One of My Favorite Healthy Recipes

The majority of the meals my family eats are recipes found on the American Heart Association website at heart.org. They have everything you can imagine and they‘re fun to make as a family! This is the recipe to one of my favorites. It’s a South Pacific Shrimp with Southeast Asian seasoning.

You’ll need:

1/3 cup “lite” coconut milk (see Cooking Tips)
2 serrano chiles or jalapeno peppers, preferably red, seeded and minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 pound medium shrimp (30-40 per pound), peeled and deveined (see Cooking Tips)
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup diced seeded tomato
4 cups baby spinach

Start by combining the coconut milk, chiles, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, lime juice and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing occasionally. Drain well, reserving marinade.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook, turning once, until barely pink, about 30 seconds per side; transfer to a plate. Add tomato and spinach to the pan; cook, stirring, until the spinach starts to wilt, about 30 seconds. Add the reserved marinade; simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the pan; heat through. Serve immediately.

Cooking Tips:
Freeze any leftover coconut milk or refrigerate it for several days; you can use it instead of broth or water to cook rice or enrich a curry or rice pudding.
Cooking with frozen shrimp: Individually quick-frozen shrimp, sold in resealable bags, are convenient to keep in your freezer. Thaw in a covered bowl in the refrigerator. If you're in a hurry, place shrimp in a colander under cold running water for about 5 minutes.

This is a great seafood main dish at only 176 calories per serving! I hope you’ll try this and many other recipes at the American Heart Association website. Enjoy!

Much love,

Haley Pontius

Volunteer of the Month – August 2013

I am so so so so so (did I mention SO) excited to announce my first “Miss International 2013’s Volunteer of the Month Award! (of course, formerly known as Miss New York International’s…)  August 2013’s winner is Linda Baker!

I met Linda Baker of Darien Center, NY at the New York Special Olympics State Championship.  I quickly realized that Linda was a selfless individual who truly had her heart and soul connected to this organization.  She says, “I am not sure if I chose [Special Olympics] or it chose me.  They athletes are incredibly welcoming and have such generous hearts.  All they want is to be accepted for who they are.  They want to be accepted for their abilities, not their disabilities…. Once I opened my heart and mind to them, I was hooked.” (well said!)

Linda has been a Law Enforcement Torch Run volunteer for 14 years and in 2011 was selected for the incredibly honorable role as New York’s representative to run the final leg in the Special Olympics WORLD GAMES in Greece!  (The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest grassroots fundraiser for the S.O. in the world and helps fund training, equipment, uniforms, transportation, etc. – Learn more at http://www.specialolympics.org/Sections/Donate/Special_Olympics_Torch_Run.aspx)

Linda personifies the versatility of today’s volunteer, participating in Polar Plunges (jumping into freeeeeeezing cold wate) and rappelling down a 26-story building to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics!  She credits her volunteer spirit to her parents, who were actively involved in community and civic events.  In her spare time Linda is an avid runner and scrapbooker.  She has two sons, Ken and Mike, a daughter-in-law, Jessie, and her precious grandson, Silas.  Linda will receive a commemorative certificate and a $25 Visa Gift Card sponsored by VolunteerMatch.  Thank you for your inspiring service and dedication!

Linda presenting awards to athletes in 2011; At the World Games in Greece – Torch in hand; Rappelling down Seneca Niagara Casino

Are you or someone you know an outstanding volunteer?  Contact me at 2013missinternational@gmail.com for an official application!

Seek Happiness,

Jesse

25 Things About Me!

1. I competed in my first pageant when I was three years old.

2. My favorite kind of movies are the sappy chick flicks that will make you cry! I recently watched one called Upside Down and it was an emotional rollercoaster. I loved it!

3. If I’m not wearing high heels then I’m barefoot!

4. I love to decorate for Christmas! This time of year brings me so much holiday cheer that I literally drape the inside of our house with colorful lights, silver garland, and huge wreaths. And don’t even get me started on the outside of our house!

