Remember, today is Wear Red Day — the American Heart Association reminds women to get checked for heart disease. UPMC Hamot has a full slate of events — click here. At Goredforwomen.org, learn more. 

And, here’s a thought to protect that pedicure! According to the website, Bootie Pies are cozy boots with a collapsible front flap that exposes the toes while getting a pedicure. Bootie Pies look like fashionable UGGs and are made from high quality suede and leather s like coconut crème, chocolate and blackberry. www.bootiepies.com. The shorter boots (more like shoes) are $68, and the taller boots (at left) are about $88. Wear them with your gloves that flip down for a manicure and make a statement!

Back to our hearts — heart disease kills more women 25 and older than all cancers combined. Signs of a heart attack in women are often different than men, according to the American Heart Association. Sweating, pressure, nausea and jaw pain could be signs in addition to pressure in the chest, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Don’t ignore pain in the back, neck or stomach.

Signs of a stroke from American Heart Association include: numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, blurred vision in one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or sudden severe headache.Take care, and get a checkup!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.  

Plan now for your Feb. 1 wardrobe. It’s Wear Red Day — a day that promotes awareness of heart disease in men and women. The first Friday in February, established as Wear Red Day in 2003, added a special focus on women because heart disease still kills more women every year than all cancers combined.

In Erie, thanks to UPMC Hamot for the reminder to wear red. Check right here for all the events at UPMC Hamot for Feb. 1. From 9:30 to 2, you can get free screenings and $10 cholesterol and blood sugar testing. For more information, see the schedule of events here.

At Goredforwomen.org, you can learn more. For example, signs of a heart attack in women are often different than men, according to the American Heart Association. Sweating, pressure, nausea and jaw pain could be signs in addition to pressure in the chest, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Don’t ignore pain in the back, neck or stomach.

Signs of a stroke from American Heart Association include: numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, blurred vision in one or both eyes. dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or sudden severe headache.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grand

mom to one.

My son Ryan bought this Ralph Lauren Buffalo check polo. My husband says he looks like Elmer Fudd in it, but I think he looks really cute. If he would awaken from his Thanksgiving Day food coma, I would get a picture of him. Maybe around noon.

Anyway, plaid and checks are fashion forward this year. Here’s an ABC News report on men’s patterned fashions. Here’s an Elle story on how women can wear these fun finds.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Homeat the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step grandmom to one.

If sweating is a problem, here’s a solution — this one is for men, but this company is also making a T-shirt for women for 2013.

The Thompson Tee uses  Hydro-Shield Sweatproof Technology and you can Learn more or buy now by clicking the links.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

While other issues are far more important, our Pennsylvania lawmakers again — it’s been seven years — failed to pass a law that permits direct shipments of wine to our homes.  The Philadelphia Inquirer reports — read it here.

Jane Earll introduced a bill that passed the state Senate in May. Curt Sonney sponsored a House bill that failed. Sonney promises to revive it in January.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

You should be able to hear the giant sigh come right off this page. My oldest son, the doctor of physical therapy from Gannon University, passed his licensing exam. He took it a week ago, and we have been waiting nervously ever since for the news of what’s next.

Last night at midnight, we got the news. I am so proud. He passed the grueling 6-hour test that challenges men and women to spill their guts on what they have learned in three years of grad school. It is one final exam that gives them the license to practice. Congrats to him and all the kids who took that exam.

From the time our kids are little, they are tested on everything from times tables to reading comprehension and math abilities. And that can test a parent’s patience.

When they get older, college SATs become the important number. After that — admissions tests for graduate degrees followed by exams that prove they know what they paid a gazillion dollars to learn are the norm for teachers, nurses, lawyers, doctors and, well anyone, who needs a license to do anything.

In a few weeks, kids will go back to school. If your child finds timed tests challenging, find some help because it is only the beginning.

Here’s a link to help your kids build confidence in timed math and reading tests.

Here’s an article from Mark Pullen, a teacher blogger who makes timed math tests fun.

Here’s a link to an article (published today) about math skills and how to help your child develop an appreciation for math, not just learning it because they have to. It’s a paid article at $2.95.

My son turns 26 tomorrow and what a birthday present.

Pam Parker is the time-tested mom of a doctor of physical therapy, a CPA and a college student and the stepmom of two teachers and an EMT. She is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Three things I’m loving this week:

1. Smooth sailing, er, driving. It occurred to me yesterday that it’s been weeks since we’ve had to deal with crappy driving conditions and, for that, especially in Erie in January/February, I am truly grateful. (knock on wood!).

