Spare A Pair

#35 of 100 on my Bucket List - My Own Person

Back when diagnosed with Breast Cancer I started a bucket list. I started it for a few reasons. I wanted to write all the things that I still wanted to do, before it was my time to go. I didn't know how bad the Cancer was at the time so, I just put life into perspective. I also did it because I realized I wasn't having as much fun as I originally set out to have when I became "my own person". Being my "own person" meant that I was out of the house, on my own, and doing what I wanted to do. So there were a few reasons for writing it. 

So a couple weeks back I was listening to one of my favorite radio stations, STAR 106.1, Sacramento, CA; and I heard them say the phone numbers to call in, so I dialed! Nope, had NO IDEA what I was calling for, but thought, "Why not?!" And, BAM, Just like that they answered! They said, "Congratulations! Please hold and we will get you your winning tickets!" "Okay!" I said with excitement, not knowing what just happened! lol I was so worried it was going to be for something silly, or for kids, or something. But, I stayed on the line, and was patient. When he came back on the line, he said, "Congratulations! You just won 3 tickets to the 'Pretty Muddy Women's 5K race' in Sacramento!" "AWESOME", was what I managed to scream! I was SO excited because my whole life, I have always wanted to do a mud run! And then when I got cancer, I seriously thought that there would be no way for me to be able to do a mud run again! When I talked to my doctor a few months back, she said, "I don't see why not! Just modify what you need to and do what you can!" OMG, music to my ears!

Now I know a lot of you are thinking, "really, a mud run! WHY?" Well, I had an AMAZING time in the Army and loved every minute of the obstacle course, until I was injured. Then I just thought, okay if I can get back out there and do it again, at some point in my life, I know I will not have fallen too far from where I was! So when the thought of making a 100 item Bucket List started, I knew that was going to be one of them on there! SO, in the end I was told, go ahead (With Caution) and it was scheduled for May 3rd, 2014! Now, after that was said and done, I had to find two other "crazy" people to do it with me! One person I thought of right away was my sister in IL, Alicia. She has done a TON of races and has done a handful of Mud Runs! Obviously she wouldn't be able to run with me, so I thought of my sister Erin, whom walked the 3-Day with me last year and is walking the 3-day with me this year, and keeps me motivated when I need to exercise more, and has been a great support for the past three years! She immediately said YES! I was excited at this point because I knew, I would not be doing this alone! EVERYTHING is better when you can share it with someone! 

We quickly found a third person to join us the night before the race! Erin's friend Fawna, was ready to get down and dirty with us! IT WAS ON! So we made cute little outfits, and became the "Fairy God Mudders" for the race! It was so exciting and fun! We got there and we were all amped up, taking selfies and ready to run! We were at the front of the pack before the race started and met another fun runner, Vera, who came all the way up from Southern CA to run the race with a family member, who ended up not being able to do it. SO we adopted her! :) We spent the whole race together, cheering each other on, getting cheered on, and all the while, knowing, I have accomplished another thing on my Bucket list! Just knowing that, put into perspective that I am, and continue to be SO ALIVE! I am my own person, and I am alive, and I have accomplished SO much in the past few years!

I would NOT be who I am today if it wasn't for all the support from my family, friends, and yes TOTAL STRANGERS! Thank God for the little moments in life to make me feel alive still!!! 

 

 

Welcome "Insanity", I have been waiting for you!

A year after being Cancer free for the third time, I wonder, will things EVER be "normal" again? It seems as though the answer is no! I had an appointment today that brought light into the "New Normal". Severe headaches, extreme tired, multiple scares, and lots of watching, waiting and testing. I HATE that Cancer has taken any real free time from me and my family! It isn't fair, it isn't right and I am sick of it! I don't understand, why is there not a cure, or something better?! Why isn't treatments easier, better, or less harsh?

Tests...So all these tests they want to do and sometimes, it still isn't enough, and just costly, and time consuming... Money, money, money... That is how I feel this is boiling down! Who cares if we give her another test, insurance will pay for it! Who cares if she just had blood work done, we can do it again, insurance will pay for it... "Why are you worried about it? You don't pay for it, insurance does!"

WELL: I worry about it because EVERYONE suffers from HIGH insurance costs, and those that do have to pay for their insurance suffers from it! My loved ones, friends, almost everyone I know pays A LOT for their insurance! It isn't right to order something JUST to get money! And I have heard this all too often, especially the last few years! GET OVER IT DOCTORS! Try doing something out of the kindness of your heart for a change! Stop trying to chase every dime that comes your way! Stop putting us all through hell just to get more money, and maybe trying coming up with a new strategy! Because lets face it, something you are doing over and over again, is not working! Try something new!!!

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."  ~ Albert Einstein

FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE!!!!!

I'm looking for 5 donors for my Fundraising challenge!! Each donation can save a life & is tax deductible!!! ANY amount will do & will get me that much closer to my goal!! Thank you!!

http://www.the3day.org/goto/rejessification

Susan G Komen Training Walk + iPad Fundraiser!

