Prizes, Sweaty Gear, and Crystal Balls

on April 30, 2012
in FAQ Mondays

I have the post-weekend blues.  I looked forward to this past weekend for so long; and now, just like that, it’s over! 

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Side note: A few people asked if BabyHTP was a boy because some of our shower gifts – but we really don’t know the sex and won’t until birth!  Popular vote amongst family is overwhelmingly leaning male, however.

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I’ve also suffered from post-marathon blues – you train so hard for one event and then – suddenly – POOF!  It’s over.  I hear some women get post-wedding blues, but I don’t think I did.  I was too relieved to have the stress of planning a wedding over!  Hah. 

 

More blues:

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Stovetop banana oatmeal

Pecans

Blueberries

Caramelized bananas (throw ‘em in a hot wok with a little maple syrup until brown)

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FAQ Mondays

 

It’s that time again… FAQ Monday!  Reading your fun answers makes my Monday a little brighter. Smile 

 

Have you ever won a giveaway or prize?  Once, I won $50 on a scratch-off lottery ticket!  And another time, I won a sweet giveaway that another blogger was hosting – I got mailed a ton of running supplies.  But the coolest that I ever won was the Amway Positivity Project Awards.  It was an online contest that was entirely voter-driven; I begged y’all to vote for me and, since you are all totally awesome, I won!  I got a $10,000 check, which I used to created a scholarship fund for Girls on the Run of Charlotte.  Because of YOU, at least 70 local girls who couldn’t have afforded the program got to experience the magic that is GOTR!  Plus, I got to meet John Tesh (that radio dude).  Pretty neat.  I still have that giant check in my garage. 

What is one piece of workout equipment or clothing you swear by?  I love the Moving Comfort Fiona Bra (it’s my personal pick of sports bras for large-chested women).  I also really love my CamelBak, a hydration backpack, which means I don’t have to carry my water bottle with me when I run.  I got a ladies’ fit CamelBak so the profile is a little slimmer and it’s more comfortable on my back.

 

Do you believe in psychics?  Have they ever correctly predicted your future? When I first started dating the Husband, his mother paid for me to go see a psychic.  Even though I didn’t believe this guy was legit, it made me SO nervous!  Anyway, he was completely wrong in all of his predictions (and I noticed that it was easy to subtly lead him into certain predictions).  I won’t say that legit psychics don’t exist; I’ve just never actually met one.  Also, I’m not sure how much of our future is pre-determined; I always wonder if things are ‘meant to be’ or ‘fate’ or if they just happen the way they happen. 

 

Your turn!  Ever won a big prize?  What workout gear do you love?  And has anyone correctly predicted your future?

{ 49 comments }

 

  • Lindsay April 30, 2012, 10:12 am

    Looks like you had a wonderful shower! My husband will be attending our baby shower as well – I mean if it wasn’t for him there wouldn’t be a baby haha.

    We don’t know what we are having either but I think it’s a boy, husband is on the fence and family thinks girl.

  • Katie @ cooklaughmove April 30, 2012, 10:13 am

    I love my Moving Comfort Jubralee bras! I got 2 on clearance at a running store for $20 each!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) April 30, 2012, 10:16 am

    I know how you feel with the weekend being over. I’m sad mine is over too. It was the first weekend in a really long time that my husband had no pending projects and we relaxed and enjoyed a little vitamin D all weekend. Now, he has a cold that just appeared and I have spent all morning running around with the kids and getting meds for my husband…I want to go back to Saturday.

    Oh, I won the 5th grade science fare. That felt so good. Never really won anything else…there’s still time, right?!

    I hope you have a great day Caitlin!

  • Sana April 30, 2012, 10:17 am

    I won $500 from Foodbuzz once, it was pretty cool!

  • Hillary April 30, 2012, 10:18 am

    I’ve only won two things in my entire life: a 5 lb candy bar when I was in elementary school, and a box of Chobani yogurt (from a random FB giveaway that I entered). Next up: Powerball?!

  • Earthy Nicole April 30, 2012, 10:31 am

    I wondered about it being a boy too but figured people were just guessing!

    I’ve never won anything big but even little things are exciting, like a few dollars on a lottery ticket!

    I still love my Nike Free Run’s and of course, my iPod shuffle. My husband’s nano feels too bulky!

    And I actually have had a psychic predict something accurately. I believe certain things are “meant to be” but the way we get there might vary… if that makes sense.

  • Caitlin @ This Bride's Joyride April 30, 2012, 10:31 am

    Everyone keeps saying I’ll have the blues after my wedding is over but I think I’ll be too excited for our honeymoon! 🙂

    A few years ago my Dad submitted my name into a raffle when he was donating money to a charity he loves. I ended up winning two free plane tickets on Southwest! It was awesome!

