What's in a Mane?

Happy Autumn! The season of inevitable change has brought one very big one to my daughter Ava. This morning she cut 10" of her gorgeous hair off to donate to the Children With Hair Loss Organization. I'm so very proud of her for doing such a selfless thing for others

 

On Tuesday my daughter asked me if she could cut her hair off and donate it so that girls with cancer could have it. I almost immediately responded by yelling, “No way!” but I managed to bite my tongue and take a moment and respond logically. I love her gorgeous long auburn hair and recently measured it at 24 inches long! So I asked her if she was sure, knowing how much she loves her hair and refuses even a trim whenever I suggest it. She was sure.

 

I can’t say no to her amazing generosity as her gesture is quite inspiring. She’s only 7 but quite often reminds me of the true value of life and the difference between needs and wants. There are so many little girls out there that would give anything to have a gorgeous head of hair like Ava has so she wants share her wealth.

 

I had only previously known about the Locks of Love and Pantene Great Lengths foundations to donate hair to until a friend mentioned the Children With Hairloss foundation. I visited the website and decided it was perfect for where my daughter wanted her hair to go.

 

Number 17: 30 Before 30

Compiling my “30 Before 30” list was a lot more challenging than I had imagined it to be. I created the list to send off my 20s feeling accomplished and give some meaning to the day of the big 3-0. I wanted my 30 things to be of meaning to me, to challenge me and spice up my last year in my 20s. My list began as a list of things I love doing that I never make time for. And that’s when I realized that the list was too easy to achieve.

 

I really wanted to test myself and set some personal goals that would require some real effort to accomplish. So I thought about things I hate to do and the first thing that came to mind was running. I absolutely loathe it! I find no enjoyment in it whatsoever. I feel like I’m dying when I run (yes, a tad dramatic). Don’t get me wrong, I can power walk in a pair of five-inch platform stilettos like it’s nobody’s business. But running? Ugh! So onto the list it went. “Run a 5k.” And for me, that’s no easy feat.

 

As much as I hate running I decided to have fun with it. I signed up for “The Color Run 5k” after a recommendation from my friend Allison.  Any 5k described as “the happiest 5k on the planet” was worth a shot. And then I decided to ask my sister and two cousins to join me to form a team. I knew I would need a lot of motivation to do this so having them by my side was probably the only way I actually would follow through on it.

 

The training was horrid. I hated every minute of it. I started running in the spring using the “Couch to 5k” app for iPhone. At the beginning of my training I was fine because I was also using the elliptical and going for daily walks on my lunch break at work. But then I sprained my back in a car accident and sidelined the running for two months. When I started again (I am not proud to say this) I complained… ALOT. Oh boy was I miserable on those few runs I actually did take leading up to the race.

 

But guess what? I DID IT! We did it, all four of us. Well, 5 of us, because my cousin’s husband ran with us, motivated us, and of course took some lovely pictures of us getting “colored” during the run. Going into the race I did not expect to finish, let alone run the entire thing. But it was so much fun! Yes, those are words even I can’t believe came out of my mouth that day.

 

It was a great feeling to cross the finish line covered in rainbow colors with my family by my side while my husband and daughter waited for me at the finish line. I really hope that by watching me run, my daughter can learn something about setting personal goals no matter the challenge they present. I am so thankful to my sister and cousins for running with me, and I am so ready for my next 5k with them…just not the training in between! 

 

Pre-race team photo

 

Post race colors!

 

Team Amazing Grey's



Time to celebrate



 Enjoying the post-race color party!!

 

Spreading color

 

The Color Run = Happy!

The Color Run 5k New Jersey event specifically partnered with a local charity called Back On My Feet - Philadelphia, a national non-profit organization that uses running to help those experiencing homelessness change the way they see themselves so they can make real change that results in employment and independent living.

We're Saving Babies

It's been awhile since I've written and we have done so many fun things in the last two weeks that I'll have to catch up on. But I've also been spending most of my "free time" fundraising for the March of Dimes which is a charity that hits home for me. Our walk is in 8 days and I'm so close to my fundraising goal of $1,000.

My daughter was unexpectedly born 5 weeks early and we are one of 40% of preterm births with no known cause, no answer to the question, "Why did this happen?" Her story, her struggle, her battle was fought 6 1/2 years ago but each year we reflect and we share our story so that those going through the same bittersweet experience can feel some comfort in knowing that they are not alone and that someone gets it.

When my daughter was born 5 weeks too soon I was so angry, so sad, so embarrassed, and felt so guilty. I felt helpless for her. I also felt so alone like no one understood what were going through. Then the hands of The March of Dimes foundation touched my heart and gave me guidance. I found all the tools I needed to not only properly take care of my preemie and know what challenges to expect as she grows but I also found a network of families sharing their stories that were so similar to ours. It helped me heal. So I decided to put on my sneakers and to walk.

I created our Family Team for the March of Dimes March for Babies in 2006 because I felt I needed to do something after our NICU stay with my daughter. When we completed our first walk with Ava at 9 months old I still hadn't made sense of everything that had happened and she still hadn't made a 100% recovery yet. But walking that year and being with the other NICU families helped get my emotions in check.

