I Should Be Folding Laundry

Rest Assured

My laptop came out of surgery with flying colors!  Dr. Brian did an amazing job.  When I said he was sweating while putting the computer together it was not out of nervousness because he thought he couldn't put the computer back together, it was because I was staring at him the ENTIRE time.

Some people don't like to be stared at.

Apparently.

I planned on writing a real post tonight, but when I opened up the internet I saw a link to online Bunko and well, I enjoy bunco.  We played drunko bunko last Friday and it was fun.  SO. FUN.  No more details then that are necessary.  I thought that maybe online bunko may be just as fun, minus the drink and the laughing girls.  But it wasn't.  But I still played for an hour and well, that wraps up my blogging time.   A girl needs her beauty sleep.

This Saturday, my two fundraising friends and I are having a booth at a very popular and busy festival that lasts all day long. (if you live in the area you probably know which festival, if you go there, stop by and donate some money say hello!) It's a fundraising booth.  I still have lots to prepare for, if I do blog tomorrow it will mean one of two things:
1.  I am totally prepared
2.  I have lost my mind

Let's hope it's number one.

Winner!

The generous donor who won a custom bag ($40 value) from Kimberlee Faith is........

DRUM ROLL.

Is drum roll two words or one?

DRUMROLL.

I think it's two words.

Oh yes, the winner!

Michelle from Henderson's Highlights!

Congratulations, Michelle!

Thank you TO EVERYONE who donated to Friends of Heroes, I appreciate your support SO MUCH!

5K Wet Dreams

I don't even know where to begin.

The last time I blogged, I blogged about my period.  That was a long, long time ago.  I wish there was a way for me to show you what I've been up to since then, like in a comic book or something, I mean, could I really have been too busy for blogging? 

Oh my word, yes. 
Saturday was the 5K Run and Family Fun Walk that my two amazing friends and myself put on for our local Friends of Heroes Light The Night team, which meant that after Wednesday was crunch time as far as preparation goes.  I can only be so grateful that Lynette, Misti and I are very, very organized individuals so there was no last minute craziness going on that we created due to disorganization.  Before I go on, the children also started school on Thursday and Friday and I had a migraine on Thursday, which did not stop me from doing anything, it just almost killed me.  Thank God for Imotrex. 

But something did happen that we could not have planned.

Like rain.

And more rain.

And rain some more.

It rained more this month, than any other month.  Ever.  Not more rain than any month this year, not a record breaking August.  Just more rain ever.  Record Wettest Month is what the Weather Channel is calling it.  That's all.  So on Friday afternoon when Misti called me to tell me the 5K location (the location name is Coffee Creek, please note the word creek, if you will.) called her to inform her that the trails were "knee deep" in water and getting to the pavilion would be impossible, the pavilion where registration and activity time with Gymboree were to be held, well, it shook me up.  We were off to the location to re-route the course.  Luck of all Luck, Lynette is the trail Wizard.   Wizard I tell you!  Because it only took about EIGHT hours to create and measure a new route and make sure it was right.  Had it been Misti or myself we would probably would have asked them to run back and forth in front of the pavilion for 3.1 miles.  We would have asked nicely.

While we were at the event location on Friday, the sun came out and it was beautiful and gave me hope for a beautiful and dry event.  Y'all, in the end, if it were to rain at the event, I thought I was going to die.   It didn't rain all night long and when I woke up on Saturday at 4:35 am, it still hadn't rained.   The race was scheduled for 8 am, certainly it would stay dry until then.

Then I looked at the radar.  And it was green, so very green.

And this is what it looked like at 8:01, one minute after we announced our rain delay to the runners.
We had volunteers on the course who yell out times at mile markers and also a volunteer to direct traffic, not to mention volunteers on the course who distribute water to the runners.
They did not have umbrellas in this downpour, so Lynette was running to give them some umbrellas.   

