Lets Break the Glass Ceiling

While women have come a long way in the work force since the Rosie the Riveter days, we still have a long way to go. On average, women only earn only 77 cents for every 1 dollar a man makes (2008 Bureau of Labor Statistics). Now I don't know about you, but, when I am working side by side with a man for 12 hours a day, completing the same exact tasks, this statistic seems unfair to me.

Today I attended my very first Women's Networking Council meeting. The Organization strives to get women on the same level as men in the work world. The topic in today's meeting was that time management of both your personal and professional life is key to a successful career. Lets face it... how many of your boyfriends/husbands come home at night and cook you dinner or maybe surprise you by doing the laundry or cleaning out the fridge? Now I am not saying that there aren't some amazing men out there that help with these everyday tasks, I am just saying that I have yet to find one. Here were some helpful ideas that we brainstormed at today's meeting to stay on task!

• Make lists and stick to them! When you make a list, you are able to prioritize and better manage your day.
• Cook meals on the weekend and freeze them. Then, during the week, simply warm them up when you get home!
• Invest in a crock pot! It is so nice to come home and have dinner hot and waiting for you.
• Don't be afraid to delegate and communicate. If your plate is full and you know that you won't have enough time to complete a task, then ask your co-workers to help you out.
• JUST SAY NO!!! It was found that men are more apt to delegate to women than to males at the same skill level because more women have a difficult time saying no. If you really are overwhelmed with work it is OKAY to say no. Now don't go telling your boss every time he/she asks you to do something that Amy said its okay to tell you no. It is not a pass all the work to someone else, your off the hook, get out of jail free type deal. Just know that if you really cannot possibly get everything done, it is okay to express your concern.

These are just a few of the ideas that we discussed today. The next meeting is on June 11th and I cannot wait!

The Home Stretch?

Well there is less than one month left to go and some would argue that we are in the home stretch... the awesome part is that I am absolutely am not! While I am preparing like a mad woman for Miss NY, that does not mean that I have stopped my mission to get kids more involved.

I have been given an opportunity that I am SO excited about! This July, I will be a judge in the National American Miss Pageant. I know from experience that one pageant can turn into a life-long (well until you turn 24) phenomenon that can change your life forever. I am so pumped to witness these young women as they start their journey and have a chance to encourage them to use the organization to learn about themselves and to make a difference in their communities.

My pageant sister, Victoria Ripple, and I will both be judging and if you would like to join us there is still room for more judges! The pageant is in Rochester from July 9-13. If you are interested then please let me know and I will get you more information!

Apps For Healthy Kids

I received an e-mail today about a program called Apps for Health Kids. In order to join Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative, the organization has decided to host a competition. Up to $60,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. To enter the competition, you must develop a software program that encourages kids to make healthy food choices and be physically active.

For more information click here!

United Way Day of Caring

Accounting. It's a career that I love, but I must say, when I chose this field there was one thing that was holding me back. Accountants aren't changing the world, they don't impact people's lives or make a difference. Did I really want to be a part of something that didn't include a big chunk of the core values in my life?

Well as you know, I followed my heart and I am now an Accountant. But I was wrong about one thing, we are making a difference. No, completing a corporate tax return or checking to see if accounts receivable is what it is supposed to be does not save a child's life or impact the world in some dramatic way. But what I learned is, that as a firm, we can make a difference!

PwC is an international firm employing 163,000 people. Every year, each employee is allowed ten working hours to volunteer in the community. Now lets look at the math here...

• PwC employees at a MINIMUM (10 hours is what we are given, but we are encouraged to do more) spend 1,630,000 HOURS helping the community EVERY YEAR

• There are 8,670 hours in one year

This is equivalent to my firm hiring 188 people year round 24 hours a day to make our communities a better place. Pretty awesome.

I am sure you want me to get to the point. Today was the United Way Day of Caring. Several of my co-workers and I spent the day volunteering at a home for people with disabilities. The awesome part about this program is that it allows these individuals to live a semi-independent lifestyle. There is care provided for them during the day as needed, but at night, they are free to go off to their own bedrooms, hang out and play the Nintendo Wii in their living room, or enjoy the great outdoors in their backyard.

My job today was to paint. If you know me, which obviously this organization didn't, you would never put a paint brush in my hands. I got paint pretty much every where except for the walls. But in the end, it turned out pretty good :) Look at that beautiful wall!

Get in the Game Mondays!!!

I. Am. Pumped!

As you know, I will be volunteering every Monday this summer with Family Services in Corning. Family Services is an organization that runs a camp for kids who have parents that work full time jobs. Their program ensures that these children are being active instead of sitting in front of the television all day.

