I did it!!!!!

Half Marathon - DONE!

There has been a rather large smile on my face since crossing the finish line at the stairs of the Opera House yesterday morning.
What a blast! I was aiming to finish the 21.1km Half Marathon course around the 2hr mark so my finish time of 2hrs 3mins 34secs is absolutely fine with me!
I managed to snap a pic at the start of the race as we crossed the Harbour Bridge but then tucked my phone away again and got down to business.

The course is a spectacular one to run, with some awesome views and Sydney's weather yesterday was stunning which made the whole experience fabulous!
Thanks to my father in law who came along to see my sister in law and I at the finish line. He snapped some pics while he was there for memories sake but they are only just a taste of how awesome it was to be a part of the race.

I'll be back next year - I just have to decide if I will be lining up for the Half or the Full Marathon...

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to those gorgeous people who sponsored my run in support of my step daughter Felicity - You are STARS!!!!!!

Half Marathon for Felicity!

Remember a few months ago I told you HERE how I have been training for my first official half marathon?? Well the time has ticked away and we are almost there - only 5 sleeps left in fact, and I can't wait, Woohoo!
So why am I doing this??

Not only am I mum to Milla and Harrison but I am also step-mum to Felicity, who happens to have a sever form of autism. Felicity was born unique with a rare chromosome disorder and a day in her life is very different to yours or mine. Coming up on 12, she works hard every day to learn simple language, organise her body and learn social skills..... and she does this in her own unique & delightful way. Felicity is currently in her 7th year of her full time in home Son-Rise Program™ for her Autism and this program is allowing her to reach for the stars. She is an absolute delight to be around and her joyful personality touches many peoples lives.
It's automatic to assume that I am running my first ever Half Marathon next week FOR Felicity but the truth in the matter is I am running BECAUSE of Felicity and I thank her for that... let me explain what I mean.
What I have learnt in the short time I have been honoured to be in the role parent/step-parnet to these three little people is that if they are happy in their life there is nothing more they will need. They can choose to be well paid, uber educated lawyers OR fit, fab and healthy athletes OR struggling artists one day - who knows! But if they are doing it with a smile in their heart then what more could I ask for?
I get asked by lots of people "how is Felicity?" and I can only assume they want to hear me reply with "she is doing so well, she now has X amount of words and any day now we will have her enrolled in a typical school and her Autism is a thing of the past" Of course I will be thrilled to one day tell people that, but what I have learnt and am continuing to learn is what I reply with: "she is happy" and for any parent/step-parent that is perfection!
Anyone that knows Felicity will tell you she is one cheeky, bubbly girl who is ALWAYS smiling no matter what is in her way. Seeing this shine through her for the past 6 years that I have been Felicity's step mum has made me realise that I need to always search for what makes me happy and DO IT! Happiness is a choice!

Enter running. It started as a little 'fitness kick' to loose a bit of baby weight - I did and I was happy. Then I realised I kinda liked this running stuff - so I keep doing it and I was happy. I ran my first ever official race last year when I took on the City2Surf - when I crossed the finish line I was happy. I run most mornings which wakes me up (I'm NOT a morning person) and gets me in a good mood ready to start the day with my family - that makes me happy. I have goals set to better my times/distance/pace - I beat them and I am happy. I WILL run my first ever Half Marathon in Felicity's name - this will make my heart happy. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't feeling 'un-happy' before all this but I wasn't happy with my weight, I wasn't happy with my grumpy mood in the mornings when there is such a better way to be with my gorgeous family, I wash't happy being an unfit mum who would rather sit and watch my kids instead of run and play with them, I wasn't happy with feeling unattractive to my hubby but what I am trying to say is Felicity and her Son-Rise Program has helped me learn that you need to find whatever it is that makes you happy and do it - that 'thing' for me in the past 2 years has been running..... it might not always be running but for now it is and I will run next weeks 21.09km Half Marathon race with a smile in my heart knowing I am doing it for myself - What an AWESOME thing to be able to say!

Thank you Felicity for being such a gift to my everyday and I will be delighted to run this race for you in the hopes to raise more more for your Son-Rise Program xx

I would absolutely LOVE your support for Sunday's race if you are able. Your sponsorship donation would go a long way in continuing Felicity's Son-Rise Program and would be appreciated beyond words! Pop over to the DONATE page on the Running The Marathon Of Autism's website HERE for ways to sponsor me!!

