Be a Passionate Cookie

I've seen passion played out in many places recently. 

I watched as Michelle Obama spoke passionately about her husband, declaring him courageous, strong and capable of carrying our country another four years. 

I've read about a new favorite band excited for the release of their newest album. 

I've seen people post about their favorite NFL and college football teams on Twitter.

What would our lives be without passion?

But nothing compares to the passion that I felt this weekend in Richmond, Virginia at a citywide bale sale event benefiting Cookies for Kids' Cancer. 

 

I'd been working for Cookies for about three days when I got asked to make the trip to Richmond to meet the founder and to visit the bake sales to see what the organization was all about. I was excited to road trip up there and had an idea of what to expect, but my expectations were quickly exceeded. 

Beginning three years ago, a group of moms decided to begin raising money for Cookies for Kids' Cancer after hearing the founder's story. The founder, Gretchen Holt Witt, had experienced the loss of her son to pediatric cancer. Simultaneously, she began the organization in order to be able to fund pediatric cancer research-- research that simply could not happen because of lack of funding. Cancer claims the lives of more children annually than any other disease " more than asthma, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis & AIDS combined.

A group of women in Richmond, Virginia heard Gretchen's story and immediately wanted to help her make a difference. They wanted to hold a bake sale. But citywide. With over 35 locations and 1 day, the group has raised over $135,000 in just three years.

I got the opportunity to go visit this citywide bake sale this weekend and I was in awe at how passionate these individuals were. I met mothers whose children are currently going through chemo. I met mothers whose children are in heaven and yet, they passionately continue to fundraise for this cause. Nothing can quite compare to the motivation you feel just witnessing first hand what their strength looks like.

Most of these bake sale hosts got little sleep this week in preparation. They put labels on bags of cookies, painted homemade signs, strategized new ways to communicate the cause and, ultimately, raised more money than last year for Cookies. 

I'm not a mother. Nor have I experienced cancer the way these mothers have. But from experiencing this citywide bake sale, I am motivated and energized to begin my work. I'm excited to become just as passionate as these folks in Richmond. Fired up and ready to make a difference. 

I feel as if the greatest emotion one can feel is passion because it means you are living your life and living it to make a difference, to do good. Whether you are passionate about being a teacher or passionate about driving a truck, both are important and necessary to make this world a better place. 

What's your passion? What drives you?  

Cookies for Kids' Cancer is a national organization that just this year, has given over $4 million to fund research trials. With just one small bake sale, you can make a huge difference in the life of a child. 

Interested in holding a bake sale? Want to learn more about Cookies for Kids' Cancer? 

Visit our website at www.cookiesforkidscancer.org. 

Follow us on twitter and instagram: @cookies4kids. 

Like us on Facebook.

"So today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming -- or even impossible -- let us never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation." -- Michelle Obama

You Makin' My Dreams Come True

I swear when I got off the plane on Friday evening in New York City the hallelujah angels were singing. I almost expected for something similar to this to start happening at any moment:

At least....I heard the song playing in the background. I don't think New Yorkers dance.

I did not miss a beat. All of the subway systems, the street names, the tricks of the trade were held in the back of my mind secretly waiting to be used again one day.



Cookies for Kids' Cancer has been an amazing experience and so rewarding. I'm motivated everyday. More to come in a later post about the great things we do everyday.

Photo Credit: Cookies for Kids' Cancer

Photo Credit: Cookies for Kids' Cancer

Anywho. (That's for you, Liz and Val).

I went up to the city this weekend to look for housing without too much luck. Some wanted too much for an apartment. Others wanted a longer commitment than I was willing to give. Some looked and felt sketchy and unsafe. So I've opted to wait until November to move to the city once I have a place with two awesome friends. Thankfully, my job is graciously allowing me to do so!



Hopped on a plane with my gal pal, Sally. Was greeted by my friend, Sarah, with a free ticket to Mamma Mia. For this musical girl, what could be better? 

The guy who took this said that this picture was fantastic of the two of us. Liar.

My friend, Shannon, caught a train to the city from Long Island. It is always amazing when I get to hang out with this girl, who is not only a friend, but also someone to admire. She is such a strong and wonderful person, that girl. And with Shannon and I, it's like we never missed a beat. We just always start right back where we left off.





We got silly.





We found North Carolina. (Check out Brother Jimmy's restaurant near Penn Station next time you go-- it rocked)!



We saw Central Park. Of course, it closes at sunset so we hopped a fence in order to leave.




I stayed in Brooklyn this time and I really had not had the opportunity to really explore before. So explore we did. Thrift Shops. Food and beer festivals. Good views. What a quirky, magical place-- that Brooklyn. 


 

Sunday we finished off with a Caribbean Parade, which brings almost three million to Brooklyn. Street vendors galore. Floats. Music so loud you feel your eardrums rumbling. The culture that made you so grateful to be there to learn and to experience a small taste of what their lives are like.


 



I saw many famous people while I was there.



