Divas, it’s that time of the year again. Break out your cheat sheets and draft kits because it’s time for Fantasy Football! I am super excited about football this year, especially since I was unsure about whether the season was actually going to happen. The lockout had me stressed! But no need to worry…the season is about to start, and so is Fantasy Football!
For those of you who know me personally, you are well aware of my love for Fantasy Football. This will be my third year participating in a least one league, and I think my fellow Professional Divas should join me on the bandwagon. I am a firm believer in the wise saying, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!” And you should! Participating in Fantasy Football has fostered camaraderie amongst my co-workers/fellow league owners, opened up a new level of communication between me and my hubby, and provided conversation fodder at networking events. Aside from all of these perks, Fantasy Football is fun!
Have I convinced you to drink the Kool-Aid yet? If so, find a league (or create one), and get ready for the draft…there’s still plenty of time! Here are a few tips to get you started!
1. Prepare Before the Draft – This should be easy for you Divas. What do you need? First you need a copy of the rules for your league, which will provide the number of allotted players/positions for each team, the scoring system for the league, and player drafting procedures. Knowing the rules will guide you in deciding who and who not to draft. You should also do a little Internet research for various cheat sheets from the experts. I really like ESPN’s Cheat Sheet Central. By the time you make it to your league’s draft, you should have compiled your own cheat sheet. Remember, preparation is key!
2. Don’t Allow Team Loyalties to Drive Your Draft – Okay Divas, please note that it is perfectly fine to have an allegiance to a team. It is not okay, however, to only draft players from your favorite team. Not a good move...don’t do it…no further explanation needed.
3. Take Note of Bye Weeks – During the regular season, NFL teams play 16 games over 17 weeks. Each team gets one of these weeks off….hence the Bye Week. Here’s where strategy comes in. In Fantasy Football leagues, you typically have a starter and a backup for each position. What you don’t want to do is draft two players in the same position whose teams have the same Bye Week. For example, you do not want to draft a starter and backup quarterback that both have Week 7 as a Bye Week. This would result in you having to drop one of your chosen players for another who happens to be playing that week. Wouldn’t be such a big deal, except your fellow team owners may scoop up your dropped player….you don’t want that!
4. Don’t Forget to Set Your Lineup Before Thursday Night – Here is a mistake I made during my first year. I completely forgot that during the season, some teams play on Thursday nights. I had become accustomed to setting my team lineup on Sunday Morning just in time for the lion’s share of the games, and neglected to put one of my better players in the game…who was playing on Thursday. That player ended up having a monster game, and he was sitting on my bench….The Pro Diva was quite upset and inconsolable. I never made this mistake again! In sum, make sure you know when your players are playing during the week, and consider this when deciding on when to set your lineup.
5. Have Fun and Enjoy Yourself – This is by far the most important tip. Whether you win, lose, fail to make the playoffs, or come in last, remember that Fantasy Football is all about fun. Talk a little trash; take a few risks; have a good time!
These are just a few tips to encourage you Divas to get excited about Fantasy Football. How many of you have participated in a Fantasy Football League? Are you participating this year? What are your tips? In the meantime, check out my favorite Fantasy Football commercials!
Good evening Divas and Gents! And welcome to another weekend eve. Each week around this time, I sit back and reflect on the things I was actually able to check off my To-Do List. For the last couple of weeks, there has been one item on my list that I have been struggling to check off. You ever have that one thing to do at work that you keep pushing off because it is more tedious and thought-provoking than you care to deal with at any moment? Well, this one item on my To-Do List has been that tedious project for me. But this week, I finished it…..
You heard me right! I checked that task off my list this week! I woke up Monday morning and said that I would finish this project by the end of the week…and I did! With 2 days to spare! I feel accomplished. I feel free. I feel…excited! I’m excited about the possibilities that can arise as a result of this project’s completion. I'm excited by the fact that I can cruise into this weekend with a huge burden lifted off of my shoulders. I feel light. I feel accomplished. I feel free. I feel like celebrating!
As a Professional Diva, I believe in celebrating all professional accomplishments …whether big or small. If you all oblige, please allow me to celebrate this accomplishment with you by raising my martini glass in a toast. What’s in my glass you ask? A CranApple Martini! This is another simple and delicious martini recipe that mixes a little bit of sweet and a little bit of tart. Try it out, and get ready to raise your martini glass with me in celebration!
Ingredients
2 oz Cranberry Flavored Vodka
2 oz Apple Flavored Vodka
1/2 oz Apple Juice
1/2 oz Cranberry Juice
Ice
Frozen Cranberries for Garnish
Recipe
1. In a shaker, combine Cranberry Vodka, Apple Vodka, Apple Juice, Cranberry Juice, and Ice. Shake!
2. Drop a few frozen cranberries in the bottom of a chilled martini glass.
3. Strain mixture in to martini glass.
Are we ready to toast? Perfect! Raise your glass, and let's toast to a great week full of accomplishments big and small. Cheers! And Drink Responsibly!
How many times have you been in the office working so hard that you forget to eat lunch? I have been in this position more times than I can count! And if you know anything about me, you know that I am cranky and irritable when I am hungry…which makes for an unpleasant situation for all those involved. No bueno! Let’s not forget the fact that I am 30, and my metabolism is not as sexy as it was in my 20s (even though I still am!). Skipping meals can slow down your metabolism, and I can’t go for that either!
In order to combat a stank attitude and a sluggish metabolism, I recently started purchasing pre-packaged salads from the supermarket. Specifically, I’ve become a fan of Ready Pac’s® Bistro Salads…they are awesome! They come in 6 different varieties, and offer the perfect blend of vegetables and protein. It even comes with the appropriate amount of salad dressing, and a fork!
Why do I love these salads so much? The answer is simple. They allow me to eat on the go. And by go, I mean while cranking out a 30 page proposal without a food, water, or bathroom break because you don’t want to interrupt your flow of geniusness (Not a word…I know.). It is easier than having to go out to pick up lunch, or schlepping down to the break room to heat up your leftovers. These salads have effectively ensured that I never miss lunch, even when I am super busy. And, according to my doctor, this apparently keeps my metabolism up! Double Win!
Check out these salads at your local supermarket in the following varieties: Chef, Chicken Caesar, Cobb, Santa Fe Style Caesar, Chicken Cranberry Walnut, and Spinach Bacon.They range between 190 and 300 calories, so they are friendly on the waistline! Try them, and let me know what you think!
Note: I was not paid by Ready Pac® to write this post and rave about their salads. If I were paid, I would probably ask for my salary in salads! But seriously….wasn’t paid!
