shirts

The cutest graphic right? This is a photo of my girls and me wearing the t-shirts. Would you like one? Simply let me know! I have some to share. They are made in the USA, organic cotton and screen-printed locally in San Juan Capistrano. It's a win, win. Let's hope for a win on June 5th! Yes on 29.

know

image from here

++

I started this little blog on March 1st soon after I found out about Prop 29. Strangely enough it was soon after I started this blog that my friend Kelli told me about Mackin Ink blog.

And friends, please start reading her writing now. It will move you to do good.

++

Cancer has affected a handful of people in my life. Our family and our friends. It was a no brainer for me to want to vote Yes for a cure. And I believe in it so much I made a graphic, started a blog and screen printed t-shirts.

I realize not everyone has watched someone fight the cancer battle. So, if that is you please read this post by Karey Mackin. You will know what it is like. Keep the tissues handy. And after you finish please resolve to share with more people about your desire to find a cure by voting Yes on prop 29.

plant

If you missed planting a tree for this past Earth Day (Sunday), do this now! I found it through Pinterest and have included a direct link and how-to here. Happy Saturday!

4.0

A fact about Prop 29 to take you into the weekend...

Opposition to Yes on 29 will try to convince voters that the funding made from Prop 29 ($500 million/annually) will not stay within the state.

The truth is in paragraph two and three of the ballot initiative. Funding will stat "in California" and actually go to California's top universities for research opportunities in the effort to find a cure for cancer. Read the full article here.

Hope everyone has a  happy weekend. Five weeks left until the primaries on June 5th!

beauty

image from pinterest

Yes on 29 will make the state of California a more beautiful place. Less smoke? Less second-hand smoke? A possible cure for cancer? It's beautiful to even think about.

noise

image from pinterest

I have a few t-shirts to share with anyone/everyone that will "make some noise" and share Yes on 29. Our friend is a screen printer and they turned out fabulous! It has my favorite logo on it:) I will share a picture of it on so you can get a feel of the fit and sizing. If you would like a t-shirt, please let me know! I will send one your way.

[Chanting] Yes on 29! Yes on 29! Yes on 29!

kevin

 

It is time for another Hero in our series. It has taken me a little while to write this one because Kevin is one of our favorite friends. Anyone that knows him might just say they are Kevin's "best friend." He made you feel that way at least.

We spent last Easter with him and his family. They invited us over for every Christmas Eve and 4th of July we lived in San Clemente. One of my daughter's favorite memories is ice blocking a few days before Christmas with my husband and Kevin. He is a man that makes you want to be better. We think of him often and my girls know that when we say Work Hard, Play Harder..it originates with Kevin.

He fought a strong fight against cancer last year and passed away on September 20, 2011.

When I asked his wife Abby if I could include him in the Hero series, she agreed quickly without any objections. She even said Kevin would surely be honored to link himself with a higher tax on cigarettes:) You would maybe need to know Kevin and his unadultered humor to understand why that made me laugh out loud.

Vote Yes on 29. Vote for a cure.

lighten

Perfect for a Monday post, yes? I received a discouraging comment on Yes on 29 Facebook page yesterday. Someone who decided to post simply to make an uneducated statement regarding Prop 29. The good news is that it only fuels my obsession with this proposition more. It is truly a fight against Goliath. Tobacco companies are spending another $13 million in television ads for the next two weeks. All meant to defeat Prop 29. To keep their product (that kills) at a lower price to make our state weak.

I came across this quote (below) on Pinterest and thought it could very well be applied to Yes on 29:

Don't be discouraged at seemingly overwhelming odds in your desire to live and to help others live God's commandments. At times it may seem like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember, David did win.

 

David B. Haight

pancake

A recipe for you that makes a great weekend brunch! From William-Sonoma kitchen:

A fresh cheese with a slightly sweet flavor, ricotta is produced from whey drained off while making other cheeses, such as mozzarella and provolone. It lends a delicate texture to these melt-in-your-mouth pancakes. Serve with raspberry sauce, if desired (see related recipe at left).
Ingredients:

1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup milk
3 eggs, separated
1/4 cup sugar
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 Tbs. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk together the ricotta, milk, egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest and juice until smooth. Sift together the flour, baking powder and 1/8 tsp. of the salt over the ricotta mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.

In another large bowl, using a whisk, beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the remaining 1/8 tsp. salt and continue beating until soft peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, fold one-third of the egg whites into the ricotta mixture, then gently fold in the remaining whites.

Preheat a griddle over medium heat. Spray the griddle with nonstick cooking spray. Ladle 1/3 cup batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Cook until bubbles form on top and the pancakes are golden underneath, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook for 1 minute more. Transfer to a warmed plate. Repeat with the remaining batter. Makes 12 to 14 pancakes.

run

I got back last week from Boston where I was running the marathon. It was a scorching 89 degrees while running 26.2 (going in the Guiness Book of World Records!), but maybe that is why it was even more inspiring. At the expo there was a huge white board that was plastered along the course. Families could write notes and inspirational messages. I found above the note my family left me.

Running for my wife...to find a Cure

It is a stark reality out there. Lives need to be saved. Please vote Yes on 29 and if you are reading this blog, I will assume you are going to. Now we just need to help spread the why. $500 million/annually will be given each year to cancer research. This amount comes from a very simple $1 tax increase on a pack of cigarettes.

california

I do not meet to share this in a pompous sort of way. I thought it was a great illustration of how California can lead the country in an incredible effort to save lives.