Nice girl that she is.  And I took pictures of her while under the pavilion, cause pictures are very important, don't you know?

We began the race shortly after this picture because it let up and everyone there had a "we better go now" type of attitude.  So they did.  And it was awesome.

See.  Runners.  Go.

This was a glorious sight to me.  Yes, in the rain, runners still came out and family fun walkers still came out.  The DJ was still there, we still had great (free!) food and great (free!) drinks, Gymboree still came out and organized activity time with the children and we still raised money.  And when I think about all of the volunteers that came out at SIX IN THE MORNING on a Saturday, well, my heart can hardly take it.

I love this event, even with the rain.  (but I'm not going to lie to you, I am too often thinking about about many people WOULD have attended had it, you know, NOT RAINED.)

I totally can't wait until next year.
__________________

By the way, although you weren't able to attend, you can still support this cause and enter to win a chance to win one of these custom bags, just go here for details.  The contest ends on Thursday!

A Raffle for a great cause!

Since 2004 I have been volunteering for a national team called Friends of Heroes (FOH).  FOH raises money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walks, which are held during the fall.  FOH is a national friends and family team, we have team captains and teams all across the country.  Since 2004,  we have raised over $844,000.  In 2007, our goal is to reach 1 Million Dollars.  In addition to our one million dollar goal, by raising $100,000 this year, we will have the opportunity to name a research grant geared towards pediatric cancers.  This would be our fourth year of reaching our goal of naming a research grant in our honor.

You can help me with these goals, right here, right now!

For every dollar you donate to my fundraising site, you will be entered in to win a custom bag by Kimberlee Faith (a $40 value).  In addition to your tax deductible donation, if you post on your blog about this fundraiser, directing readers to this post, you will receive an additional entry just for spreading the word!  So go now, donate to this awesome cause that I love so much and help to spread the word.  Help me to put a face on childhood cancers.

There is a $3 minimum donation requirement, but if you choose to donate more, feel free, if you donate $20, that's 20 entries in this contest.  And add one more entry just for telling people about this fundraiser on your blog!

My personal fundraising goal is $1500, by making your donation and entering this awesome raffle, you will be helping me to reach my goal.  Thank you!

Ever wanted to make a difference?  Join me by becoming a team captain in your area!  Click here for more information.

The drawing for the bag will be held on Thursday, August 30th at 9:00 CST.  If you post on your blog regarding this fundraiser, please send me an e-mail to me foldinglaundry@gmail.com and I will add your extra entry to the raffle!

Good luck and thank you for your support!

To learn more about Light The Night, watch this video, be sure to have a tissue nearby.  Also, you will see my dear friend, Jenn, she speaks after Cynthia Nixon, she is my national co-captain with me and I just love her!

Kimberlee Faith is offering a $40 credit toward any of her bags, the picture shown above is a personal bag of mine made by Kimberlee!  I love it!

This exciting life of mine

This picture should give you some indication as to how I am feeling tonight.  Yes, I used a straw to suck out the last bit of pepto in the bottle, I was desperate, people, desperate.

I did not take this picture either, Brian went to throw something away and found the evidence of his desperate wife staring up at him.  He said "did you use a straw with the pepto?"  And I was all like "who?  wah?  me?  no!!  Of course, not!  That would be crazy and desperate!"  And he was all like, "yeah but there's a bottle of pepto with a straw in it in the garbage."

To which I replied.

"oh yeah.  that was me."  So, then he took a picture.  "For the blog," he says.  It's a family business this blogging is.  (and friends, I know I should have recycled the bottle, I know, but that is how out of sorts I am feeling, please forgive.)
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On to other non-tummy ache stories, if you don't mind.  Let's see...did you hear me screaming on Friday?  You did?  It's because we came through with t-shirt sponsors for the 5K.  Yes, we did.  And a water donation, yep, you heard me. And then the Chicago White Sox (which is not my favorite Chicago team, by ANY means) sent me an autographed picture to be raffled off at my event, which makes them by fave Chicago team!  (that is totally not true, I'm a Cubs fan.  Even if they ignore me when I ask for free crap for my event.)  Then, Dick's Sporting Goods sent me a packet of free stuff...all this on Friday and then there was more, soooo much more, but I do not want to bore you.  Let's just say we are under way!  And if you live near Northern Indiana, Northeast Illinois and Southwest Michigan you and your family had BEST be at this event.  Got that?  I'll be watching you.

