My year in reveiw

It has been almost just over 11 months since I last posted on here. Guess I didn't follow the "I will post more in 2013" vow.

My 2013 was busy and has brought some big changes (most of which are yet to be defined). I was able to fill this year with family and friends once again.

In February Molly, Amanda, Racheal and I went to see Pentatonix live. They are a great group. The night was freezing, but that didn't stop us from waiting outside by their bus for pictures. Such groupies!

Photo Bomb!

Nice group shot with the ladies.

Just like any other year we celebrated all 3 of the boys birthdays at Amanda's. Such fun seeing them grow up. Most of the boys picked Brody Hall (on MSU's campus) for their "birthday dinner". I think they like it because it is buffet style and there so many choices it can be overwhelming.


2013 was a big year for some great friends of mine; Bonnie and Scott got engaged and the wedding festivities began. Bonnie asked me to be a bridesmaid and of course I accepted. First thing on the wedding to-do list; Bridal shower and wedding dress shopping. The Bridal Shower was in Washington DC and it was great to get back there. The weekend consisted of bridal dress shopping, a night out for the bridesmaids (and family) and the shower on Sunday. A friend, Emily (also a bridesmaid) and I drove to DC and back together. We had a great time catching up on the car ride. We even pushed the Prius to max and learned that just because the low fuel light is blinking doesn't mean you are "really" out of gas.

We found the dress.

Dinner with friends.

Cheers!!

The entire bridal party.

The spring continued to be great for me professionally. The American Cancer Society was holding it's last year of Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS-3) and my office was chosen to host a few enrollment sites. Our goal was to enroll 500 people in CPS-3 and we went over that. It did take a little help from our friends though.

That is Tom Izzo, MSU Men's Basketball coach.. and ME! Yes, Tom enrolled.

I took some time out for me in 2013 went on a cruise to the Bahamas with Kathy. We had a great time. It was so relaxing to be fully unplugged and out in the sun. I got my first sunburn in almost 20 years. I wore sunscreen, I just didn't reapply like I should have - lesson learned. 

While on the trip we met some wonderful people. We are all Facebook friends now and if Kathy and I ever Alabama we know we have a place to stay. 

Looking out on the first port

We went snorkeling and clear bottom kayaking in this amazing water.

Just me and the frog.

I decided I wanted to get in better shape and joined a Fit Body Bootcamp class. I loved it. Unfortunately, my groupon ran out after just 6 weeks and I wasn't going without a groupon (the membership is pricey $$)  So I decided to take up running again. I started to train for the first Color Run to come to Lansing. I went with a group of friends and we had a blast.

Color run at the capital.

Color Me Happy!

We all had a great time and got really colorful. The run is coming back to Lansing for 2014 and I think I might be going again. Also, I bought another groupon for bootcamp and start going again on January 6th. I will need help as I am now officially out of shape. 

Not only did I spend time with family, but family came to see us as well. We had visitors from VA. My Aunt Pat, Uncle Bill, Cousin Shannon (and kids Anna Campbell and Easton), and Camryn came to visit. It was a pretty quick trip but a lot of fun. I can't believe how big the kids are getting. We took them all to the Binder Park Zoo and had a great time. About a month and a half later Shannon's brother, my cousin Brandon came to visit while on a LONG motorcycle trip across the nation. 

Even though I wasn't in the field staffing Relay For Life events this year, I still visited many and was able to have my first family team in here in Michigan. It was a lot of fun, we raised over $1200.00 and the kids loved it. I walked 15 miles and this year, my goal is more. If you want to donate to me for Relay For Life please do! Don't worry another ask will be coming soon - I am sure. 

September brought Bonnie's bachelorette party. This was here in Michigan. I housed some of the bridesmaids and we had a weekend filled with 80's music, Michigan foods, and a Tigers game. All in all fun 3-4 days. 

80's night.

2013 was filled with weddings. In October my friends Meaghan and Ben got married. It was a beautiful ceremony and I was pleased to be a part of it. 

Just about a month after this wedding Bonnie and Scott tied the knot in Miami over Thanksgiving weekend. This Thanksgiving I spent with friends. I did get sick again, but it was just a small cold. The wedding was beautiful and it was nice to be in Miami during what is normally a cold holiday in Michigan. 

Getting ready

Photo booth

Nothing like a Jewish wedding with pictures in
front of Christmas tree.

This year also brought some fun on the home front. I went for many hikes with Sandie - explored some new parks and played in the water. Sandie went through and graduated from doggie training.

Muddy day at the dog park

Hike in a state park and first time swimming off the leash

Sleeping during a day at Aunt Amanda's. 

2013 brought a lot of visits with family and friends. My sister and I took a trip to Pennsylvania to see out Grandmother and visit with my dad and his wife Jen on their move to Florida. We had a great few days together. Amanda, Dad and I were able to explore the old, abandoned brick mill that my Grandfather used to work in years ago. The place was incredible and great for pictures, but it also brought back a lot of memories for my father. For me - it was a wonderful memory to make. Exploring this fantastic place, taking pictures with my sister and father. Something all three of us love to do. It also reignited my passion for photography - all from my iphone. 