We continue to walk each year to give thanks for the chance Ava was given and to give hope for all the babies to come. The March of Dimes also touches every family everywhere, even those whose babies were born healthy. And for that we give thanks. Every dollar we raise, every step we take, we are making progress.

 My daughter lost 5 weeks so we walk 5 miles in honor of the battle she fought to find health but we walk for all babies everywhere. Please support Team Ava Marie on our mission to save babies!

Day 15: 10 Things That Make Me Awesome - 31 Day Blog Challenge

This list was tough for me. I tend to look outward for awesomeness rather than in the mirror. I think my kid is awesome. I think my Husband is awesome. I think my friends are awesome. But for me, yes I like myself, I do think I'm pretty awesome, I'm happy with who I am, and I'm content. But I don't have a big head (it's actually quite tiny) so I don't like to actually think like that. BUT, I guess that's why this is called a Blog Challenge...to challenge ourselves and to think outside of our usual box!

So to create this list I consulted my trusty family (as usual). And this is what they and I came up with:

1. I'm funny. (I like to think I'm funny, but they at least do think I'm funny. I'm glad they love my humor).
2. My daughter thinks I'm an awesome mom. (I hope she remembers that when she's a teenager!)
3. I always stick up for the underdog (Thanks for noticing Ava).
4. I can read music. I'm no good with foreign languages but reading music is like reading a foreign language so it makes me feel awesome that I can do it.
5. My husband says I'm selfless. That's probably the best compliment I've ever gotten.
6. I'm really good at laughing at myself. Especially when I do something stupid or embarrassing.
7. I can drink 2 martinis like its nobody's business! (That's right, only 2. Then I'm done)
8. I wear 4-5'' heels all day every day at work with no pain. My friend Allison thinks that's awesome. I think she's awesome.
9. My husband and daughter both said I'm inspiring. Okay, maybe that is the best compliment I've ever gotten.
10. I Save Babies. And you can too!

********

Join the 31 Day Blog Challenge!

Are you keeping up with the challenge? Head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to link up and read about what other bloggers are saying makes them awesome. Or you can check out my past Blog Challenge posts here:

• Day 1: 5 Random Facts
• Day 2: Favorite Quote
• Day 3: What Makes You Happy?
• Day 4: Best Childhood Memory
• Day 5: Favorite Movies You Never Get Sick of Watching
• Day 6: Your Last Random Act of Kindness
• Day 7: My Dream Job
• Day 8: Pet Peeves
• Day 9: What’s on your Bucket List or Life List?
• Day 10: My Daily Routine
• Day 11: The Last Book(s) I’ve Read
• Day 12: Something I Miss
• Day 13: Do You Have Regret?
• Day 14: What's on Your iPod?

Day 6: Your Last Random Act of Kindness - 31 Day Blog Challenge

I'm a big believer of Karma so I try to do good, pay-it-forward, give what I can and spread positivity wherever I can. As said by Martin Kornfield, one of my favorite quotes is, "If we all do one random act of kindness daily we might just set the world in the right direction." I honestly can't remember my most recent random act of kindness. I usually start to feel and even act awkward when and if people praise me. I don't want the bragging rights or recognition. But I do love the opportunity to spread good or spread the word of ways to help those in need.

Stumped, I asked my husband if he noticed any do-good moments from me recently . He listed a few things and then he mentioned Hurricane Sandy. Yes it was four months ago but the destruction still breaks my heart every day. And then moments like this immediately heal me.

The day Sandy hit my Husband and I were due to fly home from our honeymoon into Newark at the height of the storm Tuesday night. Our flight was of course one of the thousands cancelled and we couldn't get another flight home for five days. We spent the next 24 hours glued to the news, the internet, our phones, as I logged so many hours Facetiming my daughter, texting and calling family and friends back home in New Jersey and New York City. It was heartbreaking to hear and watch the damage to their homes and properties. Sandy brought me to tears as I felt helpless sitting in paradise as a spectator to the worst disaster my family, my friends, and my home state has ever experienced. I wanted to do something to help but couldn't.

We offered up our empty house that miraculously still had power and heat to my Husbands parents who were like the majority of the state without either. And as soon as we got back home to New Jersey, before I even unpacked my suitcases, I grabbed a box of garbage bags and headed for every closet in my house. So many families lost everything, their entire houses with all of their possessions. They needed simple necessities like soap and blankets and warm coats. I gave what I could with what I had and filled 4 bags and two boxes that made their way to the shelters throughout the state. That's all we can do, give what we can.

It may have happened four months ago but the cleanup and rebuilding and devastation is still real. The images may be absent from the 24/7 news reel but help is still needed.

• Food banks are still in need, just $1 to this local food bank in a county hardest hit could provide 3 meals to those still in need: The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties

• Thousands still need to rebuild. Habitat for Humanity is helping Sandy victims do just that.

• And of course a huge economy booster for our state still struggling to recover financially is our shore! Rebuilding has already begun at our beaches and the iconic Seaside rollercoaster in the ocean is soon to be demolished but our shores and ecosystems still need help. Find out how you can help at Save the Jersey Shore.

Join the 31 Day Blog Challenge!