$500 Cash Prize Winner

Has been announced!  The winner is Cheryl F., Bobbie's sister!  Huge congrats to you!

A Huge Thank You

I want to thank everyone that made this benefit a sucess.  Everything went wonderfully!  So Thank you so much to:
Beautiful You Boutique
Brandywine
Angelos
Rock River Golf & Pool
Tire Tracks
Moore Tires
Selmi's
Reagan Boyhood Home (Kali & Connie)
Jumer's Casino
Buffalo Wild Wings
Subway (Rachael)
White Pines
Long Shots
Wahl Clipper
Wahl Clipper Graphics Department
Bella Vita (Bri)
Sauk Valley Cinemas
Applebees
Martin's Steakhouse
La Familia Bakery
Weeds
Showplace Antiques
Country Floral
Taco Bell (Sandy)
Distinctive Gardens

My wonderful clients & friends & family:
Brandi V.
Teri & Katelin D.
Rae H.
Nancy P.
Robin & Dan R.
Coral, Rod & Dustin T.
Gerry & Mary F.
James, Kerry & Samual H.
Casey & Tami R.
Harold & Janean S.
Jen F.
My husband John

Online Bidding Now Open

Bidding will be announced at the benefit on Friday, August 12th at 9:30.  Winners need not be present! 
Winners will be contacted by Sunday, August 14th.  Items can be picked up from Photography by Heather Lanell, located at 416 Locust St. in Sterling.  Cash, check or credit card accepted.

MB indicates the minimum bid.
Items:

#1 - White Pines 1 Night Mid-Week Stay MB=$25
      Valid through July 2012

#2 - Movie Night Basket MB=$8
Includes: 5 bags Microwaveable Popcorn, a Family Dollar Gift Card, Boxes of: Reeses Pieces, Raisinets, M&Ms, Whoppers & Gobstoppers.

#3 - Photography by Heather Lanell $350 Gift Certificate MB=$75 - current bid $100
      Valid Through August 2012

#4 - Candle Basket MB=$10 - current bid $15
Includes: $10 GC to Golden Key Gifts, $15 GC to Bushel Basket Candle Co., Candle Warmer & Oil, 3 Votive Candle Holders with candles, 2 Black Glass Plate Candle Holders, Black Metal Container

#5 - Tool Bucket MB=$10
Includes: Reusable Metal Bucket, Rayovac Flashlight, Metal Water Bottle, Various Full size & smaller screwdrivers, M Budlight T-Shirt, X-L Long Shots T-Shirt, 2XL Cubs Shirt, McGillicuddys Baseball Cap, Tape Measure, Miniature Level, 2 McGillicuddy's shot glasses & a 2011 Pocket Planner

#6 - Tire Tracks Oil Change MB=$7
        Valid 90 days from 8/12/11

#7 - Margarita Basket MB=$12
Includes: 4 Margarita Glasses, CD of Island Jams, Straws, Napkins & Matching Paper Plates, 2 Reusable snack bowls, Party Bucket & Full Size Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix

#8 - Jumer's Casino Overnight Stay Pkg MB=$40 - current bid $60
       Includes: Overnight Stay at Jumer's Casino in Rock Island & 2 meals at the Players' Buffet.  Valid Sunday through Thursday, through August 12th, 2012.  Must be 21.

#9 - Bella Vita Salon Basket MB=$13 - current bid $20
Includes: $20 Gift Certificate with Bri Fredrichs at Bella Vita Salon, Cha-Ching Cherry Red OPI Nail Polish, the following Redken products: Iron Silk 07,  Foreceful 23 Hairspray, Shine Flash 02 Glistening Spray, Align 12 Straightening Lotion & Smooth Down Conditioner & Shampoo.  These are all full sized products.