Man, I can be bossy.
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On to other news that does not have to do with my 5K.

We went to the county fair last week.  Racecar finally faced his fears and went on a ride, which is a big deal because he will not go anywhere near anything that you can ride on or that moves or that makes any noise, he's an adventurous one, that Racecar is.  And suddenly, he said "I WANT TO RIDE ON THE BOAT."  I was all over it.  You can see why.

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So, that about wraps up this edition of what my little family has been up to!  I did have to syringe a pea out of Racecar's nose yesterday, that was fun.  And Ariel gave birth to a cabbage patch kid today, it was all very exciting.
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I need more pepto.

Random like the lottery

Today started out running a ton of errands for the 5K Run, although it was productive, it was tiring and my kids drove me crazy and I just wanted to go home or go to a fair or do something besides WAITING FOR SPONSORS.

Which aren't calling, or e-mailing or sending checks.  At least to me. (despite additional attempts today and over the weekend.  whatever, y'all.  what.ever.)

I'm so aggravated, I feel defeated,  I feel like a failure, I'm very upset tonight.  This event is so good, everything is right, great location, great logo, awesome prizes, incredible entertainment, but I just can't get THREE BUSINESSES TO DONATE $300 so we can give our runners t-shirts and I'm just very upset over this.  I shed tears tonight, people, TEARS.  That's doesn't happen too often.  (usually only when I'm out of queso or when I watch Steel Magnolias.  Shut up, you cry, too.)

I almost didn't blog tonight because who wants to read someone whining about some charity work gone potentially bad, but I am blogging because this is my life right now, so therefore I blog about it.

Oh and did I mention my air conditioning is not working?  I heart my piece of crap house. 

ON TO THE GOOD SIDE OF THINGS, because there are always good things if you look hard enough....Brian is home safely from his trip, after a cancelled flight he came home tonight and the kids turned into crazy, hyper children, they were so excited to see him.  So hyper that he immediately put them to bed.

I LOVE MY iPOD so much.  I'm really getting a ton of use out of it.  Brian bought me speakers for it last week and now I love it even more! 

I received my Monk & Neagle CD from BooMama's giveaway and it's awesome...and already on my iTunes.

And a thyroid update, I did get my thyroid test results back a week ago Friday and they came back fine, which sucks.  (nice attitude, huh?) I do plan to get into my doctor to discuss some of my symptoms because I am still tired and totally on the crazy side.  Totally.

At least I can admit it, right?

And, for those wondering, I loved the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert, I'm so glad I went.  The concert was very long, I went to bed at 3:00 a.m. that night, but it was worth it.  I didn't know that our seats were in a suite, which equals free drinks and food and a DESSERT CART!  Hello?!?!?!  Then, Christine and Shanlie, who worked the dessert cart were super nice.  Christine told me I was too young to be married and I was all like "HUH??  whatchoo talkin' about willis??"  Seriously, I explained  that I was thirty and had two children and had been married for eight years and she said I looked much younger, like 22.  OMG, I almost kissed her.  (I may have...I said free drinks, remember?)  Anyway, both girls were super duper nice. (by the way, I do not say "super duper" in real life.)  I love the songs "I Need You" and "Like We Never Loved At All."  Love those songs.  They are totally on my iTunes.

