Archive | May, 2011

Ladybug Ball 2011 at Bellagio Las Vegas

By on May 31, 2011 in Busy Mom Living The Dream

May is National Blindness Awareness Month- it’s also Nevada Blind Children Awareness Month.

Toni Spilsbury Ladybug Ball 2011 Nevada Blind Children's Foundation at Bellagio

Ladybug Ball 2011 at Bellagio, Las Vegas to benefit Nevada Blind Children's Foundation

Those of you who know me or who have read My Story, know about our efforts to build a school in Nevada for blind children.  My son, Connor, was born blind and we quickly found out that Nevada is one of only two states in the U.S. with no school for the blind or services for children with visual impairments or their families.

Toni Spilsbury Ladybug Ball 2011 Nevada Blind Children's Foundation at Bellagio

My speech

In 2005, my husband and I founded Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation.  And this past weekend, we just celebrated our biggest annual fundraiser, Ladybug Ball 2011 at the Bellagio, Las Vegas- a big leap from our first fundraiser which was held in my living room.

 

Looking out at the crowd of over 300 people I feel overwhelmed with gratitude that so many people care and support a cause that is so personal to me.  It also amazes me to see where we are now- here at the Bellagio with 300 of my closest friends- from where we were just six years ago.

Toni Spilsbury Ladybug Ball 2011 Nevada Blind Children's Foundation at Bellagio

I am so grateful to all the wonderful event sponsors

To watch a short video produced by En.gauge Media watch:

Nevad Blind Children’s Foundation from Canico Studios on Vimeo.

 

Toni Spilsbury Ladybug Ball 2011 Nevada Blind Children's Foundation at Bellagio

Our celebrity chef of the evening, Chef Rick Moonen from RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay

Toni Spilsbury Ladybug Ball 2011 Nevada Blind Children's Foundation at Bellagio, Las Vegas

The recipient of this year's "Connor Award" was Pat Walquist

Toni Spilsbury Ladybug Ball 2011 Nevada Blind Children's Foundation at Bellagio, Las Vegas

Founder (and husband) Kevin Spilsbury with friend and Board Member, Michael Hinden

Toni Spilsbury Ladybug Ball 2011 Nevada Blind Children's Foundation at Bellagio, Las Vegas

Our good friends Chris and Vanessa Chiodo

 

 

For a great article about the event, visit our friends at examiner.com.

In recognition of our Nevada Blind Children Awareness Month, The Organized Cook is donating 20% of all new subscriptions that sign up in the month of May- use “LADYBUG” promotion code so that funds are automatically generated to the foundation.  Sign up now.

 

 

 

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The One That Got Away

By on May 27, 2011 in Eye Dream Gallery

I started a tray of seeds indoors because, after all, it’s cheating to purchase grown garden plants, right?

Every day we watered and watched tomato and peppers seeds bloom into about 50 beautiful plants.  I was almost feeling like an expert.

Now, before you get too excited looking at this photo, know that every one of these vegetable plants died the day after we planted them into the garden… except one, which I named Nemo.

Indoor garden

Apparently I was supposed to let the plants “harden off” before transplanting them, so I basically shocked them to death.  I thought that for gardeners this must be similar to what a fisherman might feel when a big fish gets away.

Oh well, at least I got a photo first.

The good news is that we’re having a lot of fun in the garden this Spring.

Toni Spilsbury garden

I totally understand now why gardening is a hobby for so many people.  After spending a couple hours working in my garden today, I came inside feeling as light and crisp as a freshly picked snap pea.

Toni Spilsbury garden

It’s true that I don’t have the time to dedicate to making gardening an official hobby for me, but the short amount of time I can spend in my garden is so therapeutic.

Garden Strawberries Toni Spilsbury

The kids also love it.  I don’t know exactly what it is, but I have a sense of satisfaction when I can say “run out and water the herbs”, or “I need some thyme, go pick me some”.

Read more about my garden:

Seeds of Hope

A Bit of Earth

The Earth Is Generous To

 

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Chicken Lettuce Wraps At Home

By on May 25, 2011 in Making Dinner

Chicken Lettuce Wraps are probably my most favorite meal during the warm months.  For years I enjoyed these carb-less entrees only at restaurants until I created a recipe to make it simple to cook at home.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps by The Organized Cook

Chicken Lettuce Wraps by The Organized Cook

 

Not only was I able to create an easy recipe, I was also able to incorporate it into my Weekly Meal Plan System.  For subscribers to The Organized Cook, this is what’s on the menu this week.

I will admit it took me about a half dozen times to get the sauce right.  Too much rice wine vinegar can spoil a perfectly good chicken lettuce wrap.

Here’s the brilliant thing.  For my Asian Noodle Soup to serve alongside this easy dish, I used leftover cooked spaghetti.  This soup doesn’t look “leftover” to you, does it?  Of course not!  It’s been “reincarnated”.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps in The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan System

Chicken Lettuce Wraps in The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan System

The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

 

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Aloha!

By on May 25, 2011 in Making Dinner

If there was ever one meal that I made that everyone just couldn’t get enough of- this would be it.

Aloha Meatballs.

Aloha Meatballs from The Organized Cook

Aloha Meatballs from The Organized Cook

In this recipe I use a combination of red, orange and yellow bell peppers which go perfectly with the soy-ginger taste of the meatballs.  They also give it that tropical look.  What’s even better, I only used half of these diced bell peppers for this recipe, and the other half I stored for Thursday night to make Fire Rice.

Beefy Chimi and Fire Rice by The Organized Cook

Beefy Chimi and Fire Rice by The Organized Cook

I call it “Fire Rice” because of it’s color, not the flavor; although if fire is just what you’re in the mood for, adding some chipotle seasoning to this rice dish should sure do the trick.

 

 

 

These recipes are from one of my “Family-Favorites” menus that I should rename to something like “A Trip Across The Globe”- from Hawaii to Italy, China and Mexico- this menu covers them all… and for less than $100 in groceries!

This is what’s on the menu this week for subscribers to The Organized Cook:

The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan System Menu

If you’re not a subscriber to The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan System, the good news is that this meal plan can be purchased individually now in our Store, with no subscription obligation.  This is a perfect opportunity to sample The Organized Cook and this menu from around the world.

 


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