Donated fabrics and ribbon turn into 83m of bunting for The Wayside Chapel

Every Thursday I receive the 'Inner Circle' email from Graham Long of The Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross, Sydney. In this email Graham tells a bit of his experiences working at The Wayside Chapel and my Thursday's aren't complete without reading these emails (if you want to get these emails as well, join the mailing list HERE) Anyway about 4 weeks ago the email had a 'call out' in it for anyone who could donate goods, supplies and services for the annual Wayside Christmas Day Street Party where the Wayside staff close down the main street of Kings Cross and feed over 1000 people who would have otherwise be alone and hungry on Christmas day.


Instantly I checked out the 'wish list' to see if there was anything I could donate and when I saw the word DECORATIONS on the list I knew that was something I could do... BUNTING - lots and lots and lots of Christmas bunting!!

I raided my fabric stash for anything green, red, white or Christmas-y and had a small stash to start with but I had visions of ALLOT of bunting that Wayside could use at their Street Party year after year. So it was my turn to make a 'call out'. I contacted some wonderful friends, colleges, family and businesses and asked for fabrics for my little idea.

Bundle after bundle of fabric & ribbon arrived over the next few days and a HUGE thanks goes out to these AWESOME businesses who donated: The Oz Material Girls, Ribbons Galore, Wrapped In Fabric, The Habby Goddess, Em & Femme Designs, Baby Galah, Tea for Evie & Little Sew & Sews (I so hope I haven't forgotten anyone - so so so sorry if I have).

I got cutting and sewing and just this Monday gone I finally finished it all - a whopping 83 metres (the longest amount I've ever sewn for one 'order') of handmade bunting for 100% donated supplies!! Check it out:






Folding it all up and popping it into a box was an effort in itself but I got it posted off to Wayside ready for the Christmas Day Street Party and I reckon it's going to be looking pretty swish :)

Thanks again to all who donated - Mwahh!!

QLD Flood Appeal Auction

The amazing girls at Handmade Kids and Rudy & the Dodo have joined forces to conduct an auction to raise much needed funds for those affected by the recent floods in Queensland.
The auction is being run through this specifically set up Facebook page HERE and so far there are 2 albums of gorgeous goodies up for grabs!!

The auction will start on Friday Jan 14th at 11am (EST) and will run all weekend so you can be sure to get your bids in before it closes on Monday 17th Jan at Midnight (EST)

All funds raised from the auction will be donated to The Premiers Flood Appeal

There are HEAPS of fabulous products I have my eye on and you can also bid on 2 bunting banners from Giggleberry Creations!
Let's dig deep and help out those in need even if it's just passing this info on to others so they may donate or bid - Thank you.

Auction facebook page: www.facebook.com/HMKRudydodofloodappeal

4 sleeps to go...

The timer is ticking away... at the time of publishing this post there is only 3 days, 20 hours, 21 minutes and 42 seconds until the 2010 City2Surf!
3 of the Running the Marathon of Autism runners: Ian, Carley & Jocelyn, will be taking on the 14kms in Felicity's name - AWESOME!!

This is your chance to sponsor these wonderful people for their marathon efforts and in the same action you will be supporting Felicity through her own marathon journey recovering from autism.



We have been overwhelmed with all the support so far and are thrilled that our donation counters are currently at $4506.
How awesome would it be to crack the $5000 mark before the starting gun trigger is pulled at the City2Surf this weekend??

With 3 ways to donate it's quick and easy to further support Felicity in her Son-Rise Program.

PAYPAL:
Donation via credit card can be made by clicking the below yellow button (you do not need a paypal account to do this)

DIRECT DEPOSIT:
Account Name: T J Costin
BSB Number: 944 300
Account Number: 012 598 461

NOTE: If you would like a receipt, for tax purposes, please send your email address, postal address and a copy of the direct deposit transaction to - tanya@intellectualdisability.org

CHEQUE:
Cheques are to be made out to: T J Costin
Please post them to:
Running the Marathon of Autism
T J Costin
P.O. Box 304
Church Point
NSW, 2105

NOTE: If you would like a receipt, for tax purposes, please include a note with your email address & postal address

THANK YOU< THANK YOU< THANK YOU in advance for all your support!!

Sugar and Spice... for all things nice!

Who doesn't love a good market? to casually wander around sipping a latte while taking a peek at the handmade goodies from all the different stall holders with no real intention other than to see what's on offer... and 9 times out of 10 find a whole array of unique items that you just had to buy - Bliss.
Now make the market a Children's market and add to that a 'Kids Corner' (where the kids will be entertained) which is right next to a 'Dad's Corner' (where hubby can sit and read the paper while keeping half an eye on the kids) and you have my idea of a weekend morning heaven!
"There is no such place" I hear you say... wrong! For those of you lucky enough to be in the Melbourne area your market prayers have been answered with the Sugar & Spice Children's Market!