Looking back on 2013 I felt like the year was exhausting, mentally draining and very up in the air for me. Don't get me wrong - it was. There are still a lot of things in my life that have yet to settle (can't post on that now, but I will in a few weeks). But doing this post - I realized - my year was amazing. I had great times with great friends (some that didn't make this post), enjoyed my family and I was able to travel to places I have never been before. All in all I couldn't have asked for more in my year. 

My hope is start posting more in depth posts on my 2014 adventures. That may stop a long year in review post... like this one.  If you are still with me thanks for hanging in there!! Happy 2014 to you!!

Share the Good!!

Sometimes I turn on the news, hear a story and wonder, "What is happening to this world?" or "How did humanity end up like this?" or "What happened to that person that made them do that?" I think we all have those days. Unfortunately, there seems to be more bad news on the news than good.

In college I was a communications major. I thought I wanted to become a journalist. I used to say that I wanted to anchor the Today Show. After finally finishing all of my pre-rec courses I was able to take my first journalism class. I knew, even before sitting in my seat for the first time, that this class was the start of my future. I had no idea how that class would help shape my life later on.

My first assignment was to pick a topic (any topic) that I felt had an affect on campus. I don't remember what topic I picked. I don't remember who I chose to interview, but I do remember what my professor said when I turned in the first draft. He advised me that "although this is a good story, it is the bad news that sells papers. So try to find the underbelly of the story." The underbelly? I didn't want to find the underbelly. I was 20 years old. The world was still good to me. Not every story had an underbelly. I wasn't ready to take off the rose colored glasses. It was then that I decided that I didn't want to make my living looking for the negativity in the world. I wanted to work for the good and see the good in the world. This experience helped shape me. I don't think I knew it then, but I believe now that this experience helped me drive towards working in the non-profit industry.

Sometimes, not often, but sometimes a news story makes the rounds that brings a warm feeling to my heart. Sometimes, not often, these stories make the rounds nationally. It is these stories, people and life experiences that bring tears to my eyes; that show me not every news story has an underbelly. News stories like this prove that there is good in the world.

There is good in this world. It is up to us, as human beings, as people who want to help make a difference, to find those stories and share them. To show the media and today's children that good warms the heart, that good draws attention, that good brings ratings too, that good is cool!!

So please if you see someone do something good, share it! That is all I ask; just share the good.

Let's go Back In Time!

Let's go back in time (yeah you started singing that song a little in your head didn't you? Thank you Huey Lewis and the News cir 1985 and the film Back to the Future). 

My professional 2012 started out with a promotion and a lot of new responsibilities. I was challenged in ways I wasn't expecting and ultimately made a choice and career change that I never saw coming. In July I opted to apply for a new role as the Associate Director for the Mid-Michigan office and was hired for the position. The gain of this position brought on a plethora of new challenges and changes. An amazing co-worker put herself and family first and made the brave decision to stay at home. With that sad goodbye came a fun new welcome to a new co-worker. All of the changes have helped me learn a lot about myself; and I learned it faster than I ever wanted to. Work also put me on the road some. I ventured off to Houston, Grand Rapids and Fort Wayne.

My personal 2012 was filled with family.  I spent many a days and nights at the Grieshop house enjoying my nephews and watching them grow; and they are growing quickly. The boys and I had fun in the sun enjoying the warm weather that came early and left late this year. We played on playgrounds, outside around their house and around mine. We had several sleepovers, watched a few movies and even took a few trips to couple Relay For Life events.  Amanda and I were able to fit in some sister days of shopping, talking and just spending time together. We see these times continuing in 2013.  Also, my father and his wife Jen made a couple of trips out to visit. As always they helped me get a few things done around the house.

I took this show on the road to see some friends and family. To start the summer I took a trip to Boston to see "my second family" the Lynchs. I was able to see Kathy's new house and visit with her entire family. Kathy and I took some time out to drive up to Maine to visit my Dad and Jen, Emily, Robbie, Elijah and their now toddler, Alexander.

Lash brotherly love.

 Shortly after returning from this incredible time I sped off in my new Toyota Prius C to visit the Sterner clan in Virginia. The new lake house in NC was complete so we spent most of our time there, relaxing on the lake or embracing the view from the new deck.

View from the lake house in North Carolina.

It was a quick trip, but filled with a lot of fun. I thought this would be the last trip of the year, but I was wrong. A opportunity came about to head off to DC to visit my old roommate and co-worker Bonnie. It had been years since I had been to DC and being legal drinking age really changes the view of the city. I did things I never thought I would; like visit the floor of Congress and pose with President Barack Obama (or his wax figure).

This Bonnie and the Obamas.

Again, this was short trip, but so much fun. I am hoping to make another trip in 2013.


