Read this story and laugh.
New Law Forces CEOs To Humbly Shrug Before Receiving Massive Bonuses
New Law Forces CEOs To Humbly Shrug Before Receiving Massive Bonuses
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Henry William
This is my new nephew henry :) born on 5/10/10. 7 lbs 12 oz 19 inches. Totally perfect and amazing. Being an auntie is the BEST!!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
it's about time.
Oh my, it's been almost two months since my last post! I got really busy with work and just put my cause on the back burner - that's no good and it comes to an end today! (Also, I had a free Saturday morning to take advantage of the free internet at Panera, so there's that also... :-)
Training Update
So, first for a quick update... since my last "entry" (if you can call two pictures an entry), I have started my training and quickly realized how frighteningly out of shape I am. Yikes. I have been training for a few weeks now with my longest walk being 5 miles... the first 5 mile walk was good, I had friends with me, we chatted, it was cold but it was nice. For the second one, I was by myself... it was awesome to listen to some worship music on my iPod, and have some good God time, the weather was PERFECT and then mile 4 hit. I wanted to lay down in the grass, eat a cheeseburger and take a nap. So, it's a rough start... that's OK, I will prevail (and I did, I called Chris for a pep talk and finished my last two miles). The weather in Chicagoland is so weird... one day it's 80, the next it's 35... not kidding! So, that doesn't help with the training situation either - I was supposed to walk 7 miles today and totally skipped it due to the 35 degree windchill we have happening out there (on May 8th!). It will warm up and I will continue with my walking... I promise. I owe it to my supporters and all of those amazing women and men, fighting this awful disease and their families who I am walking for.
So, in an effort to do much better with my training than I did last year (my longest walk was 11 miles... no good), I am posting a picture on facebook every time I do a training walk. It's working... when I don't post a picture in a few days I get questions like, "where are your pictures? why aren't you walking?" - that's the kick in the behind that I need! It's also making everyone and their mother (ok, my 400 closest facebook friends) know about my desire to put an end to breast cancer. Awareness is good and important. And I'm finding more and more friends to walk with every day (you don't have to be training for the 3day to go on a training walk... I'm just sayin...)!
So far, I have walked 23.5 half miles in my training... pretty much the equivalent to day one of the actual walk. So, I have a ways to go... I'm happy that I got started though!
Here are some of my training walk pics...
Walk 2 (forgot to take a pic of walk 1)
Walk 3
Walk 4
Walk 5
Walk 6
Fundraising Update
Now, onto fundraising... It's weird but as soon as I stopped updating my blog, I stopped getting donations - go figure! My goal this year is to raise $3000 - the minimum for the walk is $2300 but I know I can do more this year! So far I have raised $675 which is AMAZING but I still have a ways to go! Please consider donating TODAY! Remember all of the donations go to Susan G. Komen for the cure - they are an amazing organization and they have played a role in every major advancement in breast cancer treatment, etc... in the last 25 years. Your money is going to a worthy cause.
I'm going to post on my facebook page that I have updated the blog - not sure how many people will really read this but I challenge you to consider donating $10 today if you are reading this! I have 400 facebook friends... imagine what would happen if all of my facebook friends donated $10! It's so easy - just go to www.the3day.org/goto/beccawinn10 - you'll make my day!
Thank you to my readers - you rock my world.
Peace out for now!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
one more thing.
I never put a picture up of Alisa and me! My inspiration! :-)
Love you cousin!
here we are waaaay back in the day at Alisa and Dave's wedding - my first time being a bridesmaid! :-)
Love you cousin!
here we are waaaay back in the day at Alisa and Dave's wedding - my first time being a bridesmaid! :-)
a bold move.
OK, allow me to be honest for a moment here. I have spent the first few blogs letting you know a little bit about me and why I am so passionate about walking in the 3day and raising money to support breast cancer research and awareness... so now onto the fund raising.