    I love love love my lululemon capris. Yes they were pricey but they are the only workout pants that I have loved, washed 100 million times and still never fall down or stretch out!

  • Kristy @ KristyRuns April 30, 2012, 10:33 am

    My Ultimate Direction hand-held water bottle! No long runs are complete without it. And a good friend! 🙂

  • Army Amy* April 30, 2012, 10:38 am

    I’m on the fence about psychics, but the lady on Long Island Medium on TLC seems legit! How does she know that stuff???*

  • Nicole G April 30, 2012, 10:42 am

    I don’t consider myself that lucky, but I actually have won a bunch of stuff over the course of my relatively short life:

    As a teenager:
    –I won a radio contest where you had to call in and guess the song they had mangled (like played backwards or something)? The song was a Lenny Kravitz song and I won a CD and radio t-shirt
    –I also won a random drawing for a limited Savage Garden CD through their fan magazine (don’t judge).

    More recently:
    –I won a random vacation sweepstakes that included a four-pack of tickets to a bunch of attractions like Hershey Park and $500 gas gift card
    –I won a random drawing among individuals who donated blood at my blood center one month for $100 gas card
    — I was on the Newlywed Game and won a second honeymoon to St. Croix!

    And I’ve won a couple of twitter giveaways including a gift card to Subway, a gift card to Saladworks, and a free book!

    • CaitlinHTP April 30, 2012, 10:43 am

      SAVAGE GARDEN WAS THE BESTTTTTTTTTT!

  • Nicole April 30, 2012, 10:44 am

    I have post-weekend blues too. So much anticipation for a weekend that flies by!

    I’d say the biggest “prize” I’ve ever won was the settlement check for my car accident last year–totally unexpected.

  • Megan April 30, 2012, 10:46 am

    Has anyone predicted your future?

    Yes. My husband and a few friends of mine were in Anytown Disney (Orlando) and decided to pop in on a hand-reader to get our palms read just for fun. My prediction was ridiculous because what she said was ALREADY true. I’m like… ummm okayyyy.

  • Allison April 30, 2012, 10:46 am

    A few years ago I won tickets to see a taping of the Ellen Degeneres show! My mom (who is such an amazing woman) and I have always been huge fans of hers, so I wrote to her every single day for 2 years trying to get tickets to the show. Finally, I was at a Mary Kay party and got a call from an Ellen rep offering me tickets; needless to say I freaked out in front of the entire room of people. We live in Michigan, so it was so amazing to go to LA for the first time for literally less than 24 hours just to see Ellen 🙂

  • Kathleen Ojo @ Onward; Inward April 30, 2012, 10:53 am

    Haha, psychics…. before I moved to Kenya I went to see a psychic, it was rather hysterical. She predicted that I would find my life’s calling working for an NGO there and would somehow get involved with Oprah’s organization building schools (I think she was confusing Kenya with South Africa). She also said that my love life would likely take a backseat to my career for the next decade or so. I ended up leaving Kenya 3 years later, with a husband but no brilliant career to speak of 😉 Having my cards read was entertaining, for sure, but not something I’d spend money on again!

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats April 30, 2012, 10:58 am

    I’ve never won a big prize, but I have won a couple giveaways on blogs for smaller things like Chobani or pirate’s booty!

  • Rachel Starr April 30, 2012, 11:01 am

    Hands down, the best prize I ever won, was when I was workin in retail. My dept was running a contest for selling William Rast denim. Every time you sold 2 pairs your name went into a drawing to fly to NYC for fashion week & meet the designer- Justin Timberlake! Yeah, I won! When my manager told me I was all, “say what!?! No way!”. But two weeks later we were on a plane to NYC. We went to the Willaim Rast runway show, then backstage afterwards. In the “lounge” we met JT, and chilling in the corner was Jessica Beil & fellow NSYNC member, JC Chasez! Yeah, I still don’t really believe ithappened, but it did! Did I mention that I was also 6 months pregnant at the time? so when my daughter grows up I can tell her she also “met” JT 🙂

  • Marissa C April 30, 2012, 11:04 am

    So I’m curious…why did your MIL want you to see a psychic?

    • krista April 30, 2012, 11:28 am

      Yes I want to know this too!

      • CaitlinHTP April 30, 2012, 11:46 am

        I dunno! To see if I was a good match for her son? Haha. Just kidding 😉 She’s just really into all that stuff.

  • Rebecca April 30, 2012, 11:06 am

    I’ve won scholarships if they count. XD I can’t remember winning much else.

