Archives for May 2014

Entertainment Updates

May 16, 2014 by

1.) Ok guys, I need some new books to read. I am looking for a couple of different things:

-A mindless beach read, the cheesier the better, but still has to be good. Smile

– Mamas, what are some good baby books I should be reading about life with a newborn? It will be here before I know it!

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Who doesn’t love reading at the beach?

2.) Also, who else is super sad about the loss of Cristina on Grey’s Anatomy? She is my favorite character, and I am so beyond sad to watch her go. The show just won’t be as awesomely sarcastic without her.

3.) Who is excited for the next Hunger Games movie coming out in November? Have you seen this? Julianne Moore is going to make a great President Coin in my opinion. I cannot wait!

4.) Any other good movies out or coming out I don’t know about? I feel SO behind in this sort of thing. I think I am getting old.

5.) Bachelor starts up on Monday! Who will be sucked into the drama with me? (I seriously can’t help it. I know it’s awful).

QOTD: Pick a question (or more) and answer. Let’s chat!

Filed Under: movies, vacation Tagged: , , , ,

Castaway Cay Challenge

May 15, 2014 by

Have you heard the news? There is a NEW Castaway Cay 5k challenge coming to the Disney Dream when you sail on the January 12th sailing right after marathon weekend 2015!

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Check out the press release below for details:

Runners taking part in the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend can add the ultimate finish to their experience – the new Disney Castaway Cay Challenge, a joint venture by runDisney and Disney Cruise Line.

After competing in the 5K, 10K, half marathon and/or full marathon during the Disney Marathon Weekend (January 7-11), runners can compete Jan. 14 in the Disney Castaway Cay Challenge, a special 5K race on Disney Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private Bahamas island. Every runner who finishes this new runDisney Challenge event will earn two medals – an inaugural Disney Castaway Cay Challenge medal and a Castaway Cay 5K medallion, plus any medals earned for running any Disney Marathon Weekend events (5K, 10K, half marathon or full marathon).

The Castaway Cay Challenge takes place during the 4-night Disney Dream cruise itinerary that sets sail Jan. 12, 2015 from Port Canaveral, Florida and includes a stop in Nassau in addition to Castaway Cay. The cruise will feature exclusive activities designed for Castaway Cay Challenge participants, plus special menu items and merchandise.

To sign up for the Castaway Cay Challenge, runners must book the Jan. 12, 2015 Disney Dream cruise at www.disneycruise.com and then register for the Castaway Cay Challenge at www.runDisney.com. Race registration opens May 23.

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My thoughts: WAY awesome, as I have wanted runDisney to get involved with Disney Cruise Line for years, and I already love the Castaway Cay 5k. However, I do wish they would have announced sooner, because now the only thing you can sign up for during marathon weekend if you now decide to do this is Goofy’s Challenge.

A cruise is a GREAT way to relax and unwind after marathon weekend if you can swing the time off work and the cost. The Disney Cruise Line has quickly become my favorite way to vacation, and Castaway Cay is my favorite place on earth!

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You can see some of my Castaway Cay 5k posts below:

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My original post from before they made all the changes is HERE.

QOTD: What are your thoughts on this challenge? Is it something you would be interested in doing?

Filed Under: Disney, fitness, runDisney, running, vacation Tagged: , , , ,

Pregnancy Update: Week 20

May 14, 2014 by

Halfway!!!!!! Yippee!!! Never thought this day would come back when I was nauseated at all times and barely strong enough to walk across the room. Wow!

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I think it’s funny how depending on what I am wearing, what I have been eating, etc. it can change how I look. For instance, I think I look smaller than last week, and way smaller than at my gender reveal party last weekend. Granted, at the party I was wearing a white shirt, and I had been at the hospital for 3 days with my dad sitting on my butt eating fast food, so I’m sure that made me look puffy, too. Also, some shirts don’t go “in” under your boobs so they kind of make a tent from boob to belly making me look bigger. New observations abound I tell ya.

Symptoms: More of the same (I know, I am ssooo exciting). Round ligament pain when I run or even power walk, acne, tired, peeing a lot, noticing I just get run down more easily than I used to.

Baby’s Size: Banana!

Maternity Clothes: Nothing new, still haven’t even worn all the ones I have yet!

Stretch Marks: Just the boobs. Hang on belly!

Sleep: Pretty good, I pee a LOT right before I go to bed, but then usually only have to get up once in the middle of the night.

Miss Anything?: sleeping on my stomach for sure.

Cravings: Not really a lot in particular other than sweets, haven’t really noticed!

Aversions: still can’t eat large portions of meat or chicken.

Looking Forward to: picking out a name! Registry shopping! It’s time for the fun stuff.

