Saturday, May 10, 2014

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken on May 11, 2009. As my faithful readers have been seeing all week long, I have posted photos from the first Mattie March. Which was basically the Walk his care community planned for us while Mattie was alive. From that March, our Foundation Walk evolved and grew. Mattie was surrounded by his close buddies in this photo. The head you see in the corner of the photo is Brandon, Mattie's Big Buddy (a fellow childhood cancer survivor). Brandon and Mattie battled cancer around the same time. Behind Mattie, was his very close preschool buddy, Zachary and the little right next to Mattie is Bethie. Bethie is my friend Junko's daughter. Mattie was good friends with Bethie and her brother, Kazu. In fact, Kazu was the first friend Mattie met in his elementary school. What Mattie and Bethie were examining in that cup Mattie was holding were caterpillars. Which I explained a few nights ago in the blog! Mattie loved collecting tent moth caterpillars, whenever he saw them. He also loved sharing his affection for them with others. I have no idea if Bethie loved this or hated the notion, but she was a good sport and like me, you can tell she seemed perplexed that there were caterpillars and NOT liquid in that cup!


Quote of the day: A healer is someone who seeks to be the light that she wishes she had in her darkest moments. ~ Vironika Tugaleva

I started my day with photos of our rhododendron! Peter and Mattie planted this beautiful plant together YEARS ago! It is out in our commons area, for people to enjoy and see. It blooms around Mother's day! Rather ironic, I think. Any case, Peter snapped some photos and showed them to me this morning. 

We loaded up the car today and drove all the raffle baskets to my friend Carolyn's house. Carolyn is our raffle Walk chair and she has coordinated our raffle, FIVE years in a row. The raffle is a LARGE undertaking and I for one am thrilled to have these items out of my living space. I need the space to take on the next walk assembly project. So I am thrilled Carolyn holds onto these items for me and transports them to the Walk because they are huge, heavy, and very bulky!

Last night, we wrapped the final two raffle baskets. This is the Washington Capitals Fan Basket. Within it is:

2 Tickets to a Caps Home Game (Section 114, Seats D 6 & 7)                        
2 Signed Hockey Sticks   

Marcus Johansson Autographed Card

Jason Chimera Autographed Caps Game Puck       

Framed photo of Ovechkin w/piece of 2008 Game Net     

3 Bobble Heads (Nicklas Backstrom, Troy Brouwer, and

Mike Green)

Caps Baseball Hat

Caps cooler, technology gloves, drawstring bag, & magnets

Dining Around Town Basket

$100 Gift Coin to Clyde's Restaurant + Five 50th Anniversary t-shirts

$50 Gift Certificate to Del Ray Cafe (Alexandria, VA)

$25 to Great American Restaurant Group

$75 Gift Certificate to La Bergerie (Alexandria, VA)

$50 to Maggiano's Restaurant

$100 Gift Card to McCormick and Schmick's

Peking Gourmet Inn - One Duck

$50 Gift Card to Taqueria el Poblano (Alexandria, VA)

$50 Gift Card to Tempo (Alexandria, VA)

$50 Gift Certificate to Virtue Feed and Grain (Alexandria, VA)

$100 Gift Card to Zoe's Kitchen

Clyde's 50th Anniversary Book, How We Do Business

Bicycle Wine Rack, Pinwheel, and two spatulas

It has been a full day of work for us, and we have another full day ahead of us tomorrow. So I am signing off for today!

Friday, May 9, 2014

Friday, May 9, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken on May 11, 2009, at the Mattie March. Surrounding Mattie and us were Mattie's Georgetown University Hospital care community. Pictured here were Dr. Shad, most of Mattie's nurses such as Tricia, who was on the ground (front and center), Linda (Mattie's child life specialist, on the far right), and of course Brandon (Mattie's big buddy) and right next to Mattie, were his cousins. This was what our first Walk looked like for us. Walks now look very different. They maybe the same for others, because they have their children in tow, but for us, there is no Mattie and we are planning in essence a family fun event for other peoples' children. 


