Gobble 'til You Wobble

Hope everyone has a safe, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving!

Wedding Bells

Congratulations to Whitney Light Rutz and her new husband, Paul Rutz, who were married on October 18th. The new couple will continue to commute between Indiana and Washington, DC until Paul finishes his doctorate from Purdue. They are planning a honeymoon in Argentina and Chile in March.

Allie's New Pad

Allison Ryan has moved to a new apartment and wanted to share her address because it is, after all, "Christmas card season"! So update your address book and don't forget Allie when mailing out your cards. :)

3500 Chestnut Springs Place
Apt. 1335
Richmond, VA 23233
804-334-1905 (cell #)

Alpha KDs do The Richmond Children's Hospital

Above is a picture of some Kappa Deltas doing the "Pat" chant at the Children's Hospital in Richmond.

And these sweet girls, Hannah and Barit, belong to Jennifer Vernon Fulk and Wendy Baer McMillian. Wendy made the KD jumpers for the girls!

Thanks for sharing the pictures, Wendy.

Cutest KD Trick or Treaters EVAH! 2008

Taylor (robber) and Ally (dead cheerleader)
Shannon Christensen Rose

Madeline (Dorothy) and Tyler (firefighter)
Shannon Payne Wallace & Lisa McIntyre Carter

Alex (the jailbird on the right) and her BFF
Nicole Laningham Fountain

Zachary (Thomas the Train), Avery (ladybug), and Brennan (VT football player)
Cheryl Ragland Kasper

Jack (pirate), Finn (red chili pepper), and Elena (kitty)
Mandy Mylum Lawler

Kasey (VT football player)
Tracy Smith Cronin

Ryan (rugby player) and Peyton (Hannah Montana)
Angela White Hamilton

Barit (flower fairy) and Molly (caterpillar)
Wendy Baer McMillian

You Girls Are The Best!

Happy National Women's Friendship Day!! You guys ROCK!

From the Kappa Delta Sorority webmail:

"Created by Kappa Delta Sorority in 1999, National Women's Friendship Day provides women, both Kappa Deltas and non-KDs, the chance to pause and remember just how special life is with our friends. It's a time to celebrate the power of women who come together as friends to make a difference in the world. After all, life is sweeter and more meaningful when we have women friends to share our triumphs, our sorrows and all those special moments in life."

Raising Money, Making a Difference

Best of luck to Karen Dalton Riedl as she prepares to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk October 3-5 in Washington DC. She has been training for it since April, so I'm sure she'll have no problem with the 60 miles! If you would like to help here by donating to the cause, please go to her homepage.

Karen, let us know how you do!

Walking To Defeat ALS

Lisa McIntyre Carter and her family and friends will be walking to raise money to find a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) on October 19th in Virginia Beach. Lisa's team is walking in honor of a family member who was diagnosed with ALS a little over a year ago and is already in a wheelchair. He is in his early thirties and is a husband and father of two small children. Lisa would really appreciate any support for the walk, whether it be a monetary donation, participation, or prayers! Please check out her personal web page to donate or sign up to join her team.

Wishing you all the best, Lisa, on your fund raising efforts and the walk and many prayers for your family member.

**edited: Greg and Christina Wynne Marshall, along with their son Lance, will be walking in this ALS walk, as well.

A Word From Our Sponsor

Hope you all will enjoy reading about our great sisters and all that everyone has done and is doing!

If you sent me your news and I didn't publish it below, PLEASE EMAIL ME RIGHT AWAY! It most likely is lost in my email account. And if I've gotten something wrong or you want your name removed from or added to a post, just let me know.

Take care everyone and happy end of summer (boo hoo)! AOT!

Summer Fun with some KD Hotties

Thanks to Lisa McHaney Corbett for sending in great pictures of a summer reunion with some Kappa Deltas and their families. This "Third Annual KD Pool Party" was held at Lisa's house in Currituck, NC and brought out KDs Sheri Fitzsimmons Barthol, Laura Eason Joyner, Karen Faison, Lynn Owen Latham, Beth Johnson, Tammy Ryman Shia, Teri Audi Kruse, Lisa McHaney Corbett, and Corky Robinett. Sheri even had tshirts made for the event...and the men wore them, too!

Looks like you gals and your families had a blast!

Making Money, Helping Kids

Congratulations to Jennifer Smith Avellino for working her business! She became a consultant with Usborne Books At Home in December of 2007. Within seven months she had recruited five people and made the sales necessary to be promoted to a supervisor. But she hasn't stopped there. She began a partnership with Seattle Children's Hospital to have companies donate money to the hospital which in turn is used to purchase new books from Usborne to give to patients. Usborne provides a matching grant of 50% more in books, so a $1000 donation becomes $1500 in books.
Now Jen is in her final weeks of preparing for the Children's Hospital Trilogy Guild Fundraiser and is hoping that it will be a huge success!