With the $500 million annually that a yes vote on Prop 29 will create, a cure for cancer is within reach. And obviously what will be developed in California will be available to the entire nation. The ripple effect will be HUGE. Pass this information on, please!

relate

Sorry for missing three days last week. We were traveling on vacation as a family of four. My daughter had spring break and we went to the east coast for some fun. While it rained in California all week, the entire East coast experienced a record heat wave! It was an unexpected delight. (While I was packing, the weather said 60's and t-storms so I packed our rain gear:)

So I am back on board and ready more than ever to continue sharing why one should vote Yes on 29. I had a hugely inspiring weekend and will share details tomorrow.

For now, if you don't know someone who has ever been affected by cancer please simply try to RELATE to the family or friends of someone who has.

And vote yes on 29 for them.

actions

Yes on 29.

3.0

Fact number three about prop 29: The funding for cancer research is not short-changing education funding. It is an entirely separate initiative from any regarding education.

And in fact! Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson and the California PTA are strong supporters Prop 29!

If you hear that Prop 29 is taking money away from education, know that it was a lie created by Big Tobacco.

I have two little girls. I am ALL for education and funding to create smaller classrooms, advances in technology and first-rate teachers. Prop 29 does not take away from education. The funding from $1 on a pack of cigarettes actually goes right to California top universities. A cure is a cure. I hope my girls know cancer as nothing else if not curable.

emerging

I could not figure out how to embed this video. Please, please watch it here. From Tobacco Free California.

smarts

Did you know that only 12% of Californians actually smoke? So Prop 29 should be an easy win right? Sadly it hasn't been the case.

Big Tobacco just spent another $13 million for television ads through the end of April. They will begin spreading their lies, telling Californians that while a cure would be great, we cannot afford another tax.

The truth is, unless you smoke you will never feel the ramifications of the $1 tax.

The other truth is that even if you don't smoke, every Californian will be affected by the health costs smoking creates. Healthcare is one part of it. Second hand smoke is another.

Let's create a healthier state for our children. Let's leave behind a state that is better off for them to learn, survive and grow in.

#yeson29

five

Good music to take you into the weekend. My friend Kelli shared Noah and the whale with me. Listen to it, and play it for your Saturday morning.

A prize will go out to the person that figures out why I am sharing 5 Years Time on the Yes on 29 blog. Leave a comment if you know.

I am hoping everyone is enjoying some Spring weather and has a Happy Easter! We will be celebrating my daughter's 6th birthday so it is sure to be filled with cake, ice cream and multiple egg hunts.

gym

I thought this was a clever cartoon.

*from The New Yorker

lose

quote + image from this tumblr

++

I cannot fathom losing more loved ones to cancer. If you feel the same way, please vote Yes on 29. Saying YES means you support the research and funding to find a cure.

At the same time, a Yes vote puts a stop to any preventable smoking-related diseases. It is  empowering for me to take a minute and email (or blog, tweet, post) about Yes on 29. It makes a clear statement to tobacco companies that I want to live in a world where tobacco is not.

view

Californians for a Cure released this new video today. I think it is poignant and heartfelt.

It's true, Big Tobacco companies will be spending millions of dollars to defeat this initiative. They already spent 12 million dollars in two weeks alone of TV ads.

The funding for cancer research comes solely from the $1 tax increase on every pack of cigarettes sold. It is estimated that with the tax increase, $500 million will be made and go directly to cancer research every year.

Prop 29 will save lives. By researching a cure and also (hopefully!) keeping people away from cigarettes completely.

sides

State and federal taxpayers pay upwards to $612/year for smoking related expenses. It is high time we raise the price on cigarettes. Raise the price for those that smoke, keep future generations away from it and put the additional tax increase directly to cancer research.

Reminder! One will only feel the affects of this increased tax if you buy a pack of cigarettes.

Over the weekend I was talking to my dad about the Yes on 29. As an international businessman he flies often. He told me stories of years ago, as soon as the airplane reached high enough altitude at least 1/3 of the flight would light a cigarette.

Gasp. I can't even imagine that now. We are lucky we don't have to.

Let us take the steps and cast our vote for Yes on 29. Raise the price on a pack of cigarettes by $1 and create a healthier state altogether.

lottery

Did you get into the $640 million lottery over the weekend? I am not a gambler, but the media pulled me in and I spent $2 on tickets for my husband and self. If nothing else it was fun to watch people discuss how they would spend it were they to win...

This was my first time ever in a liquor store to buy my first ever lotto ticket. And what did I find?! Gah! A No on 29.

Did you know the funding for the opposition is all coming from Big Tobacco companies and convenience stores namely AM/PM and 7-Eleven (among others).

Yes on 29 is supported by Livestrong, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, American Heart Association and Stand Up to Cancer (among others).

Which side are you on?

conference

I spent much of this weekend listening and watching the LDS Annual General Conference. One of my favorite Sunday's out of the year.

I was also reminded of a quote from one of the leaders of my church. In the talk Waiting on the Road to Damascus Dieter F. Uchtdorf says,  

My dear young friends, perhaps the Lord’s encouragement to “open [your] mouths” might today include “use your hands” to blog and text message the gospel to all the world! 

This is certainly applicable to Yes on 29 in order to beat the Tobacco industry. Please pass it on.