Volunteering
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The big weekend has finally arrived! (Well, technically, as of tomorrow it will have arrived!) My amazing walking buddy, Gorms, and I have been fundraising + training over the past few months to walk 60 miles over three days this weekend as part of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in Atlanta!
The purpose of this incredible walk is to raise money for breast cancer research and community programs. Without a cure, one person will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the United States. Together we can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
The 3-Day commences tomorrow in the wee hours of the morning at Stone Mountain and ends on Sunday in the early evening at Turner Field.
Friends, family + general spectators are encouraged to come out to cheer on the 3-Day walkers! Closing Ceremonies, in particular, on Sunday are easy to attend and very, very moving. Spectator information can be found here: 3-Day Atlanta Spectator Info!
Look out for LK, G$, Randodi and Kevin at Closing Ceremonies! And, best of luck to all the fantastic 3-Day walkers!! We’ve got THIS! 
xx, L
Tags: 3-day, do-gooding, G$, Gorms, healthy as heck, I'm just saying..., Kevin!, LMR, Moxie? We got it., PLU, Randodis, see and be seen, SUNDAY FUNDAY, super important causes!, Things that are awesome..., Things we love!, very important people, You Can Find Me in the A, Yowza.
The subject of Burgers has been particularly popular around these parts lately (Witness HERE HERE and HERE) and despite my 90-day stint as a vegetarian earlier this summer (thanks a lot, Skinny Bitch.) I fancy myself somewhat of a burger buff. Which is why I am super excited to throw my support behind…
the one…the only…
BATTLE OF THE BURGERS!
Here’s the Q+DD: THIS SAUTRDAY, October 1st, thousands of people, burger lovers one and all, will head down to John Howell Park to sample the fare of the beefy competitors and cast their vote for Best Burger.
Yep, the Grill Masters will be competing for both YOUR vote for “The People’s Choice” and a panel of Judges’ (Click HERE) for “Judges Choice” for best burger!
Click HERE to meet the participating restaurants!
As if a burger contest weren’t enough… there will also be a 5K race (which may or may not involve downing a burg mid-run!)
A select few will be running in this costume:
Sweet
Big time BONUS: 100% of your beefy indulgence goes to support Embraced- a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that collects and shares gently-used medical equipment with individuals in need- both locally and globally. For more information visit embracedatlanta.org
CALL TO ACTION: Battle of the Burgers is seeking Bartenders!
They are in desperate need of people who can put beer in a cup. Show off your drink slinging ability from 7:30AM – 12:30PM during the 5K race. Interested parties should contact Lauren O’Brien at:
Lauren O’Brien
Founder/Director
(404) 592-4569
www.embracedatlanta.org
May the BEST BEEF WIN!
xx, L
P.S. you could roll straight from Battle of the Burgers to FadOktoberfest that night! Don’t forget $3 off with pomo code LKFest!
Tags: blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, burgers, careful cowboy!, clean plate club, comfort food, I'm just saying..., More culture than frozen yogurt!, Moxie? We got it., very important people, You Can Find Me in the A, Yowza.
I’m a pretty hardcore dog lover. I don’t have one of my own yet, but I visit the Atlanta Humane Society on the regular + if you’ve ever been to Piedmont Park or the Chastain Park Walking Trail, the odds are that I’ve asked to pet your puppy. Some people may think that my affinity for man’s best friend is a little much, but the truth is that I just like your canine more than you.
(Totally kidding!! Obv.)
Here’s me with some of my favorite furry friends:
And, I even had the great honor of meeting this famous pooch at the San Juan airport in Puerto Rico. I spoke to him in Spanish.
Anyway, I was recently watching the local news while on one of my morning 3-Day treadmill training walks, when I heard about an incredible dog in Maryland named “Dozer.”
Dozer is a 3 year-old goldendoodle who ran away from his home (broke out of his invisible fence!) and ended up running most of the Maryland Half Marathon!
Here he is at the finish line:
dozer crossing the finish line
Dozer got out of his yard and joined runners near his home at the five mile mark of the race. Runners saw him throughout the end of the half marathon and posted videos of Dozer crossing the finish line on YouTube. After he completed the race, he found his way home.
