Be The Match

My friend Jacqueline inspired me in this post to check into the National Bone Marrow Registry program. In high school a very good friend of mine, Scott, had cancer (Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma). My best friend Kim was Scott's girlfriend and Scott's best friend Troy was my boyfriend so we were all pretty close. Scott was one of the best people I have ever known. I first met Scott when I was pretty young and Troy's older sister was my babysitter during the summer. Yep, that's right....I first met my first love because his sister was my babysitter. Small world and funny how things work out. Scott was kind of quiet but when he opened his mouth it was hilarious, especially when it was a smart a$$ comment, which it often was. Scott loved baseball. I remember him getting chemo or some other kind of awful test and then going and playing ball the same day. It was as if his pain and sickness disappeared when he stepped on the field. He spoiled Kimberly rotten. He inspired more people than he knew and he fought so hard. Scott passed away his senior year of high school...before he could graduate, before he could live his dream of playing college baseball, and before he could stand up for his best friend in his wedding. I remember being heartbroken that God didn't heal Scott. We were all so convinced that he was going to be healed. I know God is good and Scott plays baseball in Heaven now but it didn't make it any easier for his family and friends. So I joined the bone marrow registry in honor of Scott A. Elrod. Scott didn't have a bone marrow transplant but if that would have saved him, I know we would have all prayed for someone to be a match and save his life. I can't imagine what it feels like to know that you are giving someone a second chance at life. Yes, it might hurt a little but it won't come near the hurt that occurs when you loose someone you care about. So, I received my packet this week, completed it tonight and am now officially part of the bone marrow registry. Now I just wait for the call, the call to help save someones life. I can't imagine how good that would feel!

Scott Alan Elrod

My Registry Packet

My samples all ready to be sent off

To check out the Bone Marrow Registry click here and Be The Match!

Tres Chic Ink

My very talented friend Natasha has a calligraphy business here in Nashville called Tres Chic Ink. I have been talking about taking pictures of her samples for her since she started and finally got to do it a couple of weeks ago. Natasha is so talented and I am so proud of her! Check our her personal blog here and her calligraphy blog here. I'm not posting the pictures here because I want you to go to her site and see her work! Love you Natasha!

#65-Check (kind of)

65. Purchase some props to use in my photography

I have been wanting to purchase some cute props that I can use when I do photo shoots. I am only marking this goal as in process because there are a few more things I want to add to the collection, but this is a good start. I purchased these adorable hats from Briar Claire. Another plus, Briar Clair is donating $1.00 from the sale of each hat and $0.50 from the sale of each headband through March 28 to Compassion!

picture courtesy of Briar Claire

picture courtesy of Briar Claire

#80 CHECK

#80: Spend a weekend with my sister, doing whatever we want


Last weekend I spent the weekend in Paris, TN with my sister doing just that...whatever we wanted. We laid around on Friday night in our PJs watching TV and being lazy. Then we slept late on Saturday. It was awesome. When we finally rolled out of bed on Saturday we went to lunch at Prater's Taters (best grilled cheese ever) and then Wal-Mart. I know...exciting, right?


Saturday afternoon I practice making cake pops. I think they turned out pretty good for my first try. What do you think?
Saturday night Karen, Emily, Ginger and I went to the Country Club for dinner and then they introduced me to Matt's Pub. Wow! I'm not sure I was ready. We stayed out way past my bedtime but had a blast. Sunday morning we slept late (yes, again). Then my dad and Cindy met us for lunch. Such a fun and relaxing weekend. I can't wait to go back!

Hot Yoga

#46: Try something I've never done before

I completed this goal on Thursday night by attending Hot Yoga at Fit-Rx in Brentwood. Hot Yoga is a 90 minute yoga class in a room that is 100-105 degrees and 50-60% humidity. It is to promote sweat and the release of toxins in the body. No problem in the sweat department!

Rachel Gray and Racheal McMeen (who I work with) talked me into buying an unlimited one month pass. So away we went. Truth be told, we were a little nervous but there were several people in the class that had never been, so we didn't feel that bad. It was REALLY, REALLY hot in there. There was definitely lots of sweating going on in that room but I really liked it. The only thing that concerns me is I have heard it can cause terrible headaches. I almost got a migraine Thursday, so I will definitely have to pay attention and be careful. Looks like we will be back at it next week. Hopefully making sure I am well hydrated before class will keep the headaches away.

If you decide to try it, you'll need a yoga mat, large towel to cover the mat, towel to wipe your face, and lots of water.

Olympia

#1-Sponsor a Child

According to Compassion's website, Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.

I first learned about Compassion from reading Kelly's blog. Kelly went to El Salvador on a Compassion Blogger trip. Since reading about Kelly's trip, I have wanted to sponsor a child, but just hadn't done it. I was making excuses for myself.

Last week MckMama went on a Compassion Blogger trip to Kenya. She shared stories and pictures from her trip. I don't know why, but for some reason I just couldn't stop thinking about it. The conditions there were unimaginable. The children were adorable and pitiful all at the same time. I couldn't get it out of my head.

So, I finally did it. I signed up to be a child sponsor. It is $38/month to sponsor a child. Compassion decides what your child needs specifically and uses the money from your sponsorship to provide those things (food, clothing, medical supplies, etc). You can read more about becoming a sponsor on their website by clicking here.