So why am I pumped? Michele Mayor, the Youth Services Director, e-mailed me this morning to tell me that every Monday there will be activities entitled "Get in the Game" (the name of my platform!!) and that I can decide what I want to do with the kids! This is a HUGE opportunity for me and for my platform. WOOT WOOT :D

Introducing.....

...Mr. Finger Lakes, Clint Sugnet!!!

I am very excited to welcome Clint to the Finger Lakes family!!! Clint is my good friend from college, and I cannot wait to watch him compete for the title of Mr. Empire State! Now, my Clint is no ordinary man, here are some fun facts about him...

1. He is studying to be an eye doctor at SUNY State College of Optometry in NYC
2. He was a TWO TIME All American in Collegiate Swimming
3. Clint still holds conference records in Swimming from when he competed at SUNY Geneseo.
4. He was a big fan of President Clinton
5. Clint and I share the passion to one day learn Michael Jackson's, Thriller
6. He can save your life-- He's a lifeguard!

Yay Clint! You are going to have a blast :)

Let's show 'em how it's done in the country!

Normally, when you think about a parades, you think about the beauty queen riding along luxuriously on the back of a convertible. Well, that is not how we roll in Cayton! This weekend was the Cayton Days festival and I was very honored to be a part of it. I met up with the Colonial Days Queens on Saturday morning for the annual parade, but there were no convertibles waiting for us...

That's right! We all got our own pickup truck! It was pretty awesome, especially since this was my very first time standing in the bed of a moving truck! When I was younger, my mother would never even allow me to sit in the back of a moving pickup...but she made an exception on Saturday :)

Another very exciting event took place this weekend. Stacey Minchin was crowned Miss Thunder Country and will be competing for the title of Miss New York International!! I am so proud of her; she has worked extremely hard to promote her platform of the American Cancer Society. I know that she will do great things in her year. If anyone would like to join me, I will be supporting our girl Stacey at the New York International pageant this October! Again, congratulations my dear, you are very deserving!

Stacey Minchin, Miss Thunder Country, with 1st Runner Up, Stephanie Ramos

A Sigh of Relief?

It's over. Like really over. I never thought I would be able to say that...well I still have finals, but those don't count. On the last day of school every year I play this song by Alice Cooper... I know I have weird traditions.

Schools out for Summer
Schools out FOREVER

Normally only the schools out for summer part used to be relevant to me... but now school is really out forever. Woot woot!

Now what does this actually mean to anyone other than me who's just excited? It means that kids are going to be at home all summer. Statistics show that an average child spends SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS a day looking at a screen- whether it be a tv, computer, or cell phone. This is absolutely unacceptable. Kids need at least 60 minutes of "active play" every day, and only 1/3 of them are actually getting it. So when you go to the family picnic and your little cousins want to play a video game, suggest a game of kick ball instead -- you can even join them! Or next time you are babysitting and the mother says to you "I will get a movie to make it easy for you", tell her NO! Last week, I took this stance when I was babysitting and instead of the easy movie, we went for a nature hike. Now I wasn't the biggest fan of the dirt or the bugs, but it was ACTIVE and I must admit that I had fun.

Normally, my family plays board games...this time, we played football! (my team won :))

A lot of people think that since they don't have children, this is not their problem. But it is. It's everyone's problem. We are the first generation that is expected to live shorter lives than the previous one and our graduation rates are declining dramatically. Get involved, you can make a difference!

You are SOLD!

The anticipation for this weekend was pretty high... men that you can buy?... now that's what I'm talking about! This Saturday was the annual Bachelor Auction in Corning to support the Children's Miracle Network. 31 men built up the courage and stepped up to the challenge of being auctioned off for a night on the town with the highest bidder. Stacey and I had the honor of escorting these men up the runway. The men really got into it and were able to get the crowd rev'd up and the money flying. Some men danced and some even went as far as taking off their shirts for a sneak peak... it was quite the show! This event takes A LOT of planning and preparation, and thanks to Pilar Miller and Sarah Roemmelt, it was a huge success, raising over $3,500 for the CMN!

Bachelor, Andy Billote, being auctioned off by WINK 106 radio host, Ali Payne!

Bachelor- Andy Billote, CMN Coordinator- Sarah Roemmelt, Bachelor- Alec Immerman

Stacey and I with Bachelor, Alec Immerman.

The CMN festivities for me did not end there. I woke up bright and early to kick off another one of my famous Wal Mart fundraisers. Luckily, it wasn't as cold this time! With the help of my sisters, my brother in-law, and my mom taking shifts to sit with me, we were able to make $327 for the CMN- a huge thanks to the supportive town of Painted Post!

In the words of my friend Charlie... my weekend was pretty "baller."

**Photos provided by Alec Immerman**