Quote of the day: Helping others is the secret sauce to a happy life. ~ Todd Stocker


Today's quote sticks out in my mind given an interaction I had with someone yesterday. Funny how things can happen one day and then they carry over into the next. The interaction is with someone I have known now for years. We aren't exactly friends, we aren't colleagues, but we see each other often. Why? Because this individual does my nails. We all have things we like to do for ourselves. Some people like coffee, seeing sporting events, going to the movies, etc. Well my outlet is getting my nails done. I have gone to the same salon in Washington, DC for YEARS. The same person has done my hair for YEARS. In fact she knew me when I was a student, before I was pregnant, when I was a mom, and then when I lost Mattie. Which is why her Salon comes to the Walk each year and sets up a nail art table. One sister does my hair and the other sister at the salon does my nails! In a way, I have gotten to know the whole family that owns Molecule Salon and to me they are all special and charitable people. 

When they learned that Mattie died, they were so overwhelmed. Back then, I only went to the salon for my hair. But that particular day, they treated me to nail service and that is when I met Celina's sister, Marcella. It was from that first encounter that I have been going back to see Marcella ever since. That was in 2009. Over the years we have gotten to know each other and have talked about many things and though we are from different cultures, we are a lot alike in personality. In conversation yesterday, Marcella let me know that she appreciates our chats and being able to talk with me openly and honestly and what a difference in makes in her life. It was a beautiful comment and it has stayed with me through today and most likely will remain with me always. What it reminds me is that connecting with people is important, listening to people is important, and when you don't listen, you miss a good 85% of what someone is trying to tell you. Receiving someone's information, their fears, joys, happiness, and sadness are all gifts. Yes these are emotionally challenging gifts to manage at times, but they are priceless gifts of trust and honor. So in many ways, I felt I won my own lottery yesterday by being told that my presence mattered. 

This evening, Peter and I went out to Tysons Corner to visit Becca, the executive chef of Clyde's. Becca is the amazing woman who donates all our Walk food and also cooks it at the event. That is a huge task and Becca also has to go through a health inspection the day of the event for us before we can start to sell food. She does it all with a smile, but it is labor intensive and we could never manage it without her skills. This year she is bringing her husband and father in law to help out! So our Mattie Miracle family is expanding! Which we are honored about. We had the wonderful opportunity to sit and chat with Becca and catch up on her life. But in true Becca style she also donated items to our Walk raffle. She is a person who lives by the motto of tonight's quote. 

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken on May 11, 2009. At the Mattie March, his School's baseball team came to present him with a team ball. They were on their way to a game. However, before they left for the game, each player came to knock fists with Mattie's. We later learned that the team won the game and they apparently credited the win to touching Mattie. Hearing that news made him smile! 


Quote of the day: You don't do kind deeds expecting kindness in return. You don't do kind deeds because you deem the recipient worthy. You do kind deeds because it's who you are, and because you understand the powerful difference your gentle hand makes in this dreary world. ~ Richelle E. Goodrich


It is hard to believe that the Walk is next weekend. I literally do not know how that happened. I continued to push through the day doing all sorts of Foundation chores and running all over town getting last minute items for the Walk. There are many people who can't possibly understand what I am working on! They really believe the Walk takes very little coordination, energy, and forethought to plan. Which is a riot of grand proportion! Every aspect of the Walk takes great execution because there are many components to the event, and many people involved. The set up alone for the Walk is a task unto itself. Which involves getting to the grounds of the School at 6am. Peter and I can't handle set up alone. We have the School's grounds crew helping us (along with a team of our own volunteers). Because large tents have to be set up, tables and chairs are moved onto the grounds, table cloths are placed on all the tables, and so forth. Again that may not sound like a lot, but it all takes time, and everything has to be set up by 10am, for inspection by the city. Remember those permits I paid for???? Well part of what I am paying for, is inspectors to come out and check the safety of tents, grills, the sanitary conditions of food and food service, and the list goes on. The building permit I had to file is for our rock climbing wall! Why one needs a building permit for a form of entertainment is beyond my comprehension, but I am not fighting City Hall! What I am describing is just the logistics of set up. 

