A Girl's Guide to Fantasy Football Drafts

It seems that with every new life event, I gain a new fantasy football (NFL, not soccer) league.  I'm currently in 4 leagues with friends from university, law school, work, and now my sister's new husband.  I wouldn't say I'm a guru, but I have picked up a few tips on how to not be "that girl" in the league (you know, the one who never changes up the lineups, drafts players who are all injured, and bases her picks on teams with pretty colours).

The most important event in fantasy football is the draft.  True, the season lasts from August-December, but the draft is by far the most significant event.  The draft is where everyone gathers and selects your players.

For the girls who don't even know what fantasy football is (or guys that just don't want to admit it in public), it is where a group of people (usually around 10 and no more than 20) gather and select their "dream team" comprised of players across the NFL.  You may select the quarterback from Dallas, a running back from New York, a tight end from Pittsburgh, etc.  The commissioner (aka dude or dudette in charge of the league) decides on how many of each different player you get on your team.  Every week, as the pro teams play, you earn the points of each individual player (i.e. if your guy scores a touchdown that's 7 points, for every 10 yards your guy runs you get 5 points, etc.).  You will rotate playing against the other players in your league, and at the end there will be a playoff and then a champion.

For those new to watching football, you may ask what does each player do?  Here's a short explination:

Quarterback (QB): The guy who throws or hands off the ball.  He's usually the one calling the plays, and typically is the most famous person on the team (Tony Romo, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning to name a few).
Running Back (RB): He runs the ball.
Wide Receiver (WR): He catches the ball.
Tight End (TE): Besides having an awesome name (yes, I giggle when I say tight end), he catches short passes and can act as a blocker for other players.
Kicker (K): He kicks field goals, extra points, and punts.
Defence (D): If you don't know what a defence does... maybe you shouldn't be joining a league.  They score fantasy points by interceptions, blocks, turnovers, etc.

In every league, you should draft at least one of each position.  Often, I see 1 QB, 2 WR, 3 RB, 1 TE, 1 TE/WR/RB (which means you can put any of those positions in that slot), 1 K, and 1 D.

The draft order will typically go from 1-however many people are playing, then back.  This is called a snake, since the order for a 5 person draft would be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.  So if you have the first pick, then you won't pick again until everyone else goes twice.  If you have the last pick, you get to pick twice in a row.

Here are the main things to keep in mind while drafting:

1.  Never pick a K first.  Usually, people pick the players that score the most points first.  Depending on who's available, that will be a QB, RB, or WR.  I save the D and K until closer to the end (unless people start picking the good Ds, in which case you'll want to go ahead and pick one too).  Kickers score the least amount of points, and so most people pick them last.  I always get my QB in the first or second opportunity I can, and same with a good RB.

2.  Pay attention to bye weeks.  Bye weeks are the week when a team has off.  You will get bench slots, and you should fill those with backup players who don't have the same bye week as your starters.  Also, don't pick 3 of the same position that have the same bye week - you will need at least one person in each starting position who will play each week.  So if you have 3 WRs with a bye week of 5, then you will either need to get 3 back up WRs without a bye week of 5 or trade with a friend later on.

3.  Before you pick, research. I usually have 2-3 other windows open at a time that are open to espn, sports illustrated, or fantasy football tool kit to read a brief rundown of each player.  You want to make sure that the guy you're about to draft didn't just injure himself in the preseason, is holding out for a better salary, or is a high risk player.

4.  Be prepared for some smack talk. Men are animals, and fantasy football is their jungle.  Depending on the league and how well you know these guys, be aware that they're not exactly going to be talking about shoes, purses, or how we need a woman in the White House.  When Michael Vick is picked, expect a puppy joke.  When players with names of Bush, Woodcock, and Breaston are picked, expect some giggles.

5.  A name by any other rose would smell as sweet.  You don't have to pick a naughty name, but people will judge you based on your team's name.  Through the years, some of my faves have been The Tight Ends, Pocket Protectors, Plaxidental Shooting, Breaston Plants... be fun, be creative.  For the moms out there, if you're in a league playing for money, I love the name of your kid and then "College Fund" in there too.  This year, some of my teams are going by the London Wendinators.

6.  Mock drafts are your friend.  If this is your first time drafting, do a few mock drafts first.  This will get you used to the layout and what to expect from the draft, and will enable you to walk in with confidence.

