They're Going Bald for a Cause

I've been living in my neighborhood now for just over nine years. In that time, I've gotten to know a few of my neighbors, some more than others.  Some are cool, some not so much.  Some friendly, outgoing and fun to hang out with, some, well, not so much.  This is the story of the cool ones...

Last year at this time, my neighbor Kathy, and I were chatting and she asked me what I thought of her husband's newly grown beard.  I said it was a new look for him and asked what made him decide to grow it out.  Her response blew me away.  Very calmly Kathy said, "Mike is going to get his beard and head completely shaved bald the week of St. Patrick's Day." I think she was expecting my response of  "What? Is he nuts? It's so dang cold here in Michigan.  He'll freeze his fool head off."  That was the day I learned about the St. Baldrick's Day Foundation.

2011 Team Clintondale Shavees - Mike, Dennis, Ryan & Jason

What an amazing charitable foundation this is!  Their mission is simple: "The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives." Can't get more simple than that, now can ya? 

That evening a check was delivered to the neighbor's house. 

My neighbor's husband, both sons and their best friend will be shaving their beards and their heads to benefit St. Baldrick's.  Our check has already been forwarded and we're looking forward to seeing our bald neighbors. We're extremely proud to say that we've helped work to kick childhood cancers' collective asses!!

Mike, Jason & Dennis - Post Shave March 2010

Want to help make a difference? Just visit Team Clintondale's page and make a donation. Every PENNY helps. Together we CAN and WILL show kids' cancers just WHO is in charge!


NOTE:  I "borrowed" these photos from our participants. Thanks for sharing guys! And thanks for your bravery!

Project 365 - Chapter 3

Ok, so I made the commitment to take a new photo one a day for 365 days. And so far, I've only missed a day or two. And now without further ado, here's the next Chapter in our lives.

Lego Creations Abound in Our Home

January 17, 2011

Working on My 101 in 1,001 Days

Making My Own Greeting Cards

January 18, 2011

Junior Chef

January 19, 2011

No Pictures Today Mom, PLEASE!

January 20, 2011

A Pleasant Pick-Me-Up from the Big E.

January 21, 2011

 

A Day Well Spent With  Buddy's Best Friend

January 22, 2011

Thinking of My Angel in  Heaven, Samantha Marie

January 23, 2011

I LOVE Turtles!

January 24, 2011

Testing Out the New Purex Complete Crystals

WE LOVE THEM!

January 25, 2011

Thinking of A Future Vacation in Holland, Michigan

(Maybe I'll get to meet Julie)

January 26, 2011

My Favorite Souvenir from Our Holland 2006 Trip

January 27, 2011

Waiting for Warm Summer Nights to
Swing, Sip Wine and Star Gaze

January 28, 2011

Thirst Quencher - My Daily AddictionJanuary 29, 2011

My Other Daily Addiction
Jalapeno Cream Cheese Poppers and Pretzel Nuggets

January 30, 2011

Counting Down the Days till We go to Illinois
To see Jim Henson's Fantastic World
at the Lakeview Museum of Art and Science

January 31, 2011

And so we bid a fond farewell to the first month of 2011. It was an interesting, snow and illness filled month for our family, but we survived. Here's to a great February, 2011. Hoping it's filled with all the love St. Valentine will allow!

For The Love…Of Blogging Top Ten Tuesday

OK, so I moseyed on over to Sluiter Nation today as I usually do and came across Katie's top ten reasons that she blogs.  So, I thought I'd give it a go...

10.  Freedom. Blogging gives me the freedom to say the things to the world that I would otherwise not say to their face.  If I get annoyed with some one, I blog about it.  If someone hurts me and I can't face that person, I blog about it.  I can even share a good joke or laugh.

09.  Therapy.  Blogging helps me prepare for the next session with my son's therapist.  When I write posts about how things went or what I'm hoping for I sometimes hope that my little thoughts will help some other Mom going through the same things as I face with my son.  It also helps me get through the rough and dark days whe n I can't deal with the death of my daughter.

08. It's an Amazing Support System.  This wholeheartedly connects to # 9.  When I have a bad day with my son and he's not doing so well, I can post a blog and know that someone out there has walked in my footsteps already and can lend a supportive shoulder to lean on.  We can cry, laugh, scream and even sing together.

07. The Sisterhood That is Dear to My Heart.  I've "met" so many amazing women in just the six months I've been blogging.  If I post a question on a forum or just stop to spread some blog love, I know that they will genuinely appreciate it.  They are there to listen, lend a help when you're stuck in writer's block prison and will give you honest to goodness feed back when you ask their opinion.  And these women? They don't care what size you are, whether or not you own the latest fashions or designer purses or even the brand of cheap wine you drink.  They just care about YOU.

06. Seeing the World Through Others' Eyes.  I've met so many great people from all pover these United States.  I've learned about life in Missouri, California, Texas and even about life in our neighbor to the north, Canada.

05. Reading Others' Blogs.  I love to read and just don't have the time to devote to reading an entire novel.  Blogs are short (mostly) and to the point. It's a great escape for me.

04. Reviving the Creative Juices.  Many, many moons ago I wrote poetry when I was just a wee school girl.  Then I grew up and got a life and slowly stopped writing.  Blogging has revived my love for the written word.  Once I start typing I just can NOT seem to stop.

03. It's ALL MINE.  No one can tell me what to write or how to write it.  I can write fact or fiction.  I can be overly dramatic or cleverly subdued.  No one can edit away my words to meet their hidden agendas.  I can chose to accept or delete their comments if they get too personal or too nasty. It's MINE and no one can take it away from me!

