'tis the season

to be jolly....though the retailers keep making it sooner and sooner that we should "think" about the holidays. The day after Halloween is the new "official" start to the holidays. Scary!!! Again this year I am trying to enjoy each day of the season and trying to remember the reason for the season. I am excited about a grass-roots program I am working on called Help Portraits. With the help of the local FCA, we will find families that are in crisis who would not otherwise be able to have a family portrait taken. I am donating my time and working with a local printer to donate the prints. If anyone is interested in donating an 8x10 frame, please email me at shawn@shawnsthings.com I can't think of a better way for me to give back than this!!

we did it!

yep. it took two days and 15 hours, but our team walked over 39miles to help put an end to breast cancer. I have never experienced the kind of overwhelming emotion I felt when I crossed the finish line with our 9-member team. It was simply awesome. Now I am going to rest up a little before he holiday flurry of activity begins. Some new holiday cards in the works. xo

getting ready

for the AVON two day walk! I can't believe it's almost here-and I can't wait. All those hours training and walking.....they will hopefully come to fruition in my ability to finish the 39.3 miles! Thank you to all my friends who have donated to the Avon walk in support of this great effort. Our team has now raised over $30,000! I am so proud of the women in our group, they too have trained and fundraised and together we have helped to fund mamograms for underpriveleged women, raise money for research to help wipe out this terrible disease. HOORAY for Wilton's Save the TaTa's!!!! Go Girls!

walk, walking and more walking

yes, it's true....I was somewhat of a slacker this summer. Too much time spent running from baseball to the lake.......too many fun times playing cards w/friends and kiddos......unfortunately I did not walk much. And the Avon Two-Day walk is coming soon........in five weeks to be exact..so I am walking and walking and walking to get my dawgs ready for 39 miles. Gulp. I know I can do it-but how will the feet handle it? Yikes!

Fundraising is going well, almost $1200 and need $1800 to qualify. It is such a worthwhile cause. Just today I was getting a "tune up" at the salon and was speaking to the aesthetician who found a lump in her breast, went to her doc who found two more and is now nervously in the waiting period to find out what will be next. She was so sweet.....we talked about the Avon Walk and, as I was checking out of the salon, she gave me a handful of money from the day's tips. It really moved me. I know what I am doing is small in comparison to what the brave women who have breast cancer do every day. At least I feel I am making a small contribution.