Caitriona Balfe

NYC Voyage with Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan

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Photo via Facebook

On Saturday, September 30, 2017, I attended the NYC Voyage with Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan.  Caitriona and Sam star in the Starz television series Outlander.  The special event, held at the Papillon Bistro Restaurant in New York City, raised money for their chosen charities.  Caitriona is the Patron of World Child Cancer.  Sam is the charity ambassador of Cahonas Scotland.  I attended the Outlander in the City event in June, and was very excited when I saw the email announcing this September event.

Photo credit Sandra Hayes

I had the opportunity to meet Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, I’ve never meet either before September. I’ll be honest, I froze when I met both of them.  I was so impressed with how kind, generous, and genuine they both were to their fans.

I did manage to remember to tell Caitriona thank you for everything she does for the fans, and that I was part of the Cooklander Cookbook Committee.  She was really lovely to talk to, and was very thankful for all the hard work the fans do on their behalf for their charities.

I happened to be the last person in the last group to meet Sam.  The bodyguard had to remind me that it was my turn.  Embarrassed, I said, “Shit! Sorry!”  PR Girl turned Fan Girl Fail.

Photo credit Lynda Price

Although, the PR Girl/Celebrity Handler part of me was pleased he was able to get something to drink. I guess I was too busy watching the handler and bodyguard interaction with Sam and the fans.  The bodyguards, Andrew and Patrick, did a great job! I believe I told Sam it was nice to meet him.  He liked my plaid phone case. I said, “Thank you!” The best $9.95 purchase I’ve ever made.  When I met Richard Rankin in June, he liked it too.

Photo via Amazon.com

I felt honored to meet the representatives from both charities.  Ritchie Marshall flew from Glasgow to attend the event for Cahonas Scotland. The charity raises awareness of male cancer. Ritchie wore his kilt made with the official Cahonas Scotland tartan.

Photo via Cahonas Scotland Instagram

Lisa Fernandes arrived in New York City from London to represent World Child Cancer.  We talked about the resources that families have in Jacksonville, FL.  We are very fortunate to have Nemours Children’s Health System and Mayo Clinic in our community.  I can’t imagine being the parent of a child in a developing country without access to healthcare.

Photo via World Child Cancer Instagram

Over $33,000 was raised for Cahonas Scotland and World Child Cancer.  Attendees had the chance to buy raffle tickets, and bid on silent auction items.  The Cooklander Cookbook looked beautiful in the Cooking raffle basket.

You can still visit their JustGiving pages to make a donation.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nycvoyagewcchttps://

http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nycvoyagecs

Photo via Bonnie Terbush Twitter

Over the weekend, I met Outlander fans and My Peak Challenge participants from all over the United States and the world.  I was just as excited to meet amazing friends from California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, China, and Japan as I was to meet Caitriona and Sam.  Friday night, we celebrated birthdays of four friends at Patsy’s Restaurant.

Photo credits to owner

After dinner, we made our way to The Skylark.


Photo credit Sylvia Ederer

On Saturday, Sylvia Ederer organized a beautiful walk for My Peak Challenge participants through Central Park.  I have always been inspired by the Peakers in this community, but it was so energizing to meet in person and hear stories of their journeys and accomplishments.  I loved hearing about the first My Peak Challenge Member Gathering in Scotland that also took place in September.

Photo credit Jackie Osborne

Photo credit Suzanne Young


Photo credit Sandra Hayes

I had the best time with my roommates Donna, Jessie, and Slyvia. We ate brunch at the Central Park Boathouse after our walk with Peakers from California, Florida, North Carolina, Oregon and Texas.

Photo credit Donna G

Photo credit to owner

Photo credit to owner

I departed New York City on Sunday after the event. When I began percolating about the evening throughout the week, I wasn’t surprised that I froze when I met them.  Though I’m positive my musings about Preschool, PTA, shopping trips to Publix, and family medical problems are riveting, I don’t think they would have been appropriate ice breakers.

I’ve been watching Outlander since its premiere in August of 2014.  I read books one through three prior to watching the show.  Obviously, I started a blog.  I think about a quote from a Beau Taplin book, Hunting Season, when I think about Caitriona and Sam.  Full disclosure, I haven’t read any of Taplin’s works of poetry in full, but this quote stands out to me.  I could focus on the sad portion of the quote, but I focus on the positive message.  How amazing is it that these two actors have started a fire in so many people? I was thrilled to have the unique opportunity to meet them.

Image via Pinterest

The organizers of the event did an outstanding job! Thank you very much Bonnie Terbush, Outlander Homepage, Liz Mercado Associates, and Outlander Forever for all of your dedication. You created an unforgettable evening.

Follow Cahonas Scotland @CahonasScotland on Twitter and @cahonasscotland on Instagram for more information on this Nonprofit organization.

