Special Request TODAY ONLY!

I have a special request for today only!  For every box purchased all the money will be given to a family in need.  I can not go into the details.. However it is important.  All boxes sold today.. All purchases made from my blog will go directly into a pay pal account and I will take all the money collected today to help a single mom of two girls.  THANK YOU!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DECEMBER!

I want everyone to know that 15% of all sales will be donated to Connections Therapeutic Riding Center!

I had the pleasure of meeting Cathy - Director of the center a few months ago after participating in Destiny Runs 5K.  I had just started running races and I was so ecstatic to be able to participate in this one after learning about the center and what it is doing for children and families here in CO.

Connections Therapeutic Riding Center is dedicated to making a difference!!

The Connections Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit organization designed to enhance the overall well-being of children with a wide range of special needs through equine-assisted therapeutic programs. The programs include therapeutic riding, instructor training, and summer camps. They do this work with the help of riding instructors, horses and more than 100 volunteers.

I have always enjoyed helping others and this is another reason I am thankful for Organo Gold it has given me the opportunity to touch so many lives simply by sharing coffee ( tea and hot chocolate)

If you haven't had a chance to try the products now is the perfect time!  Order some for yourself or the Coffee, Tea or Hot Chocolate lover on your list. 

All products contain 100% Certified Organic Ganoderma Lucidum and adaptogenic herb rich in anti- oxidants and phytonutrients.  Also known as the " King of Herbs" or the "Miracle Herb" because of it's ability to help improve the body's healing capacity.

Boots your Immune System
Provides Energy
Supports Circulation
Natural Detoxification
Supports Quality of SLEEP

Simply be drinking a beverage you and others you know already love!

You can place your orders directly form here or feel free to contact me via E-mail if you have any questions.

Thank You!

Let's help others with coffee!

October Donation....

I want to thank everyone who purchased coffee from me!  It was nice to make a Donation to Rocky Moutain Cancer Centers it also felt good knowing that thanks to others I was able to do it!

Although I have been fortunate enough to not have to battle breast cancer  I have friends who have.  I also have a family member that is battling cancer right now.  

I just want to say thank you again to all who helped make it possible.

Call me CRAZY!!

I ran my first ever half marathon Sunday!  It was the most amazing feeling ever! Actually, the best feeling next to giving birth to my children.

If you would have asked me five - heck even a year ago - what my plan for the future was, I guarantee you it would not include running a half marathon.

I want to take a moment to say thank you to my friend Tawnia! If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have done it.  She is the one who encouraged me to run my first race: the Gift of Life and Breath 5K May 15th 2010.  After that, I was addicted.  It was great to see so many people participating knowing they were doing something to help raise money and awareness for lung cancer research.  It was amazing to see people from all walks of life doing what they could to show their support... some walked in remembrance of someone they had lost, others pushed family members in wheel chairs, and moms and dads ran while pushing their children in strollers.  It truly was inspiring to me.

Since then I have run in several races: AirLife Memorial 5K, Destiny Runs 5K, Bolder Boulder 10K, FireCracker 5K, Warrior Dash 5K, Skirt Chaser 5K, and now the Denver Rock 'n' Roll half marathon.  I cannot begin to explain the great feeling of accomplishment it gives me as I write this.  I never really took the time to look at it as something that would inspire others; I just did it because it made me feel good knowing I was giving back.

I want everyone to know that I had no training or running coach... just the desire to do it.  I can only hope that this may in turn inspire you to do whatever it may be that you never thought you would do.

I started running when my triplets were about 6 months old.  I would get up early in the morning before the kids woke up and I started out just walking.  Then a walk/jog.  Then jogging.  I followed the same route for months, then one day wanted to see how far I was actually going.  Turns out it was almost 5 miles!  I had no idea.

Just like I had no idea this was going so far off track. Now where was I?  Oh, yes... running my first half marathon.  I had registered for it months ago thinking I would have plenty of time to train for it.  Remember the farthest I had run was a 10K, which is only 6.2 miles.  Well, needless to say the training never happened.  As a matter of fact I never ran further than those 6 miles until the Thursday before the Rock 'n' Roll Half when I ran seven miles.  How in the world was I going to run 13.1?  I had no idea.  All I did know was that I was going to cross that finish line - no matter what.

Sunday morning: Get up 5:00 a.m.  Have a cup of coffee and  hit the road.  I get to the parking garage at 6:15.  Walk about a mile to the start.  Check my gear bag and the only thing with me: my iPod.  One last bathroom break and off to corral #8 I go.  All the time telling myself all I have to do is finish; time doesn't matter.  I put in my ear buds and I wait.