Then of course we have the raffle, which Carolyn, my friend and raffle chair and I have been plotting out and planning for months. The raffle alone is an event, but this event takes place at the Walk. The raffle requires soliciting people and companies for donations, then of course acknowledging all contributions as they come in. Once donations come in, they have to be staged and organized into a visually attractive manner. Again, I am giving a very simplistic overview of the process. 

Within the Walk, there are a host of activities. Some activities we plan and some are hosted by outside vendors. Either case, all of these activities need to be coordinated and scheduled. One of the activities are relay races, which happen to be a revenue generating opportunity for the Foundation. Since this is the second year of relay races at our Walk, we are still hand picking team captains. It is our hope that once the concept catches on, groups will approach us in the future wanting to participate. Last year we had two teams, this year we have four. These teams are each raising money for the Foundation and in essence competing against each other to see which team can raise the most money. 

The list goes on and on from coordinating food, volunteers to run each of our activities, planning gifts for our special guests, planning photography needs, sound checks, going over schedules with people, developing promotional materials, and so MUCH more. Truly the only way to know what is involved with the Walk is to spend a day with me. It is very hard for me to give people something to do at the 10th hour if they haven't been involved in the process with me. To me the Walk is a statement, it is not an event that should be thrown together at the last minute and when someone tells me no one will notice or care whether I have posters up or not..... that is a red flag. It is a red flag that the Walk doesn't mean the same thing to them as it does to me. 

Any one who has truly worked with me knows that I am a collaborator. I am open to ideas and like to brainstorm. I have never been a leader who operates in a vacuum or who doesn't value outside opinion. If I sense you are invested in my cause and want to contribute, then you have my buy in. But if your heart isn't in the Walk, I know it immediately and just like all things related to the Foundation, you aren't getting very far with me. The Foundation has gotten as far as it has gotten because it is personal, because Peter and I pride ourselves on personal touches, and of honoring Mattie's memory. We don't do anything just half way, especially when it came or comes to Mattie. Therefore, when I hear that planning the Walk is simple and it plans itself, I just have to shake my head. It is almost as ridiculous as saying that a child raises itself. There is so much to parenting on a daily basis that it is hard to describe. Same is true for nurturing the Foundation and planning this Walk. 

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken on May 11 of 2009, at the Mattie March. I bet you may be asking yourself, WHAT was going on in this photo? Well what was going on was the exploration of caterpillars. Mattie loved finding them in Alexandria, VA in the Spring and literally transporting them back to DC with us. He started that tradition in preschool. The first year he did this, I was less than thrilled. But I learned to embrace his curiosity. We even found special jars for his caterpillars, learned to feed them oak leaves, and then would watch them create their cocoons. About a week later they would transform into tent moths. Mattie found the whole metamorphosis process fascinating and we had many tent moth release ceremonies on our deck each spring. But what I captured that day at the March, was the fact that Mattie had his buddies help him collect caterpillars and they were sharing in his interests with him. By the way, the cup that Brandon was holding, was NOT filled with liquid. TRY caterpillars!