Alot of people that I share with about my walk are a wee bit shocked at the amount of money that has to be raised. Allow me to explain... to walk in the 3day each walker must raise a minimum of $2300 -- so, if you raise less than that before your walk you either can not walk, or post the difference yourself and hope that you raise the money within four weeks after the walk... Is this daunting? ABSOLUTELY. Is this doable? ABSOLUTELY! Last year I raised just over $2300 with a combination of large donations (over $150) and small donations ($5-10)... The Lovely Lady Lumps raised over $11,500 as a team! Can you believe that? Almost $12,000 for breast cancer research... I am humbled by that.
So, why does Komen require the walkers to raise so much? To put it simply... we are trying to obliterate breast cancer... that is a BOLD undertaking - obviously, the more money the better. Thousands upon thousands of walkers raise way beyond $2300 each year (the average is $3000/walker)... so why not me?!
As I've been told... walking 60 miles is a BOLD move... so why not raise a BOLD amount of money? :-)
My goal this year is to raise $3000 and I know I can get there! Please remember that every dollar counts! Your support means so much to me - $1 or $100 - every dollar is another step toward overcoming this nasty disease.
Now that I have inspired you to donate, you need to know how, right? :-)
it's easy! click on the "donate" button on the right side of the page or just click on this link... http://www.the3day.org/goto/beccawinn10.
Thank you!!
Alot of people that I share with about my walk are a wee bit shocked at the amount of money that has to be raised. Allow me to explain... to walk in the 3day each walker must raise a minimum of $2300 -- so, if you raise less than that before your walk you either can not walk, or post the difference yourself and hope that you raise the money within four weeks after the walk... Is this daunting? ABSOLUTELY. Is this doable? ABSOLUTELY! Last year I raised just over $2300 with a combination of large donations (over $150) and small donations ($5-10)... The Lovely Lady Lumps raised over $11,500 as a team! Can you believe that? Almost $12,000 for breast cancer research... I am humbled by that.
So, why does Komen require the walkers to raise so much? To put it simply... we are trying to obliterate breast cancer... that is a BOLD undertaking - obviously, the more money the better. Thousands upon thousands of walkers raise way beyond $2300 each year (the average is $3000/walker)... so why not me?!
As I've been told... walking 60 miles is a BOLD move... so why not raise a BOLD amount of money? :-)
My goal this year is to raise $3000 and I know I can get there! Please remember that every dollar counts! Your support means so much to me - $1 or $100 - every dollar is another step toward overcoming this nasty disease.
Now that I have inspired you to donate, you need to know how, right? :-)
it's easy! click on the "donate" button on the right side of the page or just click on this link... http://www.the3day.org/goto/beccawinn10.
Thank you!!
Friday, February 12, 2010
A little bit about little ole me.
so, I've been thinking. Let's say that you found my blog because of my new found addiction to twitter... or, because a friend recommended (because I'm such an amazing writer)... or because you saw me put a link on my facebook page (because we are "friends" on fb even though we really don't know each other, or we haven't seen each other in 11 years...)
In any case... I haven't provided very much information about who I am and I how I got here... so (stealing the idea from my bff Kelly) I will give you some info... just not all at once cause nobody needs to learn that much about me all at once...
Where to start? How about the basics...
I was born in 1980 in Waukegan, IL. That's right, always have been a Lake County kind of gal, even from birth. I grew up in Gurnee schools, going to Great America every day in the summer, attending Gurnee Park District Day Camp (and eventually working there), and going to Gurnee Mills a million times a year the first year it opened. Gurnee is somewhat of a "tourist" town nowadays and regardless of traffic or crazy teenagers running across the street at six flags to get to Burger King, or whatever else... I love it here. It's my home. I guess that makes me a towny, er whatever.
At any rate, it's in this town that I met my handsome husband, Chris Winn many moons ago... I was about 15 (if I remember correctly) and we met at youth group at Village Church of Gurnee (where we still attend, and serve as youth leaders.. isn't that precious?). There is no way that I could ever accurately recap our crazy relationship so I'll reallllly break it down for you...