At 6:55 the first runners cross the starting line. I start slowly - just an easy jog.  Even though I'm running a Rock 'n' Roll race, I don't think there is one Rock song on my iPod. This is actually the first time I used my iPod at a race and I had every intention of not using it today... I was just going to stay the course and enjoy the many amazing bands along the way. However, I brought it just in case because I had no idea what it was going to be like.  Also, I was not prepared at all I, so I brought it as sort of my escape in case I needed that extra something to get me to the finish.

(Actually here is a little taste of my playlist Absolute Power, The Beast.. by Tech N9NE, Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas, Brick  House - The Commodores, Paid My Dues - Anastacia; then tracks from Run DMC, Whodini, LL Cool J... um, yeah, no rock here but probably the most important to me: Eminem's NOT AFRAID.  There are many more but I will stop there as I'm sure you're already thinking what is the point here?  Quite honestly I'm not sure myself.)

I started this with one idea and now it has gone all over the place. I guess I can sum it up best like this.  Don't let fear hold you back from achieving your goals. 

No matter what they may be, be NOT AFRAID.  Find the support system you need and make your dreams and goals a reality. 

I was pregnant at 19 and had two children by the time I was 20!  I left their dad when my youngest was only a few months old.  I was a single mom of two kids (who had dropped out of school in the 9th grade only to receive my GED years later).  At 20 I was on Welfare, going to school full time and working when I could.  I never gave up... I had no choice!  I had to give my boys something better. I owed them that much.

I  finished a two year Associates Degree in Fire Science at Red Rocks Community College while working at a Tire company and volunteering for the Arvada Fire Department.  I met my husband when I was 22 and - God willing - we have been together ever since.  We have been married for 7 years and now have 6 children.

I am blessed to be able to stay home and spend time raising my kids. That only came after working many different jobs for many years.  I never did achieve my dream to become a firefighter.  Sometimes life happens and goals and dreams change.  Although looking back now, I realize the reasons I didn't achieve them.  I have taken that, learned from it, and moved on.

Never once would I have guessed my life would turn out like this. 

Now as I begin another new journey as a runner, business owner, wife, mother and someone who truly wants to pay it forward. I also hope that I can inspire others to follow their dreams no matter what they may be, even if you don't know what they are YET, and even if they change several times along the way.

No matter how crazy life gets or how busy I may be, I will focus on my dreams to be the best wife and mother I possibly can, to have a successful business, and live life in order to help others.  I want to be able to give something from myself so big that it cannot be paid BACK... it can only be paid FORWARD!

I encourage you to follow me on this journey, and I pray it will inspire you to believe.

I ran a half marathon with no training, no preparation and did it in 2:08:25.  Even though I had serious doubts of finishing at all, I kept telling myself: "Don't quit.. you can do it.. you ran 7 miles, you can run 10."  At that 10 mile mark, I thought for sure I should have been at 11.  But I kept going, telling myself: "The last three miles are just a warm up... three miles is just a warm up... "

Now, looking back, the last 38 years have just been a warm up!  Call me CRAZY!!!  But I believe the best is yet to come!

TEAM DREAMWORKS!!

I sent out an e-mail to all my friends and aquaintances that I know who enjoy running.. and when I say running I don't mean if you can run an 8 minute mile or even a 6 minute mile.. if you can jog/walk you can join me.

Here is what the e-mail said:

I am trying to put a team together “ TEAM DREAMWORKS”  for a 5K race coming up next month.  It is the Home For The Holidays 5K & 1K Family fun run.  Sunday Nov 14^th 2010 at Denver’s City Park.  All proceeds support the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.  Please let me know if you are interested.

I want to thank the first ( and only ..so far)  two members of my team.. Vanessa and Kevin! Actually I only asked Vanessa.. I don't even know Kevin yet.. Here is the e-mail Is recieved back from Vanessa:

yES!!

Put me and Kevin down!

That's it exaclty how I recieved it from her!

We are going to raise so much money for the Homeless it is going to be amazing!

For those of you reading this you are probably thinking.. yeah right how are 3 people going to raise so much money. Because I only need 2 people and then they are going to get two people and those two are going to get two... and so on.. and so on...NOW DO YOU SEE IT! 

WELL....if you still don't see it.  You will soon.  I will post again and let you see as this team builds and TOGETHER WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 

GO TEAM DREAMWORKS!!!