5. I’m a tree hugger. I’m in love with nature itself so every time I see a clear-cut forest I almost start to cry!

6. I love to get things in the mail. No matter what it is, I get excited every time!

7. I try to live by the verse James 1:19 that says to “be quick to listen and slow to speak”. I have found that this is helpful in every area of life!

8. I am constantly doodling. Enough said.

9. Although I am seventeen, I have yet to get my driver’s license.

10. My best friend is my rat terrier who I named DeeOGee. Did you catch that? If you didn’t that’s okay. My dad didn’t get it until two years later!

11. When I was a little girl I played every sport known to man at some point or another. Basketball, baseball, soccer, you name it! Eventually I realized that pageantry was the perfect sport for me.

12. I love to take pictures. I’m always ready to strike a pose!

13. I am terrified of the dark. So much that I actually have to sleep with a lamp on in my room.

14. I am a huge animal lover. If it were my choice, I would take home every stray animal on the side of the road.

15. I love to play badminton with my friends. We can play a single game for hours!

16. When I was little I went to the extreme when I built sandcastles in my sandbox. My castles were huge and equipped with child-size tunnels that I would crawl through.

17. I have a purity ring that I wear everyday. It’s my promise to myself, my Lord and my future husband to stay pure till marriage.

18. The perfect way to spend a lazy day is to curl up in a blanket on the couch and watch a marathon of lifetime movies. The only way it could get any better is if it were raining and I had a cup of hot chocolate.

19. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 45:11. “The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.”

20. When I was a little girl my mother would make me pancakes in the shape of teddy bears with chocolate chip eyes. I still believe this made them taste better!

21. One of my favorite things to do with my friends is make unique short films. We all dress up in costumes, play several characters, and direct it as a team. The best part is watching the final product and laughing till we cry!

22. I love to try new things and I’m up for anything!

23. I met my best friend in first grade when she dropped her pencil in class and while reaching down to pick it up noticed I had cool shoes. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

24. My favorite snack is hot chocolate and popcorn, separate and together.

25. I am the first Arkansas titleholder to win the International Pageant.

Haley Pontius

Raiders of the Lost Art: Thank You Notes

I will admit, as a child writing thank you notes was the most difficult, boring, and tedious task ever!  I mean, as a seven year old it’s tough to believe that “Thank you for the Polly Pocket Mansion you gave to me for my birthday, I love it” is worth taking the time to write a notecard, looking up an address, finding a stamp, and snail mailing it to a friend or relative is really worth the effort.

However, as an adult I cannot send ENOUGH thank you notes: to friends, family, sponsors, etc.  In the digital age, words of appreciation in a tangible card handpicked by you speak volumes.  It’s all about the gesture!  Maya Angelou said, “People may not always remember what you say or do, but they will always remember how you made them feel”.   A follow-up note is a great way to ensure people always look back on your interactions fondly.

**No one is perfect!  I can’t even tell you the number of times I have written thank you notes and addressed the envelopes, only to find them between my car seat cushions or at the bottom of a tote months later… it happens, but if you are like me and your mind moves faster than you’d like it to sometimes, keep note cards with you so you can fill them out on-site for the person/people you’d like to thank so you don’t forget!

For titleholders it is imperative to thank you sponsors for many reasons: of course to show your gratitude, but also to help them keep a positive view of pageant contestants.  You want to keep the door open for the next woman who asks!  Have writers’ block?  Here’s something to get you started!

Sponsorship note example:
Dear Business or Individual,
“Thank you so much for your generous contribution towards my journey.  As I dedicate my year to promoting Volunteerism as Miss International 2013, your support will only help strengthen my message and reach.  I am so grateful for your partnership!” – It won’t hurt to include a signed autograph card if you have them!

I recently designed these custom note cards and had them made.  Find ones you love, you’ll be much more likely to want to send them out!

Seek Happiness,

Jesse