Thank You is Not Enough!

I don't even know where to begin!?!

Last night Jen & I held our 1st fund-raising event for the 2011 3-Day for the Cure and the support & donations from family and friends was stunning! The extreme generosity from everyone blew our minds.

First the weather turned crappy (thank you Michigan) about an hour before "start" time with snow & sleet falling at an unexpected rate yet everyone still came! Next, there were "new" rules to be learned that may have been a bit confusing -but everyone rolled with it and still played! And then, with 40 people packed in a house for a card tournament, it got a little warm - but everyone still laughed and had fun! When it came time to draw the 50/50 - the full pot was at $240, the winning ticket was worth $120 - - - the owner of the winning ticket, Wendy Wiegand, graciously donated it back to the cause! The night continued & the tournament came to an end, it was now time to announce the winners - 1st place would win $100, 2nd place $50 & the lucky name drawn from the "euchred quarter kitty" would get $43. Ric Elmo won the quarters, Steve Hamill won 1st place, and Ray Reick won 2nd place - - - ALL three donated their winnings back to the cause!!!!

My heart is filled with so much gratitude I can't possibly put it into words! To say thank you does not seem enough.

A total of $1,200 was raised last night, - all of which will help put an end to breast cancer! It will be done, I'm convinced!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Infomercials Galore!

Okay, so you probably know by now that the 24-week training started this week for the Michigan walkers. Well, when you live in Michigan it can be a little dicey to get a 3-mile walk done the first week of March, especially when you work during the day so the sidewalks/trails re-freeze in the early morning hours & in the evening. So that means it’s either mall walking (not bad) or hitting the treadmill (boring!), I’m planning to do both this week, trying to mix it up a bit – ha ha ha!

So while I was doing my 3-mile walk at the gym on the treadmill Tuesday, during the wee early morning hours, I noticed how many darn infomercials are on. You can by the Ninja (a $300 blender that you’ll rarely use), Wen products for your hair (you’ll look like Alyssa Milano), or the Booty Pop (you know you want to be Kim Kardashian!) Wouldn’t it be nice if one of these stations could put on some CSI or Law & Order re-runs to entertain me for the hour, is that too much to ask? Until then, I’ll keep checking The Weather Channel website in hopes of a good thaw real soon –this week is 12 miles, next week is 13!

Quick reminder:
For those that want to participate in the Euchre Tournament fundraiser this Saturday, if you have not paid or made arrangements with Jen or myself – PLEASE do so ASAP! We’ve had a great response and want to make sure we accommodate everyone!! You can reach me by email at smithstef.5@gmail.com or Jen at jen.carbary@gmail.com

Last Free Weekend

This is not a negative comment - but I just enjoyed my last "free" weekend for the next 6 months! Which means each weekend over the next 24-weeks will be filled with fundraising, training walks & preparation for the 60 mile journey that I'll be taking with Jen in August!

I read a great blog post last year from a fellow 3-Day walker titled "You know you're a 3-Day walker when..." one of the "whens" was sleeping past 7am on the weekends is a thing of the past. Which is so true, majority of our training miles will be put in during the weekend. The first couple of weeks aren't too hard, 3-4 miles each day on Saturday & Sunday. But, it won't be long before I will get up at 6am to get to a training walk that will be 10+ miles, with a bunch of amazing other 3-Day walkers!!

So I took today and didn't go to the gym - I slept in, enjoyed my coffee watching t.v. and didn't leave the house - - - because I could, this one last time until August :)

More Snow?? Oh Right, I Live in Michigan!

With only one week to go until training begins we have more than 8 inches of snow on the ground and promises of more to come in the next several days…how are we going to get our walking in besides on the treadmill (sorry, boring as hell!)? Looks like we’ll be hitting the mall a little more frequently over the next couple of weeks – question is can my pocketbook handle it?

Our first fundraising event, a euchre tournament, is next weekend, Saturday, March 5th and almost all of our seats are filled! Please remember if you are planning to come, reserve your seat as soon as possible and money is due by Wednesday, March 2nd. You can send either of us a message and we can make any of the following arrangements:
~ One of us will pick it up from you
~ We’ll arrange a good time for you to drop it off
~ You can mail a check
~ Pay electronically via PayPal (bank transfers only)

This evening of cards is meant to be a FUN, entertaining, light-spirited tournament to raise money for a great cause!

I’ve added a couple more recipes in the What’s Cooking? section, if you’ve got one to share please post it in the comments under that tab. I’m always looking for something new to try!

Furlough!

Furlough Day! This means I have the opportunity, while the kids are at school, to hit the pavement and get some much needed fundraising letters out to various businesses. Some of the items we’re looking to have donated for the upcoming events are pasta, spaghetti sauce, salad dressings, pop, water, baked goods, gift certificates, sporting event tickets, and any other product for raffling. Last year I remember thinking “Oh this would be so much easier if I were a repeat walker…” Well here I am as a repeat walker and it’s still not any easier.

Quick reminder, Sisters Saving the Sistahs is hosting a Euchre Tournament fundraiser on Saturday, March 5^th, registration begins at 7pm, 1^st hand will be dealt at 7:30 pm. This will be played in a Round Robin fashion, every 8 hands you’ll get a new partner! There will be 8 rounds or 11pm whichever comes first. Cost is $20 per person which includes pizza, pop & munchies (BYOB), CASH prizes for 1^st and 2^nd place! All proceeds and 50/50 raffle will go to our 3-Day accounts!

To reserve your seat (adults only please) remember to contact either myself at smithstef.5@gmail.com or Jen at jen.carbary@gmail.com --- all money is due by Wednesday, March 3^rd (cash or check).

Gratitude!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our family and friends, Jen and I have filled all of our “volunteer” spots for the two Tigers games! Our 3-hour training will be next month with our first game on Saturday, April 9th. I’ll have our booth number the week of the game so if you’ll be at the Copa to see the Tigers whoop some White Socks butts you’ll have to stop by and say “Hi!”

Two weeks from now I’ll begin my “official” 24-week training schedule. I remember last year how nervous I was when I began this schedule – this year I’m excited! Although, now I realize that 24 weeks is not a lot of time to raise $2300 and get into the best shape I possibly can while maintaining a healthy family life, and working full time. I think I need to take the next 2 weeks and concentrate on balance!

I’ve posted the 24-week training schedule under the Accountability tab – let me know if you’re up for a walk!

I Learned How to Add Pages!

Thank goodness I have my sister, why you ask? Because she is way more tech savvy than I. I’ve added “pages” to my blog so now I can really inform you, entertain you, but hopefully not annoy you! Please take a minute and check out the tabs on top to see the different elements that go into preparing for a 60 mile journey!