My first experience as part of a volunteer committee in Ocala went well!
After working through the morning, I attended an 11 a.m. meeting at the College of Central Florida (not to be confused with my alma matter, UCF) to meet with a group of people to begin planning the Taste of Ocala.
From what I’ve gathered, the event seems a lot like the Taste of the Nation event that Ryan and I attended in Orlando, but the charity differs, as the Taste of Ocala raises money for scholarships for students who wish to attend CCF.
We discussed sponsorships, event ambiance, ticket prices and more. It reminded me a lot of my involvement with Dance Marathon in college and the Festival of Trees event at the Orlando Museum of Art. I’m already looking forward to the next meeting!
Lunch
After the meeting, I headed home and immediately made myself lunch.
My stomach was growling!
I made a quick bowl of pasta featuring whole wheat penne, shrimp, spinach, tomato sauce and goat cheese.
Please note the bed of spinach and tomato sauce included in today’s lunch. The veggie pact is on!
Now I’m off to type up an email to pitch a new story idea to a local magazine that I discovered at my gym last week before finishing another assignment.
I also have an exciting phone call on the books for today to interview someone rather hunky… I’ll be back with more on that later!
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Anthony! Your girlfriend Megan is just about the cutest thing in the world.
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
Mm that lunch looks good! And good job for continuing to pack in the veggies– I’m impressed!
Glad your meeting went so well!! And uh oh hunky caller!!! I think I may know who that may beeee! Exciting! 🙂 🙂
if you follow me on facebook, then you definitely do! 🙂
oh yes I do follow you! So fun!
ha! just saw you actually commented on that little facebook post! 🙂
Ooh we like hunky!!!
Sounds like a really great event to volunteer for – and totally fitting for you! Can’t wait to hear more about it!
So glad that your first day of volunteering went well. Way to go!
Your lunch looks great! I love that you are incorporating a lot of veggies! They are the best 🙂
Glad to hear that volunteering went well. Can’t wait to hear more about the hunk!
ahh that lunch looks so yummy. i wish i had time to make myself stuff like that! i guess i could the night before… but i’m way too lazy. haha
Hunky Dr. Travis!! Hubba Hubba. Too bad you won’t be able to ask too much about the Bachelor. 🙂
oh my goodness that lunch looks amazing! I love the goats cheese on top 🙂 ahh 🙂
Sounds like you had a great meeting. How did you find the opportunity to volunteer? I do not even know where I would begin to look to do something like that?
i actually learned about this one after talking with a woman from my gym! but i also found a TON of local organizations in need of volunteers that i flagged in a local magazine. perhaps a magazine in the area near you has a list of organizations online? there’s also volunteermatch.com!
The weather looks beautiful there! Can’t wait to hear about the interview! 🙂
taste of ocala sounds so fun!
i love putting pasta over veggies, as opposed to the other way around. such a better ratio for packing in the veggies.
i think about you every time i see lindzi on the bachelorette. i’m basically obsessed from her and love that she is from your small little town!
Your lunch looks pretty tasty, and as luck would have it, I bought some goat cheese yesterday at the grocery store. I might have to steal your idea.
Taste of Ocala sounds like a lovely event, and what a great ‘charity’ to sponsor– as a scholarship recipient, I’m deeply grateful for those who donate and raise money for scholarships. So many really bright, talented student would just not be able to go to college without scholarships, and what better way to reduce income inequality than providing a talented kid with the ability to go to college? Good for you!
I’m so glad you had a good experience volunteering! I’m a serial volunteer-er(?). I’ve been volunteering every Tuesday night for about 3-4 hours at a therapeutic horseback riding centre for almost 5 years now!
Your lunch looks delicious! Glad to hear the volunteering went well!
Your life sounds so exciting! Can’t wait to hear all about the interview!
Sounds like a really fun way to volunteer and meet new people! I love planning events!
You are really putting yourself out there in your new community! Sounds like a blast planning the event! Keep rockin’ it girl 🙂
I can’t wait for your interview post with Dr. Hunky 🙂 And way -to-go for keeping heads up on your yearly goals! Mine is going pretty good as well- training for my first Half!.
Oh yeah and I’m also on a veggie pact as well – and did the exact same thing you did with the spinach.
Embed it under your meal!! 😀
You are so accomplished and successful and exuberant. And healthy! You are so active, its awe-inspiring. I’m not exercising now 🙁 I need to gain weight; would like to do strength but have no gym and not sure of how the heck to assemble quality at home without anything.
Do you know of sensible meal plans that are normal and may aid in weight gain? I admit a lot of guilt for eating breads and unhealthier items since I don’t exercise, but am too stubborn to eliminate things. Websites ? Blogs? with specific plans?
this is a great question! i just put out a call on twitter to see if anyone knows of blogs that i can recommend to you that promote healthy weight gain.
Lesley…you should get some resistance bands if you are looking to strength train without the gym.
That sounds like a great way to volunteer – big impact but not a huge chunk of time commitment (well, other than the event i’m sure!)
That sounds like the Taste of Ocala will be so fun!! They are lucky to have you on board! And your pasta looks fab! It’s funny, I always think of pasta as involving a lot of effort, but you make it your quick meals sometimes! I might need to change my thinking!
That sounds like an awesome thing to be a part of–how cool, Julie!
My mom-in law does Festival of Trees in UT and it is always a huge hit for people around the area.
LOVin’ the veggie pact 🙂
Sounds like a fun thing to volunteer for!
I lI’ve feta on my pasta – I should try goat cheese too!
How’s the night circus going for u? Kind of a tuff read for me!
I think I know who it is! So excited for you, have fun!
I don’t know why, but i have never had goat cheese & pasta, but I want to try it, right now….
I think it’s so cool that a) you made even made volunteering one of your 2012 goals and b) that you already working on achieving that goal. You are so admirable!
It is AWESOME that you are volunteering, I wish more young people would get involved.
I happened to be reading your blog at my job (in Portland Oregon) when a coworker walked by and peeked. He then exclaimed…I know that college! Then proceeded to tell me that his parents grew up in Ocala and how John Travolta had a house there…he rambled for a bit as he usually does but I always enjoy when the world feels a little bit smaller and cozier.
I’m excited to start reading about your adventure in volunteerism!
It is always best to do one big massive chopping up of all vegetables you buy and then put them away so they are easier to grab! Try eating cut up vegetables with hummus as a snack! I love it! I also incorporate vegetables by doing some type of stir-fry — talk about vegetables galore! Add lean protein if you desire or seafood! Just some food for thought on the vegetable front!
The blog has been severely lacking in Sadie pics recently!! Readers need their Sadie fix! 🙂
Someone hunky, huh? Are you planning a phone call with my husband 🙂 I love the idea of putting your pasta on top of a huge bed of spinach. It totally ups the volume and nutrients of the dish without really adding any calories. I’ve recently begun doing this with a lot of our meals in order to incorporate more greens and so far, the hubs really hasn’t even noticed. Score one for me!
This sounds like an awesome event for you to be a part of! I’m not sure why but there is something really exciting about seeing something you volunteer to do come together vs. something you need to do for a job.
Julie, just bought myself some BIC bands. Can’t wait to try them!
I love your lunch: pretty gourmet for a quick meal 🙂