(September 23, 2009) 17 miles this Saturday? OMG!!

The way I see it, I will be walking to downtown Dallas this weekend… from San Antonio! This is going to be my first walk that is about the same distance I will be walking each day for the 3 Day. I’ve been slacking a bit lately so I’m a little (read a LOT) scared. Thank goodness I am on an amazing team of women and men, as they may need to carry me on their backs Saturday. C’mon 3 Day!!!

(August 19, 2009)  D’Vine Wine ROCKS!

If you’ve never been to a barrel tasting, you are missing out. I was planning on attending my 2nd barrel tasting at D’Vine Wine in Grapevine (TX) last weekend. I had gone to the initial tasting about 9 months ago and I had a blast. It was time for the 2nd tasting of the wine. Between the hors d’oeuvres (yes, I had to Google that), the tastings of wines before the barrel tasting, and the actual barrel tasting, I was in Heaven. Fresh from the barrel, they pull wine using a long baster/syringe-looking thing called a “wine thief” and pour it slowly into your glass.

Needless to say, I was really looking forward to the evening. I gave Sebastian a call to ask him if I could bring along some special Babycakes in hopes of raising a little money towards my goal of $2300 for the 3 Day Walk for a Cure. I would offer Babycakes to each of his guests and they could donate whatever was in their heart. He was more than enthusiastic.

The cake needed to be pink and it needed a nice liqueur twist. I tossed around Pink Limoncello Babycake (Limoncello & vodka), Pink Passion Babycake (X Rated liqueur & vodka), and a few other pink ideas. Then, of course! A Strawberry Daiquiri Babycake with Rum Lime Glaze.  I spent an afternoon in BF’s kitchen experimenting with strawberry preserves, fresh strawberries, frozen strawberries, lime juice, limeade, lime zest, and lots and lots of rum.

The next morning, with the new recipe in hand, I headed to the Southlake kitchen to bake up a batch of 80 cakes–50 for D’Vine Wine and 30 for a Slow Food gathering later that weekend. It was great fun baking something so pink!

Friday night I arrived at D’vine with my basket full of Strawberry Daiquiri Babycakes and a lump in my throat (I would never make it as a salesman). Silly me, I had nothing to worry about. Within an hour, the D’Vine Wine team had “sold” over 50 cakes. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe the generosity of everyone in that room. I couldn’t believe the outpouring of love and support and CASH!!!

All told, I brought 55 cakes and walked out with over $300 in donations.

On behalf of all daughters, moms, and sisters… thank you D’Vine Wine!

(August 2, 2009)  What was I thinking?

My girl friend Martha and I were having lunch yesterday at our new favorite hangout, Chef Point Cafe. We talked about the typical musings of everyone we know (all in good fun of course) and then talked about this being her 2nd year to do the 3 Day Walk for breast cancer. I had been thinking about joining her this year. See, my Mom died of ovarian and colon cancer in 1997 at age 55, and my sister died of pancreatic cancer in 1992 at age 25. All three cancers are related to the breast cancer gene, or the BRACA gene.

So there I was, thinking about joining her in the walk. But I couldn’t really make the commitment. I was too, well, busy. Busy trying to get my new business off the ground. Too busy networking. The home office had to get organized. I had things to do on the weekends, especially things to do early in the morning when they do those god awful training walks. Just so darned busy.

Really. Too busy? Ok, I finally admitted it. I was just too um… lazy. Too lazy to get my butt out of bed at 5 a.m. Too lazy to commit to walking 4-5 times a week. And waaaay too lazy to walk Saturday AND Sunday mornings. Just too busy. Ahem, I mean lazy.

Then I got to thinking… too lazy to help find a cure that I might very well need some day? Too lazy to help fund research that WILL save other moms and sisters one day? Too busy? Too lazy? Really.

So I committed right then and there, over a heaping bowl of to-die-for bread pudding. I committed to joining her team Pink Soles in Motion and start training, even if it meant getting up at 5 a.m. and walking on the weekends.

“Great!” she said. “We’re meeting tomorrow morning at 5:45 in Coppell for a 6 mile walk.” Uh, huh? Tomorrow morning? Like, 12 hours from now? But I don’t have shoes. I don’t have sox. How can I possibly walk if I don’t have good walking sox? And 6 miles? That’s like walking to Southlake Town Square from my house! I thought I’d take baby steps. You know, a mile or so the first day. And wait a minute!!! You lost a toenail last year! I remember that!

What was I thinking?

(You can see my 3 Day Walk personal page here)