I was busting out some cardio in the gym last week while the Today Show was on the television screen in front of me.

Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford were rambling on about something but I was listening to my iPod and gasping for my next breath so I have no clue what they were talking about.

What I did notice was a pink ring Hoda was wearing. As soon as my workout was over I ran drove home and Googled “Hoda pink ring” and the information magically appeared.

In honor of Today Show host and breast cancer survivor Hoda Kotb, NBC created a specially designed symbol of hope, Hoda’s Forward Ring.

Each ring is embossed with the word “forward” along with a breast cancer ribbon. If you’d like to grab one, they can be purchased online for $5 plus shipping. For each ring sold through June 2010, NBC will donate $2 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Great ring. Great message. Great cause.

Now I really must go ring in today with a really great workout!

If you love pumpkin as much as I do, you’re going to love the e-cookbook Pumpkins for Pink.

Megan from www.megansmunchies.com compiled this book to raise money for breast cancer research. The cookbook contains 45 pages of fabulous pumpkin recipes (plus one not-too-shabby recipe from yours truly)! Donations of any size will be accepted for this e-cookbook and will benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation.

But you already know all of this good stuff if you’re a Facebook Fan of Fitness & Spice…if you haven’t joined yet, I’d love to see you there!

That’s all I have for today, I’m kind of in a hurry to make the recipe I found in the e-cookbook for Pumpkin Crème Brulee!

Want to help us spread the word for BLOG-4-CAUSE? Add one of these three banner ads to your site and link it to the following URL:

http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR?pg=fund&fr_id=1120&pxfid=121924

A special thanks to Mack Richardson for generously designing these images for us!

Over 150 bloggers from around the world united to write an e-book to support breast cancer awareness and research. Writers were asked to submit their favorite work to be included in this collection of articles. Together we created BLOG-4-CAUSE.

Inside the e-book you will find articles that will inspire and tickle your mind, body, and spirit. Not only that, the book contains links to each and every writer so you can read more works from your favorite authors.

Please visit the Susan G. Komen foundation BLOG-4-CAUSE Web page to learn how you can support our mission to end breast cancer. In addition, you will find information on how you can receive a copy of this e-book as our gift to you.

With gratitude,

Joanna & Lance

I have never been to Kerbey Lane Cafe, but when I go to Austin to visit my friends Suzanne and Carla, I’m putting this restaurant on my list of places to eat. I mean, really, any place that makes pumpkin pancakes and has the kahunas to make a “Cakes for a Cure” t-shirt to benefit breast cancer research gets points in my book.

If you purchase a Kerbey Lane “Cakes for a Cure” T-shirt, like mine, (THANK YOU, SUZANNE!) all proceeds from the sale will benefit the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Speaking of Cakes, I whipped up a batch of PINK PROTEIN PANCAKES in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You are probably wondering, “What’s the batter?” I’m glad you asked:

• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 cup cottage cheese
• 1 t vanilla
• 1/2 t baking powder
• Stevia or Splenda to taste
• 1/3 cup red raspberries

Blend all ingredients in your Magic Bullet blender and bake as you would a pancake. Top with berries and your favorite sugar-free syrup. Makes 3 size C pancakes (I can’t believe I said that either).

Check out Suzanne’s recipe for protein pancakes, too. She makes her pancakes with Kerbey Lane pancake mix!

Now, I really must go toss on my new t-shirt and whip up another batch of pink pancakes! Ta-ta!

We’re writing an e-book for the cure. That’s right, WE are writing an e-book. And by “WE” I mean any blogger or writer that wants to be part of Blogging for A Cause.

Lance Ekum, who writes the blog Jungle of Life, and I have teamed up to work on something very near and dear to our hearts.

We’re working together to raise money to support breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen foundation. To raise money to support this wonderful organization, we’re creating an e-book which we’ll then sell, with 100% of the profits going to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

To make this a reality, we need your help.

If you are a writer, we would love for you to be a part of this e-book project.  All it takes is for you to choose a favorite post from your site. That’s it!  Your post can be on any subject at all from a favorite story, workout, recipe, quote, idea, whatever! We’ll include the article you select in the e-book with a link to your site.

If you would like be a part of Blogging for A Cause, here are a few more details:

What We Need:

• Your name as you want it to appear in the e-book
• Your Website address and name of your site
• A link to the post you’re including for submission
• A copy of the entire article pasted into the body of the email

Please send your information to:  joanna.sutter@gmail.com by Friday, October 16th.

Within a couple of weeks, we’ll both have posts written and links to buy the e-book.  Note that there is no obligation for you to buy one of the e-books.  If, however, you do choose to know that all the proceeds will go to breast cancer research.  We’ll be selling the e-books for a suggested donation of $5.

Thanks to Jay Schryer who inspired Lance and I to act, to everyone who already submitted articles, and to Mack Richardson who generously agreed to help with the e-book design.

Together, we will make a difference!

With appreciation,

Joanna Sutter
Fitness & Spice
joanna.sutter@gmail.com

Lance Ekum
Jungle of Life
lance.ekum@gmail.com

P.S. Please share this post with writers you love that might want to participate, too!