Healthy Start for the New Year

Proud to partner with Kroger to promote healthier living with arthritis and also being heart smart for the upcoming holidays and New Year! Kroger Magazine will be featuring women with unique health challenges and how each mange them. Stay tuned for the holiday issue celebrating New Year's resolutions! Here are photos from the session with the Associated Press photographer where I made guilt-free blueberry pancakes and worked some yoga moves. Our spunky yorkie, "Rocky" got to be in on the fun too! Be well and stay healthy!

Guilt-Free Blueberry Pancakes (High Protein)

Feel free to add vanilla protein powder for even more protein. This batch equals one healthy serving, which is 15 grams of protein and only 145 calories!
1/2 cup Old Fashioned Oats
3 egg whites
1 tbsp Cottage Cheese, fat free
1 dash of Cinnamon
1/2 of Fresh Blueberries

Arthritis Health Monitor Cover Story

I am very honored and grateful to be featured as the October/November cover story for Arthritis Health Monitor. Thank you to my hubby Matt for taking the cover photo!
(Click on article to read)

Arthritis Foundation Crystal Ball

Arthritis Foundation Crystal Ball 2008!

The Georgia Chapter of The Arthritis Foundation hosted the 27th annual Crystal Ball on October 18 at the Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead. For the first time in its history, the Crystal Ball is proud to recognize a corporate partner for its support of the Arthritis Foundation. The 2008 Crystal Ball has chosen to honor Delta Air Lines for its expansive partnership and commitment to the Arthritis Foundation. The Arthritis Foundation is also celebrating its 60th anniversary!

Proceeds from the event will be used to support arthritis research, programs and advocacy efforts. This year, The Arthritis Foundation is also focusing on raising awareness and funds for juvenile arthritis initiatives, including Camp Joint Venture, a free 3-day camp created specifically for children living with arthritis in Georgia. On this very enchanted evening, the Arthritis Foundation honored and thanked the many volunteers, Matt and I were honored to be volunteers for the event, we had a wonderful evening!

Mere's Miracles!

Bells will be ringing this holiday season as thousands of runners and walkers hit the nation’s pavements, pathways and parks this winter to fight arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. My dearest friend Angela Smith, Mrs. North Dakota International will be one of those people, tying jingle bells to her shoelaces to participate in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis, a 5K fun run/walk to benefit the Arthritis Foundation! Her team is called "Mere's Miracles" in honor of my quest to help those who suffer everyday from this disease. Thank you so much Ang and your girls!

And YOU can help, too! 'Tis the season for giving! Won't you sponsor Mere's Miracles to help raise funds to fight arthritis? Arthritis affects more than 46 million Americans, including 300,000 children, costing the U.S economy over $128 billion annually. The Arthritis Foundation needs our help. Please visit Mere's Miracles Web page to join the team or make a secure, online contribution to help raise the needed funds for the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to prevent, control and cure arthritis.

Jingle, Jingle, Jingle … A little change makes a lot of cents!

Shapes of Success

Success is such an awesome word. I want to share a great Web site with you all that celebrates success of all forms and shapes. whether its a sporting success, a family success, a business success, completing a list of 'Things to do that you've been putting off forever' or going on a diet and actually losing weight. No matter what, it was an achievement – You can do it! Submit your story or someone you know, let's celebrate it! Check it out out here...

Arthritis Foundation Young Professionals Board

Today was the first meeting for the Arthritis Foundation Young Professionals Board, Georgia Chapter. The mission of the group is to raise awareness of the impact of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases in young adults and provide a social network of strength and support while raising funds, educating the public and promoting advocacy.

The meeting featured a presentation by Dr. Kelly Weselman, Rheumatologist who discussed the latest treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis.

We are looking forward to bringing more events and programs together in 2009 to help those who are "young professionals" in Georgia a place to network, educate and have fun with others who share the common thread of arthritis.