7.  Be prepared for a let down.  You won't get your first pick of every position, nor your second or third pick.  Be flexible. When I'm about 4 people away from my pick, I start to make lists of guys that are still available that I would want.  That way, when my turn rolls around, I can go with the best of who is left.

8.  Have fun!  


I'll put another post on what to do after the draft later on.  In the meanwhile, enjoy your drafts and happy fall!

Sign it Up for Tone it Up!

SERIOUSLY.

So these lovely ladies out in California (maybe that's why I click with the program) have created a great  diet and fitness regime that is a fool-proof way to lose weight and tone up.

I've never been a huge fan of health food, and I am definitely no cook.  However, the girls of Tone it Up! have done a great job of laying out how to cook their recipes, when to eat, how often, etc. that it is really hard not to follow.  Plus they have a whole section on workouts in their plan and a bunch of videos on youtube and an online community where you can chat and exchange recipes and ideas with other Tone it Uppers around the world.

Their fall fitness challenge is coming out soon so I highly recommend you sign up!  I've been on the plan for a couple weeks and am already down 5 pounds.  And future hubby even enjoys some of the meals!

Middleton Mondays - Be a copy-Kate on your day

In honour of Kim Kardashian trying to fool everyone into thinking she's royalty this past weekend at her wedding (she's not, and I still can't figure out who she is and why she's more famous than the other porn stars), I should put out several posts on all the copy-Kate ways to make your wedding royal.  After all, I'm planning my own wedding, and will fully admit that some aspects of my decor and flowers may be based on what she and William did.

Post #1: Dress like Kate.

Now I've seen the dress at Buckingham Palace, and I can honestly say that no copy-Kate dress will ever look exactly like the McQueen original.  The intricate lace, the pleating in the skirt, a tiara borrowed by the Queen... You can try to look like her, but in my opinion, there is a difference between the hand crafted design and one that was made to be mass-produced.

One example is from JS Collections, available for $698 at nordstrom.com:

I think it is a good design, but to be honest... That's not just the Kate look - that's a full on replica.  And once you compare a picture of that to (found on kindredsole.com):

No contest.  The quality of the satin, the hand crafted lace, the pleating on the skirt and bustle, the veil that was custom made... It would take some effort to win this one.

That being said, I LOVE the style of the dress.  If you want to go with a satin/lace mix, then there are plenty of designers bringing that out.  I think that there's a difference between trying to look exactly like Kate on her big day, or finding a dress just as classy that makes you shine on your big day.

I love the new Romona Keveza Spring 2012 collection.  The line incorporates satin and lace, and plays around with the neckline so that it is in the style of Kate's gown, rather than copying her gown.  Two examples (see the full collection at http://www.marthastewartweddings.com:

My faves that play with satin and lace (there's a Lazaro out there that I can't find online but are in stores):

Priscilla of Boston 4506:

Don't forget her evening McQueen Dress:

From instyle.co.uk:

You can find many styles like this one, and look just as classy by playing around with the belt:

Lazaro:

Kenneth Pool:

Just remember, that there is only one Kate Middleton, just as there's only one you!  Take her style and make it your own, especially on your big day.  I know that the simplicity and timelessness of the dress is my inspiration, but the dresses I'm looking at are very different style-wise since I'm 6 inches shorter than she is, have a bit more curves, and am not getting married at Westminster Abby (I checked, it just didn't work out).  

If you are looking at dresses, have a great time and congrats!!!

iHeart iPad

I caved.  I bought an iPad.  Steve Jobs, please be kind and don't release the iPad 3 until next spring...

Now what to do about the cover?  I saw some REALLY expensive ones that are worth more than the iPad:

Jimmy Choo for £495 (found on http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/160617)

Some that are around the same price as the iPad:

Mulberry for £370 (at http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/162487)

Marc Jacobs for £350 at net-a-porter.com or $495 at nordstrom.com and bloomingdales.com (LOVE that it doubles as a purse):

Burberry for $375 (found at http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/burberry-ipad-case/3145473?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=1800)

But in the end, I have to save my moneys for some great apps... So I'm debating between:

Rebecca Minkoff for $165 at nordstrom.com and shopbop.com (LOVE the "touch and go")

DVF on shopbop.com for $150:

Marc Jacobs for $68 on shopbop.com:

And I think I shall call my iPad Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy.

