I Starred in a Fashion Show This Weekend

At least according to my mom…. Anyone else might say that I participated in the show. I pranced. I sashayed. I struck several poses. And I repeated at least a million times in my head “I will not trip, I will not trip.”
The repetition must have worked – no stubbed toes, no trips, and [most thankfully] no falls.

The Fashion Show and Luncheon was themed “Passionately Pink…Celebrating Sisters” – so my sister Shelley joined me in the modeling. It was a fun experience to share with her. Both of our “scenes” featured coordinating clothing – animal prints and the [sparkliest] trend of the season – metallics.

The event was a fundraiser for the Susan B Komen Breast Cancer foundation, featuring the guest speaker Suzie Humphrey -- a Professional Motivational Speaker and Humorist. Suzie has an impressive resume and amusing [yet slightly predictable] approach to speaking and life. The most remarkable thing about Suzie, in my opinion, was her courageous battle with breast cancer.

At the end of the presentation – she had the “survivors” in the room come to the front. I blinked back tears as women of all ages proceeded to the front. I was struck by some of the younger women, barely older than I.

Breast Cancer has hit 2 in my family – my beloved Aunt Chris and my great Aunt Jo (my grandmother Joy’s sister). The luncheon got me excited about 2 upcoming events. First on Saturday, November 3rd – the TCU football game will be themed “Frogs for the Cure” and feature pink shirts in an attempt to “Pink Out” the stadium. $3 per t-shirt is donated to Komen. Also, on Saturday, April 26th – I’ll be running the 5k “Race for the Cure” with fellow women in my provisional class of Junior League. (I better start training now!) =) If you are reading this – expect to be hit up for a donation next spring…

And until then (because anyone who knows me, knows that I love to shop), here’s a link for you: Think Pink: Goods that Do Good because what better way to shop than to feel good about it?

Tiny Dancer In My Head....

In the words of Elton John "...tiny dancer in my head..."
Ever since my brother David sent me this link, I've been borderline obsessed with this.

*Right brain vs. left brain test: is the dancer turning clockwise or counterclockwise?

My mom is convinced that there's a conspiracy against her - that we are just *teasing* her - that it only moves clockwise.

Which way does it move for you?

*This was originally from the Freakonomics blog - which is sheer genius, in my opinion.

Welcome home!

Often I don't feel like my life is "blog-worthy." J.T. and I are typical DINKs - who lead fairly average [busy] lives... working a lot and playing a little.

Today I did something out of the ordinary.

I had the opportunity to go to the DFW International Airport and welcome our troops home.

Armed with a patriotic poster, I had no idea what to expect.

There was a group of about 200, waiting to greet the 110 troops arriving at DFW. While we were waiting, we sang "God Bless America","The Star Spangled Banner" and "O Beautiful".

After a 45 minute wait, we learned that the flight had arrived. A few minutes later, cheers errupted from those that had glimpsed the soldiers walking down the hall.

One by one they filtered through - some basking in the glory of the cheers, some looking shell-shocked and scared. A few had a final destination here in the metroplex, so they were met by loving famiy and friends. Some soliders shook every hand out-stretched to them, while some looked straight ahead.

There were two that made a particular impression on me - one was a boy who reminded me of my little cousin Pete. He could not have been any older than 18 - his face pale and serious, his eyes sad. I found myself wondering what he had witnessed and experienced - imagining him as a carefree boy in years, but a man in experience.

Another man in his 30's was met by a wife and grandmother. The grandmother was a slight thing with wispy white hair and tears rolling down her weathered cheeks. She held one of his hands in both of her small hands, tenderly patting it as they walked. As I watched, my own eyes welled up with tears and my heart offered up a small prayer of thanksgiving for my husband safely at his office.

Since I don't have any family or friends fighting in the war - it's easy for me to forget about what's going on. But after such an emotion-filled experience, my heart echos the words on the posters:

Thank You for What You Do
Welcome Home
&
God Bless America

Baby "Lucky"

My cousin Josslyn & her husband Ross welcomed their 2nd child today- a little boy born 5 weeks early. Although he is not yet named, the doctor affectionately called him Lucky when he was born. (In case you are the medically or gory inclined, the sack fortunately did not tear near the placenta blood vessels, which would have caused the little guy to bleed to death. )
Baby Lucky weighed 5 lbs. 8 oz. and was 18 inches long.

Congratulations Joss, Ross & Peyton on the new addition to your family!