Sunday, January 19, 2014

Raffle For a Cure!

I am still very behind on my fundraising goal and with recommitment just right around the corner, I am in desperate need of more donations. If I don't get to my goal I cannot do the race and I'm out. All the money I've raised so far has already gone into LLS, but unless I get to $3,200 I CANNOT do my half marathon, no ifs, ands, or butts about it. :-(
 
With that said, I have another fundraising event! Last weekend I volunteered at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. I was up BRIGHT & EARLY & was in Disney at 4:00 am ready to cheer my buns off for the participants. In exchange for volunteering I was given a one day free pass to any Disney Park. Brandon & I alread have our yearly passes, so it makes more sense for me to use this opportunity to raffle off the ticket & have 100% of the procceeds go towards my fundraising.
 
What you get:
 
 
One day entry into one park of your choice (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPOCT, or Hollywood Studios)
 
Card is valued at $95 for Magic Kingdom entry & $90 for the other three parks.
 
But living the Disney experience is PRICELESS!
 
The card does not expire until March 1, 2015.
Available for out of town friends as well, if you plan of visiting us in the next year this is a great opportunity to join us for a day of Disney (& if you come with us we'll cover your parking)
 
Raffle will be open from 1/19-1/9
 
Raffle Rules
Every donation to my fundraising page of $20 gets you ONE entry into the raffle
Donate $50 gets you THREE entries
Donate $100 gets you SIX entries
Donate $150 gets you NINE entries
Donate $200 gets you TWELVE entries
 
Enter the Raffle at my fundraising page:
 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Life Lately


My life motto is without a doubt--everything happens for a reason and I am reminded of that almost daily. 
The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. 
It all happens because of a plan that was already laid out for me the minute I was put onto this Earth. I know it's totally corny, but I have it to thank it for every positive thing in my life. I still find myself in disbelief that I was lucky enough to find my husband and that he loved me enough to pick me.
Charlotte York puts our love nicely, it's not perfectly, but it's perfect for us:

Everyday. Not all day everyday, but everyday.


















Even more lately, does my motto come into play. Last year I was really struggling with my career choice being a teacher. I would always wonder about other career paths and if I chosen the right one. I loved teaching, but I wasn't feeling PASSIONATE about it, and I saw that absence of passion as a flaw and it made me second guess what I was doing. I didn't feel happy or fully satisfied and I would see my friends' careers and feel jealous--I wondered what it felt like to not have to be in control of 20 little lives, not have to hold my pee for hours at a time, and only 20 minute lunch "breaks." So when we found out we were moving to Orlando, I saw this as my chance to start over, check out if the grass really is greener. I started over the summer working at Essense Designs, a bridal company in KS, working with the inventory, doing quality control checks, and working in the warehouse. I enjoyed it (partially because of my never ending love for all things bridal) and it was nice to not have to worry about children, go to the bathroom when I wanted, and have a 45 minute lunch break!

Brandon was worried about my decision to not teach, and honestly I was too, but I didn't want to apply for teaching and feel as though I am settling because it's what I majored in. When I got my job with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society I was so excited! I also found a private school close by that I would sub for on occasion to keep teaching in my life, just in case I decided to go back.

I started subbing pretty regularly and I always found myself in a much better mood after I was done teaching. 
For awhile I was enjoying my job at LLS, I was given more responsibilities, had registered for a race, was working with adults, and managing events. 
But then it wasn't so great anymore. 
Around that time, I was asked by the private school to interview for a long term substitute teaching position in kindergarten. I was hesitant at first because if I got the job it would be a risk because the job may eventually end, but then work at LLS got a little worse and I decided to give the interview a try and if it worked out I would take it. 
As it turns out, the kindergarten job is so right-up-my-alley it is like it was written for me. 
The private school is departmentalized. Each teacher only teaches a specific subject and my job would be kindergarten science and social studies and pre-kindergarten art. 
My first teaching job was kindergarten and I have loved that age ever since, I emphasized in history in college and science and social studies were my favorite subjects in school, I taught pre-k for a semester my first year at St. Paul's and I was in charge of teaching art and art history, AND I clearly love art myself. 

When I was offered the job I realized I would be a nut case not to accept it. I started unexpectedly last Thursday (because babies have their own schedules) and I have been so happy ever since---newly acquired kindergarten germ cold and all. It really is just amazing how much better everything else is in your life is when you are satisfied with your job.
Excuse my corniness, but it's true what they say: 
Love your job and you'll never work a day in your life.

And repeating good ole Charlotte, not all day everyday, but everyday.

