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On Wednesday, Jenny posted about the loss of this beautiful little girl, Maddie, the daughter of Heather and Mike from The Spohrs are Multiplying.

As everyone does upon hearing news like this, we all felt a tremendous level of sadness and shock on Wednesday. But these feelings led many people to action, and immediately the Twitterverse was buzzing with people wanting to do something for the family. Because Maddie was a preemie, the family has strong ties to the March of Dimes organization. People started to donate in Maddie’s name, and in about 48 hours more than $21,000 has been raised.

Amazing.

And it’s not over yet. Teams all over the country are forming and participating in the March of Dimes walks – they’re marching for Maddie. Our good friend Amy has started a team for the Cincinnati walk; if you’d like to join or support the team, click here. If you’re not in the Cincinnati area but would like to walk, you can see the list of teams walking for Maddie here, on Sarcastic Mom’s site.

It’s so random, this life. So fragile. And so often, so unfair. But in the hardest of times, people – strangers, really – coming together in the way they have this week shines a light in the darkest of places.

Jenny and I would like to ask you all to keep Heather, Mike and their family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

Back in December, I wrote this post about how I was going to start the Couch to 5k program. The title was “I’m a little nervous about posting this.” I was nervous to tell all of you that I was going to do it, because I was afraid I wouldn’t.

And as it turns out, I didn’t.

Then, anyway. But I am doing it now! I’m in the fifth week of the nine week program, and I am loving it. Even though I procrastinate and try to put off getting on the treadmill, I really feel great after I run (or as Marcy calls it, trot) and I can really tell a difference in my endurance.

But I still need a kick in the pants now and then, so I was really excited when the folks from Bumble Bee Foods contacted Jenny and me to ask us to take part in their BeeWell Miles program (and they are also sponsoring this fine little post).

The BeeWell Miles program makes it easy to get active, one step at a time. The website has weekly blog posts from experts on nutrition and fitness, useful tools to track your activity and food choices, recipes, fun downloads, and message boards where you can find a community of people who have goals similar to yours.

And here’s the best part. For every mile logged on the BeeWell Miles website between now and October 31, Bumble Bee Foods will donate 15 cents to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength, a support network for women who can’t wait for tomorrow’s cure.

How’s that for motivation to get off your badonkadonk? (That’s Andrea’s favorite term, haha!)

I’ve decided to set a goal of logging 1,333 miles – which would raise $200 for the Breast Cancer Network of Strength. October 31 is 208 days away, so if my math is correct (and it’s entirely possible that it’s not), that means I’ll need to log an average of 6.4 miles a day. I’ll be wearing this handy little pedometer to help keep me on track:

So if blogging about doing the Couch to 5k program made me a little nervous, imagine how I’m feeling now! But the BeeWell Miles website has all the tools I’ll need to accomplish my goals.

I would love for you to join me! I encourage all of you to check out BeeWell Miles and to log your own miles…. you’ll enhance the lives of women fighting breast cancer, and your new active lifestyle will enhance your life as well. It’s a win-win.

So who’s with me?

As Kate nears her fifth birthday, she has decided that the Dora room I slaved over just two and a half years ago has got to go.

You had a good run, Dora.

I’ve promised Kate that we’ll redo her room, but I only have one problem. I have no freaking idea what to do.

The first order of business – a can of paint.

You see, in my infinite wisdom, I originally painted her room “Bonita Berry,” or the color of Dora’s shirt.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. But I am so, so tired of it.

So, after a ton of primer, I’m going to paint it, and she’d like it to be green. But of course, I don’t know what shade of green.

The biggest problem we have in her room (besides the need of sunglasses) is organization. She’s good at keeping things picked up, but she just doesn’t have anywhere to put anything, so all her stuff is on the floor. Example B:

Her drawers are a disaster (she’s rockin’ my old bedroom furniture, circa 1983).

And her closet… I am just not going to take a picture of that!

I want to create a space for her that is fun and functional, and that will grow with her so I’m not doing this again in three years!

I am not particularly gifted in interior design… so, of course, I’m turning to you, our brilliant readers.

What should I do to make a fantastic room for a five year old? Do you have any tips and tricks to keep your kids’ rooms organized? Or to make them a whole lot of fun?

I am really looking forward to hearing your suggestions, and I can’t wait to post the “after” pictures of Kate’s room! 🙂