It’s National Running Day! Are you getting out for a run? Days like today make me anxious to get back to running. I wish I could get out and participate today, however my 35 week pregnant body just isn’t down for running right now; I will however be getting out for a walk this afternoon!
After losing over 80 pounds, I run because the act of moving swiftly feels SO amazing! I love getting from one place to another on my own two feet and I’m impatient so I like taking it at a swift pace! I’d love to enter The Arthur Rat Race on September 3rd in Arthur IL! I’ve got the day off and they have an awesome town festival going on too!
In honor of National Running Day I am giving away (aka I’ll pay for up to $25) a race entry to one lucky winner- (almost) any race (max entry fee $25) anytime and anywhere. All you have to do is tell me why do you run? and which race entry you’d like to win. I will pick a winner tomorrow morning!
Yesterday I started a new board on Pinterest that features my Fitness Bucket List. Right now it’s pretty small but it is constantly growing and features my fitness goals for this year through my lifetime. The items currently on my Fitness Bucket List are:
This Year:
One of my goals for this year is to start post-natal yoga at Evolution at six weeks postpartum. The great thing about this class is that I can bring baby with me from 6 weeks until they start to crawl!
Run/Walk the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon. I know, I know – I have a whole blog post written about this goal and I am sure many of you are saying um whattttttt? You are having a baby in July and this race is in November. Don’t worry my expectations are low, like lower and than low, but we’ve already deferred to this race and so might as well try.
Next Two Years:
Neil and I would love to run the VCM as relay partners in the next few years. He ran the first half this year and really wants to do it again!
Next Five Years:
The Vermont 100 on 100 is a 100 mile relay race that is on Route 100 (guess that’s where it gets its name?) in Vermont starting at Trapps and ending at Okemo. Over the past few years Neil and I have witnessed the runners and I have always been inspired by the race. The race route is beautiful and I am sure amazing to run. Neil and I almost signed up last year when a few friends wanted to start a team but ultimately decided that we weren’t prepared to run that many miles and it would probably be a bad idea so our goal of running the 100 on 100 on a team together has been put on the back burner at least for another year or two.
I would love to attend Wanderlust again in VT, CA or CO or even Whistler would be amazing.
This is one of Neil and I’s big running goals to do- I would love to do the one that goes to Key West.
I can always use an excuse to go to Disney and what better excuse than a race that both Neil and I want to do?
Lifetime Goal:
This is a long term goal that Neil and I started a few years ago. We have been trying to hike a little bit of the The Long Trail each year (unfortunately not this year- or at least no plans to yet anyways). Neil is the hiking lover and I’m in like with hiking but this would be an amazing goal to accomplish.
What is on your Fitness Bucket List? Have you started a Pinterest #Fitnessbucketlist board? If yes, link below!
How big is the baby: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she’s born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you’ve been nervous about preterm labor, you’ll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies. (source)
Baby’s Gender: We both think it’s a boy (most of the time).
Baby’s Name: We have a name for a boy or a girl–> we actually are stuck on two different girl names, decisions, decisions.
Weight Gained: 24 lbs
Clothes: I bought myself another dress. It’s not maternity but the style works well with my belly and should be flattering for the remainder of the summer.
How are you feeling: I am feeling pretty god. I am getting tired out pretty easily during the week but am making time to rest and sleep as needed. Friday I got home from work and took a two hour nap before our couples yoga class.
What do you miss: I miss sleeping comfortably. Beer. Running.
How are you sleeping: Sleeping is going alright. This week I have been having a lot of hip pain and it’s hard to get comfortable.
Workouts: This week I went to yoga Tuesday, couples yoga Friday and went for a number of walks.
Things I’m looking forward to: Our baby shower! Finishing work (only 4 more weeks!!!)
In other news:
We are still on track to launch Naturally Family on June 4th but until then check us out of Facebook and Twitter.
We still haven’t been able to tour our birthing center which is making me pretty nervous. I called yesterday about touring but it wasn’t a good day for them. Hopefully next Friday when we go down for our appointment we will be able to.
This week we took our Couples Yoga for Labor and Birth and next week we take our breastfeeding class which I am looking forward to.
Just a quick check in! We have been super busy lately with our anniversary on Thursday, couples yoga for labor and birth Friday and yesterday was spent running errands and working on our Naturally Family blog which I hope will launch next week. Until then make sure to enter my Belli Skincare giveaway!
