Saturday Night Celebration
By Laurie | November 16, 2008
Last night we went out to Watters Creek to celebrate Nikki’s Birthday. We started off at Grimaldi’s for pizza and ended up at Cru for a few different “flights” of wine. I tried six different types of white wine from around the world and I discovered that I really like grapefruit and melon combinations. Dave had a couple of beers and made fun of us being silly as we insisted on taking pictures with the Christmas lights.
Nikki & Craig
Me & Dave
Me, Jodie & Nik after dinner
Cru
What flight are we on?
Nikki reading about her next selection.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Topics: Daily Ramble, Friends | 6 Comments »
Shopping Saturday
By Laurie | November 15, 2008
I cannot tell you how glad I am that it is the weekend. As much fun as the 3-Day was, it is nice that it is over so that I can use my free time for other things besides training and fundraising. I went first thing this afternoon to my new nail salon for a mani and pedi. Then afterward I hit the mall. Nobody told me that the holiday shopping season is in full swing. I just got home and it was as crowded as you’d see it the day after Thanksgiving. Christmas decorations are everywhere, and even Santa is already posing with the local youngsters. That reminded me that I’d like Dave, Brownie and I to take a new family picture before we send our Christmas cards out.
Yesterday I spent part of the day shopping online at Old Navy. They are having a 30% off Friends and Family promotion, and naturally I feel like I have nothing to wear. I really need to weed through my clothes and get rid of some stuff. I haven’t done that since we moved. I got some kick ass deals, plus free shipping, plus 30% off. I also had some reward certificates that I used, so I got almost $300 worth of stuff for less than $150. My loot includes about six new winter sweaters in fun colors, two pairs of jeans, PJs, a Pea Coat, sports bra, flip flops, several silk tops and matching cardigans and some kitten toe heels, Not bad, and I even included a pair of pink Crocs (I know, I know) that I got for $10 thanks to finally getting my Piperlime issue resolved. They are good for gardening, and grocery shopping. I also hit New York and Co. yesterday after work and got some new sweaters and tops, one that I’ll be wearing to Nikki b-day party tonight.
| I also got a coupon yesterday for a free tote bag from GAP that will earn me 10% on Fridays until the end of January. I was afraid they’d be out, but they acted like I was the first customer who had come in for it. I was a coupon shopping fool today. I got some more free stuff from Bath & Body Works, and a few pairs of those AWESOME soft socks they have. Then I hit Hallmark for wrapping paper and other Christmas goodies before going over to SEPHORA for some new holiday makeup.
Now I’m worn out and have been relaxing with the boys before I have to get ready to go out to Watters Creek in Allen tonight. We are trying a new New York based Coal Brick-Oven pizza joint called Grimaldi’s for Nikki’s birthday, then afterward we are hitting Crú for a few glasses of wine. I’ll post pics later, including more 3-Day ones when I upload them off my camera. |
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Topics: Daily Ramble | 3 Comments »
Happy Birthday, Nikki (and other ramblings)!
By Laurie | November 13, 2008
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Nikki turned 31 yesterday, and while she doesn’t think it’s a special birthday… I still think she’s special! We are going out this weekend to celebrate, so get ready!
As for me, my feet and blisters are starting to heal, and I can almost actually walk again without limping. Yay! I am glad tomorrow is Friday and that we will be able to take it easy and have a little off time. I have been stressed this week, and am looking forward to relaxing a little bit. |
On our day off on Monday we went to Toni & Guy where I wanted to get my highlights updated. Yeah. So much for that. I am now a redhead against my will. I hope to get that corrected at some point, but it took over 4 hours the first time (thanks to an inexperienced colorist), and I paid over $150 when all was said and done. I think they need to throw in a free haircut.
Topics: Daily Ramble, Friends | 2 Comments »
We Made It!
By Laurie | November 11, 2008
Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that Nikki and I successfully completed our first Breast Cancer 3-Day! It was a fabulous experience, and best of all we raised over $6000 that will be used for breast cancer research and will hopefully help make a cure possible in the near future!
