The Flame in My Heart

and I am ready!!!!!! I am packed and ready to go. Thanks to everyone of my sponsers who believed in me and have supported my efforts for this amazing journey, I have exceeded my minimum of $2,200. I have a total of $2,425 and it is still climbing every day!!!! I am extremely touched by the support I have received during this entire process. Through the training and even up to hours before the walk begins, I continue to receive encouraging words to keep me believing in myself.

I added ribbons to this lanyard that I was given by my co-workers in support of my 3 day journey.

Each ribbon represents my sponsers who have generously donated in order to allow me to meet my minimum requirement. I printed each of your names and will wear it around my neck for the entire 60 miles. I meant it when I said I will keep each of you with me and close to my heart as I walk to find a cure.

This is truly an emotional and life-changing time for me. Each hour that gets closer, the more emotions surround me. I will be taking TONS of pictures and creating a slideshow so that you all can experience this journey that I am about to embark on!

Thanks again for all of your love and support!

Only 8 full days left until the Breast Cancer 3-Day begins! The excitement and emotions surrounding the event are increasing every day. I am so happy that I took this challenge on. I am also extremely proud of myself that I made it through the training and hung in there during the tough spots. I thank everyone who gave me the support, love and courage to keep going when I felt like I could not walk another mile.

My fundraising hasn’t been easy either. To date I have $1,537 donated on my behalf. In order to participate, I must raise $2,200. I am still hopeful that I will reach my minimum because of so many friends, family, and strangers who have supported me to get this far. I know there are several of you that still want to donate; it is not too late! You can go to my personal page or give it to me (cash or check made out to The Breast Cancer 3-day is perfect!) If you already donated and still want to help, please forward this on to anyone you know that might want to help too.

The other news that I am so enthused to tell you about is that the event information has been released! Please read the full version of the Supporter’s Guide online here. There are several cheering stations that have been arranged to ensure your safety throughout the 3 days of the event. If you can, please stop by so that you can experience the 3 day too!

Friday, September 26:
8:00 am - 11:15 am
Heartland Marketplace Shopping Plaza
Northeast corner of Farmington Road and 12 Mile Road
Farmington Hills

11:45 am - 4:45 pm
North Ridge Commons Shopping Plaza
8 Mile between Farmington Road and Gill Road
Livonia

Saturday, September 27:
10:30 am - 3:00 pm
Downtown Plymouth
Penniman and Main Streets
Plymouth

12:15 pm - 5:30 pm
Frank's Nursery Lot
36630 5 Mile Rd. (for Frank's Nursery and CVS Pharmacy)
Livonia

Sunday, September 28:
7:30 am - 10:00 am
Mid 5 Center
South West corner of 5 Mile Road and Middlebelt Road
Livonia

Also, you are invited and encouraged to come to the closing ceremonies on September 28th. It will be held at The Henry Ford Museum, in Dearborn, starting at 5:30 PM. They recommend coming at least one hour early to secure a spot by the stage and to allow for traffic congestion. I hear this is an emotional and heart-warming experience for everyone in attendance. More information is provided in the Supporter’s Guide (which is linked above).

Again, I appreciate all of your support throughout this entire experience and I hope that I will see you at the cheering stations and at the closing ceremonies!

Truly Feeling Blessed,

Heather

As Summer comes to a close (for me at least) I thought I would share the acrylic album I did for the Design Team at Your Memories By Design. I used YMBD's 6x6 acrylic album and the Funky Doodler Vellum Journaling Tags. Thanks for looking!!




Hidden Journaling behind the strip paper strip...

• Bought new eyeglasses
• Read 6 books (and counting)
• Had a BBQ with The Dodd's
• Walked 207 miles!
• Had dinner with Julie and Eric
• Got a needed tan
• Relaxed at the pool
• Bought a new Entertainment Center
• Hugged and loved Jada
• Went camping
• Went canoeing
• Attended two graduation parties
• Traveled to St. Louis
• Flew by myself for the first time
• Traveled to Minnesota
• Saw The Dark Night and Mama Mia
• Went Paddle Boating
• Organized all of our digital photos
• Bought the Wii
• Had lunch with my work ladies
• Helped Kristin set up her classroom
• Went to the Stamp Show with my Mom
• SCRAPPED!
• Did some dogsitting
• Helped Laila move
• Hosted Janelle's Bachelorette Party

and.........

• RELAXED!!!!!!!!

I would say it was a productive summer and now I am reluctantly welcoming Fall!

We happily took on the responsibility of dog sitting our friends' (Kristin and Mark) two Corgi doggies for 9 days (4 days left). It has been fun but very exhausting! Here are some pictures from all the activity! ENJOY!!

Sophie and Kong Man

Play Time!!

"Some Privacy Please"

100 Meter Race

The Final Olympic Stretch

Tyler Sun-Bathing

Sophie Sun-Bathing

Rest and Relaxation

And the addiction continues.......


Is there a 12 step program for ribbon addicts?? If so, I guess I have completed step one ---> admitting that I AM AN ADDICT!

