Happy (almost) Halloween!

Happy (almost) Halloween!

There is a funny thing about me and Halloween. The older I get, the more into creating costumes I get. When I was younger, I remember liking Halloween just like any other less-significant-than-Christmas-Holiday. Being a diabetic, sometimes it had its negatives. My parents sometimes traded my candy haul for cash, but then they gave up on this completely when more of the "strict diabetic rules and regulations" went out the window and gave way to more (and better, more efficient) insulin consumption.

The past couple of years, I have leaned heavily on my Grandma's mad sewing skills to help create my last minute spontaneous masterpieces. This year was no different. We got the green light email from work on Friday telling us that we can dress up tomorrow for Halloween in work appropriate costume. Trust me, my costumes are and have always been tasteful and cover all the naughty bits...well, with one questionable costume (Wonder Woman) from my college days. It DID cover everything, but I had to wear some additional layers beneath the cheap rayon fabric to make that happen and not flash any innocent bystanders.

when I wore this, think less push-up bra and hooker boots...and  more shorts and leggings...
um hello, Halloween in BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA!

Last year, I had my Grandma help me create my Cupcake costume. It was good in theory, but as I look back on that decision to wear lots and lots of lemon-yellow colored tulle, I am not so sure that was such a wise decision...but it was fun to have my Grandma help me make my costume. Though I need to work on telling her to HELP me do it and not do it all herself. She likes projects - but she ends up doing the whole thing, while I just watch from the sidelines. 

She did give me her old sewing machine -- that I am still learning to have a love-hate relationship with. The bobbin confuses the heck out of me every time I use the dang thing. I don't use it often enough, so that is probably the majority of my problem right there...

I was deciding between two personas for this Halloween. The one that I did not choose this year, I am plotting on being next year. I might try to get a jump on the costume for next year and have it pieced together MUCH more in advance than this year's costume. 

I will post pictures tomorrow of my costume persona that I chose to be this year - I want you all waiting in suspense!

To bringing back childhood, to being someone else for one day, to Halloween!

-LD

Always and Forever

Four years ago today, I was getting my hair done for one of the biggest days of my life.

After a night of taking care of my anxious flower girl, new puppy, and having my junior attendant and both bridesmaids spend the night, and almost no sleep...

Thank goodness for a bridesmaid who handled things with grace. And cappuccino. And chauffeuring skills. and cappuccino...

But it was all worth it, stepping into that white dress, pinning the veil my Grandma made into my hair, pinning corsages onto my Grandparents...

Walking to the gazebo to see my man waiting to see me...

Taking pictures - lots of pictures, smiling till our cheeks hurt...

Lining up to walk down the outdoor aisle on that crisp fall day...

Standing before everyone as Mr. and Mrs. Doberstein!

Happy Anniversary to my hubby. Four years already - time flies when you are having fun. I would not have chosen another man to be by my side to have gone through all that we have together - the rough financial times when we were first starting out, drama, firings, hirings, promotions, events, fishing, camping, birthdays, holidays and much, much more. I can't wait to see what this year brings us as things are feeling like they are turning a corner for us and where life will lead us. I am excited for our future adventures and learnings together.

ILY A&F *promise* 

Book Binging

Hey there!

I just wanted to give you a quick review on the two latest books that I have devoured on my bus rides to and from work:

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt


This book was one of the strangest books that I have read. It is first and foremost a memoir - which I find very tragic. There was no break to tell when people were talking - no quotation marks at all - so that took some getting used to - to try and sort out who was talking to whom and when. It was such a sad, sad, sad desperate, lonely book. I read this book because I had heard it was a really good book - and possibly one that some schools were reading. After reading this book, I sure hope no kids read this book! Scandalous and pretty dark through the majority of the book.

