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

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! 

(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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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’sor 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