Freckles
By: Natasha Bedingfield

I used to care so much about what others think about
Almost didn't have a thought of my own
The slightest remark would make me embark
On the journey of self doubt
But that was a while ago
This girl has got stronger
If I knew then what I know now
I would have told myself don't worry any longer it's OK

[Chorus:]
'cause a face without freckles is like a sky without stars
Why waste a second not loving who you are
Those little imperfections make you beautiful, lovable, valuable,
They show your personality inside your heart
Reflecting who you are

Who you are
Who you are
Who you are

I wondered if I could trade my body with somebody else in magazines
Would the whole world fall at my feet?
I felt unworthy and would blame my failures on the ugliness I could see
When the mirror looked at me
Sometimes I feel like the little girl who doesn't belong in her own world
But I'm getting better
And I'm reminding myself

[Chorus]

Reflecting who you are
Reflecting who you are
Hmmm
Whoooooo whoa hmmmm oooooo

[Chorus]

........is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I highly recommend this read!!! AMAZING!

I just found out that they are making a movie too and will be released December 2008! I am excited to see how they do with this movie but I also am nervous to see it because I am usually disappointed with the movie after I read a book

I have been seriously slacking on my scrapbook creations!! I have two months of awesome product from Your Memories By Design that have been staring me in the face, just taunting my creative juices. So, I finally put everything else aside and I am determined to get some scrapping done!

Saturday, I went to the stamp show with my mom and saw some awesome techniques, saw some beautiful cards for inspiration, and bought some sweet products! It really re-inspired me to get creating. So, yesterday I pulled ALL of my scrapbook stuff out (leaving me with no excuses!) and started creating. I got these two projects done:




I am definately feeling the creative juices running through me now and am off to create an acrylic mini album about all the things I like during the Summer time. Back to glue, paper, ribbons, paint, and glitter....

I believe this may be the first public appearance of my parents' new little puppy "Gretchen".



She is a German Shorthaired Pointer and is such a little lover but with a GREAT personality. You can already tell how big she is going to become because her legs are so muscular and those paws are massive.





Welcome to the family cutie!!

For your entertainment ONLY! Do NOT try this at home!

In January I created this Jar:




in order to organize things that I had hoped to accomplish in 2008 (some are long term goals too, and needed me to add them in the jar to keep my focus starting now). Among the long term goals there were several short term ones. I am pleased to announce that I have accomplished several as of today!


To Date I have accomplished these:


(gone camping, taken a well-deserved vacation, improved my flexibility through yoga, organized our digital photos, and made a plan to get my Masters.)

I just had to share with all my blogging buddies because it does truly make me feel like I am working towards a greater life.

You may remember last summer that I posted my new found addiction: watching C-Span. Well, a little update on that.... I still LOVE it! However lately they have had a lot of Book TV and that gets boring. So, I wanted to also introduce the latest "hobby" that has made it's way into the D'Andrea home....




Now normally I would NOT allow a game system to cross the threshold and make a comfy home in our Entertainment Center (more on that soon). But ever since I tried the Wii about a year ago, I knew this was ONE system I could allow to slip in.

Reon and I kept eyeing it often and never feel like we wanted to spend the money on it at that time. Well, Sunday night we had to run out to Target and after we meandered into the electronics section (for fun only) we noticed that the price went down significantly!! So, we held out so we didn't make a rash purchase and came home to research other prices.

We found out that Target had the BEST price By far!!!! So, we discussed it and last night we went out and bought it (plus an extra controller, Nunchuk and, of course, rechargeable batteries!) We set it up lickity split (it was very user friendly) and then it kept me up late into the night (I am embarrassed to admit the ACTUAL time). I was boxing, bowling, playing tennis and MUCH more!

I have to say it was a worthy investment because ALL of my muscle are sore.... I guess that will count for my cross-training!! I will post some of our Wii action shots soon!

Wii party, anyone??

With less than 2 months left until the Breast Cancer 3-day walk, I am in full training and fundraising mode. As of today I have walked 229 training miles and raised $1,150!

Since the last update, I bought my 2nd pair of shoes, a few pieces of clothing, and have planned for a fundraising event! Lately, my fundraising total has hit a speed bump and I am starting to feel the crunch of the required $2,200 to participate. If you are still planning to sponsor me and to donate to the cause, please try to do so by September 1st. I am still thinking positively, in hopes that I will exceed the requirement.

I want to thank the many supporters I have had thus far! I can’t tell you how great it feels when I get encouraging phone calls and emails wondering how my training is coming along, and even offering to be a walking partner! The training is becoming much more intense- this week we had a total of 36 miles to walk (15 in one day), so it has been nice to have partners to help keep me entertained.

Next week the training is only 25 miles total (the largest miles being 8 and 6 for Saturday and Sunday.) I am thankful to see the lower mileage and I can’t help but laugh when I realize that I now consider the 8 and 6 as “low” mileage. I guess there is something to be said for building endurance!

