The Princess Guide: Your Task....

That bottom picture is from three years ago, when the girls and I posed in the original "Tiara in Training" shirts.  I miss that curly red hair of Abbie's.  Like REALLY miss it.

So I have a task and a challenge for you.  The thing is, it's been a LONG time since Team Tiara has raised less than $100,000 for the 3-Day.  But this year we're still a ways short of that.

PLEASE help us reach the $100,000 mark by the time we leave for the Walk on November 3!!! You can just go to www.the3day.org/goto/teamtiararocks and make a donation under the name of any walker who has not reached the $2300 minimum REQUIRED to walk. 

Thanks!  You ROCK!

The Princess Guide: My Pink Parade Continues!!!

Yep, bringing on the Sass again today!  We're headed to the Rice game tonight, so this shirt will only get me through so far.  (Rice Fight! Never Die!)  But that's all right -- I'm sure I can spread its message a bit before we head to the game.

This is a BIG week for Team Tiara.  We've got a lot going on.  My favorite part?  Thursday night is Team Tiara Houston's "Bling it On" night.  Biggs' favorite part? We get AT&T Uverse on Friday.  I have no idea what that means other than the fact that we won't be thinking "Comcast Sucks" nearly so often!  As long as I get to watch Revenge on Wednesday nights and Big Bang on Thursday, I'm good.

I CAN tell you the Ragweed numbers are up today -- my Ragweed-ometer is off the charts!

It's crazy to think that two weeks from now I'll be walking in the 3-Day.  This Walk has really become like Christmas to me.  And I'm counting down anxiously!!!

The Princess Guide: Putting Some Sass in my Frass.

I am SO not feeling Sassy today -- I've got a lot on my plate and on my heart and just really don't know what to think about it all.  But.... Two weeks from today Team Tiara will be launching our 2011 3-Day experience -- and that means I've GOT to start getting some Sass in my Frass!

So.... Today, I pulled a particularly fun shirt out of the closet.  AND I had a meeting up at school!!! So... I put on my brand-new D'Lupe jacket (you can't be too sassy at school) and headed up there.

I'm home now, jacket off, and working on putting our office back together.  Sort-of.

This is going to be short, sweet and to the point.  If Team Tiara could reach $100,000 on our fundraising thermometer by the 3-Day, I'll leap for joy.  Can you help with that???  www.the3day.org/goto/teamtiararocks -- just click on any name that hasn't reached the $2300 mark.

Thanks!

The Princess Guide: Thankful Thursday

So.... Today is Thankful Thursday, and while I'm extremely thankful for my new hardwood floors (had to include them in today's picture), I'm also very thankful for our friends over at Mitsubishi Forklift of Houston. 

Those guys ROCK. 

For the last few years, they have come up with several different ways to promote breast cancer awareness -- especially in men.  And it all started with an email that went something like, "We'd like to paint a forklift pink. Can you help us?"  We did help, and the "Real Men Drive Pink" campaign was born!

Their support has continued, and their latest effort includes these way cool pink trash cans.  Don't you need one?  Or one of each of the THREE sizes they come in??

Kick Breast Cancer to the Curb

These pink rolling trash carts serve two purposes. The first is that for each cart you purchase, $5.00 will be donated to Team Tiara.  $5 will also be donated to the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer awareness initiatives.

Second, Pink Carts make an unmistakably bold statement about their owner’s passion for ending breast cancer. These carts catch your eye, and they remind women to schedule regular exams so that they can find breast cancer early when they have the best chance of beating it through treatment. Pink Carts can help raise awareness and save lives in our community.

Sizes and pricing are listed below:
35 Gallon: $50.00 + tax
64 Gallon: $60.00 + tax
96 Gallon: $80.00 + tax

Contact Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks of Houston to purchase one today! 713-365-7600 or info@mitlifthouston.com

To learn more about this program you can visit

www.thepinkcart.com and to find out more about Cascade Cart Solutions and their universal carts you can visit their website at www.cascadecartsolutions.com.

See???

You need them.

Now.... With all the floor craziness around here yesterday, I forgot to do "You Knew Me When" Wednesday!  So, without further adieu, here is "You Knew Me When" Wednesday Thursday.