Follow World Child Cancer on Twitter @WChildCancer and on Instagram @wchildcancer to learn more about how they help children with cancer and their families.

Thank you so much for reading!

Jenny Mc

inspiredbyoutlander@gmail.com

Jenny Mc @jennymcinspired – Twitter

Jennifer McAfee – Facebook

Outlander star Sam Heughan announces leukaemia research investment 

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Please read this wonderful blog by Steph Cade, a member of the Bloodwise staff.

https://bloodwise.org.uk/blog/outlander-star-sam-heughan-announces-leukaemia-research-investment

In the tweet below, Caitriona Balfe takes the words right out of my mouth.  I couldn’t have written it any better myself.

IMG_7036 (2)

I’m very proud to have been a part of My Peak Challenge 2016.  Thank you for reading!

Jenny Mc

inspiredbyoutlander@gmail.com

Jenny Mc @jennymcinspired – Twitter

Jennifer McAfee – Facebook

ThePeakPosse Basket is Back to Support Action for Children

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I spoke to one of my favorite people, Bonnie Terbush, Friday afternoon.  Bonnie is the Administrator of a Facebook Group called ThePeakPosse.  During the course of actor Sam Heughan’s My Peak Challenge, ThePeakPosse decided to raise funds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research by raffling an Outlander inspired Gift Basket.  The Gift Basket consisted of over 60 donations, including autographed items. Within five weeks, the raffle raised in excess of $25,000.00 US Dollars.  Their second raffle for World Child Cancer, Caitriona Balfe’s charity, raised over $17, 400.00 US Dollars.  Please see my blog post, “What’s in the Peak Posse Basket? Love, Generosity, Creativity, and Hope”, to read more about the previous raffles.

GrahamMcTavish

As we talked, Bonnie shared the story of the first time she met Graham McTavish at a L.I. Geek event in May.  Bonnie told Graham that he was the first actor to donate to the first basket raffle, and she continued, “We would like to raise funds for your charity that you support.”  ThePeakPosse is now focusing fundraising efforts to raise money for Action for Children, Graham’s chosen charity.  Bonnie says, “This is the first time anyone has ever raised funds for a charitable organization on behalf of Graham McTavish.”  Action for Children works in the UK in local communities to protect and support the young and vulnerable, as they grow up. They believe in taking action early to fix problems before a child is overwhelmed by them, and they help children at different stages of their lives. Action for Children runs over 650 services, from children’s centers to intensive family support, from fostering and adoption to respite care for the disabled.  For more information about Action for Children, go to their website at www.actionforchildren.org.uk.  You can follow them on Twitter @actnforchildren.

Graham

The current Gift Basket raffle runs from July 1, 2015 through August 30, 2015 at 8:30pm ET.  The winner will be chosen at 8:30 pm ET and promptly announced. In addition to many fantastic goodies, the basket includes autographed items, a navy blue Bear Strength Clothing Co. hoodie donated by one of ThePeakPosse members, an Outlander Quilt, and a luxury one day tour of Scotland donated by Outlandish Journeys.

Bear Strengthpp

Outlander Quilt

 Outlandish Journeys

To enter the Gift Basket raffle, just follow this two-step process.

  1. Donate to Action for Children, interested parties may donate to the following site: https://www.justgiving.com/ThePeakPosseActionForChildren/.  Donations to “ThePeakPosse Just Giving page in support of Action for Children” are being generously matched by Macquarie, the employer of Heather Lee Ying, a member of ThePeakPosse.  In order for the match to occur, the following statement must be included within the donation message “In support of the fund-raising efforts, ThePeakPosse/Heather L.Y.
  2. As a Thank You, donors may enter to win the Gift Basket raffle in support of Action for Children at https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7c3e22083/.

Bonnie also created Ten Dollar Tuesday.  Every Tuesday is Ten Dollar Tuesday. Here are the directions:

  1. Donate a minimum of $10.00 to https://www.justgiving.com/ThePeakPosseActionForChildren/.  In the donation description include your Twitter name, #TenDollarTuesday and your best guess (number) and the matching statement “In support of the fund-raising efforts, ThePeakPosse/Heather L.Y.
  2. Guess a number from 1-200.
  3. The numbers closest to the winning number on either side, will win a set of Jamie and Claire note cards by The Animated Life (they’re in the Gift Basket).

tendollartuesday

You can follow ThePeakPosse on Twitter @ThePeakPosse. Additionally, individuals are invited to ‘Like’ the Outlander-ThePeakPosse Fundraiser page on Facebook in order to follow their fundraising endeavors, https://t.co/urR4OfjHvb.  You can follow Bonnie on Twitter @BonnieTerbush.  I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Bonnie last week.  She is an inspiration to me.