There are a number of prenatal and postnatal beauty products out there today and it can be a real challenge to figure out which ones you should try and which ones you should just pass on. I recently received a package from Belli Skincare containing their Your Best Baby Bump Duo and their Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen. Although all three items had their pros and cons, I absolutely loved them all and would recommend everything. I really look forward to trying products from Belli’s Motherhood Line and maybe even their Baby Line. Check out my review of each product below:
Maintains the look of smooth, healthy skin with scientifically researched* ingredients that help prepare skin for stretching during pregnancy.
A luxurious blend of pure plant extracts to nourish and moisturize the skin
The aromatherapy benefit of lavender soothes and calms the senses
Contains Vitamin E and grapeseed oil, both are rich in antioxidants
Used in fine spas as a pre-natal massage oil
Pro: I love the smell! It is really wonderful and I am looking forward to packing it up and taking it to the birthing center with us so that Neil can use it to massage my back. I also love how it sprays on so easily and isn’t too greasy feeling. Neil also loves the smell of this oil.
Con: The spray is nice but sometimes it goes on a little wild- I have learned to remove my shirt before putting it on now so it won’t get all over my clothes. The other con is the price- it is a little expensive at $39.
Would I recommend? I would and I AM recommending it to moms-to-be. I would recommend getting the Your Best Baby Bump Duo because it is a good deal and has both the oil and the lotion.
Deeply moisturizes, soothes and comforts dry skin.
Features lemon oil which is known for its uplifting qualities
Chamomile soothes and refreshes
Shea butter moisturizes and smooths
Pro: Smells like lemon cookies! I absolutely love this lotion and so does Neil. We both used it after spending too much time in the sun and it did a good job at soothing our burnt skin. It also really does a great job at moisturizing. I also love that it smells like lemon cookies but the smell isn’t over powering and really mellows out shortly after applying.
Cons: I really can’t think of any cons! It is a little on the more expensive side for some but honestly I think the price is pretty competitive for the quality.
Would I recommend? I would definitely recommended this to anyone regardless of whether you are pregnant or not.
Shield yourself from UVA and UVB rays with pregnancy-friendly sunscreen ingredients.
Features zinc oxide & titanium dioxide– minerals that act as physical sunscreen filters
Sun exposure during pregnancy can result in chloasma– dark brown spots that 70% of pregnant women experience
Lightly tinted to blend in with all skin types
Oil-free
May be worn alone or under makeup
Pro: It doesn’t have the normal sunscreen smell (which I hate). Although it is tinted it blends right in and I find it evens my skin tone out just a bit (maybe I’m the only one who notices though). It isn’t heavy on the skin and it works really well with my makeup. I usually wear a tinted moisturizer and lately I have just been wearing the Belli sunscreen instead.
Con: It is a little expensive, especially if you plan to reapply frequently or if you are a little heavy handed with it. I wouldn’t wear this as my go to sunscreen if I were heading to the pool or the beach but it is good for everyday wear.
Would I recommend? I would recommend this, however, if you know you really need a lot of sunscreen in the summer and/or spend a lot of time lounging on the beach I would also have another facial sunscreen for that and use this as more everyday use.
Tweet about this giveaway: “I want to win @runwithtongs @BelliSkincare giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-3jU”
Disclaimer: Belli Skincare provided me with these products at no cost. I was under no obligation to review them if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway.
Did you know? You can take advantage of savings on Belli products by clicking on the bright pink Share & Save button that appears on the far right-hand side of belliskincare.com. When they click the button and share Belli with at least 3 of their friends via email, Facebook or Twitter, they and their friends can receive an exclusive promo code good for 20% off their purchase at belliskincare.com.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful today! Today is Neil and my 4th wedding anniversary. I am going to go spend the remainder of the night with the Hubz but just wanted to check in and say ‘HI’. I will post my 34 week pregnancy update tomorrow!
Today is the last day of my 6 day vacation and I’m sad for it to be over. Neil and I have been super busy every day of this vacation and I am using today to relax and get ready for the short but surely busy work week.
Thursday I spent most of the day trying to get some work done around the house, I took a nap and then headed out to watch Neil’s softball game. After his game, we went to American Flatbread for our traditional post-midwife appointment flatbread date a day early since we had made different plans for after our Friday midwife appointment.
