January 26th, 2010

Blogging Against Hunger

Back in August of last year I joined ShopRite and General Mills in their Partner’s in Caring program. In recognition, General Mills has included my face, along with the many other bloggers who also participated in the program, on the back of a special edition of Honey Nut Cheerios. The box features the title “Blogging Against Hunger” on the front and on the back includes a mosiac of our faces. It went on sale Sunday, January 24 and is only available at ShopRite.

November 20th, 2009

Shop and Help the Children’s Aid Society

I received this by email and because I absolutely love the Children’s Aid Society, I wanted to share

This holiday season, we all want to treat ourselves to something special — maybe some new jewelry, a chic pair of shoes or that “must-have” toy for the kids…

But what if your wishes could make a REAL difference, not just in your own home, but in the lives of children who need a lot more than just a new toy? If you had that kind of magic at your fingertips… what would YOU wish for?

Well, now you do.

Join us for the Miracle on Madison on December 6, 2009 from 12-5 pm to fulfill your wish list and ours. The Children’s Aid Society will receive 20% of the day’s proceeds from all participating stores, and that money will provide vital health services to the under-served children in NYC!

Plus, before December 6, visit our blog on the Miracle on Madison page and let us know what your REAL holiday wish list would look like http://blogs.childrensaidsociety.org/childrensaid/miracle-madison/). Because we all love new shoes, sweaters, games and toys — but some wishes on our list can’t fit in a gift box.

This holiday season, help your gifts go just a little farther. Save the Date and Save a Child.

The Children’s Aid Society in New York
Miracle on Madison Event – Shop to Help NYC Children
December 6, 2009 #shopmiracle

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November 5th, 2009

Karma is a Witch with a Capital “B”

photo credit: quinn.anya

I’ve always believed in Karma. I knew pretty early on in life that what you give is what you get and no one can outrun Karma. What I learned later on as an adult is that Karma has a funny way of drop kicking you when you least expect.

Take Carlton. I went to college with him and he was dating my roommate. He cheated on her with my then best friend from home. He lied and then tried to put me in the middle of all the drama. When my friend from home dumped him, he cheated on my roommate with yet another girl. Nothing happened right away and he thought he was “the man”- it was a sad sight. Lo and behold he came down with a really bad case of crabs. I thought that he would see the light and change his ways. For a while, it seemed he did.

He managed to salvage the relationship with my roommate and they went on to have a pretty long courtship. Unfortunately, he cheated on her again. About a year later he was in a car accident which left him pretty messed up. He friend-ed me on Facebook the other day and I learned that he is still in a wheelchair.

Here’s a more personal story. My husband and I got together under less than honorable conditions- I was dating a mutual friend and even after I realized I had feeling for the man who would become my husband, I stayed with him. I pitted them against one another sometimes purposely, others not. And although nothing really happened until after I had ended my relationship, it was still a sour road. I sometimes think that the loss of out first daughter was karmic energy. I had put a lot of negative energy out into the Universe and it had to go somewhere. It was a wake-up call.

I’ve since spent my life making sure that I give something to others in order to spread the positive energy around, and in all honesty,to  send some back my way. My husband lives his life the same way and we have both been on the receiving end of some good fortune.

However, when one is a giving person, many times all you get back is personal stress. I have met so many people – my friend Lorri would call them Psychic Vampires – who do nothing but take, take, take. They suck you dry of your creativity, passion, goodwill, and even money. They have no concern for you at all. And they can crush your spirit.

Since starting my own business I have learned that when money is tight bartering for services is the next best thing. And I don’t mind offering my services for free in the name of good Karma. I have done so for some grateful people, but I have also met some vampires. But I am not alone. I was speaking to Traci from Beauty in Rare Form who explained to me that she too has been on the wrong side of broken promises.

And that is when I realized that society has changed in ways that are more destructive than we imagine. We have become a society of takers – one that advocated that we take from every one we meet and when they have nothing left to give, we are supposed to throw them away like garbage. So many people talk about Pay-it-forward but they only want to do that when the pay is coming to them.

I have come pretty close to telling people to “sit on it” when they ask me for my help. but then I remember that Karma is real and that those who take and never give will get something in return. After all, Karma is real.

October 4th, 2009

Macy’s Rwanda Path to Peace Project

*note all posts about this project can be found in the left hand column under the heading ‘Path to Peace”

Most people are familiar with Rwanda because of the ongoing genocide that began in 1994 Within only 100 days, there were more than one million deaths leaving 70% of it’s population female. The country has been in a state of economic distress ever since. In an effort to rebuild and strengthen their communities, the women of Rwanda rekindled the artistic tradition of weaving jewelery, baskets, and other products. Their strength, courage, and rich African history is reflected in the products that are being sold through a partnership between Fair Winds Trading and Macy’s.

Spearheaded three years ago by Willa Shalit and her company Fair Winds Trading, Path to Peace developed an American market for Rwandan women’s crafts. It creates trade partnerships with artisans in recovering regions to bring the power of change to Rwanda and Indonesia. Shalit believes that women helping each other can change how Rwanda rebuilds its society, empowers women and sustains economic development beyond traditional development assistance.

I was recently asked by The Blogrollers to become a Path to Peace Ambassador to help spread the word about the program and am honored to introduce you to a few of the products. This is a wonderful cause that allows women to help each other become self-sufficient and prove once and for all that we are in fact the true nurturers of society. It is a great movement and I urge you to show your support today by contributing to this cause. And be sure to check out Willa Shalit’s live online chat in which she discusses  the “trade not aid” concept in which she so deeply believes.

The O Bracelet

The O Bracelet was just featured in O Magazine and The Blogrollers were recently wearing (and gave away) these lovely bracelets at the Type A Mom Conference last week. Each bracelet in this series is hand-made by two women–a weaver in Rwanda and a jewelry artist in New Orleans. Besides being a beautiful accessory, the message is all about partnership and the possibilities which occur when we work together. Read the O Magazine article about Path to Peace Movement.

The Knots Jewelry

Trained by Fair Winds Trading, 250 urban women have created beautiful, hand-crafted jewelry inspired by knots–a symbol of the love and friendship they wish to extend to American women. Earning, on average, nearly 14 times the national per capita income, the women are now able to feed their families and send their children to school.