Huge June Blogger Event~Giveaway!

Hi all!!

Just signed up for this huge Blogger Event by Marquis at Simply Clarke! She's celebrating her birthday with a PayPal cash prize...pause for reaction. And since June will now always be a special month for me (woop anniversary!), I couldn't wait to sign up. And you can to! 

Here's the 411...

I am currently looking for bloggers to participate my HUGE Birthday Bash Paypal Cash giveaway! The giveaway will go live at the beginning of June (date to be confirmed). You don't want to miss out on this one! 

Read below for details

PRIZE: Amount of cash not confirmed yet - depending on how many sign up

FEES:

1 link = $10 

2 links = $15 

3 links = $20

You may purchase a 5th or 6th additional link for $5/ea.

HOW TO SIGN UP: 

- Fill out this form

- Repost this post! (copy and paste into your own post)

- send payment to simplyclarke@gmail.com

Referral prize for the most referred blogger: Re-post this event and get other bloggers to mention you when signing up.

* Sign up period will close once we have reached the total prize amount.

*The total giveaway cash amount depends on how many bloggers sign up.

Perspective from Zach Sobiech

Today, I had every intention of writing a very different blog post. I sat down at my fiance's computer ready to complain about how my computer was broken and it had everything on it for the wedding. I wanted to complain about my phone not holding charge so basically it sucks.

But then, I saw this when I opened up iTunes.

This song started it's viral journey back in December when Zach Sobiech penned this song as his 'goodbye' to his family and friends and posted it on YouTube. It has once again gone viral in the past few days as a symbol of the true strength of one boy with a message to all of us.

Zach died on May 20, 2013 from osteosarcoma after a long fight with the cancer but not before he lived his life to the fullest everyday.

"My closure is being able to get my feelings into these songs so they can have something to remember me by or lean on when I'm gone," Zach explains in the SoulPancake video. "I want to be remembered as a kid who went down fighting, and didn't really lose."

"Clouds" grabbed the attention of SoulPancake, a YouTube channel that produces documentaries of incredible life stories. They made a documentary titled, "My Last Days: Meet Zach Sobiech"to document how Zach was living out his terminal illness.

Yesterday, I had seen the video posted a couple of times of Zach's documentary, but I had to get ready for work and didn't have the time to watch it. When I came home, Brian asked if I watched it and he told me how much it touched him.

I had woken up today forgetting all about it until I turned on his computer and listened to the song. It filled my eyes with tears already and I was instantly clicking to find Zach's documentary to watch.

I cried from beginning to end. This was a young kid met with his untimely fate way too early but he accepted it and still lived his life. There was no turning back for him and he was determined not go down without swinging. Without living his life the way he wanted his last day. 

The Children's Cancer site issued a message on Zach's death: "Cancer may have taken Zach too soon, but he leaves a lasting legacy that many of us will never achieve. His message of love and hope delivered through infectious lyrics and simple tunes have imprinted on the minds and hearts of millions around the world."

Sometimes you just need a swift kick to put things into perspective. To knock you out of your pity party. And this was just that. Live life everyday. On your terms.You never know when you won't be able to.

**You can purchase Zach's album on iTunes here.  Proceeds from the sale of the song and YouTube views are being donated to the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund through the Children's Cancer Research Fund. More than $232,000 has been raised to date.**

It's a Miracle!

I am actually putting up a post. But I guess I kinda cheated since this is super easy.

I turned to Blog Everyday in May. Sharing (one of) my favorite pictures.

Engagement in Disney!

21 Days!

To be Continued

Gettin' Crazyy!

Let's be serious...I'm a blogger and you KNOW I will have all the details!! Just when I do not have a massive headache and sore muscles. And possibly a few pictures to share!

Mother's Day,Missing a Mom

It never gets easier. Easier to deal with? Yes.

It never hurts less when people ask you what your plans are for mother's day and you have to respond, "My mother passed away." And then the conversation becomes a little weird.

But I know I have healed when the conversations can turn positive again and when I don't have to hide out crying all day. I know even though I can't see my mother's resting place, she's in my heart.

And I still buy my mom a gift. Even if she isn't here, I purchase a donation to the American Cancer Society for the money that would have been spent on her. She loved this charity in honor of my grandmother. So I always like to do that for her.

Also, every year I look back on my posts from the previous year. This is why I love blogging. I can see how I felt last year and how I have grown. And I want to share with you my post from last year.

The past few weeks the emails, commercials and marketing tools for Mother's Day have been on and on. 

Four years later and it isn't any easier to hear or see, "Shower your mom with love." Or "Make sure to let your mom know how much she means to you this Mother's day."  Delete, mute, turn the corner.

I wouldn't say I'm bitter but I also wouldn't say I'm not. In a way I am bitter. Bitter that showering my mom with love means leaving flowers on her grave. Bitter that I can't call my mom on the phone or send her the flowers to show her how much she means to me. I just have to whisper it into the wind. 

But I'm also not bitter of the fact that I still have amazing other women in my life. Look at these women I get to send mother's day cards to. Women who are there for me and support me. 

And let's not forget I get to be a cat mommy to this cutie. Yes, I said that. 

You can read the full post here.

And if you are asking what you can do for someone that celebrates mother's day without a Mom or Father's DAy without a day...the answer is just be there. Be there for them whether it's a phone call, card or a quick text just to make them smile about something. Or picking up the phone when they call because you know they might be having a rough day. 

It's the little things that mean the most.

And I know someday I will have children of my own to celebrate this special day with where I will be able to tell them all about their wonderful grandma in Heaven. 

Getting Crazy for the Weekend!

Things are about to get crazy...it's my bachelorette weekend!!

I don't know much about it but I am pretty sure it involves AC. Unless I am being jetted somewhere tonight which would be a total surprise.

And I know it just might include dance moves like this.

So in honor of this weekend of epicness, I am #backhatazzup to this jam. Get ready!!!

Those Moments.

You never when they are going to hit.

That's the thing about grief. It's a sneaky bitch. You think you might be ok and moving forward and then something reminds you that you aren't quite there yet. And how it's a constant journey that you are on for the rest of your life.

Those Moments.

When it's a feeling you get. Grief overwhelms you. You miss that person so much at that very moment.

Sometimes you can explain it. It might be triggered by a piece of jewelry or a specific place.

But there are times when it just hits you. You wake up missing that person as if you just lost them. As if your heart is freshly broken.

Or when with no warning, you just start the sobs and the ache in your heart is overwhelming.

It happened to me the other day. Over a Tigger cup of my mom's. A cup I have been using since she died so I see it at least once a week. But something about that day, that time, triggered something in me.

I couldn't control it and I didn't expect it. Lifting that cup out of the cabinet brought a wave of emotions that gripped my inner soul. I longed for my mom. I longed to talk to my mom at that very moment. But I couldn't.

That's the thing about these moments. You never know when they are going to happen. And they will always be there.

I'm sure there will be many more as I go through the next 2 months, 2 years, 20 years. Grief is never something you get over. It's always with you. Especially on the most important moments.