The unofficial start to summer came this past weekend. We spent time outdoors on our deck getting our flowers planted, the deck furniture cleaned up, and we sat outside and enjoyed our fire pit with family a few times! While prepping our yard I came up with a few tips to create an outdoor living space.
Here Are My Tips To Create An Outdoor Living Space
Outdoor Television
Do you have a television that can withstand the elements? Check out the Veranda Series Outdoor 4K UHD TVs with HDR at Best Buy. Whether you want to host a fun family movie night outside, or have an outdoor party featuring the big game, the Veranda Series of SunBriteTVs is ready to make your favorite outdoor space a real destination.
Now, the best seat in the house is outside! I wish this was my outdoor patio!
The Veranda Series Outdoor 4K UHD TV Product Specs
Weatherproof TV built for full-shade outdoor living areas
Powder-coated rust-proof aluminum exterior protects internal components from rain, snow, dust, insects, humidity, and salt air.
Up to 50% brighter than indoor TVs for improved viewing in brighter outdoor environments.
4K UHD with HDR
Large weatherproof media bay makes cable connections easy. It has plenty of storage room for many popular media players, and thick gaskets seal out moisture and the elements
Available in 43”, 55”, 65” and 75” sizes
The Veranda Series of SunBriteTVs are designed specifically for outdoor use. They are engineered to survive just about any climate in North America, resisting the harsh effects of rain, snow, dust, insects, and extreme temperatures.
Sound System
Having a great sound system is a nice touch for entertaining outdoors. We have an upper and lower deck on our house so I would love to have speakers that can be placed on both decks that can be controlled individually.
Photo by Best Buy
Best Buy has great outdoor speakers. I like these speakers from Best Buy because they are wireless outdoor speakers AND they are also solar powered. WIth the wireless speakers the kids can pair their phone to the speakers near the pool and we could control the speakers on the upper deck separately!
Lighting
I have always loved the way Christmas lights look any time of the year. So I strung white lights along our deck last year. I use them all year round. It gives the deck a cozy hue of light to it.
Plants
In addition to our garden, we are growing strawberry, tomato, lettuce and herbs in pots on our deck. I love looking out my kitchen window to see the beautiful colors blooming along the deck and the yard.
The kids really wanted to take part in beautifying our home with flowers this year. They even wanted to spend their own money to buy more flowers! I love that they appreciate the home that they live in and want to make it look nice.
Do you have an outdoor living space? Share your Pinterest pins or pictures with me!
It’s starting to warm up here in Connecticut! My son joined me on my run this weekend but he wasn’t used to the heat yet. Here are 5 tips for running in the heat.
5 Tips for Running In The Heat
Start off Easy
Don’t start your run expecting to keep the pace you had when the weather was cooler. Your body needs to acclimate to the warmer weather. Jeff Galloway has a formula to use for adjusting your speed for warmer weather. He recommends slowing down by 30 sec/mile for every 5 degree temperature increase above 60F.
Hydrate
You must hydrate before, during and after your run. I don’t usually run my typical shorter runs with water; but when it starts to get hotter out I will bring water with me. I use it to drink and also pour it over my head to help cool me down.
The reason why you should be drinking a lot of water prior to your run is to fill your cells with the water so your body can cool itself down properly by sweating when you run. If you notice that you are not sweating then you are in the early stages of a heat stroke and you should stop running and allow your body to cool down.
It’s also good to drink fluids with electrolytes. I prefer to use Nuun tabs over Gatorade because they don’t contain the sugar that Gatorade has. Nuun also doesn’t upset my stomach. I learned after several years of running, what works for me and what doesn’t.
Dress For The Weather
Wear loose-fitting and moisture wicking clothing. If you aren’t wearing the right clothing the sweat will remain trapped in your clothes and will weigh you down and also make you feel hotter.
Also don’t wear a hat when running in warm weather. Wear a visor so the heat doesn’t get trapped by a cap.
Run In The Shade
Try to find a running route that will allow you some shade. I like to run on the roads near my house. Several of them are lined with trees so I can stay out of the direct sunlight when I am running.
