NAMIWalk

Apologies now for the super long post, but please, please, PLEASE read it! I am in need of help to pull off this NAMIWalk and getting donations. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Is such a great organization and the help they provide to the community is phenomenal.
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Dear family and friends,

I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me.  NAMIWalks, the signature walkathon event of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is being held in  Taylorsville, UT on September 24, 2011. I am the Entertainment Chair for the NAMIWalk and it has been so fun to help put such a great event together.

I became involved with NAMI in January working as an Intern. I learned about symptoms of mental illness (i.e. depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD) in children and had the chance to present workshops to teachers about these symptoms. I also had the chance to attend some of their family support groups. I quickly fell in love with NAMI and the great services they provide to the community. As I read and learned about different symptoms of mental illness, I quickly realized how many kids I had worked with either in day care or at the school district who had been struggling with these symptoms, and I had no idea what they were or what they meant. Some were "kicked out" of school because their behavior was so unmanageable, or others continued to struggle needlessly throughout the day. Their development and learning quickly became hindered because of their struggles. No matter WHAT the other teachers and I did to try and comfort these kids or meet their needs, it was too stressful for us and the child. Granted, all kids are different and have different personalities, but there were some who we truly felt could possibly be suffering from mental illness. I also realized that some of my best friends had shown symptoms of mental illness when we were teenagers. They tried to tell me that they were deeply unhappy, but I had no idea what to do to help them.

From working with NAMI, I have realized how very real and common mental illness is. I have seen people who have never been able to find help and hope with their struggles. But, I have also seen the families who come to NAMI and find the hope and healing they are looking. I have loved working with NAMI and I have seen how their services to the community can change lives. I am now more aware of mental illness and how I can support those around me who may be suffering. My desire is to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the community so those who are suffering don't feel ashamed to find the help they need. These are just some of the reasons why I am supporting NAMI in their annual Walk.

I would like to ask you to come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. If you would like to register to walk with me, visit http://www.nami.org/namiwalks.  OR if you just want to make a donation to sponsor me, visit http://www.nami.org/walkdonation.cfm?id=170052. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation. My goal is to personally raise $300.00 (I now have $50.00) before the day of the walk. OR I also need individuals willing to come help volunteer with the entertainment on the day of the walk. This would involve being at Valley Regional Park from about 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM. There will be lots of fun games and activities!

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all whose lives are touched by these illnesses.  This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers.  The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office.

The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved, and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission.

 Thank you you so much for reading this (long!!!) email and for all of your support!!

Sincerely,
Annie Hamilton

It's coming...

 I plan to go to New England to see the Fall Foliage someday.

I stepped outside at 7:10 this morning to go to work and I noticed that it was a bit chillier than normal... and it felt lovely.

And then I realized that it is September 1st, which means Fall is coming.

It felt so much like fall this morning. It even smelled like fall. I love feeling like I need a sweater when I go outside!

Fall means a lot of things to me:

-Pretty leaves (I need pictures of this)
-delicious food, which includes but is not limited to:
         * pumpkin pancakes are a must have
         * I plan on making Spice Cake with Buttermilk Caramel Frosting... something that has never been attempted, but I plan on making it happen because it makes me drool and cry with joy at the thought of it. I will tell you to come over when I make it... unless I eat it all by myself, or it's a disaster.
         * Donuts. HOMEMADE donuts. Something I have never done... but want to try so bad.
         * Homemade donuts with HOMEMADE caramel apple cider. 
         * Butternut Squash Soup, and other delicious, comfort-food soups.
         * Pumpkin Steamers from Starbucks
         * Halloween candy, it really does taste different from regular candy

- umm Halloween of course. Best. Holiday. Ever.
-How about the NAMIWalk coming up in a few weeks? 
-how about general conference?!? heck yes! 
- new sweaters
-Thanksgiving
-ummm did I mention UTAH football!?!? pretty much.... it's awesome.


Now I am off to Boulder where it feels like deathly summer to help me get really excited for fall. 
        

Good-bye summer, hello fall

Ok, so I know it's been like... 10 years since I last blogged. For some reason... I really just didn't want to. Partly because I couldn't think of anything to write, and also because I didn't feel like it. Wedding planning and planning a fundraiser at the same time just takes a lot out of you (more on the fundraiser later).

BUT I am back. Not only back on the blog, but also back at work. I am at Rose Park Elementary working as a Pre-K assistant... it's pretty much awesome.

With summer coming to an ended, here are some great things that have been going on as we have ended the summer:

 How about that thunder storm a few nights ago?? That was crazy! you can't tell here, but our porch was flooding because there was so much water! Steven was shoveling it out moments before. See that bucket? That was filled just from water dripping from the porch above us within 2 or 3 minutes.

