Bucket List

So I promised I would get this up and running. Keep checking back as I work to complete all 100 items on my bucket list :) Enjoy the journey with me!

Bucket List 2010

1. Spend a day at Disney World getting all the characters autographs

2.Drink around the world in Epcot
3. Disney Cruise pre children
4.Fundraise to Grant a Wish for Make a Wish
5.Buy season tickets to Michigan Wolverine Football
6.Build my dream home
--brick home, wrap around porch, a bay window,large entertainment first floor,game room in basement,master suite with large walk in closets, shower and large tub,five bedrooms,in ground pool and hot tub
7.Grant a wish on my own
8.attend a national championship game (preferable when Michigan is in it!)
9.See Beauty and the Beast the Musical
10.enter a karaoke contest
11.learn how to golf
12. run a half marathon by 30
13.join a tennis league
14.own a black SUV by 2012
15.go to a ballet
16.go to an opera
17.attend jamboree in the hills
18.attend scrap mania @ the mall of America
19.attend a red carpet event
20.stand in three states at once
21.sky dive
22.get a second tattoo by 2011
23.take a painting class
24.stay out all night and go to work the next day..just once
25.go on a house boat for a week
26. own property in South Haven
27. throw my parents a surprise party

This is where the Traveling part of my bucket list kicks in! Enjoy..this is my favorite stuff!

28. Visit ALL 50 States and take a picture with or of the state sign. Find out all the exciting,can't miss places in each state and live life to the fullest! Take TONS of pictures!
29. Alabama
---what is there to see in this state? any suggestions?
30. Alaska
-go on an Alaskan cruise-whale watching
31. Arizona
-stay in Scottsdale-visit the GRAND CANYON-Phoenix-
32.Arkansas
33.California
-Take a convertible ride up the pacific coast way-San Diego Zoo-San Fransisco(golden gate bride, ride the trolley)-LA(Hollywood,Grauman's Chinese Theater-Shopping on Rodeo Drive-Celebrity Tours-Nappa Valley)wine tasting)The OC-
34.Colorado
35.Connecticut
36.Delaware
37.Georgia
38.Florida
39.Hawaii
40.Idaho
41.Illinois
42.Indiana
43.Iowa
44.Kansas
45.Kentucky
46.Louisiana
47.Maine
48.Maryland
49.Massachusetts
50.Michigan
51.Minnesota
52.Mississippi
53.Missouri
54.Montana
55.Nebraska
56.Nevada
57.New Hampshire
58.New Jersey
59.New Mexico
60.New York
61.North Carolina
62.North Dakoda
63. Ohio
64.Oklahoma
65.Oregon
66.Pennsylvania
67.Rhode Island
68.South Carolina
69.South Dakota
70.Tennessee
*Memphis
-Graceland (I have always been a fan of Elvis, he is so dreamy)
-Chi Omega Headquarters
*Nashville
71. Texas
72.Utah
73.Vermont
74.Virgina
75. Washington
76.West Virginia
77.Wisconsin
78.Wyoming
79.See all the natural seven wonders
80.See all the man-made seven wonders
81.Go to all seven continents
82.North America-(US)-Canada-Mexico
83.Canada-Northern Lights-Niagara Falls(Maiden of the Mist)-Phantom of the Opera in Toronto
84.Mexico-Cabo-Cancun
85.South America
86.Brazil
87.Chile
88.Ecuador
89.Venezuela
90.Peru
91.Europe
92.France
93.Spain
94.Italy
95.Ireland
96.Scotland
97.Switzerland
98.Germany
99.Scotland
100.England
101.Greece
102.Holland
103. Belgium
104.Turkey
105.Iceland
106.Portugal
107.Australia
108.New Zealand
109.Asia
110.China
111.Japan
112.India
113.Israel
114.Antarctica
115.Africa
116.Egypt
117.Take a medaterranian cruise
118.Take a Cruise in the Caribbean
119. Tahiti

Bucket List

I am currently perfecting my bucket list (had to do one for work) so I thought I would update my followers on my progress. Check back this weekend for the list :) It was so fun to create and I can't wait to acheive it allllll !!!!!

WISH BIG

MAKE A WISH

In memory of my sister Heather I am raising $6,000 for the annual Make a Wish Zoo Walk at the Cleveland Zoo. It costs roughly 6k to grant a wish these days and I would LOVE to give back to a local family the way my family was so blessed to spend that amazing week in Hawaii with my big sister :)
Here is some background to my sisters journey. When my older sister Heather was 12 she began to complain about a pain on her left knee. Being a soft ball player the doctor just assumed she had pulled a muscle. After going for a second opinion our family found out the devastating news. Heather had bone cancer. That winter Heather went under chemotherapy and had her leg amputated up to her mid thigh. She and my mother spent alot of time in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan's children's hospital that year.
After a sudden downsizing at Dow Chemical our family decided to pick up and move back to Medina where my dad had grown up, had a job and we had originally lived for a few years prior to moving to Michigan.
Heather still underwent treatment at Rainbow Babies in Cleveland :)
While on remission Heather was approached by The Make a Wish Foundation and her wish was to go to Hawaii!
That summer our family braved the 239483209 hour flight over the Pacific to the most beautiful place on earth. Oahu was very good to our family. Heather got to train a dolphin, I danced in a Luau, we drove around the WHOLE island, my dad loved the DOLE Factory. We climbed a volcano, Diamond Head and went snorkeling! It was gorgeous there! And some of my very last memories of my big sister.
The following year the cancer returned in my her lungs and she did under go surgery to remove the tumors but there were to many to get them all out. She had the hardest time breathing and one day, her first day of her sophomore year, she was having the worst time trying to breathe. That night she went to the hospital and never came home. August 30th 1995. This year will be 15 years since she has been gone. Also on August 6th would have been her 30th birthday.
I can't explain the pain I have felt these past 15 years. Being 11 when she died, I didn't understand the reality that I would never see my big sister again in this life. As I have gotten older and my mind has matured the pain has deepened.
Heather was a selfless individual. She was strong and fiercely independent. At the ages of 12-15 she underwent way more than most in their life times. I have yet to come across anyone as grown up as her at that age. She was brilliant, always an A student, and she LOOOOVED kids. Especially infants. She worked in our church nursery. She loved it. She wanted to be an attorney for children when she went to college, at the University of Michigan. She loved to keep stats for my dads baseball team and the guys loved her too. She was the light of my grandparents lives and my moms shining star, but above all she was and is the BEST big sister that ever lived and not a day goes by that she doesn't cross my mind..who she'd be today :)
Please support me in granting a wish in support of my sister :)

