Posts Tagged ‘charity’

We have a little lady at home.

She’s pretty cool…

She falls asleep anywhere, and she dances to the rhythm of her own lil’ drummer…

She’s a girly girl and we treat her like… well… a princess. One with strict rules and boundaries… of course… lol!

She doesn’t know about slavery, hunger, strife or poverty. (We live in Orange County for goodness sake!) Unfortunately for little girls around the world bondage is a reality.

  I was introduced to International Princess Project years ago while on staff at a local church. The organization is amazing and they are ACTUALLY making a difference in the lives of women in India though sewing. (Because sewing rules and you should totally start.)

 Women who are rescued from brothels need some sort of occupation… Enter International PrincessTM Project. The women are trained to make some pretty kick a&$ stuff:

International PrincessTM Project has their 3rd annual Gala fundraiser coming up on September 25th at the Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach. (Get tickets here.)

Don’t feel like changing out of your PJs? Buy some Punjammies at the International Princess Project shop!!!

 Don’t need PJs? Just donate some cash-o-la here.

 “Because every woman on earth deserves to be treated like a princess.”

~International PrincessTM Project

Eli’s Lids has always had a heart for charity! We now donate 10% to an amazing Southern California Autism non-profit called Surfers Healing. But I’m not going to tell you about it… my friend Jo from A Sweet Dose of Truth & Autism in the OC over at OC Family will give you her moving first hand experience with Surfers Healing… 

Andrew loves water; he always has.  He finds temporary respite from the confusion and chaos of autism along the sandy beaches of the California coast, and is happiest when he can linger in the bathtub at the end of a long and grueling day filled with behavioral intervention and taking orders from well-meaning therapists(and parents).   The flat screen tv and Wii have got nothing on good old fashioned H20, and we indulge our son as often as we can.  I’ve even been known to don a bathing suit at pool parties so that he can enjoy splashing around and I can be reminded that my carb addiction comes with unsightly side effects; a true testament to that little thing we call unconditional love for our children. 

A few years ago we were introduced to Surfer’s Healing, a non-profit organization that provides children on the Autism Spectrum the opportunity to surf with a pro at local beaches across the nation.  The day camp fills up at lighting speed, but somehow that year we were lucky and made it on the list.  

We drove south from Orange County and arrived in San Diego on a blistering hot day in July.  Before we even had the car parked, our son caught a glimpse of the ocean waves and began squealing with delight.  We made our way towards the crowd gathered along the shore; parents, therapists, and children of all ages who had varying degrees of autism were enjoying the beautiful day sitting under the tents and splashing in the water.  Professional surfers were easy to spot in their bright red wet suits, while children were being ushered towards friendly volunteers and buckled into life vests.  I saw the giant surfboards laying in the sand, took one look at my then tiny five year old and had a momentary flood of fear come over me.  A brief glance at the giant smile plastered across Andrew’s sun drenched face calmed my nerves and reminded me that we were here to give him the experience of a lifetime.

Minutes later it was our turn to approach the young woman who was holding a clipboard and shouting names above the rolling tides behind her.  She handed us a bright yellow life vest and after some coaxing we were finally able to secure it onto Andrew.  Our professional surfer introduced himself but I wasn’t paying attention; I just wanted my son back safely and in one piece.  I gave Andrew one last hug and kiss and bit my lip as he was whisked away, into the wide open sea, the blue-gray water much larger and deeper than our bathtub at home.  I focused on taking pictures while silently I prayed for his safe return.

And then it happened.

Andrew, easy to spot in yellow, began riding a wave, his little body standing on the surfboard, supported by the confidant pro; a gentle giant guiding them swiftly across the water.  The look of peace and tranquility on Andrew’s face was something I will never forget.  Gone was the distant gaze we struggled so hard to break through during therapy, and in its place was a little boy at one with his surroundings, a little boy suspended in time, a little boy given a chance to just live in the moment.

And that is what Surfer’s Healing is all about.

Giving these amazing kids the opportunity to do something they love.

And giving their parents the opportunity to witness a miracle, if even for just a little while.

Thank you Jo!! I’m thinking you’ll need to post here more often…

Everyone has a junk drawer!
Even the most organized of families.
Admit it. 
You have one!
Just so you don’t feel so bad, I’ll show you mine…

The junk drawer is the home of tape, rubber bands, and a catch-all for… well… everything.
In our humble abode the junk drawer is also the place where I put all our Box Tops 4 Education.
What!?!?! You don’t know about Box Tops 4 Education??? Well, let me tell ya…
Cereal boxes, hamburger helper (not that any of us would cook something so high in fat…um…yeah), cake mixes, frosting, diapers and more have this lil’ label somewhere on the packaging:

You cut those suckers out (don’t send them in ripped because parent volunteers have to spend hours cutting them straight) and send them in to the school of your choice and they get money! 
YES MONEY!! See all the Box Tops FAQs.
If your child is in grade school there might already be a program in place, but if there isn’t then you should start one. I mean, it’s free money!
My kiddos aren’t in school yet but I just couldn’t throw out free money. So I started saving them about 3 years ago. I send them to an Elementary School near the neighborhood I grew up. I knew they could use the extra help!
You can donate to them too, just send your tops to:

I’m hoping as my kiddos enter elementary school they will forgo their own school Box Top Program and choose to donate to a school that needs it more. We’ll see!
Not all schools have a program so check the Box Tops site and call the school to make sure you are sending them to the correct person.
For the cost of a stamp (or a trip to the school you are donating to) you can make a huge difference in a lower income school.
REALLY!!!
The Box Tops site also has a handy printable coupon section for products you use all the time!

Side Note: Notice the envelope that says “Box Tops” with my initials on it? My mom clips Box Tops and other things she thinks I’ll enjoy and fills an envelop to give me the next time she sees me. How cute is that??

Another Side Note: I didn’t rearrange my junk drawer before I took the picture. There it is in all it’s glory!

Wanna see some of the stuff I made this weekend for Project 320?

Yeah!What do you see?
(clockwise from far left)4 juggling bags, kids play oven mitt, 2 adorable kid purses and 2 vintage housewife dish towels.
Wanna be involved with Project 320? aka Wanna help me save a village in Africa.Details here!

(someone bought the owl one I wanted!)Julie and a few of her friends are hosting an amazing fundraiser… it’s actually more of an epic event to change the world… but I’ll let her tell you about it…