Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk - Update 2

On April 25, I joined about 125 other 3 Day walkers at Tyson's Corner Mall in McLean, Virginia for a Training Walk Kick Off Event. Organized by Shawn Supers (DC Field Coordinator), and TWL (Training Walk Leader) Beth Botwright, the walk was a complete success.  Here's Beth to the left <------ (she was in the fashion show too).  What a terrific, energetic and FUN person Beth is! 

We began gathering at the New Balance Store at 7:30 a.m. and by 8:30 a.m. we had a full crowd of walkers and more than 10 TWLs to lead groups of walkers through the mall for a 3 mile walk.   Following our walk we were able to get professionally fitted for the shoes meant to carry us the 60 miles in October and all the training miles beforehand.... We also got to see a fashion show (which I participated in) of some COOL New Balance gear made for walking!  It was a really fun morning and I enjoyed my time thoroughly!                                                                                                                          

I am beginning to think that 3 Day Walkers must be some of the friendliest and most fun people on the planet!  I led the first walk team out with another TWL, Kristina, as my "caboose".  Thanks Kristina!! :)   (I'm on the left, with Kristina on the right).

Up front, I was accompanied by  Cindy, a woman from Frederick, Maryland, with more connections to breast cancer than any one person should have.  I almost felt guilty walking with her; having no personal connections to this awful disease. She actually *thanked* me for walking. Such a sweetheart! 

         

FUNDRAISING UPDATE:  I am thrilled to announce that this past week I reached $1,000 in fundraising!   With a lofty goal of $5,000,  I was encouraged to reach this first milestone.   I haven't been at all anxious about the walking (though that may change), but I have really been on alert regarding fundraising.   I'm taking steps now to follow up with emails I have already sent, but not gotten any kind of reply from. Possibly when the email was sent in "bulk" it went directly to someone's spam box?  If most people are like me, they never (and I really mean NEVER) look in their spam. I only go in there once a month or so to "select all" and delete.   I hate to think I was deleted, but if someone didn't know I was there in the first place, I guess its OK. 

     In addition to emailing, I've got donation boxes in several local merchants. Hopefully someone's extra change can be the difference in me making my goal!   

PLANS FOR THIS WEEK:  Follow-up emails, snail mail letters to some family members who don't "do" email, and checking the coin boxes I have around town.   Oh, I think I'll probably do some walking too! ;)

Do I have a life??

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. Copy this list, go to your own facebook account or blog or website, paste this as a note. Then, mark X's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.
(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(X ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
() Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total so far: 6

(x) The Princess Bride
(x ) Anchorman
(x ) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 11

() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
(x) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 15

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
(x ) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far:21

(x) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
(x ) 13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
( ) Robots
Total so far: 25

() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
( x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
( ) KING KONG
Total so far: 28

() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
( ) Flubber
Total so far: 29

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
() Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
() Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 30

() The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
() Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x ) Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
(x) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 33

( ) Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
() Ocean’s Thirteen
() Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x ) Bourne Supremecy
(x) Bourne Ultimatum
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
() Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
(x) Curious George
Total so far: 38

(x) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
() Rush Hour 3
() Rush Hour 4
Total so far: 41

( ) Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
(x ) Calendar Girls
(x ) Sideways
() Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x ) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
( x) The Terminator
( ) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 47

( ) X-Men
() X-2
( ) X-3
(x ) Spider-Man
(x ) Spider-Man 2
() Spider-Man 3
(x) Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
() Freaky Friday
() Jason Goes To Hell
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
(x) Shrek 3
Total so far: 55

( ) Swimfan
() Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
(x) Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 57

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
() Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
() Indiana Jones and The Crystal Skull
Total so far: 62


() Baseketball
() Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
( ) Three
Total so Far: 63

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(x ) Monsters Inc
(x) Titanic
( x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 66

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
() Hulk
(x) The Incredible Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x ) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
() 28 days later
() 28 Weeks Later
( ) Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 69

() Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
(x) Kung Fu Panda
() The Express
() Igor
(x) Toy Story 1
(x) Toy Story 2
(x) Dumbo
(x) Peter Pan
() Power Rangers: The Movie
() the Hills Have Eyes
( ) City of Embers
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 74

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
(x) Star Wars: The Clone Wars
(x) The Game Plan
(x) The Holiday
() The Dark Knight
() Batman Forever
() Batman Begins
() Batman and Robin
() Batman
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
(x) The Mummy
() The Mummy Returns
() The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
(x) Wall-e
()Wanted
() Virgin Territory
() Untraceable
() Transformers
() The Kingdom
Total so far: 73

() The Matrix
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total: 86

Apparently not. 

Whatev. 