All of Jennifer's hard work is paying off. In July she attended the Usborne National Convention and was named "New Consultant of the Year-Honorable Mention."

If you want to check up on Jennifer or check out Usborne books for your children or for gifts, go to her website.

Way to go, Jen! And best of luck with your fundraiser. Let us know how it goes!

Are You A Facebooker??

Hi, I'm Mandy Mylum Lawler and I'm addicted to Facebook. Are you?! Look for the following KD sisters on Facebook and join in the addiction...I mean fun!

Eileen O'Connor Boone
Nickie Hardison Brandenburger
Jennifer McIntyre Braswell-Geller
Kristina Mason Byrum
Alicia Hewitt Canestra
Lisa McIntyre Carter
Rachel Burke Cocquyt
Lori McGee Eggleston
Nicole Laningham Fountain
LIbby Marsh Fox
Cat Owings Greco
Jen Fritz
Kathleen Jodoin Gagliardi
Angela White Hamilton
Denise Dean Hanna
Areina Bruce Hensley
Kathleen Manning Holroyd
Maryhelen J. Hotz
Karen Dickinson Kulpa
Amanda Mylum Lawler
Whitney Light
Lisa Nicklas Lowman
Amy Poteat Malloy
Colleen McCrink Margiloff
Wendy Baer McMillian
Jennifer Melton
Kristi Gordon Moncrieff
Betsy Neal
Shannon Holley Nicoll
Karen Smith Plant
Susan Powers
Kathy Powers Krahling
Karen Smith Raugh
Angela Kocher Rimington
Stephanie Miller Riolo
Allison Ryan
Lea Maier Tatum
Kelly McMurtrie Thomas
Traci O'Connor Turkekul
Joy Eure Vardis

"Mom-preneur"...The New Black

I love publishing these posts...

Shannon Christensen Rose has begun her own business of creating personalized CD/DVD photo montages including slide shows and video clips. If you have tons of pictures and videos lying around either on your computer or in the form of photographs and you don't know what to do with them, contact Shannon...she can help you! Please visit her Rosey Reflections website for more information.

An Angelos Star

Have you all perused the latest copy of The Angelos (Summer 2008)? If you did you may have noticed that on page 28 our own Alpha sister, Lori McGee Eggleston, is one of the featured "Mommy-preneurs"! Lori began her business in an effort to continue as a successful business woman AND stay home to raise her children at the same time. It seems that Lori is doing just that as her online boutique has grown by leaps and bounds. Be sure to check out her Stripes and Polka Dots website.

Another KD-preneur!

We have yet another hard working KD business owner! Ann Marie Ray is the owner of Seasons and Sentiments, a store that specializes in personalized engraved gifts, jewelry, and gift baskets. Her website features an online pictorial catalog as well as gift etiquette information. You can find her at Seasons and Sentiments. And...Ann Marie is offering 15% off to all Alpha Chapter KD hotties! Just type in "AOT" in the comments section at checkout!

Stop by her website and support a sister. Her products are perfect for anything from birthday gifts to bridal gifts and in between. And who says you have to give someone else a gift? Buy something for yourself while you're at it!

New Digs

Denise Dean Hanna and family have moved to Texas, about 30 miles outside of Dallas. Her husband, Mike, took a job with Texas A & M Connerce. Their new address is: 1930 Evergreen Drive, Rockwall, TX 75032.

Marc and Ann Marie Ray have recently moved. For their new information please email her.

The Pink Posse Strikes!

A "great job!" goes out to the Pink Posse that is MaryAnn Garces, (Kat Manning Holroyd's aunt), Laura Jones Carlstrom, Tracy Wergley Graebener, Kat Manning Holroyd, Colleen McCrink Margiloff, and April Rose Miller. Together the team raised $19, 311 for the Avon 2-Day Breast Cancer Walk, which was held May 3-4, 2008. From Kat: "One moment we will never forget is when, every three minutes, a random walker was given a sash to show how often women are diagnosed. EVERY THREE MINUTES.... April was presented with one and we were all just speechless at the thought of how random and frequent women are diagnosed."

The Pink Posse team, whose motto is "Strong Hearts...Sore Muscles" certainly came away from the walk sore but most definitely INSPIRED and looking forward to the walk in 2009. The team wants to know if you have it in ya' to join them next year?

Well done, girls!