02. Leaving a Legacy for My Children.  Years from now when my memory has faded, I will be able to log in to my computer and share my life with my sons and their children.  They'll know the REAL Mom and what she felt and what she dreamed. 

01. Just For Me To Remember Who I Am.  Sometimes we, in the many roles of wife, mother, daughter, friend, get so lost we don't know just exactly who we are.  Blogging gives me the opportunity to remember just who I was before all of the life changing events that happened to me actually happened.


So tell me, why do YOU blog??  Jot 'em down and share with the class over st Slutier Nation.  Go ahead, what are you waiting for?  Join  our BLOG HOP, won't you?

I'm A Purex Insider... And I Like It

A little while back I stumbled onto a website looking for Purex laundry detergent coupons.  I googled it. Didn't find the coupons I was hoping for, but I found information about becoming a Purex Insider. "Well", I thought, "I've GOT to check THIS out!  After all, I am the Purex Queen!" (At least in my own little world I am.)

So, I took the plunge and I signed up. (Yay me!) And I waited and waited and waited for what seemed forever to get to try out the free sample of their newest product Finally last week, the package arrived. (Yay me!)

I have to confess before we go any further... I don't like, despise, loathe hate doing laundry and anything laundry-related! You see, our laundry "room" is a big open space in our super messy (think aftermath of an F-5 tornado) basement.  It's not a place I want to frequent and I avoid it at all costs.  It's just too stressful to deal with without a glass (or three) of wine.  There, with that confession off of my chest, I can go on further. (Yay me!)

And there it was, laundry day, me with mountains to conquer and a fresh bottle of Ultra Purex Free and Clear and my newly obtained sample.  (Yay me.) And what, you ask, was the sample product? It was their newest fabric softener for the washing machine.  They are sweet smelling crystals - Purex Complete Crystals Softeners. 

And oh what great little crystals they are.  They are 92% natural, non-oil based crystals.  You add them directly to your wash water when you add your detergent. Simple enough.  Even this blond could handle this mission. (Yay me!)

On top of being 92% natural, they:

• Preserve the flame retardant benefits of your children's clothing (what Mom doesn't love that?); 
• Retain your athletic wear's wicking ability (a gym-rat's dream);
• Maintain your towel's ability to absorb water (no more needing multiple towels to dry off); and
• Keeps your whites from yellowing or graying (woohoo! Less bleach against my family's skin).

I opened the bottle and shook away. It was premeasured on the side of the bottle so there was no guesswork involved with how much to use.  (Yay me!) Something I rarely use is scented products as we live in an eczema-laden household.  Every soap, detergent or skin-related product is hypoallergenic, fragrance and dye free.  Well, this product was not scent free, but it did have a delicious heavenly scent.  (It is available in three scents.) So I thought I'd give it a try on something that doesn't stay on our skin too long, the mountain of towels.

At first the scent was quite strong but after a trip through the washer and then the dryer, the scent mellowed and was enjoyable.  Everything felt as soft as if I'd used my fabric softener sheets.  (Yay me!) My only disappointment is that it doesn't really reduce the static electricity like the fabric softener sheets do.  Maybe they can work on that (hint, hint Mr. Purex)

We tested the freshly laundered towels against our sensitive skin and VIOLA! NO REACTION!!  (Super Yay me!!)  So, it was off to conquer the rest of Mt. Washmore.  After all of the laundry was complete I still had enough of the crystals left over to do about three more loads.

Overall I was satisfied with this product, but would love to see them develop a hypo-allergenic version that is fragrance, dye and color free.  Here that fine people of Purex? Please!!


NOW FOR THE BUSINESS END OF THE POST:
I received no monetary compensation to write this post.  The opinions expressed here are purely my own and not those of any other person or entity.  In exchange for my membership with Purex Insider, I received one free sample to test of their product. 

Final Farewell -- A blessing during tragic times

In April of 2007, I stumbled across an article in The Catholic Standard & Times regarding the founding of Final Farewell.  It was a pleasure to see that its founder was an old friend from my childhood, a fantastic and caring person with a heart of gold!

Having known Patricia (Trish) most of my life (we attended the same grade school and high school), it doesn't surprise me that she has worked diligently to establish a foundation that cares so much for grieving parents and their families.  Trish knows first hand how hard it is to overcome life's obstacles with hard work, dedication and love.  She and her group are truly dedicated to helping families in the darkest of all the hours in their lives, the death of a child.

I'm pleased that Final Farewell was born and that Trish and her team can help countless families get the help and support they need.  It is my prayer that they continue to grow and receive community (and financial) support for their most worthwhile cause.  To aid a parent and help with the arrangements for a  dignified and compassionate farewell to their child is one of the greatest gifts that anyone person can share.  Small gestures mean so much to a grieving parent.  

As I type this post, Final Farewell is seeking funds to give a family of four who perished in a Philadelphia house fire on January 13, 2011, a proper burial, including a memorial head stone.  Final Farewell's goal, via CrowdRise, is to provide this family with a gravestone marker so that they will be forever remembered.

I wish Final Farewell a huge success with this fundraiser and its  upcoming major fundraiser in April. This is a compassionate ministry that in these times of financial hardship is greatly needed and appreciated by the grieving families.

May God continue to bless Final Farewell and everyone involved in this MOST IMPORTANT mission to give comfort to the grieving.

If you would like to help  the family mentioned above, please click here. Any donation, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated. 


NOW FOR SOME OFFICIAL BUSINESS:
Please note that I  have received absolutely NO compensation  or favors of any sort in exchange for this post.  The opinions/comments in this post are expressly my own and I have no personal stake in the raising of funds for Final Farewell.