There had been a lot of travel in 2012 so I was excited at the thought of being home in Lansing for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving didn't turn out quite like I had planned. The flu bug hit me and I was in bed - ill for all of Thanksgiving and the Friday following. The Christmas holiday was better. I took two and half weeks off of work to spend time with family and get some things done around the house. I painted some furniture, painted the kitchen, and for the first year since living here I decorated with out door Christmas lights. Illness didn't stay away, I had a few colds, but the big life change came about one week before my holiday vacation. I adopted a dog - Sandie - Merry Christmas to me and Sandie. 

Meet Sandie

She is a 2 year old half golden retriever and half yellow lab. She was trained when I got her and a complete love bug. She loves to give kisses and is now my baby girl. We both seem to fit into each others lives perfectly. She has helped me to take some focus off of work and enjoy the present more. She gives me laughs daily and sometimes some confusion. She has been the best addition to my household.

Speaking of additions around Thanksgiving my cousin Andy and his wife Erin became parents to a beautiful baby girl, Lilly Barrett and Kathy became an Aunt the day after her birthday (12/28) to her nephew, Edward Lynch. Congrats to all family involved.

These are my 2012 flashbacks. I hope your 2012 was also filled with friends, family, and fun. Mine wouldn't have been as fantastic without the love of all my friends and family. So make sure you give your love to those around you.

I hope 2013 is even better than 2012 for both you and me! Happy New Year!

School Pictures

Do you remember school picture day. The worry about what to wear, about if you would blink, and what you would look like. Then the waiting for the prints to come. They would arrive in a white envelope on your desk to bring home to Mom and Dad.

I hated picture day. They never turned out well, and I knew that this picture would be framed and shared in homes all along the east coast; I would never be able to escape it.

Well in all my years of getting pictures taken and seeing those of others; never have a seen such great, cute, adorable pictures. Although I am a little biased ... I admit it.

Otis - age 3. He look so much like me when I was younger,
and my mother that it is a little scary.

Arlo - age 5 - with his "Yeah, I did that" grin.

Sam - age 8. Growing up so fast.

This one is my favorite. Amanda took it before school that day.

Oh the things you see in Lansing!

So I was driving home from my sister's house the other night when I saw my "Oh the things you see in Lansing!" number 2.0 installment.

I pulled up to a stop light in not a great part of town. How do I know this isn't a great part of town you ask? This is the area of town where there are larger advertisements on the sides of abandoned businesses. The advertisements are usually for some high end item that you can get "at a low low cost." The most recent advertisement is for some richy looking watch, but the price on the original advertisement must not have been "low, low" enough b/c someone took a piece of white paper and glued it over the price and then wrote a "lower' price in sharpie marker.  You know, that kind of area.

So back at the stop light I was looking around, I noticed that the ad hadn't changed, that the house in front of me was looking even more run down and that to my left there was a gentleman with a 1/2 mullet (trying to make it a full mullet but just hasn't grown long enough yet) wearing a white wife beater tank top on, riding a baby blue moped.  He looked happy and content, but then why wouldn't he. This is when I noticed "it". A 6in tall, plush, pristine, Woody doll (from Toy Story) has been nicely tied with a rope to the back of the moped. The light turned green before I could grab my phone to get a picture, but both men drove off looking as happy and content as could be.

Here are pictures of "Oh the things you see in Lansing #1.0 and 3.0.

Really?! You had no where else to put the car door?

Does this name frighten anyone else? I would NOT want to attend this temple!

The Prius Family

Ever notice how when you are thinking about buying a car or are driving a new (or new to you) car you seem to notice them everywhere? I have been that way with Prius' for about 4 years now. This has always been a car that I have been interested in and wanted to buy. I finally did. Now I have the urge to wave to every other member of the Prius family, but my new Prius C doesn't look like the other Prius vehicles.  Also, it is a very new model so there aren't a lot of them on the road.

Then today, while driving down W. Saginaw I heard a honking at me; naturally I turned my head in several different directions thinking "I am not doing anything that would warrant a honk." and then I saw a vehicle passing me and the driver waving. I waved back thinking: "That must be  Relay volunteer. She does not look familiar at all!" Then as the car passed by me and I fully took it in, I realized, it was just one Prius C owner honking at another Prius C owner. Just waves between two (lonely) members of the Prius C family.

Embrace the Crazy!

I have a friend who even from hundreds of miles away can make me laugh. She and I became friends in college. We would never say we were best friends, but we were friends and good ones. I always knew if I needed a laugh she would be able to deliver.
Since we graduated college we lost touch. Then came Facebook - through this marvelous tool we have regained contact, well Facebook contact. It was through Facebook that I learned she blogged. I was thrilled another blogger and someone whose blog I knew would make me laugh.
Since I have started reading her blog I have found that crazy does not escape her... still. Then I got to thinking, why does crazy hit her and why does crazy not hit me? Then I realized crazy does make an appearance in my life, but I look at it and shrug it off. I don't find the funny in the crazy the way my friend does. In the funny and the crazy I had a life changing ah-ha moment.
Embrace the crazy. By embracing the crazy you will notice it more, laugh more, remember it and tell stories of the crazy. These are all things I vow to do from here on out. So don't be surprised if some future blog posts are about the crazy I encounter.