Staying Inspired!!

Cupid Undie Run Raleigh 2014 - “Put the Hilarity into Charity!”

On February 15^th, 2014, I had the privilege of participating in the Cupid Undie Run - Raleigh 2014, This was an absolutely AMAZING event!  The Cupid Undie Run, which encourages its participants to run in their undies,  works with The Children’s Tumor Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to raising funding, awareness, and finding effective treatment for millions of people living with neurofibromatosis (NF).  NF causes tumors to grow all over the nervous system, and can lead to blindness, deafness, learning disabilities, and severe chronic pain. 

This 1.5 mile run, which challenges runners to “Put the Hilarity into Charity”  took place at Natty Greene’s on West Jones Street and gave us runner’s an excellent excuse to run and party in our undies in the streets of downtown Raleigh without penalty.    

The day was filled with dancing, running, and more festivities.  Participant costumes ranged from superman costumes, jester hats and capes, and variations of men and women intimate apparel. There were no limitations to what one might see that day, with the only restrictions being “no thongs or pasties,” which was pretty understandable.  

With it being the weekend of Valentines, the weather was still a bit frigid, but the beer, great food, and hilarious attire helped take our minds off of the not-so-great weather. 

Fundraisers were awarded with a VIP open bar and other cupid undie’s incentives.  The run turned out to be a success, with us raising more than $49, 000 in Raleigh, NC.  With the help of sponsors, fundraising teams, and participants the Cupid Charity was able to get pretty close to the $3 Million goal set for this year’s event.

I am so thankful to my team the “Cupid Stoopids” for making this a fantastic day and I am looking forward to us “Putting the Hilarity into Charity” and running with Cupid in 2015! 

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I love this one so much, I had to repost it!  Hope you enjoy! :)

Amy Glass Should Take a Walk on the Other Side

In her article “I Look Down on Young Women With Husbands and Kids and I’m Not Sorry” Amy Glass questions motherhood and career women and whether these roles are equivalent.  In her article she asks “Do people really think that a stay at home mom is really on equal footing with a woman who works and takes care of herself?”  Her response is “these two things are never the same.”

Before my days as a “stay-at-home mom” when I was young and carefree and focused only on me and my schoolwork and my career, I thought much like Amy Glass.  After jumping into my luxury vehicle, I would fly off to the nearest coffee shop on my way to class, after dropping my oldest off to Pre-K, and would scoff at the stay-at-home moms with their perfect clothes, hair, teeth, and trendy strollers.  These ladies always appeared so stressed out and I couldn’t (for the life of me) understand why.  After all, they only had to roll out of bed, put on make-up, look pretty and sip coffee while their children attend circle time or whatever the latest fad was for young children.  At least that is what I thought. 

What I didn’t know was that life would happen and I would be in the same shoes as these very women I turned my nose at and would quickly learn that being a “stay-at-home-mom” (a term I still loath because of the negativity associated with it) was no “walk in the park.”  I did not roll out of bed, put on make-up, look pretty and sip coffee while my daughter’s attended circle time or whatever the latest fad was for girls their age.  I struggled out of bed, made meals, play dates, activities, and birthday parties while struggling and worrying about losing my identity and my future as a career woman.  There were many sleepless nights where I would lay in bed constantly worrying about whether I would ever be the “old” Kelli again. 

Now, that I have returned to work and have been on both sides of the fence, I remember to smile at these women and am grateful to my own mom who gave up plenty to care for me and my siblings - Thanks mom!  While I think Tucker Carlson calling Glass “another boring entitled rich girl who’s frustrated with the emptiness of her life” is extreme (I can’t speak for her personal life), I do think her article screams ignorance and inexperience.  

I am truly a believer in  our 1^st amendment and having the right to speak freely,  but I think before Amy Glass can discuss the equality of the roles women play -  she should first take a walk on the other side of the fence and experience what it is like to wear a different hat as a woman.  Because she might be surprised at what she finds out.  At least I was.