In any case... I haven't provided very much information about who I am and I how I got here... so (stealing the idea from my bff Kelly) I will give you some info... just not all at once cause nobody needs to learn that much about me all at once...
Where to start? How about the basics...
I was born in 1980 in Waukegan, IL. That's right, always have been a Lake County kind of gal, even from birth. I grew up in Gurnee schools, going to Great America every day in the summer, attending Gurnee Park District Day Camp (and eventually working there), and going to Gurnee Mills a million times a year the first year it opened. Gurnee is somewhat of a "tourist" town nowadays and regardless of traffic or crazy teenagers running across the street at six flags to get to Burger King, or whatever else... I love it here. It's my home. I guess that makes me a towny, er whatever.
At any rate, it's in this town that I met my handsome husband, Chris Winn many moons ago... I was about 15 (if I remember correctly) and we met at youth group at Village Church of Gurnee (where we still attend, and serve as youth leaders.. isn't that precious?). There is no way that I could ever accurately recap our crazy relationship so I'll reallllly break it down for you...
- In high school - Chris liked me, i didn't like him like "that" - except for every now and then when it was convenient for me. i was a jerk. (you can imagine how this played itself out)
- In college - I liked Chris, he didn't like me - except for every now and then when it was convenient for him...
- As "adults" (post-college) - we liked each other for all the wrong reasons - bad decisions ensued.
- As actual "adults" (am I REALLY an adult?) we liked each other for all the right reasons. We dated for two years and got engaged 2 days before my 27th birthday (i'll share that store another time when I need something to blog about - it was really cute though, just trust me). We tied the knot on February 15th, 2008... almost exactly two years ago from when i am writing this post... my how time flies!
Monday, February 8, 2010
The original "Why I Walk"
I realize that I just launched into this crazy blog without even so much as an explanation as to how I got started in this nutty business of walking 60 miles in the first place. Well. Allow me to explain.
In October of 2008 my dear, beautiful, amazing, strong warrior of a cousin, Alisa, was diagnosed with breast cancer. It rocked our whole family and has certainly changed us forever. I was telling my very good friend Lynnette about it and she said, "We have to do one of those walks next year!" Then, in February of 2009, breast cancer claimed the life of a beautiful young mother who attended our church (Village Church of Gurnee). That sealed the deal. We attended a "get started meeting" and signed up that night.
As I started my journey last year, I sent out what felt like millions of emails about my cause to my friends, family, acquaintances and even some strangers. I didn't have any idea what was in store for me! Throughout this journey, I learned of so many people in my life, in my friend's lives, in my loved one's lives (and so on, and so forth) who had been affected by breast cancer. I knew it was out there... I knew it affected people that I know... but I never knew to what extent. I also learned ALOT about breast cancer research, treatments, etc... and how far we have come over the last 20 years or so. When I learned that the breast cancer fatality rates are dropping and the early detection rates are rising, I really got hooked. I remember sitting at that meeting thinking, wow... we are really doing this... we are really curing breast cancer. My $2300 will make a difference.
So, I bought some new shoes and I trained (well, sort of... :-)... I sent more emails... I met more people... I learned more about breast cancer (both because of the walk and because of the treatments/surgeries/etc. that my cousin was going through). By the time the walk was over, I couldn't imagine not doing it again. When I watched what Alisa endured I knew that walking 60 miles, and raising $2300 (well, $3000 this year!), was nothing in comparison. And, as long as I have two legs that work and the amazing support system of friends and family that came along side me last year, I will walk. Maybe it won't always be in the 3day... but I will never cease to do my part, as long as I am able.
Like I said in my first post - I really can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are so close to finding a cure - I can't quit now.
My beautiful cousin Alisa is recovering well from a crazy year of chemo, surgeries, radiation, infections, too many hospital visits to count, etc... her beautiful hair is growing back and looking better (and softer!) than ever... she has color back in her cheeks... she's Alisa again! She is recovering because people cared enough to support the cause of breast cancer research... advancements have been made and they are saving people's lives. Alisa is living proof.
