Dogwood trees

We have them in our neighborhood and are lucky enough to have two in our yard. They are a striking shade of dark pink that gets lighter as they bloom bigger. But I never can remember to take a picture of them - I just end up sitting at my kitchen table staring out at them with a stupid grin on my face.

Luckily, one of my favorite bloggers loves many of the things I love and has a knack for photography.

One in eight

That's an ugly statistic. That's a woman's chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer. My chance, your sister's chance, your mother's chance. Survival is more likely now than ever, but it's a miserable path - and an expensive one for many women.

Let's be real. Money makes the world go 'round - money for research, lobbyists, medicine, outreach. Where does that money come from? You and me.

So this year I'm doing a bit more than donating my own money. I'm running the Komen Race for the Cure here in Atlanta, and I'm asking for donations. I'm not a fan of "benevolent consumerism" - buying something pink is lovely and all, but I want my money to have the greatest impact. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a four-star charity as rated by CharityNavigator.

So if you have a few bucks left from tax season and you're wondering what to do with it, think about giving to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, as a general donation or as a team or participant sponsor.

Doggie smarts

My new favorite author has a blog! If you have a dog and you're not familiar with Patricia McConnell, I encourage you to become so. She's no whisperer - she's a PhD in animal behavior, an experienced trainer and a positive reinforcer.