Relay for Life Raises Thousands

I was Italian Friday night. Hey it's Rob. Let me explain.

I hosted the kick off celebration for Campbell County's Relay for Life Friday night.

The extended Pangallo family gave me this shirt to wear. It reads, "Team Italia." I'm sure Frank Marzullo and Meghan Mongillo would approve. Pretty dorky picture, huh.

This year's relay was held under the I-471 Bridge because of all the severe weather. It was really wet.

However as you can see the spirits of those taking part weren't dampened.

Hundreds showed up including dozens cancer survivors who were given sashes to wear.

They also released these balloons with messages to reach those who are no longer with us.

This is Mareka Miller and her daughter. Mareka is the one who asked to to host the event last and this year.

The event raises money for the American Cancer Society, but it also puts a face on the disease.

You hear personal stories of how people and their families were touched by cancer.

We also heard from Kevin Reynolds. Cancer took both his kidneys, so he has at home dialysis 4 days a week. He can't get a transplant under he's been cancer free for 5 years. Happy to say he's been cancer free for 3 years, 1 month and more than 20 days.

Heard from Mareka over the weekend. The relay raised more than $50,000.00 for the ACS.

Like all the people who showed up for the event, count me in for next year.

The Gift of Girl Time

It sounds corny, but girls need girlfriends.

Sheila here, and I think the older we get, the more we can see which girlfriends are good for us. Having my second child made me realize that I can't have as many relationships as I used to, at least not if I want to have quality relationships. When you're young, you travel in packs. When you get older, you look for some meaning.

I have found meaning in my renewed friendship with my girlfriend Amanda. We were friends years ago when we lived in the same town, but like a lot of friends do, we drifted apart for awhile. It just happens sometimes, but we drifted back together last year when my husband Ric and I took a trip to the city where we met, Charleston, West Virginia.

You know a person is a good friend when you can pick up a conversation where you left off, even if there are many years and miles in between. The cool thing about girlfriends like Amanda is, they get you. By that I guess I mean women look at life in the same way. With the right girlfriend, you don't have to be on guard because you know she won't judge you, you feel valued because she asks for your opinion and listens to it.

I have faith that life will always give me what I need, and now that Amanda's back, I know I needed her. Not because anything was lacking, just because she brings a perspective and a positive energy that I'm really enjoying.

Connect the Dots...

Love this Connect the Dots Letterpress Thank You post card. (Thanks Hans)

baby bloomer bump update: 8 months

Here I am at 8 months - almost there! What a transformation. Remember how I used to say how fast the pregnancy was going? Well that has all changed! Mostly because I feel gigantic, stretched, slow and maybe just a tad waddly. I've heard the 'stretched belly' feeling likened to Joan River's face after having plastic surgery - yep, pretty much! It's getting harder to walk up the stairs, especially in my 3-story house {4 stories, if you count the basement...ouch}. And yesterday it took me 15 minutes to attempt to buckle on my gladiator sandals - and it didn't end in success. Flip flops it is!

It's also feeling a lot slower because of the anticipation. We just cannot wait to meet the little person who is actively dancing around in my tum. Who will she look like? Will she be artistic, or musical, or both or neither? I do know for a fact that she is quite excited to meet her little cousin who is only a few months behind.

This will definitely be a very fun {and busy} year ahead for the Bloomers!

Friday flowers (make shift edition)

{flowers, bedside}

I didn't buy flowers this week because I still had a few spider mums sitting around from Mother's Day. They appear to be indestructible. I picked the least battered of the three, placed it in a tiny striped cup (thrifted, ages ago) and added a few sprigs of garden greenery to make it look fresh (sage + parsley).

{flower + herbs}

Flower hint - for sparse arrangements I always use a flower frog. They look like this and you can get them in all shapes and sizes. I have an entire collection that I've amassed from the local Japanese market (which is the place to go for the best selection and pricing). All you do is put one in the bottom of your vase and then stick the stems of the flowers into it and they'll stay perfectly in place and upright. Voila.

Franck Malthiery

Inspired by the work of photographer Franck Malthiery today...

Seesaw Designs

I loved seeing Seesaw's space today up on their blog and I am happy to see them getting such wonderful well deserved press! Isn't their office gorgeous? I really like what they've done with the place just since last year ... remember when Angela shared photos with us before? It is very well done, and you've got to see their tape wall here -- it is too cool.



(photos from Seesaw)