To my Grandpa Jack...

You know that icebreaker question "If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?"  My answer is always you.

Lung cancer took your life in the late '70s, before my parents met.  They named their first daughter after you, and my dad and your wife made sure that I would always associate your name with a smile.  I heard about the ketchup story growing up, and how you would have taken my sisters and I on your knee and taught us to read.

I never fully understood your life, and perhaps never will.  Your wife passed away when I was 16, and I was still too young to fully appreciate all that you have done.

I know that you fought in WWII and received the Bronze Star.  My dad has an album full of photos of you in uniform in front of the Eiffel Tower and throughout Europe.  There's even a photo of a concentration camp that you liberated.  Dad said you never really talked about that part... As a Jew, I can't even imagine what you felt seeing the bodies of people whose only crime was to be born Jewish like yourself... and to hear the survivors thank you for freeing them.

I saw your Purple Heart, and heard the story of how you earned it.  You were riding shotgun in a troop tank when the convoy was hit.  The truck stopped suddenly, and your face hit the dash - knocking out 6-8 teeth.  When you fell out of the truck, you were hit in the leg by a P-38, an American plane that you believe the Germans shot down and rebuilt.

Bad. Ass.

Now that I live in Europe, I'm starting to understand the enormity of it all.  I know you fought in the Army in the 8th Armored Division and the 94th Infantry Division (and I'm going to start emailing some groups to find out what units exactly you were in).

You came onto the shores of Normandy on D-Day + 2 or 3 as a part of Patton's Army.  After hitting the beach, you went south to St. Lorraine.  Being a "BAMF" (as described my my dad), you flattened the town, drove out the Nazis, and started heading northeast.

Your unit fought in the Battle of the Bulge and crossed Germany - one of the first to do so.  You ended up in Czechoslovakia after the war, and after coming home to NYC, you decided to head west and moved to LA.  You met my grandma at a luncheon buffet, and even though I never saw the two of you together, I remember the look on her face and the tone of her voice when she spoke about you.  It was pure love.

When I was in Cologne, I told Dad about how 95% of the city was destroyed in WWII, and how it all had to be rebuilt.  He joked that you probably did that.  Or maybe it wasn't a joke...

I'm currently in Germany on a business trip and had a free weekend with a rental car at my disposal.  After looking up where I was on a map, I packed an overnight bag and headed to Luxembourg.

There, I found the Luxembourg American Cemetery, where many who fought alongside you in the Battle of the Bulge were buried (including some from the "Band of Brothers").  With his men, lay General Patton.  It hit me that both you and General Patton have something very ironic in common - you survived the war, only to lose your life later on to a car crash or cancer, before your stories were fully told.

At the Cemetery, I put a stone on Patton's grave to pay tribute to the man that led my grandpa through Europe.  It's on the base of the post.

Also there, I found a map showing where you division went...

Needless to say, you covered some serious terrain.

After Luxembourg, I headed to Bastogne.  The show "Band of Brothers" portrayed the battle in that area pretty well - but then again, I wasn't there in the Winter of '44-45.  As I was driving there, all I could think about was you and your fellow soldiers sitting in the forests, trees exploding all around you.  As I drove through the town through the narrow streets, I pictured soldiers hiding behind homes trying to gain control of the area.  I don't know how you did it, I was petrified just thinking about it.

Of course it was raining when I got to the memorial just outside of Bastogne.  I was able to snap a few photos, and although I initially thought I'd be sad walking around... I got this overwhelming sense of pride.  Some guys from the Netherlands asked me to take a photo of them, and when they heard my accent, asked where I was from and why I was there.  I mentioned that my grandpa fought in the 94th Infantry Division and their jaws dropped.  A smile crossed my face, since I knew that your bravery not only gave me the life I have today - but theirs as well.

The memorial is huge - it has the names of all 50 states, the story of the fight for Bastogne, and the military units that fought in the battle.  I found one of yours...

Sorry about my hair - it was raining and that's all I could do with it.  I partially blame your genes...

I stopped in town before heading back to Germany and had some Belgian Waffles.  They tasted of freedom :)

And yes, karma caught up to me with a crash in sugar levels about a half hour into the drive.  I really can't complain though - what took me 2 hours to get back to Germany took you much more time and much more hardship.