    That third one is kind of funny, because last night I watched Long Island Medium for the first time. Not sure how I feel about it. I know there are definitely fakes, but I’m not sure if I believe legit psychics exist. I do read my horoscope for kicks and giggles once in a while, but half the time it fails.

  • Abby April 30, 2012, 11:12 am

    I once took the phone survey at the end of the receipt for Best Buy and won a $500 gift card!! Most recently I won your book and am loving it!!

  • Maren April 30, 2012, 11:21 am

    Last year, I was totally on a winning STREAK. I won a flat-panel tv from the radio, a free dinner at my house from a race expo, and three separate prizes from blogs! It was so crazy. My fiance kept telling me to go buy a lottery ticket! haha

    I swear by my orthodics! If I haven’t worn them all day, I will put my tennies on after work because they feel soooo good 🙂

    I know absolutely nothing about psychics! Would definitely be interested to go see one sometime…just for fun!

  • Anna D April 30, 2012, 11:28 am

    I recently won your book…finished it in about 24 hours! But that’s the only giveaway I’ve ever won 🙂
    I loved my Camelbak, but then a friend thought it’d be cool to use it for, umm, something other than water for a party…Oh, college.

  • Ashley @ The North Carolina Cowgirl April 30, 2012, 11:53 am

    I don’t believe in psychics. I’d like to but I just have a hard time believing anyone can see the future or past.

  • Coco April 30, 2012, 12:08 pm

    I definitely skimmed this post and thought it said “Do you believe in physics?”…I was like uhh yeah, who doesn’t?

    • Caitlin April 30, 2012, 1:26 pm

      Hahaha I did the same thing!!

      • CaitlinHTP May 1, 2012, 9:57 am

        I actually originally wrote physics. LOL

  • Kim L. April 30, 2012, 12:08 pm

    I have won tickets to a concert on the radio, but nothing big. My son won a iPad at school last year! That was a big deal. Did you know John Tesh used to host Entertainment Tonight, back in the day? You are much younger than I am, so it was probably before your time or at least you were too young to care who was hosting the show : )

  • Bonnie April 30, 2012, 12:27 pm

    Once in fifth grade, I won the an Easter basket that my bus driver was doing a raffle for. Lame, I know, but it’s all I’ve ever won!
    I actually just bought these yoga pants from Old Navy and I am in love with them! They make my butt look good! haha.
    My stepmother had a psychic reading done for my dog (when we found out he was really sick) and she told us about his past (we knew he’d been abused) and about how special I am to him and how he was really happy that we adopted him and saved him from his old life. I wouldn’t have said I believed before that, but it seemed so convincing, yknow?

    Happy monday!

  • Megan April 30, 2012, 12:30 pm

    As far as winning goes, I’ve won the Kiki magazine subscription and goodies that came with for my little sister from you! She loved it by the way 🙂 Other than that I’ve won mini prizes in my spinning class (free class) etc. That’s as far as my winning goes.

    Favorite workout gear is anything Lululemon! Wish I could afford to buy more than I do, ha one day. My first love will always be Under Armor though, I might be an addict.

    I’m also skeptical on psychics, it’d be cool if they were real but then again I like the surprise element life gives us so I’m not sure I’d want to know.

    • CaitlinHTP May 1, 2012, 9:57 am

      I’m so glad she liked the Kikki subscription!!!

  • Kendra April 30, 2012, 12:33 pm

    I have never won a giveaway or prize! I always want to and I always send positive vibes in the direction of the person announcing the “winner” and I even hold my breath for a brief second as they pause before saying the winner’s name… but nothing. That’s ok though! My day will come. 😉

  • Annette@FitnessPerks April 30, 2012, 1:46 pm

    I’ve won a discman before–it was cool back in the 90s! hah.

  • Brigid April 30, 2012, 1:46 pm

    I have never won a big giveaway or prize, but I often win the little stuff — $4 on a scratch-off, $20 gift certificates, free event tickets, stuffed animals, etc. I always know when I’m going to win, too.

    I love my Moving Comfort Fiona bra, too! I need to replace it (one of the hooks fell off due to overuse).

    I go back and forth on psychics. I have had two — with no prompting from me — tell me that I will never get divorced, and I hope that’s true. I also had one predict I’d graduate at the top of my high-school class, and I did. I saw a palm reader in Venice Beach a few months back who was terrible, though. I definitely don’t think everyone with a crystal ball or a deck of Tarot cards is legit, but I do kinda-sorta believe there are real ones out there.

  • Amy Q April 30, 2012, 2:04 pm

    I won a spot in the NYC marathon lottery last week!

