Beat the Blue Ribbon Odds

The odds of bowling a 300 game: 1 in 11,500. Winning an Olympic medal: 1 in 662.000. Being born a twin in North America: 1 in 90. Being on a plane with a drunken pilot: 1 in 117. (The Odds #1)

There are statistics available for almost every aspect of life, but not all so amusing as these. The current odds of a male being diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime: a scary one in six. (Prostate.net)
Prostate cancer may seem a peculiar topic to find on a blog with the word Housewife in the title, but we all have at least one important male in our lives, be it a brother, spouse or close friend.

Last week I was listening to the radio on my way to work and the station was hosting Winter Vinecki, founder of Team Winter. Vinecki formed the organization which raises awareness about prostate cancer through participating in and coordinating big name marathons and triathalons. Her inspiration to establish Team Winter came from her father's diagnosis and lost battle with prostate cancer.

Wait, did I mention Winter Vinecki is 12 years old?

Talk about an amazing story. While most kids are concerned with the newest gaming system or electronic device, Winter channels her youthful energy to fight a little-discussed disease. Her organization is a supporting partner of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Like any disease, the best chance to successfully combat the condition starts with early detection. The Foundation's web site states age 40 is a "reasonable time to start screening for those at highest risk," meaning "genetic predispositions or strong family histories of prostate cancer at a young age."

When it comes to cancer, knowledge is power. Know your risks. Know when to begin screening and what preventative steps you can take to safeguard your body from the various forms of cancer. You can help others acquire knowledge through supporting organizations like Team Winter and the American Cancer Society. If a brave 12 year old can take action, so can you.

The Best Kept MacGuffin: B&N Movies

One of my favorite college courses was Intro to Film. An entire class devoted to watching movies; what's not to love? Learning film terms was intriguing as well: "best boy," "key grip," "gaffer," and... the "MacGuffin."

The "MacGuffin" is an Alfred Hitchcock term that refers to an item or element viewers see throughout a movie and find intriguing but don't yet know its value, like the horcruxes in the Harry Potter films (if you haven't read the books). We see the items many times throughout the series, but don't immediately know their importance. Many times a film plot does not find closure until the character finds the MacGuffin. A few days ago, I had my own "diamond in the rough" MacGuffin to find: movies and TV show seasons for less. [Enter Barnes & Noble, stage left or right.]

The first thing that comes to mind when I think Barnes & Noble is books. It never occurred to me to search the company's online store for movies and TV shows until I was browsing the site for a birthday gift card. B&N has a huge selection of DVD and Blu-ray movies, and many are cheaper than even the box stores' $5 and $10 bins. I ordered two TV show seasons and each was $10 less than I've seen in box stores, saving me $20. Plus, B&N offers free shipping for orders over $25 so my savings increased automatically.

Another impressive B&N Online move: the store accepted my 15% off coupon code in addition to the free shipping offer and automatically discounted the more expensive item. None of this "limit one offer per purchase, must be used on lowest-price item" business.

Next time you plan to purchase a movie or TV series, check out B&N online, and group your purchases to $25 or more for the free shipping. Want to learn more film terms to impress your friends? Click here to access IMDb's movie terminology glossary.

Talk. Encourage. Exemplify.

Although it is not considered a criminal offense, emotional abuse is a serious issue, and one I think is often overlooked in teen and young adult relationships. Many young people do not understand the dynamics of a healthy relationship and allow their partner to control their actions for fear of rejection or dismissal.

Most parents wouldn't think twice about whether or not it's important to have "the sex talk" with their children, but how many have had "the relationship talk"? It's important for young people to know they are not an object, and it's never ok to change the way you dress or who your friends are just because your partner says so. You are your own person and should make your own decisions.

Self respect is not something inherent to all young people, and with new avenues like social media kids feel even more pressure to project a cool, sexy image in order to "get" and "hold onto" a boyfriend or girlfriend. Unhealthy celebrity relationships certainly don't help. Adults understand the constant infidelity, emotional and even physical abuse portrayed in celebrity relationships is not healthy, but for young people it is starting to appear to be the norm.