Friday Neil and I woke up early and headed out to an early morning midwife appointment at their main office 75 minutes away. We usually go to the satellite office that is only 45 minutes away but we had hoped that we would be able to tour the birth center but unfortunately all the birthing suites were full when we arrived so we couldn’t tour. On the upside we found out that the baby turned and that now there is a 98% chance they will stay head down!!
After our appointment we headed to Hill Farmstead Brewery so Neil could sample a few beers and pick up a stock (you can only buy bottles at the brewery). On our way there, we stopped in Hardwick at the Buffalo Mountain Co-op for lunch where we both got veggie and tempeh bowls with brown rice for me and quinoa for him. After we finally made it to the brewery (after getting lost, asking for directions, learning we needed cash, getting cash and returning) we finally headed to Little River State Park in Waterbury (where my parents were camping) for dinner. Neil helped them set up camp and then we ate tons of raw veggies with dip, Field Roast Sausages and potatoes, then Neil and I finally packed up and headed home.
Saturday we stopped into the VCM Race Expo, ran a bunch of errands and then relaxed. Since Neil was running Sunday we didn’t want to over do it and spent all afternoon/evening relaxing on the couch.
Sunday = RACE DAY! Neil and I both woke up bright and early to get ready for the Vermont City Marathon. I spent the day as a spectator and Neil ran his very first half marathon! We dropped Neil off at the starting line and then we headed to our planned viewing spot, just after mile 10. Since we were going to have a few hours to wait before Neil passed through we headed up the hill to cheer him on just pass the 2-mile marker.
Just Pass 2-Mile Mark (Neil with yellow hat)
After we cheered on Neil and his fellow runners we headed back down the hill to our spots and set up camp to cheer on runners as they passed by.
Finally we spotted Neil with the 4:15 pace group and gave him a big cheer as he passed.
We stayed and cheered on all the runners up until the very last one passed us by and then packed things up and walked down to the waterfront to meet official Half-Marathoner Neil (his unofficial time is 2:20!)
Monday after spending the day in the hot sun and running Sunday, Neil and I were both ready for our anniversary massages at The Essex Resort and Spa. About a month ago I scheduled appointments for a sports-specific massage for Neil and a prenatal massage for myself for our anniversary which is May 31st, BEST IDEA EVER.
We arrived a bit early, checked into the spa and then went the relaxation lounge to relax, sip green juice and water before our massages. We ended up having our massages in the same room together which was really nice and they were honestly some of the best massages either of us have had. We had the same massages about 3 months ago in Boston and although they were good these were amazing. The best part was I could lay on my stomach thanks to the special pregnancy belly pillow they had for prenatal massages.
After our massages we decided to take advantage of the facilities (you have access to the pool, gym, sauna, steam room and relaxation lounges) and we headed to the indoor pool for a swim. It was so nice to get in the water and swim around, I wish I had been doing this throughout all of my pregnancy! Walking has becoming more challenging but swimming yesterday I was able to do 300 yards with no problem!
After the pool, we headed back to our designated (men/women) spa changing rooms so that Neil could use the steam room and I took the time to put my feet up and enjoy a cup of tea, a cup of water and a trashy magazine since neither the sauna nor the steam room were options for me. We both showered and got ourselves ready for the day and then headed out to pick up a picnic lunch and run a few errands before settling in at home.
We ended our night with this delicious homemade flatbread and caught up on a few shows.
One of my goals for this year is to start post-natal yoga at 
The Vermont 100 on 100 is a 100 mile relay race that is on Route 100 (guess that’s where it gets its name?) in Vermont starting at Trapps and ending at Okemo. Over the past few years Neil and I have witnessed the runners and I have always been inspired by the race. The race route is beautiful and I am sure amazing to run. Neil and I almost signed up last year when a few friends wanted to start a team but ultimately decided that we weren’t prepared to run that many miles and it would probably be a bad idea so our goal of running the 100 on 100 on a team together has been put on the back burner at least for another year or two.
I would love to attend 
I can always use an excuse to go to Disney and what better excuse than a race that both Neil and I want to do?
This is a long term goal that Neil and I started a few years ago. We have been trying to hike a little bit of the 