From Susan G Komen - "Each 3-Day walker commits to raising at least $2,300 to fight breast cancer. We know that's a big goal. In fact, no other breast cancer event will ask you to raise more money. But thousands of women and men have achieved and exceeded their fundraising goals through their dedication to the cause and creative ideas." Will you help Erin Olsen & I meet and Exceed our goal this year??? On top of that My daughter has applied for the Youth Corps, and will need to raise $500.00 her self if she gets in!!! Right now our current fundraiser is:

100 Squares iPad Mini Plus Case! Purchase a square for just $15.00 and you have a chance of winning the iPad Mini with Case!!! All remaining funds will help us achieve this goal above!!! You can either pay with Cash or credit directly to myself, or you my pay by PayPal @ olsenjesi@yahoo.com! THANK YOU for all of your support!!!!

& Another training walk today!!!! Same place same time!!

UOP-Stockton, CA Short start up walk
This is an un-mapped training walk to just get acquainted and build numbers and awareness of surroundings! This is a University Campus, lots of people walk areas, shade, restrooms and water fountains.

We will be parking and meeting on the corner of West Euclid Ave and N. Kensington Way.

Anyone welcome over the age of 18, no pets, strollers, kids, etc. Please bring appropriate walking attire, water bottle, and lots of fun and energy! 2nd of MANY walks!
Please contact me for any questions or concerns! 209-570-0341

We will me walking promptly at 11:10am, if you are late you may call or text for directions to where we are. Thank you.

iPad Mini + Case Fundraiser!!!!

iPad Mini Plus Case 

I am selling 100 squares, $15.00/sq, you may purchase any number you want from 1-100, you may also purchase however many you want, you have to let me know the number you want, and you MUST pay for them, I black them out, and when we reach all 100 blocks sold, I will draw a number from a bucket (completely blind draw, I will have my husband record it) and the winner of the 1st 100 square fundraiser will get an iPad Mini + case!!! Squares may be purchased in person to me, with cash, or through pay-pal (olsenjesi@yahoo.com). All remaining funds will go to my team (myself and Erin Olsen) for the Susan G Komen 3-day walk! And you may start your purchases....NOW! The winner will be contacted via Facebook, email or phone, so please make sure I have one of the above!!! If you have any questions please contact me on here, via email: olsenjesi@yahoo.com or phone:209-570-0341

Thank you and GOOD LUCK!!!


(13, 42, & 55 are already taken)

Mucus Infestation!

Sorry I have been gone for a few days, I was hit suddenly with a full chest, head and a high fever! Turned out I have bronchitis! AND, it isn't treating me very well!  My fever after three days has finally broke! Thank God! I still have a very full head and chest, and awful cough and headache. I have one more day of antibiotics, so hopefully I will be feeling a lot better by tonight! Then, it will be back to my exercises!! I can not wait to be in shape and so far this year, I was doing great until I got sick and then it hit me so hard, I could barely stay awake! SO I have a lot to make up!

I did not get to start the 5k training with the kids at school this week due to this illness, but will be joining them next week!!! I can not wait to see children doing something that is so healthy for them! It will be great for all of the kids, volunteers, and teachers that are participating! Kids in today's society rely on technology so much that it is making a good portion of them either over weight or out of shape, neither of which is good for them! It is also telling society to conform to the obese children! According to my doctor, my children are so far underweight, that they are not even on the scale! Believe it or not, my doctor asked me if I actually feed much children! So of course that prompted digging! 30 years ago, my children would have been in the average range for their height and weight, now they are "Anorexic"?! It seems as though we are focusing too much on something so wrong! Why do we have a chart?! Well it is to help those that are unhealthy work their way back to healthy, so why is it when my kids go in, whom are some of the healthiest kids I know, are deemed unhealthy because of their LACK OF OBESITY!? My kids are healthy, happy and still eat McDonald's every now and then, because lets face it, I'm not a monster! ;) People need to open their eyes and stop playing the "Poor me" card! The Government needs to certainly stop playing into it also, afraid they are going to hurt feelings!

Fat Drunken Slumber

It is now January 4th, 2014, four days into my 30 day challenges! And I forgot to let everyone know that I added another 30 day challenge to the ones I had listed a few days ago. I have also added the Tricep Challenge! 

So Now I am really sore, but it is a good sore! My muscles are awaking from the fat drunken slumber they have been encased in! I am already down 5 lbs! And I already have WAY more energy than I ever expected! I can not wait to continue on with these challenges! 

The other challenge that I had faced myself with that was a tough one for me was SODA! Mt Dew was my drug of choice! It quenched my thirst, tastes amazing and was what I craved when stressed! It is now day four and I have not had one Mt Dew! I did have a 20 oz Root Beer on the 1st, so I have been three days without soda and four days without Mt Dew!! I know it may not seem like much to a lot of people, but it is a lot for me! 