2. “Cougar Town.” I hated this new Courtney Cox ABC TV show the first couple of times I saw it. I even counted it among the “things I’m not loving” in October.

But because I’m too lazy to get up and retrieve the remote control from my sleeping husband’s hand, I’ve watched several episodes and have come to love it. (This is the same way I came to love “The Office,” by the way). It’s a quirky show — think “Scrubs” — that can take some getting used to, but once you get the humor….it’s positively hysterical.

If you, like me, wrote it off early on, you might want to give it another chance.

3. Lap swimming. When I was pregnant with Kelly I swam a mile three times a week before work. It was relaxing and made me feel light despite the watermelon growing in my belly.

Once the girls came, I got away from swimming. It’s not the quickest of exercise endeavors (at least not for me) and requires going to the gym, bullying my way into a lane, getting wet, showering, getting dry, etc., etc. Aerobics class or throwing on a pair of running shoes and taking off out the door is just easier and quicker.

But, last night I swam laps while Kelly was in swim class and was reminded how entirely peaceful swimming is.

No one can talk to you. No blaring music. No shouting instructor. No jockeying for floor space. No sweating (some might, I don’t). It’s quiet. It’s cool. I can’t see much except the lane line below me. I can’t think about much (unless I want to lose count of what lap I’m on). I just breathe, count constantly (one, one, one, one, one) and glide. Ahhhh…..

Three things I’m not loving this week

1. Plantar fasciitis. Who knew this common runner’s problem has been the cause of many of my foot, heel, arch issues in the last several years. The folks at Hertle & Brown Physical Therapy did.

It hit me hard in the left foot on during my run Sunday. It’s something that’s happened off & on for years now.  After just one treatment session at Hertle & Brown yesterday, my foot already feels much better.  (And that’s something I’m loving this week).

So long high heels…it was fun while it lasted.

2. Houseplants in winter. Is it just me…or do your houseplants attempt suicide every winter, too? I have two giant potted plants that are dropping leaves like a freaking oak tree in October.

I know they’re upset that they are no longer soaking up the sunshine and fresh air on the front porch, but…honestly, we’re all wilting in the dark cold of another Erie winter…just deal with it. (And stop littering all over my living room floor or you’re going to taking a one-way ride on the big green garbage truck).

3. John Edwards = monumental liar. Need I say more?

I had this great idea this weekend to paint one wall in my kitchen with magnetic paint.

See, we got this new fancy (and very expensive) fridge that is black and, apparently, easily scratched by magnets. So, we’ve been trying to find other places to display the kid’s school papers or notices, etc.

I used to have a dry erase board by the door that was magnetic, but it had gotten old and ugly and I replaced it with a plain dry erase board (not magnetic).

Staring at this board the other day I had a thought…why not just paint that whole little wall with magnetic paint? Then, I could cover it with dry erase paint and it would be both magnetic and dry erase.

Did you even know they sold such paints?

They do, but..it’s not cheap. The magnetic paint was $20 at Home Depot (for a quart) and the dry erase paint was even more.

I bought the magnetic paint and figured I could do the dry erase paint later. But, after reading the instructions, I can see that the magnetic paint is to be used as a primer…and will require a top coat of paint.

So, I may just paint it…and then add some sticky-back sheets of whiteboard that I bought online last year.

Not sure how this whole project is going to turn out, but…I have a vision.

And…even if it turns out poorly, no biggie…we’ll be ripping that kitchen apart in the next year or two anyway.

Nothing like a little winter home improvement project to keep you busy and take your mind off the lousy weather outside, eh?

What have you been putting off?

…who screwed up the “white Christmas” request?

As I recall, Christmas ’09 gave us gale force rainstorms.

Of course, that white Christmas has arrived in Erie now….a day (or 10) late and a dollar short.

Well, forget it now. Christmas is over. They’ve been stocking sunscreen and bathing suits at the mall for a week already. We’re moving on.

And, yet, we’re stuck in this lake-effect snow globe.

It’s been snowing for days on end, piling up and piling on … adding insult to injury.

It is beautiful though, no?

That’s our picnic table (above).

Piling up on the roof of the back porch.

And, let’s face it…we Erieities love this stuff. Not the snow (well, some do), but the macho bravado and bragging rights that are afforded to hearty folks like us who live, work, play and go about life as normal despite 4-foot snow drifts, hourly Interstate pile-ups and zero-degree wind chill.

We scoff at those wimpy Pittsburgh residents …and don’t even get us started on D.C. dwellers.

Feel free to swagger this week (you’ve earned it)

…if you can swagger in three layers of clothes, two pairs of socks, snow boots, gloves, mittens and a parka.