Tag: hot

Cooling Off While Pregnant (Hot, Hot, Hot)

Cooling off while pregnant. Is that even possible?

I’m sure at least one of our readers is or knows someone who is trying to figure out how to stay cool during this summer while being pregnant. I reached out to all of my Mommy Friends and asked them what they did. The responses are both practical and amusing:

“Muumuus, copious amounts of ice cream, and very little movement… Oh, and, a buzz cut. I was quite a “vision” to behold…. ;-/” – K.C. from Arkansas

“Both my kids were summer babies. One in august, the other in september. Both with no AC. I spent a lot of time in the back yard either i the spinkler or kiddie pool. Or just under the shade. One thing I did, I took a cool shower before bed. It helped cool me down enough to get some sleep.” – D.B. from Arkansas

“I had to put ice on my feet and put them in front of a fan one night just so I could get shoes on to get to work. I worked nights at the PO and spent 8 hrs on my feet on a loading dock!” – T.B. from Arkansas

“We bought an inflatable pool and Ryan and I sat in it all summer while I was prego with Charley” – M.B. from Virginia

“Well, I’m at the end of my summer pregnancy and I have been either at a pool, lake or on the couch! Lol.” – A.D. from Texas

“When I was pregnant with my son (born 7/12…8 days late! ) my only saving grace to stay cool was very little clothing and spent many hours in the pool.” – M.B. from Maryland

“I used to come home every night and sit in a tub of cold water. Son was born 8/29 in one of the hottest summer in Oklahoma.” L.L. from Virginia

“When I was pregnant with the boys, I took Todd and Heather swimming just about every day that summer. It kept them occupied, I got exercise, and the water was cool and supported my big old belly. We took cold drinks and lunch, stopped for ice cream or watermelon on the way home.” S.D. from Georgia

“Stay inside! Lol! Oh, and lots of smoothies (and that’s a healthy snack bonus)!” E.L. from Virginia

“Sit on a raft in water, secluded water, And milkshakes.” – H.D. from Maryland

“My a/c went out when I was 6 months preggo with TWINS…..got put on the emergency list….they said if I wasn’t pregnant when they showed up, they would leave…..got the air back on the same day. Also, find a cool mall to hang out in or the movies….they are always chilly!!!” – P.H. from Virginia

Well ladies, bodies of water are a must when trying to stay cool. So, of course, that led me to wonder, where are the best places in Central Arkansas for a pregnant woman to cool her heels (and belly)? Here are some of the top places:
Woolly_Hollow_State_Park0

Woolly Hollow State Park offers a popular central Arkansas swimming hole. Lifeguards are on duty at the swimming beach from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Fees are charged to all swimmers age two and above. Swimming is not allowed from the boats in the lake. For details about Woolly Hollow State Park, call 501-679-2098 or visit:www.ArkansasStateParks.com/WoollyHollow.

On the shore of Lake Dardanelle, a sprawling 34,300-acre reservoir on the Arkansas River, Lake Dardanelle State Park is your gateway to lake and the water sports that can be enjoyed on it and the Arkansas River. For swimmers, the park offers a swimming beach by the picnic area. Swimming is free to the public and at your own risk as there are no lifeguards present at this beach. For details about Lake Dardanelle State Park, call 479-967-5516 or visit: www.ArkansasStateParks.com/LakeDardanelle.

There is one area designated as a swimming area on 1,940-acre Lake Catherine, one of the renowned Diamond Lakes around Hot Springs. The swimming beach at Lake Catherine State Park is on the lower end of the lake. Swimming is free to the public and at your own risk since there are no lifeguards present here at the park’s swimming beach. The park features some of the finest lake cabins in Arkansas. The Nature Cabin staffed by the park interpreters during summer months overlooks the swimming beach. For details about Lake Catherine State Park, call 501-844-4176 or visit: www.ArkansasStateParks.com/LakeCatherine.

And of course, if water parks are more your style, you can always visit Magic Springs or Crystal Falls, both of which offer cool, clean water to sit in.

However you decide to stay cool, please make sure you do it safely, and, know your limits.

Have a great summer!

Heather is a transplant to Arkansas by way of Texas Georgia and Virginia (Navy Veteran). She and her husband are currently trying to build their family through assisted reproduction. They currently have three fur-babies who have enjoyed exploring the great Arkansas outdoors. Catch up with her at VaughtBabyDreams.

