Liz Logelin Foundation 5k - Walk Run Hope

Ah, September in Minnesota -

Can you think of a more beautiful location than Minnehaha Falls?

Not many - that's for sure -

What a gorgeous setting for this year's Liz Logelin Foundation 5k!

It was hard to find my place at this year's 5k - With things being wonky on the home front, super busy on the work front & multiple things happening at once...I wasn't sure what to do...Where to go...

Last year I was more than happy to volunteer wherever needed...but this year - this year I wanted to run the race & see how I could hold up...

Well, with a jam packed calendar I wasn't able to make that happen this year - although after watching the 5k and seeing so many young kids run the thing themselves...I have visions of us doing that too in the not-so-distant future!!

Instead - I hung around & took it all in as a spectator while the kids kept busy with some of the awesome activities at the 5k ~

I'll be honest - watching people get ready for the race - I was feeling a little bit jealous that I wasn't among them...

My friends & neighbors came out to participate in their first official 5k...

And they were off!

I had several friends running in this race...and I was thrilled to be able to cheer them on!

Missy did awesome! Coming in at 38:03!

And Lisa came in right behind her! At 38:17

And do you remember Liz? Many moons ago she set a goal for herself to accomplish a mile? Well, guess what...She did a mile...and then she did two...and then she did the final 3rd mile. In under an hour...

Great job Liz!

The real rockstar of this race? Tammy! I tell ya what! I was standing around thinking to myself - I'd better get my camera - they are going to start finishing soon - and what do you know?

This woman was DONE...and drinking water already!

Yep...her first ever 5k...and she finished in 32:33~AMAZING!

It was so fun to have so many friends out at Minnehaha Park supporting each other and the Liz Logelin Foundation...

Preliminary reports show that the 5k raised around $8000!

I am continually amazed at where this blogging community has taken me...

Continually grateful.

Together - we really CAN make a difference!

Minnesota Blog Conference...

So the first ever Minnesota Blog Conference came and went...
Literally FLEW right by actually...

Saturday found me venturing to downtown St. Paul...to what has to be one of the coolest, most awesomesauce buildings I've been in in quite some time.
Oh how I would love love love to have an office in THAT space...The ceilings that are open several levels, the hardwood floors, the exposed brickwork...
What a DREAM!
One of the work spaces I saw even had a dog bed, tennis ball and water bowl nearby~
um...bringing your dog to work? ok!

Man, what a difference THAT would be versus sitting in a windowless pocket of a building where I work...And I could have lunch with my hubs who works down the street...
Ah...

::wakes up::

ok, where were we...ah, yes...beautiful building...
I'd love to show you some pics I took of the spaces...but that would imply that I took some...and I have been sort of a mess lately - and so I didn't...but Heather did. And you should go here and see them...
but then come back ok?

Anyway - over 140 bloggers came together in this fantastic space...donated (for FREE!) for our use by CoCo ~

Organized by VOLUNTEER Coordinators
Arik & Missy -


With the help of Suzi & Katie & Lindsay...

Here's a group shot of many of the 140+ bloggers writers that spent the day together...
(I have learned my lesson in the group shots...I'm near the back!)

There were soo many wonderful sessions planned...I fretted over how I would decide what to attend...
Not just interesting sessions. Useful sessions. Sessions that an everyday person like myself could put to good, no, GREAT use, even if I don't aspire to be one of *those* big name bloggers...

Sessions on how to turn your blog into a book by the talented Carrie ~

Molly spoke about how to do give aways without giving away your integrity...
And Allison was part of a group talking about generating a few bucks from these here spaces...

There were soo many fantastic sessions - Kate Hopper - someone whom I have admired since I first saw her work (and her classes!) in Cribsheet eons ago...
And the beautiful, talented, and so so honest, Heather King spoke of sharing yourself, your whole self, on line...

If only I could have been everywhere at once...
Alas, I couldn't...
So I spent the majority of my day...
Hanging out here...
An out of the way nook on the 5th level of this most amazing building...
(photo taken by Missy of The Marketing Mama)

Nancy - you know Nancy - THE Nancy of s.w.a.N.k photo - who took this amazing picture of our little girl the other week...

Well, she generously donated her time & talents to take headshots of those who wanted them...
with the donation of $25 going to ...

In a very short while, we were able to bring in $550 for the foundation.

I can't stress it enough - it's the little things that add up to big huge things. Little things like donating a few bucks here and there, (in this case, $25) which then add up to much bigger things - things like grants for 44 (and counting) families assisted by the Liz Logelin Foundation ~

And while I would have loved to attend each and every session and spend hours gabbing with my wonderful and awesome tribe...

A small smattering of said tribe seen here,
(picture again thanks to Missy)

Me, Missy, Jen, Liz and Trish -


I was thrilled to be able to meet some of the conference attendees while helping out a foundation that is so dear to me...

And when the picture taking was done and the conference was nearing the end...
My friend Matt, The President of said foundation, took the microphone as the closing keynote speaker...

