander-in-chief.

Markette with MSNBC and The Today Show fill-in anchor
Tamron Hall, who served as mistress of ceremonies.

It was the Newseum's inaugural event honoring African-American journalists. 

VIDEO: WUSA 9's JC Hayward tells
DC on Heels that its the community that has 
 kept her on the air for more than 40 years.  

The inductees in the NABJ Hall of Fame included the late, legendary CBS newsman Ed Bradley, WUSA 9's JC Hayward (photographed above), The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson (photographed below), retired WGN anchor Merri Dee "The Honeybee" and KGO Newstalk's radio man Ray Taliaferro. Additionally, NPR's Walterene Swanston was honored with the Ida B. Wells Award for her work as a media executive to bring diversity to the newsroom.

Pulitzer prize-winning honoree Eugene Robinson's
writing has taken him everywhere from London to
Buenos Aires as a foreign editor.

NPR's Allison Keyes rocks a FAB beaded blazer, proving
that radio personalities can have both style & resonance. 

Setting the Stage: the Hall of Fame awards ceremony
at the start. 

Markette shares a laugh with C-Span's Robb Harlston
and CNN blogger Rebecca Stewart.

Team Merri Dee: WGN-TV's Mike D'Angelo,
Gloria Brown and Robert Jordan flew in from
Chicago to cheer on their colleague, Merri Dee.

Former NABJ President Brian Monroe.

Pretty in Pink: ABC Miami's Neki Mohan

Markette with Xavier Dominicis of
Rent-A-Center, an event co-sponsor.

The next big event for NABJ is its annual convention in Philadelphia from August 3-7. DC on Heels will see you there!

 xoxo,

Markette

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