Cool Off in the Crick {Wordless Wednesday}

By Ashley of The Ederington Family and Maniac Mom

Cool off in the crick

AshleyHeadshot Ashley Ederington lives on a 125 acre hobby farm with her husband and two sons in Bismarck. When Ashley is not teaching high school biology or running marathons, the entire family loves to explore the beautiful outdoors in Arkansas by hiking, hunting, and fishing. You can follow the family’s adventures on their blog: The Ederington Family or Ashley’s fitness blog: Maniac Mom.

Miss July 2014 Dorothy Johnson {Blogger of the Month}

by Dorothy Johnson, Miss July
Reflections from Dorothy’s Ridge

I love July. I know it’s Hot, Hot, Hot, but the prospect of celebrating our country’s birthday and our wedding anniversary makes it one of my favorite months. Serving as Miss July for Arkansas Women Bloggers tops it off like a fireworks’ grand finale.

Courtesy of Steve Rucker

The invitation for this gig was a wonderful surprise. However, I must confess I feel a bit like I did on my wedding day—beyond happy yet just a little afraid of stumbling as I walked down the aisle. Even though I’ve been blogging for two years, I must confess that I’m still a novice at navigating social media. You probably already know that because I’m fairly certain my unwitting gaffs pop up on a regular basis. Thank you, Arkansas Women Bloggers, for your wonderfully inclusive platform.

I love this phase of my life (except for the way my body has begun to betray me). My husband, Terry, and I are enjoying the freedom of retirement. He encourages me in my writing while I support his pursuits in music and radio-controlled airplanes. We have three wonderful children and eight fabulous grandchildren. How could I not love it?

I had worked as a writer and editor but had been out of publishing a long time when I attended my first Hemingway-Pfeiffer writers’ retreat several years ago. That’s where I met our Miss May, Talya Boerner of Grace Grits and Gardening. We became friends and she encouraged me to start a blog. But I had lots of excuses. Life was busy. I knew nothing about the process and wasn’t sure I’d even enjoy it. Talya was persistent though, so I eventually chose a name, watched a YouTube video and set up an unimpressive page that slept in my computer until I saw her again, At the next retreat, she took me by the hand, tweaked the design and pushed me out into the ether. I’m happy to report that I was hooked almost immediately, and I’ll be forever grateful for my friend’s mentoring. So, Fellow Bloggers, never underestimate the value of your encouragement and assistance to other writers.

Last year, I joined ARWB and attended my first conference which provided encouragement and more information than my brain could contain. Our Facebook forum is expanding my knowledge, too. I’m hoping to meet the online friends I’ve connected with there at this year’s conference. If you haven’t registered, do it now. It’s definitely worth the time, money and travel.

But back to the joys of this month, July 7 is Terry’s and my 40th wedding anniversary. By the time you read this, we’ll be on our way to one of our favorite destinations, Navarre Beach, for ten days. We discovered Florida’s Emerald Coast shortly before we married and have returned nearly every year on vacation. There’s no better spot to celebrate our life together.

We love beach sitting. For us, a canopy, comfortable chairs, gulf breezes, a good book and lots of sunscreen add up to contentment. When the beach gets too hot, we escape to the cool of the condo or take in a movie. Sometimes I crank up the car air conditioner and check out the flea markets and shops. Part of the appeal of the beach is being spontaneous.

This Fourth of July, we’ll be watching fireworks from our balcony. Then, on Monday, we’ll go out for an anniversary dinner at a special restaurant. You’re bound to read about it here.

I’m so grateful for my life with this good man. We married when my son was ten, my daughter was eight, and his son was three. Early on, they became our children. As with all families, we’ve had our rough patches. But, as I look back, I can sum it all up with a simple quote from my favorite T-shirt. Life is Good. And I must add, God is good. I know it could change in an instant, but right now, that’s how it feels. Maybe my growing collection of those shirts has something to do with their message. When I see a new color and design, I just can’t help buying it. (I often find them for half price mixed in with the exercise apparel at TJMaxx.)

I hope life feels good to you today and that you mark the Fourth of July with your own celebration. For all our troubling issues, our country is still the best place in the world to live. I’m thankful I was born here.

May God bless the United States of America.

And you, too, my friends.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Ps. 16:6