Oh and I was given a gift at the concert, too. (by our very generous host)

I did get a t-shirt after all.  And there are more pictures, but they are on someone else's computer and that person is in DisneyWorld, so I took a picture of the shirt hanging in my room, rather than showing you a picture of me in the shirt which is kinda better because this way you can't see my rolls hanging over my jeans.  Which is a good thing.

So, there you have it.  Aren't you glad I blogged tonight?

The other me

The non blogging part of me is planning this huge event.  Because I volunteer.  I volunteer with a large group of people across the country, we make up a national team called Friends of Heroes , we (mothers, fathers and children) have raised over $840,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society since 2004.

We are inspired by children, children who are battling cancer, children who have lost their battles and by the families that stand by them.  We have teams all over the country that walk in The Leukemia & Lymphoma's Light The Night Walk, we have affiliate teams that walk in honor of their sons and daughters, sisters and brothers.

We are a very good thing.

I bring this up to you because I am currently chest deep in planning for our local fundraiser this year.  Our walk will be held in September, it's a beautiful event that is so sad, yet so motivating.  Survivors hold white balloons and their supporter hold red balloons, both colors light up and illuminate against the night's sky.  The message is powerful. I'm always so proud to turn in my entire teams worth of donations.  I'm so lucky to have my family and friends and their family and friends join me for this walk.

Last year our biggest fundraiser locally was a garage sale that raised over $1,000, which was a huge success.  We also manned a large booth at a very popular day long festival in the area that not only raised money but raised a ton of awareness, raising awareness is just as important raising the money.

My friend and fellow walker e-mailed me this spring, we'll call her Mel (which is not her name but I don't want to give her name away and Mel is easier than say Regina Phalange or Anastasia Beaverhousen), so Mel e-mails me and she's all like" hey why don't we hold a 5K run for a fundraiser?"  And I was all like "wha?  Little us?  Holding something so very large?  I don't think so."  and she was all like "yeah, but we can do it."  and so we did.

We are holding this 5K and the planning has gone really well.  The location is GORGEOUS and was donated ($1000) and other race like things were donated and now this run is like 5 weeks away and I'm freaking out.

I'm freaking out because we need some very important things, things like t-shirts for runners, water and well, runners.  You know, the little things.  The cost of t-shirts is approximately $900, so we just figured that if we could get three businesses to donate $300 that we could get the t-shirts easily...except we can't seem to get even one business to donate $300 (even with our very generous sponsorship program with national exposure), so now were topless, so to speak, and our runners are expecting t-shirts and well, it looks like they'll be topless, too.

So now what?  I don't know.  Honestly I don't know.  We mailed out 175 beautiful sponsorship letters and we did receive some responses.  After the run we are also hosting a Family Fun Walk and after the walk Gymboree has agreed to host activities for the children and I love that.  We have hotel stays and gift certificates for a drawing, but we don't have $900 or bottles of water and well...let's just say sleep comes after I worry about all the details of this run.  This run that I love, this run that I can't wait for, this run that is giving me an ulcer.

I also e-mailed 11 companies on-line that do screen printing and asked them very nicely to just cover the cost of our shirts (it doesn't hurt to ask, right?) and they were all like "nope, but here's a very special price just for asking!"  Which some of the prices aren't really all that nice at all.

The thing is, is that I am a team captain of my walk, but I don't have to hold big fundraisers, I can show up with a small envelope of donations and show my support and that is awesome, except I'm not wired that way.  Each year gets bigger and each year I see our potential and each year I hear about more children who are fighting for their lives to beat cancer and I just can't sit around and not do anything.  Therefore I challenge myself to do more...because I can.

So, there you go.  That's what is on my plate.  Tomorrow morning I am having 100 posters printed (for free, I know, right?) and I need to get on the ball and design this bad boy.  Like right now.

Until then, if you happen to have a t-shirt business in your basement, call me, m'kay?

Did you know that currently, one in every 330 Americans develops cancer during childhood or adolescence, before the age of 20.  On the average, 46 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every weekday in the  United States?

shocking, isn't it?