It’s also ok to take a break in the shade if you are feeling hot or overheated. When it is very hot and humid out, you need to be very careful that you don’t overheat and get heat stroke.
I ran a race in Disneyland two years ago that was black flagged. That meant that the conditions were too dangerous for running in. Many of us were walking the last few miles of that race because we were in the direct sun and it was extremely hot.
Run Early or Later In The Day
In the summer I try not to go out for a run in the middle of the day. There had been times when I had to get in a run during the heat of the day and it was much harder.
If you have the flexibility in your schedule, plan your run for early morning or late evening when the sun isn’t at its strongest point. I enjoy my early morning runs when the air has some coolness to it. It’s also peaceful in the morning before the hustle and bustle of the workday begin.
I also enjoy running in the evening as a wrap up to my day. But I have noticed that sometimes the air is just as hot around 6:30 p.m. than it is at 6:30 in the morning. That’s because the asphalt is still holding in the heat of the day.
Are these tips helpful to you? I hope you continue to run safely in the summer.
Disney just released the new teaser trailer for “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.” This movie is a sequel to the global box-office hit “Maleficent”, which was released in 2014.
The Stars of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning star together again as the dark fairy Maleficent and Princess Aurora. They represent two characters from the studio’s animated classic “Sleeping Beauty,” whose untold story was brought to life on screen in “Maleficent”.
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is a fantasy adventure that picks up several years after “Maleficent”. In the first movie, audiences learned of the events that hardened the heart of Disney’s most notorious villain and drove her to curse a baby Princess Aurora.
The second film continues to explore the complex relationship between the horned fairy and the soon to be Queen. The two form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within.
The Producers and Directors
The film is directed by Joachim Rønning from a story by Linda Woolverton. The screenplay was written by Linda Woolverton, Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster. The film is produced by Joe Roth, Angelina Jolie and Duncan Henderson. Matt Smith, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Michael Vieira served as executive producers.
This new film is coming out on October 18, 2019. Like the Maleficent Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
Will you e going to see this movie? Share with me what was your favorite part of the first movie in the comments below.
During my journey to better health, I had a food intolerance test done with my doctor. She went over the results with me the day before I was leaving for Austin, Texas to attend the Mom 2.0 conference. So I put together 3 quick tips for traveling with food allergies.
I can no longer eat foods containing gluten, dairy or eggs. This meant I needed to pull together food quickly that I could pack to bring with me and have for snacks and breakfast in case I couldn’t find an allergy friendly option.
I am traveling again this week for the Women In Travel Summit and needed to do the same thing. I went to Target and was pleasantly surprised to find that they carried a lot of allergy free foods that will taste good and will be safe for me. They are also a lot more affordable than going to a specialty health food store.
I noticed that since eating clean foods, I am more hungry, more often because I am not as full. Since I am eating food that is good for me, my body is processing it and using it so my blood sugar is being more regulated.
3 Quick Tips For Traveling With Food Allergies
Download the Find Me Gluten Free App
I wasn’t aware of this app until I was with a tour group for a bike ride around the Maine coastline. One of the women on the tour has a gluten allergy and she shared with me the name of the app. This will be a great resource for me to find restaurants around my home and when I am away from home.
Many restaurants can accommodate for food allergies; but it is sometimes overwhelming when you have a menu in front of you with choices that are not gluten-free and your only alternative is a salad. I’d like to be able to enjoy a meal with foods that I can eat in addition to what everyone else is eating.
Pack Your Own Food
When in doubt, make sure you have your safe foods with you. I have been packing the following items in my suitcase and carry-on to have on hand in case I get hungry or can’t find an option that works for me.
I found out that airports are difficult to find foods I can eat; especially late at night. I try to grab a California roll or some fresh sushi. But on my last trip home, I had to eat the banana my roommate gave me along with some almonds. That was my dinner. Needless to say, when I got home at 2:30 a.m. I was hungry.
Read The Labels
You must be your own advocate, so make sure you ask your servers at the restaurants and read the labels of any food you purchase. Fortunately for me, I don’t have a life threatening food allergy; but if I eat foods on my “dirty foods” list, I will end up with discomfort.
