Re Post: My Christmas Wish List

Saturday, November 29, 2008

I am re-posting this as a reminder to the few two who wanted to participate but also because I have a few new subscribers (hello!) who may want to participate and because Link Love is awesome.

Next week, on Tuesday December 2nd, I will be posting the five things I'd put on my Christmas list if money were no object. You can write a post on your blog and come here to add it to the Mr. Linky. It seems that blog brain freeze is going around and I'm glad to help any of you who have run dry after NaBloHoHoHo. You're very welcome.

Support Moms and Bloggers This Holiday

Friday, November 28, 2008

Inside this widget are links to over 250 Mom owned online stores compiled by Megan at TwitterMoms for the TwitterMoms Holiday Catalog. Happy shopping!



What I Am Thankful For

Thursday, November 27, 2008

By Drama Kid, age 6 (as dictated to me).

This year I am am thankful for:

1. Mommy

2. Daddy

3. Zoe (our cat)

4. The military

5. Turkey

6. Life

7. Shoes

8. My family

9. Daddy twice because he's in the military

10. My toys

11. Our house

12. Food and water

13. My school

14. My cousins
15. Electricity

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and many blessings to you this coming holiday season! (photo from here)

Snippets: And You PAY Her?!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Overheard:

"My babysitter doesn't respond to voicemail. If I leave a message, I don't hear from her. But if I send a text, she gets back to me right away."
Um, excuse me? You give someone your hard earned money to ignore you? And you leave your children with this person?

Babysitter types listen up: If I have entrusted you with the care of my child, my heart, my reason for being, the most precious person on this earth you WILL respond to me IMMEDIATELY whether I've sent you a voicemail, text message, smoke signals or hired a skywriter.

2008 San Diego Breast Cancer 3-Day Day 3 Pictures

Monday, November 24, 2008

I'm still on a high from the weekend. Mom says the walk is like a religious experience and I can see why. I can't yet put into words how great it was to volunteer and be "behind the scenes."

Seeing the walkers and crew members come in for the final stretch was so inspiring. I was handing out their Victory shirts and the single long-stemmed pink roses that Pro Flowers provides every year.


As the walkers passed through the Victory
tent, the crew received grey shirts, walkers got white and survivors, pink. My table was right next to where the survivors picked up their shirts. It was very hard not to be in tears all day.

Seeing that pile of pink shirts grow smaller throughout the day was both heartbreaking and celebratory. If I had the privilege of handing a rose to a survivor I bowed and said "congratulations" which definitely had more than one meaning.

(She was limping so badly her friends had to help keep her standing)

One woman stopped for her shirt and her team had her pose for a photo. One second she was smiling and laughing and the next she was sobbing. They wrapped her in a group hug and they all cried together. I felt a bit like a voyeur. Even surrounded by thousands of people it was such an
intimate moment.

I also got to be there when they announced that the last wa
lker was about to come in. I saw her Saturday and honestly thought she was a homeless person taking advantage of the sweets and other things being passed out along the route.

When the announcement came out that she was on her way in, every walker there cheered and moved forward to try and get her picture. She was brought in with a police escort and when she stopped to put on her shirt she was in tears. As were so many others. She posed for photos and I gave her the entire bundle of flowers I was holding.


The official statistics haven't come out but I heard there were between 4,500-5,000 walkers this year and they raised just over $11 million dollars.


My mom is already committed to walking again next year. She may or may not stop after her tenth which she really wants to do in either San Francisco or Denver.



These ladies were not allowed to walk since they are currently undergoing their chemo treatments. They are both in their 20's.

I will definitely be out there again next year and I hope you will too. And like I mentioned in my first post, when the walkers take off one shoe and lift it high as the survivors enter The Survivors Circle, it gets me, every time.


Way to go mom! You rock!

Read about the other two days of the walk: Day 1, Day 2

2008 San Diego Breast Cancer 3-Day Day 2 Pictures

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Mom has blisters. Actually, she has five. Today is going to be tough. But I know she can do it.



Passing out gum, mints and baby wipes.


Some people are so clever with their tent decorations and team names. This is the Boobs Farm Whinery. There were two bottles of Boone's wrapped in pink on the ground.


The Remembrance Tent. One small tent for each city that hosts the walk. The San Diego tent is showcased in the larger tent along with photos of people who have recently passed and journals to leave a message to a loved one.


This woman has raised more money total for Komen than any other walker (click to her website, I don't want to give it away but prepare to have your socks knocked off). She gets to sleep in a special tricked out tent sponsored by New Balance.


Overheard: "I'm fine as long as I keep moving."

"If I stop now every muscle in my body will freeze up. I won't even be able to smile."



This is part of Main Street. There is a post office, store for buying merchandise, a tent for bingo, free foot massages and samples.


