Training Day One

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Charlotte, NC is 24 weeks away. I am officially starting my training to walk the 39 miles in 2 days. Today's workout: 15 minute recovery walk. Piece of cake! Tomorrow's training: 3 miles. No problem!

Check out my team's accomplishments at www.cupsofsunshine.org and see how you can help us fight this deadly disease!

Blinkies for Boobies

I am participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I need to raise a minimum of $1800 and need your help! I am offering a web blinkie for $5 donation and a linked web blinkie for $10 donation.

Here's a few examples:
Example 1
Example 2

You can see my walk page at www.cupsofsunshine.org. If you're interested please email me at swillis413@hotmail.com!

Must Read Books!

An author found me on Twitter and asked if I would read her debut book and review it. A free romance novel? Why of course! Little did I know how awesome the book was and what a great person she is. Allow me to introduce Dianne Venetta, author of Jennifer's Garden and Lust on the Rocks.


Jennifer's Garden is about a doctor who is content in her relationship with her fiance. Her mother is very sick. Her best friend, Sam, is a lawyer who flirts with any guy around. As Jennifer is preparing for her wedding, she is fixing up her yard for the ceremony. The landscaping guy recommended to her, Jax, happened to be the bartender from a party her and Sam attended. Jennifer could not quite understand why a bartender would be a gardner. She agreed to let him fix up her yard. Not only did Jax show interest in giving Jennifer the best looking yard, he showed interest in her! Seeing as she was engaged and planning her wedding, he kept his distance. In the end he made the most beautiful landcaping any yard could ask for and Sam showed Jennifer what's important in life.



Lust on the Rocks is Sam's story. Sam is this high class lawyer one case away from making partner. Another associate, Vic, is about pushed on to her to help her in the one case she wants to do herself. She finally agrees to let him on the case but she doesn't understand why he wanted to be part of it so badly. Vic has secrets and slowly lets his guard down once him and Sam cross the line from co-workers to lovers. This story is juicy with Sam being older than Vic.

Besides Sam's relationship with Vic, her baby sister comes home from school with a secret. It's a life changing decision she must make and Sam tries her best to guide her in the right direction.

Lust on the Rocks will be available October 17 although I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy. I am still in process of reading it but so far it's great! I eagerly await for more time to snuggle with Ksaizka (my kindle) so I can escape to Sam's world.

I highly recommend Dianne Venetta's books and I will patiently (try to) wait for her next story. Find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Sweet Tomatoes Monday

To my local friends: You are invited to join me Monday, June 27 at Sweet Tomatoes in Carrollwood. They are graciously donating 20% of dinner sales to my walking team Cups of Sunshine for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Come anytime between 5pm-8pm and present this flyer when paying for your dinner. (Please download flyer and print)

How great is that you can support breast cancer while eating dinner at yummy Sweet Tomatoes?!?! There are 2 flyers on the same page so feel free to share with a friend. Even better forward this blog to your friends and make it a night out to dinner! I truly appreciate your support and I look forward in seeing you Monday at Sweet Tomatoes!

Happy Earth Day

I'm a day late posting this but better late than never. :)

"Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children." - Kenyan proverb

Reuse, reduce, recycle. My favorite 3 R words. I was green before it was "cool." I have my 2 recycle bins I usually overflow each week. It took some time but I finally taught my family what goes in the recycle bins and what can go in the trash can. We need to keep our Earth otherwise it will not be a friendly place for our great great grandchildren. I already worry about my daughter going out in the world as the world is not the same when I was 15 years old. Enjoy the outdoors! We just built a patio on the back of our house and I think my dogs are as happy as we are with it! We have a place to enjoy the fresh air and nature. We even bought one of those plastic kiddie pools for the dogs. They are in heaven outside! Especially now that we are having near 90 degree weather! I've even took a dip in their pool!

If you see liter, pick it up. Even if its not yours. Recycle your plastic grocery bags. Better yet, invest in the reusable bags that most stores sell for less than $1. I keep one in my car so if I make a quick stop at the store I have my own bag.

Carpool if you can. Not only are you reducing exhaust but also saving on gas. And with today's gas prices getting close to $4/gallon, we all want to save money! It may even be worth it to get a bicycle. What great exercise while saving money!

What are you doing to be green?

Results & Next Event

Crafting For A Cure was a success! We were able to raise over $1,000 for our walk! WOOHOOIEEEE!!!

Our next event is Mama Mia Dinner & Dance on May 7, 2011. For $8 per person, you can enjoy a homemade spaghetti dinner with salad, bread & dessert. Then we'll dance the night away! Reservations are requested so please contact me to reserve your table. With Mother's Day the following day, give mom the night off from the kitchen and support breast cancer! For more info, visit www.avonwalk.org/goto/cupsofsunshine.

