Tugs on your heart strings

This post is an emotional one so I suggest before you read on you go and grab the tissues. It is one I have been putting off writing because I personally didn't want to face the emotions also, but the time has come!

   We all know what happened in Newtown, CT on December 14, 2013, and well if you don't know, well you live in a bunker under a rock! Since today marks the six month anniversary of that horrible incident, I decided to share with you what I did to help.

   A few weeks after the event, I got an email from my doctor saying that she sent a letter to the town and wanted to donate 26 trees in memory of the victims.

  On April 27th my friend and I went to Newtown to plant trees at their sports field. The township parks department decided that is where our trees were going. My friend and I had anxiety about the day and what we would see. Getting off the exit, my heart started to race. The town of Newtown is the cutest town ever, so typical small town America. We drove on right past the church, the firehouse which now has 26 copper stars on the roof, many of the stores that had signs in the windows that were featured on the news like "Hug a Teacher" Right before the firehouse was a long skinny driveway, that driveway had all cones going across the road. That is where the Sandy Hook School was. The hanging sign that said Sandy Hook Elementary School was removed and there was an angel hanging in the sign's place. There were also all flower bouquets at the base of the sign.

  When my friend and I arrived at the park we met with Laura who was a township citizen who happened to pick up the letter my doctor sent back in December. We put on a brave face, and tried to stay positive, but it was very hard not to cry. She explained to us what we had to do with our trees and we got to work. We planted two of the 26 trees that day!

   While being their and talking to some of the people that were standing around and commenting on our work, we quickly realized these were the victims parents. That day we met three victims parents. They were all so strong and have such a positive outlook. We spent a lot of time talking with Avielle's parents, who started the Avielle foundation. Avielle and her family had just moved to Newtown three years ago, and she was an only child. Her parents were truly amazing people.

    Laura who was the coordinator, told us about the local bead shop called Bead of Roses. If you grow up in Newtown, this is the cool place to have your birthday! They are letting children of the town come in and make free pieces to help cope.Many of the girls would choose the green rose bead when they were making something, that is why one of the memory bracelets is made up of that bead.  They also have items that are being sold are portions of the profits are going to that particular child's foundation. Some of the parents, siblings and friends designs the bracelets that are being sold. The link is the one for the items in memory of the victims. Bead of Roses also donated a necklace to every volunteer who helped plant trees that day!

   I really was glad that I was able to help and make a difference is people's lives, people who lost so much also!

This was the park where our trees are. 

This was our second tree, all the parents walking 

down to the field stopped to thank us. 

You can see all the trees we planted

 This was our first tree

There was also a newspaper article posted about the whole experience posted here. 

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Welcome to my room...

Where the blog comes to life! I thought it would be fun to show you what I see when I sit and write posts, and what my environment is like. I took some pictures, and everything on my desk tells and story and has a very special meaning to me.

Here is a full shot of my desk...detailed shots below

My collection of Barbie ornaments hangs from the shelves! 

 Do you spy my favorite candle? The ceramic envelope is something my grandmother made for my parents when she went to ceramics. On the other side, it has our address, but to our old house which we moved from when I was 4. It sat in the closet for years, but I decided to use it for bills and cards and important items. 

This is my stack of reading, and where Molly stands. Molly is an American Girl from the Pleasant Company, which is before Mattel owned them. My first Bon Jovi concert ticket is on my cork board, along with a list of drinks I love in Epcot. 

I love my Eeyore and NY Giants, you always have to have note pads ready! 

This is where I sit. Usually Sammy my cat will sit on the top and look out the window. What girl doesn't love shoes? Come on now! 

June Faves

These are a few of my favorite items for June! 

1. FitbitFlex I am obsessed with this! This bracelet tracks your steps, calories burned, activity, sleeping, and wirelessly syncs to your computer and app on your phone!

2. Shea Moisture African Black Soap This is a miracle worker, and it lasts a long time! I like how clean it leaves my skin feeling with no yucky smell!

3. Purple Eyeliner!! My new obsession!! The Revlon Purple Reign  has a brightener on one side and the other end is the color. The Sonia Kashuk Purple Passion one is a more intense purple that stayed on longer for me.

4. Covergirl Clump Crusher This mascara is my current holy grail! I usually HATE plastic bushes, but this one I love and it really does separate and remove clumps! WINNER!

5. MAC Saint Germain This is the perfect Barbie Pink. I love this color! It looks great alone or with a gloss over it. It is also a longer wearing shade. I wear a nude lipliner with it.

6. Reload I linked you to the youtube video. I am seriously obsessed with this song!! I loved Swedish House Mafia, and was upset when they broke up, but they are killing it on their own! This is the real music video for the song, so after 20 seconds or so of them talking, the song starts. This is a prime example of Sebastian doing his thing!! Great workout song too!

7. Out the Door topcoat This is seriously the best topcoat, and its super cheap! I think it was $4 at Harmon. It dries super fast and leaves a super shiny coat for days!

Motivation Monday!!

Hi Everyone! I'm having a bit of a rough time...could you have guessed by the lack of blog posts. Anyway here is some Monday Motivation for anyone else that needs it, I know I do! Hope your week is off to a good start!

I know, two ways to say the same thing, but 

I thought they were both cool, so I saved both....

Tag....you're it!

So here I am on the lovely Friday afternoon catching up on some blog reading, and I click on my lovely friend Pam's blog. As I am scrolling along I see that she has done a post where she tagged some people, and I am one of the lucky ones so here goes!!

