Tina in the Pink!

Come Learn Green Juicing With Me!

2011-12-11T13:12:00.008+14:00

Green Juicing has been such a powerful force in my breast cancer healing journey. I love what it has done for me on every level imaginable. Because of my passion for Green Juicing, I actually wrote a book and have also started offering a very easy to follow juicing program called:

THE JUICING EXPERIENCE

It is truly awesome and is a deal at $67...you get 6 videos, my Juice Yourself Healthy book and some beautiful bonuses, including my exclusive interview with Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach, about my healing journey with raw/living foods, AND a self-care guide that will rock your world with hot tips from 12 experts!

As a three time breast cancer survivor, I have been through the trenches baby, and as a result, I have a lot of great information to share with you, no matter where you are on your wellness path!

FOR YOU!

As a friend of this long-time blog, I am offering a one-time Holiday Offer of 10% off The Juicing Experience program. This is my gift to you....but, it will expire promptly on December 24, 2011 so click on over now and put in coupon code INTHEPINK2011. This is for my loyal readers of this blog only...thanks for being here!

Start a Green Juicing program during the holiday season?

You bet luv.

FDA Guidelines a Perversion of Congressional Intent

2011-07-13T16:51:00.007+14:00

The FDA is trying to turn a simple notification system for new supplements into a totally arbitrary approval system.

Let’s tell the FDA that supplements are not drugs and ask Congress for help!

Click HERE to (easily) send a letter (all set up for you) to your Congressmen (hint: once in corresponding post through this link, click on the second sentence in the article to go to the letter template).

Do it for your health and your loved ones.

Green Juice!

2011-07-08T12:55:00.005+14:00

Want to learn more about green juicing? Stay tuned for my Juicing Book out soon! Sign up for the newsletter to get first notification of it at www.tinapruitt.com.

Also, come on by my Facebook page - The Lifestyler - and give it a "Like"!

Six Minutes to Success

2011-06-22T13:22:00.003+14:00

I recently had the privilege to meet and hear Bob Proctor (was in the movie, "The Secret") for 2 mesmerizing hours. Absolutely life-changing! And I just found out he is gifting some free videos for everyone to check out...click here and listen to his powerful message!

This is your chance to upgrade your relationships, your business, your personal growth....your life!

I highly recommend hooking up with Bob Proctor...check out his free videos now - click here.

7 Mean 'n' Green Foods You Need to Consider Eating!

2011-06-22T13:09:00.004+14:00

Check out the free program you can get on my website at www.tinapruitt.com! "Eat Yourself Healthy | 7 Mean 'n' Green Foods to Rejuvenate Your Body From The Inside Out!'

My "Juice Yourself Healthy" program will be out in a few short weeks! This is a must-read to get on the road to achieving successful weight loss, glowing skin, optimal health and overall clarity and creativity! You will love what juicing does for your body and your life!

Check it out...the website is being completed now, but the free gift is ready to go, just for you....www.tinapruitt.com.

In Health,

Tina

Try It On Your Mobile!

2011-06-22T13:07:00.001+14:00

This blog is now viewable on your mobile device!!! Give it a try!

xo, Tina

Cancer Anniversary or "Cancerversary"

2011-03-28T13:31:00.005+14:00

I recently passed/celebrated my first cancer diagnosis date of March 15, 2007. Rather a strange date since I have had two diagnosis since! And to have a surgery on March 17, 2011, was another strange way to celebrate - although, it is wonderful to say NO RESIDUAL CANCER CELLS FOUND! Yippee!

Thanks to my friend, Jack Campbell, for remembering and wishing me Happy Cancer Anniversary.

Benefiting from Holistic Treatments

2011-03-12T08:38:00.009+14:00

Aside from breast cancer, there are also patients suffering from another disease that are benefitting from an adequate, raw diet and active lifestyle. With mesothelioma, we have a disease that benefits greatly from holistic, alternative treatments when some traditional treatments have been proven ineffective. Like patients suffering from breast cancer, those exhibiting mesothelioma symptoms have also found tremendous benefits by supporting the body’s natural ability to heal and fight disease by adopting treatments that improve energy, attitude and nutrition. By taking into account all aspects of their health, those diagnosed with a difficult disease can find effective treatments by adopting a new course of health management that does not focus on the presence of cancer to the exclusion of other important issues.

Although mesothelioma is not a disease proven to be brought on by poor nutrition, the diet of a patient is an important aspect of battling the disease. As noted, a good diet will likely not prevent cancer from occurring; however there are undoubtedly a great number of positives to a patient that is living on a raw diet.

For a mesothelioma patient, fresh fruits and vegetables should be the bulk of the diet, as well as buying only organic foods and taking in fluids that are generally high in vitamins such as certain juices. This will not only help the patient’s body to function properly, but also in fighting the diseases. The intake of these types of food will also help the body get antioxidants, which can be of great assistance in avoiding diseases and maintaining good health. These antioxidants get into the body and prevent oxidation of other molecules, working as a scavenger to help remove free radicals that can sometimes destroy our cell structure.

One of the most important factors in this disease is the latency period. This is the gap between when the patient is first exposed to asbestos fibers and the time of development of the disease. This period can sometimes be one of the longest as far as diseases go and last for nearly fifty years. During this time, symptoms of the disease may not be seen for decades after exposure.

This period is important because diagnosis can often be confused with other diseases and be relatively unfamiliar to patients. Living a positive and active lifestyle can be a huge factor in the morale and outlook for many different patients, but specifically important when it comes to those diagnosed with mesothelioma. As you can see, it can be just as much as a mental struggle as a physical struggle.

This is another reason that a raw diet can be particularly crucial and beneficial, as overcoming the latency period is a primary factor in mesothelioma life expectancy. Health and nutrition are also playing a large part in the treatment of these patients. Other main factors are quite common in overall health, such as age, type of mesothelioma, and smoking. Smoking is a key, as it can reduce life expectancy even in cases of people with good general health.

With some high intensity treatments being introduced to help fight the disease, both nutrition and overall health are also very important in the sense that without either, the ability to receive the best treatment is impossible. This is where maintaining a physical and active lifestyle during the latency period is also a key. With many patients being diagnosed at an older age, strength is often an issue when it comes to treatment. With a number of new treatments, coupled with a rise in overall life expectancy in the next twenty years, doctors are hoping to improve the outlook for patients.

Through this we can learn that a good, raw diet and active lifestyle is doing wonders to not only help patients of specific diseases such as breast cancer, but is also helping victims of other diseases improve their life expectancy and overall health.

- By Guest Blogger, Krista Peterson

Krista is an aspiring writer from the University of Central Florida. She is a Health & Safety Advocate with a passion for the health and wellness of others, and uses her writings to spread awareness of such issues. Krista can be reached via email at: krista.peterson925@gmail.com

My Guest Post on Kris Carr's Site Today!

2010-12-24T07:41:00.004+14:00

Hey everyone! I am the Guest Blogger on Kris Carr's site today and would LOVE it if you would stop by, give it a read, and leave a comment there too!! YAY!

CLICK HERE - The Quick and Easy Way I Helped My Kid Cut Dairy | Crazy Sexy Life

Photo credit: Dov Harrington

Need Your Votes by Tuesday, Nov 30th!

2010-11-27T16:49:00.004+14:00

Hi Dear Friends,

I am up for consideration to be a speaker at the Fitness and Health Bloggers Conference in Boulder CO, June 2011, along with one of my friends. We are listed as Lisa Consiglio Ryan of Whole Health Designs, and Tina Pruitt | The Healthy Lifestylist (that's me)!!!