Crafting For A Cure Raffles

Saturday is my Crafting For A Cure event. We'll have over 30 local crafters & vendors there! I'm soooooo excited! This all benefits my walking team, Cups of Sunshine, for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer I am participating in October with my bestest friend, Missy, my mom and her friend. It's going to be a girls weekend as we'll be traveling from FL to NC for this! And what a great cause to be doing this for!

At our event this Saturday, we'll have some baskets full of great goodies from our crafters & vendors up for raffle. You do not need to be present to win. Here is a list of the raffle baskets then I will explain how you can purchase raffle tickets if you are unable to attend Crafting For A Cure.

White Plastic Basket - Total Value $119Included in this basket:
*Avon-Cherry Blossom bath & body set $30
*Eleventh Hour Designs-necklace, bracelet, earring set $25
*Jersey Girls Creations-Capri Sun purse $10
*Knits & Knots-bear $20
*Premier Jewelry: gift certificate $25
*Sew Be It-sunglasses case & coin purse $9


Purple Bucket - Total Value $80Included in this basket:
*Custom Creations-freshwater pearls necklace $20
*Karen's Kreative Arts-hand painted vase $20
*Origami Flower $3
*PJ Crafts World-3 bars of soap $12
*The Purse Lady-Coach purse $25


Pink Bucket - Total Value $95Included in this basket:
*Catattude Country-2 purse charms, spring votive holder, spring garden bucket $25
*Creative Memories-2 mini albums w/paper & gift certificate for power sort $40
*Bracelet $10
*My Thoughts Exactly-stationary set $20


Pink Basket - Total Value $102Included in this basket:
*Tupperware-citrus tool $5
*The Purse Lady-Coach wallet $20
*Handcrafted necklace & earring set; coasters $12
*Simply Sweet Bracelet Boutique-bracelet $40
*Partylite-gift certificate $25


Green Basket - Total Value $99Included in this basket:
*Avon-Armitron men's watch $40
*Kat's Jewels-bracelet $15
*Artistry-gift certificate $25
*Thirty-One-thermal tote $19


Blue Bucket - Total Value $77Included in this basket:
*Gold Canyon Candles-candle shade $20
*Miche Bags-purse charm $13
*Mary Kay-gift certificate $20
*Pampered Chef-cookbook & dish towels $24


Blue Basket - Total Value $83Included in this basket:
*Memorable Children's Books & Gifts-Disney math cards, magnetic drawing board, books $45
*Pink Lemonade Designs-3 hair bows $16
*Knits & Knots-hat $12
*Dove Chocolate-cocoa rub $10

Blue Plastic Basket - Total Value $66Included in this basket:
*Cally's Creations-crayon roll $6
*Cute Kitties-plush kittie $20
*Everlasting Gifts-necklace $12
*Knitting Stuff-scarf, pot holders, baby faces $8
*Tastefully Simple-gift certificate $20


Raffle tickets are $1/ticket or 6 tickets for $5. If you'll be at Crafting For A Cure, purchase the tickets Saturday. If you're unable to attend you may purchase tickets by PayPal. Send payment as "gift" to swillis413@hotmail.com. In the message section, please list how many tickets you'd like to purchase and which basket(s) you want to put your ticket on. Also include a phone number. All ticket purchases must be complete by Saturday, April 2 midnight. All winners will be notified no later than Wednesday, April 6 and will be responsible for picking up their basket. If you are not local to Tampa, you may still purchase tickets but you'll be responsible for shipping costs. Of course you are always welcome to make a donation on my website at www.avonwalk.org/goto/samwillis.

If there are any questions about this event, the raffle, the walk or anything, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thanks for the support!!

Crafting For A Cure

I've been working on organizing a fundraising event for our Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It will be on April 2 and it's a craft & vendor event. I am soooooo excited about it! We've had such a great response in interest in participating. Today I started advertising the event. Hopefully it'll bring in lots of funds to go towards breast cancer. We'll have companies such as Avon (of course ;-), Gold Canyon Candles, Thirty-One, Dove Chocolate, Mary Kay, Partylite, purses, Usborne Books, scrapbooking, tie-dye, tutus, knitted items, Tupperware, Tastefully Simple and so much more! There will be a raffle for several baskets of goodies; food for sale. I'm just so excited not only for the fundraising but to see all the crafts & products that will be for sale!

Find current information on our team events on Facebook by searching for "Cups of Sunshine" or visiting www.avonwalk.org/goto/cupsofsunshine.