The Princess Guide: It Started with an Old Red Barn

Last winter, when I first had this crazy idea of producing a calendar of pink quilts, I contacted anyone and everyone I could think of to see if they'd help.

I told you the story a few months ago. What I didn't tell you was that the quilts kinda got lost in the mail on the way home from Virginia. I think the Pony Express broke down somewhere around Nashville, and it took them about a month to get home.

I was a bit stressed.

But Home they came. Safe and Sound.

"Hope Knows No Bounds" is perhaps the most "famous" of the Red Barn quilts. It seems to be the one with the biggest following. This quilt was our July 2010 Calendar Girl, and really is quite lovely.

The caption reads: "Hope Knows No Bounds" Created by the Old Red Barn Quilt-Along. This Quilt-Along quilt was pieced by quilters in 10 states, Canada and New Zealand. It was quilted by Nichol Hardy, who lost a friend to breast cancer and has watched other loved ones face cancer. She says, "This quilt was made with love and hope that we can someday find a cure."

This quilt measures 54" x 60"

To place a pre-bid, you can send me an email to dlyn (at) teamtiara (dot) net. Please remember, the only way you can guarantee this incredible piece of art goes home with you is to attend the Team Tiara Gala on October 2 in Houston. You can purchase Gala tickets at www.teamtiara.net.

It all started with an Old Red Barn....

The Princess Guide: Want One of "The Girls?"

Hi Ya'll!

Remember last spring, when my friend Amanda and I were driving up and down Hwy. 290 twenty times a day searching out the best places to take pictures of "The Girls?"

Remember how we made those pictures into a beautiful calendar? (Which you can still buy for $20 each, by the way! They run through December 2011 and make GREAT Christmas gifts!)

Well... Here's the deal. Beginning October 1, Team Tiara will be selling "The Girls" at auction to raise money for this big, stinking fight we're in against breast cancer.

Seven of the quilts will be sold at the Team Tiara Gala on October 2. The only way to guarantee you get one of those beauties is for you to be present at the Gala. However, circumstances being what they are, I know some of you may be in Timbuktu. So.... Between now and then, I will be featuring those Seven Quilts on my blog.

If you would like to place a pre-bid on any of them, I'd love to help you with that. You can send an email to dlyn@teamtiara.net. On the night of the auction, one of our loyal subjects (er, spouses), will happily bid in your place.

Serious inquiries only, please. You have no idea how crazy things are around here right now.

So.... Drumroll, Please.....

I think it's only appropriate that the first quilt I show you is our "Cover Girl." Pink Baby Dreams was created by Simone Grillo, our dear friend and owner of Threadart (www.threadart.com) in Cypress. Opening Bid is $100. Remember, all monies raised will go to breast cancer research, education and help for those who battling this disease.

Please specify the name of the quilt in your email.

We had a blast with this quilt. And a lot of adventures.

This picture is the "final shot" we chose for the cover:

But this picture was the one that stole my heart:

Loved this one, too!

And, oh! The Easter eggs! (Carla and Grant gave me that rocking chair when I graduated from high school.)

And check this out.... This picture was taken in the exact same place as the one at the top -- just a week earlier. It's crazy the difference a week makes with the bluebonnets!!

The Princess Guide: Walker-Stalkers Needed!

Hey guys!
Kayren Babcock, Alexia Rodriguez, Amy Martin, Kelley Blake, Andi Ginn and Patty Peters are managing our onsite support during the Breast Cancer 3-Day this year (November 6-8.)

They are looking for several fun peeps to help with walker-stalking. You can do it one day or all three, solo or team up, bring a friend along with you. it's as much or as little as you want it to be.... BUT it's a vital service for our walkers! (This year we have 79 walkers on our team, celebrating FIVE years of walking the 3-Day -- and over $350,000 raised for breast cancer research!!!)

The ideal walker-stalker drives around in a well-decorated vehicle with room to carry stranded walkers from our team -- and give them a ride to the next pit stop or let them join in the fun for the rest of the day.

They'll have homemade signs, or streamers, or noise makers or pom-poms or costumes or all the above. They cannot be afraid to yell the word "Boobies" (in all manner of applications, i.e. "Save the Boobies!") in public. Men and children are also encouraged to be walker-stalkers. Silliness is a plus. Fun is a MUST.

During the walk, if your knees are hurting, or your blisters are bigger than Dallas, you're welcome to join the walker-stalkers and cheer on the rest of the team members!

Team Tiara will supply each support vehicle with the "necessities" -- mainly caffeine and chocolate.

If you can help, please Kayren (kayrenbabcock (at) yahoo.com) and/or Alexia (alexiarod30 (at) yahoo.com) know. They'll get back in touch with you soon!!!

Love ya'll!
- d.

The Princess Guide: "You Knew Me When" Wednesday

Once again, courtesy of Kayren.... This is what we put on our Facebook Page today! Feel free to steal! Or Donate!

"You Knew Me When" Wednesday.... If you knew me in the days of parachute pants, feathered hair, big hair, stock shows, Electric Camp, George Strait (Oh wait! That one's Timeless!) -- This is your day to make a donation to the Breast Cancer 3-Day! It means you knew me in Jr. High or High School- If you knew me then, I... ask you to go to my home page to see why I walk 60 miles in 3 Days: www.the3day.org/goto/imissmymom.

What I'm Doing Today:
I'm sorry I haven't been here in the last few days. It's been kinda busy, and I've got something that's been stirring around in my heart that I need to share with you. I'm just searching for the right words. I do that a lot -- I often pray while I'm riding my bike. But I also think about the four of you who read my blog and think about what I should share with you.