WE BOTH NEED YOUR "VOTES" on their SURVEY for their CONTENT SESSIONS!

The direct link to the survey is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CJ2TYJD

We are both in the last category for FITNESS and HEALTH - Look for our names next to the brief synopsis they provided about our topic (Lisa is 8th one down and I am the last one, or 12th).

We are BOTH eligible to go, so please VOTE FOR BOTH OF US at the same time....we would love to be there together sharing out mojo with everyone!

The voting will only take 30 seconds or less - no kidding! So please help out and give us a shout! Voting ends Tuesday, November 30th!

Thanks everyone!
live big*love big*eat green stuff,
Tina

2010-11-07T17:53:00.001+14:00

I'm goin' to Rich Happy & Hot Live in NYC this week ~ Yahoo!! rhhbschool ~ You can go too, game/life changing! http://tinyurl.com/rhhnyc

2010-11-07T17:25:00.001+14:00

Do u get 7-13 fruits or veggies a day? Start juicing & you will. Studies show F & V's signficantly reduce your risk of disease & slow aging.

Awesome Calendar for 2011

2010-11-04T15:14:00.003+14:00

Click here to check out Raw Beauty 2011.

2010-10-27T15:31:00.001+14:00

Sending out a great big HI to everyone! Sign up for my upcoming newsletter & FREE GIFT at www.tinapruitt.com ~ Big LOVE!

HRT - Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

2010-10-21T03:01:00.005+14:00

An excerpt from an article on CNN Health, October 19, 2010...

A study published in Journal of the American Medical Association confirms that postmenopausal women who take combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are at an increased risk of dying from breast cancer.

"Women on combined hormone therapy with estrogen plus progestin were twice as likely to die from breast cancer compared to women receiving placebo," says medical oncologist and study author Dr. Rowan Chlebowski.

To read more, click here...

For an alternative, click here...

The Organic Alternative

2010-08-23T04:54:00.002+14:00

Paul Grebliunas / Getty Images

Read the TIME article here - The Organic Alternative

The picture of this farmer spraying pesticide on strawberries should be alarming to us all.....this is what you are ingesting unless you are buying organic. They are suggesting in the article that you can really wash your produce well....but, what about the pesticide that the plant absorbs??

Yes, dear friends, you are ingesting that too....

Robert Cheeke, The Vegan Bodybuilder!

2010-08-17T04:57:00.000+14:00

If you get an opportunity to hear Robert Cheeke speak, definitely make the effort as he is GREAT! He was recently in N. VA, and was super informative and down to earth. Check out his webpage here and his book is also excellent for those of you interested in a hot bod! (Uh-yea, I think that is all of us!)

Online Business Building - Are you Rich, Happy & Hot?

2010-08-13T09:18:00.005+14:00

Love these girls - check them out if you have any business and want to make more money!

They have a great 8 week program coming up - but you must hurry and sign up before Monday, August 16th! Check out the free stuff by clicking on the link below. If you like the free stuff, can you imagine what the course will be like?

Go now girlfriend!

My Next Read!

2010-06-04T19:13:00.003+14:00

Knockout: Interviews with Doctors Who Are Curing Cancer--And How to Prevent Getting It in the First Place

This is highly recommended, has gotten good reviews, and I look forward to reading it myself!

Get Healthy and Beautiful - Go For Alkalinity

2010-05-06T05:59:00.003+14:00

I have been saying and following this for a few years now, and just came across this great, inspiring quick video about it with some girlfriends! Check it out - here!

To Your Health,
Tina!

Raw Food Panel Discussion, April 25, 2010

2010-04-26T20:14:00.003+14:00

I participated on a raw food panel and the discussion was about "Raw Transformations". I, of course, spoke about my cancer journey and how it intertwined with my unplanned raw food journey. It was also nice to share (for those without a health challenge) that I have also effortlessly lost 15 pounds since last March. Everyone's story was wonderful and inspiring...

It was an interesting Sunday afternoon to say the least and I am very grateful that I was able to tell my story and perhaps provide somebody with some inspiration to improve their own personal journey in some way. Here is a picture of the four panelists...

Carol, Doug, Tina (me), and Donna

Thoughtful Riley

2010-04-24T14:10:00.000+14:00

Love this photo I took of Riley the day he purchased his own Wii with his (7th) birthday money. He looks so contemplative and yet so at peace. I love it in black and white, and wanted to share it with you all. My baby.

Happy Easter - April 4, 2010

2010-04-05T15:08:00.003+14:00

Riley at the Braden's House

Riley and Mommy at The Iron Bridge for Brunch

Daddy and Riley at The Iron Bridge for Brunch

Riley and Mommy

GREEN DRINKS!

2010-03-27T02:59:00.005+14:00

I have been asked over and over what my current daily drinks consists of, so I thought I would go ahead and get back into posting a bit on my blog. Please know that I am leaving all the previous posts on this blog concerning my various daily regimens over the past 3 years, but none of them mirror what I do now, after my Hippocrates Health Institute visit in November 2009.

So, here is my daily green juice regimen - 3 green drinks a day. Also, at least 1 wheatgrass shot a day (should be 2).

One green drink in the morning (simple):

12-16 oz cucumbers
very alkalizing

Two afternoon drinks:

12-16 oz each
Cucumbers, celery, garlic, ginger, and then whatever I have on hand like chard, broccoli, kale, etc - eventually I will get a twin gear juicer and will add sunflower sprouts. I also add green algae (E3Live) to the midday green juice.

Surprisingly, these take hunger away and really satisfy you! They are sooooo good for your body!

Slurp it up baby!

Three Year CanServersary!

2010-03-15T19:48:00.002+14:00

Today, March 15, 2010, is my three year canServersary for my initial breast cancer diagnosis. I celebrated by just yelling out into the universe, "It's my 3 year anniversary if anyone cares!"...I did get two responses back from the family of two - "WE DO!"

That was all I needed to make the day all good - no more no less.

New Year's Eve 2010

2010-01-01T15:50:00.003+14:00

Here is a photo of the girls at the Johnson's home...it was great to spend a bit of time chatting it up!

Riley's Holiday Concert 2009

2009-12-17T22:50:00.001+14:00

Riley and Mommy at the Rainbow Station Christmas Concert. Riley was in two performances where they sang songs. The last song the whole school performed by singing and signing...very, very lovely. This was December 17, 2009.

Riley and Santa 2009!

2009-12-12T18:06:00.000+14:00

Graduation Day at Hippocrates!

2009-11-27T21:42:00.002+14:00

Gretchen, Cindy, Tina (me) and Jane on November 27, 2009 at Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach FL.

What a life changing experience.

Parents at Hippocrates!

2009-11-21T17:46:00.002+14:00

Mom and Dad come to visit me at HHI on November 21, 2009 - very nice!

DVD Ya Gotta See....

2009-10-19T17:01:00.000+14:00

If you have cancer, have someone you love that has cancer, have a history of cancer in your family, want to know what to do if you are diagnosed with cancer, or just want to be educated on how NOT to get cancer, then this 2 hour DVD is for you....

Healing Cancer From Inside Out by Mike Anderson.

Wow.

Also, The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health
is a must read....

Thanks to Linda for sharing this with me...

Bone Scan, MRI, and CT Scans....Oh My!

2009-10-19T16:26:00.001+14:00

Whew! I have been mighty busy in October with all kinds of tests since they took out a small nodule (thought to be a sebaceous cysts) and found some cancer cells. Damn. Apparently, this is classified as a local recurrence, which is fairly rare in bilat mast cases (like me). I guess this makes me a two-time cancer survivor (that sucks), BUT - GOOD NEWS! All the tests have resulted in clean, beautiful results! YIPPEE! I have one more test to do (just added on), but will be waiting until January I think. Spread the finances a bit, ya know?!