This weekend was not as emotionally draining as I thought it would be.  Rather than feeling sorry for myself for not having gotten to know you, I felt a sense of pride for the man who has done so much for me, and who I never got to thank in person for it.

All I can say is that I love you, and think about you every day.  I know that you and Grandma Shirley are somewhere up there, proud of the people that my sisters and I have turned into, and laugh every time I walk into an inanimate object.

This weekend, I feel as though I grew closer to you.  I am so proud of you and all you have done... After all, my grandpa is a badass.

Middleton Mondays - Give yourself a Wedgy

I think most of us girls wouldn't mind taking a walk in the Middletons' shoes.  That's why for the 2nd week in a row, I pay blog-hommage to the shoes that have graced K-and-P-Middy's feet!

Since summer is here for about 2 more weeks - we don't have much time left to get wedges!

Duchess Kate wore LK Bennett wedges as she arrived at the Goring before the wedding and left Buckingham Palace after her wedding, and over the summer, she and Pippa were both photographed wearing the most comfortable way to wear non-flats.

Kate's Wedgies (found on http://www.shoeblog.com/)

Pippa (from http://outfitidentifier.com/)

I myself have a pair of black closed-toe wedges (so I can wear them to work), and they are some of the only shoes I don't have to worry about bringing a pair of flats with me.

Here are some of my fave wedges, all under $200 (~£130) that should carry you from summer to fall!  Enjoy!

First, the real Maddox Wedges from LK Bennett (£165 as seen on Kate above)
Anouka Wedge ($150, as seen on Pippa above)
Ines Peep Toe from Banana Republic ($98)
Carvella Open Toed (on sale for £45)

Chelsea Daiy Spa

No, that's not a typo. Every time I head out to a spa, I always have a flashback to the scene from Zoolander where Ben Stiller deadpans "Hello, it's a day spa. D-A-I-Y, day."

No matter how you spell it, they are heaven on earth for us ladies. And thanks to groupon.co.uk, I will be having monthly facials and massages for about 3 months in a row.

I found the Chelsea Day Spa via a variety of sources. One of my fave blogs (and a great resource on life in London), American Girl in Chelsea recommended them for spray tans and advertised their New York mani/pedis on the site. Combine that with groupon addiction, and I found the light.

From now until September, you can buy 10 manis for £100, 10 pedis for £150, and 10 of each for £233. Head over to http://www.thechelseadayspa.co.uk/pages/pre-paid-nail-card.html if you don't believe me! I got this deal - that is an unbelievable price in London! Even converted to dollars, that's about $16 a pop, which is pretty affordable for London (especially since this does include cuticle care, which isn't the norm).

I've gotten 2 manis and 1 pedi thus far. The manis were great - they're quick, the ladies are great, you get to watch movies and/or Sex in the City while getting pampered, and the polish lasts about 5 days or so (depending on if you're antsy and constantly pick at your nails like me). The pedi was the same - my one complaint is that they don't do the callus removing included (but still, GREAT DEAL)! The pedi has held up for almost a week now (and I still claim that purple toenails can work).

They also have specials on buy 4 spray tans for £99 (load up now, fall is coming soon which means the sun won't emerge until April 2012) and every once in a while, groupon.co.uk has some deals there too. Every treatment I've gotten has far exceeded expectations... and it doesn't hurt that they are located on Kings Road (so walk down the street and show off your newly fabulous nails at the shops and restaurants).

Be sure to get there before the end of the month to book your New York Manis and Pedis!!!

Middleton Mondays

Ever since that fateful Issa dress last November, I and many other women have been following Kate and Pippa Middleton's every outfit.  During the Kate+Wills=4Eva Take Canadia Tour, every one of my fave websites (Daily Mail, People, US Weekly, etc.) showed her latest outfit choice... Within minutes the word got out who designed the outfit... And within hours no regular sizes were left.

That's a testament to a girl who has given one, maybe two, public interviews thus far.

I hereby dedicate Monday blog entries to all things Middleton.

My first Middleton Monday is dedicated to one of every girl's fave accessories - SHOES!  I'm not sure if LK Bennett is giving royalties to the Duchess of Cambridge, but they really should.  The nude Shilo and Sledge Patent heels have been selling out left and right, and pretty much every working girl I know has a pair.

