Passionately Pink for the Cure!

Growing up my favorite color was PINK! From my favorite dessert (and doll), Strawberry Shortcake, to my jelly shoes, I always picked pink. My passion for pink has recently resurfaced. I've been wanting get involved and volunteer but just couldn't decide on an organization. None of the opportunities jumped out at me until last week. I was at a 100 Wise Women event and was seated next to a woman I was drawn to immediately. She spoke of her volunteer work with such passion that I was envious. When I found out she volunteered for Susan G. Komen, I took it as a sign that this is where I would donate my time, energy and skills. My Aunt Sarah and Patrick's Aunt Tracie are both breast cancer survivors. They are both amazing women, mothers, sisters, daughters, and aunts. They have made a difference in the lives of so many and thankfully are still here to continue doing so.

I've been tasked with chairing the Volunteer Committee of Komen Louisville's Pink Tie Ball being held September 11th. I will be soliciting volunteers with a wide array of talents to help make this year's event a success. Your contribution, big or small, will make a huge difference. If you would like to volunteer, please let me know.

In the mean time, sport your pink to show support for all of those who have battled breast cancer. Let's keep searching for a cure so our grandmother, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts and girlfriends can live a life free of breast cancer and continue to influence the lives of those around them.

Upcoming Komen Louisville events include:
Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade
Kentucky Oaks Pink Out
Race for the Cure

Movin' on Up

Before Pat and I met I lived in a condo I bought when I was 25. When I moved in, for the first time in my life, I had my OWN place. No roommates, no boyfriend, no family members within 45 minutes. I had two friends in that part of town whom I had just become good friends with so I had a small, yet extremely important safety net. In my first 2 years of living there I learned so much about myself that I really don’t think I’d ever have discovered unless I was alone. I learned how to take care of myself when I was sick. I learned how to do my finances and was forced to make responsible decisions, I learned that I could do things I never thought I would. I made an amazing group of friends that would literally die for me. I had established a successful career path in Humana’s Internal Audit department, leading an audit team, and traveling all over the US. I had made stronger bonds with both of my sisters and learned they had grown into absolutely amazing women. I experienced the first heart-wrenching scare of my life- my mother in ICU for a week due to a brain bleed. I witnessed the miracle of God and watched her heal 110%. I learned to take responsibility for my actions and mended some broken friendships. I also mended my own heart that still hadn’t healed from being broken what felt like time after time after time. I went on some really really disastrous dates- some funny, some heart-wrenching, some flat out scary (I should do a blog just on that). I learned how to be responsible with money, with my career, with my family & friends, with my life. I fell in love with the most amazing man in the world while I was living there. Patrick proposed to me in the kitchen in that condo! We started our life together there. I began to learn to share my space and understand the importance of choosing my battles wisely. I realized so much about myself while living in that condo. And tonight I realized something else. All of this will come with me to our new home. And we’ll fill that house full with so many more experiences, life lessons and incredible blessings to be thankful for. I can’t wait!



Here are a few pictures of our new home. We should be closing within the next two weeks.

Sinfully Delicious (and healthy) Finds

I've got to share two recipes that I've been turned on to lately. They are amazingly delicious and the sweetest part is they're good for you.

Carrot Peanut Butter
1/3 c. natural peanut butter (ingredients should be peanuts and salt only)
2/3 c. steamed, smashed carrots

This is a great way to make peanut butter better for you. Steam your carrots for about 20 minutes until fork tender. Mash them with a fork. Mix 2/3 cup of the smashed carrots with 1/3 cup of natural peanut butter in a food processor or blender. I didn't have either handy when I made this and just used my hand mixer. It's much smoother when you use a food processor or blender, though.

This recipe makes 1 c. of spread. It's great with pretzels, veggies, and sandwiches. Keep it refrigerated!

You can also mix in cinnamon, nutmeg, or other flavors to spice it up some. I found this recipe on the Mohr Results website.

Breakfast Cookies
My sister, Brigitte, shared this recipe with me. She found it on the Glamour website.

Gina's Amazing Breakfast Cookie
Recipe adapted for Vitamin G, courtesy of Fitnessista

Ingredients:

1/3 cup oats
1 tablespoon of nut butter (almond, peanut, whatever--pick your fave!)
A sprinkling of protein powder such as Designer Whey (note: this is optional)
1/8 cup of soy milk or milk (or almond milk or whatever you like)
1/2 cup of optional add ins (ideas: mashed bananas, canned pumpkin, apple sauce)
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
Optional: A sprinkling of something sweet, like a little sugar, agave or honey (Gina uses stevia)

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients together, then put the "dough" on a plate and form into a flat, round shape. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. It will harden slightly from the nut butter and the oats will soften from the milk. In the morning, grab a spoon and enjoy!

Here are Brigitte's suggested changes:
I actually use 1/2 cup of oatmeal and omit the protein powder. If I use applesauce as the flavor, I decrease it to 1/3 cup, just to make it less runny. I'll probably figure out a way to use the carrot peanut butter, but for now, I'm making as is. It will be really good when summer rolls around since it's a no cook recipe.

I hope you all enjoy!

tweet, tweet

I have finally joined the Twitter community! I have no idea what I'm doing out there, but you can find me listed as @JenMcCallister. Follow me if you're a fellow tweeter!

the power of gratitude

"Ahh Ha!" moments are incredible gifts, aren't they? There's something to be said about that split second of clarity when all the chaos turns to structure, when a mess is suddenly clear. I had one of those moments today. I was sitting at my desk completely frustrated with the task at hand. That frustration soon turned from frustration with the project to frustration with myself, my job and then my life. I was having a pity party and complaining to myself about all sorts of things. Then in a split second something clicked in my mind and I just laughed out loud. I have so much to be thankful for yet I was exerting my energy on my frustrations. So I took a break and started listing the things I'm thankful for. Within 5 minutes my frustrations were put into perspective. Gratitude is certainly a powerful gift yet it's often overlooked. It's my goal to be more cognizant of everything I have when I start to complain about what I don't.

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. — William Arthur Ward