Race officials later presented Dozer with a medal for running in the half marathon. In response to all of Dozer’s attention, his family set up a fundraising page to benefit the University of Maryland’s Greenebaum Cancer Center. So far, Dozer has raised more than $23,000!!
so proud
What an unbelievable story! This dog is AMAZING…and is now a celebrity on World News Tonight, Good Morning America, Fox News and all over local TV and radio stations! Keep up the good work, Dozer! You’re an incredible pup.
Check out Dozer’s Fundraising Page: Doggie Donations!
Like Dozer’s Facebook Fan Page: Dogster…What? I’m on Facebook!
See Dozer on YouTube: Canine Against Cancer!
Go, Dozer, go! Good boy.
xx, L
Tags: do-gooding, dog daze, I'm just saying..., LMR, newsworthy, Ridiculous., Things that are awesome..., Things we love!, very important people, Yowza.
I’ve reached my fundraising goal (thank you SO much to everyone who supported me) + now I am starting to focus on my training for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in Atlanta over the weekend of October 21 – 23.
More information about my 2011 3-Day journey here: I WALK FOR THE CURE.
Even though it’s only late June, I am starting to train now to make sure that I am capable of walking 60 miles over three days in October. So, naturally I needed to stock up on my training gear. New Balance is a sponsor for the 3-Day so it seemed like a great place to start.
And, was it! I am super duper excited about my new pink + white walking gear! Check it out…
The tank + skirt are so adorable, but my favorite part of the outfit is my new pink kicks!
new balance pink ribbon WW860 shoes: lace up for the cure!
To promote breast cancer awareness, New Balance has incorporated the pink ribbon design into their WW860 walking shoes. They have been named the official shoe of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. I’ve already started breaking them in and they are great – really lightweight but also very supportive, and perfect for anyone who supports the cause. I look forward to logging some serious miles in them over the next four months.
Please honk if you see me walking on Peachtree! (I’ll be decked out in pink New Balance gear!)
And so the training begins…
xx, L
Tags: 3-day, do-gooding, fashion, fun freebies!, I'm just saying..., LMR, pink is the new black, see and be seen, super important causes!, Things that are awesome..., working on my fitness, You Can Find Me in the A
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know a LOT about my sister.
First of all, you know she’s absolutely adorable
married to the best guy in the world
and a doggie mommy to the cutest little furry child you’ve ever seen!
Milo!
You also probably know that she’s…
a wine enthusiast 
a lover of fine food
an excellent dancer
a Jenga ninja
a shoe expert
and generally awesome and a total riot to be around.
I think that hits all the high points, no?
What you may NOT know is that she suffers from a chronic auto-immune disorder called Lupus.
The Q+DD on Lupus is this: Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints and/or organs inside the body). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from foreign substances, like bacteria and viruses. With lupus, your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues and creates autoantibodies (“auto” means “self”) to attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body. (www.lupusfoundation.org.)
While Katie’s Lupus does affect her everyday life in many ways, Lupus is largely a disease of “flares” and “remission” and Katie is a total fighter and does a good job of showing Lupus who’s boss.
However, for many people, Lupus is quite debilitating and can be fatal. As of now, the cause of Lupus is unknown and there is no cure.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is the nation’s leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support and services to all people affected by Lupus and next weekend my sister will once again be leading TEAM KATIE in the Birmingham “Walk for Lupus Now”
Last year’s team was incredibly successful in their fundraising goals and in being VERY ATTRACTIVE. Witness:
Team Katie 2010
In fact, Team Katie was the #2 ranking fundraising team (missing out on first place by a VERY narrow margin!)
This year, however…Team Katie is TAKING NO PRISONERS. So far, TK has raised over $5K for this very worthy cause and is currently in the lead!
Please consider making a donation to TEAM KATIE…every little bit helps…and if you are a Birmingham reader, Katie would LOVE to have you as a part of her team next Saturday, June 11th (and if you wanna come with us from Atlanta, there’s room in the car with Greg, Olive and me!)