I may not be working for LLS anymore, but I am still committed to my race, to Team In Training, and to finding a cure. 
I am still training and I am still fundraising. 
I'm excited to be apart of Team In Training as a participant only and not as a staff member, it will make my experience much more enjoyable.

Don't forget to visit my fundraising page and make your donation today. Every dollar counts. I'm only about 35% there and my race is in 100 days. 
Please help me out and take a stand against cancer.


Sunday, January 5, 2014

I need Blogger Help!

I'm no guru of Blogger and there are a fews things that I just can't figure out on here! I need help from my fellow bloggers!

First, I had added the "Pin-it" button to the left of my photos about a month ago, but it shifts my whole layout and I don't like it. But I CANNOT figure out how to get rid of it! I've removed the URL code from the template, I've tried to refert the template back to original, I've searched the internet for answers, but nothing will get rid of it! HELP!

Second, according to my settings I have 0 followers. Now, I know my blog gets read and as an experiment I signed up my old email address to follow it and it gets emails that announce I've made a new post, but still 0 followers. I've checked all my settings and my blog is completely open to the internet. So I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Does anybody out there in blogger land have any idea or solution to these problems?

Saturday, January 4, 2014

TNT Update 1.4.14

It's been rather chilly/cold in Florida lately {I know, I know, nothing compared to the Midwest, but cold is cold no matter where you live}. So, my Saturday morning group training required some layers.

My InSport Silver Running tights hold sentimental value for me and I've had them since I was 13 years old {what, why?}.
When I entered middle school in 6th grade, I couldn't wait until I was in 7th grade and was able to join the track team. I had watched all my babysitters, older girls in the neighborhood, popular girls in high school, etc. run track and I couldn't wait to be a part of the team. Along with joining the team, it was the cool thing to own a pair of silver running tights and wear them to practice and to the meets. So of course I had to have some too. I held onto them through high school, but they didn't get worn very often and since I'm not a big runner--have I mentioned that enough?--they are still in good shape. For some reason I've never been able to allow myself to get rid of them and I think it's because of the feeling I get when I see them. I'm reminded of my old town, Pella, IA, where I grew up and how important I felt in them. It was the first time I was a part of a real team and those are memories I like to have. Plus, who else has running tights they've had since they were 13?
And here I am running a part of a team. How fitting.

I had a tougher go with this mornings run for a few reasons. I have been slacking on my weekly training {see last post for excuses} and in the beginning of training I could get away with it when we were running 1 & 2 mile group runs, but now we are up to 5 miles and I can't fake it anymore.
Thursday after work I decided to go to the gym and get some running and cross training in. It was raining and dark outside so I headed to the gym. This evening, I had literally NO excuse not to go and it was the first time I had ever been to the YMCA not to work but to WORK OUT since I started working there in September. I was on the treadmill for a 2.5 miles with a 5 minute warm up and cool down for 30 minutes total. So all in all, I ran a solid 20 minutes at an 8.5 mile pace, and for me that's pretty good.

I've stated from the beginning I'm not a runner. I'm not here to show off the millions of miles I run or lie about it. If I ran 20 minutes without stopping, whether you already do that every day or not, I'm proud of it. 
I'm here for all the non-runners, and those starting from the bottom. 
We can do half-marathons too.

But my lack of training did keep me from doing well on this morning's run. I ended up walking most of it, partially because my legs felt weaker faster and because of the cold.

I have grown up with the cold, but I still hate it. I hate it for the normal reasons everyone else does, but I also hate it because I have Raynaud's Syndrome (also called Disease or Phenomenon)
Now what is Raynaud's Syndrome?
According to my friend Wiki: It is a hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system causing extreme vasoconstriction of the peripheral blood vessels, leading to tissue hypoxia. Chronic, recurrent cases of Raynaud phenomenon can result in atrophy of the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and muscle. 

In English, basically, the blood vessels in my fingers and toes constrict in the cold causes a lack of blood flow, which leads to white/numb fingers.
I didn't realize I had it until high school, which is normal because it peaks at age 15-25, but it made sense how when I was younger I always seemed to get a lot colder and more quickly than my friends and my hands were AWAYS cold, no matter how many layers of gloves I wore.

I didn't even notice it until I was at track practice sophomore year of high school in March and a teammate pointed out how white my fingers were and what was wrong with me.
I turned to hear in surprise and said "what, your fingers don't look like this?" 
I asked my mom about it when I got home-"oh ya, it's raynaud's syndrome, I have it too"
The gene is passed on through the mother {sorry future daughter}.