I was pleasantly surprised at dinner at a Yosaku , our server heard my roommate and I talking about gluten free eating and when she served us our food, she brought gluten free soy sauce. We were so excited that she noticed our needs, and we were even more excited that we found a new gluten free soy sauce!
This new change in my diet is going to have a large impact on me; but in a positive way. I’m just learning how to navigate this new world of food. It’s a little bit of a challenge, I am hungry often; but I do feel better. My brain seems to be less foggy, I have more energy, and I feel like my mood has changed for the better. I feel less blue and more positive.
These 3 quick tips for traveling with food allergies are the start of what I am learning about having food allergies. I’ll share what I am learning and any new tips and tricks of this new lifestyle as I encounter challenges and victories!
Do you have food allergies? I’d love to know what you have found for great restaurants and food substitutions. Please share them with me in the comments!
After a long and rainy winter, the Spring season is finally here in Connecticut. Even though it’s been a wet spring, you know the old saying, “April showers bring May flowers!” It’s time to get outside and enjoy some family time and I have four free springtime family events in Connecticut to share with you!
I have some great suggestions for activities you can do with your family to welcome in the new season. You will want to bring your cameras, because these locations will have a lot of beautiful photos opps. The best part is, these events all have FREE admissions!
The Daffodil Festival at Hubbard Park – Meriden
This festival has been running for 40 years and this year is the 41st annual Meriden Daffodil Festival! Admission is free and you can walk through the park to admire the more than 600,000 daffodils! There are three stages with live musical performances, the Silver Fork Food Tent, a parade, arts and crafts, children’s activities and a carnival for children, plus fireworks!
The festival hours are: Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sunday, April 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
I have lived in Connecticut my entire life. Can you believe I still haven’t made it to this festival? My daughter’s softball schedule is pretty packed. However, this year after her double-header, I’m hoping we can take a detour through the park on the drive home from the game. Or even try to watch the fireworks from the hill up near our house!
Visit the Daffodil Festival website for more information and details.
Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens – Hartford
Elizabeth Park is one of the first municipal rose gardens in the country. Enjoy the greenhouses, nature walks, perennials and rock gardens as you stroll through this gorgeous 100 acre park with flowers in bloom.Elizabeth Park is open all year round from dawn to dusk and is free.
In 1973, the New Haven Historic Commission planted 73 cherry blossom trees in Wooster Square. Enjoy live entertainment including jazz, steel band, big band music, and opera, while strolling along the streets lined with the blossoming cherry trees. The event is pet-friendly at the Little Italy Area in Wooster Square.
This event takes place from 12:00 noon to 4:00 on April 28, 2019.
The On-Stage entertainment will include:
Neighborhood Music School Premiere Jazz Ensemble
Tuxedo Junction (The Sound of Swing)
St. Luke’s Steel Band
Carlos Santiago Y Su Momento Musical (Salsa)
Enjoy a dedicated family and children’s area with arts & crafts, Nappy’s Puppets, the New Haven Free Public Library Readmobile and the New Haven Parks Department FunBus. For more information and parking information visit the Historic Wooster Square website.
COLORBLENDS House & Spring Garden – Bridgeport
This event is currently running through May 12 at the restored 1903 Colonial Revival Mansion. The Dutch garden designer Jacqueline van der Kloet creates the blend of snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and other spring-flowering blooms among the intimate garden in collaboration with Bridgeport-based COLORBLENDS Wholesale Flowerbulbs.
COLORBLENDS has recently designed a new garden to give ideas to visitors on how to design their own gardens at home. From raised beds, to hearty moisture-tolerant bulbs, perennials, and shrubs. Hopefully the gardens will help you think of how to lay out your garden to create a returning canvas of color each Spring.
Not only can you stroll the beautiful garden, but you can also tour the 1903 Colonial Revival Mansion. The mansion will serve as a pop-up gallery filled with art of all kinds created by local artists.
Which event are you going to visit? I’d love for you to share how they were along with sharing some pictures on my facebook page www.facebook.com/wifemotherrunner or share them on Twitter and tag @wifemotherrunr.