Please click here to visit Katie’s personal fundraising page!
Get your PURPLE ON next weekend in BIRMINGHAM!
xx, L
Tags: Beauty is as beauty does., Brian my brudder, I'm just saying..., Lupus Foundation, Moxie? We got it., My seestah, Things that are awesome..., very important people, Yowza.
Do you enjoy beer-related competitive gaming as much as I do?
flip cup champion (what, what!)
Well then, you may be v. interested to hear about THIS:
On Sunday, May 15, Atkins Park Tavern in the Virginia Highlands will host a cornhole tournament from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the back parking lot of the restaurant to benefit the Georgia Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training.
The event will also feature live music from Homefront, cold beer from Sweetwater Brewery, lunch + dinner specials cooked in the Big Green Egg + a raffle. (Oh, how I love a raffle!)
Registration fees cost $25 per person for a single entry or $50 for a team of two + 100% of the participants’ registration fees will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Participants will receive one complimentary Sweetwater beer with registration. Raffle items + team prizes include a hot air balloon ride, restaurant + bar gift certificates, a Sweetwater cornhole set, Sweetwater brewery tour passes and more.
yeaaaaaaaaah!
Participants must compete in teams of two + those who are interested can call 404.876.7249 or stop by the restaurant to pre-register with the manager on duty. All singles will be placed with another single to make a team. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged; however, teams who wish to register the day of the event need to arrive by 1:30 p.m. to be placed in the brackets. Play begins at 2:00 p.m. for all teams + a prize will be awarded to the winning team!
I do enjoy a good cornhole touney – especially when the proceeds go to such a worthy cause!
Come join the competition at Atkins Park on Sunday!
xx, L
Atkins Park Tavern – Virginia Highlands
794 N. Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30306
404.876.7249
www.atkinspark.com
Tags: "i like sports and i don't care who knows", big girl sports, blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, Dana Dana Dana, day drinking, do-gooding, drinking games, healthy competition, I'm just saying..., LMR, PLU, SUNDAY FUNDAY, super important causes!, Things that are awesome..., You Can Find Me in the A
This month sure is flying by… I received information yesterday morning about the event I am about to mention below + thought to myself – I’ll wait a bit to put this on the blog since it’s just the beginning of March. Uh, WRONG! (I don’t know what’s more shocking – how quickly the days are flying by or that I have no idea what day it is…)
Anyway, I want you all to know about an upcoming fundraising event for a really special place: Camp Twitch and Shout (a Camp Twin Lakes partner).
Here’s the Q+DD on the Event:
1st Annual Denim and Pearls Cocktail Party
Benefiting Camp Twitch and Shout
March 25, 2011: 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
King Plow Arts Center (love this space…)
Atlanta, GA
Come dressed to impress in your most elegant denim! Please no t-shirts or sneakers.
Join the fun for a live band, silent auction, appetizers, cash bar + raffle!
Tickets are as follows:
Pearl – $25/person
Ruby – $50/person (includes 1 drink + 1 raffle ticket)
Emerald – $75/person (includes 1 drink + 3 raffle tickets)
Diamond – $100/person (includes 2 drinks + 5 raffle tickets)
For more information or to request an invitation contact: Hailey Sasine @ camptwitchandshout@gmail.com or 706.248.9328
Click HERE to learn more about Camp Twitch and Shout.
This is going to be a GREAT event. Hope to see you all there!
xx, L
Tags: do-gooding, I'm just saying..., LMR, More culture than frozen yogurt!, see and be seen, Things that are awesome..., Volunteer!, You Can Find Me in the A
This year, I decided to make a New Year’s resolution that would stick – and wasn’t selfish. (Let’s be real, my diet-related resolutions NEVER last more than a few weeks…) I needed a long-term goal to work towards + I wanted it to be something that would be meaningful to others.
And so, I decided to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure once again.