Questions:

                          1. Would you consider yourself a shopaholic?

2. How would you classify your style?

3. What store can you not leave without buying at least one thing?

4. Where do you find the best deals?

5. What designer are you willing to splurge for?

6. Do you have a go to shopping outfit?

7. What is your guilty pleasure? (Not including makeup)

8. What is one staple clothing piece you cannot live without?

9. What is a trend you hope never goes out of style?

10. What trend did you love that passed way to quickly?

11. Who is your fashion icon?

1. Would I consider myself a shopaholic...DUH! Absolutely, When am I not shopping?! How can I turn this into a job? Suggestions welcome!!!

2. My style...well this is a question that I absolutely struggle with every time I am asked. I think it totally depends on your mood. One day I can be edgy with a leather vest, wedge sneakers and stud bracelets, and the next I could be in flared jeans wedges and an off the shoulder top. I love anything pink and girlie! I think my under lying motto is comfort. I also love the look that you threw something on, but look super cute. For me that effortless style usually takes a lot of time. One thing I do not like is floral patterns. 

3. Bloomies! My Bloomies in the mall in my town isn't the best, but I always find something! 

4. I prob find the best deals online and small boutiques that no one has heard of like spool 72, shop hopes, the red dress, the blue door, and lulus. 

5. I don't have one favorite omg I love them designer! I mean for bags, I LOVE Louis, but clothing, not really. 

6. I do not have a go to shopping outfit. Anything can work for shopping, I just don't always wear practical shoes. 

7. Nail Polish! Readers, don't you know me by now? I mean since Pam said I couldn't use makeup, nail polish would be my number 2. 

8. My one staple clothing, and queue the laughing would have to be the Guys Hanes pack of white tanks. I wear them under EVERYTHING!!! To the gym, under hoodies, seriously I must have 25, they are my go to! yeah so what, they are cut a little to in on the sides, but I never wear them alone, so no one knows! Well now you do. 

9. This is a tough one! The trend I hope that stays around would have to be wedge sneakers because they are just so practical and they look effortless. It seriously looks like you are wearing sneakers! I was one of the first people to get them prob this time last year. I need a new pair, or 4! 

10. I can't say there is anything that I loved that isn't in style anymore. And if there is, and I still love it, I don't care, I still rock it! There are no rules in fashion! 

11. My fashion icon, well I don't have one. I love a bunch of people's style. Right now I am loving Courtney Kerr's Style and I read her blog. I cannot wait for her show on Bravo to premier to drool over her outfits. 

Thank you Pam at Yes, it is Kevin for tagging me! Love ya girlie! 

I would love for some of my readers to do this!  If you do participate, leave your link in the comments so I can read about you! 

Last weekend!

Hi guys! Stressful week for me! I have been doing a major overhaul of my eating, its insane, so I'm def focused there! I also lost someone that I was close with last week, so I was busy with shiva and that stuff. Anyway, last Saturday I participated in the Revlon Run/Walk, this was the 10th year that I participated. My mom and I spent the day in the city, and we had a blast along the way doing a bunch of things, just winging it, thats always the best way! Hope you all have a great weekend! Happy Friday!

The starting line...

When the walk starts, confetti goes off, it gets every where! 

Action shot! 

Look at all of that! 

You walk, and it just rains confetti!!!

Finish line! Woo Hoo! 

Since we walked, not a bad time...

Central park where we ended

The boathouse, reminds me of 27 Dresses

Have you ever seen the sailboats in the lake at Central Park?

How gorg are these flowers?

We had lunch at Sarabeth's....AMAZING! 

Almond Crusted French Toast, yum! 

Then off to the American Girl Store, can you believe, in the bathroom, they have doll holders?! This store is a MUST SEE! 

 Saw this on the sidewalk outside the ABC studios. 

On the way to the car, we stopped at Georgetown Cupcake which is the bakery on the TLC show DC Cupcakes. I got a salted caramel cupcake and boy was it amazing, and the icing wasn't too sweet! 

Motivation Monday

Recipe Time!!! Yes I know this is a change, but I love to make protein pancakes and they are just too yummy not to share! They are super easy to make, fast, and are packed with protein!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup egg whites (usually just from one egg)

1 banana 

Protein Powder preferably in vanilla

Cinnamon

Fruit (optional)

You need a mixing bowl and then a griddle for where you will be cooking the pancakes, and some pan spray so that the pancakes won't stick to the pan. 

First you need to smash the banana. I use a tiny food chopper thing to get it smooth, but I have used a potato masher gadget in the past and it works, but you just have larger pieces. 

The banana all smashed up! 

When the banana in smashed, combine that and the egg whites in the mixing bowl, add 1 leveled scoop of you protein powder, sprinkle some cinnamon. Mix away!!!

This is my protein powder

This is what it should look like before it is mixed.

This is what it should look like when everything is mixed together. It will be thick, don't worry, that is normal. 

Once everything is mixed all together you are now ready to cook. Spray your griddle first so that your pancakes do not stick to your pan, even though it may be nonstick like mine is, I still use spray. 

The pancakes will cook rather quickly, so be sure to keep an eye on them and keep the heat on the stove between high and sim. You will see the pancakes start to look dark almost burnt, that is ok, don't worry, it won't taste burnt! Trust me! 

On the griddle, so you can see what size I did and the consistency.

Flipping is just like regular pancakes, but if the bottom is not cooked all the way, they will break apart, like one of mine did. Once they are done cooking, maybe 5 minutes, you can serve with fruit, fresh or frozen depending on what you have. I don't use syrup because why add sugar, and I'm not much of a syrup person, but if you want to, go ahead!! 

Today I added blueberries! 

I did some calculations and these have 249 calories and 24 grams of protein! The caloric value may differ depending on the protein powder you use, I use Raw Protein which is plant based and only has 90 calories per scoop.