As part of my wellness plan, I will be going to the Hippocrates Health Institute in the near future.

Anyway, just sending an update that I am feeling great and moving forward!

Hugs, Tina

This is Riley and I at the "Mom Prom" on 10/18/2009!

Good Thoughts Worth Sharing

2009-08-20T02:18:00.006+14:00

A dear friend, Patty L, sent me the following in an email - I LOVE IT!! So much so, that I am posting it here for you to read as well. It is lengthy, but so wonderful in its wisdom. Enjoy.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends & parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. The 2nd one is up to you & no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In 5 years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything
.28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.32. Believe in miracles.
33. People love you because of who you are.
34. Don't audit life. Show up & make the most of it now.
35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up & show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Thanks Regina for your wisdom and insight!

Note: Not sure where/what #45 is/was!

Inspiration ~ Where Does Yours Come From?

2009-08-14T03:01:00.005+14:00

Where does your inspiration come from? Books, movies, teleseminars, co-workers, daydreaming, your child(ren), a world leader, the sky, the ocean, the internet, your own mind....

And...is it enough?

My "Typical Day" Changes Again

2009-08-13T17:05:00.005+14:00

Yep, as expected, the daily regime gets tweaked again.... After seeing Tonya Zavasta in June, I have been practicing what she does and that is - no evening meal. This is an interesting concept and she has lots practical reasons and research behind the practice. I know I have felt much better and sleep wonderfully. The couple of nights that I have eaten something in the evening, I find my sleep is terribly interrupted. Perhaps I am just more in tune with that now...

If you get a chance to see Tonya speak live, or to read on of her books, you should do so. Very intelligent (advanced degrees in engineering and mathematics), very funny, and an ambassador for how living foods can change your life and make you look healthy and vibrant while giving you superior health. She faced health challenges all her life and is now the picture of health and beauty - and at age 51, she made the cover of Get Fresh magazine - WOW!

Tonya and Tina

Anyway, this post really wasn't intended to promote Tonya (although I love her), but rather to say, that we must keep tweaking our lifestyle to support our bodies/minds in achieving and maintaining superior health and vibrancy! Get the glow baby!

Hugs, Tina
xoxo

My Newly "Rawganized" Kitchen

2009-07-27T19:13:00.004+14:00

Yes, the name is probably a bit silly for most, but the transformation I have made in my kitchen is astounding! I took Karen Knowler's course, "Let's Get Rawganized" and one of the components of the 5 week course was to clean out and reorganize your kitchen from top to bottom. It entailed cleaning out all your cabinets, fridge, freezer, etc - all at once!

It took me 19 hours over 2 days and I still didn't get all my dish cupboards done! However, I did get all the right side of the kitchen completed (and some of the left), all of the pantry, fridge, and freezer too! Everything scrubbed, things tossed or donated, and everything reorganized into "workstations"!

Wa-la! Gorgeous, if I do say so myself!

Surprisingly, this clean-out was more far reaching than just the obvious in the actual kitchen....it is very uplifting on many other levels....rather an addictive feeling, I must say!

A Typical Day (Menu) in the Life of Tina

2009-06-10T01:00:00.012+14:00

Hello all you Wellness Warriors!

I have been asked quite frequently lately what a "regular days menu" looks like for me. I am honored at your requests and thank you so much for the lovely comments/emails I have been receiving lately. You are all very special for sharing/reaching out and I am very glad to share what I know works for me with you. I am thrilled to say that I am in excellent health and have been cancer free for over 2 years. See my earlier post here about some of the other changes I have incorporated into my new lifestyle (some of these have been tweaked a bit). I have never felt better in my life. Wellness is my daily goal in all that I do. It can be for you too - whether you are a cancer cowgirl/boy or not! Shouldn't all of us have the wellness goal to be healthy and happy for as long as possible?! I say YES!

Please remember that this is a typical day for me right now (warm weather). Also note that most, if not all, of what I eat is organic. See bottom of this post for more information about pesticides and the link to cancer and other health issues.

Morning:
Upon rising:
32 oz water with juice of 1 lemon / 1 tsp of MSM powder
4-6 oz wheatgrass (Sweet Wheat)
I take my supplements with my water - DIM, Calcium/Magnesium, B-Complex

Green smoothie in the a.m. - this concoction varies, but overall here is what it looks like lately:

1 banana
1 citrus (usually orange that I just cut skin off of and leave as much pith as possible)
1 fresh or frozen dark berry (blueberry, strawberry, cherry, blackberry, raspberry) or a combination - usually 1/2 - 1 cup or so...I like frozen simply because it makes my drink cold
1 green leafy item (large handful of spinach or 2-3 kale leaves generally)
1- 1.5 Tbs flax oil
1 tsp spirulina
1.5 teas to 1 Tbsp coconut butter
Small handful of cacao nibs
Sometimes 1/2 cucumber
Sometimes 1-2 Tbsp brown rice protein powder (only rice product I intake)

If it tastes too green, add more water, 1/4 of lemon (skin included), or 1/2 cucumber. Again, this smoothie will vary with what I have on-hand, but above is pretty typical...today I did all those ingredients except the rice protein, and I also added some fresh strawberries and blueberries along with a little frozen mango. Keep trying new things! My smoothies are rarely identical day-to-day.

Workout:
Monday through Thursday I workout before lunch. This is usually cardio warm-up followed by strength training. I try to switch that up and do only yoga on Wednesday, but that is not static. I try to walk or do other activities Friday - Sunday.

Lunch:

Avocado
Tomato
Red or Yellow Pepper
Romaine Lettuce
Herby seasoning (can use Spike, etc)
Olive Oil /Balsamic or Braggs Vinaigrette
I either have a large salad or cut the veggies up and roll them in romaine leaves as a "wrap".

Snacks (I usually have 2-4 snacks daily, just depends on rest of day):

Almonds/Goji Berries
Apple
Carrots
Red Pepper
I try to have at least one cup of organic non-caff green tea each day - usually in the morning at work.
Sometimes I get on a real "salt snack" kick and when I do nothing feel more satisfying to me that a bowl of organic popcorn made with organic olive oil or coconut oil and Herby seasoning. It is my "vice" for "feel good" food. Now you know!!

Dinner:
I generally have a salad, blended soup, or zucchini "pasta" with spaghetti sauce.

Why Organic?
Eliminating foods that are non-organic is a good decision all the way around....here is a great article about "Why Organic?".

In addition to the wonderful reasons listed in that post, the one on top of the list for me personally is to reduce / eliminate the pesticide and chemicals that infiltrate my body. Most pesticides have the chemical structure of estrogen and, when ingested, provoke a weak estrogenic effect on our systems - add this to other provokers of estrogen in our body (plastics, etc), and it is a formula for disaster for anyone, but especially for men and women with estrogen positive cancers (like me) such as (most) breast and prostate cancers. Here is an interesting article about the connection of pesticides and cancer. There are a ton more...again, do your research and educate yourself!

Komen Race in DC

2009-06-06T21:49:00.002+14:00

I am late in getting these posted, but here are some awesome pics from June 6, 2009!

Face Painting and the DC Komen Race For the Cure - What?!

2009-06-06T07:29:00.008+14:00

Okay, so what do you think about this face painting design for tomorrow's 5K race? I thought I might as well combine the two activities I am currently involved in, right? So, here is a design I came up with yesterday - enjoy!

This one.....

Or, this one....??!!!

Or this one, which is kinda like the one right above, but since no hat, there is more embellishment on forehead. Also, some additional eye detail.

Komen 5K This Saturday, June 6, 2009 - Join Me!

2009-06-03T14:13:00.006+14:00

Hi friends and family!

As you know, the Komen Global Race for the Cure is the only "pink" fundraising I personally do for breast cancer support. The Komen organization simply does too many good things for so many people in our area - and beyond - and I feel it is very important.

Up to 75 percent of the money raised by the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure stays in the D.C. area to fund screening, treatment and education programs through the National Capital Area Grant Program. The remaining dollars support the Global Promise Fund, reaching underserved people in areas where breast cancer mortality rates are the highest.

If you would like to support me, please visit my page here. Any donation amount is appreciated.

As you may recall, I walked just 5 weeks after my surgery in 2007 and then ran it in 2008. As info, this year will be a run/walk. Sending hugs to each and every one of you and thanks for supporting me for the 3rd year as a survivor (5th year as a participant).

Hugs, Tina

What a Blast!

2009-05-30T14:29:00.002+14:00

The Face and Body International Convention in Orlando in May 2009 was amazing. I met lots of wonderful and talented people and had my creativity sparked! Wow! Check me out! I was painted by Nick Wolfe of the Wolfe Brothers, Evil Twin FX.

Face Painting!

2009-05-08T04:06:00.005+14:00

Hi there,

Just a quick note to say hello and to share my newest crazy interest ~ FACE PAINTING! I started a few weeks ago - before Riley's birthday - and really feel a connection with it. So, in my usual form, I have a couple classes set up in May to learn more. I am anxious to see where this journey will take me! With my entertainment background in dancing and at Disney, I know this has a side to it that I have always found so interesting... performing, being creative, and being "on stage". So, it may just be something I do for fun and on occasion or.... ya just never know!

Hugs, Tina

April 2009

2009-04-27T04:28:00.006+14:00

Hello to all my wonderful friends and family,

This year has been so remarkably busy and full of new experiences for me that updating my blog has taken a backseat, and for this I apologize. I have been deciding how to break up all the wonderful things I would like to share and am rather struggling with it. I want to keep my personal "tinainthepink" cancer blog for those who follow it for cancer inspiration, and yet I want to blog about current things I am involved with like raw food, yoga, reading the Tao Te Ching, organizing parties/events....I think that I have come up with a solution. I will attempt to post once a week on this blog with something that is either personal (photos, etc) or health related. I will also be putting more energy in getting my "other" site live. I have been attending lots of classes and reading lots of material in anticipation of getting this site up and running, so I am looking forward to making that happen. Stick with me through this bumpy part! I have also posted some new pics for your viewing pleasure (remember, these are the "personal" photos that so many of you have come to expect and request), so be sure to check them out!

Hugs, Tina

Happy 6th Birthday Riley!

2009-04-19T05:19:00.001+14:00

We love you Riley!

April 19, 2009 (party date)

Earth Day Bunco Girls!

2009-04-09T22:45:00.000+14:00

I had to share this photo of the girls at the Earth Day Bunco I had at my house in April 2009. It was great fun and a very relaxing evening with great friends.

March 2009 Update - Pinkie and Hip

2009-03-01T05:05:00.002+14:00

So, I have been continuing to go the hand specialist for my pinkie. It is really looking great and he is quite pleased with the progress....now, I am supposed to be massaging it to work out the very hard lump of scar tissue. This is something everyone should know...use Vitamin E and massage your scar and/or scar tissue every day. This works wonders!

Along with seeing that doc, I also saw another doc in the same firm for my (continued) hip pain. I brought in my August bone scans and they a few more x-rays as well. All is good. He said he was giving me a "big dose of reassurance" that everything was okay. I guess he thought I was concerned about cancer, but at that point, I really wasn't!! I just want to find out why I keep having this pain in my left hip - especially after I run/walk vigorously. They ruled out arthritis issues as well and indicated it must just be muscular tissues that have been injured and are slow to heal. Okay, so no cancer or arthritis....that is all good, but it is still disturbing that no one can tell me the 'real deal'.

Anyway, speaking of bone scans...I got all my August images on CD and they are super cool to look at! It is my whole body in a skeletal view....awesome!

Can it Really Be February Already?

2009-02-11T03:35:00.007+14:00

Wow, I have so much going on that I am not sure where to even begin!

Okay first, I have decided to delve into the world of raw food coaching! I have found this way of eating to be such a positive influence in my life - physically, mentally, psychologically and even spiritually - that I feel compelled to "pass it on". To share. To inspire. I am in the process of building a new webpage and welcome any and all suggestions! The name of my passion is "Positively In The Raw" and the site is located at http://www.positivelyintheraw.com/. If you go there now, you will only see that it is under construction, but please bookmark it for future reference! Also, please sign up for my mailing list (at right) for updates and notifications of the release. I would LOVE to hear your input on that site, or anything for that matter, and you can either leave them here as a comment or send to my email address (also located in right, at the very bottom).

Second, which is also tied in to my above project, is that I will be taking Karen Knowler's Raw Food Coaching course and am part of the Raw Professionals Network! How exciting is that? Karen is known worldwide as The Raw Food Coach, so this is very exciting.

Third, I have been relying on wonderful dehydrated creations by other dear folks for over a year now, but I now have my own fabulous Excalibur 9-tray dehydrator....how exciting is that?! I can tell you that I am anxiously awaiting kale chips! Now, you may be asking, "why anxiously awaiting", "why aren't you already enjoying them child"....okay well, that brings me to another incident in my life...

I recently cut my pinky (pretty badly) on the mandoline. (For the non-kitchen types, that is a slicing board, similar to a V-Slicer, that you slide food across to cut it.) Ouch. Not sure what happened though, since the zucchini I was slicing was still about 5 inches long. I remember my hands were wet and the next thing I knew I was holding my hand with lots of blood around. Then the ER. Two days later, the regular doc. Then 4 days later, at my 6 month follow-up with my general surgeon (breast cancer), she took a look at it and gave me the name of a hand surgeon "just in case". He believes that it will okay with probably some slight nerve damage. It should heal over though and look like "normal" in about 3 months....yep - THREE MONTHS! Oh well, it's all good....my nail wasn't affected and my finger is still attached.

Okay, so back to those kale chips....until my hand heals a little more I will have to hold off on making a lot of raw creations, darnit! But, I will keep you posted on the progress of the finger and my dehydrating....I am sure you are just on the edge of your seat, right?

So, all-in-all it has been a busy 2009 so far and I look forward to eveything this year brings. Very exciting things. Very exciting times. I am blessed that you are all here for the ride.

ps - my 6 month appointment went well and she has no indication I require any tests. I will be seeing an orthopedic for my hand as well as for the discomfort I continue to have in my left hip area (see this post for previous details).

Big Ouchie!

But, it's all good!

Riley's Message About Exercising

2009-01-18T04:19:00.004+14:00

A MUST VIEW!

This is Riley's message about exercise and why it is important. This was totally from his heart and unrehearsed...love it!

Riley is my 5 year old son.

January 2009 - Happy Belated New Year!

2009-01-17T15:23:00.001+14:00

Wow, it has been over a month since I have blogged here. It appears that Happy New Year wishes are in order. Wow! This past month+ has been quite busy and since I have been updating a few other sites as well I guess I just lost track that this one site idle for that period of time! Apologies to any of you wonderful folks - family, friends, or welcome visitors - that have been stopping by and wondering what the heck happened!!!

Many of you probably know about our holiday site, but in case you don't and you would like to check out our holiday fun...click here.

I have been working diligently on strength training and, specifically, reducing body fat. In a six week period from Thanksgiving to the beginning of Jan, I was able to reduce my body fat by over 3%. It is continuing to trend down (yes, I am keeping track of it on a trend chart) so I am very thrilled with the results. Still have much to do, but every day is new day!

I have also started taking some supplements as a result of reading a book called, "From Belly Fat to Belly Flat". Many of them I really should have been taking all along - DIM (improve estrogen metabolism), Calcium-D Glucarate (promotes detoxification process and supports hormonal balance), and B-Complex Vitamins to name a few. You can read more here.

That's it for now...don't want to over-do it right out of the box!

Hugs, Tina

ps - I promise to do a better job about blogging!

Riley on New Year's Day...one cool dude.

January Bunco Photos!

2009-01-08T22:42:00.000+14:00

Just thought I would share a couple photos from January Bunco - the girls!

Carolyn, Me, Lisa and Debbie at January 2009 Bunco!

The Whole Crew! By the way, the theme was "Wild Animals"!

Eat (or Juice) Your Broccoli!

2008-12-08T14:51:00.005+14:00

More evidence that broccoli is good for you - click here for a December 2008 article from Science Daily.

If you are wanting to prevent cancer, or are battling cancer then you will want to take a moment to read this article.

The Science Daily site has a lot more great article to check out, here is another great one about broccoli and cancer prevention.

To Your Health!
Tina

Santa - December 4, 2008

2008-12-05T17:48:00.006+14:00

Santa and Riley!

So What Exactly Is MSM?

2008-11-29T10:46:00.005+14:00

Here is a recent post from one Fabulous Gal, Jane, and I wanted to share it here. This is "all hers" and I thought some of you would really enjoy it and definitely get some benefit from it. She has given me permission to reprint it here:

Here is how I start my day everyday..... (from juicefeasting.com)

Once your feet hit the floor, the first thing you should be looking for (other than the toilet if you need to pee) is WATER.

Start every day with one quart of water with 1/2 lemon squeezed in, and between 1/2 tsp and 2 Tablespoons of MSM powder, depending on what your tolerance is (the way to know is by taste and whether you get the runs... MSM has no toxicity level, however, so there are no worries other than the runs...)

Why water? We are 90% water when we are born, and by the time most of us die, we are about 50-60% water. As we dehydrate, our tissues become toxic and stiffen. Nutrients are not properly assimilated, and toxic matter does not leave our cells and lymphatic fluid in a timely manner. Our blood thickens. Brain function is compromised. Do you know what a hangover is? Dehydration. Most westerners are dehydrated every day of their lives, waking up agitated and groggy, and thinking that another dehydrating agent, coffee, is going to get them going. It will only kick you further down. Water is your best energizer in the morning, and that is why we are training you now to develop as a life practice drinking 1 quart of water each morning. Drinking water will wake up your mind, hydrate your tissues (reducing chronic pain), and some water will go down to your bowel to help you eliminate the waste matter accumulated during the night, so that you do not carry it around during the day and re-assimilate old fecal material back into your system, giving you more problems... This is something you will learn much more about on Days 33 and 34 of the Juice Feasting Program.

Now, in that quart of water you are adding another hydrator, lemon juice. Citrus is a hydrogen concentrator, and the element hydrogen hydrates. Lemon is also fairly high in Vitamin C, and that brings us to our next morning water element, MSM.

MSM is a sulfur compound, and sulfur is the third most prevalent mineral in the body. It just so happens that MSM breaks up scar tissue, reduces inflammation better than any anti-inflammatory drug out there, and has no side effects (other than the runs if you take more than your body knows how to use). A therapeutic amount of MSM is over 3 Tablespoons a day, but for most of us, the body will need to learn how to use MSM before we can reach that amount.

MSM is potentiated, or made more bioavailable (and therefore effective) in your body, when combined with Vitamin C. Also, the lemon in your water will soften the taste of the MSM, which will take a few days to get used to. Just start with a low amount as mentioned above, and move up as your body and tastebuds adjust.

This is a life practice that you are developing: 1 Quart of water, 1/2 Lemon, and 1 Tablespoon of MSM.

Thanks Jane ~ Good Stuff!

Toga Couples Bunco!

2008-11-15T12:02:00.002+14:00

Here are a couple pictures of a very fun Couples Bunco - Toga Style! The Crew!
The Girls!

Virginia Wine Tour - Nov 9 , 2008

2008-11-09T21:07:00.002+14:00

These are just a few of the pictures from the Wine Tour we took on November 9th to celebrate the Carroll's 30th Anniversary with them. What a super great fun day!

~Cheers~

The Gang at Rappahannock Winery!

The Girls at Rappanhannock!

Jack and Tina at Barrel Oak Winery - Love this fireplace!

The Girls at Marterella Winery with the owner!

ps - here was our ride!

Raw Food Meetup - November 2, 2008

2008-11-04T17:46:00.009+14:00

What a great raw potluck at the Java Green Eco Cafe in DC!! We had great food and two demos -
one by Eve with her handy-dandy Vita-Mix,
and the other with Sandy doing Kefir!
Yummy stuff! Steph and Tina - I won the Door Prize (Sun Fire Salt)!

Fabulous Produce!

Eve with her wonderful presentation!

Halloween 2008

2008-10-31T22:54:00.000+14:00

This is Riley and Mommy (me) on the Jumping Pillow at Riley's school after the Halloween party - talk about the ultimate rebounder!!! Too much fun! Riley in his astronaut costume jump, jump, jumping!
Riley Trick-or-Treating at Papa George and Ms. Sarah's house!
Riley posing with Papa George!

Halloween Dinner - October 25, 2008

2008-10-25T18:16:00.001+14:00

This was a scream! A Halloween wine-tasting and dinner at La Grange Winery - what a fun time. The chef was fabulous and was able to accomodate my raw food menu - how divine!

Count Jack and Countess Tina

Scary Count Jack

My superb entree - wow! And the dessert was wonderful!

The scary crew for sure - Tina, Chris, Lisa and Jack!

East Coast Raw Spirit Festival Meetup - October 22, 2008

2008-10-22T18:01:00.004+14:00

This is me (Tina) with Happy Oasis, the and Chief Visionary Officer of Raw Spirit Festival. This meeting was to begin the process to bring a Raw Spirit Festival to the East Coast - YES, DC! - in August 2009. WOO-HOO!

Tina, Happy and Sunflower Pate on Endive (my creation!)

International Gold Cup Races - Oct 18th

2008-10-18T21:02:00.007+14:00

As excerpt from the International Gold Cup Races website says: "On October 18th, 2008, 35,000 spectators will gather at Great Meadow near The Plains, Virginia, to celebrate the 71st running of the International Gold Cup Races presented by Porsche. This event will provide a full day of entertainment including a Porsche Classic car display, seven nationally sanctioned races, Terrier and Pony Races."

So here are some of my photos to share with all of you - what a fabulous day!

The Girls in Their Hats! The Guys in the Girl's Hats!
Ms. Lisa
Ms. Debbie
Ms. Tina (me!)
The Buffet! (my raw spaghetti is in cooler!)
The Girls!
The Horses! (yes, we were on the rail!)
Teresa and Chris!
The Judge and Rob!

Ahhhh, what a fantastic time!

Check out more about the race at http://www.vagoldcup.com/main.cfm

Blog Action Day 2008 - Topic: Poverty

2008-10-15T00:00:00.005+14:00

As a participant in the Blog Action Day 2008, I am submitting information with regard to the worldwide topic of poverty. The intent is to make this topic relevant to your particular blog. Everyone in the world participating in this event will be posting something that has to do with poverty on this same day, October 15, 2008. Since my blog deals with breast cancer, I thought it would be helpful to pass along information on low-cost or free mammograms. In addition to this information, I am also sharing a particularly helpful list that I ask each of you to check out - 88 Ways to DO Something About Poverty Right Now.

Now for the list of low-cost or free mammograms:

Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at (888) 842-6355 or visit their Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/. Appointments for free and low-cost mammograms is limited, so it is best to make your appointments early in the year.

- excerpt from wiki.answers.com

If you do not have health insurance...
· Call your local chapter of the American Cancer Society ("ACS" number in your phone book) or the national toll-free number, 1-800-ACS-2345. The ACS will be able to tell you about any low-cost or free mammography programs offering screening to women unable to pay for it themselves.
· Call your State Department of Health (number in your phone book). Every state now has a Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This program offers screening to qualifying women unable to pay for it themselves.
· Call the YWCA's ENCOREplus Program for access to low-cost or free mammograms. To find which YWCA facilities offer this service and if you are eligible, call 1-800-95EPLUS or your local YWCA.
· Call the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-CANCER for the names of FDA-certified, accredited mammography facilities in your area. If you explain your financial situation, some mammography facilities are willing to work out a lower fee or payment schedule that will make the test more affordable. Ask the facility if they are willing to discuss these options with you.
· October of each year is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and many mammography facilities offer special fees and extended hours during this month. If you are unable to schedule a mammogram another time of year, you may wish to call in September to reserve an appointment.

- excerpt from http://www.breasthealthonline.org/

Peace and abundance to us all, Tina

Anchorage Again!

2008-10-09T16:56:00.002+14:00

October 9, 2008 This is me getting ready to leave the Anchorage Airport - yes, it is snowing! This picture looks surprising similar to the previous post from last January!

Organic Restaurant in Seattle

2008-10-06T17:02:00.003+14:00

October 6, 2008 Well, this is me in my new t-shirt from One Lucky Duck (NY Establishment) at The Chaco Canyon Restaurant in Seattle. They have delicious food both for the raw foodist and not! Yummy stuff - ate 3 meals from here and 2 desserts from here!!

NYC Posse Meetup - September 28, 2008

2008-09-29T16:49:00.002+14:00

Went to NYC for the Posse Meetup which included a kick-butt yoga class (wow, was that a sweaty one), a raw food lunch, and speaker Kris Carr (along with a book signing of her latest!). What a fabulous day - can't wait for the next one!

me and kris carr

me and jenny

janae and kris

tina at one lucky duck (raw food takeout)

Lifestyle Changes and Products Used

2008-09-22T15:31:00.005+14:00

I am asking increasingly more what I eat and/or what products I use. After sending an email that was rather lengthy, I decided to simply post it here for any and all to peruse.

I use Dr. Bronners liquid soap in shower and pure organic coconut oil (food section) for afterwards as lotion. Sometimes I may use organic Sesame Oil.

I use Burt's Bees peppermint face soap.

I use Giovanni organic shampoo, conditioner and hair spray.

I use Crystal deodorant (roll-on, pink lid).

For face makeup, I use a brand called Real Purity for all face products - makeup and face lotion. I really like it and I like getting their little one dollar samples to try out. That is how I bought everything - trying a sample first. Once in a while I will use Logona or Burt's Bee lip stuff.

I use Seventh Generation detergent for laundry. I also use their dish soap and dishwasher liquid.

I use some of Mrs. Meyers cleaning products and a couple of Method products (wood floor stuff).

No candles anymore - other than an occasional tea candle. No bug spray, no air fresheners, no perfumes in house.

Bamboo cutting board and knife that is used exclusively for vegan products.

All organic fruit, veggies, seeds and nuts. All organic products period. All vegan.
Nothing out of a can. Nothing microwaved.
No wheat. No sugar. No sodas. No packaged/processed food with man-made ingredients. No caffeine. No heating/cooking of food at all.

No drugs. At all. No pain relievers, no aspirin. No nothing. THAT is another big reason I eat the way I do. I no longer suffer from sinus headaches (had severe ones on a weekly/daily basis). I no longer suffer from cramps. It is amazing.

Filtered water only. No plastic water bottles at all - filtered water from fridge into SIGG container. At work, I will obtain my water from the large water cooler containers.

Limit plastic as much as possible - I have bought a lot of glass containers. Even for work, I take almost exclusively glass.

Besides water, the first thing I intake every morning is an 8 oz wheatgrass drink (Sheldon Farms freeze dried organic).

Next, I drink a green smoothie every morning which includes:
1 green leafy item (large handful of spinach or 5-6 kale leaves generally)
1 cucumber if I have one
1 banana
1 citrus (usually orange that I just cut skin off of and leave as much pith as possible)
1 frozen dark berry (blueberry, strawberry, cherry, blackberry, raspberry) or a combination - usually 1/2 - 1 cup or so
Tbs flax oil
3 Tbs hemp seeds
1 tsp spirulina
Sometimes I add a Tbsp coconut butter and/or 1-2 Tbsp brown rice protein powder (only rice product I intake)
If it tastes too green, add more water, a bit of lemon juice, or more cucumber

On some workdays, I just started eating organic oatmeal with 2 Tbsp of ground flaxseed, with a few raisins and walnuts. I have experimented with other supplemental items in it, but am paring it down to just flaxseed, raisins and walnuts,

Lunch is generally either a salad, veggie wrap (either in romaine leaf or Ezekiel sprouted wrap), or sunflower seed pate with veggies or wrap.

After workout, I try to have a shake with a banana, water, agave syrup and 1 Tbsp of brown rice protein powder (only rice product I intake)

Snacks are either fruit or veggie - try to have it with a protein source (nuts, seeds, nut butter).

Dinner is generally a salad, blended soup, or zucchini "pasta" with spaghetti sauce.

I try to have at least one cup of organic non-caff green tea each day.

I try not to eat anything after 6pm, but that often slips past just a bit.

Water, water, water.

Strength training 3-4 times a week.
Cardio 3-5 times a week.

I know to some this may all sound difficult or stringent, but I am addicted to wellness so I find all of this a no-brainer!!

I have said it often and will repeat it here - if you were given a "magic pill" to feel, think and look better, wouldn't you take it? If the "magic pill" was simply just eating and drinking what your body needs and craves anyway doesn't that sound pretty easy? It really is.

Just take one day at a time and try it. Add a little more whole foods to your life each day.

You can do it. You will love it.

Eat your veggies baby!
Tina

Riley's First Day of Kindergarten!

2008-09-02T15:47:00.000+14:00

Big Boy Breakfast!

Riley!

Riley and Daddy!

Riley and Mrs. Martin!

Happy September 2008!

2008-09-02T15:16:00.001+14:00

Well, another milestone! I passed my one year anniversary of the implant surgery - surgery #2. Wow, I cannot believe how fast this year went by - so, so amazing. Big love to you all!

I just finished watching StandUp2Cancer - very inspiring. I have put a link to the right if you would like to learn more and how you can support it.

Riley started kindergarten on Tuesday and is loving it. He isn't loving not having a nap and was pretty much exhausted each night this week. He looks so grown-up and so sweet. Love it!

I have "upped" my exercise and eating habits this past week, but feel much more stressed about work and related events than I should. I can physically feel the stress in my body...gotta focus on releasing the stress better/more than I have been.

Lastly, still no home pc. That is why updates - and photos - have dried up considerably of late. But, be patient!

Bone Results - FINALLY!

2008-08-21T04:33:00.005+14:00

Good news - no, GREAT news!

All is normal with my bone scan - hips, pelvic, kidneys, skeletal from cranium to phalanges - all is good, clean and normal!!!

WOO-HOO!!!

Finally, I was able to get the results from my bone scan two weeks ago - so thanks to all of you who were thinking of me and saying prayers - Love ya!

Bone Scan Tomorrow

2008-08-06T14:47:00.002+14:00

I had x-rays taken last week to take a look at my left hip joint since it has been causing me pain since I "trained" for the Komen Race for the Cure 5K in May 2008. Due to the chronic nature of this discomfort (which varies at times to mildly annoying to real zingers), they opted for an x-ray to look for arthritis, avascular somethin', somethin', or cancer. Breast cancer.

Good news was that the films were normal! Yippee! However, they want to do a bone scan (tomorrow) and gave me the option if I wanted to have it performed. Duh, of course I will. Well...I am all for it, except for the radioactive material they have to inject me with - how do you detox from that??!

Anyway, I have placed some links at right under Tina's Hot (Pink) Spots about bone scans and other medical tests/treatments - the top two links are new.

Be well,
Tina

Happy Birthday Jack!

2008-07-29T14:18:00.000+14:00

Conventional or Alternative Medicine?

2008-07-25T18:22:00.006+14:00

It is a hard decision, but you should be proud of yourself for knowing to ask the question at all.

We all have a different path in life, both in wellness and in illness, yet we still can and do walk together. You must collect as much information as you can and make the best decision you can for yourself. Some will choose to do conventional medicine only, some prefer conventional and alternative, some only alternative...only you know what your commitment level is and what course you are comfortable with taking. Embrace your decision and do not second guess it. Ever.

This is another reminder that life is full of decisions and therefore inherent risks. The best part? You will be loved no matter what you decide to do.

Be well,
Tina

Riley - My Artist

2008-07-09T16:46:00.002+14:00

The beautiful art of Riley, 5 years old. Note the wonderful, warm sun and the super aircraft. He even labled each of us with the initial of our first name, and signed it "Love Riley" (well sort of). I will post more soon... Artist - Riley, Age 5, July 2008

2008-07-04T05:25:00.005+14:00

Happy Fourth of July to you all!

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

(actual photo from Friday night "at home" fireworks, thanks Brian!)

God Bless America!

Florida Vacation - June 2008

2008-07-01T16:27:00.009+14:00

Riley on North Florida Beach...maybe Crescent Beach?

Another shot of same beach with me and Riley...

Lexi, Princess and RileyThe Pruitt/Campbell Clan (minus Randy, Deana and Cindy)

Randy and Me
Jack and Riley at New Smyrna Beach

Jack, Riley and "Bruce" at Epcot
The Campbell family and Piglet!
Jack, Riley and me in dinosaur fossil pit at Animal Kingdom.
Buzz, Riley and Mommy at the Magic Kingdom
One of my favorites...this is Riley on the Haunted Mansion ride - he is literally smashed behind our arms on his own accord. Too cute...

Riley giving a thumbs up with his new astronaut friend!

Father's Day 2008!

2008-06-15T13:03:00.004+14:00

A big shout out to my dad, and all the wonderful dads, for Father's Day! You are great and I just want to say thanks. The first thing that comes to mind is that my dad taught me to always look for the good in people, even when they may not deserve it - thanks!

Love ya and have a great day, Tina

Tina (me) and my Daddy - circa 1964

National Race for the Cure - June 7, 2008, Washington DC

2008-06-09T16:27:00.010+14:00

June 7th 2008 - This was the day of the National Race for the Cure in DC. What a fabulous (and quite warm!) day! I was part of the Postal Team at HQs and due to the wonderful support of friends and family was able to raise a total of $1375 for the event - thanks everyone!

A small group of friends, along with Jack and Riley, made the foggy trek into the nation's capitol for the 5K walk at 6am. As it turned out, Lisa, Chris and I ran the event and made it to the finish line in about 39 minutes. It was blazing by the time we finished due to the humidity.

Then, the staff in the Survivor's Tent asked me to participate in the "Best Costume" because of my t-shirt and guess what??!! I came in second place! What a hoot! I also had more pictures taken of my chest (and back) than I have ever had in my life...too funny. I handed out some little cards with my blog address, so if any of you lovely ladies are checking this out - hello to you!!!

So I have posted some photos for your viewing pleasure!

Oprah Does Green Smoothies!

2008-06-06T04:26:00.002+14:00

Check out Oprah's site for a great smoothie recipe that Dr. Oz makes for breakfast: Oprah With Dr. Oz's Green Smoothie. I have also posted an excerpt below.

This is the Oprah show that Kris Carr is part of also. Kris is the author of Crazy, Sexy Cancer and also of the documentary with the same name that airs on TLC. She is an awesome person who has had a tremendous impact on so many people. Check out my archive for September 2007 when I met her at her first book signing in VA!

An excerpt from 0prah.com:

"What's in Dr. Oz's green drink?

* 2 cups spinach
* 2 cups cucumber
* 1 head of celery
* 1/2 inch or teaspoon ginger root
* 1 bunch parsley
* 2 apples
* Juice of 1 lime
* Juice of 1/2 lemon

After everything is combined in a blender, this recipe makes 28 to 30 ounces—about three to four servings. Oprah takes a sip and is pleasantly surprised. "It's a glass of fresh," she says."

I love that - A Glass Of Fresh.

Check It Out - Today I Won the Tim Ferris Editing Competition!

2008-05-21T18:22:00.000+14:00

Tim Ferris, the author of the NY Times bestseller The 4-Hour Workweek recently had an editing competition for his book because he plans to publish an “expanded and updated edition in 2008 or early 2009". So I came, I read (again because I love it), and I edited - and guess what?! I got an email today - I won the editing competition! How cool is that? I get roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the world, my name in the Acknowledgement section of the new edition, and help with planning the "mini-retirement" (that is what he calls trips). Wow, wow, wow. The announcement is at the end of his blog post today: The Blog of Tim Ferris.

I am certainly doing the happy dance today!

Fake what?

2008-05-19T16:34:00.005+14:00

Well, after some time I decided

to design a t-shirt that says it all:

fake?

of course they are fake! the real ones tried to kill me!

I know the audience is limited for this tee - and thank goodness

for that - but I just had to do it.

I plan on wearing mine at the

National Komen Race for the Cure on June 7th!

See box at right to order...

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-12T05:45:00.004+14:00

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and all the other wonderful moms in the world. It is a big job and I just want to say thanks to my Mom for all the intangible gifts you have given - they really are the best!

Love and hugs,
Tina

Randy, Mommy, and Tina (me) circa 1964

Cafe Gratitude

2008-05-11T16:20:00.001+14:00

I recently came across a recommendation for a book called I Am Grateful by Terces Engelhart and Orchid. Wow, what a great book and insight into the lifestyle of the abundant couple, Terces and Matthew. This book includes recipes from their San Francisco based cafes, along with lifestyle tidbits. I love the names of the dishes on their menu and in the book, such as "I Am Passionate", I Am Ravishing", and "I Am Grace". Isn't that fabulous? When you order your food in the restaurant you ask for them by this name and when your server brings them to you they proclaim as the are sitting down your desired dish that "You Are Passionate", "You Are Ravishing", and "You Are Grace". I love that.

Prior to the epiphany of the cafe concept, they came up with a board game called The Abounding River that, based on my reading, explores the mind/eye opening experience of how abundant we all really are. They also have a workbook to further encourage that way of thinking, and ultimately of living that lifestyle. The illustrations throughout the game, workbook,and their cafes are by artist Frank Riccio and are awesome. After developing the board game and book, the idea came to Terces and Matthew to open a cafe serving plant based foods that would continue to uplift and inspire, and from what I have seen, I think they have succeeded. It is uplifting to read about it all in their book and on their website: www.cafegratitude.com.