I participated in the 3-Day in 2006, and I look back on my six months of training, fundraising + walking for breast cancer research as one of my proudest accomplishments. Over the course of 72 hours, I walked with wonderful people who had lost loved ones to this disease and walked in their memory; I bonded with brave survivors who had funny team names written across their pink shirts and hats; I heard incredible stories from warriors in the middle of their own fights against breast cancer. I felt like I was part of the community + I was so honored to fundraise for such a worthy cause.
2006 Atlanta 3-Day - Day 2
The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure is a 60-mile walk that raises money for breast cancer research and community programs. Without a cure, one person will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the United States. That’s a pretty startling statistic! No one should have to face this disease, so in order to help create a future without breast cancer, I have decided to participate again in the Walk.
If you’ve ever seen a TV commercial or heard a radio ad for the 3-Day for the Cure, it’s incredibly evident how emotional + moving the Walk is over the three days. If you’ve ever wanted to participate – please do! Here’s the link to sign up: GET INVOLVED WITH THE 3-DAY! Meeting the fundraising goal + training for/ participating in the Walk is challenging – but it’s nothing compared to fighting breast cancer. I’d love to have more folks to share this journey with in Atlanta, so please sign up today!
You will receive $25 off your registration fee if you sign up before February 28!
2006 Atlanta 3-Day Closing Ceremony - Day 3
Please consider attending the Atlanta 3-Day Closing Ceremony on October 23rd. I will update The Q+DD with location and timing details much closer to the Walk. The Closing Ceremony is an incredibly memorable event that you will not want to miss!
Thank you for your support! We CAN make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
xx, L
Tags: Beauty is as beauty does., cute cari, do-gooding, healthy as heck, I'm just saying..., LMR, Moxie? We got it., Things that are awesome..., Things we love!, working on my fitness, You Can Find Me in the A
Yesterday night, I attended a host committee meeting for a truly amazing event taking place on Thursday, February 24.
East Andrews and Raw Denim have teamed up for an evening you won’t want to miss! This exciting event will include Raw Denim special shopping perks, drink specials, lite bites, a raffle + sweets! A portion of East Andrews and Raw Denim sales will benefit A Wish for Wendy for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Here’s the Q+DD on the evening’s happenings:
7:30pm- 8:30pm- Cocktails & Shopping for A Cause
8:30pm- Walk for a Wish Fashion Show with local Atlanta Celebrities and Socialites. Host for the evening: Crazy Mike from Star 94 and PowerRadioOnline.com with a Special Guest!
9:00pm- Raffle drawing for hundreds of dollars in prizes. Raffle tickets are $5 and will benefit A Wish for Wendy.
RSVP requested to events@eastandrews.com
If you are interested in donating a raffle item or being a sponsor please contact Emily Lipman at Rawdenim@live.com
About the Charity:
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and young adults in the United States. CF causes the body to produce an abnormally thick mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. This mucus also obstructs the pancreas and interferes with digestion. The median life expectancy for a CF patient is 37 years.
LK + I think that this event is going to be SO incredible!
Please join us + tell your friends. We hope to see you there! We’re excited to help raise money for CF + have one
(okay, a few…) of THESE w/ you!
xx, L
Tags: do-gooding, fashion, I'm just saying..., LMR, Moxie? We got it., PLU, see and be seen, Things that are awesome..., Things we love!, very important people, You Can Find Me in the A
Boys: drop your razors for Prostate Cancer Awareness month a.k.a. Movember! 
Here’s the Q+DD on Movember: The purpose of Movember is to “challenge men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache.” The deal is – you start “Movember” 1st clean-shaven, then grow a moustache for the whole month. Brilliant!
The movement started in Australia in 2003 simply to raise awareness for the #1 Cancer affecting men – Prostate Cancer. By 2009, global participation of “Mo Bros” and “Mo Sistas” reached 255,755, with over one million donors raising $42 million US equivalent dollars for Movember’s global beneficiary partners. Funds raised benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.
I can only imagine that with an idea this fantastic, the movement will only grow bigger. I mean, you can even purchase MoMerchandise! Show your support with these totally cool Moustache Tom’s
or these delightful Moustache Cufflinks
Fear not, ladies – you can also take part with Moustache jewelry by Demitasse!