What I’m Loving: Finally knowing that baby M is a GIRL!!!! Also, this is the first week I have felt baby kick! I can recognize it now, an is usually at night when I lay down and am very still. Exciting!

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Workouts: This week was pretty bad. I was at the hospital Wednesday-Friday then the party Saturday, Mother’s day Sunday. I did work out Monday and Tuesday though, so starting the week off right!

There is my 20 week update in a nutshell (help! I’m trapped in a nutshell!) I will be back in the next few days talking names and registering All scary things for this first time mama!

QOTD: Did you ever feel you were smaller some weeks than the previous week when you were pregnant?

What is your favorite non running workout?

Filed Under: family, fitness, pregnancy Tagged: , , , ,

Baby M’s Gender Reveal Party

May 13, 2014 by

Ever since we found out we were pregnant, my mom has wanted to throw us a gender reveal party.

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I always liked the idea and thought it was a fun way for your closest friends and family to all find out the sex of the baby together, so we planned it for right after my 19 week anatomy scan.

I set up a secret Pinterest board that my mom and I shared (it’s public now in case anyone is looking for ideas, I will be pinning my party stuff to it, too), and the “team pink vs. team blue” sounded right up our alley. We invited my parents neighbors who we are close to and who watched me grow up, as well as some of the extended family. Bobby and I both had a couple friends come into town, too.

The plan was for a casual party. My dad was going to BBQ until he was put in the hospital, and we weren’t even sure we were having a party until Thursday afternoon. We decided to get catered BBQ instead and everything ended up working out just fine with the food.

I decorated Friday night after discharging my dad from the hospital and all Saturday morning before the party started at noon. We went with a simple pink and blue theme with candy and fun decorations. The fun started right when you walked in the front door with balloons on the mailbox and signs up in front of the house.

team pink team blue

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We had a tally board and everyone had to pick a “team” when they arrived, and wear a “it’s a boy” or “it’s a girl” sticker during the party. We also had a bowl for name suggestions for baby M.

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I also had these cute Under Armour onesies up when you walked in the front door.

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The girls were even dressed up as new big sisters.

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I decorated the dining room, kitchen, living room, and sunroom since people would be eating wherever they found a spot to sit.

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For food we had BBQ pulled pork and chicken as well as potato salad, baked beans, corn, salad, cracker and dip…and of course, cake.

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I made little signs for the food and drinks labeling the different options.

In the dining room we had the cake set up with some candy, as well as the drinks on the buffet table. We had a champagne punch for the pink drink, Hawaiian punch mixed with lemonade for the blue, and almond tea along with soft drinks.

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The cake table was of course my favorite. We bought a helium tank and my dad was in charge of all the balloons.

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I even put glow cubes in the wine glasses with the candy, and I had some up along the tulle on the fireplace in the living room.

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We ate first, and everyone seemed to really enjoy the food. I hardly ate anything, I was ready for the main event and couldn’t concentrate.

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Finally, it was time to cut the cake! I was shaking I was so nervous. It all kind of seems like a blur now, so I am glad we have it on video! Be sure to watch AFTER the graphic comes up showing the gender, there is more to the video.

 

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team pink

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Now to buy all things pink, frilly and fun! #TeamPink coming your way September 30!

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QOTD: Have you ever been to a gender reveal party? Did you think I was having a girl?

Filed Under: craft, family, holidays, pregnancy Tagged: , , , , ,

Hospital Week

May 12, 2014 by

Oh boy. What a whirlwind the past few days have been. I will be sharing fun photos and video from our gender reveal party tomorrow, but I am just still too tired today to write all about it and edit photos!

So instead I will tell you what has been going on with my family the past few days. Wednesday night at 8:00, I got a frantic call (I mean FRANTIC) that my dad had passed out and the paramedics were there. I couldn’t understand anything else she was saying, except he was going to the hospital. I immediately sent out texts and tweets asking for prayers (thank you all so much by the way!)

I grabbed a few clothes, jumped in the car, and drove like you know what 1.5 hours to where my parents live. On the way there I was finally able to get some more info from a neighbor who drove mom to the hospital. Apparently my mom was in the bedroom and my dad was in the back of the house watching TV when he started feeling faint. He got up to go tell her and made it about ten feel before he passed out, fell backwards and hit his head on the hardwood floor.

My mom had gone to get a neighbor, and he helped my dad until the ambulance came. My dad tried to stand up again, passed out again, and we had no idea why.

When I got to the ER my dad looked awful and was having terrible stomach cramps, and other things that come along with that. We immediately thought some kind of stomach bug, especially since they had just been out of the country. They were able too get his blood pressure stabilized (it had plummeted when he passed out and was super low in the ambulance).

