May is National Foster Care Month and there has never been a greater need to bring attention to children waiting for forever homes.  More than 463,000 children are currently in foster care and 123,000 children are waiting to be adopted.

Children in foster care are loving children.  They are children like Shaquane and Edlina and Albert.  Every child deserves to have a home with caring and supportive parents.

Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the thousands of children and youth in the U.S. foster care system.  The National Adoption Campaign in partnership with the Children’s Bureau, AdoptUsKids, and the Ad Council raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved.

Together, We Can Make a Difference.

Through the dedication of advocates, child welfare professionals, elected officials and support groups around the country, the total number of children waiting for a safe and permanent family has decreased from more than a half million to 463,000 between 2003 and the end of 2008. These numbers tell us that, together, we can make a difference for children in foster care.

But there is still so much work to be done, as there are more than 123,000 children waiting to be adopted.

For more information about National Foster Care Month, go here. Or watch this video. “Children in Foster Care’. Find out how to get involved here. And join us May 27 at 2 p.m. EST on Twitter for an #AdoptUsKids one hour chat to get the message out about National Foster Care Month. You can also visit the Facebook page.

I’m a member of Global Influence and we’re trying to spread the word about Foster Care and Adoption. Help us spread the message this month to reach all Americans and teach them about the love and joy that foster care adoption can bring to your life. Visit www.adoptuskids.org to learn more about fostering and adopting.

Posts like this

• What If You Didn’t Have a Family?
• Twitter Party Time!
• 7-Eleven Prize Pack Giveaway Plus Facebook Gifts for Farmville, Mafia Wars & YoVille
• Free Victoria Secret Panty! Yea!
• Lee Jeans Giveaway Everyday in December!

This year’s event is set for April 27 at the Living World in the St. Louis Zoo.

The Old Bags™ party will feature a silent auction of new and like-new designer handbags. The party is scheduled from 6 to 9:00 p.m. and is a fun girls’ night out that offers appetizers, drinks and hundreds of designer bags, like Gucci, Chanel, Burberry, Kate Spade, Cole Haan, Coach, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Fendi and more, to bid on in a silent auction.  Raffle tickets also are sold for a chance to win a new designer handbag!

Volunteers spend months planning for the Old Bags™ party. The proceeds from Old Bags™ directly support the Coalition’s Extreme Recruitment™ program, recently featured in the New York Times. Extreme Recruitment finds forever families for children who have spent way too long in foster care.  The average “cost” for finding a foster child a “forever” home is about $5,000. That is a small amount of money in exchange for a child finding a home and a family with whom to share his/her life.

How To Donate Purses

Want to help Old Bags™ 2010 be the best yet? Donate new and/or gently used handbags! Clean out your closet, ask your friends, or team with co-workers to purchase a great designer bag to donate! All donations are tax-deductible.

Drop off locations:

The Designing Block
7735 Clayton Road, 63105
314.727.4224

Doncaster Studio
8001 Clayton Road, 63117
314.863.5753

F.O.B. Saint Louis, Inc.
285 Lamp & Lantern Village, 63017
636.207.7131

Susan Lynn’s
1122 Town and Country Crossing, 63017
636.530.7337

Charm Boutique
313 North Eleventh Street, 63101
314.588.8203

How To Purchase Tickets

To make a reservation, please contact the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition at 1.800.FOSTER.3, or visit www.foster-adopt.org/oldbags for more information. Reservations are $75 per person in advance and $100 at the door.
About the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition

Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, a proud member of United Way, is a non-profit agency that strives to create permanency in foster children’s lives by recruiting and retaining foster/adoptive families. Founded in 1989, the Coalition is the area’s largest recruiter. To learn more, call 800.FOSTER.3 (314.367.8373), or visit www.foster-adopt.org.

Posts like this

• Gap Coupon Codes for Back to School
• Students & Teachers Save 25 Percent at Old Navy
• Must-Have Wardrobe Staples for Every Frugal Fashionista’s Closet
• Getting Started Series Part 7 – Target Shopping 101
• Coupon Codes for Back-to-School Shopping

While you may not be thinking about the dangers of buzzed driving this time of year, you or someone you know will likely be attending a party where alcohol is served.  So whether you’re rooting for the Colts or the Saints, there are some things you need to know to keep yourself and your loved ones safe before, during and after Super Bowl XLIV. When you’re heading out to a party or hosting guests, remember to always plan ahead:

• Designate a sober driver or be prepared to find a safe ride home for your guests
• Be ready to take alternate transportation such as a bus or taxi.  Have the phone number of a taxi service stored in your phone before you leave for the party.

