{this moment}
/{this moment} - A Friday ritual. Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Bracelets with a Purpose~Big Giveaway!
/We did a lot of shopping at GIVE Jewelry this year. The motto at GIVE is One Bracelet-> One Child-> One Week of Food. By the time we finished Christmas shopping, we'd fed thirteen children. Thirteen bracelets! I've now seen every style, from the simple friendship bracelets to an absolutely beautiful silver bracelet. I've shopped (and helped my kids shop) for people from 13 to 40-something.
I can't yet tell you exactly what we got and where it went, because there are some gifts left to give. What I can tell you is that as people receive these gifts, they're as excited as we are. The bracelets are lovely and the gift bag spells out the real gift: because of where it was purchased, the bracelet given feeds a child in Bali for a week.
Styles vary widely, as do price points. It's been nice to shop where there is something for everyone.
Give Jewelry is a sustainable movement to provide food for children in orphanages throughout Indonesia. The vision is simple: every bracelet purchased directly benefits kids in need. So no matter what type of bracelet you choose:friendship bracelets, charm bracelet, leather bracelet, beaded bracelet, cuff bracelets or any of the other great bracelets, you’re really choosing to make a difference.
We've now purchased a little bit of everything: friendship bracelets, charm bracelets, leather bracelets, beaded bracelets, cuff bracelets and silver bracelets. And we've been very, very pleased. (And I don't think I'm quite finished.) The pictures here don't begin to do justice to the silver bracelets. If there is still someone special on your list--a special someone gift to buy--do consider these. I was blown away when I opened the package to check ours out and I'm tickled to think of how it will be received. I know the recipients of these bracelets will care that there's more to the story: With every bracelet you purchase, Give Jewelry provides one week of nutritious food (that's 21 meals!) for a child in need. I'm not the only happy bracelet- buyer.
Give Jewelry is giving away another $250 gift certificate! Here's what you have to do:
Go to the site, pick your favorite bracelet, leave a comment with your favorite bracelet, link and a short description (using descriptive words like cuff bracelet, friendship bracelet, etc.)
To up your chances, you're invited to leave bonus comments:
- Subscribe to the Give Jewelry blog: www.thegiveteam.com
- “Like” Give Jewelry on Facebook: www.facebook.com/givejewelry
- Follow Give Jewelry on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GiveJewelryTeam
- Subscribe to Give Jewelry YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/givejewelry
- Post about Give Jewelry on YOUR blog, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube: www.give-jewelry.com
Leave a comment for each “subscribe,” “follow,” or “like” or blog post you do!
Please help us spread the word about this wonderful organization!
Everything above will GREATLY help the children at the orphanages GIVE supports by helping to get the word out about this easy, affordable way to Give.
FREE Cancer Awareness Bracelets for In The Heart of My Home blog followers:
Go to www.give-jewelry.com and make a purchase from Give Jewelry to set in motion the “1 Bracelet->1 Child>-1 Week of Food.” When you check out, “Elizabeth-pink" in the comment box to receive a free Pink Breast Cancer Awareness bracelet upon checkout or write “Elizabeth-purple” to receive a free Survivor Purple Cancer Awareness Bracelet. It's a bracelet for you to thank you for making a difference!
Let's Just Say He Put His Best Foot Forward
/
When this little boy was growing up, I'd frequently have to call him back to the table or remind him to pick up a book. And I was always asking him not to kick around things that weren't really meant to be kicked. The refrain was, "Paddy, you can't kick your way into college."
He'd smile and wink and his eyes would twinkle, Oh yes I can.
And he did.
After carefully considering colleges from all over the country, after visiting nearly every school in the ACC, after thinking hard about the Ivy League possibilities, Patrick made a decision.
And since I'm his mom and I rarely get to write sports press releases, (and I actually get to scoop ESPN today), I'm going to offer you the press release, with some links they're not likely to include;-).
Patrick Foss, ranked #16 in the country on ESPN's list of Top 150 Recruits for 2013 has committed today to attend the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Patrick is a homeschooled junior who plans to graduate high school in December of 2012 and begin his studies at UVa in January 2013. His soccer career thus far has been quite a journey.
He could kick a soccer ball before he was really walking. He'd hold onto the couch and give it a go. He begged his way onto Christian's team when he was really too young to play and he's made a mark ever since.
Patrick spent his sophomore year in Bradenton, Florida as a fulltime member of the US U-17 National Team Residency Program. He ranked top in his class academically.
He is currently a member of the DC United Youth Academy and has played exceptionally well on the Reserve Team. While at DC United, his side won the SUM Cup in 2010. When he traveled with the U-17 squad to to the 2011 AEGON/AJax Future Cup in Amsterdam, he was the Golden Boot Winner (the player who scored the most goals in the tournament).
He was a member of the Virginia Olympic Development Team from 2005-2009 and was selected captain of the side in 2009.
As a homeschooled freshman playing for Leesburg Christian Academy, he led the Lions to a Virginia State Championship and was named ODACS State MVP.
He played for the Herndon Real Juniors from 2003-2010, captaining the team to the Number 1 youth soccer ranking in the United States. The Juniors captured an unprecedented 5 National Capital Soccer league Division 1 titles and won the State Cup in 2009.
Don't ever tell Paddy he can't.
Oh yes he can.
We're ever so pleased to see him embrace the opportunity the next chapter presents. He's made a wise decision and we couldn't be happier for him.
Never Enough Fabric, Right? (it's a giveaway)
/When I first started sewing, I was sort of a stash snob. What I mean is I really thought people who stashed piles of fabric were clutterbugs. I figured that it was probably best to find a project and then buy fabric for it. Clearly, I didn't understand fabric. I didn't understand that I could fall so in love with fabric that I'd dream about it and then POOF! it would go out of stock. Then, I'd have to start a long involved quest to find just enough for what I dreamt. I also didn't really understand the creative impulse that can sometimes sweep over one (or one's children) unexpectedly. The machine begins its sweet, alluring song, just the right project presents itself, and bummer, no fabric. Have to order. And wait. Hate that.
So, now I stash with the best of them. I moved another couple of rows of very dated media and production guides out of what used to be called Mike's office and decorated the shelves with stacks of lovely color. I like to sit in the chair across from the shelves and just inhale deeply. Love that cotton smell. Fabric makes me happy. And the promise of creating beautiful things with fabric makes me smile a hopeful smile.
The Fat Quarter Shop is offering to give away $50 worth of fabric. That is fifty dollars towards stashing something amazing. Something that might not be there next year. Something beautiful and inspiring and, well, happy.
What would you stash if you could? What are your favorites in your fabric stash? I really want to know--because suddenly, I'm sort of obsessed with fabric.
Oh, and speaking of tucking it away now, while it's available, and you're thinking about it, have you clicked around The Christmas Cloth Store? It might make you behave really irresponsibly and drop everything you thought you should be doing the week before Christmas in order to make something pretty terrific with Christmas Fabric (which I have stashed with reckless abandon, by the way).
Stashing. It's a good thing. And pretty, too.
Leave a comment. Win some fabric:-)
