Lifetime TV and BCA

Breast Cancer is no laughing matter. However, it is ok to have a little fun while sending out an important message.
Lifetime TV put this bill on their Web page with a petition drive to show your support. All you need to do is fill out your name, email, state, and zip. Easy as 1-2-3-4.

Their campaign is: be my support. be my strength.
be my bra. Love it!

After you fill out the short petition form, you will find yourself on a Thank You page where you can create your very own own character and add her to the growing list of women wanting to find a cure for this dreadful disease. My character is shown above, in the middle. (Just to be clear, you only have certain styles to choose from. I would never actually wear this top, but I love the shoes. Then again, we aren't really focusing on me in this post, are we.)

Gal to Gal

It is officially the end of October and the month for Breast Cancer Awareness. However, as you know awareness shouldn't stop November 1st. The Gal to Gal Foundation recognizes this and they are continuing their efforts to raise a cool million for Stage IV breast cancer patients. I wrote about this group earlier this month. The Foundation walked - virtually - across America and today ended in San Francisco. The group is very dedicated to their goal.

As of today, it looks like they have raised just over $100,000. They have a ways to go, but with your help they will make it!

Don't Duck a Breast Exam

This is just ducky. Here is another opportunity to help out with Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Munchkin, Inc. is reminding women everywhere "Don't duck a breast exam" by selling their limited edition Project Pink Duck. Buy a whole flock and support the Susan G. Komen Foundation. They are only $2.99.

In addition to Project Pink Duck, they have enlisted celebrities to use their imagination and design a duck to be auctioned off on ebay. During the next two days you can still bid on ducks designed by Courteney Cox & David Arquette, Cheryl Hines, Brooke Shields and more. Next weeks celebs are Patti LaBelle, Barbara Bush, ebay's very own Meg Whitman and more. For those of you addicted to ebay, here's your chance to satisfy that craving!

Lastly, if you are one of the few who have fought off the ebay addiction and you are quite crafty, you can decorate your own duck and enter it into the contest. If you like Munchkin products, you might want to consider this. The prizes are quite good.

Click or Shop and Give

Are you feeling the urge to give this month to a Breast Cancer Awareness group, but just don't know which one? Here is another possibility. The Breast Cancer Site. You can shop and give at the same time. Your shopping helps fund mammograms for woman in need. There is something for everyone. Seriously. Here are just a few.

I love the pink camo shirt above. Adorable. $17.95

Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Friends Magnets. $4.00

Pink Ribbon Purse Hanger. Every woman needs one of these. $14.95

Glamorous Pink Crystal Ribbon Pin. $16.95

and much more.

And here is something cool. It's probably the easiest way you will ever give back. Go to the main page for The Breast Cancer Site and just click to give - it's free. "Your click on the 'Click Here to Give - it's FREE' button helps fund free mammograms for women in need — low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited. Your click is paid for by site sponsors, and mammogram funding is provided to clinics throughout the U.S. through the efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation."

I am loving that pink camo shirt. I keep looking at it. I'm sure by tomorrow I'll have bought it!

Stage IV Breast Cancer

As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. One of the passions behind Designhergals.com is to raise money for Stage IV breast cancer patients through their Gal to Gal Foundation. This month they are hosting a special virtual walk event. You don't need to fly to a certain city to participate. All you need to do is fire up that internet connection of yours. Chances are, if you are reading this, you've accomplished that step.

Their goal is to register 1 million walkers throughout the month of October. The donation is minimal, $3.00. Of course, they will take more! I think you can live without Starbucks for one day. Make coffee from home and donate to a wonderful cause. So many women (and men) who are living with and going through the most critical phase of this incredulous disease will benefit from your generosity.

Virtually, they will be walking from Boston to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Hint: no training needed, it's virtual. Today they are in Baltimore, MD.

Log on to galtogal.org and create your virtual walker today. You can design a girl to look like you, a loved one, or someone who inspires you! Very cool. My girl is sporting a blue sweat suit, Emily K from St. Paul.

If you are not familiar with Design-her Gals, it is a very creative and fun website. You get to create your gal(s) from a million different choices from clothing to the optional man or dog standing beside you to what you want to hold in your hands. Above is the Gal I created a few months ago. You can click here to see my previous post regarding this amazing web site.

Operation Baby Shower

First try to image having your husband serving for his country overseas. Now, try to image this while you are pregnant. Sound tough? I think so. Not only do you not have your partner there to share in the experience (and get fiesty with when you are feeling the hormones!), but you also have the added stress of wondering if everything is ok and will he make it home to meet his new little son or daughter.