In 2008, 11,773 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council want you to remember that buzzed drivers are those who drink and drive, but do not consider themselves a hazard on the roadway because “only a few” drinks are consumed. The “Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving” campaign hopes to educate people that consuming even one drink too many can impair driving. So even if you are planning on staying home Super Bowl weekend, please remind your loved ones that buzzed driving IS drunk driving. 

To learn more about the impact buzzed driving can have on a life, please watch this important video about the financial and personal repercussions of getting a DUI: http://buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org/sign.php#video

For more information, visit Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving on Facebook and Twitter (@Buzzeddriving).

Posts like this

• Don’t Count on the Luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day
• Christians and Pro-life Advocates CAN Advertise During the Superbowl
• Tyson’s Any’tizers Giveaway
• Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving!
• Keep Your Kids Safe While Traveling This Holiday Season

Build-A-Bear Workshop^® has taken a leading role in recognizing efforts of young people to help those in need through its Huggable Heroes^® program.  Huggable Heroes are young leaders who Build-A-Bear Workshop recognizes, honors and cele-bear-ates each year for providing extraordinary service in their communities and around the world.  The seventh annual search for these special people, ranging in age from eight to 18, is now on.  Anyone and everyone, ages eight and above, are eligible to nominate a candidate (and kids can nominate themselves) by visiting buildabear.com/huggableheroes or by picking up an entry form at a participating Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the United States and Canada.  Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 26, 2010.

This year, ten Huggable Heroes, between the ages of eight and 18, from the United States and Canada, will be selected and honored for their good deeds.  Each of the ten Huggable Heroes will receive a prize worth $10,000 ($7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity of each Huggable Hero’s choice).  In addition, the Huggable Heroes will win a trip for themselves and a parent to St. Louis, the home of Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters.  During their visit, the 2010 Huggable Heroes will meet each other, be honored for their good deeds and participate in a photo shoot for the 2011 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes Calendar.

Throughout the years, Build-A-Bear Workshop has heard thousands of amazing stories of young people who do things both big and small to help improve other peoples’ lives.  Projects have ranged from helping children in underdeveloped countries to supporting cancer and diabetes research, organizing toy drives and sending care packages to our troops overseas. 

Do you know a potential Huggable Hero? If so, get busy nominating him or her.

Try a random post.

• Kodak camera giveaway
• $25 Restaurant Certificates for $2!! Hurry!
• Side-by-side matching chairs are designer favorite
• We’re Pleasantly Puzzled
• Hoohobbers Directors Chair is just as cute as the name

To celebrate Crowley’s story, CBS created an opportunity for charities – big and small – to compete for a donation of $10,000 just by uploading an inspirational video onto their Inspirational Quilt. And you can visit the Quilt and cast your vote for your favorite video.

Some fantastic videos have been uploaded to the Inspirational Quilt and are already in the running for the $10,000 donation- including the story of Alexandra “Alex” Scott, a young cancer patient who, facing a grim diagnosis, insisted on setting up a lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer before succumbing to the disease at age eight. Her stand evolved into a national lemonade stand initiative and foundation which has since raised over $25 million for the cause.

Other videos highlight a mountaineer with Multiple Sclerosis who encourages and inspires other MS patients to find their own “mountains” to conquer, an inner city childrens’ center in Harlem, and two women who joined forces to build a playground equipped for special needs children.

If you’d like to enter for the chance to win $10,000 for a charity of your choice, just follow these simple instructions:

·       Go to the Inspirational Quilt and click on Upload Your Story. Once your video is uploaded, you will be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to designate the charity of your choice to receive $10,000.

·       Be sure to tell your friends to vote to increase your chances of winning.

Posts like this

• Moms & Mommy Bloggers — You’re Invited Into This Amazing Story
• Donate Some Socks, Do Some Good
• Leapyear Prize Pack Giveaway
• New Moon Parties & Chance to Attend Advance Screening
• Vampire Movie Prizepack Giveaway

She is the youngest in the class, because the kiddos were technically supposed to be 2-years-old when it started in September, and she wasn’t 2 until late October. Thus, I enrolled her knowing it might not work.  But each week as I’ve peeked into the class, she was participating right along with her slightly older peers — although I don’t think she follows directions as well as some of the  others.  However, in the past few months, the class has been preparing for a little Christmas program, so Miss Tammy has been inviting the Moms into class to watch in hopes of giving the girls a little experience performing before a group. My toddler refused to even stand on the line with her peers (much less dance) every single time I came in to watch. She either sat in my  lap OR ran out of the class. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I attended what was a much bigger “recital” than I had anticipated yesterday. Check out the video AND slideshow! I’m one proud Mommy!


