Trying to find My Life in Red?

Hello!

Last fall I moved my blog to a new platform, so you can find My Life in Red at www.mylifeinred.net. I hope you'll continue to read and connect with me there!

Jen

NEW POST!

I've put a new post on my blog's new web home, but just in case you haven't found me yet, here's the link: www.mylifeinred.net.

If you have been following here for the last year, thank you! I hope you decide to join me again. Just find the "Subscribe via email" link on the bottom right. It is fast and easy!

Jen

THIS BLOG IS GOING PLACES!

This is my 100th My Life, in Red blog post!

After one year of learning, crying, writing, and celebrating on this blog, I've decided to make the switch to a new platform and new design on WordPress. My new site will allow me more control over the design and features and I hope you agree it is a major improvement.

My Life in Red is now at www.mylifeinred.net!

Because I've changed addresses and platforms you will need to re-subscribe to stay connected. But it's easy, just find the link that says "subscribe to this blog via email" in the bottom left corner of every page, enter your address, and hit "subscribe." You'll get an email with instructions for verifying your address.

I hope you enjoy my new blog home as much as I do!

Jen

P.S. I will leave this site just as it is for a while - maybe a long time, in case you have a favorite recipe bookmarked. It seems a few get visited over and over again!

GONE RED

Go Red for Women special section in Minnesota Monthly. August 2012.

Last February was my first heart month and it surprised me by being a big deal. One of the things I did, quietly, was go to the Go Red for Women Casting Call at the Mall of America. Each year several women are chosen as Go Red spokeswomen, and I knew that if I didn't at least try, I'd be mad at myself. But I didn't tell anyone about it, except Scott and even him not til the day before.

I went alone and got in line with my form and clipboard. There was a Go Red media backdrop, a chair, lots of lights, a camera, and an interviewer. She was very nice and clearly a professional. She knew how to get me to talk comfortably (public speaking is not a problem for me; cameras, that's another story). By the end I was crying and so was she. It was over quickly and I was happy with what I said. I looked around a little at the other Go Red events, and went home.

I guess some others liked what I had to say because I was selected as the winner for Minnesota, and so now you can see yours truly in Minnesota Monthly this August and on bus shelters (!) and billboards (!!) next February.

The photo shoot for the magazine was fun. There were four of us -- Angie, Andrea, Jennifer, and me -- and we posed for approximately 600 snaps of the shutter, maybe more, in a really cool commercial studio. We had photos together and individual "red dress" iconic shots. During the downtime we talked about heart disease and why we were there.

It was really humbling and inspiring to hear their stories. My age or younger, the other survivors are just as surprising heart disease "victims" as I am. And they are just as committed to sharing what they've learned, raising money and awareness, and living life to the fullest.

I hadn't expected to enjoy the experience so much and now I want to do more. The Casting Call will open up new opportunities for me to learn and grow and spread the word.

Even if I do have to look at my head 14 feet tall.