Thank you so much for reading!

Jenny Mc

inspiredbyoutlander@gmail.com

@jennymcinspired – Twitter

Reflections on Episode 116

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I don’t usually post about the specific episodes on my blog because my point of view is going to differ from others because I am seeing the episodes from my own lens.  By nature, opinions are going to be subjective. I responded to a tweet last night right after I watched the episode, just finished watching, overcome with emotion. Want to say more, hopefully coherently, can’t right now. The tears didn’t start to flow until after I watched the entire episode.

Truthfully, I watched episode 115 two weeks ago with a Crown and Coke in my hand, tissues, and chocolate.  My husband also watched the episode with me.  For episode 116, not for any particular reason, I didn’t have any of those things.  I sat cross-legged on my bed watching the episode clutching a pillow in my lap, shouting, “No! No! No!” at my TV.

I expected to feel heartbroken, sadness, despair, and sympathy.  I did not expect to feel anger.  Anger at the characters, anger on behalf of the actors portraying the characters.  Anger at the show runners for making the decision to go as far as they went with the material.  I am still sitting with the anger.  I need to percolate about that more.

Through all of these emotions, I also could not help but feel proud of the actors and show runners.  I read the book three years ago.  I knew what was going to happen, what needed to happen.  I cried when I finished reading those chapters in the book.  When I started watching the show in August, I wondered how the actors were going to prepare for these episodes.  I don’t have any acting experience, I haven’t taken any drama classes, I don’t have any frame of reference, but I watched something so brave on my television screen last night.

My husband didn’t watch this episode, but asked me, “Are you so upset because it happened to Sam?  Would you be so upset if it was someone else playing Jamie?”  In answer to the first question, I said, “No. Yes.”  In answer to his second question, I said, “No.”  My hope is to explain coherently, so let me clarify.  I was so upset because it was happening to Jamie.  Sam is Jamie in this show.  Sam’s performance, not only the delivery of the dialogue, but the emotions conveyed on his face affected me so much that I couldn’t sleep for hours.  I don’t think another actor could have brought the sensitivity he brings to the material, so therefore in my opinion, no, I wouldn’t have been so gutted if another actor played those scenes.

Something that resonates with me about Sam as Jamie is the fact that he is a good listener.  Access Hollywood has done two interviews with or about Sam Heughan that are my favorite interviews that I have read or seen.  In the September 2014 interview with Jolie Lash, Sam says, “There was one show I was doing — there was a woman… she was a fantastic actress and she had a quite emotional scene and I used to go down like half an hour before my call and just sit in the wings and listen to her, and I’d love, somehow, the sound of people listening. There’s something about the silence of people listening to someone, or watching someone — I just… I love that.”  Read the entire interview at http://www.accesshollywood.com/outlander-getting-to-know-sam-heughan_article_99012.  Duncan Lacroix did an interview with Access Hollywood where he describes Sam, “He’s a very good actor at listening”.  Read more at http://www.accesshollywood.com/outlander-qanda-duncan-lacroix-on-murtagh-fitzgibbons-fraser_article_107390#BtlEVUxPI5rYHXhs.99. I feel this quality brought so much depth to those scenes.

I started to reread Outlander at the end of the first half of season one.  I still haven’t finished the book.  They have gotten married in my reread, and I thought about skipping to the Wentworth chapters to prepare myself.  I didn’t, but after I watched the show last night, I reread the last chapter, “From the Womb of the Earth”.

I am Catholic, again my lens, and I sat during Mass this morning thinking about the show and books.  Coincidentally, the Mass centered on the Feast of the Holy Trinity.  I was reminded of Diana Gabaldon’s piece “Jamie and the Rule of Three.”, http://www.dianagabaldon.com/other-projects/the-cannibals-art-how-writing-really-works/the-cannibals-art-jamie-and-the-rule-of-three/.  I was soothed as I thought of Jamie and his motivation for his actions.  The scenes in the show regarding Claire’s confession were beautiful to watch.  The message of second chances and redemption so powerful.  I was left feeling grateful and thankful.

I am grateful and thankful for a show and books so amazing that they make me think, feel, and try to empathize and sympathize with others and the challenges in their lives.  I will be thinking about episodes 115 and 116 for many days, weeks, and months to come.  I started writing this blog in October because I was inspired by the words in the books and the writing in the adaptation on the television screen.  I feel so appreciative of the journey that I have taken due the blog.  It is gratifying to stretch my brain in a different direction, and I am so thrilled about the opportunity to meet new people because of this experience.

Caitriona Balfe, Tobias Menzies, and Sam Heughan all deserve Emmys for their performances last night.  The whole cast and crew deserve Emmys for their work and dedication to the show.

Thank you so much for reading!