"You Knew Me When" Wednesday Thursday... If you knew me in the days of SOAR, AFC, Sadie Hawkins, Denim & Diamonds, The Hall, Thread the Needle, Midnight Yell, BTHOB, Farmers Fight, Elephant Walk, Taco Cabana, Reveille, Gumby's Double Dammit, 12th Man, Double Dave's Pizza Rolls, Kleberg, Saddle & Sirloin, Dunking my Ring, ACT, AGJR, "I've got a story for ya, Ags," The Bench, Tuesday Night Devos, Neeley Knockouts, Weeklongs, Weekend Trips, 42, Spades, Camp Hensel, Wild West Tour, Cotton Bowls, BBQ Class, Big Hair, HLS&R, Texas 4-H Center, Aerials, Rockies, Ski Cooper, KC Ballroom, George Strait (Oh wait! That one's Timeless!), WHOOP! -- This is your day to make a donation to the Breast Cancer 3-Day! It means you knew me at A&M! If you knew me then, I ask you to go to www.the3day.org/goto/teamtiararocks and make a donation in the name of one of my teammates who has not reached the $2300 minimum required to walk.   Thank you!!!!

The Princess Guide: Going "Postal"

Dude... I have no idea whose fingerprint on the lens messed up this picture. But I do know that if you hear about a chick in the post office putting another customer in his place, that was me. And it's all true.  I just get so darn frustrated when people don't respect those who are doing them a service -- particularly if they're government employees and not paid very well.  Especially when it makes a scene and takes up MY time. Especially when I'm anxious to get home and see what my new floors are looking like.

Anyway, that's neither here nor there -- except that I may or may not have a raging case of PMS and today was NOT the day to throw a fit in the Post Office.

Anyways.... It's pleasantly cool here again today, and I'm sporting our Camo Sweatshirt from a couple of years ago.  This is also one of my "faves" -- and I think it's the only time I've ever been threatened with a "lawyer letter" during this quest.  Apparently our original version of the quote on the back didn't deviate enough from the original-original quote. BUT we fixed it and moved on.

Now.... I'm gonna get up on my soapbox for a minute.  (The word sopapilla flashed through my head as I was typing that -- yummy!)  Anyway, crazy things have been happening on this little blog and you need to know about it.

I usually run about 700 hits a month on my blog -- not a lot.  But I guess that means all four of you come around pretty often.  The crazy thing is that with the 38 days of Pinktober I'm going to hit about 4,000 hits in October.  I know.  NUTS. 

Those 4,000 hits would be a TOTAL waste if you just looked at my "Pink shirt of the day" and went on your way.  TOTAL waste.

I'm asking you to do more than enjoy the Pink. I'm asking you to help us make a difference.

I'm asking you to go to www.teamtiara.net and click on anything that will get you off the front page -- then make a donation via PayPal and our donation button.

Any amount helps.  Your donation will go to survivor support, to providing mammograms for women who lack health insurance, to just about any need we can find that needs to be filled.

I'm asking you to go to www.the3day.org/goto/teamtiararocks and make a donation under the name of any team member who has not reached the $2300 mark. Kayren Babcock, Amy Martin and Krista Liller are three of the ones I'd choose.  Not all of our team members are still planning to walk, but those three are -- and all have had extenuating circumstances this year that have made fundraising difficult.  All three could use your help. 

I'm asking you to make a difference. To think before you Pink.  To remember that Pink is just a reminder to take ACTION.  Action that will save lives.  Pinktober will only get us so far.

The Princess Guide: Check out These Jeans!!!

No, it's not that they're the best-ever jeans. It's that they're JEANS!  And they're perfectly suited to this amazing weather that blew in overnight.  It's downright cool outside this morning. I'm making chili for dinner tonight, the kiddos are running around in Polar Fleece, and the Mama is LOVING wearing her some JEANS!!! 

Know what else I'm loving??  These Team Tiara T-shirts that came in yesterday!!! And guess what?? We have more if you just haven't ordered yours yet!!  We have short sleeve and long sleeve in both styles.  Random mix of sizes in Youth and Adult.  More of the "Strong Beki" shirts than we do the Monkey shirts.

If you want one, or more!, please let me know ASAP!  dlyn@teamtiara.net.

Speaking of Strong Beki, that girl needs your prayers!  She's one of  Team Tiara's greatest champions and is facing some big, fat, scary health issues.  Please pray for our sweet Beki!

We're only 16 days from walking in the 3-Day, and I'm starting to feel a bit of a YIKES! feeling!!!  I'm sure it's because I haven't really been able to train in a month, and the floor guys are coming today to create complete chaos in my house, and I'm picking up my new orthotics today and praying they will work perfectly from the start with no adjustments, and it's Pinktober.  Really, the fact that it's Pinktober explains it all. 

I've got all my socks, skirts, clothes, etc.  And I've got the hair pretties and shoe pretties made.  And I'm ordering my treats for our team today.  Things are coming together....  Or at least they will in 16 more days!

