Charity

Grow Your Cloth Diaper Stash Bash

May 1, 2013 By Virginia 1 Comment

Parents decide to use cloth diapers for a multitude of reasons. Some choose cloth diapers because it is kinder to the environment. Others choose cloth diapers because of the long term cost savings. We chose cloth because we like to save cash where we can, so we can spend it where we want. For us, cloth is a great option financially.

For some families, though, cloth would be the BEST option because they are truly struggling: they are part of the one in three families in the United States and Canada who have to choose between buying disposable diapers and buying food or paying rent. Regardless of why these families choose cloth, the start up costs can often be intimidating. Very intimidating. For that 33%, the start up costs can be crippling and seemingly insurmountable. That’s where Cloth for a Cause, Cloth Diaper Addicts, Viva Veltoro, and Leettle Baby… and the Build Your Stash Bash comes into play.

Cloth for a Cause is a brand new Canadian charity. They’ve been operating since 2011 with a simple mission: to help those 33% get their babies in diapers. Since they opened, Cloth for a Cause has expanded from one little chapter here in Prince George to fourteen stretching across Canada. They’ve helped nearly 150 families get their babies in cloth. Last month, Cloth for a Cause became a legal charity. Not only does that mean that their ability to help struggling families has grown, it also means that their need for assistance has grown! You can help by donating to Cloth for a Cause through their PayPal account or by sending a cloth diaper donation to one of their chapters. (If you live in Canada and are making a donation of $20 or greater, they can issue a tax receipt!) If you’re near one of the local chapters, you can donate material goods and cash directly to the chapter. If you’re not and you’d like to donate some diapers, their Nova Scotia chapter has a large need for services!

Now for the Grow Your Stash part of the Grow Your Stash Bash! This is an AH-MAZ-ING lineup! Just look…

Several wonderful companies have teamed up to put together to help us put together two awesome packages to Grow Your Stash!

Package #1 is open to Canada and the US:
One Best Bottom Shell and two medium inserts from Nicki’s Diapers

One Glow Bug Spectrum Package (six diapers, eight inserts, and a wetbag)

One newborn diaper by Diapers by Chris

One pocket diaper and insert from Hunny Bunny Baby Wear

One fabulous bag of Rockin Green detergent!

One AppleCheeks swim diaper!

Package #2 is open to Canada only:

A Thirsties Package (Thirstiest Prefold, a Thirsties Stay Dry insert, a Thirsties Duo Cover, and a Snappi pack) and a Rockin Green sample pack, all nicely bundled in a Cozy Bums shopping bag.

A fifty dollar gift certificate to Lagoon Baby

One Glow Bug Spectrum Package (six diapers, eight inserts, and a wetbag)

One pocket diaper and insert from Hunny Bunny Baby Wear

One fabulous bag of Rockin Green detergent!

One AppleCheeks swim diaper!

One diaper and wetbag from EcoWays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***No compensation received for hosting this, I just love cloth and I love a good charity!***

Filed Under: Baby, Charity, Cloth Diaper, Current Giveaways, Giveaways Tagged With: #CFAC, clothdiaper, clothforacause, giveaway

Posts May Contain Affiliate Links All Opinions are My Own

World Wish Day- April 29

April 11, 2013 By Virginia

Shamrocks and Shenanigans

February 28, 2013 By Virginia 14 Comments

In honor of International Rare Disease Day, a day designed to bring awareness to the many rare diseases which are low in prevalence by high in complexity, I want to encourage you to check out the NFED webpage and the NFED Facebook Page.

For those of you who don’t know, my son and I are both affected by Hay Wells Syndrome, which is one of the ectodermal dysplasias. The NFED is dedicated to bringing help and hope to families affected by ectodermal dysplasias worldwide. I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up with them practically in my backyard. I also now serve as a Family to Family Support Liaison for them, a role I started this year.

boy affected by hay wells syndrome

hay wells syndrome

Just this last week, I received an email from a new Mom, through my website, whose ten day old baby was just diagnosed with Hay Wells Syndrome. I was able to offer her encouragement and hope, and point her toward the NFED. It’s emails like that one that prompts me to talk about ectodermal dysplasias here and how they affect our lives.

For me, Hay Wells Syndrome means that I have no hair, only two natural teeth, no eyelashes or eyebrows, sensitive skin, and am unable to sweat properly. I also am prone to sinus infections, since I have no cilia in my sinuses, and have conductive hearing loss.

For Mister, Hay Wells Syndrome means that his hair is abnormally textured and missing in some places, he has fewer than typical permanent teeth on xray, has no eyelashes or eyebrows, is prone to skin erosions, and unable to sweat. Temperature control is our biggest concern with him. He’s had quite a few surgeries on abnormally formed tear ducts and has to keep ear tubes in place to prevent further hearing loss and infection.

Our family is proud to help with awareness and fundraising projects whenever we can.

To that end, I want to tell you about a neat opportunity to help raise funds for the NFED. It’s called Shamrocks and Shenanigans, and it begins tomorrow, March 1st and runs through March 17th. It is our March fundraising effort, and Mister could win a Kindle Fire if he raises $3000.

You can help him by making a donation to the NFED and writing “in honor of Zane Higgins” in the “What prompted you to donate to the NFED” box.