#10 - Pet Care Basket MB=$35

         Includes: Wahl Clipper KM2 Heavy Duty Clipper (I have used these clippers before- they are wonderful!), Wahl Clipper Oatmeal Shampoo, 3 Full Sized Bags of Healthy Bones Treats, Bad Hair Day Dog Shampoo, 2 Trial Size Bags of Iames Puppy Food, 1 Trial Size Bag of Iames Mini Chunks, 2 Keep Fresh canned food Savers & a Food Scoop 

#11 - Spa Day Basket MB=$45
Includes: A microfiber twin sized blanket, 2 soft towels, Apple Jasmine bath salt, lotion & bath salt, 2 Godiva Chocolate Bars, loofah, $20 Dairy Queen Gift Certificate, $25 Hair & Company Gift Certificate good towards any hair service, $25 Hair & Company Gift Certificate good towards a manicure, $65 Extreme Hair & Day Spa Gift Certificate good for a pedicure and 100 min of tanning, a Wahl Clipper Heat Therapy Massager

#12 - Wine Basket MB=$10
Includes: Set of 12 drink coasters, 1 bottle Francis Coppola 2007 Black Label Claret, 1 bottle Luccio Moscoto d'Asti, Decorative Metal Holder for 2 bottles

#13 - Tupperware Basket MB=$15 - current bid $50
Includes: Blue Commuter Mug, Orange Medium Impressions Bowl, Large Rectangular FridgeSmart Container (I hae one of these- they're awesome!), Smaller Orange Mixing Bowl & 2 Clear Bottles w/black lids (looks like they'd be great for mixing drinks!)

#14 - Buffalo Wild Wings Combo MB=$8
Includes: $20 Gift Certificate to Buffalo Wild Wings. 3 Full Size Sauces including Honey BBQ, Mild & Parmesean Garlic

#15 - Red Jimmy Choo Purse with coordinating scarf MB=$20 - current bid $40

#16 - D&G Line Green & Animal Print Purse with coordinating scarf MB=$20

#17 - D&G Pink Purse with coordinating scarf MB=$20

#18 - Jimmy Choo Black Purse with Flower Accent & coordinating scarf MB=$20

#19 - D&G Cream & Black Zebra Print purse with coordinating  scarf MB=$20

#20 - Reagon Basket MB = $12
Includes: Postcards, The Reagons:Portrait of a Marriage book, Ronald Reagon Boyhood Home Wine Glass, Jelly Belly, "All About the Presidents" Word Search Puzzle Book & Ronald Reagon Notepad

#21 - 4 Rounds of Golf (or 1 Round for 4 people) at Rock River Golf & Pool MB=$35

#22 - Wahl Lithium Ion All-in-One Trimmer MB=$10

#23 - Wahl Lithium Ion Clipper & Trimmer Haircutting Kit MB=$20

       

Come have a weiner!

We will have hot dogs, chips, cookies (thanks to Subway!) & pop for sale at the benefit.  So come hungry!

BYOB- probably not.

I'm sorry to info you all that due to unresolvable insurance issues, we will not be allowed to let you bring your own alcohol.
However, I am working on providing a keg to make up for it.  I will let you guys know the final decision in a few days.

On another note- BYOL.  Bring your own lawnchair.  We are not providing seating.  Distinctive Gardens has tons of space for you to sprawl out on a blanket, or set up camp with a few lawn chairs. 

I want to make sure you have a good time- so bring a couple lawn chairs and have a good time!

Auction/Prize items Round 4

Margarita Basket!  Everything you need to have a margarita party with you & 3 friends!  Just add Jose!

Buffalo Wild Wings- 3 full size sauces (Mild, Parmasean Garlic & Honey BBQ), along with a $20 Gift Certificate!

Tool Bucket- includes tools, t-shirts, hat & metal bucket

Reagan Basket - includes a ton of goodies compliments of the Reagan Boyhood home

Auction/Prize Items Round 3 - Designer Bags!

All of these brand new designer bags/purses come with a coordinating scarf!

$500 Cash Prize!

I wanted to remind everyone that we are having a $500 Cash Prize Raffle at the end of the benefit!  You do not have to be present to win.  Tickets are being sold now.  You can contact me directly at heather@heatherlanell.com or 815.499.1307.  Tickets are $20 ea or 2 for $30!

Auction Items - Round 2

 Wine Basket - includes:
* Set of 12 drink coasters
* 1 bottle Francis Coppola 2007 Black Label Claret
* 1 bottle Luccio Moscoto d'Asti
* Decorative Metal Holder for 2 bottles

Lia Sophia Earrings & 2 Gift Certificates

* One Gift Certificate is for $35 in jewelry (with Lia Sophia Party booked by Oct. 24th)
*One Gift Certificate for a FREE piece of jewelry (with Lia Sophia Party booked by Oct. 24th)
I've personally been to a few of these parties and have a few pieces of their jewelry- they are awesome!