Quote of the day: Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember, you don't live in a world all of your own. ~ Albert Schweitzer


It was another stellar grey and rainy day in Washington, DC! We have had the worst spring! Today I gave in and started antibiotics. I saw the doctor on Monday, and she couldn't tell if I have an infection or a virus. Yet now two days later I still have a fever and feel awful. So given her advice, I began antibiotics. Given the work I have ahead of me and the Foundation Walk, I have no time for this. In the midst of working today and chores, I had the opportunity to have brief text chats with my friend in cancer. She is approaching the one year anniversary of her son's death. This is a truly heart wrenching day in so many ways. Not to mention the fact that Mother's day is also approaching. A very challenging day for mothers who lost a child. But somehow it is a very surreal experience for the mother of an only child. Without other children around, there is nothing else around you to point out that you were once a mother. Not sure others quite get that concept, it isn't like people send us cards to remind us! But my friend and I get it all too well. It is ironic, we did not know each other before June of 2013, yet we understand each other. The death of a child can level the playing field in a way. 

As my friend prepares for the anniversary of her son's death, it brings me back to the first anniversary of Mattie's death. In a way, the first anniversary is quite different from all others. Mainly because it is the FIRST and also the loss is still quite fresh and raw in peoples' hearts and minds. Also within one's first year the care community is still very present, and therefore they too look for ways to acknowledge the loss. For me the first anniversary of Mattie's death was a major emotional turning point, and not one for the better. It was as if the fuzz came off the peach, or that I could see the reality of my picture better. As if someone put corrective lens on me and I began seeing the world and people around me in a different light. Again, not for the better. What I once found supportive, was no longer supportive at all! 

What I felt on Mattie's first anniversary remains with me today! I experienced first hand the bitter reminder that I was no longer a mom. I lost my child and the other moms around me had children. Their lives were BUSY, full, and occupied. While they came to Mattie's anniversary gathering by his memorial tree, they had a limited amount of time to spend with us, because they had to run to the next activity. No fault of their own, but it only pointed out the huge chasm between us. A chasm that will always remain between us. This may not sound like a big deal, BUT IT WAS A VERY BIG DEAL TO ME! Now almost three and a half years later I can remember that day like it was yesterday. Like a scene from a movie playing over in my head. I can picture adults and children just leaving, and Peter and I were left at the school. We cleaned up everything we brought with us, since I baked dozens of Mattie's favorite cupcakes and so forth, and there was something very painful knowing that others were returning to their usual life while we were returning to our empty home. A life completely altered and shattered. Did that matter to any one? It certainly did the first year! But after the first year, things changed! I really believe people think..... they made it through year one, so they will be fine moving forward! This is a very bad assumption. Mainly because real grief work, happens after the first year!    

That is the one consistent message I try to give to people supporting grieving parents..... throw away the time line! The time line only applies to you or society! Not the grieving parent. I think there are many fears with the pending first anniversary of a child's death and with those fears come MANY questions...... how should I acknowledge the day? How will I feel? How will others feel? Should I include others or be alone? But after all the usual battery of questions, the mind then goes to..... now what?! What will year two look like? How do I survive year two, what will that look like, who will be there to support me through that? Of course, the over arching issue always is what will life look like for me without my child in it and how does one manage this day to day pain? So many questions and really no exact answers! This is NOT a science and what works for one, doesn't necessarily work for another. But the key to survival seems to just keep on talking or writing. These thoughts and feelings have to go somewhere! Fortunately for me I have several of you who listen on a daily basis. To my faithful readers, I am grateful.  

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Tuesday, May 6, 2014 -- Mattie died 243 weeks ago today.

Tonight's picture was taken on May 11 of 2009 during the Mattie March. I have been posting pictures the past couple of days from the first Mattie March. Perhaps because it gives me the strength and motivation to plan this upcoming fifth anniversary Walk on May 18th, which is taking every ounce of energy I have. The Walk alone is a labor of love, but given how busy the Foundation has been this year, balancing the Walk and everything else is near impossible. What I love about this photo, is who was standing right next to Mattie. Next to Mattie was Zachary. Mattie met Zachary in preschool. As I always say, it was friendship at first sight! They bonded on day one and became inseparable. That continued throughout elementary school, even though they went to different schools, and despite Mattie having cancer, Zachary found a way to accommodate and meet Mattie's needs. Which truly was remarkable because Mattie and Zachary had a very ACTIVE friendship. But with bone cancer, their physical relationship changed. That did not deter Zachary, because in the end it was the bond that was important and therefore he was motivated to find a way for them to connect, and they did. A very special message Zachary illustrated to all of us adults!


