Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Kansas City

I made a decision last year that I would run a 5k.  Well that didn't happen.  This year I kept looking for the perfect 5k to participate in.  Because of my involvement in Zeta Tau Alpha, I always plan to volunteer to help with Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure wherever I am.  Some years I'm too busy to help or am just out of town.  This year I put it on my calendar early and nothing can replace my plans for this event.  August seems so far away but I am dedicated to make it the whole race without walking.  I haven't run this far since spring 2005.  I know I can do this with the proper training and support.  It's about 30 days away and I've got a long way to go from here.

Susan G Komen for the Cure means a lot to me.  I am a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and our philanthropy is Breast Cancer Awareness and Education.  Our philanthropy has taken over a part of my heart.  After supporting it for 6 years through raising money, saving yogurt lids, and volunteering on the collegiate and Alumnae level I've decided to make it a personal goal of mine to contribute more than I have in the past. 

During 2011, I have gained a better insight into "who" survivors are.  I read the book, Promise Me, written by Susan G. Komen's Sister, Nancy Brinker.  My eyes were opened not only to a portion of what someone goes through during their battle, but also the history of treatment and discovery.  I also volunteered at Susan G. Komen for the Cure Kansas City's Survivor Luncheon in May.  I sat there thankful that I have a helthy family and a heathy body.  Hearing stories of survival and loss brought tears to my eyes.  Realizing how many lives are affected by this disease made me want to do more.  

So on August 14th, I am running to support Susan G. Komen Kansas City Race for the Cure because I want to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. YOU can make a difference too! Please support me and help me reach my fundraising goal by making a tax-deductible donation today!  

Here's the link to my personal fundraising page. I'm determined to reach my goal this year by raising $300. Any donation will help the Kansas City Susan G. Komen for the Cure provide grants for research, and assistance to those suffering this terrible disease.  Even just $10 can make a difference in someone's life. 


Wish me luck in this journey I'm on....there's a long way to go in finding a cure.

While I'm 25....

Everyone has dreams.

Dreams of doing things, going places, completing projects, and being happy.

Some dreams are big, such as living in a foreign country or quiting a hated job.

Some dreams are small, like hanging up a picture they've had forever or going to a museum.

I have dreams of doing a few things this year, you know, before I turn the big 2-6!

I came up with this list in my mind while stuck laying on the couch this last week. Hopefully I can stay motivated along the way and always remember to keep a smile on my face.

Dreams like:
- Losing 15 pounds
- Having a date with Joe that includes a picnic
- Baking a pie
- Making homemade spaghetti sauce
- Finding a fantastic recipe for salsa and making it with veggies from my garden
- Baking a loaf of bread
- Visit a new city
- Go to a concert
- Run a 5K (and train for it first)
- Make a menu for the week using my cookbooks, or at least Monday through Wednesday for the whole summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day)
- Write notes to friends
- Make homemade salad Dressing
- Blog at least 1x per week!
- Volunteer with an organization
- Go to church more
- Go to a Sporting KC Soccer game at their new stadium (I'm not sure when construction is going to be completed though)
- Attend a Play, Symphony, or Orchestra Concert
- Make a little "Welcome" spot for visitors to our house
- Host a dinner party
- Read 2 books a month (any suggestions?)
- Plan a trip for "just the girls"
- Get a pedicure with my mom
- Make a fancy tiered cake (a reason isn't necessary)
- Tailgate at 6 Royals Games
- Ride a motorcycle

So there's my list. Now that I've written it down it seems kinda long and quite daunting.  I've got just under 7 months. Time to get started! Although, I don't think my macchiato this morning is helping with the 1st one. I guess I'll have to work on that.

Our Holiday Party Menu

Since we finally got our living room painted and removed the 'wonderful' painters-tape blue color from the wall, we're having people over.  We haven't really had people over for a party yet.  The only people who've seen our house have been the visitors we've invited from out of town and a few of our friends who have briefly stopped by.  So a 1.5 years later....a party.  The holidays are a great time for celebration so I'm in no way complaining about this delayed open house.  We're expecting 20-25 people and we'll have plenty of food to fill everyone!  Below is the menu we're planning.  In the coming days I'll post about my time spent in the kitchen in preparation.