Please keep me in your thoughts and I will continue to keep you posted on my training and fundraising efforts. I truly appreciate all of the support each of you have given to me as I get ready to walk for a cure!

I'm sure you have noticed my 'Book(s) I am reading section' on the left side of my blog already, and are well aware of my obsession with books! I love the smell of fresh books (walking in the door of Borders IS one of my favorite places), the look of crisp unread pages, and the feel of a story unfolding in my hands.

I have this habit of buying books and putting them in my "to read" pile. It is a passion (just likes shoes and handbags!) that I cannot live without. During the year I do get to read several books. I try to read before bed and during some "extra" time during the week. However, when summer comes around it is full fledged READING CATCH UP! I pull out my "to read" pile and put them in order of what books I will read first. (Now these books not only include books that I have bought, but also books that have been given to me as referrals.) This summer I have/HAD a huge pile that I have wanted to read and several new books that are calling my name at Borders. I promised myself (and my hubby) that I would read my books on the shelf BEFORE buying new.

I have almost depleted my "to read" pile which this leads me to my raving over a new author I was referred to by my friend Susan (thanks girl!)- Marian Keyes. :::loving sigh::: She is an AMAZING author. I am totally hooked onto her books. She combines subtle humor, dramatic (and sometimes tragic) twists, along with beautiful love stories. I had two of her books on my list and I have finished them both: Anybody Out There? and The Other Side of the Story.

Both books sent me on an emotional roller coaster ride; crying, laughing, smiling, and frowning... and have also left me drooling to read another book! I am looking forward to following her writing career (once I catch up with the many books she has brilliantly written), just like I do Emily Giffin's ingenious stories.

I have one more book on the docket and then it is off to Borders to buy more! Happy reading!!

After a long and exciting week of activities and travel we are heading out to a beautiful vacation spot over-looking Potato Lake in Park Rapids, Minnesota! I can't wait to have some R & R, sit by the beach and read my books. We are going to try to go horseback riding (which we have wanted to do for a while but haven't the chance) and just enjoy the view! I will post pics when we get back!

We are so excited to have our niece, Jada visiting us and her dad for the summer!! We have been doing so many fun things with her, and this weekend we took her camping as a summer treat and also a special belated birthday present! We did so much stuff that now I can barely keep my eyes open and my fingers moving to post this little update because I am SO tired from all the FUN we had this weekend!

Friday Jada and I spent all day getting ready and packing up all the camping equipment (including a few special animal friends that HAD to join us!) We filled the car up to the top with all the goodies!!!


(Here is Jada entertaining herself with her sticker book as we drove to the camp!)

Once we got there, we unpacked the car and starting setting up our "home" for the weekend. Jada just had to help her Uncle Reon set up the tent!!!




After the tent was all set up it was time to start the fire so that we could cook dinner. Unfortunately we had a little trouble getting the campfire started and recruited several other campers to help. It took four guys (including Reon) and their expertise to get that fire started but once it was started boy was it great!!!!



(Uncle Reon and Jada enjoying our fire-cooked dinner!)

The first night Jada met a friend two campsites over named Max! They were inseparable all weekend! They had so much fun....




After a long day, it was time to stay up late and snuggle by the campfire while eating s'mores and making scary faces in the tent:


(Campfire cuddles with Jada!)


(Family Hug)


(AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! Scary Jada face!)


(Jada in her butterfly sleeping bag complete with flashlight and water bottle!)

Friday proved be a great day so we knew that Saturday was going to be even better! We woke SO early Saturday morning (5 a.m. to be exact!!!) and decided that it would be a ton of fun to make morning marshmallows. I mean, When else do you get to eat marshmallows first thing in the morning- why not during a special camping weekend!!!

After we took a small rest back in the tent we got back up and ate donuts for breakfast... later Jada also went to the Host Tent with Max for some complimentary hot chocolate and an extra donut hole!



If all of that wasn't fun enough, we surprised Jada with a canoe ride!!! Unfortunately, we had a HUGE rain storm for about 30 minutes before we could go. So we had to hide out in the tent!!!



It eventually cleared up and we were out of the tent and ready for a relaxing canoe ride (at least for Jada and I. Reon ended up doing ALL of the rowing, with a little bit of "help" from Jada sticking the ore in the water to "catch" fish for her restaurant!)



We really enjoyed the campsite that we were staying at. They organized ALL these different activities for the kids to keep them entertained and to also learn about nature so that they wouldn't be as scared during the night. Saturday night, it was "Batty Up!" time. It was a nighttime hike into the woods to learn, play and look for Bats. Jada got all ready; bug spray, comfy shoes, flashlight, comfortable nature-friendly-clothes, and a smile! She was ready to go!!



There's Jada with her Bat Buddy, Max. It was pretty dark but if you look closely you can see them.)

She made it about 20 minutes into the hike before she got a little too scared of how dark it was! So, we made some more S'mores and played a dice game and then headed off to sleep!!!

Overall, We think that the weekend went great!!! We had a blast with all the activities and can't wait to go back. Now, it is time for a little Finding Nemo, popcorn and relaxation!!!