In October of 2008 my dear, beautiful, amazing, strong warrior of a cousin, Alisa, was diagnosed with breast cancer. It rocked our whole family and has certainly changed us forever. I was telling my very good friend Lynnette about it and she said, "We have to do one of those walks next year!" Then, in February of 2009, breast cancer claimed the life of a beautiful young mother who attended our church (Village Church of Gurnee). That sealed the deal. We attended a "get started meeting" and signed up that night.
As I started my journey last year, I sent out what felt like millions of emails about my cause to my friends, family, acquaintances and even some strangers. I didn't have any idea what was in store for me! Throughout this journey, I learned of so many people in my life, in my friend's lives, in my loved one's lives (and so on, and so forth) who had been affected by breast cancer. I knew it was out there... I knew it affected people that I know... but I never knew to what extent. I also learned ALOT about breast cancer research, treatments, etc... and how far we have come over the last 20 years or so. When I learned that the breast cancer fatality rates are dropping and the early detection rates are rising, I really got hooked. I remember sitting at that meeting thinking, wow... we are really doing this... we are really curing breast cancer. My $2300 will make a difference.
So, I bought some new shoes and I trained (well, sort of... :-)... I sent more emails... I met more people... I learned more about breast cancer (both because of the walk and because of the treatments/surgeries/etc. that my cousin was going through). By the time the walk was over, I couldn't imagine not doing it again. When I watched what Alisa endured I knew that walking 60 miles, and raising $2300 (well, $3000 this year!), was nothing in comparison. And, as long as I have two legs that work and the amazing support system of friends and family that came along side me last year, I will walk. Maybe it won't always be in the 3day... but I will never cease to do my part, as long as I am able.
Like I said in my first post - I really can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are so close to finding a cure - I can't quit now.
My beautiful cousin Alisa is recovering well from a crazy year of chemo, surgeries, radiation, infections, too many hospital visits to count, etc... her beautiful hair is growing back and looking better (and softer!) than ever... she has color back in her cheeks... she's Alisa again! She is recovering because people cared enough to support the cause of breast cancer research... advancements have been made and they are saving people's lives. Alisa is living proof.
Friday, February 5, 2010
a heavy heart.
Gosh I hate cancer. I mean, I HATE it. Sneaking around, stealing lives too early... robbing children of their mothers, robbing husbands of their wives, stealing lives...
I write this post with a very heavy heart. A friend (three times removed) was given one or two more days to live as of last night. She is in a coma. The cancer invaded her nervous system and her body can no longer function. She has two young boys who will no longer have a mother.
When I think about this, I get angry. Angry to the point of tears.
So, I decided last night that I will not let the anger win. I will turn it into something beautiful. I will turn it into hope. I will not forget the progress that's been made. I will not forget the hundreds of thousands of breast cancer survivors. I will not forget that my God is in charge... yes, even in charge of cancer. And, last but not least, I will NOT give up. I will do everything I can while I am on this earth to make it so that my children, or my grand children won't have to deal with this anger that I feel today. (Side note: Yes, mom... i said "Children or Grand Children"... should the Lord decide to "bless" us with them. :-)
I write this post with a very heavy heart. A friend (three times removed) was given one or two more days to live as of last night. She is in a coma. The cancer invaded her nervous system and her body can no longer function. She has two young boys who will no longer have a mother.
When I think about this, I get angry. Angry to the point of tears.
So, I decided last night that I will not let the anger win. I will turn it into something beautiful. I will turn it into hope. I will not forget the progress that's been made. I will not forget the hundreds of thousands of breast cancer survivors. I will not forget that my God is in charge... yes, even in charge of cancer. And, last but not least, I will NOT give up. I will do everything I can while I am on this earth to make it so that my children, or my grand children won't have to deal with this anger that I feel today. (Side note: Yes, mom... i said "Children or Grand Children"... should the Lord decide to "bless" us with them. :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)