Sharing my platform with Twin Cities Nights Rotary members!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to present my platform, “Get Your Rear in Gear: Colon Cancer Awareness and Prevention” to the Twin Cities Nights Rotary Club. The club is well-known for its volunteer service activities that serve not only the local community, but other parts of the world. The members I met yesterday were passionate, dedicated community leaders and it was an honor to speak to them!

I was particularly excited to speak to the Twin Cities Nights Rotary because its members are primarily women in their 30s and 40s. One of the biggest myths is that colon cancer is a “man’s disease,” but nothing could be farther from the truth! Men and women are equally affected by colon cancer!

Speaking to a younger audience was also an important opportunity to point out that there are steps we can take before the recommended screening age of 50 to prevent colon cancer. Knowing our family histories is critical, because we may need to be screened earlier than age 50, and it is always important to live a healthy lifestyle. We can also encourage our friends and loved ones to get screened!

Thanks so much to president Michelle Aruflo and the Twin Cities Nights Rotary members for the opportunity to share this critical message!

Getting ready for my next spa treatment with Michelle Sturm, owner of The Salon for You!

I am so lucky to count The Salon for You! Spa & Salon as one of my wonderful sponsors this year.   Tucked away in a cozy building in St. Paul’s cathedral district, The Salon for You! is truly a gem and the perfect place for salon services, luxurious spa treatments, and products from their spa boutique.

I first visited The Salon for You! for hair care services after a series of bad haircuts left my hair dull, choppy, and lifeless. Owner Michelle Sturm came to the rescue and helped me reshape and style my hair. Several months later, I can now say that my hair is in the best condition of its life! The salon staff take time during every appointment to answer my questions and recommend different styling techniques.

After my great haircut experience, I couldn’t resist trying some of The Salon for You!’s spa services! I’m happy to report that the massage services are not only relaxing, but effective! With a busy schedule of work, running, and dance classes (not to mention practicing for the pageant in my 5-inch heels!), my shoulders and back are always in knots. Michelle has not only provided fantastic massages, but also shown me techniques I can use every day to help melt away stress and prevent injury.

The facial and skin care services at The Salon for You! are relaxing, too. No matter how tough of a day I’ve had, I know I will leave feeling 100% pampered and refreshed. My skin always looks and feels amazing for days!

Make sure to visit The Salon for You! soon to check out all of their services, including spa membership packages! Thanks so much to Michelle and her wonderful staff for their sponsorship!

With St. Paul Sunrise Rotary President Elect, Steve Baker

Every Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. a dedicated group of business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs from across the metro area gather in St. Paul. The members of the St. Paul Sunrise Rotary serve their community through numerous events, fundraisers, and service projects.

Last week, I was honored to speak about my platform, “Get Your Rear in Gear,” to this inspiring group!  After learning about the club’s upcoming activities, I spoke about my family’s devastating experience with colon cancer.  Prior to my stepdad’s diagnosis, we had no indication that he had a deadly disease. Since this diagnosis, I have learned we are all at risk of developing colon cancer, and we must act today—before we have symptoms—to make sure that it is 100% preventable, treatable, and beatable!

Thanks so much to the St. Paul Sunrise Rotary for their warm welcome and the opportunity to share my story!

Kicking off the 2010 Get Your Rear in Gear Committee with Colon Cancer Coalition President Kristin Tabor

Last week I attended the Colon Cancer Coalition’s kick-off meeting for the 2010 Get Your Rear in Gear Committee. The Get Your Rear in Gear 5K races raise awareness about colon cancer prevention in communities across the country.  At the meeting I had the opportunity to meet colon cancer survivors and their families, advocates, and volunteers who are all devoted to making this year’s events the best yet!

I am so honored to be a part of the Colon Cancer Coalition’s incredible work. The energy and enthusiasm of President Kristin Tabor and her dedicated staff are an inspiration to me as I work to share my family’s story and encourage others to get screened. The first Get Your Rear in Gear event was held in the Twin Cities in 2005, and attracted 1,200 participants. Last year, there were over 20 races nationwide and 4,200 participants in the Twin Cities alone!

Get Your Rear in Gear events are a wonderful way to encourage others to help prevent colon cancer by living a healthy lifestyle and getting screened.  This year’s Twin Cities event will be May 16, 2010 at the Southdale Center in Edina.  I will be there for sure, and I hope you will be, too!

For more information, please visit the Colon Cancer Coalition website and check out their blog for daily tips on living a healthy lifestyle, screening recommendations, cutting-edge research, and more!