Even if he doesn’t win a really cool prize, it would mean the world to him (and me) if you helped us raise funds and awareness!

Filed Under: Charity, Family Tagged With: @NFED_ORG, awareness, fundraiser, Hay Wells Syndrome, NFED, rarediseaseday

Posts May Contain Affiliate Links All Opinions are My Own

Maximum Impact Gifts

November 20, 2012 By Virginia Leave a Comment

Some people are just hard to buy for, and I think each of us has one of them (or more, if we’re not so lucky) to buy for. I know I do. This year, give your “hard to buy for” family and friends a gift of that keeps on giving. Simply visit http://www.worldvisiongifts.org/ to find over 200 ways to give!

I’ve told you before that we sponsor a child through World Vision. I started our families commitment to the ministry of World Vision nearly fifteen years ago, and we continue it today. I just love getting the updates on our little girl in Indonesia.

I like to shop the Maximum Impact Fund, a list of 36 items, which enables World Vision to answer specific, urgent needs of children and families that might otherwise go unmet. Items in the Maximum Impact Fund include items like an Eco Cold Cup, Veggie Tales “Incredible Vegetables” DVD, or a set of plush toys Gertie Goat, Chuma Chick and Pallu Pig. These items include a product that you will personally receive. Others, like the 5 ducks and 2 chickens, do not. Either way, you are changing the life of the recipient. Please note your gift is tax-deductible less the fair market value of the item received, which is noted on it’s corresponding page in the World Vision Gift Catalog

Some of the gift options in the Maximum Impact Fund are beautiful jewelry items. You may remember my World Vision multi-colored necklace from last year. I still love it! This year I chose an Artisan Beaded Necklace from the Maximum Impact Fund. It is so pretty and can be worn with the one I selected last year or on it’s own. It’s about 22 inches long, so it can be worn as a long strand or doubled.

Giving a gift through the World Vision Gift Catalog couldn’t be easier. When you give a gift through World Vision’s Gift Catalog, you can choose to mail, e-mail, or print a card to let your loved one know that you gave in their honor. For as little as $10, you truly can change the world.

Give a gift. Change a life. Go to www.worldvisiongifts.org

Learn more about World Vision’s work by visiting their website at http://www.worldvision.org

Tell me, which gift would you be most likely to give?

***While I did receive a sample product to facilitate the review portion of this post, I am a World Vision sponsor and volunteer and I stand behind the vision/mission of the organization 100%. All opinions expressed are my own, and I love World Vision!***

Filed Under: Charity, Gift Ideas Tagged With: charity, giftideas, World Vision

Posts May Contain Affiliate Links All Opinions are My Own

Don’t Sweat It Walk 2012 Follow Up

July 11, 2012 By Virginia 8 Comments

On June 30th, my family of four loaded up the van and headed to Mascoutah, Illinois for our first annual Don’t Sweat It Walk 2012, to benefit the NFED.

As you all know, Mister and I are both affected by a syndrome of the Ectodermal Dysplasias, which results in our inability to sweat properly. As a child, I didn’t tolerate the heat very well because on my inability to sweat properly. My Sister and I often ran around outside in the summer with wet clothing on. Just as Mom knew the importance of keeping us cool, she also knew the importance of letting us set our own limits and even let me run track– though the doctor said it was ill-advised.

It goes without saying that our family knows full well the benefit of the NFED, so we couldn’t resist the opportunity to do whatever we could to help raise funds and awareness for this organization.

Mister enjoyed meeting the clowns, who were there to entertain the kiddos before the walk got underway. He was officially dubbed Mister the Clown. LOL.

Before we set off, I soaked my cami and custom rhinestone t-shirt, which was embellished with “Don’t Sweat It” and a star, as well as Mister’s shirt. Hubs carried a backpack that also had Mister’s cooling vest and plenty of water in it, just in case we needed it.

About halfway into the 5K, I used some of the water we had on hand to rewet Mister’s shirt and scalp. Often times, cooling techniques like that are popular even with those who can sweat, and Sister was soon begging to have water poured over her head. Of course, I obliged her.

With only a mile left to finish, Mister’s ears started turning as bright red as my Don’t Sweat It Star shirt, so I put his cooling vest on him (we use a swim flotation trainer with the foam removed and ice packs inserted as a cooling vest).

The NFED had two air conditioned rest stops and cold water stations set up along the way, for those who wanted or needed them. Not that we used them. Oh no! Mister needed the shirt that I was wearing, because he was the real Don’t Sweat It Star!

He insisted on running part of the 5K… which meant that I had to run part of the 5K… in 104 degree heat. When I asked him why he was running, Mister said that he wanted “to win this race.” So as long as he wanted to run, I ran. Hubs agreed to stay behind and tag with Sister, as she is our observant one (read pokey). Mister and I finished the 5K in roughly an hour and twenty minutes. Hubs and Sister were fourteen minutes behind us.

After the walk, I needed to cool off, so Mister returned the favor and sprayed my scalp. Of course, he was THRILLED to be giving Mommy a dose of her own medicine.

Overall, our first Don’t Sweat It Walk went better than I even expected, considering the heat wave. Our family raised close to $700 for the NFED, and had a blast doing it. In fact, we had so much fun, we are registering to walk in another Don’t Sweat It Walk for September.

***Custom shirt provided by Just Jen***