I'm about done percolating -- I should be after 14 miles on Monday, 25 on Tuesday, and 10 today. Today is kinda stacked, so I may not get it done today. But I'll try.

In the meantime, please, please, please be praying for:

My dear friend Julie Long who lost both her Grandmother and Great-Grandmother this last week. They're having a mother/daughter funeral today in Colorado, and I wish I could be there to hold her hand.

For Chip & Lisa Bloecher -- if you're on Facebook, search for "Pray for Chip Bloecher" and you can find out more about their specific prayer needs. They're from The Branch.

Pray for Team Tiara. This is a stressful, busy time for us. Pray for all our hearts. Pray for an extra measure of energy through the next six weeks. And pray that we will always treat each other with grace in our hearts.

Thanks.

The Princess Guide: 50/50/50

So... I Love that Kayren Babcock any time of year. BUT I especially love her at 3-Day Time of Year when we talk every day. Every. Day. We share ideas and inspiration and a complaint or two along the way. But especially ideas.

Kayren had this AWESOME idea for today. Exactly 50 days from today, we'll be pumped up, jazzed up, probably freezing our tushies off, and hitting the trail. That's right. FIFTY days from today. (YIKES!)

So... Auntie K-K (as my girls call her) decided we need to make this Friday:

Fun, Fabulous, Fantastic Fundraising Friday!

Okay. I confess. I just got a bit carried away. BUT I LOVE alliteration and that just happens every now and then, right? (Of course, I love Onomatopoia more.)

Anyways, today being "Fun, Fabulous, Fantastic Fundraising Friday," we have a goal! We're working to get 50 of our friends (or friends of friends) to donate $50. Get it?


50 Days Out / 50 Friends / $50!!!

Can you help???

Your Challenge for Today:
Your challenge is to implement this fantastic 50/50/50 goal! Use Facebook. Use Twitter. Use Email. Use the Party Line at your Grandma's house. (Oh wait. That was 1979.) Let's see if we can all get 50 friends to donate $50!

Please leave a comment! And let me know how this works for you!

What I'm Doing Today:

I kinda took yesterday off for Ladies' Bible Class, lunch with "the girls" and other stuff. Today, it's back on the bike. BUT....

Even better, today is Kait's Birthday #8!!! (I believe in Birthday Week, but today is the "official" day.) So today we're gonna be doing a bit of Celebrating!!!

The Princess Guide: I'm in Love. Again.

As of today, I've been married 12 years, 362 days. Happily married. Blissfully married.

BUT.... I've just fallen in love again. With www.moo.com.

I'm not even going to tell you how late I stayed up last night making business cards. You can use 50 different pictures..... Narrowing down all these years of the 3-Day into 50 favorite pictures??? CRAZY.

But, Oh, I can't wait for my cards to land on my doorstep. Each picture evokes a memory. A story. A warm, fuzzy feeling. And while it may look like me, me, me, me, me.... I soon realized it would create a bit of confusion if I had my favorite picture of Dione Beilgard on the back of one of my cards.

Not all of these made the cut, but here are my faves....

Team Tiara 2008:

I've always loved this picture. Each and every team member brings something to our team. Lisa Street brought "The Sign."

'Nuf said.

Linda takes my Mom to San Diego with her.....

Opening Ceremonies 2008. Carrying a flag was the coolest thing ever.

The Memory Tent. Instant tears.

All those walkers united in one effort.

Team Talent Reunion 2008 -- 1 mile out. This is right before I got trapped in the shuttle van.

Closing Ceremonies 2007. The year we lost Mom. Our first year as a "Real Team."

Suzi & I with Jenne. 2007.

Sunday morning. 2007. Biggsy and the girls surprised me. I'd lost my Mom's bracelet -- and needed that more than anyone ever knew.

LOVE IT!

The sign wasn't meant for me -- but so what???

Suzi & I 2007.

Opening Ceremonies 2007. Dang, it was cold.

Team Tiara 2007.

2009 -- LOVE THIS PICTURE!

Sunday morning 2009. "Water Feature."

Memory Tent 2009.

Team Tiara & Team Talent. Together Again!

Love those tents!

Michelle kept me going.

Mom shows up every year:

How cool is this car???

With Amy & Cissa -- Arriving at camp.

Cissa & I pose with Amy & Meghan. Team Talent strikes again!

With Joan and Kim.

With Lois & Cissa -- at Lois' house. Team Talent strikes again!

With Linda -- she helps me make sure the Tiaras get to the people who need them the most....

Love this picture!

Had to get this picture -- we took the kids to see Mary Poppins last year!

Where were you??

Dione, Amy & Robin.... How could you not do this Walk???

Team Tiara 2009

The Talent. LA 2007. One of the most incredible experiences of my life!

Man, I miss that Stephanie!

We will win this war!

Tears. Gulp.

Three Aggies. Three Walkers. Three women who lost their Moms to "The Beast."

It doesn't get much cuter than this.....

Love these girls! I walk for them!!!

Really doesn't get much cuter than this....

I use this sign every year.....

With Cissa-girl.

Suzi & Cissa -- more Team Talent!

Walkers turned Walker-Stalkers ROCK!

I walk for my Mom.

She shows up everywhere.....

Michelle Olson ROCKS!

Gonna miss Lisa Street this year!!!!

Kayren, sister of my heart!

Dione -- a woman with a Passion.

Cheri -- She's Fighting for her LIFE.

Amy -- My Boobie Sistah.