Appetizers:
~ Meatballs & Little Smokies
~ Buffalo Chicken Dip
~ Cracker & Cheese Tray
~ Rotel & Velvetta

Desserts:
~ Creme de Menthe Cheesecake
~ Christmas Cookies Trays including:
     ~ Chocolate Chip Cookies
     ~ Sugar Cookies
     ~ Peppermint Bark
     ~ Chocolate and Caramel Pretzels
     ~ White Ting-A-Lings
     ~ Raspberry Pinwheels
     ~ Palmiers
     ~ Christmas Crack
     ~ Fudge
     ~ Peanut Butter Blossoms
     ~ Meringues

Natalie's Bridal Shower

Natalie and I met in college when I joined the sorority.  She became my big sister and roomate.  We watched many movies together, stressed about school, baked LOTS of things together, and she always had a smile on her face.  I didn't realize how close Natalie and I would stay after she graduated from college and got a 'big girl' job.  After I graduated, I got a job near Natalie {and my soon-to-be-hubby, of course}. I lived with her for 3 months until I got married and she was one of my lovley, beautiful bridesmaids.  I am so honored to have her as such a great friend.  She's loyal, loving, caring, fun, and we get along so well.  I am honored to be a bridesmaid in her wedding in less than 60 days!

She loved the cake I made for her shower today and had a great time with fun games and conversation with family and friends.

There's the Bride!

Gifts, Gifts, Gifts

She loves the cake :)

Cupcake Apron!

Natalie's Halloween Bridal Shower

Happy Halloween Bridal Shower!!!!

Today I attended Natalie's Halloween Bridal Shower!  Kelly did such a great job on the decorations!  They are so creative.  We had some cheese and crackers, fruit, cookies, and cake pops.  Oh, I almost forgot the dipped strawberries that looked like ghosts!  {such a great idea}

It was a Pampered Chef Party and I'm so glad she got one because it was sooo much fun.  And I was able to get a few things for myself, even though one of those things must now be removed from my already growing Christmas List {I know it's a bit early, but I've got lots of people asking me what I would like}.

Here's the Bride-to-Be helping get everything ready!

Kelly M & Michael's Wedding

I got to spend the weekend with one of my best friends!  Joe and I traveled back to St. Louis on Friday morning.  I was dropped off to meet the Bride-to-be and another bridesmaid for lunch.  Then we went and got manicures and pedicures with the Mother-of-the-Bride, Grandmother-of-the-Bride and the Maid-of-Honor.  That night we attended a Wedding Rehersal and beautiful Rehersal Dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory to begin our celebrations of the wedding of Michael and Kelly.  At the Rehersal Dinner we received these lovely wine favors!  The groom's dad makes wine and bottled these especially for the dinner tonight adorned with an engagement picture of the bride and groom.  I love the keepsake!

There are many definitions for the word LOVE.

Webster's Dictionary: strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties

The Bible: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Children: "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5



Today, Kelly and Michael professed their love for each other for family, friends and the world to see.  Their wedding ceremony was one of the most beautiful I've ever seen!  I may have even teared up during the sermon when the pastor read out loud letters they had written to each other.  The letters told of the love they have for each other and some of the events throughout their relationship.  Part of the reason I may have gotten glossy eyese was because this was similar to the sermon told at my own wedding.  Thoughts of happiness filled my head when the realization that the amazing and wonderful feelings I felt on my wedding were now being felt by one of my very best friends.  I was honored to stand up there as a bridesmaid to be a witness of their love.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs.

Kelly H & Bryan's Wedding

I love weddings.  I love the ambiance.  I love the excitement.  I love the support shown by friends and family.  I love the happiness in the couples' eyes.  I love the beauty of a woman in a white dress and the look in the groom's eyes when he sees her for the first time.  I love the first kiss.  I love the significance of the cutting of the cake. But most of all, I love that the Bride & Groom have invited me to share this special day with them. My friends Kelly & Bryan are some of the most caring people I've ever met in my life.  I know we will be life-long friends because of this. Kelly lives in California and Bryan lives in Utah.  They are both in the Air Force and hope to be stationed together very soon.  I just can't get over how happy they are to be together.  I wouldn't have missed this day for the world!