The Princess Guide: Not Feeling all that Shiny.

Good Morning!!!

I chose this shirt today to hopefully help me get my Shine on!  It's not working yet.  But hopefully it will!!!

It's not that it's foggy outside....  Although I am ready for that to dissipate. 

You see, I kinda wrecked my bike a few weeks ago -- water bottles and bike basket flew everywhere.  I got up and rode 16 miles. Then I walked 7 miles the next day.  Then I realized I'm not 20 anymore.

Something happened with my back in that process, and it's just not the same.  This is NOT the news you want to share 18 days before a 60-mile walk. 

Frustrated does not even begin to share how I feel.

It was doing better.  I still had a bit of soreness, but it was better.  So much so that when I finally was able to see the chiropractor last week, we focused on how to make my back stronger and prevent future injury. 

Sounded pretty good.

Until I got home and realized just that chiro visit had set it off again.

And then yesterday I was packing and moving china and crystal, so the floor guys could install hardwoods -- and I could unpack the china and crystal next weekend. 

And this morning, getting this 40-year-old me out of bed was not the easiest.

So.... I'm trying to get my Shine on.  And wearing the best shirt for it!

This is a "vintage" Tiara shirt, but if you're just dying to own a couple, we still have One Youth Medium and One Youth Small.  They can be yours for $15 each. Just let me know! dlyn@teamtiara.net

The Princess Guide: I Would Have Missed This.

Hi Peeps!

It's taken me awhile to get around to the computer today.  Weekends are like that.  Biggsy is home and tends to monopolize the computer and office.  It's not as big an issue as it used to be -- thanks to my Crackberry and iPad.  But it's still an issue.

I really did want to get this picture up for you, because this particular Pink shirt is so very meaningful to me.  This is my "Trusting with Tracie" shirt, and the message it holds for me isn't the scripture printed on the back (although that's great) -- it's a different message.

You see, when Tracie Webb was diagnosed with breast cancer, I had no idea who she was. I think we'd been going to church at West Houston for six months or so -- and I wasn't in the loop. At all.  I just heard that this girl named Tracie had been diagnosed.  When some of her friends began selling shirts, I bought shirts for both Abbie and me.

The shirts are definitely a "Junior" fit -- and until now I really haven't been that comfortable wearing it.  But it's stayed in my closet amid all the Pink -- waiting patiently.

Today was THE DAY to wear this shirt.  We were helping West Houston serve lunch at the Impact Church of Christ downtown.  We're not exactly attending West Houston right now (I guess I can say that since the cat pretty much appears to be out of the bag.)  But we still are a part of our Small Group and wanted to join them this morning.

I needed to wear something casual (which fits perfectly where we HAVE been attending church.)  And this shirt was perfect for today.  You can't see that I'm wearing my $15 jeans from White House Black Market that are AMAZING.  Let me just tell you -- I ROCK in these jeans.  But that's neither here nor there.  And it's probably not very important that I tell you that during church Biggsy leaned over to tell me I was dressed like a teenager.  But you know what? At 40, I'll take that!

I know, I know.... Land the plane.

Okay. So, Komen has a campaign going lately where they're asking women to tell them what they would have missed if they hadn't been proactive about breast cancer.  This campaign has driven me nuts. 

Nuts, I tell you.

You see, in my "poor pity me" world, all I could think of was what I HAVE missed because breast cancer took my Mom.  And believe me, it's a long list.

But today I realized that if Tracie hadn't been proactive, I would have missed knowing HER.  You see, after two (?) years at West Houston, I didn't know many more people than I did when Tracie was diagnosed.  So chances are I wouldn't have found her.  I would have missed out on knowing a precious friend.  But because Tracie WAS diagnosed, and she IS alive and beautiful, and we DID have that link, I've gotten to know her. She's absolutely precious.  And she and her crew keep my truck (also known as the "Boobie Mobile") moving on down the road. 

This shirt is just a reminder of all that!

The Princess Guide: I'm Not in Pain.

Wow.  Bad picture.  I know it looks like I'm in pain, but I'm not.  If it weren't already 9:30 p.m., and the kids weren't already headed to bed, I'd have my official photographer (Abbie) do a retake. 

Here's a slightly better picture from early in the summer....

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be so concerned about getting today's picture right.  However, I spent much of yesterday "designing" Team Tiara's World Headquarters. 

You're probably wondering just what that involved.  Mainly -- getting all the pink Tiara "stuff" moved out of our house and into our new office building. 

Yep -- that's it!  All it needs is a bit more pink, and maybe a few boas here and there. 

