A year ago my life was very different, not only was I in a different relationship, working at a job I hate etc but my dad was very sick. As many of you know my dad was diagnosed in early 2012 with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. Last summer was very rough on my family. My dad was very sick and almost did not make it.

I look at my dad today, post stem cell transplant, working full time, talking about playing golf again, etc and I just am in awe of his strength. I am in awe of what he has taught me this year. He has come so unbelievably far and I could not be more proud and more thankful and more blessed. My dad and I have always been close. I am his only child so the last year has not only been hard on me but I had no one who understood what I was going through. Sure my family understood from their perspective but not from mine. I learned that when you think life cant get any lower it either will or it will surprise the hell out of you and start to bounce back.

My dad showed me that no matter how tough something is you have two choices: fight or flight.

Looking Back I see a different girl. A girl who thought her world was unchangeable and that it would be the same forever. My dad being so sick showed me that you have to appreciate each day because you may not get another.

Watching my dad suffer the way he did and bounce back to the point where he is working in the yard again(something he loves) working at his office everyday(something he loves) and spending holidays with his family(the most important thing to him) shows me that no matter what happens in life you can bounce back. You will bounce back.

My dad is my hero. I look at him and I see such a brave, strong man that I am lucky to have and call my dad.

Looking back I know this past year not only changed him, but changed me and the rest of my family. Not for the worst but for the better.

What is something hard that made you stronger and changed you for the better?

This is a sponsored post by Old Navy and Pretty Muddy Run all opinions are my own.

Created to be an active day with friends, Pretty Muddy Dallas is also about giving back to women in the community.
To celebrate the Dallas debut, Old Navy Active is supporting Pretty Muddy’s partnership with Susan G. Komen Dallas County by donating $5 for the first 2,000 race participants to the charity.
The money raised will support programs that provide no-cost breast cancer education, screening and treatment for area women.
In addition, Old Navy and Pretty Muddy are offering free registration to the Pretty Muddy event to 250 breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer survivors simply visit www.prettymuddy.com to secure a complimentary slot.
Located at Skyline Ranch in Dallas, the 3.1mile Pretty Muddy course is filled with 10 obstacles including, among others, a 20-foot inflatable mud slide, an A-frame cargo net climb, and, of course, mud pits. The untimed race allows women to participate at their own pace.
Post race, women will be treated to a fashion show by Old Navy Active. Participants turned muddy models will walk the catwalk showcasing the latest in active wear fashion trends.
Quote from Old Navy
“Pretty Muddy events are a celebration of women, friendship and fitness. The Komen Dallas County donation is a natural extension of the event, encouraging women to get active while raising funds for local breast cancer research and education,” said Kate Dickman, senior marketing director of Old Navy. “Breast cancer survivors are an inspiration to us all, and we’re thrilled to support Dallas-area survivors as part of this unique event.”

This is such a wonderful program and opportunity and I personally hope to see lots of familiar and new faces there. I know I will be there supporting this cause!

This giveaway is sponsored by Bedsider.org, which is a great place to get advice on birth control and all things related.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about what was in my bedside drawer.

Did you catch it? If not, head back over and read the post.

I’ll wait.

Bedsider.org is amazing in helping women figure out and get information on the best forms of birth control.

And now, to continue to spread the word about their fantastic organization, I’m opening up a fab giveaway just for my readers for a $100 gift card to Sephora!

I love Sephora and a few of my essentials from Sephora I keep on my nightstand, like my hands of hope philosophy hand cream, my lip balm, usually a nailpolish or two.

And now you can go out and buy all the goodies in my bedside drawer… and even some of your own!

Enter Now!

To enter to win the $100 Sephora gift card, simply follow the instructions in the below Rafflecopter widget.

The giveaway ends Wednesday, May 29 at midnight PST. A winner will be announced on my Facebook fanpage on Thursday, May 30.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More on Bedsider.org

Babies are great…when you’re ready for them. We think in the meantime women should have the right to a healthy, happy sex life without having to worry about unplanned pregnancy. For that to happen, women need to take an active role in their own reproductive health. We want to help with that. Bedsider.org (Bedsider) is an online birth control support network for women 18-29. Bedsider is not funded by pharmaceutical companies. Or the government. Bedsider is totally independent and the info on it is honest and unbiased. Our goal is to help women find the method of birth control that’s right for them and learn how to use it consistently and effectively, and that’s it.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bedsider.org.

Terms and Conditions

Once the giveaway ends, one winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter and contacted within 24 hours by email. The winner will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.

First of all today I am guest posting at Carly’s blog! Talking about My MUST SEE GIRLIE MOVIES!!! So check it out, book mark it, pin it etc!

As you all know I am a self proclaimed Starbucks/Coffee addict! Preferably lattes. As you also know I am doing a 60 day no spending challenge. I said at the beginning that Starbucks was not included because to me it was a necessity. As of today I have not been to Starbucks in one week.

I own a Keurig and I purchase espresso K-cups and a Frother. Now I make lattes at home. Wow Neely should have thought of that before huh? I blame my friend Dana who we stayed with in Austin 2 weekends ago it was her idea. The frother basically pays for itself in about as of Thursday. Plus honestly I am loving my at home lattes, they are better and I can make as many as I want.

I am not saying I will never go to Starbucks again thats just silly.

Of course I love my red cups and I love grabbing a Starbucks while walking around the mall. But for the most part I have quit Starbucks. I know this may come as a shock but doing the math and realizing how much I spend a year vs. the fact that each k-cup is 60 cents. Yeah no contest there.

Anyways. Im doing great on no spending officially 3 weeks in. I have no purchased anything I do not need and I have looked at May vs April and noticed I have “saved” over $600. Thats pretty crazy!

I love thinking about all the money Im saving and the difference in wants and needs. Its really opened my eyes.

I plan on doing a big recap post at the end of June with what all I have learned but this was just another step in the process.

Thanks for all the great words while I am challenging myself! You guys rock.

So whats something major you cut out of your life?