Last week, one of future hubby's coworkers sent a group of us an email asking how to hide her new pair of Shilos from her boyfriend (best strategy - take off the labels, throw out the box, and then yell at him for not noticing them before).  We all responded saying that we all had the same nude patent Shilos, and that the amount of outfits we've worn them with will make them an investment piece (they're 160-170 quid, but you can wear them at least 3x a week for years).  In fact, yesterday at Heathrow, I bought the deep red pair from duty free for 130 quid (a 30 quid discount).

I am a SUCKER for these shoes.  They really are comfy and match everything!  The nude shoes elongate legs and are neutral so you can wear ANY colour purse with them.

They are mostly sold out online, but I got them by stopping in the store and having them take down my name and number.  Once the next shipment came in, the High Street Ken store called me, and within an hour, I had my Shilos in hand.  For those who want them NOW, head to a few stores and get your name on every list!  I also saw them at Heathrow Terminal 1 - just another excuse to get away for the weekend.

Here's a few pix of her in the shoes... Enjoy!

At the races...

Landing in Canadia (found on racked.com)

At the cousin-in-law's wedding (found on http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/)

See more examples at Daily Mail - "Kate Middleton made us a nation of nude-ists!"

The First Scoop!

Today was a momentous day in the History of Wendydom.  I was the FIRST person to be served Pinkberry in London.

This momentous occasion was met with a bit of nostalgia and homesickness.  I am originally from Orange County, CA and although I moved away for undergrad (and then spent a year in New York after), I went to law school in Malibu.  Most of my friends and family (and my doggie) are still in the SoCal area, and I miss it dearly.  There is a lifestyle out there that you can't find anywhere else.  

What the British call summer, I call winter.  Working out isn't just for health - it is a social occasion as well.  Rain is a perfectly good excuse to cancel plans.  Tan isn't something you get on holiday - it's something you get because your sun roof was open.

Pinkberry opened in West Hollywood in 2005, and spread quickly through SoCal.  It was a part of my everyday life when living in LA for law school.  My sister would sing the Pinkberry song as we drove with the windows rolled down to have it for a snack (and sometimes a meal if we weren't that hungry).  I would meet my girlfriends for some Pinkberry rather than coffee, I would stop by after the gym... as you can see I have many memories of Pinkberry.

You can imagine my excitement when I heard that it was opening out here in London - especially at one of my fave places to shop, Selfridges!  I've had August 3rd in my calendar for a couple weeks, and when I heard that it was opening at 7:30 am, I decided that it would make the perfect breakfast before work.  Think about it: calcium and fruit.  This is clearly a no-brainer.

This morning I made it to the Promised Land (Selfridges) via my chariot (94 bus).  I crossed various obstacles (Hyde Park) and my reward was plentiful (delicious).  

I was the first to step foot on the pink carpet and stared down the Pinkberry workers for a good 20 minutes until they opened the door.  Once the doors opened, I ran straight for one of the happy workers behind the counter and got a small coconut with strawberries, granola, and pineapple. (NOTE: Why no green tea flavour?  Where did that go?!)  A photographer was taking pictures of my wide grin ordering and receiving the swirly goodness that was my brekkie, and I later found some of them on facebook (click to: Pinkberry UK Album).  

As I was on my way out the door, I had to videotape a song that literally almost brought tears to my eyes.  As I mentioned, my younger sister sang the Pinkberry song when we were on our way there, and hearing a chorus of Brits singing it 6,000 miles away made me miss her and the rest of my friends and family so much!  

Enjoy the pix below, and if I end up finding more I will post.  I'm looking forward to new memories with new girlfriends at Pinkberry here in London! Xx!

The Pink Carpet (and please note the "Now Open" sign)!

Me at the front of the line (or queue)

I'm number one!!!

And the Pinkberry song... dedicated to my sister :)

And Piglet Just Grew Wings...

I won't go all religious on everyone, but recently there has been proof of a higher power:

1. Fantasy football is back.  And one of my besties (aka the Commish of my law school league) didn't set the draft for 4 am London time.
2.  It has been sunny for 3 days straight in London. AND I didn't need to bring a cardigan or jacket with me.
3.  I saw the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress.  But that deserves a separate post.
4.  Pinkberry opens at Selfridges in 2 days.

Yes, life doesn't suck.