Thank You…

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So as I sat in traffic Tuesday on the way downtown to the Man in a Box event, I had a lot of time to think and most importantly, to listen. And what I was hearing on 100.7 Star was wonderful, amazing, and made me so very proud to be a part of.

For those of you that haven’t been hearing me talk about this for the past 4 months or so, let me give you a little background. Spring 2013, the Salvation Army came to me and asked if any of our jocks would be interested in participating in their Most Amazing Race event. So after talking to some of our jocks, Monty and Flick were both willing to participate and also help me by finding partners to run with. I love them both for this and to be honest, I considered trying to talk Dan into participating as well. However, having a six month old at the time who was not always the happiest of campers, I was having a hard time leaving during the week, let alone for an entire day on the weekend. So I decided maybe we should wait until another year.

Monty and Flick both did great and seemed to enjoy the race except for getting soaking wet. Sometime between that event and when Flick came to me a few weeks later, the start of something big had begun with Flick and Donna from the Salvation Army. We went back and forth and back and forth for months trying to pick dates, locations, names and how even the structure would look and be built. And I mean back and forth. Many meetings, emails, and phone calls. And in that time, Donna, myself and our sales staff tried to find corporate underwriters as well. It was a process, and Tuesday morning bright and early, that “process” and all of our hard work came to fruition. I was like a little kid Monday night. I hadn’t slept well in a few nights because Maddy is teething, but still I couldn’t fall asleep. And I got up early on Tuesday…and I’m not a morning person. AT ALL. I wanted to be down there Tuesday and had only planned on staying for a bit, but instead found myself not wanting to leave. It was cold. I was dressed to go into the office, not to be in the cold, but I couldn’t get myself to leave. Thankfully I was able to keep up with work via my phone, and was able to stay down there a good part of the day. As I sit in my warm house on my couch in my pjs, I still can’t seem to get warm, but I have a house…and a couch…and a furnace to keep me warm. The people that the Salvation Army help don’t, and that is why we all pulled together for this event.

The work that the Salvation Army does is amazing and I am so appreciative to Flick for helping bring awareness to this organization and the good it does in our community.

This blog post isn’t another one of my pleas for donations, however donations are greatly appreciated (and you can donate here… https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/westernpennsylvania/man-in-a-box )! This is just a post to say thank you. Thank you to my family for their support both emotionally when I was stressed, and for their help in other ways (I talked my dad into ringing the bell for 3 hours in this weather, and my husband into the use of his photography for not just the sales proposal, but the website and to take a few pics for Whirl Magazine as well), my friends at work for listening as we jumped over the hurdles and obstacles along the way, for my clients (and by clients I mean the clients that I work with, who have also become my friends over the years or who were my friends before they were my clients as well) who supported this promotion, my friends at the Salvation Army, and to Flick because without him, there would be no Man in a Box. Literally.

Trying to be healthier…

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So in 2014 one of my goals for my family is to eat a little better and be more conscious of what is going into and on our bodies.  We are trying.  As we finish products we buy the healthier version.  I’m not giving up syrup on my pancakes, but we did buy an organic one when Log Cabin ran out.   Not everything is organic, but most have less artificial crap in them.  Don’t worry though, I’m not giving up Oreos or M&M’s yet.  This goes for some of our bath and cosmetic products as well.   I have switched M’s bubble bath when the other one ran out.  Hopefully this year is better than last year and that 2015 is better than 2014.  Baby steps…

 

“C”lue- Speaking of steps, about every 30 Steps there is a garbage can in Disney.  Sorry, had to tie my love of Disney into being more “healthy” and environmentally friendly.

 

“L”ink- The Environmental Working Groups Website: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/  You can check out your favorite products and find new ones that might be better for you.  My biggest tip on this?  Read, read, read.  Just because something has a bad rating, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it.  Some of the things that they say are “bad” are just because of a fragrance that you might have an allergy to or something like that.  It still might be better than what you are currently using.  They have an app too that you can use while you are out shopping.

 

“T”hought-Trader Joe’s Coconut Oil-At first glance at the label, Coconut oil doesn’t look much better for you than other oils, but check out this website:  http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/surprising-health-benefits-coconut-oil  Everything in moderation.  If you can’t stand the taste of coconut, don’t worry.  It doesn’t have a strong coconut taste.  Dan and I don’t like coconut, but this doesn’t bother us.  Plus you can use on your skin and has a ton of other uses as well.  10 out of 10.  They also have it in a spray…will try that too soon.