My diet is also something that could use an improvement, especially since I bake all the time! SO, I made two different types of cookies last night, a soft batch of Chocolate Chip cookies, a batch of molten lava cookies, and home made whipped cream! I had ONE cookie with a little whipped cream, NOTHING ELSE! No dipping, not tasting, no licking the spoon, and no taste testing each item, which is extremely hard for me also! I have added a ton of water to my diet as well! Yesterday was slightly over a gallon and 1/2, yay for me! :) Soon, that beach body will be here and I will be enjoying swimming like everyone else!! Haven't been able to swim much the last two years, so this is my goal! My goal is to be healthy, happy, and beach body ready! 

My year long, 52 Week Challenge!

Every year I look forward to Christmas, to see what the kids get, the looks on their faces, and the love that surrounds family and friends in excitement. As time draws closer and closer I find myself getting more and more anxious instead of excited! It all boils down to the fact that I have two children, limited income, their birthdays land one right after the other (RIGHT after Christmas), a husband, my family and his family! That is a lot of people to buy for! SO my challenge, which ends up really being two challenges, is to 1st save, save money for each of the kids to not only get Christmas & Birthday Presents, but to also be able to take a vacation, which hasn't happened in over six years! The second being, buy presents throughout the year, wrap them, label them and store them away for Christmas, that way I only see a little bit coming out of the account each time I get someone "bought for".

I start this challenge by using a 52 week money Challenge that I found on Pinterest. (Pinterest 52 Week Money Challenge) It starts out by adding just $1 the first week, and then $2 the second week (making a balance of $3) and $3 the third week (balance of $6) and so on and so forth until you get to week 52, depositing $52 to the savings account, making the ending balance (before interest accrued) $1,378! That is a good chunk of change, but not a whole lot out of your pocket at once, so you never miss it! Now, in reality, it is a lot of money, but isn't at the same time, and we all know how expensive it can be to deal with holiday's and birthday's, so I have taken it one step further. I am going to be doing this in 3 separate accounts! One in my daughter's name, my son's name, and one in my husband and I's name. This will make it a lot easier to continue to add on any extra later on and let the interest build on it, this makes it easy saving money for the kids' college, and us for a vacation! SO the first week of the year (now) I have deposited $3 into our accounts and the last week of the year I will deposit $156! Seems easy enough!

Second part of my challenge I will be making a list of everyone we need to or wish to buy for Christmas. I will have this list available in my financial binder, and as I find a gift or gifts for those on the list, I will write down what I found, wrap it and pack it! That way it is wrapped, all ready for Christmas, and packed away as to not get ripped open! :) This will also save money and time in the long run because I am not spending all of my money at once, and spontaneously (making a lot of us spend more money!)

Please feel free to follow my Pinterest Page and view my other boards!! Along with my Financial board there is a board called "Make My Own...", This page is a page with homemade products like dish washing detergents, all purpose cleaners, disinfecting wipes, and much more! Adding this to my 52 week Challenges I feel will also allow us to save money!

I am hoping to have a LOT less debt when this year comes to an end! The last two 1/2 years have proven to be some of the toughest with the Cancers and Surgeries! I am fighting to get my life back, one day, one moment at a time!

30 Day Challenge to a new ME!

I have started a few new things this year, for New Year's Resolution, or I like to call it, New ME Resolution!! As you may have read in a previous blog I will be doing 1 picture a day for the entire year, good, bad, sick, ugly, gorgeous, no matter what there will be a picture! :) Next I have added some health Challenges, for my body, mind and soul! Below are the current exercises that I have started to partake on!

These may seem easy, and your thinking, "really, that's it?!". But really, I have NO muscle in the left Pectoral area, just had about 30+ surgeries in the last three years, haven't been able to exercise much because of those surgeries, chemo, and just recovery time! And let's face it, I have gained a TON of weight due to not being able to exercise, chemo treatments and Steroids. I do not look pretty, and I am okay with that, because I WILL be one hot Mamma again!! 

Now, I am going to do what most people would NEVER do, I am going to give you weight, measurements, and my hopes! This way I can have the support and accountability to keep going!!!

Age: 30

Height: 5'5"

Weight: 181 lbs

Right Calf: 15 1/2"

Left Calf: 16"

Right Thigh: 24"

Left Thigh: 25"

Waist: 36"

Right Bicep: 12"

Left Bicep: 12"

Right Forearm: 10"

Left Forearm: 10"

Pant Size: 12

Now, 11 years ago I was a whopping 112 lbs, with a 19' waist, and size "0" pants! That is a HUGE difference! This is before 3 baby deliveries, 3 egg donations, and 3 Cancer treatments and 30+ surgeries! I want my body back! And I am going to take it back!! I will not, nor do I wish to ever be as tiny as I was, but my goal to start is 145lbs, and we will go from there!! I just want to be healthy, and that to me is HOT! 

Your encouraging words, advice, and thoughts are much appreciated! I also hope to run my first 1/2 Marathon this year! So if anyone knows of the best 1/2's to run or would like to join me, please feel free to let me know!