 Lots and lots of rain. Secret: I love summer thunder storms. 

Then there was "pie in the sky":

 I made this key lime pie for cousin Lara's bridal shower. I played around with a new recipe I found, so I'm glad it turned out ok (I was supposed to put zest in... but I didn't. I didn't want to bite into little green things in my pie).

 Pies at a shower? Best idea ever (thanks Lisa, Paige, and Courtney). Cupcake shops better watch out, because pies are making a comeback. There was also apple (with yummy streusel-type topping, best way to have apple pie), berry, pumpkin, heavenly coconut cream pie, two kinds of chocolate, lemon CHIFFON (love to say that) 

My mom and I did Holly's wedding cake/cupcakes/eclairs. Oh my gosh, the eclairs were so good.

We also had an ice cream party... which I have no pictures of. We just told people to bring ice cream, and it was wonderful. we made caramelized banana ice cream. and.... it was wonderful.

I was also going to blog about fall stuff I want to do, but I made mac and cheese (nope, not homemade... please don't judge) so I am going to go eat. I will try to blog more!

Musings of a potential future Wedding Planner

All this wedding planning for Kat Call has made me think how fun being an Event Planner could be. Planning a wedding is a bit less stressful when you're not planning your own.

So, I am applying to SLCC this semester to take a few Event Planning classes! Just one or two, to start. I think it should be fun though. :)

Here are some things we (me, mom, and Katherine) are thinking for the reception:

 Booked the Commander's House at Fort Douglas for the reception (imagine those trees with lots of pretty fall leaves)

Mason jar arrangements with twine and then put in rustic wood boxes

Mexican Catering from Rico's! 

Everything else is still getting figured out. We just need to rent linens, dinnerware and flatware, invitations, Katherine's dress issues (she needs a "bolero"), MY outfit... etc. etc. etc. Fun!

I never did get one of those anthropologie dresses. Instead we are going the neutral color route for bridesmaid dresses. We thought it'd be really cute with the rust orange flowers we are doing. What do you think of these?

 Ann Taylor dress

 Picture this dress in Khaki with an orange or green sweater and a belt. I know it's tricky, but we think it could be super cute.

Obviously, this would need a sweater and belt too.

Let me know what you think, I like them all!

What a fun summer

School starts back up for Steven in less than two weeks... which means our fun summer is coming to an end. And believe me... it has been a really, really fun summer. Here are some great pictures from our summer:

we kicked off this summer with graduation!

 of course, trips to St. George with the Hamilton clan, do you like Malia's little chair she found?

 Going to the Island Park Cabin (aka the "Buffalo Cabin") and meeting Tratherine

 Oh, and there was that one trip to Alaska with the Goodell group

 Outdoor movies with Matt and Abby!

 Hiking Neff's Canyon (except it was super hard for me too)

 Cabin trip with the Hamilton clan

 And last week we had our annual "Cabinfever" trip to Wren's cabin, and it was sure fun this year. We played games, played Rock Band, went to a lake... reservoir... thing, ate at Hi-Mountain Drug (best burgers and fries, next time you are in Kamas, please go), and stayed up till 4:00 AM.

See how much fun Steven is having??? 

Other fun things we did that aren't pictured:

Had a mini high school reunion with Sara in town

Went to Boulder 

Celebrated many family birthdays

 Had a Key Lime Pie Shake from Hi-Mountain Drug (sorry, had to bring that in)

Planning Kat Call's wedding... and believe me... it will be an awesome wedding. 

Oh my gosh, and how could I forget HARRY POTTER AT MIDNIGHT??? Awesome times a billion! 

I hope I didn't leave anything out.... See what a fun summer it's been?? I'm sad it's almost over. BUT, we still have a week and half left, and we plan on using it. Soon, I will be planning all my fall festivities.

What would you do (post 2)...

If you were Steven?

Would you take the TA job offered by your professor? (Involves teaching 2 classes, BUT you get paid pretty well plus you get 12 hours of school credit, that's a whole semester we don't have to pay for!)

OR

Wait to hear back about the interview he had with Deseret Book last week for the IT internship position?

OR

Apply for other Information Systems/IT jobs that could help him get valuable experience?

Making decisions is difficult.

One of my favorite places in Utah

 We went to our cabin with the Hamilton clan this weekend, and while we were there we visited Soapstone Basin. It's a beautiful drive with soooo many wild flowers. We came at the perfect time because they were all in bloom. 

 Linda counted 16 different kinds of flowers

I love it there. You should go.