Kelly H's Bachelorette Party

I took 2 days off work and drove 4.5 hours to help my friend Kelly celebrate her upcoming wedding with a Bachelorette Party!  Dinner was fantastic and the night was...well, crazy.  It was great to spend time with my friends, Kelly and Sarah, whom I don't get to see very often since they live in Cali.

Happy 60th Mom!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!! Hubby and I had fun at my mom's birthday party that she, of course, threw for herself.  My Aunt from Iowa even came down to celebrate!

Ginna & Adam's Wedding

Congratulations to Adam & Ginna.  It was such a beautiful wedding!  I had a great time and it was lovely to see both of them and our many friends.

Kelly M's Bachelorette Party!!!

Bachelorette Parties can get CRAZY!!!!  For Kelly's: it was a guarantee!  When us girls go out it gets a bit wild.  I was sworn to secrecy so this is all I can say.  We went to Villa Maire Winery before dinner for a little relaxation. 

 There were 14 of us at Lucas Park Grille in St. Louis for Dinner. After dinner we went out for the night on The Landing down by the river.  Everyone had so much fun dancing the night away!

Kelly M's Surprise Lingerie Party

And boy was she surprised! Up until the week of the surprise dinner Kelly was only under the impression that it was just her and me going out to dinner to catch up and talk about wedding stuff.  Of course, my big mouth had to accidentally slip to her in a e-mail the mention of her "surprise dinner". Last night Kelly, my two friends Andrea and Danielle, and I met up for a girls night dinner and drinks.  Kelly suggested TGI Friday's which is definately "Our Place".  We've gone there numerious times and we obviously love the food and atmosphere.  When I dissed the idea she picked up that we would be eating there tonight. 

Her mom, sisters, grammy, to-be-mother-in-law, two friends from our sorority were all waiting there to give her the big surprise.

See, Kelly only new there woudl be a "surprise dinner" at TGI Fridays.  She didn't know there would be guests or gifts.  However these gifts are more for Michael. He-he. 

Jamie, a friend from college, even found, in her mom's stash none the less, naked man wrapping paper from the 80's for all of us to laugh at.  I hope Kelly really enjoyed the low-key event and the gifts that will help keep some spice in their marriage!

The best gift: from her mom.  She dug it out of Kelly's stuff from high school. She needed this for a show one year.

Kelly M's Bridal Shower

I'm not just a bridesmaid in one of my best friend's wedding, I am a friend who will do just about anything to help make everything perfect for her big day.  I did a lot of planning for her shower but could not have pulled it off without her mom and the rest of the wedding party.

With the cake and cupcakes baked and iced, the games ready to get played, the prizes ready to be won, the cookies adorned with beautiful decoration, the tables decorated and teh food prepared; we were ready!  Kelly said she loved everythig!  The guests, varying from family to friends from grade school to sorority sisters, seemed to enjoy themselves.  Kely received some beautiful gifts I could tell she enjoyed chatting with everyone.

Look at all those gifts!

The Apron I made Kelly



ZTA Ladies!



Cupcake Camp KC

Kansas City Finally had a cupcake camp!!!! I was so excited when I heard the news that I called my friend Alex and we made plans to attend.  We had some wonderful cupcakes from :

3 Girls Cupcakes

and

Cupcake Construction Company

Alex and I really enjoyed shoving our faces full of delicous-ness.  I can't wait until the next one!

Kelly H's Bridal Shower

I will NEVER drive the Malibu again!  I'm serious this time!  Kelly's Bridal shower was about 2-1/2 hours away and I was making the trip down and back in one day.  Now, I hated the thought of putting about 500 miles on my *new* car in one day.  Heck, I hate even putting more than 150 miles in a week on it!  So I thought to myself, "Self, I think it would be a great idea to drive the Malibu.  It gets great gas mileage (about 28 MPG) and 500 miles is a drop in the bucket since it already has 150,000 miles."  Looking back, I wish I would have just sucked it up and taken my *new* car. 

Well the drive was beautiful.  Instead of taking the normal 4 lane highway there I took a little 2 lane road for part of the way.  The country side was beautiful.  I was even able to see part of the Missouri River and a little Amish family #socute.  The shower was fun.  I was glad I got to see my good friend from Cali. I miss hanging out at Kelly's house in Rolla while we watched TV together.  Oh the days of college.  Anyways, after the shower was over the worst thing happened.  I could not get the Malibu started. 