Movie Night Basket -

* Popcorn, Candy & Family Video Gift Certificate




Also -
* 2 Free Entrees from Martin's Steakhouse (new located downtown Sterling)
* 2 Entrees at Applebees (valued at $10 ea)
* 2 Tickets to Sauk Valley Cinemas

We need more donation items!

Any item or gift certificate, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated.  If you have an item or gift certificate that can be donated, please contact myself, Heather, at 815.499.1307 or heather@heatherlanell.com

Thank You!

Items to be auctioned off - Part 1

We have our first round of items that will be auctioned off at the benefit.

* $10 Gift Certificate for Golden Key Gifts
* Tire Tracks Gift Certificate for a free Lube, Oil, Filter & Tire Rotation
* Moore Tires Gift Certificate for a free alignment
* $15 Gift Certificate for Bushel Basket Candle Company
* Tuff Dog Bakery Gift Certificate for 1/2 lb bulk treats
* A One night mid-week stay at a White Pines Cabin
* (2) Photography by Heather Lanell Gift Certificates for $350ea

Hey Big Money! $500 Cash Prize Raffle!

You heard right- we are raffling off a $500 cash prize.  Raffle tickets are $20 each or 2 for $30 and of course 100% of the ticket sales are going to Bobbie Schinderling.

Raffle tickets are on sale now.  You may purchase them anytime from myself by emailing me at heather@heatherlanell.com or call me at 815-499-1307.

They will also be available for purchase at the benefit, Aug. 12th at Distinctive Gardens from 6-10pm.

Winner will be announced at the conclusion of the benefit as well as here on the blog!

Good luck!

Photography Session proceeds to be donated

As some of you may know, I am also known as Heather Lanell, from Photography by Heather Lanell (www.heatherlanell.com).  I am offering $100 vouchers for portrait sessions (to be used by August 30th, 2012).  $80 of each and every voucher sold will be donated directly to my mom.  Here's what the voucher includes:

For $100, you get:
One 1/2 hour portrait session
One Mounted 11x14 Print
$50 Print Credit for you to use towards additional prints or products from your session

I normally do not offer this small of a package, and I will only have them for sale until August 30th of this year (but they can be used anytime from now until August 30th of 2012)- so if you've been thinking about getting a quick family portrait, this is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of a great price and feel good about giving to a good cause at the same time! 

To purchase your voucher, call or email me at heather@heatherlanell.com or 815-499-1307

Benefit Details! The who what where and when.

I'm still in the planning stages of this so stay tuned for more info.  For now:

The benefit will be at Distinctive Gardens in Dixon, IL from 6-10pm on Friday Aug 12th.

We are hoping to have some live music (still working on it!), hot dogs and hamburgers for sale, auction items, a raffle, games and more!

Check back for more info!

The Story

I knew what it was before he even told me.  I was at my photography studio in downtown Sterling, IL and had gotten a call from my dad saying he was on his way over and he had something very important to tell me.  I already knew- but I hoped with everything I had that I was wrong. 
"She has a tumor."  My mom had a brain tumor.  Hearing someone actually say the words felt like a had been punched in the stomach.  Hard.
The next week was a whirlwind of trips back and forth to Rockford for test after test after miserable test.  Her surgery was scheduled for June 28th, a little over 2 weeks after finding the tumor.  The surgery lasted just over 5 hours.  The tumor, just over an inch big, had been wrapped around her optic nerve.  She came out of the surgery great.  The surgery was on a Tuesday and she came home on Friday. 
Aside from a bad haircut(!), the only adverse thing to come from the surgery was the loss of her eyesight in one eye.  The surgeon was able to remove almost all of the tumor and is fairly confident that it won't grow back.  Even better, it's not cancerous. 
Although she's doing well, she won't be cleared to go back to work for a few months, and then it may be only part time.  Obviously the financial strain of that alone is immense.  And that's not including medical expenses not covered by insurance and future tests that are expected because of the surgery.
So far, the support from friends and family has been tremendous.  We thank everyone for the support so far and hope to see you at the benefit!