There isn't a treatment for it, it's just something you learn to live around. Like I can't spend too much time in the frozen food section of the grocery store, or I always have to remember to have gloves.
Basically they go numb very quickly and then take double the amount of time to get blood flow back. It's mildly painful and I tend to loose all control of them if they have been cold for awhile (like unbuttoning your pants after a day at Mardi Gras in St. Louis in February to try to use the porta-potty & have to call on the boyfriend for assistance). Sometimes it hurts so bad it makes me feel sick, but that is in rare instances. Like last year during the KC snow storm I took our dog out to the dog park to get some exercise. I layered up, but it's never enough. After about 20 minutes I just couldn't stand it anymore and made the trek back to our apartment. I could barely hold the leash my hands hurt so bad. Once I got into the apartment, I started feeling nauseous because my body was warming up, but my fingers and toes weren't catching up. I had to get out of as many layers as I could while needing to lay on the carpet until I felt better.
It stunk and I learned my lesson, just don't do that again.

Long story short, I don't enjoy the cold and it does cause a problem when I have to be outside. My body may be warmed up, but my fingers will always be behind.

My goal this week is to squeeze in more training and gym time because besides the fact that I want to run the whole 13.1 miles, I also want to finish in under 2.5 hours. Like I said, I can't fake it anymore.

Fundraising & Running Update
Miles: 5
Money Raised: $1,145.36
Percentage to Complete: 36%
Amount left to go:  $2,054.64
Days till Race: 113

Visit my fundraising page to help get one step closer to finding a cure, every dollar counts!


Wednesday, January 1, 2014

TNT Update 1.1.14

6:55 AM and my drive to Saturday morning group training. 
I've been slacking on my training as the busy holidays have interfered, and I've been making excuses. I said at the beginning of my 1/2 marathon training that running isn't my thing, and I'm hoping it will eventually be my thing 
I missed last week's group run because I was in St. Louis. I had plans to train {I packed workout clothes & tennis shoes, does that count..ok no} and I had planned on putting in some miles on Sunday when we got back to FL, but the traffic issues we had on the way made our driving last longer and we didn't get in until Sunday afternoon. 
I did put in some mileage walking around Disney World's Magic Kingdom that night and Brandon and I did run across the park to make it to Space Mountain after the parade ended. 
I'm counting that as my cross training :)

My main goal has been getting a head start on my fundraising...
And here I am on New Years Day fundraising for a cause.
In the past, I had spent my New Years Day nursing a hangover, but this year was different. I woke up early, showered and headed to the Citrus Bowl to sell spirit beads to fans for LLS.
I set off from tailgate to tailgate wearing a pretty sweet fanny pack and a bag full of beads. Honestly, I felt like an idiot. I'm not one for "soliciting" and it being my first time, I wasn't sure what to expect. I kept thinking I should've taken a few shots before heading out to calm the nerves.
It was rainy and cold {uncommon for Florida} and so much for showering and makeup helping my cause; Mother Nature had other plans.
It was discouraging when I was ignored or denied and I almost considered packing it in and leaving after an hour, but as cheesy as it sounds, I had to keep remembering that cancer can't be ignored and the annoyance and embarrassment I was feeling walking around is NOTHING compared to the fight people face with cancer every day.
Then I headed into a jackpot tailgate. It probably helped that most had been tailgating for awhile and drinks made people more generous…with donations and their beverages.
After purchasing beads, several friendly fans offered me drinks. I had been walking around in the rain, I needed a drink and I enjoyed having nice conversations with fans.
In the end it was worth it. I earned $121.35 towards my fundraising in just an hour and half. And if it hadn't started raining harder I would have kept going.

Fundraising & Running Update
Miles: 3
Money Raised: $1,120.36
Percentage to Complete: 35%
Amount left to go:  $2,079.65
Days till Race: 115

2014

My NYE was very, very low key. Brandon had to work the night shift at the hospital, so I spent the evening with the dog packing up the Christmas decorations, watching Titanic, and enjoying Nutella & PB sandwiches.

At midnight I pulled out my trusty bottle of Andres, threw in some frozen pomegranate seeds, played the Sex & the City version of Auld Lang Syne, and stood in my apartment hallway to watch and listen to the many firework displays going on around the city.

And to be honest, this is exactly how I wanted to ring in 2014 (of course with preference of the hubby here). I am wanting a relaxing and calm year, so ringing it in calmly fits the theme.

This year I have a few resolutions for 2014:

*Paint my nails more often
*Floss daily
*Update the chalkboard more
*Get better at packing lunches for work
*Get more sleep
*Plan a vacation
*Blog more frequently
*use our Bullet more

That's my start and I think it's doable. I already painted my nails today and I plan on updating the chalkboard before I head to bed.

Cheers to you 2014 and to the first page of a 365 page book waiting to be written. 
You never know what can happen.