New Bundles of Joy

Congratulations to the following KD Mommas and their families:

Brian and Karen Smith Raugh welcomed son Connor Joseph on March 10, 2008. Brian, Karen, and Cameron have settled in nicely and Cameron is enjoying being a big sister!



Jeff and Denise Braswell Feagans and their four sons welcomed daughter Maggie Mae, 2 years old, on March 31, 2008. Denise traveled with a girlfriend to China and arrived home to an excited (I'm assuming!) Jeff, Garrett, Mitch, Gabe, and Nate on April 14th. You can take a peek into their life at Love Keeps Growing More Love.


Tom and Lori McGee Eggleston welcomed their second daughter, Ann "Cambell" on April 1, 2008. Along with her parents, she is welcomed by big sister Mallory.



Paul and Mandy Mylum Lawler, along with Elena and Jack, welcomed Finn Peter on April 22, 2008. Elena loves her new little brother and Jack is completely unimpressed with the new boy in town!


Derek and Wendy Baer McMillian welcomed daughter Molly Keye on May 9, 2008. Molly joins big sister Barit. Future KD Ladies, perhaps?


A HUGE congratulations to Tony and Eileen O'Connor Boone who, after several years of infertility and multiple failed fertility treatments, welcomed son Clayton Alexander on July 23, 2008. From Eileen: Wonders never cease! Clayton was conceived naturally!


Chris and Liza Motley Dameron just welcomed their third child, Adeline Virginia, on August 29, 2008 (a real newbie!). Adeline joins big brothers Reid and Wyatt.

Patrick and Kristie Robinson Barbier are expecting their third child, a girl, any day now. Kristie's due date is September 17th.

Kevin and Lisa McIntyre Carter are expecting their second child, a girl, in December. The baby will join big brother Tyler.

Work It, Girl!

Congratulations to Liz Stevens on the launch of her new business That Wedding. Liz has begun the business of bridal consulting and is off and running, already booking several weddings. Liz is in the Roanoke area and I'm sure would love to hear from anyone planning on getting married and in need of some guidance and advice. You can check out her That Wedding website for all of the details. Her contact information including address, phone number, and email address are all on her site.

LIz, here's wishing you a busy year of consulting!!

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

Please keep Justin and Kristina Mason Byrum in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with the passing of their first child, daughter Emerson Grace. Emerson was born prematurely at 24 weeks on March 7th and put up a brave fight for her life. Sadly, Emerson passed away on March 12th.

A graveside funeral service is planned for Wednesday, March 19th at 10:30 am at Peninsula Memorial Park, 12750 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA.

If you would like to make a donation in Emerson's memory, Justin and Kristina would like for it to go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Riverside Hospital. Please refer to the the Caring Bridge website set up by Kristina's sister for further details.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/babyemerson

*enter your email address
*for password enter "graceofgod"

Thanks and an Explanation

As always, sisters, it is great to hear from everyone! For me, when I do these updates, it makes me forget (if only for a split second) that I am 40 years old and almost TWENTY YEARS out of college!! When I tell my non-KD friends about my sorority and how many of us get together for reunions and visits and keep in touch via a blog, they all comment on how they can't believe that I'm still great friends with my college buds. Many mention that they joined a sorority way back when but don't keep in touch with any of their sisters! Poor girls. Keep your news coming and please pass the blog address and my email address on to other alpha sisters who are not on my email list.

As for an explanation, you will (if I did it properly!) see a repeat post with a "BUMP" added to the subject line. This means that it is a post I had published in the past and just added some info or wanted to remind everyone about the post comment so instead of rewriting everything I just republished it.

Happy Spring everyone!! AOT

By the way...if I missed anyone's news, I apologize! Please email me to remind me (I am 8 months pregnant with 2 kids, after all!)

(BUMP) Are You Cool Enough For This List?

Just a reminder about the upcoming Decade of the 90's Longwood Reunion. Let me know if you are planning on attending and I will add your name to the list below!

Here we go girls...a running list of those who are planning on attending the 90's reunion in April 2008 (see previous post for info or go to www.longwoodlink.com to learn more and to register). Just send me your name and I'll add!

Christina Wynne Marshall
Jennifer Whitmore Colliver
Kathleen Jodoin Gagliardi
Jennie Giang Wools
Nicole Laningham Fountain
Allison Ryan
Susan Powers
Kathy Powers Krahling
Lea Maier Tatum
Judy Flanagan Milby
Joy Eure Vardis
Jennifer Vernon Fulk
Tracy Wergley Graebener
Shannon Holley Nicoll
Lisa McIntyre Carter
Carey Seitz Leahey

Shamrock Fundraiser

Senior Sales Director with Mary Kay Nicole Laningham Fountain is having a Shamrock Fundraising Extravaganza during the month of March. When you place an order through Nicole during the month of March 40% of all proceeds will go directly towards the prevention of child abuse. She will be splitting the money raised between our local philanthropy, Prevent Child Abuse Virginia (80%) and our national philanthropy, Kappa Delta Foundation Children in Need Fund (20%).