Music  t-shirts are one of Slingshot’s specialties. They carry everything from vintage classic rock to The Beatles t-shirts to Radiohead  shirts, in a variety sure to suit your individual taste and style.  My sister Nicole loves the woman’s fit  of her favorite Bob Marley t-shirts from Slingshot:

All of Slingshot’s t-shirts are licensed and are available for both men and women, including some specially designed for women.  And if you love a particular TV show or even a famous line, chances are that there will be a completely unique t-shirt for it. My sister’s friend Tony, a longtime Seinfeld fan, was happily surprised on his birthday with this Seinfeld t-shirt commemorating his favorite scene: 

I can’t wait to pick out a few t-shirts of my own and as gifts! This Battlestar Galactica t-shirt would be perfect for my husband, Chris (let’s hope he doesn’t read this post)!  Or maybe I should channel my inner superhero with these Supergirl t-shirts. It’s not easy balancing the demands of a family, career, and volunteer work, after all!

A big thank-you to Slingshot T-Shirts for their sponsorship and support!

I am thrilled to count Annie Oakley Perfumery among my wonderful sponsors this year. Offering fresh, all natural perfumes and body products, Annie Oakley is the perfect place to find gift ideas for women and men alike. And because it is the only perfume company whose products are created and packaged in the United States, your gift is sure to be unique!

I love the clean, simple quality of Annie Oakley’s women’s fragrances. After suffering for years from headaches due to the ingredients in some perfumes, I had thought that I was just too sensitive to wear perfume—but fortunately, I discovered Annie Oakley! They use 100% natural alcohol and other natural ingredients that are pure, light, and never overpowering.

Some of my personal favorites are the Citrus & Honey travel spritzer (perfectly-sized for my purse) and the honeysuckle perfume. In the middle of our Minnesota winter, a whiff of an Annie Oakley fragrance is just what I need for a little pick-me-up.

But Annie Oakley isn’t just a good place to find gift ideas for women—they offer products for men too, and even horses! For creative cowboy gift ideas for men, the Stampede and Sagebrush lines offer Western-themed cologne, aftershave, and lotions. And the Journeys line is the first-ever fragrance collection designed for horses and riders as an all-natural tool to promote effective training and ease tension.

Annie Oakley owner Renee Gabet has over 25 years’ experience blending natural essential oils, beginning simply in her Indiana kitchen in 1980. Today, Annie Oakley has expanded to an off-site perfumery, and its fragrances and body products are sold throughout the United States. Make sure to find an Annie Oakley retailer near you or check out their website!

Sharing my platform with the President of the East Side Lions Club

This week I was honored to speak to the St. Paul East Side Lions about my platform, Get Your Rear in Gear: Colon Cancer Awareness and Prevention. The Lions gave me a warm welcome and updated me on their active volunteering in the community.  I shared my family’s story and spoke about the 3 key steps we can take to prevent colon cancer: living a healthy lifestyle, knowing our family histories, and getting screened.  After my speech the Lions asked some great follow-up questions to help keep me on my toes for my on-stage question at the Mrs. Minnesota International pageant in March!

A big thank-you to the East Side Lions for the opportunity to speak and for their great work in the community!

Selling raffle tickets with Colon Cancer Coalition staff Malia and Emily

Guests enjoyed appetizers, wine tastings, live music, and work from over 20 local artists. It was an amazing evening and a wonderful opportunity to support a great cause!

Mrs. Ramsey County, Jen Olson, stopped in to say hello!

Following the event I had a busy weekend supporting fellow contestants at a pancake breakfast and bell-ringing for the Salvation Army. Be sure to check out my appearances page for photos!

Promoting colon cancer prevention with Avril Jones, President of Maverick Consulting, and Mistress of Ceremonies Roshini Rajkumar

Colon cancer survivors spoke throughout the night, and I also shared my family’s experience. Roshini Rajkumar, the Mistress of Ceremonies, interviewed me onstage about my platform:

Roshini interviews me about my platform onstage

I’m already looking forward to the Colon Cancer Coalition‘s upcoming events–an art benefit on December 4th and the Twin Cities Get Your Rear in Gear 5K on May 16th! The Coalition does amazing work to help prevent colon cancer in Minnesota, raising funds to increase awareness and screening and overseeing the “Get Your Rear in Gear” 5K races around the country. What an amazing organization! I’m thrilled to volunteer for them throughout the year.

The benefit concert would not have been successful without the work of Avril Jones, president of the non-profit business Maverick Championz, who organized the event. Avril started the business to encourage her daughters and youth to give back to their community. A huge THANK YOU to Avril, as well as to my sponsors at Corepower Yoga for donating a month’s worth of yoga classes to the event’s silent auction!

I also attended two sessions focused on increasing colon cancer screening rates and improving public awareness and education. I can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned to my upcoming colon cancer prevention activities!

With Kristin Tabor, President of the Colon Cancer Coalition, and Matt Flory from the American Cancer Society

With Kristin Tabor, President of the Colon Cancer Coalition