Archive for the ‘contests’ Category
5 ways to raise ovarian cancer awareness through jewelry
Our O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Contest ends tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean that you have to stop giving to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and raising awareness! If you have already donated and/or participated in the event, thank you kindly, but you still have until midnight tomorrow to be eligible for the contest. And now I have compiled other ways you give to research and raising awareness, and they involve lots o’ bling.
Ladies, I know many of you are always looking for new accessories, and guys–why not show the special ladies in your lives how much you love them and care about their health? The holiday season is creeping closer….
5 Ways to Raise Ovarian Cancer Awareness through Jewelry
1. L’Oréal Paris Color of Hope Jewelry Collection. L’Oréal Paris has become the largest corporate sponsor of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, largely through their special jewelry and cosmetic collections and Legends Gala Benefits. They have raised over $14 million toward ovarian cancer and research, and if you’re feeling in the mood for some Swarovsky, L’Oréal Paris Color of Hope is the way to go.
2. Angela Moore Ovarian Cancer Awareness Collection. For every purchase from Angela Moore’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Collection, 15% of proceeds go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. The lovely bracelet on the right costs $50.
3. Colleen Burg Custom Jewelry. “A turquoise barrel drops through this hand forged circle” by Berg, who donates 20% of all proceeds of pieces bought in September to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and throws in a free ovarian cancer symptom card with each order. Cost is $155.
4. Designing Diva’s Shining Light Pendant. The Designing Diva dedicates this pendant “as a ‘shining light’ of hope for all those who struggle” with ovarian cancer as well as family and friends who support them. Fifteen percent of proceeds on sales until December 31, 2008 will be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Cost of the pendant is $42.
5. Shanrene, Inc.’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Wristbands. These wristbands are teal silicone with the words Faith, Hope, Courage, and Strength printed on them with awareness ribbons in between. For every wristband bracelet sold, Shanrene, Inc. donates $.25 to the The Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research. Wristbands cost a mere 99 cents a piece. Perfect for getting a bunch and passing them out to friends and family, no?
And one more fun girly way to raise awareness? Paint your toenails teal!
Teal is the official color for Ovarian Cancer Awareness, and even though September is ending, that’s no reason you can’t help raise awareness year-round by putting teal in your pedicure rotation.
Read more about TealToes.org and also get their suggestions for polish here.
Oh and lastly, check out Mom Central’s Contest for Kelly Ripa-designed Ovarian Cancer Awareness t-shirts as well as for more information on Electrolux‘s new Turquoise Sky washer and dryer, for which the company will be donating $200 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund for every pair purchased.
Now go forth, buy, and spread ovarian cancer awareness!
Onion, Oregano & TimO Focaccia: O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
OK, raise your hand if you love focaccia! I do! I do!
I had never made it before, though, so I thought this What’s Cooking Wednesday would be a great time to learn, especially since I came across a recipe for Focaccia with Onions. In addition to the thyme (timo (TEE-moh) in Italian) that was listed in the ingredients, I threw in some oregano, because, you know O Foods and all.
What? You haven’t heard of the O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Contest? Check out the details here.
As you can see, my onions were super-cooked when all was said and done, but they’re still really tasty. Note: I used red onions, so they’re not *as* cooked as they may seem. Anyway, I think next time I’ll slice them just a little bit thicker and maybe adjust the cooking temp.
If you have any other suggestions on making focaccia, please do share. Overall, I have to say that this is a fabulous basic recipe from The Italian Cooking Encyclopedia published by Barnes & Noble (with my adjustments below).
Onion, Oregano & TimO Focaccia
For dough:
- 2 1/2 tbsp fresh yeast or 1 package dry
- 1 c warm water
- pinch of sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 3- 3 1/2 c flour
For topping:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium onions, sliced
- Sprinklings of dried thyme and oregano
- Coarse sea salt
1. Put yeast in warmed medium mixing bowl (swirl around some hot water and then dump it out to warm the bowl). Add warm water, stir in sugar, and mix with fork. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until the mixture starts to foam.
2. Mix in the salt and one cup of flour with a wooden spoon, then add in another cup of flour and mix until dough begins pulling away from the sides of the bowl.
3. Sprinkle some flour on a flat work surface and knead the dough, adding the rest of the flour a little at a time. Knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is elastic and smooth, and shape it into a ball.
4. Place dough in lightly oiled mixing bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let stand in a warm place for about an hour until the dough has doubled in size. To test if the dough is ready, poke it with two fingers; if the indentations remain, it’s ready.
5. Preheat oven to 400°F.
6. Punch down the dough to release air and then knead for 3-4 minutes.
7. Brush a shallow cookie/baking sheet with one tablespoon of the oil.
8. Place the dough in the pan and spread it to the edges with your fingers. Leave this sit, covered with a towel, for a half hour.
9. In the meantime, heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan on low heat, add onions, and cook until tender.
10. Stir in thyme and oregano and remove from heat.
11. Remove towel from pan and make indentations in the dough with your fingers.
12. Brush oil from the onion mixture on the dough, then spread onions over top evenly. Sprinkle lightly with coarse salt.
13. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, until just turning golden.
14. Cut into squares or wedges, and serve focaccia by itself, as a side dish, or even as the bread of a sandwich. It is best warm or at room temperature.
Buon appetito!
Don’t forget to submit your O Foods recipe by September 30
and/or donate to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund!
Also, Megan’s Expat Snapshot of Italy Contest is still going on until tomorrow night–just head over to Career By Choice and fill in the blank: You Know You’re in Italy When….
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Signs & Symptoms
Right now I want to turn attention to just the facts ma’am–what all women need to know about potential symptoms of ovarian cancer and what exactly you should be asking of your doctor if you experience them.
Ovarian cancer has been called the “Silent Killer” because it often isn’t discovered until it has spread to other parts of the abdomen; as you know from the facts from the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund posted in the O foods post, once ovarian cancer reaches later stages, the survival rate beyond five years drops to just 45%. When detected and treated early on, though, the five-year survival rate from ovarian cancer is greater than 92%.
But ovarian cancer isn’t silent! As many ovarian cancer awareness organizations say, “It whispers–so listen!”
Here are some common signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:
- Vague but persistent and unexplained gastrointestinal complaints;
- Pelvic and/or abdominal swelling and pain; bloating and/or feeling of fullness;
- Unexplained change in bowel habits;
- Frequency and/or urgency of urination;
- Unexplained weight gain or loss;
- New and unexplained abnormal postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.
If these symptoms are sudden and persist for more than 2 or 3 weeks, consult your gynecologist. A full pelvic exam, including the rectovaginal component, is the best screening method for ovarian cancer, and another test is a transvaginal ultrasound. Be sure to tell your doctor about your symptoms so she knows exactly what she should be looking for.
Ovarian cancer risk factors include:
- Peri- or postmenopause;
- Uninterrupted ovulation (no pregnancies and no prior use of oral contraceptives);
- Family or personal history of breast/ovarian cancer;
- Presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations.
The following may aid in prevention:
- Use of oral contraceptives for 5+ years;
- Multiple pregnancies/breastfeeding;
- Removal of ovaries or tubal ligation–these procedures may reduce but not eliminate risk.
For a handy guide to the signs and symptoms, risk factors, and prevention of ovarian cancer, print out the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund’s tent card (from which the above facts come). Better yet, print out a stack and hand them out to all the women in your life!
And here are some more ideas on what you can do for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Tomorrow, another O recipe!
Oatmeal Banana Craisin Muffins: O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Here is a fast, easy, tasty (just like we like ’em!) O Food recipe based on one from Cooks.com.
Read on...O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awarness Month Contest
Some of you may remember last year’s Dolce Italiano contest to spread the word about the wonderful cookbook by the 2008 Bon Appetit award-winner for best Pastry Chef Gina DePalma.
Well a few months ago, I found out from Diana, a lovely blogger and B & B owner in northern Italy, that Gina was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was undergoing a whirlwind of treatment. I wrote Gina a quick email, sending my best thoughts and wishes, and Gina, recovering from surgery and about to undergo chemotherapy, immediately wrote back a message full of courageous spirit, humor, and love–vintage Gina.
You see, Gina was already thinking about what she could do to raise ovarian cancer awareness and money to fight the disease. So a few of us from the Dolce Italiano contest got together and we proudly announce:
O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of Gina DePalma, author of Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen and Executive Pastry Chef of Babbo Ristorante in NYC, who was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Sara of Ms Adventures in Italy, Jenn of The Leftover Queen, and Michelle of Bleeding Espresso are asking you to donate to the:
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (via FirstGiving.org)
and then, out of the goodness of your hearts and to be eligible for the O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Contest, please do the following:
1. Post a recipe to your blog using a food that starts or ends with the letter O (e.g., oatmeal, orange, okra, octopus, olive, onion, potato, tomato) and include this entire text box in the post;
OR
2. If you’re not into the recipe thing, simply post this entire text box in a post on your blog to help spread the word about the event and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
AND
3. Then send your post url [along with a photo (100 x 100) if you’ve made a recipe] to ofoods[at]gmail[dot]com by 11:59 pm (Italy time) on September 30, 2008.
We will post a roundup and announce prize winners on October 3.
Prizes:
- 1 Recipe Prize for best “O food” concoction: $50 gift certificate to Amazon;
- 1 Awareness Prize for only publicizing event: Copy of Dolce Italiano cookbook.
———
From the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund:
- Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women; a woman’s lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 1 in 67.
- The American Cancer Society estimates that 21,650 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2008 and about 15,520 women will die from the disease.
- The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and subtle, making it difficult to diagnose. There is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer but there are tests which can detect ovarian cancer when patients are at high risk or have early symptoms.
- In spite of this patients are usually diagnosed in advanced stages and only 45% survive longer than five years. Only 19% of cases are caught before the cancer has spread beyond the ovary to the pelvic region.
- When ovarian cancer is detected and treated early on, the five-year survival rate is greater than 92%.
Please donate to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
and help spread the word!
P.S. Feel free to use the ribbon widget in my sidebar in *your* sidebar.
If you need help setting it up, please contact me!
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
