Let it Snow, Let it Snow!! Happy Holidays!!!

I am a horrible blogger as of late. I haven't updated this in a while, and I don't even have pics to share!! I know everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas anyway, so hopefully not many people have even looked on this site!
I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas with all of your families and friends. I hope everyone travels safe in this snowy weather!
We are off to WI from Wed-Sat night. I hope the snow holds back a little this week, but it looks like we live in a Winter Wonderland.
I will post some pics when I get back of our time in WI.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

Life of a Rockstar!

So, this week was my whirlwind work trip on the eight seater Target jet. We left Monday morning and returned Wednesday evening. Here are the places we went:

Monday a.m:

• Flew to Hagerstown, Maryland, then drove across the border to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (my first time in either of those states).
• Stayed for three hours at the Chambersburg distribution center- in the middle of nowhere!
• Note: Scranton, Penn. (home of The Office is only an hour and a half away)

Monday p.m:

• Got back on the jet after three hours on land and headed to upstate New York.
• Checked into the hotel, and went to dinner in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Tuesday a.m:

• Drove to one distribution center in Amsterdam, NY and stayed a half day.
• Drove to another DC in Wilton, NY and stayed the afternoon.

Tuesday p.m:

• Got back on the jet and flew to Michigan.
• Went to dinner in Kalamazoo

Wednesday:

• Spent one half day at the Kalamazoo, Mich. DC.
• Got back on the jet and flew to Illinois.
• Spend a half day at the Dekalb, Ill. DC.
• Flew home!!
  

In a nutshell - I got a glimpse of what a rockstar life would be like on the road- ok, not really. The only comparison there is I probably did get to see what it's like to be able to hit multiple states in a few quick days. It was tiring be on the go, but it was good to be able to see five our our buildings.

The highlight of the trip: Saratoga Springs, New York!!! Visit: http://www.saratoga.com/

For anyone interested in a new place to travel- check out Saratoga Springs. The picture above is one of the many bed and breakfasts they have in town. This is the cutest town- and is filled with tons of restaurants, shops, bars, spas, golf courses, and things to do! It's famous for it's horse track races in the summer- very old school like in the movie Pretty Woman. Many New York celebrities go to this city in the summer for a weekend getaway. Summer rates are spendy though- and rooms are hard to find. There is a spa state park with hot springs- and there are a ton of old hotels and other places to sight see and/or stay. It's right in the Adirondack Mountains and is very pretty. Close by is Lake George, and I believe Lake Placid is not too far away either...beautiful!!!

Angel- a kind and lovable person, a guardian spirit, one who manifests goodness

So, Saturday morning I met with the founder of the Angel Foundation - a foundation that helps support the non-medical needs of cancer patients and their families. As some of you know, I have been researching and looking for ways to get involved with cancer families for the past year or so. I contacted the American Cancer Society, but because it's so big - I didn't find the exact opportunity that would be a fit for me. I feel like because of what I went through with my mom, and losing her at the young age of 21, that I have a gift to offer other people who are going through the same thing. Since I have lost my mom, I have helped numerous friends who have had a loved one with cancer - and I would like to help on more of an ongoing basis.

How did I discover the Angel Foundation? Well, my sister's friend Cari, who is currently battling cancer, had a benefit that was put on by the Angel Foundation. I couldn't attend, but I saw the link to the Angel Foundation posted on my sister's blog. I decided to email the foundation just to ask what they were about and see what type of volunteer opportunities they had. The President emailed me immediately to set up coffee. I liked that this foundation seems smaller and more personal- directed at just the Twin Cities area- and I was hoping that they may have more opportunities to suit my wishes.

So, I went to coffee with the President, Margie, yesterday. She is an amazing lady- she is 60 and is married to an Oncologist in the Minneapolis area. We actually ended up figuring out that her daughter lived in my neighborhood and shares the same friend as me. Small world!! Margie and I talked for two hours. She has a personal story about cancer as well, and we both shared how it has affected our lives. She started the foundation because she too had a loved one with cancer at a young age and had nobody to talk to or nobody to help her deal with it. Since her husband is an Oncologist, he was able to help support the foundation and got the doctors in the area to say there is a need to help cancer patients with funds for their medication, or rent if they are paying medical bills, and also support for their emotional needs. Margie researched for years, and officially started the foundation in 2001. It is now a million dollar foundation- they have fund-raising events, they give grants to cancer patients, and they have a ton of support groups for people of all ages who are affected by cancer.

I am really excited to get involved- after hearing my story, she suggested that I would be a great fit for the teenage program called "Facing Cancer Together." She said that I understand what these kids are going through, and could really help them deal with it! I am excited to learn more and see where this takes me. I also expressed interest in helping them work on the Marketing and Communications aspects of the foundation- so more to come...I feel like this is meant to be and could take me to new places.

Summary: It is very unfortunate that I had to go through what I did as a young adult - losing my mother - but I feel like I want to take this experience and use it to help others! Thanks God for calling me to do this...and I will keep you all posted on my future with the Angel Foundation. If there is anyone else out there who would like to know more- either in giving or volunteering, check out:

www.mnangel.org

McCormick & Schmick's - My New Best Friend

So as luck has it, I went to two different McCormick & Schmicks in the past two nights!! For some reason I think that's funny or even ironic- others may think it's just an indication that I like happy hour. :)

Lastnight, Joe and I had a neighborhood happy hour at the M&S (My new abbreviation) in Edina with our friends and neighbors Dan and Sara. We were actually celebrating Sara returning home after spending 6 months in India. It was fun to catch up, have drinks, and take advantage of the $1.95 appetizers. I tasted the bruschetta and the chips/salsa- yum!

Tonight, we had a work happy hour at the M&S downtown. The happy hour special is different there- still $1.95 but the items varied. I decided to give the turkey chili a whirl, and it was pretty good! Some others had the mahi-mahi cakes, the hummus and pita platter, or the chips con queso.

The point of my story is really to advertise for the wonderful happy hour deals on food at McCormick & Schmick's - you can get a full cheeseburger and fries for only $1.95 from 4 - 6 p.m. Call me the happy hour aficianado - ha!