3 Day... Here I Come!

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments the other day.  I'm feeling better and working on forgiveness.  I've decided that it's not for me to judge, especially since I'm not sure who it was. Thanks for all the advice and understanding!

On a positive note.....

I finally reached my goal, and I'll be heading to Washington, D.C. bright and early tomorrow morning for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for a Cure.  I already got choked up when I was reading the event info and they said there's a banner we can sign with our loved ones name on it.  It's still hard for me to believe that my mom's not here but I know she'd be proud that we raised so much money for breast cancer.

It's going to be absolutely amazing to be surrounded by so many people who have been affected by breast cancer but and are trying to make a difference.  Hopefully, the emotions that will be running through me will keep my feet moving because 60 miles is far.  REAL FAR! I haven't really trained (at all) nor has my cousin so this should be interesting!

The only down side is that I have to leave Abby for 4 days.  I've only left her alone over night once before so this is really, really, really difficult.  She'll be with my dad and will probably have an awesome time getting spoiled and playing with other her cousin but I'll be missing and worrying every moment!  It doesn't help that she'll be a couple states away either.  It's funny, I wanted a break for a while.  You know, just some time to go to the bathroom with the door closed.  Now that I'll have a little break, I'm a nervous wreck!

I hope you all have an awesome weekend and I'll catch up with you Monday or Tuesday!

Struggles and Strength

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I was watching Dr. Phil yesterday and he reminded me of a lesson that is easy to forget.  We're not all that different.  Regardless of our struggles, there is always someone else who has been through or felt the same.  The details may be different but the struggle and feelings are the same.

Since watching that episode, I've noticed that it's so true.  Today is no exception.  October is breast cancer awareness month and all morning I've been coming across bloggers who share similar experiences to mine.  Some of these experiences, quite honestly, break my heart but once all of the details are stripped away, every story is one of strength.  When life hands you the unthinkable, you find strength that you never thought you had.

I was 21 years old when I found out my mom had breast cancer.  For 7 long years, breast cancer was the elephant in the room.  Even during remission, the fear was always there but so was strength.  I saw it in my mom, especially when the cancer returned.  She had always said she would never go through chemo again but she found the strength to fight.  I saw it in my siblings, who lived with her, helped her, and tried to continue living their life.  I saw it in myself every time I had to be 'the bad news bear' and sit the four of them down for an update on my mom.

The most important lesson that I'm learning is that I am no different than countless other people who have been through the same thing.  You find the strength to overcome, just as so many people have and will continue to do.  When I walk in the 3Day next week, I'll be surrounded by people the same as me.  People who have been affected by breast cancer and have found the strength to push forward.  Although all of stories will have different details, none of us are all that different.

Chocolate Melts in the Sun...

My sisters and I hosted our very first fundraiser this past Saturday and overall it was a success.  We learned an important lesson though:  Chocolate, and icing, melts in the sun!


We got a late start but we started strong.  Before the table was set up we sold 2 dozen of these cute cupcakes:

Everything looked absolutely adorable and pink!

We started a reject pile of cupcakes and cookies that got messy when I dropped the container on the ride over.  My sister was going to sell them to her poor boyfriend.  Unfortunately, at noon the sun started to melt everything and his pile of treats was getting ridiculously big and sad looking.  We realized we had a problem when someone went to buy a chocolate lollipop and it turned to mush.  

We ended up tossing more than we sold but we did raise $310 for Susan G. Komen!  Lesson learned... no more chocolate and frosting during these hot summer months!

Kitchen Adventures with a Culinary Goddess

In my head, I'm a culinary goddess.  Someone who can whip up a fabulous dinner with the odds and ends left over at the end of the week.  In my head my baking is out of this world and there is nothing that is too complicated.  In reality, my skill set does not quite match my ambition!  It doesn't stop me from trying and I think today was a success!

After about 4 long hours, I now have 43 pink ribbon white chocolate lollipops!  I've never made chocolate lollipops before (which didn't stop me from agreeing to make them for the fundraiser but also for Abby's Christening) and it was a little bit of trial and error at first.  Here are some things that I learned:

• It's much easier to use the double broiler method then microwaving the chocolate.  First, I found it took longer in the microwave for some reason.  Second, using the double broiler allows you to keep the chocolate warm while your working.
• I had bought a little squeeze bottle which I had read was the easiest way to deposit the chocolate into the mold.  I couldn't agree less.  Unless you melt the chocolate in the squeeze, it takes a lot more time.  I found it was much easier, for this mold anyway, to use a baby spoon.
• The first test lollipop had lots of air bubbles.  Tapping the mold helps to release them.  The method that worked best for me was to tap after every scoop of chocolate.  This also helped to distribute the chocolate evenly.
• Since I'm a total perfectionist, I was worried about keeping everything neat so I was using a paper towel to clean up any chocolate outside the mold.  Thankfully, I figured out there was no need to do that!  After putting the chocolate in the molds, I froze them for about 5 - 10 minutes.  When you pop the lollipops out the molds take a lollipop and just run it around the outside to clean it up. The spills should have only left a thin layer of chocolate and they fall right off!  Voila... a perfect lollipop!

I'm hoping that the rest of my kitchen adventures go without a hitch because I have a million and 1 things to do before Saturday!  I'm sure for a culinary goddess like myself, everything will turn out perfect! Wish me luck!

These Shoes Were Made For Walking!

I am super excited today!  I went shopping and bought myself a new pair of shoes!

I know, there not some cute, sexy stilettos or anything equally as fun but these are the shoes that are going to help me train for my Susan G. Komen 3Day.  This walk takes place in DC on October 8th and will cover 60 miles in 3 days.  By the end of the 3 days, each member of my team will have raised $2300 for breast cancer, walked 60 miles, and raised awareness about breast cancer.  Phew, I'm tired just thinking about it!  

My cousin reminded me today that our walk is only 23 weeks away.  So, it's time to train!  I've been walking a little here and a little there but so far the longest is 3 miles.  I have my work cut out for me in both the walking and fundraising department but I am psyched!  Now, I just need to put these pretty new sneaks on and get moving!

Fundraising.... Harder than I thought!!

So, here we are and my last donation was the day I registered for the 3-Day. We have 7 people on our team so our goal is astronomical! I know fundraising is meant to be hard because if it was easy it wouldn't take so many people to raise so much money... but my oh my!!! My main problem is a lack of initiative... taking my ideas and making them happen. For example, days ago I printed a flyer to hang in some local stores. It's still sitting on my table waiting to be taken to Staples so I can make copies. I've always been this way. In college I would have these ideas for project but since I would wait until last minute none of those ideas would come to fruition. My personal life the same thing. My husband and I are trying to budget our money so I made a spreadsheet and budget but continuously fail to update it. If I'm left in charge of writing the checks, well, I may write them and put them in an envelope but will forget to mail them. Initiative and follow through... two huge problems! I can say I'll work on it but I'll probably be this way forever.

On the plus side, I have put the wheels in motion for a few ideas but now I just have to wait to hear back. I'm hoping to be able to host a Murder Mystery Dinner which even includes casino games. I found a company now I just need to find a venue, which I'm hoping to have donated. See, even the ideas I've acted on are still hopes!

We have until October so as a team I'm counting on us keeping each other motivated. This post may make me seem like I'm hopeless but deep down I'm still positive! I know we can reach our goal but it is discouraging when I see how slowly the donations are coming in for all of us.