I blame Joe.  Ever since I got my *new* car with the push button start that allows me to leave my car running but locked in the parking lot of QT to run in and grab some coffee in the morning, Joe had decided that the Malibu should be able to do that too.  So my genius husband jiggled the key to the Malibu while it was running until the key came out without the car turning off.  This 'added' feature caused the important turning of the key processes to get the car started to be extremely difficult.  I couldn't get the car started for 2 hours.  I tried, Kelly tried, and Kelly's Dad tried.  I gave up hope thinking that I was stuck.  I called hubby and he drove his truck 2-1/2 in hopes to be able to tow it back to our house or get it started.  In the mean time I went out for drinks with Kelly's family which was a glorious relief. 

Joe eventually arrived on scene and go figure, started the car right up with no more than 2 tries.  I was so angry.  Not only had I blamed the whole thing on him, but he started it immediately!  How? I believe it's magic.  Needless to say, I refused to drive the Malibu back.  So I got to drive the Truck back with Daisy and he took the Malibu. 

Anyways, back to the point of this post: Kelly's Bridal Shower.  A bit of a background: Kelly and I became friends in college when we were both in the same sorority.  We lived across the hall and hung out quite a  bit.  My mom showed her how to sew rank on her uniform, we watched TV every week at her house (I was too poor to afford cable), went to the Grotto every Tuesday with Ms. D Meyers and graduated together.  After graduation she was commissioned into the Air Force and is currently stationed in California.  I'd love to visit some day. I do anything to visit with her even for a short period of time whenever she comes back to good ole' Missouri.  Here is the beautiful Bride-to-Be and myself.

Maggie's 21st Birthday

Happy 21st Maggie!

Hot Concerts: Chris Young

Awesome free Chris Young Concert at The Power & Light District.  The Best concert I've seen there so far!  Joe and I decided that we'd leave when we wanted to so we could still get up and go to work.  He had one beer and we left towards the end of the concert.  We didn't pay much of anything so I didn't feel bad leaving before the end.  Chris Young was so awesome!

So costs for the night:
Concert: Free
Parking: Free
Dinner: Free - At home
Beer: $10 - At Concert

Go Royals!!! White Sox vs. Royals

Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals

Monday, June 28, 2010

Royals win 3 to 1!!!

My friend Andrea and her boyfriend Andy came to visit Joe and I so she could see her FAVORITE team play.  She LOVES the White Sox so much that she was the only one of us 4 cheering them on!  But a miracle happened: THE ROYALS WON! Now seriously, what are the chances?  Not too good.  Yesterday, the White Sox lost to the Cubs ending their 11 game winning streak.  I cheered on my "home" team and was so excited they got the win.  So far this year I have attend only two games and the Royals have managed to actually play and win those two games.  I feel like their lucky charm.

Andy & Andrea in front of the K (Photo courtesy of Andrea)

Andrea's favorite player.  Yes, she is wearing his jersey. (Photo courtesy of Andrea)

Go Royals!!! Cardinals vs. Royals

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Royals Won!!!!

I MADE THE CUT!!!

Since middle school donating my hair is something I've always said I want to do.  Over 10 years later, I've finally got around to doing it. 

I decided back during the summer of 2008 that I would grow my hair longer for my upcoming wedding in May 2009.  I wanted my hair curled which would shorten it, but I didn't want it to look too short.  After our wedding I just couldn't find the right cut for me.  So I just let it keep growing and growing.  My hair is like magic.  I can cut my hair off 3 inches and it'll be back in 1-1/2 months. Not only does my hair grow abnormally fast, it is also extremely thick.  (Luckily though, it's not as thick as my sister's).

During the 2009 Holiday Season, I was talking with my best friend and Maid of Honor, Danielle.  She brought up the idea of donating her hair with another friend and I said "I'll do it, why not!?"  So we vowed that over 4th of July weekend 2009, 3 of us would go donate our hair. 

Due to all of our unexpected travel recently, my hubby and I decided not to go to STL for the holiday.  The thought of getting 10 inches cut off my hair without the support of my BFF, made me nauseous.  I'm extremely excited though because Danielle came to visit us!!!  So a week before originally planned, I donated my hair. Below is the after picture.