Chicago Auto Show 2014: What to Expect

Posted on February 12, 2014 at 3:32 pm by Beeb Ashcroft

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All travel and related consideration provided by the Chicago Auto Show.

Last week, I flew out to Chicago for a special advance media preview of the 2014 Chicago Auto Show. This is the largest auto show in North America, using 1 million square feet in McCormick Place for its myriad displays. I felt like I only began to scratch the surface of what the show contained!

Of course, the Chicago Auto Show is the place to be to see all of the newest car models and take test drives and ride-alongs on both indoor and outdoor tracks. You’ll also find fascinating concept cars and vintage vehicles on display.

Silverado Z71 Volunteer Firefighter Concept Car

But there’s so much more to do than just gaze at the cars. There are all kinds of fun activities on hand, from games and driving simulators to photo booths, sweepstakes and freebies – one of my favorites was the Scion Swag Machine, where you upload a photo on Instagram using a special hashtag and Geotag your location. Once the machine sees your photo, it dispenses a prize!

For a full list of everything happening, check out this full list of interactive displays and event schedule. I’ll be sharing more recaps and photos from my time at the Chicago Auto Show over the coming days, so stay tuned for those as well!

Chicago Auto Show 2014: Location, Tickets & Hours

When: February 8th through February 17th
Where: McCormick Place – 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60616
Hours: 10 AM to 10 PM every day through the 16th; 10 AM to 8 PM on the 17th.
Tickets: Adults: $12 Seniors 62+ & Children Ages 7-12: $6. Children under 6 are admitted free. Tickets are available on DriveChicago.com.

Special Days:

Food Drive, February 12th through the 14th: Bring 3 cans of food and receive half off your cost of admission.
Telemundo Hispanic Day, February 14th: A number of special events are scheduled this day – visit TelemundoChicago.com for details.
Family Day, February 17th: This is the last day of the Chicago Auto Show and geared towards fun with the whole family.

For information on where to find Weekday Discount Coupons for the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, click here.

Snowy St. Johns

Posted on February 11, 2014 at 1:48 pm by Beeb Ashcroft

This past week has been quite an adventure! I flew out to Chicago last Wednesday for the Chicago Auto Show Media Preview, and arrived back in Portland on Friday night. During my brief absence, a freak snowstorm hit that eventually resulted in an emergency alert being issued and made it impossible for me to get back to Seaside until Monday morning. Fortunately, I have awesome family in Portland who had a place for me to stay during “Snowpocalypse” and even loaned me clothes so that I could venture outside – all I with me were business skirt suits, since I had packed for a warm indoor conference, not a snow avalanche!

Snow-covered train

Pine cones

Snowman

Clumps of snow

Snow-Covered street

2014 Chicago Auto Show Media Preview

Posted on February 3, 2014 at 1:49 pm by Beeb Ashcroft

Travel and accommodations are being provided by the Chicago Auto Show.

This week, I’m heading back to the Windy City for a special media preview of the 2014 Chicago Auto Show. This is the largest auto show in the country, and will open its doors to the public on February 8th. I’ll be getting a sneak peek at new offerings and innovations from all the major automobile manufacturers and participating in some fun activities – make sure you’re following me on Twitter and Instagram for real-time updates, and watch this space next week for my full recap!

Have you ever been to the Chicago Auto Show?

Total Gym XLS: Week 21 Recap

Posted on January 28, 2014 at 11:19 am by Beeb Ashcroft

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We received a complimentary Total Gym XLS for the purposes of this series; this post also contains affiliate links. This article is an account of our personal experience only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any medical condition. Always consult with physician before embarking on any fitness program.

Here’s our measurements for week 21:

This last week was a brutal one for me – I’m still sick, and I’ve been having the worst insomnia for over a month. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I went to the doctor last week. Things are slowly starting to improve and I hope I’ll be able to kick this cold soon. Everyone around here is getting hammered with the cold and flu, so I think it’s just an especially bad year for it. I haven’t been exercising at all, because I have chest congestion and coughing fits don’t lend themselves well to working up a sweat.

Jai, however, is flu-free and has been getting some great workouts! He’s been using the 6-8 Minute Workout DVD, and has been commenting on what a good workout it is. It’s pretty amazing how a targeted routine can work your muscles so well in a short period of time! It’s been especially easy to follow the DVD since we moved our Total Gym XLS into the living room temporarily, so it’s been right next to the TV – we’ve been doing some construction projects in a room adjacent to our “Exercise room”, so we just emptied it out temporarily while we completed those minor renovations.

We had originally planned to wrap up our Total Gym series at the end of January, but we’ve been loving the feedback and encouragement we’ve been getting and enjoying the chance to share our journey, so we’ve decided to extend the series – we’re going to continue sharing a monthly Total Gym XLS video and our measurement results right here on Beeb-Log through the end of summer 2014, so we can continue to update you on our progress, favorite exercises, and more!

If you have a question or exercise you’d like to request us to demo, leave it in the comments below and we’ll include it in our next video update in February!