Summary from Wikipedia:
Angela's Ashes is a 1996 memoir by the Irish-American author Frank McCourt. The memoir consists of various anecdotes and stories of Frank McCourt's impoverished childhood and early adulthood in Brooklyn, New Yorkand Limerick, Ireland, as well as McCourt's struggles with poverty, his father's drinking issues, and his mother's attempts to keep the family alive. Angela's Ashes was published in 1996 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. A sequel to the book, 'Tis, was published in 1999, and was followed by Teacher Man in 2005.

I actually picked up the sequel, Tis, in Godwill just the other day. So, we'll see how that goes!
This book will go into my Swap Stack, but it was an interesting read.

The second book that I read - completely the other side of the spectrum:
Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (wrote the Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing)


This book was more of a happy fun time book to read after reading Angela's Ashes. It was much much needed! It was a fun read, really quick, but not too memorable or relateable. 

Summary from Amazon.com:
The bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing returns with the story of three best friends who vow to change their entire lives...and change them fast.

Emmy is newly single, and not by choice. She was this close to the ring and the baby she's wanted her whole life when her boyfriend left her for his twenty-three-year-old personal trainer -- whose fees are paid by Emmy. With her plans for the perfect white wedding in the trash, Emmy is now ordering takeout for one. Her friends insist an around-the-world sex-fueled adventure will solve all her problems -- could they be right?

Leigh, a young star in the publishing business, is within striking distance of landing her dream job as senior editor and marrying her dream guy. And to top it all off, she has just purchased her dream apartment. Only when Leigh begins to edit the enfant terrible of the literary world, the brilliant and brooding Jesse Chapman, does she start to notice some cracks in her perfect life...

Adriana is the drop-dead-gorgeous daughter of a famous supermodel. She possesses the kind of feminine wiles made only in Brazil, and she never hesitates to use them. But she's about to turn thirty and -- as her mother keeps reminding her -- she won't have her pick of the men forever. Everyone knows beauty is ephemeral and there's always someone younger and prettier right around the corner. Suddenly she's wondering...does Mother know best?

These three very different girls have been best friends for a decade in the greatest city on earth. As they near thirty, they're looking toward their future...but despite all they've earned -- first-class travel, career promotions, invites to all the right parties, and luxuries small and large -- they're not quite sure they like what they see...

One Saturday night at the Waverly Inn, Adriana and Emmy make a pact: within a single year, each will drastically change her life. Leigh watches from the sidelines, not making any promises, but she'll soon discover she has the most to lose. Their friendship is forever, but everything else is on the table. Three best friends. Two resolutions. One year to pull it off.

This one will also hit my Swap Stack - though I own both of the other two books she has written.

I laughed a couple of times through the book, but it was just a quick, fun read. 

Happy Reading!

LD

Step Out: Walk To Stop Diabetes

Hello (insert one of my enthusiastic smile and waves here)!

It is that time of year again, when the weather gets cooler, the feel of fall is in the air, and the Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes event approaches!

This year, on October 27, 2012 is the annual American Diabetes Association's walk event. With just a little under a month to get some fund raising dollars in, I decided to take a few minutes to write the following (long-ish) note to you. *Ahem*

Reasons why I walk:

I walk for the bad days, when in-control blood sugars seem too good to be true

I walk for the days when diabetes seems like it controls me, my life and my plans

I walk for people that told me, "no, you can't do that/eat that because you're a diabetic."

I walk because of a disease I am told I will have my entire life

I walk because insulin is not a cure

I walk for others who have gone into despair and neglect their disease

I walk for the ones who say I CAN'T
I walk for the little ones diagnosed that can't understand what is wrong with them
I walk because diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined
I walk for doctors who think there are "perfect" diabetics and expect you to be
I walk for being bullied in school for having diabetes
I walk for the incorrect ways the media portrays diabetes in movies and sitcoms
I walk for those who give up and say, "I'm done"

I walk to support the friends who are with me in the fight

I walk to thank my family and friends who I have depended on to live this thing through
I walk to thank those who gave me shots when I was too young to understand