The walkers come through this area lined with flags as they finish for the day and head into camp. Other walkers stay to cheer them in, there's loud, upbeat music and bottled waters.


Read about the other two days of the walk: Day 1, Day 3

2008 San Diego Breast Cancer 3-Day Day 1 Pictures

Saturday, November 22, 2008

My mom rocked it yesterday! She was already eating lunch by the time I headed down to La Jolla. Cross you fingers that her hot spots don't turn into blisters today.


Read about the other two days of the walk: Day 2, Day 3

480 Miles, $50K and Counting - The Breast Cancer 3 Day

Friday, November 21, 2008

When my mom told me she was going to do the Susan G Komen 3 Day walk I laughed at her. Sleeping on the ground in a tent? Public showers? Right. I get my aversion to all things camping from her. I said I'd believe it when I saw it.

And show me she did! This weekend my mom will take to the streets of San Diego for the eighth time. Uh-huh, eight. And my lazy ass will be there on the sidelines and volunteering on Sunday.

This year I decided to Go Pink or Go Home and went on a little shopping spree yesterday (love you honey!) This is what I'm wearing today.


I found this necklace on Etsy. Perfect for the occasion, no?



I normally don't wear pink and didn't realize how hard it is to find pink clothes in adult sizes, especially in fall. I felt like such the soccer mom at Charlotte Russe and Forever 21.


Then I had the brilliant idea that I should wear a black and pink bra with my leather jacket a la biker chick and spent half an hour looking for an inexpensive one.



The way I see it, some of these women have gone through chemo, radiation and worse, so I can get over my body issues for a day.

And I can't possibly go to a breast cancer awareness event without a pink wig and feather boa.



But I will be wearing pants.

If you've never experienced this event I strongly encourage, actually no, I'm telling you to go. It's an amazing way to spend an afternoon. The walkers really feed off the energy of the supporters. People come dressed in some pretty wild costumes. If your city is host to a walk next year please go and show your support.

I tell you, it's hard not to tear up when you see people in their pink survivor shirts or see the man who is walking for the wife, daughter or sister he has lost. And the closing ceremonies, where all the walkers and crew form a tunnel and take off one shoe and hold them up saber style as the survivors enter? Makes me cry buckets. Every. Single. Time.

Please send out some no blisters vibes to my mom. I will spare you pictures of her worst blister episode. You're totally welcome. Have a great weekend!

Read about all three days of the walk: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.

Easy Weekend Recipe #4: Chicken and Rice Wraps

Thursday, November 20, 2008

My grocery budget has taken a serious beating. We've been eating a lot of chicken lately and I found a really good chicken cookbook on the clearance rack to add a little variety to my usual go to's (I actually bought two, perhaps for a future giveaway?). I forgot to pictures, I'm sorry! But the recipe turned out really well and we I had leftovers for days.

Easy Chicken and Rice Wraps

1 box of Rice A Roni Spanish rice
2 Tbs butter
1 cup of your favorite salsa
12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
1 cup black or kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup corn
2 cups water
8 6-inch flour tortillas*

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the rice mix with the butter until it is golden brown.

2. Slowly stir in the water, and seasoning packet. Add salsa and chicken. Bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender and chicken is no longer pink.

4. Stir in beans and corn. Let stand, covered for 5 minutes then serve in warmed tortillas with your favorite garnishes.

I bought a large package of boneless, skinless chicken tenders and used some for this recipe and froze the rest. *These are supposed to be wraps but I didn't think Drama Kid could eat them that way without half ending up on the floor so I made them into burritos instead and wished I had purchased burrito size tortillas rather than soft taco sized.

Wordles Wednesday: The Sky at Sunset

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Three Things on Tuesday

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I should wait and post Three Things on Thursday (I love alliteration) but oh well. This is going to be a busy week. I'm going to resort to bullets:

1. I participated in a focus group yesterday for HP that was so interesting! I can't talk about the product but if they are able to pull this off it will be really sweet. It's nice to see a company who wants to make technology for moms actually include moms in the development! Before the product and advertising are complete! (This is my addition to the online furor over the Motrin ad on Twitter)

2. Drama Dad got a raise!! It's not a giant one, basically cost of living but with companies shutting down and layoffs everywhere we are SO grateful and I am so thankful he has such a great job with a great company.

3. I met with one of my favorite bloggers yesterday. I was nervous because my hair appointment isn't until next month, I haven't had a mani/pedi since my weekend in Florida and I have a zit on my cheek. But, I had so much fun! Even waiting in line at the bank. Her daughter is just as cute and sweet as I new she'd be. Thanks so much for hanging out with me Casey (Laural too!). Even if I did take you to a substandard park (Indside joke, you had to be there).

History, Made

Sunday, November 16, 2008


*This was emailed to me. If anyone knows which Times Union it came from please let me know.
 
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