According to the Southwest Crisis Center, which serves Jackson, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock and Cottonwood counties in southwest Minnesota, studies show at least one in ten teens will be in an abusive relationship. As the non-profit organization's web site points out, "It's not easy to leave an abusive relationship at any age. It is even harder for teens to leave abusive relationships because of fewer resources and uninformed adults who think it's 'just two kids fighting'."

For many people, the way we act and are treated in early relationships affects the dynamics of relationships later in life. Emotional abuse leads to self doubt, which can lead to trust issues. Infidelity leads to anger and hurt, which can lead to returned infidelity. Neglect leads to resentment, which can lead to emotional abuse, infidelity or apathy towards other relationships. And the scary cycle continues.

So, what can we do to diminish the cycle? Talk. Talk to your children, siblings or friends who look up to you (respect parental/professional boundaries, of course). Let them know they deserve to be treated with respect, and that healthy romantic and platonic relationships begin with self respect. If you're concerned they are currently in an unhealthy relationship, click here for advice on how to address the situation.

Encourage. Encourage your schools to create awareness about physical, sexual and emotional abuse through appropriate lyceums presented by education and outreach organizations like New Horizons Crisis Center. Exemplify. Exemplify a healthy relationship with yourself, with your partner and with others. Be a quality role model for your children, siblings and all young people. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you feel you are treading unsafe waters. Respect yourself enough to know you deserve happiness, and you may be surprised how many others will follow suit.

Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake

Do you have a birthday, anniversary or special family celebration coming up? Are you short on time and maybe even ambition but want to make an impressive dessert? Cue Paula Deen (and her butter) to the rescue!

The name pretty much says it all: Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake. The recipe is simple, but the outcome is elegant and delicious. I made this for my last birthday and it was a hit. One tip: with strawberry puree incorporated in the batter, it doesn't keep as long as other cakes. If you have a crowd with a collective sweet tooth, though, you won't have trouble finishing it in a few settings!

Frozen fruits are a great way to stretch a buck and enjoy the tastes of summer year round. Click here for more ways to put your frozen strawberries to good (and yummy!) use.

Penne with Vodka Sauce

As late September sets in, so does the crisp, cool autumn air. A great way to keep warm is with a hearty meal, like Giada De Laurentiis's Penne with Vodka Sauce. If you don't keep alcohol in your home, this one's probably not for you, but it's so easy anyone can prepare it.

It's hearty enough that you don't even notice it's a vegetarian recipe, and the shopping list for this meal certainly won't break the bank. My husband and I don't care for vodka as a drink, but I always have a bottle on hand because this is one of our favorite recipes.

Head's up: when Giada says let the sauce simmer for 20 minutes, she means the full 20 minutes. This allows enough time for the alcohol to cook out to make it a family friendly meal. Let's just say the first time I prepared this recipe I jumped the gun on the simmer time and we were feeling quite simmered ourselves after suppertime. If you're still concerned about alcohol as an ingredient, just set aside some plain marinara sauce for your kiddos. There's no reason Mom and Dad have to skimp on a little decadence.

Food Network has many great recipes for a side dish to accompany your meal. Still not warm after your Penne with Vodka Sauce? One of these Hot Chocolate recipes might do the trick!

Exercise: More For Your Mile

We all know exercise is important, but sometimes it's just hard to stay on track. A good way to stay motivated is to have someone or something hold you accountable for sticking with your routine. Many people have successfully created healthy lifestyles subscribing to big name diet and exercise programs, but if you're not careful those programs can significantly trim your wallet's waistline, too.

Spark People offers weight loss, exercise and even water consumption planning 100% free of charge. You can utilize the calorie counter, workout tracker, exercise demos and advice from dietitians and trainers to reach your lifestyle goals. The web site also features thousands of healthy recipes and offers the option to connect with a support team for additional accountability. Did I mention it's free?