http://makeawishohio.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=347818&lis=0&kntae347818=E9974539B7634AF6B27F38BE3A161C89&supId=288388646

Enjoy the pictures!

My mom and sister

me and my big sister :)

In our favorite place, SOUTH HAVEN


first holiday after being diagnosed, such a quiet picture, but says so much



Just arrived in Honolulu!!

training dolphins!

playing with Fergus

my favorite picture of her :) @ Diamond Head

come on you all know you had matching outfits!

Word Vomit

I got this idea from my friend Kelsey. What a fun idea..lets see what I can come up with in five minutes





i love my job, it is what I wanted, hoping to make more money as I go, I have become money driven and don't feel like that is bad thing. I worry about my momma health and well being, she is my role model and I won't make it in this world with out her. My dad is amazing. I couldn't ask for a better relationship for us. He motivates me and keeps me grounded, and he loves me like I am his own and I just feel so lucky. I miss my sister alot, even more lately. I see alot of my friends get married and standing next to them is their sister. I am jealous. but not in a bad way. I wish we could experience things like falling in love, weddings, babies and etc together. I love you Heather. I have the greatest friends. I am so lucky to have four that I tell my whole life story to and dozens more that I have an amazing time with and enjoy our relationships so much. Two of my friends are preparing to have babies in June, I could not be more excited!! I can't wait until they are here. My ex boyfriend is an ass..and I remind myself everyday that I got the better end of this deal. I miss my grandma, she was such an amazing spirit and life is not the same with out her. My dog is awesome. He sleeps alot but he is gorgeous. He is my bestfriend. I love how he loves me :) I ove pictures and tv and all sorts of things. GOD is number one to me and want to continue to grow our relationship. i love tootsie rolls. haha. and South Haven, it is a magical place to me and my family. I want to have four children, better get on finding a husband ..haha.

It is well with my soul

My amazingly brave,strong,and loving grandma lost her battle on January 28th after 18 months of fighting brain cancer. In August of 08,when she had her first stroke, I slowly watched the grandma I had known for 23 years turn into someone I will never forget. I feel inlove with her all over again. The tumor had for the most part made it impossible for her to do ANYTHING on her own, however her personality changed as well. My grandma was always the one who did everything for our family. She was the glue. She is an inspiration. And while she wasn't the same grandma for the last 18 months of her life, she was SUCH a pleasure to be around. I will forever be thankful for the fact that I lived just 20 minutes away and visit her alot. In the last week of her life I would just lay next to her, and the only words she would attempt to say was an answer back to me when I would say "i love you". she couldn't say it, but she would try. And she could squeeze my hand..I will never forget those last moments. I am so sad that she is gone. My heart breaks for my grandpa who is trying to manage through life with out her. Who might I add, gave her service(he is a minister) talking about gut wrenching. And my mom who took care of her for 18 months, along with fighting cancer herself. My grandma was laid to rest very close to my sister and I just know they are up in Heaven laughing, and making mashed potatoes and saving a spot for the rest of us. And that, alone gives me overwhelming peace. :)

me and my grandma at my cousins wedding 1 month before she got sick

us in Christmas with our matching pjs!

she's beautiful

Much to update

I have had one crazy week. Check back with me in a few days and I will update you on two life changing events that happened in one week...one exciting..one incredibly sad. Happy blogging friends :)

"Get up and finish what you started"

So I know, I know..I'm several life changing seasons late..but I have found a new love...The Biggest Loser. I don't make it out of one 60 minute episode without crying. For those of you who haven't watched just one episode, try it..especially if you have ever felt bad for yourself about not being able to lose a few pounds. Tuesdays at 8..NBC. Jillian Michaels is seriously my hero. I would give anything for her to be my trainer. I do have (with the suggestions of my friends Ana and Julie) 20 day shred...and needless to say I've only made it through like five days..and since my surgery I can't do much more than ride the bike and lift. But one day..I will let Jillian yell at me for a month straight ;)

So do you have favorites yet? I can't believe the red team. The wife in particular, throwing the weigh in, and I dislike the green team just as much. Ugh their body language(the crossed arms and pouting faces) ticks me off so much. How ungrateful can you be? Pull yourself together and alskdfjslkjf ugh I just want to hit them in the face. Right now I am rooting for the black team, the orange team and the Hawaiian cousins, grey team.