The Beginning of an Amazing Evening!

At 1:29pm I entered the Arctic Club Hotel, not knowing what to expect. I'd been there before for a wedding (years ago) and remembered the Dome Rome vividly, but today was different. I was going to be part of a cause that I hope will spread nation wide.

The Charity Event: Get Hitched, Give Hope; a bridal event that raises money to help stage four breast cancer victims fulfil their wishes.

I was greeted off of the elevator by a nice guy who immediately asked, "One of the models?" and then escorted me to room 311. A room buzzing with action already. Liz Navarro, The Gown Diva, was laying out the beautiful jewels that we'd be wearing with our gowns. Kat, another model, was having her make up done by Karen. And Erin and Chelsea of Bellatrix Studio were ready to make our hair fabulous! A couple of things about these two women: 1) Erin was pregnant and literally due tomorrow! She was beautiful and without the baby bump in the front there would have been no signs of pregnancy on her body. She could have told me she was only 5 months and I would have believed her. 2) Chelsea was gorgeous and styled. Her hair was black with short cut bangs. She wore a litte pink sweater over a fitted black corset, a full black and white mini skirt with a petty coat underneath, pink fish-net stockings and pink, iguana cowboy boots from Australia. She represented the coolness of this Studio and the breast cancer cause beautifully! I was excited to see the transformation of me, the mom who had just spent an hour painting clay penguins with seven year old students, to whatever they were planning and I sat down for hair.

Liz showed the gown and jewelry that I'd be wearing to Erin. After a quick consultation with Chelsea, I was in the chair getting my glam on!

www.gowndiva.com

www.bellatrixstudio.com

www.gethitchedgivehope.com

Get Hitched Give Hope

Tomorrow night I get to walk around in a beautiful Anne Barge wedding gown at the Second Annual Get Hitched Give Hope Event. An evening with brides and wedding vendors from the Seattle area that was created to raise money to fight breast cancer.

I can't wait and am hoping that it will blow all of my great expectations out of the water! After all, if it is anything like the gown I get to wear... forgetaboutit! Its going to be fantastic!

If you are interested check out the website: http://www.gethitchedgivehope.com/ and I will tell you all about it in Friday's blog!

Not so Narrow

It seems that often when problems arise, our outlook becomes narrow. -The 14th Dalai lama

Those problems that cause you to feel like there is nothing else that can fix a problem except for the most drastic of measures. Those moments that instead of choosing to step back and evaluate what's happening, you go off the handle. You choose the fighting path. Do you know this path? Its the one that, when you get to the end, there's regret. Can you turn back with an "I'm sorry" or "I was wrong"? We can't unwind the clock unfortunately, but we can learn. Life isn't a narrow path... why should our decisions be?

Trying Bloomsies

YOU MAY BE DISAPPOINTED IF YOU FAIL,

BUT YOU ARE DOOMED IF YOU DON'T TRY.

Beverly Sills

I am the owner of Bloomsies. A company that takes baby clothes and women's lingerie, wraps each piece up like a rose, and then creates a bouquet with the flowers. It's a fun gift to both give and receive. Very original.

Bloomsies has been slow to build, however, I am happy to say that it is growing. Slowly growing. Like everything else, this little venture needs daily love to get there. It needs the word to be spread that it exists. It needs to be seen. Although I'd like it to just take off, and be that overnight success story, it hasn't been that quick. Getting discouraged is not an option. I take one day at a time. And while I am taking the baby steps to achieve success with this company, I am greatly appreciative for the support that I have gotten from my family and friends. Without them my "try" wouldn't be so much fun!

If you haven't seen Bloomsies, check it out! We're online: http://bloomsies.etsy.com/

and on facebook. What amazing avenues for a budding business!

One Moment and a couple of Positive Thoughts...

The nice thing about running, is that all you need are a pair of shoes and you can just go. Follow a road, a trail, or the track. Pave your path. It's free. It's yours.

The nice thing about the gym is that, if you go regularly, you have people. You may never get close to most of these individuals, but you have the workout in common. That is a good motivational tool. Get in there! Laugh, sweat, catch up and then go on with your day feeling like you're pumped up! A "see you tomorrow" is a great verbal contract that almost guarantees that you will make it back the next day. It's only hard to get started... but it is addicting!

