Cook-Off

Last weekend the girls and I were lucky enough to take part in the Red Shoe Cville 2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off.  Yep, you read that right, I took part in a competition that involved cooking!  While it may be true that I was only invited because the Spicy Chicken wasn’t able to make it, I took my responsibilities quite seriously. I even made chicken masks - check it out.

I actually did take this honor more seriously than you'd think.  While I'm not exactly known for my cooking abilities, KK and the Spicy Chicken were the 2012 RETURNING CHAMPIONS (as you can see from the awesome banner below!) - the Team Spicy Chicken reputation was on the line! That being said, even my friend Brooke, the mastermind behind Red Shoe Cville and subsequent cook-off, wasn't expecting much from me, as evidenced by her eleventh hour text stating “we have lots of other people cooking, it’s okay if you don’t”.  With the girls’ help, however, I was up for the challenge. 

While I'm sorry to say we weren’t able to bring the title home for the second year, I don’t think any of us were that disappointed.  The three of us were able to have a lot of fun cooking together (something they rarely do with me), have a great time with friends, and help raise over $3000 for a really incredible organization – the Ronald McDonald House.  

Living United at Siips

A few weeks ago I was writing an article about these cool "Celebrity Bartender" nights that Siips Wine Bar in downtown Charlottesville has been holding for the past few months.  They bring in a local "celebrity" like to serve up their delicious wine and champagne  and Siips donates 10% of the proceeds, as well as the tips given to the bartender, to a local charity.  Past bartenders have included Congressman Tom Perriello, Mayor Dave Norris and Miss Piedmont Region Erika Uhlig. I jokingly said to the Spicy Chicken "I'll know I've made it when the ask me to be a Bartender at Siips."  

Well guess what folks?  I've made it!  I am honored to have been asked to participate as a Celebrity Bartender on Thursday, August 19 at Siips to raise money for an amazing local non-profit - The United Way - Thomas Jefferson Area for "Meet the Media" night!  Come out to enjoy a great glass of wine and meet up with some fun local media celebrities like Jay James, Sports Director at New Radio WINA;  Steve Walker, morning DJ on Generations 102.3, Henry Graf of NBC29, Travis Koshko, Chief Meterologist at the Charlottesville Newsplex, Jay Jenkins, sports writer for The Daily Progress and Hawkes Spencer, Editor of The Hook!  Oh yeah, Suzy and I will be there too!

The United Way Thomas Jefferson Area is an integral part of our community - supporting programs that range from rural health outreach and and prescription assistance to after school tutoring programs and child abuse prevention to job skills training and a multitude of others.  Their upcoming United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring (Day of Caring for short) draws thousands of volunteers to help at hundreds of projects thrroughout our community.  It's an amazing event to be a part of, and is just the tip of the iceberg of what the United Way TJA can do with our help!

For more information about the United Way TJA check out their website (click on the link) and check out their Living United Blog for up-to-date info on what these amazing people are up to.

See you Thursday!