    I’m terribly excited– only between 8-12% of the people who enter that lottery have their name chosen. I ran it in 2010 for a charity team and LOVED IT. I just couldn’t commit to raising $3000 this year. So now I have a guaranteed spot— and then on Friday, I contacted Team Hole in the Wall (Paul Newman’s camps for kids with cancer/blood diseases) and asked to be on their charity team. Since I have my own guaranteed entry, I don’t have to reach the $3000 mark to get a race number, but I will fundraise and do my best for this great organization anyway. It means a lot to our family, as my sister and her husband met and worked as counselors for many years at one of these camps!

  • K @ Finding a skinnier me April 30, 2012, 3:16 pm

    Ever won a big prize? Nope, I won $20 off a scratcher once and that felt amazing to me!

    What workout gear do you love? My mp3 player of course, armband for holding my mp3 player and my smartphone, I know odd, but it helps me track my workouts and miles! I am just starting out on working out, so all the gear is still new to me right now.

    And has anyone correctly predicted your future? No!

  • April B. April 30, 2012, 3:40 pm

    I won a bike when I was in 7th grade as part of a grand opening for a local business.

    My fitness must have is the Fiona moving comfort bra as well. I don’t have to wear two anymore! Also, a good fitting pair of shoes. I know everyone is different, but good kicks have actually helped me improve some knee issues I am prone to.

    The jury is out for me on whether I believe in psychics or not. I am definitely intriqued by them.

  • Stacy April 30, 2012, 6:10 pm

    I’ve never won a give away, but I did win a lot of scholarships back in 2004 when I graduated from high school. They helped me go to my dream school. Then, I received tuition paid+teaching stipend in graduate school. So, even though I’ve never won a giftcard or anything, I think the scholarships are an ever better deal! I just accepted my first “real” job outside of graduate school: Assistant Professor of English! Hey, maybe I’ll luck out and win a giveaway?

  • Christie April 30, 2012, 6:35 pm

    I’m not super lucky but I’ve won a few things – a few scratch offs, a recipe contest ($500!), and a pig racing contest at the fair when I was a kid.

    I don’t believe in psychics, like, at all. My sister is into it though.

  • Stephanie C April 30, 2012, 7:43 pm

    I’ve never won anything really.. I mean unless you count student of the month in elementary school (they gave out shakey’s gift cards for that!).
    Workout gear – def lululemon anything – bras, pants, etc.
    Also, no one has ever predicted my future. I was brought up not to do that stuff and I’m so afraid of even thinking about it now that it’s not even something I consider! hah. My SIL has had dreams that have ended up coming true about other people, though!

  • Caroline Leigh April 30, 2012, 11:18 pm

    i honestly think the first and only prize I over won was last year when you chose me to get a copy of Operation Beautiful. I posted about a friend who was at an eating disorder rehabilitation center. well, I sent her the book and among other inspirations, she has come a really long way in the past year. she graduated from the center and started to really live her life. she is finishing up her grad program this month and has been dating a great guy for a few months now. she still struggles at times, but she is committed to living a happy and healthy lifestyle.

    Happy Monday Caitlyn! Thanks for being so awesome!

    • Caroline Leigh April 30, 2012, 11:18 pm

      *caitlin. sorry! on my phone!

    • CaitlinHTP May 1, 2012, 9:58 am

      Thank you so much 🙂 It was very nice to hear this.

  • Jen May 1, 2012, 12:09 am

    I have never won anything big, but in my college days, I do remember winning a pizza (how or why, I cannot remember) & I once won tickets to see INXS in concert…yes, I know that I’m showing my age! 🙂 TERRIBLE seats, but a good show + they were free!

    Oh! And shortly after graduating college, I attended the “Working Woman’s Survival Show” and won a free membership to a dating/matchmaker service…LOL! Although I will admit that I was slightly intrigued (I was, after all, single & fairly adventurous at the time), I never actually ended up using it.

    I think the most I’ve ever won on a scratch-off was $20…not exactly enough to retire on, but cool nonetheless. 🙂

  • Lindsey Gail May 1, 2012, 4:12 am

    The only prize that I have ever won (to the best of my recollection), is winning the Banned Book Contest at my college’s library last spring. It might as well have been called a nerd award, but I was overjoyed to win a gift certificate to the bookstore- another nerdy haven!

  • Amber K May 1, 2012, 12:45 pm

    I haven’t had someone correctly predict my future (no one has ever tried) but I have had a friend tell me about an event that happened in my past. There was no way she could have known because I had not told a soul.

    Turns out she did it to a few of our other friends too – told them things about their pasts no one could have known. It really stressed her out because she would know things about people and would want to talk to them about it, but couldn’t always remember if she knew because they actually told her or not.

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