1,000 to 1: The Cory Weissman Story Now on DVD

Posted on January 24, 2014 at 1:39 pm by Beeb Ashcroft

A promotional DVD is being provided as a thank you for this post. This post contains my Amazon Associates link.

If you’ve got some big sports fans in your family, then you might want to check out this movie that is new to DVD and appropriate for the whole family! 1,000 to 1: The Cory Weissman Story is a film inspired by a true story of a young man who is a talented basketball player at Gettysburg College. After suffering a stroke, 18-year-old Cory Weissman overcomes incredible odds to play basketball once again. Check out the trailer above for more on this movie!

1,000 to 1: The Cory Weissman Story will be released on DVD and VOD on March 4th, 2014 and is available to pre-order on Amazon. Learn more at 1000to1Movie.com.

Diagon Alley Webcast Video

Posted on January 24, 2014 at 8:09 am by Beeb Ashcroft

If you missed yesterday’s webcast with exciting info about Diagon Alley opening at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can now check out this YouTube video featuring highlights from the webcast!

Diagon Alley Addition at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida

Posted on January 23, 2014 at 8:42 am by Beeb Ashcroft

This morning, I was invited to watch a special webcast about the new Diagon Alley attraction at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, which opens this summer. From the sound of it, this addition is going to be very immersive and detailed! Fans will actually be able to travel by the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmead in Islands of Adventure, to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. They wanted to add the train ride experience rather than just walking from one part of the attraction to the other, since it makes it true to the books!

The Hogwarts Express will actually take you through a replica of London, which looks “Exactly the same” according to actor Matthew Lewis, who portrayed Neville Longbottom in the films. A fake London in Florida? Now this I have to see! From there, you can slip from the “Muggle” world into Diagon Alley for the full experience. You can shop at the stores talked about in the books, eat at the Leaky Cauldron, go to Harry’s favorite ice cream shop, and take a walk through spooky Knockturn Alley.

Also new will be the ride “Harry Potter and The Escape From Gringotts”, which is a “Multi-dimensional” experience and touted as one of the most impressive, advanced rides that Universal has ever worked on. They showed a few artists’ renderings and it certainly looks cool!

I’ll be sharing more news and photos as I get them, but in the meantime, you can learn more about the Diagon Alley addition by clicking here.

ETA: Check out these concept renderings that were just released! You can click on the thumbnails to see the images full-size.

Harry Potter and The Escape From Gringotts

Here’s a press release with more details on what you can find at Diagon Alley:

ORLANDO, Fla. (January 23, 2014) – Never before has a theme park created a guest experience like this: you climb aboard the Hogwarts Express in Hogsmeade and moments later arrive at King’s Cross Station – where the wonders of London and Diagon Alley unfold before you. And it is all real.

With this summer’s opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment will bring even more of Harry Potter’s adventures to life inside a new, magnificently themed area that includes a revolutionary attraction experience, as well as all-new themed shops and dining.

The two companies today revealed first-ever details about the new area and the one-of-a-kind adventures it will offer the whole family. The spectacularly themed environment will double the size of the sweeping area already dedicated to Harry Potter’s adventures at Universal Orlando, expanding it across both Universal theme parks.

And – just like in the books and films – guests will be able to travel between the two areas aboard the iconic Hogwarts Express.

Universal Orlando launched a global phenomenon when it opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at its Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010. That area includes the iconic Hogwarts castle – which houses the groundbreaking Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction – and the village of Hogsmeade. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be located within Universal Orlando’s second theme park, Universal Studios, and will create new experiences based on the signature areas of London, Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley.

Universal’s creative team has been working closely with Stuart Craig and the production team from the Harry Potter films to make the new area as authentic and spectacular as possible – just as it did with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.

The vision for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley is unprecedented, with Universal Orlando creating the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience.

After arriving at King’s Cross Station aboard the Hogwarts Express, guests will pass through London and the iconic brick wall archway from the films into Diagon Alley – a bustling, wizarding hub within a Muggle city. There will be shops, dining experiences, and a new ride called Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – a multi-sensory, multi-dimensional journey that will take theme park attractions to a new level.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will give visitors the exciting opportunity to:

· Board the Hogwarts Express and journey between London’s King’s Cross Station (located in Universal Studios Florida) and Hogsmeade Station (located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure). The journey will be filled with views of London and the British countryside – as well as a few surprises. Park-to-park admission is required.

