Christmas Ideas... #5

Here is yet another GREAT idea... BUT you need to act TODAY! Unfortunately I just came across this site and the deadline for placing an order in time for Christmas is TODAY! So don't hesitate!

Every Child's Right tshirts are a WONDERFUL way to help adoptive families bring home their children. They partner with multiple families and for every tshirt sold, the family receives $5 toward the cost of their adoption! Let's help these families bring their children HOME.

I LOVE this design and message. What a great way to also publicly "advertise" and discuss adoption with the world!

Christmas Ideas... #4

I have found a GREAT site with WONDERFUL Christmas ideas! Again! :) Thanda Zulu is an amazing group who hires local bead workers to make wonderful jewelry and other items to sell and help raise money.

From their site: Thanda Zulu is committed to offering the highest quality uniquely designed jewelry, while making the world a little bit better. From paying the beadworkers a fair wage, to funding innovative programs to combat HIV/AIDS and poverty in South Africa, your purchase makes a difference. 30% of your purchase goes directly to the beader. 62% of your purchase supports the Thanda After-School Project in South Africa.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this bracelet, in all the available colors, but I think this is my favorite

Team Edward!

I can't believe I'm actually doing this! I can't believe I'm *choke* 39 years old and doing this! But I'm actually going to be out late late late tonight! I have plans... a date some may call it... with a Vampire! :)

I'm off to see Twilight at 9pm and then New Moon at midnight. And to answer my questions myself, if you've read the Twilight books, then you KNOW why I'm doing this! :) They are too fun! And my lovely, wonderful, college-age sitter is coming with her roommate in 30 minutes so that I can go! :) The kids will sleep through it all, they don't even know I'm going! I wasn't about to tell them their beloved Miss H was coming, because then they wouldn't have gone to bed sillies!

I have a Luna bar packed, and our theater has free refills on pop and popcorn, so though I won't be getting the popcorn, the diet coke will be free flowing! :) Some friends from work were going to come with me, and me being the early bird ALWAYS, I had my tickets early, but when they went to get theirs a while back they were already sold out! :( But Liam's day care provider/my friend is going with family and so I will be sitting with them. Not that I would have minded going myself, I do that often actually, but this will be fun together! Out for a fun night! And then working tomorrow! I told my teacher assistant we may be doing a movie or two in class tomorrow! :)

Christmas Ideas... #3

And now, yet another WONDERFUL Christmas gift idea!!! A cause that's near and dear to my heart, well, which one isn't, really? :)

AHOPE for children serves children in Ethiopia, including two children's homes exclusively for children who are HIV+ and have no extended family to care for them. The kids and I sponsor one of these darlings and I HOPE HOPE HOPE to someday travel to these children's homes, maybe to adopt!!! :)

Unlike some sponsorships, you are not able to personally write or communicate with children you sponsor through AHOPE. The reason behind this is that they don't want the children thinking they have a "family" and getting their hopes up. You do receive pictures and updated information on the child and how they're doing. Unfortunately our little guy hasn't been adopted yet, but if that happens I've been told that they will let you know and then allow you to transfer your sponsorship to another child if you wish.

There is also a wonderful store with great items like this awesome awesome awesome water bottle (man, I could build MY Christmas list from these sites!) :)



Why not give the gift of sponsorship to your family? Or an item from the store? Such a great way to help overseas even if you can't make it there yourself!

Christmas Ideas... #2

Here is another GREAT idea for Christmas gifts!!! How about Water!? Water? Yes, water!

Water is something we take for granted like nothing else. We turn on our faucet and water comes out, magic! But for so many around OUR WORLD, there is NO access to fresh, clean water. WATER!

Did you know that just a $20 donation can give fresh water to one person for TWENTY YEARS!!! TWENTY YEARS!

So go, now to the Water for Christmas site!

And, if it doesn't get any better, here is an AWESOME etsy.com site that sells items to benefit Water For Christmas!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the water drop ornaments! What a great gift - especially love the turqouise!

Christmas Ideas... #1

Well, how are you doing with your Christmas shopping??? Since I'm done, see, I told you I'd be done by Thanksgiving :), I thought I'd take some time to share one or two GREAT ideas for Christmas gifts. These gifts will not only give your loved ones a gorgoeus, special, wonderful, precious gift, but will also incredibly benefit others as well.

For today, why not start with an organization near and dear to my heart... Project Hopeful. Project Hopeful does many many things to try to unite HIV+ children from around the world with forever families. One day, hopefully they'll be helping me as well! :) You never know! And as I've had the opportunity to meet many of the people behind Project Hopeful in real life, on facebook, and through our blogs, I know this is an extremely worthy cause and a great way to spend money this holiday season! check out some of the wonderful items at their store which will help this strong organization do even more than they are already doing!

Wouldn't you or your loved ones on your Christmas list look stunning in this tshirt!? I think so! (Hint hint - I'd LOVE one!)

Houses

I'm so glad to hear that the $8,000 home buying incentive has been extended into spring! Closing with this has been extended until the end of June, so it's perfect for putting my house on the market after the holidays! Mine would be a great home for that first-time buyer and I'm praying it goes quickly, enabling us to rent through the end of the school year, save a little extra, and then buy close to June. We'll be going "home" for Thanksgiving and I'm going to be looking at a house while we're there. No offers yet or anything, but it's a house I've had my eye on, it's been listed since at least last winter, relisted with a new agency and lower price this past summer, and already has had the price lowered once more since then. I thought since we'll be there it'd be good to see it in person and either decide to keep watching it and make an offer when we're able to, or nix it altogether from the "list." Here's hoping! :)

And The Winner Is...

The winner of the contest from November 3 is... Julie who guessed that my coat cost $9 - that was exactly the price! :) Not too bad I thought.

Julie, I will get you that ever important gift certificate for my soon to be launched etsy store!!! :) I'll get in touch with you soon! :) Congrats!