Pretty exciting, isn't it??

Guess what?

It gets even better!

I've decided Team Tiara needs to have a Moving Sale!  We have a very limited supply of "Love Pink" shirts (see photo above).  These can be YOURS! They're $15 each, and I still have:

3 -- Adult Small
1 -- Adult Medium
4 -- Adult Large
4 -- Adult X-Large!

Just let me know if you want one!!!!

Email:
dlyn@teamtiara.net

The Princess Guide: No One Can Replace Your Mom

I remember when Mom passed away and several people told us they'd fill her gap for us.  We were "theirs."  I can't tell you how comforting that was at the time.  And really, I had no idea how much we'd need that.

The crazy thing is -- no one can ever really do that. No one can completely fill the void you have after losing your Mom.  But you know what?  While no ONE person has filled that void, several people who don't even know each other have combined forces to at least make sure it's not quite as big as it once was.

It didn't happen immediately. And some of it was trial and error.  And some of what we need has changed over time.  Four years ago I was a MESS.  I needed to be held up and helped up and all sorts of things.  As time has passed, I'm not such a MESS anymore.  And some of my friendships have adjusted, I guess you'd say, to take that into account.

I can't possibly name everyone who has stepped in to fill that gap.  Over time, Kayren has become the person I go to the most when I need to share -- good, bad, you name it.  We talk about five - 10 times a day -- thank goodness for free long-distance!

Kayren has the amazing talent of listening, and offering insight -- but not offering instruction.  You know I hate being told what to do.

My Aunt Dot is another one who has stepped in -- and I'm getting big, fat tears in my eyes just writing about that.  She is AMAZING.  She has been such a support to me and to Team Tiara -- everyone on Team Tiara.  And that really cute shirt in today's picture? She sent that to me!  When I put out the call for more Pink Shirts, I really didn't think anyone would help -- but she did!  (A'Lise sent me one, too -- but I'm still about 5 lbs. away from being able to wear that one.  As soon as I can, I'll share a picture!)

Aunt Dot shows in a hundred million ways how much I'm loved.  She and Uncle Lane both build me up more than they'll ever know.  And really, have you ever seen a cuter shirt????

I'm not someone that lives life with a lot of regrets.  I don't sit on the couch eating bon-bons, and I never get bored.  That's the beauty of being ADD.  One of my great regrets, though, would be that I never knew my sweet friend Ruthie saw me as another daughter.  She never told me because she didn't want me to think she was trying to replace my Mom.

But you know what?  She was another one who helped fill that void -- and while I won't be able to see her again this side of Heaven, I'll sure tell her all about that when I get there someday.  I think the highest compliment she ever gave me was when she told Kelly, "You know, D'Lyn is like a member of our family we just never get to see." 

And while Ruthie's battle with cancer was scary and terrible and her loss weighed so heavy -- I praise God for letting us see each other so often through that process. 

Ruthie's legacy to me was this "Daughter" charm, but I didn't get it until after she was gone.  I'll be wearing it on the Walk this year as I walk for two of my "Moms." 

I guess if there's a moral to this story, it's that if you know of someone who has lost their Mom -- particularly at a younger age -- they will have this incredibly huge void.  Please don't hesitate to step in and fill that void.  Those of you who do are just precious. 

The Princess Guide: Whupped.

Whew.  I have run all-out today. I got Kait to school this morning, spread some Team Tiara Thankful Thursday cheer, took Abs to the Orthodontist (Braces in two weeks!), ran to the Gypsy Market, bought a few Christmas gifts, back to Fairfield for a Chiropractor appt. (Nothing's wrong -- thank goodness!), got the girls, finished making the shoe pretties for Team Tiara, Abbie to a hitting lesson, back home, floor installer-guy came to do an estimate, put together the "Chapter Books" Sock Hop Basket for Mrs. Deckard's class, and just sat down.   

I've had no time to post today's picture -- one of my favorite shirts ever (does that sound familiar?) because last year we highlighted our FIFTH year to walk in the DFW 3-Day.



 Beyond thinking of today as Thankful Thursday, I've also been thinking of it as $1000 Thursday.  Can you PLEASE help me get two of my walker friends to the $1000 mark? Just go to www.the3day.org/goto/teamtiararocks and click on Julie Mullen or Amy Martin.  Any amount will help!!

Thank you!!!

And now, a picture of the "Chapter Books" basket donated by Mrs. Deckard's 5th Grade Class. If you're at the Sock Hop tomorrow night, you're going to want this one!  I added up the "List Price" of all the books and it came to over $400!!!  These parents ROCK!!!!