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Good to Go: Exercise date ideas for Valentine’s Day

By WTOP Staff

Here are some fitness-inspired activities that will help burn those calories from heart-shaped boxes of chocolates.

Dancing

If you and your significant other want to become better dance partners, then Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to start taking a couples dance lesson. Two Left Feet in Gaithersburg, Md. offers group, couples and individual dance lessons. On Feb. 15, the dance spot holds its annual Valentine’s dance and cocktail hour for $20 per person — that is if you RSVP in advance. Otherwise it costs $25. Chevy Chase Ballroom in D.C. also offers dance lessons and a Valentine’s-themed dance on Feb. 15.

Surprise your sweetheart with a Groupon for dance lessons from the Arthur Murray studio. Locations in Virginia, Maryland and the District offer a $49 deal, including two private dance lessons, two group classes and two open parties. The deal remains for a limited time only and has a value of $338, according to the company.

The Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo in Glen Echo, Md. and the Capital Blues dance company will play host to a dance party for blues lovers on Feb. 14. The event costs $8 and occurs 8:15 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. A beginner workshop will be held 8:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. and offers important partnering basics for new dancers. The class is included with admission and no partner is necessary.

If you have a family and plan to spend the evening at home, why not have your own dance party? It’s easy to do, definitely inexpensive and I find kids to be the best dancers with their generally no holds barred mentalities.

Ice skating

If skating around while holding mitten-clad hands sounds romantic to you, then check out the Washington area’s many ice skating rinks and skate times on Feb. 14. Ice skating can be both a singles and family-friendly fitness activity. The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink in D.C. is a beautiful backdrop and it has DJs in the Garden: Spin, Cut, & Groove events with a different guest DJ spinning as skaters whizz by the booth on most Thursdays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. DJ Stylus is scheduled to perform 80s R&B, boogie and Valentine’s Day slow jams this Valentine’s Day, according to the rink’s website .

Yoga

Stretching together and doing partner yoga exercises is a healthy way to celebrate Valentine’s Day or the week leading up to it. The Down Dog yoga studios is offering “Valentine’s Day Partner Yoga” on Feb. 9 at the company’s Herndon, Va. location. “Bring your sweetie, your friend, a sister or brother — or bring no one at all and we’ll hook you up,” the Down Dog website says. The cost is $35 for the event.

Cardio

Start the day and heart off right with a burst of cardio while going for a run or walk with your partner, family or a group of friends. Many local area gyms and fitness studios also offer partner-themed workouts. If you have a membership, check out your local facility as Feb. 14 nears.

A slightly healthy recipe

Why not try a recipe idea for a fondue-style Valentine’s Day date snack? At least, you can get a healthy dose of fruit with your chocolate. Here is what you will need.

  • Strawberries
  • Pineapple
  • Bananas
  • Chocolate dip
  • Fondue-type pot and spears for dipping

Directions:

  1. Buy candy for melting or prepared chocolate dip. Melt chocolate discs or heat up the prepared chocolate dip on a stove top or in a microwave.
  2. Slice tops off strawberries and cut pineapple and bananas into cubes.
  3. Prepare a fondue dipping setting if you have a fondue set. If not, no problem. Simply pour the melted chocolate in a bowl and use your own dipping or kabob spears.

Editor’s Note: WTOP’s Katie Howard is a mom on the go. With two children under age 5, she’s always looking for ways to provide her family fast and healthy snacks, meals and activities. Katie shares her go-to food and family fitness tips every Tuesday on her blog “Good to Go.”

Follow @WTOPLiving on Twitter.

(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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