Cards for Kody--1 Thessalonians 5:11

"There are two ways to journey through life.  You can march...or you can dance."

Those are the words than caught my eye as I stood on the card aisle of the grocery story last week.  I couldn't imagine more perfect words for the purpose.  I wiped the tears that had begun to well up in my eyes and progressed to the check-out counter.

You see, as a member of "the media," it's easy to become desensitized to the stories that air on a daily basis.  We see horrible and wonderful stories come and go through the air waves and headlines, so for the sake of not becoming jaded, we're forced to somewhat block emotional attachment.  However, in my few short years of being a News Producer, there are a few horrible and wonderful stories that clung to my soul.

Of course, the true producer comes out in me.  I'm going to share the most timely of those stories with you right now.  :)

Kody's Story...

Kody Lucas is a Central Georgian living with a brain tumor; a stage three Anaplastic Astrocytoma brain tumor, to be exact.  When diagnosed, doctors gave Kody two years to live.  It's now been four years, and Kody even graduated from high school--a day he didn't think he'd see.

As if that isn't a remarkable miracle in and of itself, that's not the reason I want to share his story.  

I want to share Kody's story because of the 960 lives he's saved.

I was first introduced to Kody through a story by one of our reporters, Michelle Quesada.  I was immediately inspired by Kody's spirit.  While he had the most remarkable survivor and fighter tale, it was never his focus.  Michelle's story detailed how blood transfusions help Kody gain strength while in the hospital fighting against cancer.  That's where Kody discovered a calling: to hold annual blood drives.

Every year since his diagnosis, the teenage boy (now 19-years-old) has chosen to celebrate each year--that could easily be his last--by holding a birthday blood drive bash.

Kody's impact over the last three years?

960 lives saved

Over 40 gallons of blood donated

Now comes the more solemn news...

On October 13, we reported that hospice recently entered Kody's life.  The news brought tears to my eyes because of the inspiration Kody and his story have been to so many people...including myself.

Kody's family reached out to our station and let us know that there is one thing that helps get him out of bed each morning--greeting cards.  Not "get well" cards, but "thinking of you" cards are what brings a priceless smile to his face.

So they asked that we air an address for people to write to Kody, and of course, we did.  I've already sent my card to Kody.  

Here it is below:

It was perfect.

I realized that if I could bring a smile to the teenager's face just by letting him know that his story mattered to me, I'd do it a hundred times over.

I've never even met Kody Lucas in person, and if it weren't for our reporter Michelle following his story, I'd have never heard his story.  

But I can promise you one thing:  it's one I'll never forget.

So I have a request...

Please send Kody a card of your own!

Could there be anything more simple to put a smile on someone's face?

Here's the address.  Please spread the word. 

Let's make sure Kody's mailbox is full to capacity every day of the rest of his life!

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up."  

1 Thessalonians 5:11a

Meet Kody Lucas:

Kody Lucas: Houston Co. Senior Shares Survival Success

Kody Plans Annual Blood Drive

American Red Cross Recognizes Kody Lucas

Kody Lucas Helps Save Lives

Cards for Cancer Patient Kody Lucas

Tried and True--Products I love!

We all (as least us girls) have products that we used once, and never, ever looked back. I mean there are so many brand names, etc. to choose from, once you find one that works...by all means...stick with it! These are what I call Tried and True.

This is hopefully the first in a series of "my favorites" type blogs. You may read them and just find out a little bit more about me, but I have hopes that maybe you'll take something away with you and find it useful!

So without further ado, I'm sharing some of my all-time favorite products. In no particular order...

Maybelline's "Falsies" Mascara

I have short--and rather thin for that matter--eyelashes. This mascara has absolutely done wonders for me! This mascara is great for those who love the "big lash" look. I get it in "Blackest Black." I've used MAC's "Falsies" type mascara and didn't like it at all. I've even tried other mascaras recommended by friends since I found "Falsies," and nothing compared. I know mascara is a huge "to each his own" type of product, but if you're like me and just aren't gifted in the lash area...give it a try!

Jergens "natural GLOW" Face Moisturizer

It's hard to describe why I love this face lotion other than it just plain works well. It's also available in "medium to dark" tones, which I use most often. However, since I've cut back on tanning (*sigh*), my skin isn't the color it used to be! I put this on in the morning and at night after I was my face. It's not the least bit oily and it has SPF already in it. I don't use it so much for the color as the even tone. If you have freckles, etc...this really helps even out the tone of your face so that you can wear makeup less often! (And who doesn't love that?!) It also goes well under makeup. I find that a lot of moisturizers get oily under makeup, but this one really doesn't. I'm definitely sticking with this one!

Essie Nail Polish in "Bordeaux"

Pretty sure this gorgeous red will forever be my "go to" color.  This is a new favorite that I discover a few months ago.  While the deep, wine red is definitely more of a fall/winter color, I may just sport it year round!  I really do love it that much.  This picture (nor the one on their website) doesn't do the color justice.  It's a much deeper red than it appears in the picture.  I love essie nail polish because it stays on so long.  Even OPI comes of my nails really easily.  It's also SO incredibly glossy that I never use a top coat.  In fact, a top coat actually dulls the color.

