After a meeting with 2 fabulous ladies, who are coordinating the Brew Review, I was inspired to practice my pouring ability and begin training for the big event.  I am a firm believer in training for all Team Vogel events...

So - when I arrived at my mom and dad's, I got to work.  Mom and dad are not able to hang like they used to - so I turned to a younger crowd.

Before viewing practice round #1 - please note...no animals were injured during this photo shoot and only animals over the age of 21 were able to sample.

All in all - I think we did pretty good for round #1.  I am hoping the younger girls can hang better next time.  Hope many of you are brushing up on your brew sampling techniques...

Just a reminder - if you are interested in tickets to Joe's B-day Brew Review...Please email teamvogel@hotmail.com or call Rachel (507) 313-5899 (texting works too).  

Click here to nominate a family - Family Nomination Page

The Fools Five is almost here - hope to see you there in red.  (Or just there supporting a good cause - while getting a workout.)

Hugs for the week!
-Rach

Fools FiveThe Fools Five is just around the corner - take a moment to get involved.
Check out their website - www.FoolsFive.org

To make a nomination click here - Family Nominations

This past week - I had the opportunity to get away and visit my aunt and uncle in Georgia.  It was amazing.  The weather was perfect - the food was amazing - the company wonderful and two of my all time favorite things...the beach and baby animals :).

Before I share my week in pictures.  I realized two things while on this vacation...

Walking the beach is wonderful - but I always end up a with a stiff neck and not knowing what the surrounding area looks like.  I proudly carry on the family tradition of shell searching - obsessor.  I walk the beach and can not take myself away from the shells - they are amazing and everyone unique.  I collected my fair share and plan to make some jewelry creations out of them.  Here are some of my finds.

Please don't think I'm crazy with this story and next photo...

So as I'm out on the beach - my mind wonders from this thought to that...  I think - "Joe if your out there, please put a really cool shell in my path."  And what happens in 4 steps...  This masterpiece appears :).

The second thing I realized (I actually already knew) - I love animals and especially baby ones.  I would be the happiest gal in the world to raise baby animals all day long.  So - not only did I get to the beach, I stumble across some cute friends at the neighbors...If they only would have fit in my suitcase - I know my mom would have treasured her souvenir.  

Quick side note - just looked up what souvenir's actual definition is...

Not sure these bundles of joy fall under category #1 completely, but they would definitely be #2.

Hoping all of you had a great week too.  

Love and Hugs - 
Rach

Thank You to the WSHS Service Learning Students!!!!

Sometimes it is hard to find the words to truly express how grateful you are.  I sometimes wish tears would come to show how appreciative I am…

This past year – Team Vogel has been embraced by the Winona Senior High School Service Learning Class.  In the fall they raised over $500 for Team Vogel by selling Team Vogel merchandise at school and other fundraising efforts.  I was invited to this semesters class this past week to receive funds they had raised for Team Vogel over the past months...They handed me a check for $2,000.  AMAZING!

As I am typing this - it truly is not the money that strikes me the most...It is the fact that Joe's dream lives on in others.  I watched 60 students embrace the "Pay it Forward" philosophy.  They worked together as a team.

Thank you to all who have embraced us and continue to - we are living Joe's dream.

Along with the check - I was also given an indoor float created by some of the students that was entered in the 2012 Winterfest Indoor Float Contest.  If my memory is working this float won 1st place.  And...  even shoots confetti.  I can't wait to have it featured at upcoming events.

Dust off your sneakers and start training.  The Fools Five Road Race is just around the corner.  Hope to see many of you there...I just signed up today.

Check out their website - www.FoolsFive.org

Just a reminder that we will be accepting Family Nominations for the 2012 Team Vogel vs Cancer Fundraiser until April 1, 2012.  If you or a family you know, is dealing with cancer and could benefit from our fundraising efforts, please take a moment to nominate yourself (or the family).

2012 Family Nomination Link


If you have any questions - concerns - problems with this, please email teamvogel@hotmail.com.

Come join us for the first brew review to help celebrate Joe's birthday and taste some beer.  The ticket includes a Team Vogel tasting glass, beer samples and snacks.  Tickets are now for sale :)  If you would like to purchase a ticket please contact Rachel -

(507) 313-5899 (texting is great too)
or
teamvogel@hotmail.com
(please note - I will have limited access this next week to internet - but will be in touch when I can)

**There are only 250 tickets available for this event.

Signing off and packing my bags - I hope Georgia is ready for me :)
Love - 
Rach

The weekend...
So hang with me - It has been an amazing weekend.  Joe's mom hit a big milestone, in her birth years, and we whooped it up this weekend in the cities.  It was a weekend full of fun, food...lots of food, and laughter.  Cheers to all and thank you to the Kosidowski's for housing us.  

Thought...
So my thought for the week came from a book I just finished...

"When life is at its most unexpected, it's not what you lose that makes you who you are, it's what you find."

Truly this has made me ponder...  It has made me appreciate the search for the new me and how I continue to still find the one thing I felt I had lost...


A Picture...

Signing off for the week.

Love and Hugs - 
Rach