I'm so excited to have a double whammy: a future in NYC and an amazing, motivational, inspiring job!

The city is so alive. Constant movement. Constant sound. Constant excitement. Perfect for a 22-year-old free spirit.

You woulda thought this was the royal wedding or somethin'!

Job training this week in Charlotte and a quick trip to Richmond this weekend to attend some fundraising events. SO exciting! So much potential! Packing up and leaving Greenville to move (hopefully) to Charlotte for a couple weeks.

That's where I am at this point. Can you keep up?

More later. Pictures galore. Sorry for the distance in posts--I'm trying to get better!

Always,
Carrie

Lofty Fall Fashion!

For the last few months I have been working part time at Ann Taylor Loft. I was a frequent shopper even before I took the job and I love clothes.

This past week I worked a lot, which was amazing because I have to "save up" for the Big Apple move in just a few short weeks. I'd thought I'd do a list of fall must haves from my favorite store!

1. The Trench

2. The Skinny Jean (especially in RED and PINK!)


3. Stripes, Stripes, Stripes!
4. The Wedge/ Booty combo!

 



5. The Voluminous Top (matched with skinny pants!)





6. Mustard Yellow (Don't be afraid!) 






This fall, don't be afraid of colors. Bright is really IN! Lose that brown/black blah winter wardrobe with muted colors and spice it up! Mix and match colors and patterns. Try new lengths-- both short and long. Layer and accessorize.

Always,
Carrie

Oceanside

This weekend?

Next week is filled with some tanning, some work and some planning for next weekend's New York City trip. :) I'm practicing my accent....Coyfee. Car--ahh. Brook-lynn. Yuh know.

Always,
Carrie 

P.S. I had a WHOLE, long fashion post and....Blogger won't let me post it. I'm workin' on it. 

Country Meets City, The Sequel

A mixture of updates from my life, with a happy finale! 

Fall is in the Air & My Trip to Boone  
I'm a hardcore sucker for fall. It could be mid-June and I am already shopping for boots, skinny jeans and pea coats. Thank goodness it is already mid-August!

Children head back to school, leaves begin to change colors, and the air becomes crisper. What an amazing time of year. Nothing reminds me more of fall than a trip to the mountains. North Carolina is a very lucky (and beautiful) state with both the mountains and the beach. The mountains have always been a special place for me because my family spent many weekends riding along the Blue Ridge Parkway, taking floats to waterfalls or stopping in at my favorite place, Mast General Store (mostly for their 500 types of candy in old fashioned barrels).

One day, I will retire in a home in Boone. A home that resembles a log cabin with a gorgeous view. A hot tub. A fireplace. A man rockin' on the porch beside me.... Oh, a girl can dream, right?

 Lake James 
On the same trip to Boone, I spent the weekend at Lake James, North Carolina. My friend, Sally invited me up to hang out at her house and relax. I had so much fun tubing and hanging out on the water with new and old friends.

Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina is beautiful. You have the mountains. You have the vibrant downtown. But most importantly, you have genuine people. I started working at Loft while I've been here and I have met some really great people. The clients are eager to get to know you. You're best friends with the staff as soon as you say, "Hi, I'm Carrie and I'm new...."  What a great area for young people and families alike. I'm really thankful that my cousin is letting me snooze in her guest room while life gets figured out.

Collin 
Last weekend, my mom kept Collin while my sister went back to school. Collin and Aunt Carrie are two peas in a pod when we're together. Despite him sending me to time out about twelve times, there was pool time and train time and snuggling time.

And I got to spend some time with my other favorite baby. Yes, I did a self-portrait with my dog.

Many Car Rides
Car rides are my time to think. My time to just be. And listen to music, which is my favorite hobby. I'm digging this song and this one and this one this week.

And I am digging car ride sunsets.  

Country Meets City, The Sequel
Ever since I was in high school, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life: fundraise. I'm not really sure how or why I knew this was what I was meant to do, but it always happened to be what I loved. I loved planning events. I loved the idea of there being something tangible to give to someone. I loved the interacting with people that came from fundraising. I knew I wanted to work for a non-profit and make a difference in some capacity and I wanted the opportunity to watch something I was passionate about grow--whether it be financially or through awareness.

The last few months have been some of the hardest for me. I seemed to live day-to-day checking every job listing across the country. I was frustrated because for once, I did not know what was next. I was eager to begin a life that was my own. A job for which I was passionate about. New faces. New opportunities. I kept looking for my adventurous side, which I knew existed, but it was lost somewhere and it seemed like I would never find it.

Until this week when I accepted a job at Cookies for Kids' Cancer. I am so excited to begin working with them in September and I am so thankful that they believed that this newly-graduated gal could make a difference in the growth of their non-profit, which raises money for pediatric cancer research. I will be working with some of the most passionate, driven individuals and will be living in the city that never sleeps.

It is all kind of surreal and more importantly, a dream come true. 





Hello, New York. Baby, she's baaaaack!

More to come soon...

Always,
Carrie