Monday, February 28, 2011

5,000 Fan Charity Giveaway

So I'm doing a giveaway on my Facebook page once I reach 5,000 fans. Doesn't everyone? Not like this they don't!

One thing I'm extremely passionate about in my life is giving back. I've always had grand plans of pushing my business and making it succeed not only for the benefit of my own family but so that I would have the ability to help others as well. I am very blessed to have been given a talent that I've been able to turn into a business that does help support my family.

My kids have everything they need. As a family we are all healthy, we have a roof over our heads, clothing on our backs and food on our plates. We take vacations, take part in sports and activities and are lucky to have a fantastic, supportive community of people around us.

However, we know that so many families are not so lucky. Too many families out there in our own communities do without some of the things I've mentioned above be it health, food and clothing or even the supportive community. So many families need a helping hand in some way, shape or form.

I can't help everyone. I sure wish I could - but what I can do is give what I DO have. What I CAN. Sometimes even the smallest thing for one person can change a whole life. We all have a cause or a charity we're passionate about and I know what it's like when you want to help so bad, but can't.

That is why, instead of doing a regular prize draw for my fans here on my Facebook page, I thought I'd do something that would be more beneficial than someone winning a few letters for their wall or a holder for their daughter's hair bows.

This one is simple. Once I reach 5,000 "likes" I will give $250 to the charity of YOUR choice. All you have to do is comment here on my Facebook page. Tell me what charity or organization you're passionate about. I will list all the charities mentioned here on my blog. When we hit 5,000 I will do a random pick using www.random.org and the winning charity will receive the money.

So far this has been a great experience. I've met some awesome people and learned about some great charities I didn't even know existed! I'm excited to have the opportunity to not only learn about them myself but to also share them with everyone else in the hopes of bring some awareness in their direction!

If you've entered into the draw don't forget to share it with your friends

Want to learn more about some of the charities in the running so far? Here's a list with links:
***Please note that I have to update this list so if you don't see your charity on here I just have to add it still!

Alberta Children's Hospital

Shining Through Centre For Autism
MS Society of Alberta
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Made By Momma
Make A Wish Southern Alberta
ALS Society of Alberta
Muscular Dystrophy Canada
American Cancer Society
Cochrane SPCA
The Christmas Fairy
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada
Edmonton's Hair Massacure
Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse
Children's Cottage Society
Children's Wish Foundation of Saskatchewan
Build It Forward
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Calgary Food Bank
Calgary Reads
Ugandan Girls Fund
Name Canada
Pads 4 Girls
Calgary Women's Shelter
Destiny in Quebec
Pearl Alliance
BC Children's Hospital
Knights Table in Brampton, ON
Anaphylaxis Canada
St. Jude Children's Hospital
Smile Train
Island Dog Rescue
Spina Bifida Association
Kelowna, BC Food Bank
Canadian Salvation Army

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Aqua,Teal, Turquoise.....Any Shade Will Do!

Pantone recently announced that the 2011 color of the year is Honeysuckle. “In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®.

Although I agree that the Honeysuckle shade is gorgeous and definitely uplifting I think that if any color should get some recognition it's aqua. Or turquoise. Or teal. Or any hue along the blue/green scale of color!
The reason I like it so much? It's versatility! I can't think of a single color that DOESN'T go with it!

Below are some great examples of rooms that all use a shade of aqua paired with another color. As you can see from boy's rooms to girl's rooms to gender neutral - aqua works for them all!