Quote of the day: You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. ~  John Bunyan


In the midst of working hard at planning the Foundation Walk, I have been working the past couple of days with our complex's painter, Derrick. I met Derrick last year. Funny story, naturally! Do I have any other kind?! I always have a story!!! Peter received a Red Sox bird house as a gift years ago, it was made out of metal but really became corroded over the years and looked like a mess. Last summer, I noticed after I got back from one of our trips, that the bird house disappeared. In all the years I have lived in our complex, no one ever took a thing from our deck, and as you can see we have a lot on it!!! So I thought it was odd.... who would want a rusted out bird house????! Months later, I came home one day and greeting me on the deck was the bird house, transformed. It had been totally restored and painted. I put two and two together and figured it had to be the complex's painter. I did not know Derrick's name at the time, but I learned quickly. So he is so creative and goodhearted. 

This spring, Peter and I are balancing so many things, painting our deck was just not in the cards. Somehow Derrick understood that, or perhaps our dear friend, Maria in the complex, told Derrick. Either case, Derrick came to talk with me a month ago. He told me he would paint the deck for me and the complex would cover the cost of it! All music to my ears. Any case, Derrick has a wonderfully friendly, happy, and cheerful demeanor. He loves creating, painting, and making things look more beautiful. 

I really should have taken a before photo, but it looked so hateful, I couldn't tolerate photographing it! In fact, Derrick tells me that the wood comprising my deck is DONE! That painting it is just like putting make up on, meaning this cosmetic transformation won't last long. Not sure what we will do long term, but for now, I am happy to see things looking cleaner. Any case, this is what I see from Mattie's window by my desk. While Derrick works, I open the window and we chat! He has been great company for me these past two days, while I have been glued to the computer.

This morning, I left my window perch and headed to ABC Imaging. I happen to know the owner of the company. How? Well Luda and I used to be chapel buddies. Her son and Mattie went to the same elementary school. Every Tuesday we attended chapel together at the school and literally we sat next to each other. Most parents did not attend every week, but we did. We were both moms of only children, and we related to each other, and wanted to be involved as much as possible in everything our sons did. When Mattie died, Luda wanted to help us! It was at that point, I found out that she and her husband run a successful international printing company. I had no idea about their company while I was sitting next to her in chapel for a year. We talked about so many other things as moms! Each Foundation Walk, Luda develops posters, banners, and other printed materials for us for FREE. This year's request was huge. I gave her a request for 29 posters and her posters are NOT flimsy, they are high quality laminated materials on foam core. She has supported us for five years and each time I reach out to her, she never asks what for or how much..... it is more like absolutely, how and when do you need it by!???? 

As as tonight's quote points out, it is people like Luda and Derrick that I can't really repay, but it is their acts of kindness that restore my faith in humanity and make me feel that my presence in the world matters or what I am doing is important, and they want to help me so I can continue doing it. So I THANK THEM greatly!

Monday, May 5, 2014

Monday, May 5, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken on May 11 of 2009, during the Mattie March held at his school. What I love about this photo was it wasn't posed or expected. It just captured a moment between friends! It wasn't raining, instead the sun was shining and Mattie's two buddies, Brandon (Mattie's Big Buddy and a cancer survivor) and Robbie (a buddy and child life volunteer) were trying to protect Mattie's very bald head from getting burned. Mattie did not like wearing a hat and truly wasn't at all concerned by the fact that he had no hair. Thankfully on that front Mattie did not mind that he looked different. Now if you went deeper and focused upon the fact that Mattie was confined to a wheelchair and had surgical scars, then Mattie minded greatly how different he was! The photo was taken right before the ceremony we hosted in which we spoke directly to Mattie's support community and then acknowledged all his nurses and caregivers with beautiful Hawaiian leis! Mattie enjoyed the "March" and the support that day, it was one of his happier moments.