Thankfully, there are people looking out for them trying to make this time a little easier. Lena's Notebook and Clever Parents threw Operation Baby Shower on June 3rd to recognize seventeen expectant moms and new moms at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. More than 50 companies showed their support for the shower and donated tons of gifts for the deserving mothers. The women were incredibly grateful. They couldn't believe people they didn't even know were sending gifts - just for them. Lena's response is perfect:

We were truly impressed by their spirit and optimism and humbled by their sacrifices for our country. We salute you.

Because of the success of this shower, Clever Parents and Lena’s Notebook are in the process of forming a non-profit organization in order to host showers such as this across the nation. If you are interested in donating to future showers, please contact Lena Morrissey at lena@lenasnotebook.com

I love a good story.

One Step At a Time

This is the most amazing thing I've come across in a long, long time. As an entrepreneur one of my goals is to find ways to give back. Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS shoes, has certainly found an inspiring and innovative way to give back.

Short story version: Blake was in Argentina where he bought a pair of comfortable Argentine shoes. Before leaving he observed the children he saw in villages - they didn't wear or own shoes. The result? Their feet were terribly beat up from walking miles each day to get water for their families. Then, the ultimate idea struck Blake. He was going to make a similar version of this Argentine shoe he purchased and for every pair he sold, he would donate one pair to a child.

I've never seen a more generous donation program from a small business. It is truly inspiring. It makes me wonder if I could do a similar program with Emily Allyn. I am seriously going to look into it. The big question, how to find the people who would pay $30+ for a onesie or toddler shirt? Even though the customer would be donating another onesie or shirt to a child-in-need, I would need to find the market. Would you buy it?

If this story intrigues you, go to the TOMS shoes website and read more. Heck, maybe even buy a pair! Plus there are interesting YouTube videos.

As our friends at the GAP for Product (RED) asked, "Can a T-shirt change the world?" - I ask you, Can shoes change the world? These can.

Global Warming 101

In my humble opinion, if you don't believe global warming is a factor that will affect you or the generations to come, you are living in a dream world... again, in my humble opinion.

It is already here. It may not have a direct devastating affect in your eyes at the present moment, but it will in only a few years.

I am not a Scientist, I only play one on T.V. OK, I don't even play one on T.V. but I do read. And quite honestly I am just learning. I thought, up until recently, the jury was still out on the issue of global warming and whether it was a real factor or not. The jury is in and... Houston, we have a problem.

To educate yourself, you might want to check out the Global Warming 101 website. Will Steger is a renowned explorer who has led many expeditions in the polar regions. He is from Minnesota (I just had to throw that in there), and he has decided to dedicate the rest of his life to informing others about global warming.

If you are like I was and you are not quite convinced that global warming is actually happening, start on the FAQ page. It is an excellent place to find the answers to these questions:

• Isn't there a big debate about whether or not global warming is actually happening and whether or not humans have anything to do with it?


• Is there any hope of slowing global warming?


• What is the big deal if the earth warms a few degrees?


• Why should we learn about what is going on in the polar regions? What relevance does that have to my home region?

When you are ready for more, read the Letter of Concern written by Will Steger. And of course read up on Mr. Steger and his credentials. I'm sure you will agree he is truly a decorated expert in the area.

Isn't it time we all start doing something... anything? Even it is educating yourself, it's a start. A smart start.

New Years Resolution #2

Double check our donation organization list. Make sure it is up-to-date. Add any new organizations we would like to give to this year.

Every one of us is touched by cancer. Whether it is directly or indirectly, it affects all of us. Chantal Cookware is the only housewares manufacturer to have teamed up with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to offer some ceramic items featuring the Livestrong logo. Each piece specifies it's donation amount to the foundation. All pieces are the signature yellow from the Livestrong wristband.

You can choose from:

Enamel Loop Teakettle

Snack Bowls Set/4

Pouring Bowl

Snack Plates Set/4

Extra Large Plate

Short & Stout Mug

Latte Mug

Tea Mug w/ Infuser

Tea Pot

Obviously, if you are a tea-hound, you are sure to find something for yourself! If you are not into tea that much, you can surely use a serving plate or some bowls. In the way of gift-giving, anyone would love to receive this as a gift. If your gift-receiver doesn't appreciate the symbolism, you may officially call him/her the Grinch because he/she has a heart that is "two sizes too small"!

Blast from the Past!