We started off on Friday morning at Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas. If you don’t know, that is where the television show Dallas was filmed. We began with thousands of other walkers and survivors. We made our way that morning through downtown Plano where shop owners stood outside and greeted us. We also passed an amazing Cheering Station on 15th Street near my workplace and up Alma and down Renner Road to a park in Richardson where we had lunch. We continued walking toward Carrollton where we saw David and Craig at another Cheering Station only a few miles from camp. That was all the motivation we needed to keep on going! We talked with new people along the way, and made a few stops too. We made it into camp as it was getting dark, and we pitched my very first tent.
Camping really wasn’t as bad as I thought, even though it was a chilly 40 degrees the first night. We had a late dinner, and also got foot massages and waved to David and Craig from the camp webcam before going to sleep in our cozy two person tent.
On the second day, we left camp and walked up Midway toward Plano near Prestonwood church and David’s job. We saw the guys, Brownie, and Nikki’s mom and children at another amazing cheering station. Throughout the route there is the opportunity to take vans and buses to the next pit stop or camp, but knowing that we had family and friends waiting for us kept us walking in their direction. The people there were so supportive, and constantly thanked us for walking. There was a big party at camp that night, with an American Idol style singing contest and even a dance party. I wrote post cards to donors and those who wrote me a letter that I received at camp. When we woke up the next morning, we packed our bags and took our tent down.
On the third day we walked from camp through Addison past Nikki’s workplace and toward my favorite part of town. We were really struggling to continue on, but walked side-by-side with a woman from the Austin area who is currently going through chemo. We talked to her about her life and her experience with cancer, her children, her family and her fears. It really made me realize why we were making the journey.
We continued walking at our own pace (it was a lot easier than the first few days where people seemed to race past us), though we had some pretty bad blisters and knee problems. We were determined to walk as much of it as we could. For the sake of time, we rode a few sweep vans a few miles to buy us some extra walking time before the pit stops closed. That bought us extra time to complete the majority of the route. If you don’t make it by the time they close, they bus you to lunch or to the very end. We were among the last walkers to come through the cheering station on this day, and were touched (i.e. cried) that people were still waiting to clap, cheer, and tell us thank-you. It was very emotional.
We also had to stop at the medical tent at lunch in order to get my blisters patched up and Nikki’s knee wrapped. We walked that afternoon into SMU hand and hand toward the holding area with hundreds of other walkers not long before closing ceremonies began. We felt incredibly accomplished and happy that we walked (what we estimate to be 50 of the 60 miles) together every step of the way. We cried for our loved ones lost, for others who are going through cancer now, and happy that we made it through the journey still standing.
Closing was also emotional as we remembered those who were lost, and as we celebrated those who are surviving breast cancer. We were all given white t-shirts, and thousands of us walked arm and arm into the campus. We cried, hugged and met up with our families for more hugs and tears.
We look forward to participating in the event in coming years, and thank everyone who supported us with their kind words and donations. It has been an amazing experience.
Topics: 3 Day | 12 Comments »
60 Miles or BUST! It’s finally here!
By Laurie | November 6, 2008
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With only one more day until the Breast Cancer 3-Day, I am busy washing my clothes, packing my bag, and buying any last minute items we may have forgotten. It’s hard to believe that it’s here already. I know we have been fundraising and training since February, but it’s funny how unprepared we feel now that it is actually here.
I just wanted to put out the SUPPORTER GUIDE page one more time. There you can find out the directions to opening and closing ceremonies as well as the Cheering Stations we will pass through each of the three days. There is also a special webcam setup at camp where we can go and wave to you. |
I will also be sending messages to Twitter, and posting pictures to Facebook from my Blackberry. Be sure to add me so that you can follow us real time. Don’t worry if you don’t, once we get back on our feet (we’ll both be taking Monday off), we will be posting all of our photos here and at http://our3day.com.
Thanks again to everyone who supported us and donated to our cause. Together Nikki and I raised over $6000, and with the addition of our four new team members late in the training process, our team total is over $15,000. I am very proud of all of us, and no doubt will feel even more accomplished after walking 60 miles.
Until my next post, keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We will be thinking about all of our donors and loved ones who we are making this journey for.
Topics: 3 Day | 13 Comments »