· Experience a groundbreaking new, multi-dimensional thrill ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, which will place riders in the middle of an incredible adventure as they navigate their way through the perils of the Gringotts vaults

· Witness the magical experience of a wand choosing a wizard at Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC, one of the wizarding world’s premier wand shops

· Discover the darker side of magic in Knockturn Alley, the darkest of dark places that features Borgin and Burkes – a shop specializing in the Dark Arts that will offer a wide variety of Dark objects, such as Death Eater masks, skulls, and other sinister items

· Explore some of Diagon Alley’s famous shops, including:

o Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, a vibrant shop featuring novelty items, magical jokes, and toys inspired by the books and films that will amaze the mischievous child in everyone

o Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, where guests will find a variety of wizardwear from Hogwarts school uniform ties, scarves and jumpers, to authentic wizard’s robes and character costumes

o Magical Menagerie, which features a collection of plush animals, such as owls and Hippogriffs

o Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, where guests can grab wizarding essentials such as telescopes, binoculars, armillary spheres, compasses, magnifying glasses and hourglasses

o Quality Quidditch Supplies, offering a wide assortment of apparel and equipment including Quidditch sweaters, brooms, Golden Snitches, Bludgers, Bludger bats, Quaffles and more

o Scribbulus, featuring authentic writing implements and products such as feather quills, ink and inkwells, bookmarks, journals, parchment paper, seals, stationery sets and postcards

· Enjoy traditional British fare that includes favorite dishes such as fish and chips, bangers and mash and more at the Leaky Cauldron

· Visit Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour for frozen treats in a variety of tantalizing and unique flavors such as strawberry-and-peanut-butter ice-cream and many others

· And more!

Total Gym XLS: Week 20 Recap

Posted on January 21, 2014 at 12:39 pm by Beeb Ashcroft

It’s our 20th week using the Total Gym XLS:

Last week, I was following the 6-8 Minute Workout DVD. I was impressed by what a challenging workout I was getting in such a short amount of time – Jai tried Day 1 of the men’s program on this DVD, which was similar to Day 1 of the women’s program, and we both were commenting on how our abs were so sore in the following days! For anybody crunched on time, this DVD is an awesome companion to the Total Gym because you don’t feel like you’ve skimped on your workout when you finish, even though it’s brief. The main challenge to using this DVD is the fact that my Total Gym and TV are in different rooms, so I either have to pause the DVD and run back and forth between rooms, which really interrupts the flow and efficiency of the workout, or I have to move the XLS into the living room so I can watch the DVD as I follow along. It’s not really practical for us to move the Total Gym permanently into the living room, but I’ll figure something out. (A portable DVD player would be one solution!)

I never got the chance to finish Days 4 & 5 of the DVD last week, and you want to know why? Guess what – I’m sick again. Yes, I just barely got over the lengthy holiday cold, and now I have a new one. I’m so sick of being sick! This is a full-on cold with blocked ears/runny nose/sore throat/chills/sweats/nausea/vomiting, so once again, I’ve been trying to take it easy. Fortunately, this one seems to be developing and clearing faster than the last one so hopefully there will only be a day or two more of the worst of it. It’s especially frustrating getting sick again so quickly when I’ve really been trying hard this month to get better rest, reduce stress, exercise, be mindful of eating my fruits and veggies, etc. But this has been a gnarly cold and flu season – our area news has been talking a lot about hospitalizations for the flu – so what can you do? I’ll be glad when flu season is over! BLECH!!

Got any tips for keeping up your energy while recovering from a nasty cold?

Total Gym XLS: Week 19 Recap

Posted on January 14, 2014 at 10:24 am by Beeb Ashcroft

This was our first week back in action after getting sick over the holidays – here’s our measurements:

Since I’d been out of commission for a couple of weeks, I had a plan for easing back into my workouts. I spent two days picking out 3 or 4 cards and just doing those; then I did Day 1 of the 6-8 Minute Workout DVD. It’s a 5-day program, so I’m going to follow that this week and then start doing some other DVDs and longer workouts next week. This is a great way to scale back up my workouts without doing too much all at once; if there’s anything my stair machine knee injury taught me, it’s that you should not overdo it when you’re exercising. The great thing about the 8 minute workout is that while it may be brief, it’s intense – you’d be surprised what a good workout I’ve gotten just following that short routine!

This week, we also discovered yet another benefit to having a gym in our home. We had very stormy weather last week, and on Saturday night the power went out for maybe half an hour. While we waited for the power to come back on, Jai decided to do a workout on the Total Gym by flashlight instead of just sitting in the dark. I found it very entertaining that he was working out during the power outage! 😉

Total Gym XLS, Week 18: New Year’s Update!

Posted on January 7, 2014 at 1:30 pm by Beeb Ashcroft

As I mentioned yesterday, Jai and I both got sick before Christmas and it was one of the worst colds I’ve had in a long time. Usually, when I get a cold, it hits its peak and then slowly starts to let up, so I feel a little bit better every day – but not this one. This cold stayed at the same intensity and just did not get any better, and it just kept going and going for about 2 1/2 weeks. I took an unprecedented amount of sick time off work (for me) and although I did continue to work out on the Total Gym XLS when the cold first started, I soon gave that up. I’ve had a bad cough/chest congestion, and moving around just made me feel worse in that regards so I opted to let myself rest and recover. Jai also got a lot of achey muscle pain with his cold, so we’ve just been a mess overall. 😉 Now that my cough has finally let up, I started working out again yesterday, and it feels so good, physically and mentally!

So with our sickness hiatus in mind, here are our measurements after about 2 1/2 weeks off:

New Year’s is typically the time when people are making resolutions and getting started with a new fitness routine, so if this is something you’re working on, I’d love to hear all about it!