 

I’ve mentioned before on this blog that I LOVE the YMCA — especially MY Wildwood YMCA. Did you know the YMCA doesn’t turn people away for inability to pay? This generosity is accomplished through their partner campaign, and all the money donated via the campaign stays in the community through which it was donated, helping friends and neighbors who have fallen on hard times enjoy amazing programs like this dance program for toddlers. So, if you live in Wildwood and would like to contribute to the Wildwood Family YMCA, click here. If you’d like to donate to a local YMCA in your area, go here and enter your zip code to find one close to you.

Posts like this

• Dance Recital and Affordable Dance Classes
• It is Good to be Loved
• Adorable Hair Accessories for Children
• So Cute I had to Share Again!
• Gerber Giveaway

Unlike other gift cards, the GiveCard is not a full charity gift card and it is not a donation made by a company in your name. It puts the power of choice in the hands of the consumer.

 The GiveCard is a first-of-its-kind gift card that lets the person you give it to make a donation to the charity of their choice and spend the rest of the card amount like cash.

It’s really two gifts in one and so much more meaningful and personal than a normal gift card. Plus, the company donates 10% of its own profits back to charities. The GiveCard is a thoughtful gift for anyone who is charitably inclined, and it can provide a great opportunity to teach children about giving back.

Best of all, GiveCard’s partnership with Charity Navigator means that there are thousands of trusted charities from which to choose.

Creator Clayton ‘Nick’ Nicholas was among the millions of consumers buying gift cards. While stationed overseas in the military, the West Point graduate didn’t have the resources to purchase personal holiday gifts for his family. He wanted to give his mother a gift card so she could buy something she loved, but also wanted his gift to feel more personal. After leaving the military, Nicholas joined up with business partner Jeff Jacobs and they launched GiveCard. GiveCard not only provides a unique solution for the thousands of gift card givers, the company also is based on the philosophy of microgiving—many small donations can add up to a big impact.

GiveCards in denominations of $25 to $250 and video e-cards are available exclusively on GiveCard.com. Donations also can be made directly to charity through the Web site.

Posts like this

• Nintendo DS Petz Nursery Game
• Ideas for Stocking Stuffers
• Holiday Build-A-Bear Giveaway
• Family Fun Announces Toy of the Year Awards
• Day 6 – 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

Tomorrow, Rachel Ray’s Thanksgiving on Mainstreet special will air on ABC at 10 a.m. Eastern. (check local times in your area here). During the show, Rachael will host a huge Thanksgiving feast for the town, which has been devastated by the closing of a shipping company headquarters there.  The feast will include replenishment of the food bank facilities (which have been all but depleted) in order to create a meaningful experience for the entire community. 
 
Snapfish has teamed up with Rachael Ray to support the effort. Snapfish is providing custom photo books to members of the community which will feature photos of the town by local high schooler, Zach McCune. The books will document the town and Rachael’s visit through Zach’s lens. To learn more about Snapfish’s partnership with Rachael Ray, visit snapfish.com or rachaelrayshow.com. 

As part of the celebration, Snapfish is offering you the chance to receive 50% off your own customizable photo book using promo code RRBOOK from November 25-December 2. And $1 from the purchase proceeds will go to local food banks nationwide. 

Plus, Snapfish is offering one of my readers a gift certificate for $35, which will cover the cost of an 8×8 custom cover book, an 8×11 personalized cover book or an 8×11 classic photo book, as well. 

Snapfish carries a variety of photo books ranging in price from $4.99 – $49.99, and  in various sizes including 4×6”,  5” x 7”, 8” x 8” and 12” x 12.”  Layouts and designs are available for birthdays, weddings, holidays and other special occasions or just everyday! Each book is customizable with templates and layouts so your book will look truly unique and ensure your favorite memories are preserved and displayed in a way that suits you. I’ve made Snapfish photobooks for my parents and in-laws for Christmas several years running, and they’re always a huge hit!

Giveaway Guidelines:

Tell me in the comment section below why you want to win a Snapfish photobook, and if you happen to watch the Rachael Ray special, what you liked about the show (watching the show is NOT required to enter the giveaway).