It was truly a pleasure to hear Matt speak in this capacity (from the hip I might add!) to the crowd, about, well, if I can quote the title of his session - "How my blog saved my ass" - Even if I WAS crying for a good part of the time! I certainly wasn't the only one...From where I sat, it looked like the entire crowd was moved to tears...

And after speaking for over 45 minutes and taking audience questions...He got a standing ovation - Perhaps everyone was just so thankful he was done talking...but maybe they were giving kudos to a guy who has lost, and gained, so very very much.

And to think it all came about - because of his blog....

The Liz Logelin Foundation - Making a Difference

In just under two weeks, The Liz Logelin Foundation will be holding their biggest fundraisers of the year...

On September 17th, 2010 -


Beginning at 6:30 pm - Downtown Minneapolis at Solera Restaurant...

Come on out & join us for an evening of food & drinks, and live music by non other than TIM MAHONEY! And...the best part...you will have the opportunity to place bids on live & silent auction items with ALL PROCEEDS going directly to the Liz Logelin Foundation! There are some pretty great items available for bid too!

$500 Delta gift certificates, Photography packages by local photographers like Kalynn Kay Photograpy and Michelle Tanner Photography, awesome items by the one and only GUSSY SEWS!
Restaurant gift cards from favorites such as Buffalo Tap Restaurant ~ Joe Sensor's Bar & Grill ~ Lion's Tap ~ Axel's Bonfire and so many more!
There's a beautiful gift basket from One Hope Wine -

Of course I put together a nice little gift basket of must haves from Tastefully Simple -

Water Park Passes to a fun little get away in Baxter, Minnesota -

There are tickets to local sports games, an autographed photo from one of the Minnesota Wild players, golf outings, gift baskets, gift certificates and so many more awesome things to list...too many to list here...

You can just show up that evening and join us...but if you purchase your tickets ahead of time - you'll save a few bucks - a few bucks you can put towards bidding on one of those awesome things up for auction!


And the next day, a 5k ~



The 5k is slated to begin at 6 pm -
Look for Flings Bins to be out at the park during the 5k...I am so very excited to be able to offer our 5k patrons the opportunity to recycle their cans & water bottles!
There are so many others making this event possible - check out the list here!

This year's 5k will be a family friendly event - so if you don't feel like running (or jogging) a 5k - come out on out and take a leisurely walk with your family and support a good cause! Or maybe just walk as far as one of the fun tables that will be awaiting you - fun pages to color, bean bags to toss, ice cream to eat! Think *get together in one of the prettiest parks in the Metro!*

You'll join us won't you?

I hope so...together - we really can make a difference!

Save the Date

The Weekend Celebration of the Year dates have been set...
you've all marked your calendars right???



September 17th & 18th, 2010
The annual fundraisers for the Liz Logelin Foundation -

Currently, most fundraising comes from the 7th on the 7th campaign. While that is hugely successful, the fact of the matter is - without more help - we cannot help all of the families who seek assistance. Last year, in it's first year of inception, the Liz Logelin Foundation was able to give grants to 35 families in need.
Wouldn't it be nice to offer some sort of help to every family who applies?
Every. Dollar. Counts.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Friday night - September 17th, 2010



Celebration of Hope benefiting the Liz Logelin Foundation - Taking place downtown Minneapolis at Solera Restaurant - with the live music of Tim Mahoney!! this is shaping up to be a GREAT night!
(Tickets will be on sale soon and you do NOT want to miss out on this!)

then...on

Saturday, September 18th, 2010


The 5k you've ALL been training for...(you have right?) Well, I know a lot of you have!
6 pm evening run/walk at Minnehaha Park
Again - a can't miss event!
We had hundreds of walkers/runners last year...what a FUN event! This year will be bigger and better than ever!

So...other than mark your calendars...What can you do?

Well, what about making a donation for the silent auction? We are currently seeking new items that we can use to auction off either via live or silent auction or via internet auction. It's a great chance to donate to a worthy cause while showing off your business with a gift or gift certificate in the silent auction!
Maybe you don't have a business where you can give away a gift card or two - but have you received a gift card as a gift that you don't plan on using? Regift it here! We will use it for one of our auctions! Maybe you are an awesomely crafty person and you can knit the world's most adorable baby hats/booties/blankets...

What about sponsoring the 5k? Do you or someone you know have a business that would benefit from the exposure of hundreds of 5k participants? A vast majority of them bloggers? Behold - the power of the internet - getting in front of that many bloggers is simply priceless!

For more information - click here....
but what it boils down to is this...5 different sponsorship levels ranging from $125 up to $1500. Want to promote your business and help out the Liz Logelin Foundation in the process?
Just $125 gets your name on the official 5k t-shirts! $250 gets your logo on the shirt!

So...whaddya say?
Questions? Leave me a comment or drop me an email
darciegust (at) yahoo (dot) com

Now...GO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

2 Years...(Part 2)

So I had the opportunity to spew my thoughts today via my gals over at Cribsheet...

~ thoughts that were pretty hard to sum up and put down into words for some reason...when I think about how far things have come in the last two years - friendships made, families helped...it makes my heart well up with pride and my eyes well up with tears...