Jenny Mc

@jennymcinspired – Twitter

Jenny McOutlander – Facebook

inspiredbyoutlander@gmail.com

What’s in the Peak Posse Basket? Love, Generosity, Creativity, and Hope

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On November 7, 2014, I wrote, Sam Heughan’s fans are very creative, clever, committed, entertaining, funny, industrious, loving, and loyal.  I had the pleasure of speaking to Bonnie Terbush Thursday morning.  She is a shining example of one of those fans.  Bonnie is the Administrator of a Facebook Group called The Peak Posse.  During the course of actor Sam Heughan’s My Peak Challenge, The Peak Posse decided to raise funds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research by raffling an Outlander inspired Gift Basket.  The Gift Basket consisted of over 60 donations, including autographed items. Within five weeks, the raffle raised in excess of $25,000.00 US Dollars.  By day, Bonnie is an Anti Money Laundering Investigator.  By night, she is in Basket Mode, “I call it Basket Head,” she says, “I commute, and as soon as I get off the train, I go into Basket Mode.”

Bonnie is now focusing her fundraising efforts to raise money for World Child Cancer, Caitriona Balfe’s chosen charity.  The current Gift Basket raffle began on 4/1/15 and ends at 8pm ET on 5/31/15. The winner will be announced at 8:30pm ET.  Bonnie says, “The efforts are a group collaboration.  I really appreciate everyone’s help!”  The World Child Cancer organization has been very involved. As of today, the basket contains the following items:

ppbasket

Image via @CandidKathryn

To enter the Gift Basket raffle, just follow this two-step process.

  1.  Donate to World Child Cancer, interested parties may donate to the following site: https://www.justgiving.com/cmbthepeakposse/.  Donations to “The Peak Posse Just Giving page in support of World Child Cancer” are being generously matched by Macquarie, the employer of Heather Lee Ying, a member of The Peak Posse.  In order for the match to occur, the following statement must be included within the donation message “In support of the fundraising efforts, The Peak Posse/Heather L.Y.”
  2. As a Thank You, donors may enter to win the Gift Basket raffle in support of World Child Cancer at https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7c3e22082/?

Bonnie also created Ten Dollar Tuesday.  Every Tuesday is Ten Dollar Tuesday. Here are the directions:

  1. Donate a minimum of $10.00 to https://www.justgiving.com/cmbthepeakposse/.
  2. Guess a number from 1-200.
  3. In the donation description include your Twitter name, #TenDollarTuesday and your best guess (number) and the matching statement “In support of the fund raising efforts, ThePeakPosse/Heather L.Y.”
  4. The numbers closest to the winning number on either side, will win a set of Jamie and Claire note cards by The Animated Life (they’re in the Gift Basket).

Additionally, individuals are invited to ‘Like’ the Outlander-The Peak Posse Fundraiser page on Facebook in order to follow our fundraising endeavors, https://t.co/urR4OfjHvb.

Sibling Bribery

Image via @CandidKathryn

For more information about World Child Cancer, go to their website at www.worldchildcancer.org.  You can follow them on Twitter @WChildCancer.  In my research, I found this moving World Child Cancer video on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdIZD8oS0BM.

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with Bonnie last week.  One thought especially has stayed with me.  She said, “The opportunities I’ve had since I created this Facebook group are incredible…because of one book series and television show.  I’m awestruck by people’s generosity.  The support is overwhelming.”  I couldn’t agree with her more!  Sparkle on, Bonnie!

Thank you so much for reading!

Jenny Mc

inspiredbyoutlander@gmail.com

@jennymcinspired – Twitter

 

A Cookbook inspired by Outlander

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When I started blogging in October, I did not know where my journey would take me.  I joined My Peak Challenge in January, and posted about my adventures.  My Peak Challenge, Sam Heughan, and Bear Strength Clothing Co. continue to be the most popular topics searched on my blog. I am happy to be in a place where I can create a buzz about all the positive activities surrounding Outlander and its stars.

A cookbook is being compiled to raise money for Sam Heughan’s charity Beat Blood Cancer and Caitriona Balfe’s charity World Child Cancer. We would like recipe contributions from all over the world. We are asking for favorite recipes from stars, friends, family, and fans. See below for instructions to submit your recipe.

Image via @Pellicot1

Dinna fash if you do not cook! You can always submit a recipe that you love to eat.

Image via @Pellicot1

Image via @Pellicot1

(I have meme envy. I’ve always wanted to use Memes in my blog, and now I’ve been given permission.)

If you have any questions, please feel free to email OutlanderCookbook@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing your recipes. I’ll be including some of my own as well. Thank you again for reading!

Jenny Mc

inspiredbyoutlander@gmail.com

@jennymcinspired – Twitter