Five Sweet Little Words: "Honey, Take My Credit Card!"

Ahhh…. Retail Therapy…..New clothes & especially new shoes without fail revives me, rejuvenates me and restores my mental well-being (until I get the bill & even worse when my husband gets the bill.) These days my shopping has taken me through unfamiliar territory leading to a lot of stores with the word “sports” somewhere in the name. Most of the stuff at these places is pretty mundane. Sometimes there is a silver lining like the new shoes with sparkles and the hot pink & black number I purchased for my race tomorrow (oh, just you wait & see this fabulous outfit.) There is just something about that feeling of wearing something new for the very first time. It’s exciting and gives you an occasion to look forward to whether it’s the next day at the office or a party. Looking good equals feeling good. This is the reason why when children removed from an unhealthy situation are brought to Child Protective Services they go through The Rainbow Room. The children are given a clean pair of clothes, socks and a plush toy. It has to be incredibly scary to be removed from a bad situation and introduced into a new one without having any idea what is in store. Community Partners of Dallas has made it its mission to ensure the neglected & abused children in Dallas County safety & restore their hope & dignity. It’s amazing to think how huge a role something as simple as a new pair of socks plays in this healing process. Approximately 47% of the children served by The Rainbow Room are ages 0, helpless little babies, to 3 years old. 32% are ages 4 to 9 years old. It’s staggering to think about how many children on a daily basis are being abused and neglected before they’ve even made it through 5th grade. It’s even more shocking to realize how many of these children are not old enough to make decisions about their personal welfare. Count your blessings – not your money. Honey, take out your credit card and make donation to Community Partners of Dallas right now! I guarantee you will feel rejuvenated knowing you’ve just made a positive difference in restoring a child’s hope for the future. **Words to live by – If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.

The Swimsuit

My swimsuit fashion has certainly evolved over the years. When I was in high school and college, I would have never entertained the idea of wearing a one piece swimsuit and I can assure you that a swimsuit with a skirt was absolutely not an option. My stance on this fashion decision has been dramatically altered due to two distinct factors: 1.) I no longer have the body of an 18 - 21 year old and have long since given up trying and 2.) You can't do an open water swim in a skirt and especially not in a bikini! That's right. I will be swimming in open water - not racing in a swimming pool - the day of the triathlon. Specifically, I will be swimming in Austin's Town Lake, which I hear is quite chilly on Memorial Day so I'm hoping for blue skies and RAINBOWS. Swimming is the first leg of the triathlon. I will be swimming 1 mile followed by a bike ride and ending with a jog and it will all be worth it when we (me and all of you that are supporting my efforts by donating) get to give Community Partners of Dallas a big fat check! In 1993, Community Partners of Dallas opened the Rainbow Room which meets children's emergency needs for resources, including clothing, shoes, formula, diapers, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, birthday presents and school supplies. These items are distributed through the Dallas County caseworkers. Since it opened, the Rainbow Room has served more than 90,000 children. Community Partners of Dallas has been so successful with this program it is now being replicated across the state and is currently underway in more than 130 cities in Texas. You can be a part of keeping the Rainbow Room a success by supporting my swimming efforts. Can't decide on how much to donate? How about donating 1 penny for the 5280 grueling feet I'll be swimming across Town Lake. That's $52.80 for all you math wizzes like myself! Ladies, this is so much easier than going swimsuit shopping. Just click & donate! As always - If at first you don't succeed, try try again!