Birthday Donation 2014

As I've done for the past 4 years, I'm going to be making a birthday donation again this year.  For every birthday tweet or facebook post I receive - I will be donating a certain amount of money to charity. 

What is the charity this year you might ask?  Good question!!

I've done SimpLEE4Kids (bringing music to Children in Hospitals during the Christmas season), Pancreatic Cancer, ProstateCancer and last year was Candlelighters . 

This year I will be donating to the AlzheimerSociety of Canada for very personal reasons.

If you want to help me make this a really special birthday, all you have to do is tweet or facebook me a Happy Birthday on October 6th. 

You could also make a donation yourself to this society or any charity that means something to you on October 6^th,  You can let me know (julie_auger@hotmail.com) and I’ll mention a total of donations made in a future post.

As a bonus this year - if I can get Majic 100 in Ottawa to play some Lee DeWyze between now and October 6th...and I hear it, I will be boosting the donation by $50.  I've attempted to have them play his music for 4 years so I'm not sure it will actually happen - but I hope it does!!

Thank you all in advance for helping make my Annual Birthday Donation a success.

Til next time!

Julie / @Flip_4`

My Mom - Happy Birthday :)

Well, today's my Mom's birthday and I thought I'd let you know just what kind of Mom I have.

Before I begin - this post only scratches the surface of what my Mom means to me and my sisters.  It's only a very small part of it, and there are so many more memories and great things to say.

I'm her oldest of three girls...so of course I'm the best right??  RIGHT??  Come on - someone agree with me!!  Ok FINE then...where was I??

For my entire life she's been there for me through EVERYTHING I've been through - good and bad.  I know she worried about me and my sisters - and boy did we give her reason to, but she never gave up on us.

I remember her getting up in the middle of the night to take care of us when we were sick.  I remember her coming in to my room when I had bad dreams and making me feel better.

There was this one time, after I had moved down to the basement - she woke me up to give me medicine because she could hear me coughing throughout the night.  I don't think she ever slept!...especially when we were teenagers going out with friends :)

She was a grade school teacher so my sisters and I were extremely lucky to be able to spend our entire summers with her.  I won't forget the walks we'd take to my grandparents' house.  We'd play outside the entire day and she'd bring us our lunches and welcome all of our friends with open arms.

I wanted to be just like her.  There was a 2 car garage.  One side was for the car...and other miscellaneous things.  The other side was a little schoolhouse.  We had school desks, a large chalkboard and some school books.  I would attempt to teach my little sisters how to read and do math.  My friends and I would also spend a good amount of time there.

I liked school, I really did, so when the end of the summer came near and it was time to go to my Mom's school to help her set up everything...I was always excited.  As far as I can remember, she was always in the same classroom and I can still picture it.  We'd set up the furniture, the toys and decorate the entire room.  We'd also have lunch with other teachers and that was always one of my favourite days.

See above when I said I wanted to be just like her.  I did a co-op placement in High School in a Junior Kindergarden class.  I very quickly realized that my Mom was EXTREMELY special to be able to do what she did for as many years as she did.  The patience and energy it takes is insane and until you do it, you can't even imagine.

When I was older, she always encouraged me through everything.  She could have thrown up her arms and given up when I dropped out of post-secondary school...TWICE...but she never did.  I always knew she supported me.

Oh - and then there's the boyfriends.  I've made insanely BAD decisions in that department, and I KNOW my parents wanted to shake me until I came to my senses.  I don't blame them either...but all they did was go way above and beyond everything you can imagine to support me.  My Mom was there, talking to me whenever I needed it...then there were the heartbreaks.

She was there every single minute to help me...there to talk if I needed it.  I've already written about my Dad and how I usually talked to him about things, but through it all - my Mom was always there willing to listen and talk.  She did really help me through some insanely tough times.

I know I hurt her at times over the years and I will never be sorry enough for those things.  We gave her grief, many sleepless nights and I'm sure she shed quite a few tears for and about us, but her love for us has never waned.

She showed us how to love and be loved.  She showed us that family is probably the most important thing in your life - no matter what the word "Family" means to you.  She showed us how to give of ourselves to others - how to be there for friends and family - how to care of people.  She gave us so much and never asked for anything in return but our love and respect.

If I had been given the joy of having kids of my own, I can only HOPE I would have been as great a Mom as she was.  I'm not sure I could have lived up to it all.  My little sister has 3 kids of her own, and she's a fantastic Mom and I know she learned from ours.

Je sais que je ne te le dis pas assez souvent - mais je t'aime plus que tu peux le savoir!!

Bonne Fête Mom!!  XOXOX

Julie / @Flip_4

Birthday Wishes Results - Candlelighters

Not sure anyone was really waiting for the results from my Birthday Wishes for Charity 2013 campaign...but here they are. :)

This year, I chose Candlelighters as the charity I would be donating to.  I'm proud to be able to support such a great program in Ottawa.

I received 39 birthday wishes on Twitter and 73 on Facebook.  For those who aren't good in math, that's a total of 112 :).

On top of that, I also was able to raise 215 during my birthday party at Big Rig.  Still on a high from that night I must say :)  If you haven't read about it yet - find it here. :) \

So that's 112 from social media and 215 during my party for a total of $327.

I've decided that since there was an appearance by Chris Phillips at my party, I'll be rounding up the amount to $400.  :)  His number is 4 after all and I turned 40 so it kinda fits. 