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Dec. 4.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States residents only. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by Dec. 7, 2009, he/she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

Posts like this

• $35 Snapfish Giveaway and Back to School Fun
• Snapfish $50 Gift Card Giveaway (Can you say Necklace?)
• Maternity Dress Giveaway and Coupon Code
• Snapfish Roadtrip Sharing and Coupon Code
• Win a Disney Vacation

First, it’s helpful to watch this video because it does a much better job explaining things and it’s a really cool video:

So, you ask: What exactly IS Advent Conspiracy? It’s a movement to help us do four things to make sure Christmas continues to change the world:

1. Worship Fully
2. Spend Less
3. Give More (and give relationally, as in your time)
4. Love All

Here is the AC history: Four years ago, three pastors asked one question: What happened to Christmas? What should be a time focused on celebrating the birth of Jesus has become a season consumed with stress and debt. They created the Advent Conspiracy, a movement that encourages people to return to the holistic worship of Jesus during Christmas by pushing back on over-consumerism, giving more relationally, and supporting those who really need help. What started with three pastors is now a worldwide movement that has raised millions of dollars for charity by thousands of churches and business leaders in more than 17 countries. And it all started in my hometown — St. Louis.

So, Moms and Mommy Bloggers — I’m inviting you into the story. I’m asking you to do two things: 1) Conspire to change Christmas in your own homes and in your own communities by participating in Advent Conspiracy in your own way, small or large (keep reading to find out how);and, 2) Spread the word about Advent Conspiracy via your own blogs, on Facebook or by word of mouth. (Please send me links via comments or to lipsticktocrayons@gmail.com, so I can promote your efforts in future posts!)

I plan to offer you more information soon, hopefully a Q & A interview with one of the creators of the amazing video I shared with you, as well as some stories of people who have “entered the story” and some posts on ideas of how you can “give more” while “spending less.”  In the meantime, if you’d like more ideas on how to get involved, you can do any number of things:

• Visit the Advent Conspiracy Web site.
• Become a fan of the Advent Conspiracy page on Facebook.
• If you live anywhere near the St. Louis area and are an educator, church leader (pastor, youth leader, team leader, secretary, etc.), an educator, journalist or blogger and would like to attend an event designed to help you get started, go here. Greg Holder, the lead pastor of The Crossing and one of the people who started AC, will share more about this movement and how you can integrate it into your season planning. Plus, Albert Pujols will share his passion for The Pujols Family Foundation and how it’s making small steps for big change with children both locally and globally.
• Buy the Advent Conspiracy book (authored by those three pastors mentioned above). There also is a DVD. You can purchase both of them here or on Amazon. I’m reading the book now and even though I’m already familiar with the conspiracy and I’m already “on board” with the idea, the book is helping me form ideas in my head and helping really focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I can’t wait to celebrate the birth of Christ this year. Advent Conspiracy is helping me to embrace the holiday with my heart and I hope it will help you do the same.

So, as the video says: “This is the new tradition. This is YOUR new tradition. This is how the story gets told. Love all. Spend less. Give more. Worship fully. Tell the story of Christmas. Tell the story of the newborn King, who came to Earth, and changed history, power, humanity, intimacy, hope, everything! This is Christmas. This is our story. This is Advent Conspiracy.”

Posts like this

• Upload Video for Chance to Win $10,000 for Charity
• On Christmas, I Always Wonder if She Knew
• Donate Some Socks, Do Some Good
• North Face Deals — in time for Christmas!
• Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving!

Over the next two years, with the help of her Mom, family, and friends, Hannah distributed nearly 10,000 pairs of socks to shelters.  Since then, Hannah’s Socks has collected more than 100,000 pairs of socks for homeless and domestic violence shelters. Now, the organization has kicked off the Hannah’s Socks Holiday Sock Drive, to collect socks and funds for this year’s upcoming winter and holiday season.

Inspired by Hannah’s story, The Clorox Company became a sponsor of Hannah’s Socks this season as Hannah’s Socks strives to gather and donate 10,000 pairs of new socks to underprivileged children’s programs as well as homeless and domestic violence shelters. What a great opportunity to teach our kids that you can do something simple and make a difference for others.

I participate in some projects and campaigns with Mom Central, a web resource dedicated to providing busy moms with smart household and parenting solutions. Mom Central is hoping to spread the word about Hannah’s Socks and the Holiday Sock Drive. You can learn more about this effort  at www.hannahssocks.org and you can help spread the word on Twitter with Tweets about Hannah’s Socks by using the hashtag #HannahsSocks. Of course, you can follow  the charity on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hannahssocks and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hannahssocks

Posts like this

• Upload Video for Chance to Win $10,000 for Charity
• Ideas for Stocking Stuffers
• Moms & Mommy Bloggers — You’re Invited Into This Amazing Story
• Nintendo DS Petz Nursery Game
• Day 6 – 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway