Walk to Cure Diabetes

Last weekend I participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk to Cure Diabetes at Kings Island in Cincinnati. I participated to support my co-worker, Ana Guzman, in her 20th year having Diabetes. Thanks to my wonderful family and friends, I was able to surpass my fundraising goal! We had a great time for a great cause! I thought about people in my family who have diabetes and walked for them too.

Diabetes is a growing epidemic in our country, especially among youth. Here are some shocking facts about diabetes (as taken from the American Diabetes Association):

Total: 23.6 million children and adults in the United States—7.8% of the population—have diabetes.

Diagnosed: 17.9 million people

Undiagnosed: 5.7 million people

Pre-diabetes: 57 million people

New Cases: 1.6 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older each year.

Under 20 years of age: 186,300, or 0.22% of all people in this age group have diabetes

About one in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes.

2 million adolescents (or 1 in 6 overweight adolescents) aged 12-19 have pre-diabetes.

To find a walk near you, visit The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes website.

Mother Daughter Weekend

This weekend I got to spend some quality time with my mom - the one and only Debbie Dodd! She came down to see my furnished apartment and spend some time in my new neighborhood. We had a great time on what she called her "mini vacation!"

Deb arrived Friday evening and we walked over to Main Street for happy hour at Cock N Bull English Pub. We then went over to the Strass Haus and listened to a live band. We attempted to compete in a "hillbilly" dancing contest and suffered a bitter loss. ;)

On Saturday morning I made us breakfast - eggs, toast, fruit, and mimosas! We decided to do some exploring and browsed Julie's Inspiration Consignment Shop on Main Street where I found this amazing vintage cuff bracelet! It's a great conversation piece. Apparently the late owner's grandson brought in the bracelet and is president of an art museum downtown! His grandmother owned some very unique pieces - they are sold soon after he brings them into the shop!

We ventured over to the Florence Antique Mall but were informed it was closing in five minutes as we walked through the door! We decided Old Time Pottery would suffice and headed across the street where I found an eye-catching wall fixture and a lamp that was perfectly suited for my living room.

All that shopping had made us hungry so we had dinner at our favorite restaurant - Don Pablos! We went out to some bars in MainStrasse again that night and came home to play with Photo Booth on my Mac. :)

Sunday we went to see the romantic comedy Valentine's Day at Newport on the Levee before Deb made her way back to Columbus.

It was nice to spend one-on-one time with my mom. We both still struggle with me being on my own and away from home. She is an amazing woman and I am very fortunate to have her in my life!

Home Sweet Home -- Finally!

My lack of blog dedication has been downright embarrassing the past few months. I thought my new "urban living" lifestyle would make a good pick-up point!

I have moved into an apartment in the heart of downtown Covington, KY -- an eclectic little district called MainStrasse. German for "Main Street," MainStrasse pleasantly reminds me of German Village back in my hometown of Columbus, OH. The Main Street is lined with bars, restaurants and shops each with unique personality. The village has a variety of German festivals and community events throughout the year such as Mardi Gras, antique sales, wine festivals and farmers markets (to name a few)!

I have thus far checked out Cosmo's, Cock-N-Bull, Rosie's Tavern and Chez Nora. I ate at Chez Nora last week with my dad, who happened to be in town on business and wanted to treat his newly-independent daughter to a good meal! We split the famous Chez Nora crab cakes as an appetizer, my dad had the Half Amish Chicken and I had the Black and Bleu Chicken Pasta (sautéed Cajun chicken breast, portabella mushrooms, artichokes and red onions tossed in a gorgonzola cream sauce topped with prosciutto ham -- yum!) It was all delicious! I definitely recommend this spot for out of town guests, an intimate date or after-work happy hour. Half-price wine on Tuesdays and nightly live music on the rooftop terrace bar make for a great evening!

Stay tuned as I explore more places in my new neighborhood!

Blog Action Day '09: Climate Change

Today is Blog Action Day, where thousands of bloggers around the world are coming together to promote one cause: climate change. It's time to face the imminent and devastating facts on which scientists unequivocally agree. While I am not the most informed source on climate change, I have done my research. This post will cover some basic points from how climate change impacts our daily life to how we can reduce our carbon footprint.

Global warming is literally hanging over the world like the proverbial dark cloud. In one sentence, global warming is "an increase in the earth's atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution" (merriamwebster.com.) Polluting emissions come from human activities such as cars and power plants. The combustion of fossil fuels causes atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) that are at a level unequaled for at least 800,000 years.

"A global climate change agreement is necessary so that we can limit the negative man-made effects on the climate system for future generations" (en.cop15.dk.) This agreement is the aim of the United Nations Climate Change Conference ("COP15") scheduled for December 2009. All eyes will be these world leaders as they attempt to reduce emissions in a seriously political way. You can access COP15 updates on facebook, twitter and youtube.

Climate Change in Our Daily Lives

While reading the Center for American Progress's Top 100 Effects of Global Warming, I was shocked by the mass amount of cultural landmarks, foods and animals we take for granted that will be eliminated by global warming. This list is definitely worth reading!

What Can YOU Do?

It's easy to calculate your carbon footprint and find ways to balance your impact. Conservation International's carbon calculator evaluates your lifestyle and natural product consumption in a quick and comprehensive way.

Thanks to Kids vs. Global Warming, here's a list of simple daily actions you can individually take to combat global warming:

:: Invest in alternative energy (instead of supporting power companies that fuel global warming.)

:: Hang-dry your clothes. (Household appliances like dryers hog energy.)

:: Recycle.

:: Eat locally-grown foods.

:: Refuse plastic bottles. (Last year it took 1.5 million barrels of oil to make them.)

:: Plant trees. (Trees actually decrease CO2 levels.)

:: Use LEDS or compact florescent light bulbs (instead of regular light bulbs that waste tons of energy.)


That's the end of my Climate Change 101. Thanks to all who made Blog Action Day possible.

Networking -- UD Style

"It's all about who you know." Last night I attended the University of Dayton Business Connect (Columbus) networking event with my friend Liz. As we walked into the Capital University Law School classroom, I instantly felt that familiar, community-like vibe that only UD students experience. Hors d'œuvre, beverages and easy conversation made for a wonderful evening with fellow Flyer alumni - young and old.

Shawn Beem '97, the associate director of professional development at Capital University Law School, made a presentation called "Back To Basics" regarding bare-boned issues relevant to the job market. He mainly spoke about LinkedIn. In case you've not heard of LinkedIn yet:

"LinkedIn is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified professionals that you need to work with to accomplish your goals" (linkedin.com.)

I am already aggressively using LinkedIn for employment seeking efforts, but learned a few tips I will share:

:: When inviting someone to connect with you, do not use the generic "I'd like to add you to my network." Instead, write a nice note indicating who you are and why you would like to connect. Personalization will distinguish you and ensure your trustworthiness.

:: Use a professional photo, "not one with an arm slung around your shoulder."

:: Use your existing connections to connect with others. In other words, say, "I see you're connected with ____ at company X. Can I use you as a reference or ask you to kindly introduce me to him?"


[Not pertaining to LinkedIn, but still noteworthy]

::After you've applied for a position, DO follow up with the hiring manager (duh.) Beem gave an example of a person who applied for a finance position and finally thought to call the company to see where they were in the hiring process. The HR rep. said, "Good thing you called, we're starting to interview but received 1400 applications! Why don't you come down for an interview?"

:: A unique cover letter, resume and follow-up will be your advantage. Exude creativity in your cover letter and do NOT address it with, "To Whom it May Concern." Find a real person within the company!


Overall, I was glad I attended the event and am excited for the next one! Darren Nealy, the Columbus UD Chapter president, mentioned he always looks for an alumni group when traveling across the country. He has watched Flyer basketball with alumni in Seattle and networked in Virginia.

Employment status: I currently have some things brewing, we shall see what happens!

Cheers.

Easy Pumpkin-Walnut Muffins

I tend to blog about pressing matters, and this recipe just couldn't wait (enter sarcasm!) In the spirit of Fall, I decided to bake some pumpkin treats. This recipe is cheap, quick and condusive to those lacking even intermediate cooking skills.

:Ingredients
1 package pumpkin bread mix (I used Giant Eagle brand.)
2 eggs
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon

:Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine ingredients (except walnuts) in mixing bowl and stir until smooth. Fold in walnuts. Pour batter into greased 15 x 11, 12-cup muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown edges appear.
Outcome = success! The walnuts added texture and a savory surprise to the sweet & spicy muffins. I brought them to the office today and they received raving reviews from people ranging in ages 1 to 50! ;)

These muffins can be enjoyed as an afternoon snack or post-meal dessert, and will fill your house with a festive Fall aroma! (Wow, can I be any more "Miss Good Housekeeping?!")


Side note: I prefer the term "creative" over "domestic."

Enjoy!

If You Build It...

After a much needed family vacation in Holden Beach, North Carolina, I am back to the grind and tackling the job search in a necessarily agressive manner. My goal is to transition into that independent/"city chic"/adult lifestyle by this fall. Needless to say, I need to get a move-on!

Over the course of my employment seeking efforts, I have learned a few guidelines to follow. Some are no-brainers advised in all employment resources, others are of personal opinion/gathered insight from others.

:: First and foremost, keep a positive attitude. I need to remember that I graduated in a plummeting economy and thousands of people are in my boat. My industry of interest is also not working to my advantage, as creative service departments are usually (and foolishly) minmized first. Things will eventually fall into place. Patience is a virture!

:: Be picky, but not too picky. A fellow UD Flyer told me she began her post-college employment in an underfunded PR department. She desperately switched to a communications company that created in-store displays for retailers. She ended up unhappy in a job irrelevant to her career interests and a company that only cared about the bottom line. She told me, "don't get into a job you know you won’t like, it will save you pain and trouble down the road." I have heeded this advice and hope to God I end up with a job I enjoy! **However, I do realize that in these times I cannot afford to be too picky. I will not start off in my "dream job," but hopefully one that will build my resume and open connections to other avenues!

:: It really is "all about who you know." Seek out relatives, professors, friends, friends-of-friends, mentors, old managers, organization members/leaders, etc. etc. etc. Anyone who could possibly be directly or indirectly tied to your field is an a position to help you. Now how you go about networking is a different story. **THANK EVERYONE and be overly-appreciative. Maybe, just maybe that person will remember you down the road when an opportunity comes along.

:: Find the HR department contact, and send your resume directly to that person. Don't waste your time with a generic info@___.com. I have heard this advice from multiple people.

:: Apply multiple times, chances are you will stand out. If the firm isn't hiring, still submit your resume. It's always good for a company to have your resume on file. For example, I submitted my resume to a hospital network that wasn't hiring at the time. I was also rejected from a job with an insurance company, but was told to keep applying and my resume would remain on file. My mother works as a receptionist for a chiropractor and told me their therapist was hired after the office manager remembered her resume from a previous submission.

:: Tailor wording in your resume and cover letter (sell yourself and your qualifications!) to the job for which you're applying. It's OK to embellish, just a tad. Constantly tweak your resume to see what works and what doesn't. If you are rejected, kindly ask the hiring manager why you weren't chosen for the job. If anything they will respect you for your self-improvement efforts!

This list is for mutual reader-author benefit. I hope it helps!