This year I ran my 5th consecutive Dopey Challenge. I had said that once I did five in a row that I would be ok with not doing Dopey anymore. However, I may be changing my thoughts on that because of my 2019 Dopey Challenge race experience.
The Dopey Challenge is a runDisney event where you run four races within four days. Day one is a 5K, day two is a 10K, day three is a half marathon, and day four is a marathon. Like I said, this is my 5th year running the challenge; but I have run the Walt Disney World Marathon for seven years in a row.
This year’s race was particularly hard for me. I had a lot of struggles prior to the race. I’ll have my race recap for you soon; but for now I’ll share advice on how to have your best Dopey Challenge race experience.
1. Train For The Dopey Challenge
I can’t stress enough how important that is. It sounds silly; but if you have run the runDisney races before, like me and several other runDisney runner friends of mine; you become a little cocky. We have done so many of the races, we know the course, so we assume we can do it even with little or less training. Sure, you can do it; but you will also hurt more and suffer more during and after the race because of the lack of training. Bad idea.
For my first Dopey Challenge I signed up for Jeff Galloway’s e-coaching program. He personalized a training plan for me and I checked in with him regularly to discuss any issues or concerns I had throughout the training.
When doing the Dopey Challenge you have to prepare your legs to run while tired. They have to get used to running on back-to-back days. RunDisney has a training plan designed by Jeff Galloway on the runDisney website. I suggest you take a look at the training plan prior to registering because you will need to dedicate a lot of time to the training.
2. Know How To Fuel For Dopey Challenge
With the Dopey Challenge Race Experience comes a different challenge. How do you provide your body with the proper nutrition prior to the race? The races begin at 5:30 a.m.; but you have to be at the corrals for the races much earlier than that. You also don’t start at 5:30, each corral is released at different times, so you can possibly stand in your corral for up to 30 minutes before you begin running.
Test Your Nutrition During Your Training
You also need to test out your sources of fuel during your training. I used to use Gu packs and Gatorade to fuel my body. I learned that this wasn’t the best source of nutrition for me. As soon as I got finished my training run, I was running to the bathroom with gut issues.
Now I use real food as fuel on my runs. I prefer to use pretzels for the salt and carbs, skittles for sugar to my brain, and Nuun tablets in my water for electrolytes. But that’s why training is so important. You need to use that time to find what works for you in regards to your nutrition.
You also need to make sure you are getting calories in every two miles, and you have to start from the beginning of your training run. If you get behind in your fueling, you can never catch up.
Fuel During The Races
The 5K Race
This race is easy enough to get by with a banana, granola bar, or a yogurt in your hotel room prior to going to the corrals, then you may want to have another banana or gu before the race.
I typically run very slowly or walk this race if I am with my family. So I am not running it for time or speed. I can eat some toast back at my hotel and I’m fine until after the race and I can go back to my hotel to have breakfast.
The 10K Race
This is also similar to the 5K race. I need to eat a little bit more than toast back at my hotel before arriving to the race so sometimes I’ll have a banana or bring a GoGo Squeez with me to have while waiting for the start. I do that because I tend to get hungrier at this race. I’ve run this race for 6 years and each year when I smell the food near the Boardwalk Bakery my stomach starts to growl!
The Half Marathon
The Half Marathon is when your real fueling strategy starts. You will test this out while training at home; but like I said earlier; you have to start taking in your nutrition right from the first two miles.
I like to bring cereal or pretzels and have them starting at mile 2 and continue to nibble on it from miles 4 through 8. Around mile 8 I may have some sugar to help with any monkey brain I may be experiencing. When running long distances, your mind plays tricks on you because of the lack of sugar. Therefore, you should take in something like gummy life savers, gummy bears, jelly beans, etc. to help ward off the doubts and fears that start to creep in.
The Marathon
Finally, the last race of the Dopey Challenge. This race must be taken seriously. You don’t want to mess around with undertraining, not taking in the appropriate nutrition or your hydration.
When running these races in Florida in January, the weather is always very unpredictable. But one thing remains the same, you need to take in your fuel every 2 miles and you must hydrate. Even if it is cold out, hydration is important.