A new boutique children's market in beautiful Woodend in Victoria. You will be delighted by the gorgeous and unique products for your children, many of them hand made by the lovely person you are buying them from.
Sugar & Spice market is also designed to help support and promote local small businesses that are producing lovely children products - and I have discovered that there are lots and lots of them!! Other gorgeous businesses from surrounding areas are also being sourced as I wish to provide a diverse range of beautiful stalls to the people shopping at the market - variety is the spice of life :)
Another aspect of the market is that any profits made will be donated to local charities (of course this is once marketing needs have been accounted for). I hope that by the market giving back to the local community, the local community will support the market.

This is where (if you can believe it) the Sugar & Spice markets gets even better! Alison, the gorgeous wizz behind these awesome markets has pledged the profits from both the inaugural markets in June and the September markets to Felicity & The Marathon of Autism!!! Wow, wow, wow!!

So by shopping at Sugar & Spice not only will you be purchasing gorgeous products for your children, you will also be supporting local businesses and charities! - That's Felicity!

Here are the details you'll need so be sure to pop it on your calendar, in your phone, in your diary, into your computer reminders... heck even put it on a post it and stick it to your bed head!

Sugar & Spice Children's Market Woodend
Where: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend, Victoria (click HERE for directions)
When: 20th June 2010 (& then again September, December and March - date to be announced)
Time: 10am - 2 pm
Entry: FREE

Once you're there go nuts! And be sure to say hi (and a HUGE thanks from us & Felicity) to Alison if you spot her.

If you are new around her and have no idea what I am talking about when I'm mentioning Felicity and The Marathon of Autism take a quick peek HERE and it will bring you up to speed.

Please help where you think you can....

The horrific bush fires that hit Victoria over the weekend have been described by Australia's deputy prime minister as "a tragedy that will be remembered as one of the darkest days in Australia's peacetime history".
My family and I have be glued to the radio and Internet over the weekend and today listening to the stories flooding in from those affected by this disaster. We were in shock to hear there was 65 people confirmed dead on late Sunday afternoon by as Monday has progressed that death toll have more than doubled to a reported 131 people have passed away due to these fires! We just feel so deeply for all those affected and our thoughts and prayers are with them..... if you feel you can please dig deep and help in any way you can to one of the below organizations who are dedicated to this cause.


The 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund to assist individuals and communities affected by devastating bushfires in Victoria has been launched by the Premier John Brumby in partnership with Red Cross and the Federal Government. A number of corporate organisations including NAB, ANZ, CBA and Wesfarmers have also contributed to the fund. For more details and if you would like to donate to this extremely worthy cause click here.


For Australia residents other personal contributions can be made over the counter at any bank. Online HERE to The Salvation Army on 13 72 58 or via direct deposit through Internet banking : VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE RELIEF FUND BSB: 082 001 ACCT NO 860 046 797


The current fire situation has left its devastation on our wildlife including the loss of at least two wildlife shelters to the fires. Wildlife Victoria are trying to assertain the safety of other shelters in the fire areas and to offer support and help with evacuation of animals already in their care if they need it. Donations desperately needed to help save the animals, to donate to the bush fire appeal click here.

Movember!!!

As any readers of this blog would know I am in the midst of fundraising efforts for my daughter and two other Autistic children so I know first hand how HUGE it is when those around you pitch in their bit no matter how small. So when I was asked to donate to a good friend, Matty's, Movember efforts I jumped at the chance!


What is Movember?? I can hear you all asking...
Movember (the month formerly known as November) is an annual charity event held during November in Australia.
At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants, known as Mo Bros, have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their Mo (Moustache), raising money along the way to benefit men's health - specifically prostate cancer and male depression.
Movember culminates at the end of the month at official Gala Partés, Mo-Office and Mo-Town parties where Tom Selleck and Borat look-a-likes battle it out for their chance to be the Man of Movember.
While growing a Mo is left to the guys, Mo Sistas (ladies who support their guys or just love Mo's!) form an important part of Movember by recruiting Mo Bros, helping to raise funds and attending the highly anticipated Gala Partés.

This is Matty so far - 12 days in


What a fun way to support a great cause - even if there will be plenty of strange looking men walking the streets of Australia until December 1st.
And I get this fun badge for my blog just for donating


Click HERE if you too want to donate to Matty's Mo - you can even do it easily with paypal!!