He was in a lot of pain and they were afraid too give him morphine because it would drop his pressure more. In the end, they did it anyway because he was in so much pain and just put him in the CCU instead of a regular room so they could monitor his pressure. He got to the CCU at 2:30 (I had gone home to my parents house to sleep).

The next day I spent the whole day at the hospital with my dad while they waited for results from a bunch of samples they did to see if he had a virus or C-Diff. We had to gown up and wear gloves in case it was C-Diff. They did a catscan the night before that was clear, and they had put five staples in his head from where he fell. He was feeling better, still not wonderful, but much better.

We spent all day waiting for dr.’s to come in (surgeon, regular dr. GI dr. Cardiologist, etc.) and were told around lunch it wasn’t C-diff (hooray!) so no more gowns/gloves. At 4:30 we saw the Gi dr. and his theory made the most sense. Between going overseas, jet lag, stress from his mother dying/funereal/estate stuff etc., dehydration, not eating well…it just all came together and caused this. (He had a couple fancy terms for it now I can’t remember!)

So basically, he wasn’t “sick”, didn’t have a virus, and needs to take better care of himself. He had to stay overnight again Thursday, and I spent all day Friday with him again at the hospital. He. was. going. stir. crazy. He was perfectly fine by then just a little weak because he was on a liquid diet, and the doctor didn’t come to discharge him until 4:00! It has been a long few days, but I am SO thankfully it wasn’t anything to do with his heart, a stroke, or something else. I am also glad he didn’t hit his head on the brick fireplace two feet away, or the corner or a piece of furniture.

Also, my mom normally would be at church choir practice at that time, but she was so tired that day she didn’t go, so she wouldn’t have even been home! I don’t even want to think about what would have happened then.

So, sorry to ramble on with the story, but up until Thursday afternoon we weren’t even sure if the gender party was still on for Saturday. I could tell he felt so bad about it all, but I wasn’t concerned about the party at that point. Luckily, all is well, we are taking my dad’s blood pressure several times a day, making sure he drinks a lot of water and gets some rest. Hopefully this hard lesson won’t have to be learned again. It was one of the scariest moments of my life!

QOTD: have your parents ever called you with a health scare?

Filed Under: family, health, injury Tagged: , , ,

The Envelope

May 10, 2014 by

Well my friends, the day of our gender reveal party has finally arrived! When I went to my anatomy scan on Wednesday, I told Bobby I would have to stay busy until Saturday to keep my mind off of wanting to know the gender of the baby. Little did I know there would be plenty to occupy my mind, but more on that Monday.

You see this envelope?

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Bobby has had it since Wednesday. It has the gender of the baby in it. Talk about some serious willpower on our part!

Our party starts at noon central, we will cut the cake that will be blue or pink inside between 1:00 and 2:00 I would imagine. I promise I will immediately post to Instagram/Twitter/Facebook so make sure you follow me @HeathersLG.

I’m so nervous/excited. It’s going to be so much fun!

Cast your vote! Tell me in the comments below if you think baby M is a boy or girl.

Filed Under: family, pregnancy Tagged: , ,

Under Armour Speedform Apollo

May 8, 2014 by

 

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My friends at Under Armour recently sent me the new Speedform Apollo shoe to test out. I am usually a stability shoe kind of girl so I wasn’t so sure, but after walking and running in them, I can say I’m a believer (for short distances, with my super high arches I’m scared to run more than 4 miles in them).

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These shoes are crafted in a clothing factory (cool!) to make sure the fit is as comfortable as the Under Armour clothing that we ALL love. The fabric is so comfortable and flexible the Apollos didn’t even require to be “broken in!”

This is a slim shoe that has zero bulk. It has a seamless heel cup so rubbing shouldn’t be an issue, as it hasn’t been for me.

The shoes have a perforated toe so they are very breathable. There is also a 4D foam sock liner that conforms to your foot’s shape, so you don’t have to worry about sliding around in your shoes.

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They weigh only 6.5 ounces, and have cool molded toe detail. I felt like the ride was very smooth, but not SO minimal that I could feel every crack in the sidewalk. My feet felt great the whole time, and I didn’t have any issues afterwards. I noticed every though the shoe is very light and form fitting, the sole is actually pretty thick which gives some nice support without being bulky.

The women’s shoe comes in four great color combos and retails for $99.99. You can purchase them here through my affiliate link, too!

QOTD: Do you prefer a more stable shore or a lightweight minimal shoe?

Disclosure: I was provided these shoes by my friends at Under Armour, however all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: fitness, running, Under armour Tagged: , , , ,

Pregnancy Update: Week 19

May 7, 2014 by

Today is the big day! This morning I am headed off to my anatomy scan. We aren’t find out the gender until Saturday at the party, but I am looking to get a good report on baby M’s healthy from the scan. I am nervous/anxious/excited and don’t know how I am going to wait until Saturday to find out!