The real secret is just to find what works for you. I recently started my own little exercise program that I have named "More For Your Mile." As an advertising consultant, I am on the road a lot and can be reimbursed up to 50 cents per mile traveled. So, I decided to start reimbursing myself 50 cents for every mile I exercise. Right now I walk one mile on the treadmill and one mile on the elliptical machine for a total of two miles per day. If I stick with that routine five days a week that gives me about $20 a month to spend on myself. It's not a ton of money, but enough to treat myself to a new shirt, pair of earrings or cheeseburger in lieu of a low-calorie frozen dinner. And, $20 a month is still less of an investment than most of those big name programs.

Regular exercise is important to promote metabolism and fight off heart disease, diabetes, cancer and even Alzheimer's. It's a bit of a challenge to get myself to the gym, but I always feel better about my overall health and well being after a workout. For simple ideas about how to live a more active lifestyle, visit  www.do-groove.com.

Memories for less

There are many options for storing, printing and editing pictures, but I have to say I've been consistently impressed with Snapfish. You receive 20 free 4x6 prints just for signing up, and unlimited photo sharing and storage. You can also create many different products, including greeting cards, invitations, photo books and coffee mugs.

The coupon I want to feature this week is Free Shipping on Orders of $25 or More through September 30. Use coupon code SEPFS25 at checkout. It's a great time to start thinking of personalized photo gifts for the holiday season or fall weddings, and with free shipping you can cut the expense of driving to a store.

Click here to see all current offers from Snapfish.

September 21 is Alzheimer's Action Day

September is World Alzheimer's Month, and the perfect time to wear my favorite color: purple.

The Alzheimer's Association is working to raise awareness about Alzheimer's Disease, a condition that affects many, many people. According to the Mayo Clinic's web site, "It's the most common cause of dementia - a group of brain disorders that cause progressive loss of intellectual and social skills, severe enough to interfere with day-to-day life."

On Alzheimer's Action Day, September 21, we have the opportunity to join the fight against Alzheimer's by wearing purple and changing our Facebook profile pictures to the Alzheimer's Association's "End Alz" icon. You can find the icon and more information about World Alzheimer's Month by clicking here.

Alzheimer's is a disease that has personally affected me as both my maternal grandparents and my husband's grandmother suffered from it. There is nothing more heart breaking than seeing someone you love lose control of their brain's actions and act in ways you know they could have never imagined. It takes a lot of courage to remind yourself it is not your loved one, but the Alzheimer's Disease, speaking and acting out.

The Alzheimer's Association's web site states the organization's vision is "A world without Alzheimer's." We all know the best place to start a change is with ourselves. According to the nonprofit resource helpguide.org, there are six pillars of a brain-healthy lifestyle: regular exercise, healthy diet, mental stimulation, quality sleep, stress management and an active social life. Click here to learn more about taking a proactive approach to ending Alzheimer's Disease, starting with yourself.

Wearing purple and changing your profile picture takes little time or effort, but the amount of awareness we could raise about Alzheimer's Disease is endless.

Welcome to Confessions of a Housewife

When I was a young girl my favorite movie was Cinderella. I remember watching the scene where Cinderella and her Prince Charming dance the night away at the ball and thinking, "Someday that will be me. Someday I'll find my happily ever after."

I'm happy to say I have married my Prince Charming. But, even as a newlywed, I am learning the happily ever after part is not always a given. Women, no matter what their marital status, have a lot to deal with these days. We try our hardest to stretch ourselves every direction: friend, life partner, professional, mother; the list goes on and on. If that isn't enough pressure, we're supposed to do it all while looking great and with a smiling face.

Confessions of a Housewife is a place for me to research and report on issues women face, and to share advice, recipes and coupons along the way. It is a place to share the joys and sorrows of life, love and the pursuit of happily ever after. Welcome to Confessions of a Housewife!