This post is two-fold. It's a message to remember those this holiday season who are less fortunate and it's a little PR for an amazing organization.

This isn't a new find, but none-the-less it is still amazing... even after 22 years! Remember Band Aid? The music group that is. Remember their song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" I bet you are humming it to yourself now. Just in case you forgot the words, here are the lyrics. When you read them (as opposed to listening to the song), you realize how dismal the words and therefore the situation was... is. For example, "And it's a world of dread and fear where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears," "And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom," and "Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow." However, the words I would like to focus on is an important line, "The greatest gift they'll get this year is life." It reminds me how precious life really is. When you are down on your luck, it's hard to remember this. But it is worth remembering.

This brings me to another amazing organization that Emily Allyn has given to in the past, save.org. SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) believes that by recognizing and treating depression in children we can improve the chances a young person with depression can live a longer, healthier, more quality life. If you have experienced depression yourself or know someone who has, I urge you to check out this website. The information is plentiful and there are opportunities to help.

The Band Aid song ends with an upbeat repeat of "Feed the world. Let them know it's Christmastime." A pretty important message this time of year. Remember those who are hungry and/or less fortunate. Teach your kids empathy and show them at a young age how to give.

I can't end this post without reminding you of the other group/song that was similar to the Band Aid project. If you are like me, you are thinking, "I know there is another song just like that one. What is it? How did it go?" I won't leave you hanging. It was "We are the World" sung at Live Aid. The concerts were actually a spin off from the success of Band Aid. You know us American's we always have to get our hands on something that is successful world-wide! But hey, I'm not going to knock it when the money is going to an amazing cause.

If you would like more inforamtion about donating to Band Aid and Live Aid, check out Bob Geldorf's website. He is one of the creators who started it all!

Can a T-Shirt Change the World?

This year give friends, family members, and yourself something from the RED TM collection at the Gap. Why? Gap is contributing half the profits from the sales of (Product) RED directly to The Global Fund which helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. So while you buy a little something for yourself or some people on your holiday list, you can also feel like you are helping out a wonderful cause. Now that's what I call smart shopping!

Gap is also manufacturing some of their products right in Africa.

"A woman working in a Lesotho garment factory that produces Gap products becomes part of a cycle of hope. She works for an employer that offers her services and support and access to HIV testing and treatment. And she's making a product that's being sold around the world, the profits from which will be invested back into her country." --Dr. Feachem

Although the products are a little more expensive than Gap's regular prices, just remember you are giving to an important organization. If nothing else, check out the website and learn a little more about the product and it's initiatives. Gap says this is not just a project. This is a new brand within Gap that is going to stick around.

So, can a T-shirt change the world?
Don Cheadle (awesome actor) says, "This one can."

The Reading Railroad

Giving a child the gift of literacy is one of the greatest gifts we can give. As I've said before, a child can never have enough books. With television, video games, and the computers taking over our world, it is even more important we read to our children and give to other children who are not as fortunate. I believe a love for books will take you to places you've never been!

Recently, I came across the Reach Out and Read non-profit organization. They promote literacy by giving books to children in need. Plus the program assists parents or guardians by educating them on why it is so important to read out loud to their children.

The website also provides some fantastic literary resources on this topic:

Developmental Milestones in English, Spanish, and Chinese

Reading Tips and Choosing Books

Recommended books for adults regarding reading out loud and early literacy

And a list of links to a whole slew of other organizations whose goal is to bring literacy to families everywhere.

Find a program you believe in and give. It's simple to pass on gently used books. Or if you prefer to give money, a few dollars goes a long way to provide a child a book and an imagination. You never know where that child might go!

Strongest Dad in the World

My aunt forwarded an email to me today. It was an article by Rick Reilly from Sports Illustrated titled, "Strongest Dad in the World." You may have seen it. It has made it's way around the internet since Rick wrote it more than a year ago on 6/15/05. The article and video are so moving, I immediately wanted to post it.

The cleanest copy of the article I have found (no ads covering the pages) is here, though you can find it all over the internet. In a nutshell, Dick Hoyt has a son, Rick, who was born with his ambilical cord strangling his neck. It caused severe disabilities. Today Dick and Rick run marathons and participate in triatholons. That's all I'm going to give away. It's an amazing story - one of those that puts life in perspective.

Once you finish the article, you must watch the video. Grab some kleenex and prepare for a few tears.

If you want to learn more about the Hoyt family, they have a website, Team Hoyt.

The message of Team Hoyt is that everybody should be included in everyday life.