The Happiest Place on Earth!

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So after a truly awful week, I decided to post on one of my favorite things in the world. Disney. It’s the happiest place on earth and if I could move my whole extended family down there (thanks to Dave and Darlene for at least moving close for half the year!) I would move myself in a heartbeat. Oh, they would need to do something about the heat in the summer though. Maybe turn it down a few notches?

So here is a start to some “CLT” things…don’t worry, this will be the first post of many for those who love Disney or want to find out tips for when you travel there!

“C”lue-Did you know you can have a personal shopper buy things at the grocery store (groceries, baby supplies, and even alcohol!) and have them delivered to your Disney hotel and they will be waiting for you when you get there? There are lots of services out there, but we used “Kelly’s Personal Delivery Service”. She charges a small delivery fee and a small percentage on your total order, but hers was less than others and we were pretty happy with her service. Dan was happy he had Blue Moon to help him get through the trip.  http://kellyspds.com/

“L”ink-In honor of Valentine’s day…who is your favorite Disney couple? http://www.buzzfeed.com/kristinchirico/which-disney-couple-is-your-ideal-relationship Mine was Anna and Kristoff from “Frozen”. Guess I need to see that movie!

“T”hought- Disney Dole Whips. 9 out of 10. The authentic Dole Whip‘s core ingredient is Soft-Serve Pineapple Sorbet, and it can be served float-style, with pineapple juice; or all alone. They now have a self-serve machine at Disney’s Polynesian Resort and I found a link to buy soap that smells like these yummy things. If you haven’t tried one do it next time you are down there. Over in Adventureland.

The Winter Olympics

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So I hate this cold that we have been having but I’m super excited that the Winter Olympics are almost here! See there is one positive of Winter!! One of my favorite things to do is have the Olympics on all day while it is snowing outside and there is a nice cozy fire on inside and I’m sitting on my couch with my snacks. I don’t know why I love it so much (we all know I’m not very athletic…no comments from the Peanut Gallery, Dan!). There is just something better about it than the Summer Olympics. More exciting, more a feeling of the “USA team”. I don’t know. Just fun! So here are a few fun “CLT” things tied into the Olympics.

“C”lue-Not sure what day your favorite event is on? How about you want to know what channels the Opening Ceremonies are? Check out this link to make your life easier! http://www.nbcolympics.com/tv-listings Also 5 Must Watch Events? Here is a list from Sports Illustrated. I agree.

-Sunday, Feb. 9: Men’s Downhill (The competition will air tape-delayed between 7-11 p.m. EST on NBC, but you can watch live online at 2 a.m. EST).
-Saturday, Feb. 15: Men’s Hockey: (U.S. vs. Russia, 7:30 a.m. EST, NBCSN).
-Tuesday, Feb 17: Ice dancing free skate, 10 a.m. EST, NBCSN. (U.S. skaters and world champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White battle Vancouver gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada.)
-Thursday. Feb. 20: Women’s Hockey Gold Medal Game (noon-3 PM ET, NBC). This game will air live in all US Time Zones.
-Sunday, Feb. 23: Men’s Hockey Gold Medal Game (6:30-10 am ET, NBC). This game will air live across all US Time Zones.

“L“ink-So I’m a big Buzzfeed fan. Not sure why these Olympians posed with this super cute puppy, but love the pictures. It is just an added bonus that I got to know the USA team a little better. Between this and the Budweiser commercial, I really want another puppy! http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjkiebus/us-olympians-pose-with-the-cutest-puppy-youll-see-all-day

“T“hought-Trader Joe’s Ridge Cut Potato Chips-What is watching TV without snacking? I really liked them, but not what either Dan and I expected. They are ridged and Kettle cooked. I was thinking they would be more like Ruffles. It’s interesting, I said to my mom that they were Trader Joe’s brand so nothing artificial in them and then said “If it can be done to make a good chip without artificial crap in it, why do the big companies insist on putting that stuff in?”. Isn’t that true with so many products? All that said I give them an 8 out of 10.