I choose a little girl named Olympia. In the next week or so I should receive my sponsorship packet with her picture and additional information. I can write her letters and she will write to me as well. I even found out yesterday that Compassion takes "sponsor trips" where you can go and meet your sponsored child! How awesome would it be to meet the child you have been sponsoring?! I am definitely hoping to be able to travel to Kenya one day and meet Olympia.

I am so excited that I finally decided to sponsor. From reading MckMama and Kelly's blogs, I have no doubt that sponsorship changes the lives of these children forever.

I will be sure to share pictures and more information when I get them. I encourage you to get involved in something, anything that enriches the life of someone other than yourself. I can't explain how good it feels to know you are changing someone else's life.

101 Goals in 1001 Days

I've seen this on several different blogs and really love the idea. This is a list of 101 goals that I would like to accomplish in 1001 days, which will be December 3, 2012. I started my list a few days ago but am just now putting it in writing. I am not going to stress myself out over accomplishing all of them, but this list gives me something to work towards. Some are professional, some are personal.

Items in Green are in progress
Items in blue are completed

In no particular order, this is my list of 101:

1. Sponsor a child through Compassion International (www.compassion.com)
2. Go skiing out west again
3. Go back to Vegas
4. Take my parents to dinner (and pay the bill!)
5. Start a regular workout routine and keep it
6. Start getting serious about my photography business
7. Go on a real vacation with my best friend
8. Send a friend a card for no reason
9. Take a photography class
10. Start studying for the CPA
11. Join the church
12. Improve my relationship with God
13. Pay off my car
14. Pay off my student loans
15. Start seriously saving for a home
16. Get a logo made for my photography
17. Get a t-shirt quilt made with all my sorority t-shirts
18. Have pictures made with my sister and brothers
19. Make some big prints of the pictures I took in China
20. Surprise a friend with an unexpected visit
21. Shoot an engagement session
22. Shoot pictures of April's new baby (due October)
23. Start saving for a trip to visit my sponsored child
24. Become a regular blogger
25. Go to the beach (end of May)
26. Watch Tennessee beat Florida (I realize I don't really have any control over this)
27. Throw a party for a friend
28. Get a massage
29. Get a facial (I've never had one!)
30. Babysit for friends so they can have date night
31. Go to Chicago
32. Take a weekend in Memphis to do photo shoots of all my friends' children
33. Go to The Melting Pot with my best friend
34. Learn how to use Photoshop
35. Start a prayer journal
36. Take a handgun class
37. Find a local charity that I believe in and get involved
38. Frame my college diploma (both of them)
39. Send Christmas cards
40. Develop packages and pricing for my photography
41. Go to another race with Monroe (planned for end of May)
42. Pay off my bedroom furniture
43. Host girls night at my house
44. Host a weekend at the river for my friends
45. Eat at The Back Porch in Destin
46. Try something I've never done before
47. Set up an ETSY shop for my "Photo Name Frames"
48. Get in the habit of reading at least 3-4 times a week before bed (instead of watching TV)
49. Buy a camera bag
50. Write to my sponsored child regularly
51. Participate in Race for a Cure with my Memphis ladies
52. Clean out my closet
53. Get a recipe box and compile some of my favorites....
54. and learn how to cook them
55. Book a photography session with someone I don't know (not a friend)
56. Go to a Vols game at Thompson Bowling Arena
57. Spend a weekend with just my family at the river
58. Update my resume
59. Shop for 3 angels on the Angel tree at Christmas (one for each of my siblings)
60. Get in shape enough to fit in my "skinny dress"
61. Learn to eat breakfast regularly (and not McDonald's or donuts)
62. Go to Sara and Jason's Christmas Party
63. Visit Brittany in Chattanooga
64. Visit Arrington Vineyards
65. Purchase some props to use in my photography
66. Put together a portfolio
67. Visit Washington, DC
68. Go to Knoxville and spend the weekend with Bev...for no specific reason
69. Backup my pictures
70. Backup my music
71. Get a photography lesson from Monroe
72. Have a photo session with Leslie Walker (I am the subject, she is the photographer :) )
73. Start and finish a Bible study
74. Sit for the CPA exam
75. Take a day off and go to the spa
76. Learn more about my 401K...try to really understand it
77. Go to Target and purchase ONLY what's on my list
78. Learn how to hem
79. Get my favorite black boots repaired (they need new heels)
80. Spend a weekend with my sister...just us, doing whatever we want
81. Get my car waxed (May 2010)
82. Convince one of my friends to play dress up in their wedding dress for a photo shoot
83. Keep the inside of my car clean for more than 3 consecutive days
84. Assist/2nd shoot a wedding
85. Watch New Moon
86. Take Addyson to the zoo
87. See George Strait in concert, again (tickets purchased)
88. Make a snow angel
89. Order new, personalized stationary
90. Have a picnic
91. Spend all day at my parents, on the back porch, watching a sporting event (NASCAR, basketball, football, etc)
92. Take some photos for Natasha's calligraphy business
93. Remember to take my headache medicine every night for an entire week
94. Send someone flowers, just because
95. Buy fresh flowers for my room or office, just because I love them
96. Develop an emergency fund
97. Have a picture made with my grandparents (even if it's just a snapshot)
98. Have dinner with my parents, Natasha, and her parents (we've been talking about it for 2 years now)
99. Go to a piano bar (other than The Big Bang)
100. Start taking vitamins
101. Create a new list of 101 goals on December 3, 2012