Below is the beginning of monthly menu planning!  Yay me! Where ever it says, "recipe on mac", I have that recipe on my laptop (which just so happens to be a Mac, go figure). I am excited to try this type of planning. You will notice that the details about the days changed slightly, but the idea is the same. Some days say the "theme", but no actual meal.  I'll edit as I figure those out! :) The "code" DD means: "Dream Dinners", which is a prep-kitchen place we have here. I go once a month and put together 6 freezer meals.   I like trying things with ingredients I wouldn't normally buy, especially spices. It bugs me to buy a container of some spice that I only need 1/4 tsp of, and then never use the spice again. This way, there is no waste, so actually a savings! :)   I also like that someone else did all the slicing and dicing of the veggies and meats used in the meals. I just measure out the correct amounts, assemble the meal in a pan, and label the lid. All the instructions are right there! :)  Let me know if there are any recipes you're interested in - I'll either post the recipe or the link here for you. Do you and your family have a favorite recipe?  Please share!

April 12-18

SU: Something New

M: Pasta Macaroni and Cheese/ Hot Dogs

TU: Soup/Salad/Sandwiches (we had Subway)

W: Crockpot Chuck Roast (recipe on mac)

TH: Easy DD Oven Baked Almond Chicken

F: Pizza - Amicis

SA: Casserole

 

April 19-25

SU: Something New

M: Pasta - DD 3 Cheese Pasta w/ Meatballs

TU: Soup/Salad/Sandwiches

W: Crockpot No Peek Beef Casserole (recipe on mac)

TH: Easy DD Chicken Enchiladas

F: Pizza - DD calzones

SA: Casserole

 

April 26-May 2

SU: Something New

M: Pasta -  MACARONI AND CHEESE

TU: Soup/Salad/Sandwiches

W: Crockpot 40clove cr.pot chicken (recipe on mac)

TH:  Easy DD Old Fashioned Meatloaf

F: Pizza -  Dominos

SA: Casserole

About Menu Plan Monday...

I've been inspired by Tsh Oxenreider at Simple Mom who makes a meal plan for the month!  I like how she chooses to have each day of the week be a certain type of meal (for example, she makes Thursday crockpot day).  She also makes use of local ingredients from a farmer's market. Since my local farmer's market opens this Sunday (4/5),  I'd like to give this a whirl - let's see what I can come up with! :) 

This might be my basic weekly plan: 

Sundays - something new

Mondays - pasta

Tuesdays - soup, salad, and/or sandwiches

Wednesdays - crock-pot

Thursdays - casserole

Fridays - pizza (frozen, delivery, or homemade)

Saturdays - something easy

I will do some "homework" over the next few days and come up with a plan for the rest of April. Check back for it on Sunday! :) 

THURSDAY THIRTEEN

Thirteen Things To Share From This Week (sorry, I've got nothing more original today):

1. First off, I need to begin by wishing my friend, Kim, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I don't think she reads here (she's never said she does), but a few of you know her - so send her some good wishes too! :)

2. I kept Charlotte home Monday due to "goopy eyes" which turned out to be Pink Eye (as diagnosed at a Tuesday morning visit to see Doctor Bonnie).

3. So I didn't get to go to the gym on Monday.

4. I kept Charlotte home Tuesday, and then Wednesday due to fever.

5.  I didn't get to go to the gym Tuesday, so I ran in the evening (see #7)

6. I am keeping Charlotte home today due to the 102.4 fever she still had at 5pm Wednesday evening (school requests children be fever-free for 24 hours to return to school).

7. I had a good run Tuesday afternoon at the school track during Maisy's soccer practice (need to run outside more).

8. I had a great workout with Dianne Wednesday morning (ouch triceps, chest, abs).

9. There are 2 days until the kids' Spring Break begins! 

10. I shopped cameras this week. I still can't decide (nor can I pay, at the moment). 

11. Amused that Maisy put her brother's underwear in the freezer (while wet) for April Fool's Day.  He wasn't.

12. Amused that Maisy put a raisin in my toothpaste tube...and Charlotte put one in Maisy's.

13. Looking forward to a nice, rare steak for dinner tonight.

The Grace of Small Things...

Today is Wednesday. I love Wednesdays because there is no agenda for me. No appointments, no preschool, nothing to do except pick up Jake from school at 2:40.  Enjoy the small things in life. Like Wednesdays. What else is there to enjoy?

** the sunshine peeking through my windows all day

**hearing my husband tell me I'm his best friend. <3

**smelling dinner cook all day long in the crockpot

**Twitter

**a decluttered bedroom

**clean laundry

**American Idol

 

Menu Plan Monday (3/23)

Monday - Hot Dogs, potato salad, veggies

Tuesday - subs, chips, fruit salad

Wednesday - Crockpot beef tips & egg noodles/veggies

Thursday - French Onion Fried Chicken

Friday - Dominos Pizza (freebie coupons)

Saturday - Rotisserie Chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli

Sunday -  leftovers

What's in your dinner plans for the week? :)