Demistache
See all the amazing MoMerch by clicking here!
You can also track your Moustache progress with this iPhone app!
So gentlemen, get started today! Unless you’re already sporting a ‘stache – you’re 9 days behind! Click here for the Facebook application and click here to view the official Movember website.
My friend Evan is already all on it – leading a team and everything. Check out his sweet ‘stache:
in it to win it.
He grew that in 4 hours. No lie. (ok, a tiny lie.)
South African airline Kulula is showing their support by designing this airplane
I’ll be showing my support this month with my ScoutMob iPhone App. (I swear, I LOVE the deals, of course, but my favorite part about that app is the moustache cam. Look, I sneak attacked my own mom 
How will you participate? Get your team started today and happy ‘stache-ing!
xx, L
Tags: DK+DK, do-gooding, funny people, I'm just saying..., Moxie? We got it., oh so hipster, Things that are awesome..., things that are hysterical
I know you love German beer
Especially in a stein
Lederhosen
Those adorable well-behaved children in The Sound of Music
And, of course, THE HOFF
Don't Hassel the Hoff
So I KNOW you’re going to want to purchase your tickets IMMEDIATELY for ACS ROCKtoberfest next month – 10/09/10! 
German food, Beer tastings and 80s/90s Rock combine together for the first ever ROKTOBERFEST, presented by the Young Professionals of Atlanta for the American Cancer Society.
BUY TICKETS HERE: www.ACSROKTOBERFEST.org
ACS Roktoberfest will feature our local Red Brick Brewery and local band, Sun Domingo, playing their last show before their European Tour!
Think “The Police” meets “Oktoberfest” and you know what kind of night you’re in for!
Where The Money Goes
The Young Professionals have been a part of close to $2 million in fundraising for the ACS Winn Dixie Hope Lodge, located near the cancer treatment center at Emory University Hospital. The Hope Lodge provides a free place to stay for cancer patients from around Georgia while they undergo cancer treatments.
All proceeds raised at Roktoberfest will go to the American Cancer Society so that they can continue providing free services, like the Hope Lodge, for cancer patients throughout Georgia.
Hope to see you there, yah?
Riiiiiiiiiicola!
xx, L
P.S. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact Greg Cohen at gcohen85@gmail.com or 314 740 9725
Tags: ACS Young Professionals, blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, do-gooding, fashion, Festive, G$, Moxie? We got it., You Can Find Me in the A
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know a LOT about my sister.
First of all, you know she’s absolutely adorable
Duh.
and married to the best guy in the world
Love the Helds.
You also probably know that she’s…
a wine enthusiast
a lover of fine food
an excellent dancer
a Jenga ninja
a shoe expert
and generally awesome and a total riot to be around.
I think that hits all the high points, no?
What you may NOT know is that she suffers from a chronic auto-immune disorder called Lupus.
The Q+DD on Lupus is this: Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints and/or organs inside the body). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from foreign substances, like bacteria and viruses. With lupus, your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues and creates autoantibodies (“auto” means “self”) to attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body. (www.lupusfoundation.org.)
While Katie’s Lupus does affect her everyday life in many ways, Lupus is largely a disease of “flares” and “remission” and Katie is a total fighter and does a good job of showing Lupus who’s boss.
However, for many people, Lupus is quite debilitating and can be fatal. As of now, the cause of Lupus is unknown and there is no cure.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is the nation’s leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support and services to all people affected by lupus and next weekend my sister will once again be leading TEAM KATIE in the Birmingham “Walk for Lupus Now”
Last year’s team was incredibly successful in their fundraising goals and in being totally adorable. Witness:
Tiaras for everyone!
Please consider making a donation to TEAM KATIE…every little bit helps…and if you are a Birmingham reader, Katie would LOVE to have you as a part of her team next Saturday, June 5th (and if you wanna come with us from Atlanta, there’s room in the car with La, Brooke, Olive and me!)
Please click here to visit Katie’s personal fundraising page!
See ya in Birmingham!
xx, L
Tags: Brian my brudder, do-gooding, La, My seestah, Things that are awesome..., very important people