Victoria's Secret PINK Supersoft Body Lotion

in "fresh & clean" and "fresh & fierce"

Ok, so let me just say that I love Victoria's Secret anything and everything.  This line of lotions is the softest lotion I have ever used.  Period.  My all-time favorite scent is the one of the left in the pink bottle.  However, a few months ago I tried their news scent, in the zebra print bottle, and fell in love with is as well!  Now I just switch between the two.  These scents are exactly what they say...fresh!  The smell is a light, girly scent.  I use this lotion literally every single day.  If they ever discontinue either one I'll be heartbroken!  :)

Victoria's Secret Yoga Pants

I warned you that I love Victoria's Secret! :)

Anyway, these are by far the absolute BEST exercise pants ever.  I don't do yoga, I do ZUMBA!  (A topic for another blog!)  My point is...these pants can be used for anything active or just lounging/errand running.  Even though they are tight, the material is very forgiving!  I've tried on many other brands of yoga pants--from Nike to Wal-mart--and they aren't even the same.  The other brands are unflattering on me.  These pants stay in place, they're comfy, and they're more figure-flattering than other brand names of the same.  When these babies go on sale...I snatch them up!

MAC "Studio Fix" Foundation and Powder

This makeup is amazing.  There's not even much more to say about it.  It covers well, it stays on all day pretty much, and the bottles/compacts themselves last forever.  Because I'm not a huge fan of spending money, I used drug store face makeup for the longest time.  It wasn't until my friend Lauren told me how much she loved MAC foundation that I gave it a try.  She was right!  It's awesome!  I actually love most anything MAC has to offer now.  They're lipsticks and eyeshadows are fab too, however this face makeup is "tried and true" for me!

Nature's Own "Double Fiber Wheat" Bread

(Hey, who said these products would be just beauty?!)

I eat an extremely high-fiber diet.  (If you're curious why, see my 25 Things post, numbers 4 and 5.)

As for why this is the only sandwich bread I'll eat, the nutrition label totally speaks for itself.

Per 1 slice of bread: 50 calories, .05 grams of fat (not trans or saturated), no cholesterol, 135 mg sodium, 13 grams of carbs, 5 grams of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, 3 grams of protein.

Enough said.

Eggland's Best Farm Fresh Eggs

Yes, Eggland's Best eggs are more expensive than the others.  (Look for coupons)  However, there is a reason.  The chickens that these eggs come from are fed a highly nutritious diet.  My Mom's doctor first recommended these eggs to her because of her cholesterol levels.  After I educated myself, I started buying these and never turned back.  This is coming from someone that absolutely loves eggs.  I eat eggs ALMOST every single day.  Here's why I love Eggland's Best:

1.  They have slightly less fat than ordinary eggs.

2.  They contain over double the amount of Omega 3's

3.  They contain less cholesterol

4.  They contain way more Vitamin A, D, B2, B12, and E as well as other minerals. 

5.  They genuinely taste better!!

Matrix's Biolage Color Care Shampoo & Conditioner

Besides the fact that this stuff smells amazing, it keeps color brilliant and gives a silky shine!  It makes me hair super manageable and healthy.

Revlon Colorstay 12 Hour Eyeshadow

(Not in these colors though.)

Revlon says this eyeshadow lasts 12 hours, and if it doesn't, it's pretty darn close!  I have this eyeshadow "quad" in several different hue packs.  I really like that you can just do a one-stop-shop and get 4 colors that go nicely with each other.  You don't have to spend a fortune, you get 4 colors, and it lasts all day!  It's an all around "win" situation.

Well, that does it for my Tried and True products.  (For now, at least!)  What do you think?  Have you tried any of these products and loved or hated them?  What are some of your favorite products?  Let me know...maybe you'll land me a new favorite! :)

Cheeseburger Rollup (Husband's Favorite!)

Cheeseburger Rollup...

It's been so long since I found this recipe that I don't even remember how I stumbled across it (as usual). Now that I have a blog, I've begun to pay more attention to that sort of thing so I can give credit--the type of thing I just didn't think of before. But I will say, some other person came up with this recipe...it's definitely not my original. ;)


Anyway, this is one of my my husband Brian's absolute favorite meals that I make.  The best part?  It's -so- easy!  It's a win-win situation for us both.

So without further ado...

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean ground beef

4 strips bacon, chopped

1 small onion, chopped (I only use 2/3 a small onion)

1 (8 oz.) package Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes

1 (13.8 oz.) package refrigerated pizza crust

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees


2. Brown ground beef, bacon, and onions together in large skillet. Drain.


3. Once drained, add cubes of Velveeta to skillet mixture and melt. Once melted, remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.

Ground beef, chopped bacon, and chopped onion already browned and drained with Velveeta added and melted.
It's cooling.

4. Unroll pizza dough onto baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Press into 15 x 8 rectangle and top with skillet mixture. Roll up, starting with one long side. Rearrange as necessary so that the roll is seam-side down.

I got a bit of a tear in mine, so I had to pinch it and mend it back together! :)

Topping unrolled crust dough with cooled skillet mixture.

Carefully and evenly spreading mixture on dough.

Rolling up from the long side.

Roll seam-side down on lightly-greased baking sheet ready to be backed! Yes, the tear looks bad.

5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.

Finished product!

Inside view

Ok, so it's not the fanciest meal...and it's certainly not pretty, but Brian can seriously eat half of this roll in one sitting!  In fact, I'm pretty sure he did.  :)  Let me know if you make it or plan to make it.  Also, be sure to let me know what the men in your life (or just you) think of it! :)  (But let's face it, this meal has MAN written all over it!)

Share some of your boyfriend's/husband's/father's/brother's/grandpa's favorite recipes with me in the comments section!  I trying to cook up new recipes for my man. :)

Be sure to follow and keep coming back.  (Top right above the "About Me" section.)

Until next time! XOXO