To order products from her AND support an awesome fund raiser and cause, go to Nicole's website. Once her fund raiser is over, she'll update us on how much she (with our help!) raised.

MORE INFO BELOW (I didn't know how to do a link to her flier!)

During the month of March, shop 24/7 at www.marykay.com/nfountain

When you complete your shopping, put “Shamrock” in the comment line. Your order will be promply shipped.

40% of all proceeds will go directly towards The Prevention of Child Abuse

A perfect way to help!

Perfect gifts for Easter, birthdays, or Mother’s Day!

Feel free to forward this to other friends and family too!

In advance, Kappa Delta Sorority thanks you for participating in this very special fund raiser! Again, 40% of all purchases will be donated to The Prevention of Child Abuse. The products are by Mary Kay Cosmetics and come with a full 100% satisfaction guarantee!!

Pay for your purchase with confidence or with a personal check made payable to

Nicole Fountain.

And In The "Still Expecting" Department...

Were there seriously no babies born since the last updates in November?? Below are some expectant KDs...

Brian and Karen Smith Raugh are expecting any day now (due date March 3rd) their second child, a boy. First child Cameron is totally excited about being the "Big Sister"!

Jeff and Denise Braswell Feagans are hoping to travel to China on March 27th to meet and bring home their daughter, Maggie Mae. (Actually, I think Jeff has the honor of staying behind with their three boys while Denise will travel with a girlfriend). You can keep up with their journey at Love Keeps Growing More Love.

Paul and Mandy Mylum Lawler are anxiously awaiting baby #3, a boy, expected around April 23rd--although Mandy is keeping her fingers crossed for a slightly earlier date!

Tom and Lori McGee Eggleston are also waiting on an April baby. This will be their second, after daughter Mallory.

Derek and Wendy Baer McMillian are awaiting baby #2 in May. Their daughter, Barit, is sure to be a big help to mom!

A special "CONGRATULATIONS" goes to Tony and Eileen O'Connor Boone on the upcoming birth of their first child, a son. The baby is due August 8th (8/8/08!). This is a special blessing as Eileen and Tony have struggled with infertility for the past 3+ years and amazingly, this pregnancy was conceived "au naturale"!!

I can't wait to post the news and pictures of all of the new sons and daughters!

A Star Among Us!

Congratulations and a BIG WOW! go out to Kim Kenworthy Egbert. She just auditioned for the choir that will be singing for the Pope (yes, THAT Pope!) in DC in April and MADE IT!!! What an honor and a thrill, I'm sure. Next stop...American Idol!!

On top of that great and distinct news, Kim also just landed a job as Grad School Associate Professor for the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (in addition to her full time job as a high school teacher).

Really, Kim, shouldn't you be doing something with your life???

Finally, A Personal Shopper!

Areina Bruce Hensley wanted to share with everyone that her daughter, Jordan, took the car on February 19th to do the grocery shopping on her own!! In Areina's own words, it "felt really good as I would rather clean toilets than go to the grocery store." Here, here!

On a slightly more serious note, Areina is looking for a year 2000+, safe, economical, low mileage used car for Jordan...surely so that she can do more shopping for Areina! If anyone is selling (Areina is in the Chesterfield area), please let her know. Her email address is areina@capitalone.com.

Chapter Advisory Board Members Needed

Jennifer Vernon Fulk and Wendy Baer McMillian, chapter advisors for Alpha, are looking for additional advisors. If you are interested and would like more information please contact Jennifer at kjfulk@comcast.net or Wendy at wendy.mcmillian@gmail.com.

Laura's Fight Continues...

Please continue your thoughts and prayers for Laura Doudera in her fight against cancer. Laura has endured so much in the past year + and after months of surgeries and chemo treatments, her scans in November revealed no new cancer and no complications. However, scans performed on February 18th showed a new spot on Laura's liver and a small concern on her lung. She is scheduled for additional Pet Scans on February 27th.

Goin' To The Chapel...

Congratulations to Whitney Light and her boyfriend...now fiance! Paul proposed last December and a wedding for October 18th in Richmond is planned. Whitney's proposal story was pretty impressive. Basically, Paul orchestrated a huge production with the help of his Purdue Dance Company pals and took Whitney by complete surprise! Way to go, Paul!