Again, I can’t stress enough the importance of getting your fuel on board right from the beginning. This is going to help you make it past the 20 miles mark and beyond with less distress and you will feel much stronger, confident and will have a more enjoyable race experience.
Getting The Proper Nutrition Prior To The Races
When you arrive in Florida before the races, you should immediately begin to hydrate. Make sure you are drinking at least the same amount of ounces that is equal to your body weight. This is very, very important.
Your food prior to the races are also important. I have always enjoyed having the Salmon with couscous at Columbia Harbor House the night before the marathon. This past year we cooked dinner with vegetables, chicken and potatoes the night before the marathon. Pizza from Blaze in Disney Springs is also a great option. I met up with friends there one night before one of the races.
Always a good thing to note, never try something new during race weekend. You don’t want to go out and have a Mexican dinner prior to a big race, if that is not something you are used to or have done at home during your training. Err on the side of caution and choose foods that you know won’t upset your stomach the next day.
3. Sleep And Rest Prior To Each Race
What do you need to know about sleeping for races? You need to know that you can’t stay up late at the parks and expect to have a good race the next day.
One of the challenges with running the Dopey Challenge is being there with family or friends and wanting to play at the parks during the day and then you have to wake up at 2:00 a.m. to get ready and drive or take the bus to the starting line.
I have been very diligent about having a 9:00 bedtime when I am running the Dopey Challenge. My family knows that and we stay in a hotel with separate bedrooms so I can go to bed and everyone else can still be awake without disturbing me.
Get to bed early, try to stay off your feet, especially the days before the half and full marathons. I can’t stress that enough. If you plan the trip like I do, we save days after the marathon to go play at the parks.
4. Be Prepared For Any Type Of Weather
You can refer to my Dopey Challenge packing list for help preparing for the trip. With the races taking place in January, the weather in Florida can go from one extreme to the other. Several years ago it was 30 degrees for the marathon, and last year there were heat warnings. Even if you are watching the weather weeks prior to the event, you should ALWAYS pack for anything.
It’s hard to train for the extreme conditions depending on where you live. But as long as you do the training, pack and dress appropriately for the weather, you will at least be more comfortable on race day.
One important note to share is that it is hard to find clothing for cold weather in Florida, especially if you are staying on property and don’t have a car. So keep that in mind and be sure to pack gloves, hand warmers and extra layers. You should also make sure to have rain gear with you as well.
5. Enjoy The Races
This is Disney after all! You signed up for the Dopey Challenge for a reason. So that’s why it’s important to enjoy each race. Stop for pictures at the character stops. Especially during the 5K and 10K races.
If you have a friend or friends you are running with, that makes the races even better! If you don’t have a friend, you can easily make some on the course! Eventually you will begin to see the same people while you are on the course and they typically don’t mind chatting throughout the race to help pass the time. Sometimes the best friendships are made while going through a difficult challenge, like a marathon!
Nick and I have played tag along the marathon course for several years in a row!
Depending on my corral placement, I like to get as many pictures done during the shorter races so that I stop less during the marathon. In the past few years I have been in the last corral. What this means is that I have less time to stop because I will be closer to the back of the pack and the balloon ladies.
The balloon ladies are the peacekeepers from the time the last person crossing the starting line. If you are with the balloon ladies, you would have to maintain a 16:00 per mile pace throughout the entire race so that you wouldn’t get swept. When you fall behind them, then you will be pulled from the course and put on a bus to the finish line.
I have outrun the balloon ladies and have also had to chase the balloon ladies in the past; but that was because I was having TOO much fun on the race course with Team Shenanigans. And I was totally ok with that. But you typically don’t want to be in that situation.
Will You Be Registering For The Dopey Challenge in 2020?
Like I mentioned in the beginning I have to decide what I want to do this year. Of course having 2020 as an anniversary year for the Goofy Challenge, I want to sign up for that. Then my logic says, when if I am going to do the half marathon and the full marathon, then I might as well add the 5K and 10K because those are easy enough to do.
Since my schedule allows for me to be flexible with my travel, I can arrive a few days earlier than my family, and rest while they aren’t there. So if you can’t tell, I am already talking myself into this race! Will you be signing up for any of the races?