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There is no doubt at this point that I am pregnant. I think that because for me it has been gradual it’s harder to tell, until I look at pictures from just a few short weeks ago. For example, check out this change in just five weeks!

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Here is how I have been feeling this past week:

Symptoms: I’m doing pretty good actually! Still having some acne issues, peeing a lot, sleeping a lot, and round ligament pain when I run (ug!) but I really am blessed at this stage and can’t complain. I feel relatively normal most of the time, and am thankful. I did have a couple days this week where food seemed ick to me, but it passed quickly.

Baby’s Size: Some sources say mango, some say large tomato.

Maternity Clothes: I am SO SO thankful that my amazing and generous friend Jen sent me a HUGE box of maternity clothes this week. It is seriously such a huge blessing to have one less thing to have to buy right now.

Stretch Marks: I have one on my boob (nice, I know) but that’s it so far

Sleep: Still sleeping at least 9 hours a night, but haven’t really been napping so that’s good. Getting up at least once to pee, sometimes 2/3 times.

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Baby and I spent an hour at the pool yesterday. Nice to see my regular swimsuit still fits….sort of.

Miss anything?: Cinco de Mayo really had me craving a margarita this week!

Cravings: still having issues with a serious sweet tooth, but no “gotta have it now” cravings to speak of right now.

Aversions: Still just large amounts of thick dense food like a piece of steak or chicken. Can only eat a few bites.

Looking Forward to: my anatomy scan today and finding out the gender on Saturday!

What I’m Loving: That I look pregnant. What I’m NOT loving: strangers touching my belly or people saying “wow you look huge!” Thanks so much. What every woman wants to hear.

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Workouts: Walked 5 days this week, ran once for 2.5 miles (run/walk). Made it to the gym once for weights. Not stellar, but at least I’m moving. Planning to do more strength work this next week. Also, I need to do more stretching!

QOTD: Did you find out the gender of your baby at the anatomy scan or some other way?

Thoughts on strangers touching women’s pregnant bellies?

Filed Under: family, fitness, pregnancy, running Tagged: , , , , ,

FREE Dining at Disney World This Fall

May 6, 2014 by

Tomorrow, Free dining comes out at select resorts for certain dates at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL!

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I would love to book your family on a magical vacation! If you aren’t a fan of the dining plan, there are deals on just rooms for certain dates as well, check out the info below:

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FREE DINING for select night August 31 through December 23, 2014. Your package must include a minimum of three nights at an on-site Walt Disney World Resort hotel and a minimum 2-day Base Ticket at full price.

Valid Arrival Dates include:
8/31/14 – 10/3/14
10/26/14 – 11/1/14
11/9/14 – 11/20/14
12/12/14 – 12/23/14

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-If you stay at a value resort, you will receive the quick service dining plan for free (you may pay the difference to upgrade to regular dining).

-If you stay at a moderate or deluxe resort, you will receive the regular “plus dining” plan for free.

A $200 deposit is due at the time of booking. Rooms at Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside, All-Star Movies, Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Campsites, 3-bedroom villas, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation Resort are not included in this offer. The number of rooms available with this discount is limited and not all resorts and room categories will be available, so act FAST if you want to find the best availability.

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Please email me at [email protected] as soon as possible so that we can discuss your quote for the morning of the 7th when the rooms are available. Remember, it costs you NOTHING EXTRA to book with me, and I do all the work for you!

QOTD: When is your next vacation?

Filed Under: Disney, food, vacation Tagged: , , , ,

Gone for a RUN Medal Hanger Review

May 5, 2014 by

As a Gone for a RUN ambassador, I was given the opportunity to review a medal hanger from their website which includes a HUGE assortment of other items, too. I am constantly running out of space for my medals, so this opportunity came at a great time!

Shipping was fast, and my item came wrapped very securely  in it’s packaging. The hanger came with twist in screws that were very easy for me to put into the display.

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A card with directions was also included. The only thing not included was two screws for the wall (letting hubby handle that one I think!)

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I was very pleased with the quality of the display, it has a very slick and shiny finish, and the picture on the front had deep beautiful colors.

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This particular medal hanger came with 9 hooks.

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The best part about this product, is that there are SO MANY designs to choose from, you can even purchase individualize special hooks for your medals. You can also personalize your display with your own name, text, or mantra. I can easily see myself having a row of all different displays hanging up to proudly display my race accomplishments. Oh, another great thing about these bad boys is the price. Starting at $29.99, this would make a great Mother’s Day gift for your favorite runner!

QOTD: How do you display your medals?

Be sure to follow Gone for a RUN on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news on new products!

Filed Under: Disney, fitness, running Tagged: , , , ,