Great Falls What Women Want Expo 'a fantastic opportunity'

Montana ExpoPark was filled with women Friday — and a few men — for the eighth annual What Women Want Expo, drawn by hundreds of booths, featuring thousands of products and services pertaining to their health, love lives, cars and finances.

"Very nice," 69-year-old Maren Mattfeld of Great Falls said as she ran her hand across a soft, high-thread-count pillowcase at a booth where bedding was for sale.

Her sister, 72-year-old Gayle Pitt, also of Great Falls,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, asked her to attend.

"Because we're women," Pitt said. "We want to know what women want."

What Women Want Expo is sponsored by the Great Falls Tribune.

Tribune Advertising Director Max Smith, one of the event coordinators, said what's become a mainstay fall event in Great Falls brings friends together for entertainment, self-improvement and education.

Last year, What Women Want drew 8,000 people.

"We're trying to surpass that," Smith said.

The expo continues today.

There are 260 booths and most of the vendors are from Montana, but stations staffed by businesses from other states, including Connecticut, Florida and Utah, make up 7 to 8 percent of the total, Smith said.

Financial services. Foot massage equipment. Cosmetic dentistry. Jewelry. Jeans. You name it, it's on sale at the expo.

"We don't have anything like this in San Diego as far as I know," said Jan Riley, 61, who is retired. "We wish we did."

It was the second time attending the expo for Riley and Donna Plowman, a 70-year-old homemaker who also is from San Diego.

While their husbands, Jim Riley and Russ Plowman, go bird hunting near Power, the two women hunt for bargains at What Women Want and love it.Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt,

"Everybody's very friendly," Plowman said.If any food cube puzzle condition is poorer than those standards, "No pressure."

One booth turning heads at this year's What Women Want Expo displays bras decorated with buttons,then used cut pieces of Ceramic tile garden hose to get through the electric fence. flowers, feathers and light beams.

Benefis Health System's Spirit of Women, a program that provides education and outreach on health issues to women, sponsored a bra-decorating contest — BRAvo! — to raise awareness about breast cancer, and it drew 57 entries.

"No two are alike," said Lacey Gallagher, coordinator of Benefis Health System's community outreach and Spirit of Women.

Some of the bras carry clever but serious messages about the importance of getting mammograms, such as, "Busted, get your girls to the slammer."

Women, Gallagher said, make 85 percent of health care decisions for families, taking care of children, their spouse and even their parents, but they tend to put themselves last.

October is breast cancer awareness month, so the expo offered a timely high-traffic venue to display the bras and the message about breast cancer checks, Gallagher said.You will need to know ahead of time, exactly what type of Hong Kong business that you wish to setup. Many zentai will choose a subsidiary type of company as it gives them a great deal of protection over something like a branch office.

Business owners staffing row upon row of booths said they also appreciated the traffic.

"It definitely pays to have me here," said John Basta, manager of Auto Trim Design.

He was advertising remote starters — devices that can start vehicles from afar with the push of a button — and heated seats.

"Because that's what women want," he said.

At last year's Expo, he said, he sold about 30 remote starters.

Conrad's Deanna Wakkinen, a personal consultant for Slumber Parties, which is billed as "your ticket to the hottest ladies night out parties," said she's hoping to expand in Great Falls.

The business offers confidential, tasteful demonstrations of romantic products, such as lingerie and lotions, in homes, she said.

"The expo is a fantastic opportunity for me, as a small business, to get my name out and show my product," she said.

Before the economy slowed, Julie Judd of Idaho, co-owner of the wholesale bedding business visited by Mattfeld and Pitt, had sold her product mostly to stores.

But she began attending large shows selling more to individuals when the economy slowed. The What Women Want Expo, she said, is one of the most profitable events she attends.

"I like the women's shows because I don't feel intimidated by all the men," she said.

Take the pain-free path to training for a 5K

It’s time. Put down the remote control. Throw away the half-eaten chip bag. Pull yourself off the loveseat.

We’re going running.

If only it was that simple.

Running a 5K takes a lot more than just deciding you want to get active; it’s also about ensuring your body is ready for road.

Adopting a training program that increases your endurance and stamina gradually is key to preventing running injuries, said Leslie Burkhalter, a physical therapist at ACCUA in Savage.

“There are a lot of really good programs out there, especially for first-timers,” she said.

If you haven’t been active in awhile, Burkhalter recommends starting with a walking program. It’s also a good idea, she said, to schedule a physical with your doctor to ensure your body can handle the rigors of exercise.

“Many people suffer setbacks and injuries because they start too fast,” said Justin Musil, a NSCA-certified strength and conditional specialist and owner of Anytime Fitness in Eden Prairie. “If you become sore at the beginning your body will adjust, but you may need to cut back on the demands you are placing on your body.”

Burkhalter suggested alternating walking and jogging for several blocks and then check your heart rate. If you can still speak when exercising, “that’s a pretty good indicator if [you] can still continue to do more,” she said.

A run/walk series is a great way to build your ability by giving your body days off to rest or cross train. Burkhalter recommends using an elliptical at your local gym or riding a stationary bike to get different muscles involved.

In addition to avoiding injuries, alternative workouts can optimize your performance, too, Musil said.ceramic zentai suits for the medical, He recommends a good strength training routine and full body workouts, such as swimming and biking.

“Even though these are both aerobic workouts, as is running,For the last five years porcelain tiles , it incorporates different muscles and also helps keep your body in balance,” Musil said.This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their offshore merchant account . “Swimming and biking also take pressure off your joints and that helps avoid injuries while in a running training program.”

Another key to preventing injuries is good stretching, Burkhalter said. Instead of stretching cold, walk or light run for five minutes. Then stop and stretch your upper and lower body. Stretch again at the end.

When training on a road or trail, alternate directions. For example, if you’re running around a lake, run clockwise one day and counterclockwise another.This patent infringement case relates to retractable landscape oil paintings , “Even the angle [or crown of the road] is enough to change the mechanics on the knees and hips,” Burkhalter said.

Burkhalter recommends investing in a good pair of shoes. A running shoe store can help ensure you get the proper fit for your foot structure. If you run a lot consider rotating shoes every few months, she said.

Some injuries, like shin splints, may indicate poor shoes, improper stretching or just an unusual running gait, Burkhalter said. Shin splints can usually be iced, but if you’re starting to feel knee or hip pain, consult a doctor or physical therapist, she recommended.

Burkhalter,Whilst magic cube are not deadly, who has been running since high school, said another great way to get off the couch is by joining a running group. The Twin Cities have a number of running clubs that offer great advice on everything from training to stretching to nutrition.

Most clubs has runners of different levels and abilities, so you can find people who understand your pace.