If you have a moment...

Please hop over to the Blogger's Choice Awards and vote for the Friends of Heroes Blog, the organization I volunteer with.  They have been nominated for Best Charity Blog!!

THANK YOU!  (you do have to register to vote, but it's no biggie!)

I'd like to thank the Academy

I totally won a contest over at Design Mom.  A site that I visit almost everyday, I LOVE the site, be sure to check it out!

I won a $50 gift certificate at My Charmed Life.  When I saw the giveaway, I knew I wanted to win, but never thought I would, because, well, I don't win anything, but my name was drawn out of 190 people!  WOW!  So, go here and you can actually see my mug on the site along with a bio about me!  HOORAY!  (oh and by going to Design Mom now, you'll be getting there just in time for another giveaway!)

After reading my bio, be sure to check out www.friendsofheroes.org--which is how I spend my time when not blogging...

I just wanted to inform you all that I ordered my bracelet plus 2 charms from My Charmed Life not two hours ago and it has already been shipped.  Now, that is service.

 

Where is that girl?

I sometimes find myself thinking about the girl I used to be. I just asked Brian to describe me when we first started dating at the age of 18 and he quickly said "crazy, sexy, cool." He's right, I was. I was cute, spunky, stylish, upbeat, confident and skinny. I LOVED to sing. I would listen to the music so loud in my car that my ears would ring for the first few minutes after exiting the vehicle. If I were riding in the car with someone and they wanted to talk, I would ask them if we could talk once we got to the destination because I can't sing when I get there, but I can sing now.

I loved good shoes, Gap jeans and Clinique. I never thought about food. I was not a party girl. A good night for me was going to a coffee shop and hearing good music, and talking for hours. Once Brian and I got married, I still loved my shoes and jeans, but that's when I fell in love with my laptop and I learned about the impact a person could have on me in my life. (I worked in Chicago and met some amazing people, and some bad ones!) Once we moved back to Indiana, Brian and I started to play Unreal Tournament with a friend, or I'd play Yahoo! Graffiti or JT's Blocks for hours.

One day in August of 2001, at a Cub's game, Brian said "yeah, I think it's time we had a baby." I trusted him. So we tried and got pregnant in June of 2002. We started looking for houses, we both had good jobs and we were very independent. I loved to wake up in the morning on weekends and drink coffee, eat Pop Tarts and watch hours upon hours of Trading Spaces. I would then clean the apartment, take a shower and play Unreal or something else. We had a very relaxed life. Very enjoyable. Very comfortable. Very clean.

You see where I am going with this? Then we had a child. I remember our second morning home with Ariel. It's probably one of my greatest memories. I was downstairs holding this sweet girl, Brian had made coffee and I was in my pajamas, sitting with my favorite things: Ariel, Brian, coffee and my laptop. It was picture perfect. Even though the house was covered in free stuff from the hospital, diapers, wipes, bags, luggage, pillows and blankets, it was home and it was wonderful. Of course, since then Racecar came into our lives.

I look back on the past (BC) before children and realize my life was so good. So, how is it possible that I can reflect back to 2005 and declare that year the most amazing year of my life? Because I have all I need. I am fulfilled. I am confident. I am loved and I love. My house is messy, windows dirty, Christmas mat still on the porch, I'm overweight, but it doesn't matter. What a year! I do work that I enjoy, I stay home with my children, I love my husband and he (usually) loves me, I enjoy my church and I volunteer with Friends of Heroes. I'm involved because I couldn't take "just standing around anymore." I had a friend ask me "how do you have time to volunteer." I answer "I have made a choice to help cure childhood cancer, instead of watching TV." It's that simple. I don't want anything back. (although, I admit, I've got all I need.) The one thing missing in my life? A cure for cancer. Do you know where I can find it?

So, I ask Brian, how would you describe me now? His response "strong, impressive and wonderful." I like that better.