Here is my moment of the day:

Today it was blustery out. The cool, Autumn air has certainly hit Seattle. Rain drops fell for a little while. It wasn't bad, just kind of gray. Outside, under the color of the afternoon sky, I took a walk. My umbrella protected me from the raindrops. My sweater stopped the windy swoops. And I looked up. The leaves on the trees have finally changed. It seems like it happened overnight. One of the trees had leaves of pale, yellow green, another bright, pinkish-orange, and then there was the yellow. Bright and happy against such a palate that should seem dull, but today was full of movement and energy. It was beautiful and refreshing. It was nature. I can't change it, wouldn't want to, just have to appreciate it.

In the distance a plastic grocery bag danced in the wind. I watched it for a moment and let it take me back to the movie, American Beauty. Before that movie, I would never have considered watching an object blow in the wind. A different kind of beauty, just garbage that has run into nature.

We run during the day. Sometimes not pausing for a second to breathe. You have to breathe, otherwise, you are missing it. Look around. Working hard will get you where you need to be, yes, but what's it worth if you miss everything around you? I suggest a walk alone. Not a run. My walk was only 5 minutes long, and in this 5 minutes I found a calm that carried me through the rest of the day.

Fall is here.

Apples to Motivate

I have always liked to go running on a trail somewhere. I love to run in downtown Seattle along the water, at Greenlake, or on the Centennial in Snohomish. All three of these places offer both sidewalk or grass, people and a lot to look at. It takes about 1 hour out of my day to drive to and back from my destination daily run. With the kid's crazy schedules keeping me in my car longer during the week, my motivation has been slightly less than it had been in a long time and I decided to change up my routine a bit. Maybe not having to drive to run would help. I began to stay local, starting and finishing my run at my house. The route begins with the first quarter of a mile uphill. It flattens out gradually, for about one mile, goes down hill, flattens out, then goes back up hill for another mile. I finish with an easy downhill. It's approximately 4 miles.

On this route I don't usually pass anyone, but I have made some new friends. Horses. Three horses, dressed in Burberry-like, printed overcoats. The first time I ran by their pasture, they barely took notice of me. One of the horses shook its head and turned away from the sound of my footsteps, but the others just ignored my presence. After a couple of hellos, overtime, they seemed to be waiting by the fence for me. So I took them some apples.

Have you ever run with a small bag of apples?

I would have never had to learn, except that my neighing buddies love them so. I get them off of the little tree at the 2.3 mile mark, and happily fumble with the odd package down the hill toward the pasture. I toss the treats to my neatly dressed friends, make a little small talk, and off I go...with a smile on my face. The short break in the middle of my run has guilted me into making it a bit longer. I had no choice. Its a small price to pay for this moment that has made this from-home-run one of my favorites!

Sometimes you just have to find your own trail to get you back into the swing of things. I am back on track and ready to go running.

New Me?

My daughter auditioned for the Jr. Jazz Company with her dance school yesterday. The results were posted on the studio window today at noon. She asked me not to check, she wants to know first. Did I run down there to find out? The old me would have, and then I'd either show up at school with a congratulations balloon and a card, or keep the news to myself. Today, the new me, got home from my body pump class, put a load of laundry in, did the dishes and went for a run (I thought a lot about her audition and what her name looks like on that printed piece of paper), but I didn't go peek. Welcome New Me. Life is going to be a little less hectic because you won't have to do everything right now.

I blame this New Me on my kids. They are growing up. Calli does most everything by herself now. From homework and packing for school to completing her chores and keeping her own schedule... she does it all. Nathan is getting better. He's still young, but honestly, he knows where his stuff is. He can get packed and ready for the day so easily (after I've finally get him awake), and has gotten so that he does his chores without me asking too. It's cool. It's also a little sad, I'm going to miss my little people. They've been so fun. I guess now, I can sit back and watch them become their own individuals. I can't wait to see who they become.

Yes, I can't wait to see who they become. However, at the same time I can. Tonight when Cal wants me to lay in bed with her and rub her back after we read, and when Nathan grabs my hand to walk away from football practice to the car, I will continue to cherish all the youth that I have left with them. And even though she doesn't need me to be by her side to find out if she's made the Company, I'll be there, proud either way. I may have a New Me. I may be able to step back and let my kids grow up. But, there is always going to be a part of me constantly wondering what I can do to help make their world's just a little better... behind the scenes!