I have to say, and this might sound corny, but giving on my birthday has truly become something I look forward to every year.  There is NOTHING better to make you forget about getting older.  Knowing you'll be helping out is very gratifying.

Thank you to everyone who participated in my two birthday celebrations over the weekend and everybody who wished me a Happy Birthday on social media.  Also, thank you to the morning hosts at Majic 100 for giving me such a fantastic shoutout.

I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so many great friends and family members.  I love you all.

Birthday donation 2013 - October 6th

As some may know - for the past couple of years, I've been making a donation to a charity on my birthday.  I would count all the birthday wishes I would get on Twitter and Facebook and would then decide the amount of $$ depending on the number of wishes I got.

In 2010 it was a donation to buy some Lee DeWyze CDs for children stuck in the hospital over Christmas time.  It was a HIT!!!

In 2011, I made a donation for pancreatic cancer research.

In 2012 it was much more personal.  I made a donation towards prostate cancer research in honor of my father who had just been diagnosed with it.  I am happy to say that treatment has worked and he is doing well.

This year, I turn 40 on October 6th.  I decided to add a little  something different.

I will make a personal donation in my usual way - that is counting all my tweets and facebook birthday wishes and I will donate for every wish I get.  Also, if I get celebrity / semi-celebrity birthday tweets - I will also give a larger amount. ;)   AHEM Chris Phillips, Lee DeWyze and others :)

On top of that, I'm also having a small get together with friends for my birthday at Big Rig Kitchen and Brewery and I have asked the guests to bring a donation for Candlelighters.  They work to provide different support programs for families struck by childhood cancers.  This is such a FANTASTIC and IMPORTANT organization.  I know of families who have used their services and it's so appreciated.  Please visit their website for more information on what they do and all their different programs. 

I hope you all will help me break my bank account on October 6th. :)

Thank you for your support :)

Julie / @Flip_4

October 3rd, 2012 - The day I turn into a Teenager

Why you ask?  Well, let me just explain.

When I actually WAS a teenager, there was this group of singers that was just a little bit popular and I was a HUGE fan of theirs.  The group?  New Kids on the Block.

Within that group, there was one singer who I was completely obsessed with (in a non-stalkerish way of course). - Jordan Knight.  I'm telling you, posters of Jordan (and the rest of the group), were plastered all over my walls, doors, mirrors and ceiling in my room.  I'm not sure how my parents felt about this, but I sure loved it.

Mr. Knight himself has a show in Ottawa on October 3rd and guess who's going?  That's right...ME!!  I won tickets from Majic 100 and they come with a Meet & Greet with the one and only Jordan Knight!!

Cue the teenager - *SQUEEEEEE*   I'M GOING TO MEET JORDAN KNIGHT!!!  AHHHHHHH!

Ok, back to adult me for a moment.

To people who never get to turn into teenagers again for whatever reason, I have to say that you're missing out.  I'm not saying you should act like a teenager in your day to day life, but being able to reconnect with your youth occasionally really does keep you young.  I believe that with all my heart.

It's a few hours of pure happiness that you can share with other people who feel the same way.  I have to say that for me, the feeling usually lasts a few days after as well.  It's nice to escape your real life and all its many responsibilities and challenges and I'm really looking forward to that day.

*SQUEEEEEEEE!!!*

I can't believe that I'm going to meet him...but who am I kidding?  I won't be able to talk to him.  Ask the people who know me.  I get tongue tied in these types of situations and look ridiculous!!

WHO CARES!!!

I'll get a picture with Jordan Knight as a reminder of that day!! 

Incidentally, even though I won the tickets and Meet & Greets, this Meet & Greet  is going to cost me.  If you read my previous post "Birthday Wishes to fight Prostate Cancer", in it, I mention that if I meet JK, I will be making a larger donation to my cause.  I am extremely happy to be able to do this although my wallet might not agree.

I'd like to thank Majic 100 and their morning crew, Stuntman Stu, Angie Poirier, Trisha Owens and Barry Hayes.  You guys rock!!!!

One more time

*SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!*

'Til we meet again

Julie/@Flip_4

Birthday Wishes to fight Prostate Cancer

As some of you know, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer a little over a week ago.  He's currently undergoing tests and we'll be getting the results on October 4th and hopefully his surgery will be scheduled soon after.

For the past two years, on my birthday (October 6th), I have made a donation to a different cause/charity.. I figured that since I usually get many birthday wishes, I might as well make good use of them. :)

On year 1, I gave to SimpLEE4Kids to give kids who were stuck at the hospital over Christmas Lee DeWyze's debut CD.

Last year, I made a donation towards pancreatic cancer research.

This year, the answer to my queston, "Who should I donate to this year?", was answered for me.  I will be donating to Prostate Cancer research and patient support.  This has now become a cause very close to my heart.

So here's how it goes.  On October 6th, for every birthday wish that I receive on Facebook or Twitter, I will be giving a certain amount of money. (still to be determined).  

What I need now is that this message is shared over facebook and twitter so that I get as many birthday wishes as possible.

Let's make sure I get to my cap (which I will keep secret for now).

Oh...and to make this even more interesting, I am going to the Jordan Knight concert on October 3rd, if I am able to find a way to meet him, I will add a sizeable (for me) bonus to the donation.  Hey...I LOVE Mr. Knight!!  ;)

Thank you so much for participating.

Remember, it's on October 6th. :)

Julie/@Flip_4