They have several awesome cafes in the San Francisco area, which just makes me want to go out there for a raw cuisine visit even more. My mouth waters as I read through the recipes - "I am Hoping" to be able to enjoy their abundance in the future. Thanks to two more people striving to make a positive impact in the world!

Meet Up in NYC - Campbell's Were Absent

2008-05-08T17:30:00.006+14:00

Okay, so Jack and I weren't able to go to NYC for the meetup with Kris Carr and the Crazy Sexy group this past weekend like I wanted - but I felt like we were there in spirit. We were completely bummed, but that is the way it turned out.

It is such a bummer to get laid off. What a contrast...in the same week I get a 25 year federal service pin* and Jack gets a severance package. Have a nice day.

All is good though. We went out to play tennis tonight, or should I say hit some balls around. I actually could hit a tennis ball. This is pretty big news. I have been working hard on my strength and I think it is paying off.

Hugs to all,
Tina

*What?! Can you believe that? And yes, I REALLY did start out as a teenager!
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Let's Talk Straws for a Minute

2008-04-28T20:06:00.001+14:00

Plastic straws made with petroleum are so yucky for the environment and potentially you, especially if you drink hot fluids from them. Please, if you do continue to use them STOP using them for hot stuff. Double yucky.

For alternatives, the following links are for "better" straws for you and the environment:

For biodegradable straws made from corn (only for cold drink) - these work great!:
Green Home
Green Earth Office Supply
World Centric

or for (very cool) Glass Straws that you can use for hot or cold:
Living Nutrition

Slurp it up!
Tina

RILEY'S 5th BIRTHDAY!

2008-04-20T20:18:00.003+14:00

April 20, 2008

The Whole Birthday Gang! A Present from Memaw
Riley and Patrick

Riley in his new Booster Carseat!

(he is so practical in his gift selections!)
Riley and Mommy putting the candles on the cake!The following two photos were taken by Jonah's Mommy, Mia - very cool!

Riley's School Birthday Party!

2008-04-20T09:57:00.003+14:00

Riley and Mommy at his school birthday party!

Friday, April 18, 2008

5K Walk - The Black-Eyed P's!

2008-04-16T17:03:00.001+14:00

April 16, 2008 Postal Stampede - 5K Walk on the National Mall

Here we are, the Black Eyed P's. Yes, that is a black eye we all have and yes, that is a "P" on our shirts. Get it? It's funny, folks.

Photo - My Cutie Patootie

2008-04-12T10:07:00.003+14:00

Thursday, April 10, 2008 My cutie-patootie!

April 1, 2008 - Nats New Ball Park

2008-04-06T20:22:00.007+14:00

Here are some pictures of our recent tour of the Nationals new ball park!

This is in the dugout!

Jack and Riley in the bullpen!

Riley on the plate in the bullpen!

March 31, 2008

2008-04-01T20:44:00.000+14:00

Leigh Ann and I before her Confirmation!Congratulations!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

2008-03-26T17:15:00.003+14:00

Random Thoughts I recently shared with Jack:

I think we get a taste of the meaning of life when we are faced with a situation of immediate and/or intense fear - diagnosis of suspicious lump, a catastrophe, etc ...it is that moment of pure clarity that has so much life vitality. If I could bottle that feeling it would be the most wonderful gift I could ever give to anyone. The goal would be to live with that feeling right in front of you as often as possible. I can only describe the clarity like this - for brief moments you give yourself to the universe, everything feels connected, and anything seems possible.

The majority of us move through life with mediocrity - that's not to say we are unhappy with our lives, but it is to say humans tend to only do what needs to be done instead of making our dreams possible.

- Tina (me), March 19, 2008

Did You See the Article About Me?

2008-03-18T15:47:00.007+14:00

Hi all,

In case you didn't see me in the Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine, here is the link to the article about Me!

Tina in the Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine!

I am bringing this to everyone's attention because the lovely author and President of St. Conti Communications, Donna St. Jean Conti, was honored this month as a member of the team that produces the magazine. The Missouri Association of Publications (MAP) awarded the fall 2007 issue of Breast Cancer Wellness magazine the 2007 Dan Ranly Award for “Best Issue” in the consumer category.

The St. Conti Communications News Release says, "Breast Cancer Wellness is a division of ONE Health Institute, an IRS qualified 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit foundation (ONE Health Institute). The mission of Breast Cancer Wellness is to help empower the healing journeys of breast cancer patients and survivors by providing education and support how the mind, body and spirit affects the overall well-being of a person. Breast Cancer Wellness provides the only free magazine in the country for breast cancer patients and survivors that embraces holistic health and wellness."

The magazines link is: Breast Cancer Wellness.

Congratulations Donna!

St. Patrick's Day Wishes and Otherwise

2008-03-17T08:30:00.009+14:00

Happy (early) St. Patty's Day!

Waking (late) on this glorious Sunday morning! My smoothie this morning was fresh young coconut water (right from the shell), 2 fresh organic mangoes, frozen organic strawberries and raspberries, 4 Tbs hemp protein powder, whole vanilla bean, and an organic banana! Yum, keeps me going for hours! Lunch was a superb kale salad with red peppers and pine nuts doused in lemon, olive oil, and sea salt (left over from the annual St Patty's Day party last night!) - yummy!

Yesterday was my "official" one year anniversary. I meant to get up to the jewelers and get a a new Pandora Charm for myself, but time got away from me...perhaps tomorrow!

Here's to another exceptionally green St. Patrick's Day to all!
Tina

March 13, 2008

2008-03-14T16:38:00.001+14:00

Easter Greetings!

March 11, 2008

2008-03-13T15:37:00.001+14:00

Me and my baby (yes, he got his bangs cut tonight). We went on a field trip today to see the Butterfly Exhibit at the Smithsonian!

Celebration!

2008-03-08T12:00:00.003+14:00

Happy CAN-ceversary!

One Year Cancer Survivor!

Please share in my celebration this week and leave a comment here!

March 7, 2008

2008-03-07T18:34:00.000+14:00

Happy Friday All,

Well, I just had my one year appointment with the surgeon that gave me my diagnosis last year (Edmiston), and all is good. All is fabulous! In one week I will be technically be considered a "One Year Cancer Survivor"! Wow, I can't believe all this craziness started a whole year ago. Oh, the mountains we can climb. And it is amazing what you can see when you get closer to the top.

Love and green veggies!
Tina

ps - Interesting - she said with a smile that it was time to "get on with life", and I replied with a smile, "oh yea". But of course, I did "get on with life" beginning March 15, 2007. And the climb continues...

March 4, 2008

2008-03-05T16:26:00.004+14:00

Wow, what a month this has been....cruise, surgery, work, reading, getting energized to make some life changes, reading, enjoying family life, making edit suggestions to 4-Hour Workweek book, joining up with a patient advocacy group, volunteering to be the webmaster of a non-profit group, working out, trying to find more time to whip up some new raw recipes, producing a 1000+ photo presentation....whew, the list goes on. I love it.

Stayin' raw (but are you eating your greens?),
Tina

February 14, 2008 - Bunco!

2008-02-14T19:15:00.001+14:00

What a great group shot of the Bunco Girls! I had to share it on this blog!

February 10, 2008

2008-02-10T14:31:00.000+14:00

Here is my sweetie, Riley John, blowing bubbles on the deck!

February 9, 2008

2008-02-09T14:27:00.001+14:00

In Old San Juan, Puerto Rico!

Jack and Tina at the Bacardi Rum Distillery - Very Interesting!