When Kay asked me to share some thoughts on how the Liz Logelin Foundation and my friendship with Matt has impacted my life...it wasn't easy to narrow it down to something that could be shared...my cup really does runneth over...
My life is forever changed. There is no other way to put it.

The people that I have met are amazing.

Here is a snippet of what I wrote...

Ten days after Liz Logelin passed away, her husband Matt wrote into Cribsheet. He talked of changing diapers and changing priorities. That day would change my life. I spent the next three days crying about what I had learned. (I think a lot of us did!)

Being a mom of a 2 year old and a 1 year old at the time, I was shaken to my very core.

There were comments flying around here and there about what we could do to help this young father who had not only lost the love of his life, but now had a 3 pound baby to take care of.

Alone.

I had visions of my husband and my 9 pound babies without me..

::insert more crying here::

Another Cribsheeter, Rachel, started a blog dedicated to helping Matt & Madeline, and 1000's of dollars worth of formula checks and diaper coupons started rolling in. Matt had to pay for formula just one time during Maddy's formula days, and that was because he forgot to pack enough for a trip!

It didn't just end with helping with formula...Rachel, and Matt, along with myself and several others, knew that so much more could be done for others in similar situations...and from that...

The Liz Logelin Foundation was born.

I am proud to call Matt my friend. (Don't tell him I said that!) Through him and his wonderful organization, I have met many, many beautiful souls. People that I will be forever thankful to have as friends. Because of him, because of them. They have helped make this big giant not-always-so-friendly-world, just a little bit smaller...because of him, because of them, I am holding my family a little bit tighter and I am not putting off until tomorrow what we can be doing today.
And because of them, together, we are making a difference.

- Darcie Gust

Today, as you go about your hurried day. Please stop and take a moment to *smell the roses* if you will. Hug your loved ones just a little bit tighter.

For Matt.

For Jackie.

For yourself.

Did you write a post about Matt Logelin or the Liz Logelin Foundation? If so, I'd love to see you link it up here with MckLinky!

Please add your post today!

And if you are interested in seeing where it all began via Cribsheet...
You can click here...
and then here...
and then come back and click HERE!

(I sure miss the old Cribsheet days...damn you Star Tribune for changing things up on us!)

2 Years...

Two years ago today, a young mother passed away just 27 hours after delivering her first baby. She never even got to hold her.

This should not have happened.

While we can't stop this or any other tragedies from happening, we can lesson the burden on the loved ones left behind when the unthinkable does happen.

Your dollar, or seven dollars, or seventy dollars, really DOES make a difference.
You might think that your leetle teeny tiny donation won't matter.

But it will.

If every single one of us gave just one dollar...we have the potential to do great things.
Really. Great. Things. And if every single one of us scrounged up just a couple of dollars more...
well, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about the good that can be accomplished.

To see a few of the families that you can help, or read about those that have already been helped - check this out...

Today, I am holding my family just a little bit tighter.

It's Tuesday...and there's a 7 involved...

Well, it's a Tuesday...and while it's not the 7th...it is the SEVENteenth...and today you have a remarkable opportunity to make a difference!



Today, when you make a donation to The Liz Logelin Foundation -

GIVEMN.ORG will MATCH those donations!!

For those of us who don't have a lot to give, this is a fantastic opportunity to really make a difference! Every $$ dollar $$ counts you guys - let's help make the holidays - and all the rest of the days to come - a little less burdensome on those who have lost a loved one...

The Liz Logelin Foundation Gala - 2009

I had the honor and the priveledge of volunteering on the events committee for the first ever Liz Logelin Foundation Gala...and oh what a night it was!

It was hard to know where to begin - there were so many fabulous donations!


But in time, things got sorted and organized and ready for bids!


And things came together beautifully ~

And speaking of beautiful...Have you ever seen something so beautiful?

This is the time I wish that you could SMELL through the computer!

A. MAZING!

Alyssa from Creative Cakes by Alyssa generously donated her time and her talent to make these fantastic masterpieces...people raved about them all night long - She's local - if you need a cake or cupcakes for an occassion - look her up!

She even replicated the robot!

The hubs and I - sans children - a very rare occurance...althought it's happened twice in the past two months!

The hubs and I may or may not have been doing the Robot Dance in the corner - with the Robot -

Matt AKA - Bond, James Bond - and some creepy gals...

Maddy being silly with Grandpa...

Rachel (event planner extraordinaire) and her hubs Adam!

Me and Jackie! She is soo amazing folks - really - Anyone want to join me on a trip to visit her??

She stood up and spoke at the Gala, shared her story...I cannot say enough about this woman, whom I am proud to call my friend.

And speaking of internet friends...I finally got to meet Missy (and her husband) in real life! Missy blogs here - and has some pretty awesome ideas! And in fact, she had a pretty awesome recap on the Gala you can read here....

Laurie and Bob on what I know is a night out for them as well - four kiddos at home!

Some of the event planning crew -

Yep - it was a wildly successful night - especially considering it was the very first year for a Gala - A lot of money was raised for this amazing foundation...and things can only go up from here right?

Thank you so much for your support - It means a lot to me to have so many of my friends supporting this cause...