Quote of the day: Our lives are like quilts – bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love. ~ Unknown

As I mentioned a few days ago, we were expecting the hand designed memory quilt to arrive in the mail! Well that day has come!!! It is hard to believe that in October I mailed off 30 shirts and articles of clothing of Mattie's and over the course of a couple of months, Terri transformed them into this beautiful quilt. It is hard to describe how moving this is and how huge it is. Its dimensions are 90 by 108 inches! Once I get it up on the wall, which will be feat, I will photograph it again, because what you can't see are the corners. In each corner Terri hand stitched a sun or a moon! The perfect symbols for Mattie! This is truly a work of quilting art!

I took some close up shots of some of the patches in the quilt. This one belonged to one of Mattie's Scooby Doo
pajamas. However, in Mattie's clothes I occasionally ironed in name tags so he wouldn't lose his clothes at school. Terri took some of these name tags and incorporated them into the quilt in cute places, like as a license plate on the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine. Mattie would have absolutely LOVED this!

I loved seeing the fact that Terri preserved the Puppy Feet! This was one of my favorite parts of this jumper! It is just whimsical to see this hanging from the quilt!

Seeing these two shirts side by side is fascinating because the blue shirt is from Mattie's preschool and the white shirt is from Mattie's elementary school. It is just very nice to see them presented this way and to also see Mattie's name tag as the "Super Saint!" The Saints are Mattie's school's mascot, but I personally like the way Terri personalized this!

Mattie loved bugs, alligators, trucks, and boats and they are all depicted here. But I personally love seeing the suspenders and the zip integrated into the quilt. It makes me feel like I could almost picture Mattie almost wearing this outfit. 

Lastly, This pumpkin belongs to Mattie's very first Halloween costume. I still remember picking it out for him! Above the pumpkin is a t-shirt from the LaBrea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, a place Mattie LOVED visiting each time he went to California. The quilt holds many memories for us and when Peter saw it, he was over taken with emotion. I had seen the quilt during its construction phase through photos so I was better prepared for the final result. But it is indeed overwhelming to see Mattie's things before us in this amazing format. 

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken on May 11 of 2009, during the Mattie March. That was the name of our very first "Walk." This walk was planned by our care community, which we called Team Mattie. Team Mattie planned a walk on Mattie's upper school campus to show Mattie their support and care for him. It was a miraculous day in which attendance was in record numbers. Pictured with Mattie was the "Magic Man," who is Bob Weiman, Mattie's head of the lower school. Bob was performing a magic show at the March/Walk with Mattie. Keep in mind that Bob had basically trained Mattie throughout his cancer battle on many magic tricks and Mattie had become quite good at several of them. In front of many people that day, they did their famous Peanut Butter Booger Trick, which Mattie always laughed about! This trick's unofficial name is, "The Mattie Brown" trick, because I believe Mattie was the first student Bob had taught and performed it with! Any case, after Mattie died, once the Foundation was established, Mattie Miracle continued the May Walk tradition and of course the Magic Show at the Walk. Bob and his fifth graders perform several tricks at all of our Walks. Others may think it is just for entertainment purposes, but Bob and I know better! It will always be in honor of Mattie's memory. 