I walk to give us all hope that things can and WILL be different in the future

I walk for a cure

I walk to prove people wrong about diabetes and its hold on people's lives
I walk to be a part of something bigger than myself - to do great things
I walk to join the others who want to make a difference
I walk to prove naysayers wrong
I walk to represent those affected

I walk to make a difference

I walk because I have diabetes

I have had diabetes for 23 years, have kept good control and have led a wonderful life. I love volunteering with the ADA in the Step Out Walks, the Diabetes Gala, and most recently, the Tour de Cure biking event, (and soon to be the ADA Expo!) as well as offering my services to Camp Needlepoint in the summer, a two-week camp set up just for diabetic kids. Yeah, we're THAT awesome.

I will be volunteering at the Walk event again this year - and raising money through my online website (online donations), through checks made out to the American Diabetes Association and given or sent to myself to be turned into the American Diabetes Association on the day of the event, and of course, cash donations (online or check donations preferred, but note: I will not be rejecting ANY donations to the Walk!)

I would like to take just a minute to THANK all of you who have donated for my past events, been there as a support system, who have attended a walk event with me in the past, and/or encouraged me in my fight against Diabetes! Each event like this gives me personally more hope that someday there will be a cure for this disease. Insulin is not a cure.

Please note, do NOT feel at all pressured to donate money - that is not this email's intention. I will not judge you :) your encouraging words are amazing!! But DO remember that EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR helps the fight to do more testing, to get one step closer to a cure.

Hey think of it this way - you know that mani-pedi you want to get? Or those weekly cups of designer coffee -- What about throwing that, what, 20-30-40-50? dollars into a Walk collection envelope and feeling amazing about helping people?! (Do I feel a DIY mani-pedi party at my house coming on?!) Oh and a bonus - all donations are tax deductible - look at you, donating, feeling good AND getting a tax break out it it!

Attending this event each year is truly something. The past few years, seeing all of the people there to support the walk is incredible. It chokes me up seeing all of the people out on the walking course that day and thinking, "they are all here for the same reason." If you have never been a part of something - anything like this, I would recommend this walk as your "jumping off point." It is a casual walk - one mile or the 5K, and it gives you a taste of what an event like this is like. (for some of my runner friends, yes, you CAN make it a 5K RUN!!!) 

If you want to take it a step farther, volunteer! I will be stationed for some of the event - at the volunteer check-in T-Shirt booth! There are many different areas to volunteer! You could help me in the volunteer booth, be a route cheerleader for all of the walkers/runners and many more areas! If you would like to attend the event as a walker or as a volunteer, let me know or sign up through the ADA website!

THE DETAILS!!

This year's WALK event is being held at the General Mills Campus on Saturday, October 27th, 2012

1 General Mills Blvd, Golden Valley, MN

There is free parking at this event - in the main ramp or the dedicated surface parking lots.

Check-in time starts as early as 7:30am

The Kids Dash begins - 8:30am

The Walk or Run 9:00am

You can choose to participate in the Kids Dash (If you're a kid), 1 mile or 5K Walk or Run

The official event summary:

Bring your family members, friends and colleagues to the General Mills World Headquarters in Golden Valley for a morning of exercise and entertainment! Park free on the campus and enjoy a light breakfast and aerobic warm-up before heading out to take in the fall colors. After walking or running the distance of your choice, stick around to get your picture taken with General Mills equity characters, visit with vendors or hang out in the Kids Zone! There will be fun for everyone! Come rain or shine. Please note that this is a non-competitive run/walk event.

http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/StepOut/A6MNN-MinnesotaArea?pg=entry&fr_id=8383

If you would like to make a donation to my walk page, please visit my personal walk site:

http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/StepOut/A6MNN-MinnesotaArea?px=5241432&pg=personal&fr_id=8383

Have a great weekend everyone - and maybe I'll see you in a few weeks!!

-LD