Quote of the day: (In honor of Audrey Hepburn's birthday, if she were alive today to celebrate it.........) Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others. ~ Audrey Hepburn


We worked on many Foundation Walk related items yesterday and today!!! I was very focused on wrapping as many raffle baskets as I could today while Peter was home. Some of these baskets are huge and I really need another set of capable hands to work with me. Peter and I tackled eight out of 10 baskets today! We made HUGE progress. It helped that the baskets were mostly staged already and prepped for the most part for wrapping. I will spare you the details on the labor involved of getting to this staging point! Below you will see our lovely end products! I included the link to purchase raffle tickets as well. Certainly tickets can be purchased the day of the walk but we appreciate you telling your friends and family about our raffle. The raffle is the number one way people all over the Country can support our Walk and Foundation without having to attend our actual event! There is something in this year's raffle that appeals to everyone and remember that 100% of all our proceeds go toward our mission and goals, NOT to administrative costs and salaries (which are NONE existent at Mattie Miracle)!

MATTIE MIRACLE RAFFLE:https://www.mattiemiracle.com/Raffle.html

Wolf Trap Basket:
2 Prime Orchestra Tickets to the Grease Sing A Long at Wolf Trap
$25 Trader Joe's Gift Card

$50 Unwined Gourmet Wine Gift Card

Summer Strawberry Hand Crafted Quilt

Brookstone Ascot Surrey Picnic Basket (this included real plates, glasses, silver ware, napkins, and a corkscrew)

Lego Basket:
21.5 Quart wheeled basket with lid

coast guard helicopter-60013

fire truck-60002

furry creatures-31021

sunset speeder-31017

mountain hut-31025

tree house-31010

family house-31012

highway speedster-31006

forest animals-31019

emerald express-31015

red thunder-31013

LED keychain

ultimate sticker collection

city reader collection book

plush blanket 62"x 90"

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun:
6 Admission tickets to AMC theatres
$25 iTunes Card, $10+ Sweet Frog Cards, $15 Starbucks Card

Alex & Ani Bracelet & Handcrafted Hope Beaded Bracelet              

iPhone 5 Case  

USB Home and Car Charger & Smartphone Ear Buds         

Nail polish, Lip glosses, Nail files, Nail stickers

Peace fuzzy pillow, Drawstring bag, Insulated cup             

Butterfly hangers, French Memo Board, Scarf

Z-pizza (one a month for a year)

Dozen cupcakes from Buzz Bakery

Money Tree: 
$25 Amazon                     

$25 Barnes and Noble

$25 Best Buy                    

$15 Cold Stone Creamery

$15 Dunkin Donuts                        

$15 Game Stop 

$25 Macy's                       

$25 Pottery Barn

$50 Shell Gasoline                          

$25 Target

$10 Walgreens                

$100 Walmart

Golfers Delight:
Round of four + cart at Stonewall Golf Club at Lake Manassas

Two lifetime memberships to Top Golf in Alexandria, VA (entitles you to complimentary club rental and $50 in game credits)

Orange Golf Balls, Tee Brushes, Premium Putter Cover     

Taylor Made Baseball Hat, Orange Microfiber Towel        

Orange Golf Ball Basket              

Orange Pin Wheel

Washington Nationals:
Nats v Cubs (July 6, 1:35pm; Signature Sunday, Kids Run the Bases)

4 Diamond Level seats with parking & unlimited food

2 Kids Nats t-shirts                         

Nats Cooler Bag              

 2 Nats Baseball Hats                     

Nats Mini Replica Helmet

 2 Nats Baseballs                           

Mini Softee Bat & Ball Set

Nats Magnets                  

Nats 18" Wooden Bat

Nats Mini Basketball Hoop Set     

iPad Air:
iPad Air - 16GB (supports wifi/bluetooth)
$25 iTunes Gift Card                    
10" Green Apple Colored Cover for e-readers and tablets                             

Tuff case for iPad Air    

Red Apple Colored Ear Buds        

Portable Rechargeable Power Cell Keychain        

Bling Green Apple Colored USB Car and Home Chargers    

T-Shirt Quilt Basket:
Certificate to Kidsquiltz (work with a master quilter to select your t-shirts, design, and overall layout of your final product) 

3 Mattie Miracle Walk t-shirts (from 2011, 2012, and 2013)

Yellow Tulip Pinwheel

Yellow Weaved Basket