Gifts - Getting and Giving

Oh, the time of year when everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off. And why? I'm not sure, but I think it is due to tradition. And I firmly believe that traditions should not make us run around like chickens with their heads cut off.

I, personally, don't like getting gifts unless I know they have been well thought out or handmade with a lot of love. My immediate family and close friends know this and my husband and three oldest kids understand that I would much prefer them to give to a charity in my name than give me something they bought at the last second just to get me something. My youngest daughter will probably never understand and my 13 year old just thinks I'm crazy. But then, his love language is gifts. Obviously, it's not mine.

So, if you have someone in your family or group of friends that is weird like me, here are some gift suggestions:

TOMS Shoes - Can't go wrong here. Two gifts for the price of one. For every pair purchased, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. Watch the video. Buy the shoes.


Another amazing company is 25 Cloth. They are out to bring change to a hurting world and they are doing it. You can be a part of it. This quarter, for every t-shirt (and man, do they have some cute ones) you purchase you are changing the lives of those living in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Over 40% of the proceeds from Ike relief shirts and 25% of all other shirts go towards providing food, building supplies, clothes, and other necessities to the victims.

If your gift recipient has a heart for children then check out the following organizations:

Compassion International - The giving choices through this group are numerous & far reaching.
Real Hope For Haiti Rescue Center - These folks are on the front lines battling poverty.
Love146 - Help them save children from the jaws of pure evil.

I got a cool comment on one of my posts...

so, I investigated and the info got even cooler.

Some of you may remember my post, TOMS and Sanctus Real and Extreme Makeover. Well, Schooler got to be part of it, up close and personal. And, he shot some great photos of the concert and the home demolition. He got a hard hat and everything. How cool is that? He had an inside track with my BFF (please see below).

I've been a fan of TOMS ever since I heard about their amazing company. Check them out and become a fan too. Their documentary, For Tomorrow - The TOMS Shoes Story, was a Humanitarian Vision Award Winner at the 2008 Newport Beach Film Festival and was an official selection at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

I'd been a fan of Sanctus Real for a while before volunteering at one of their concerts a few years back. Always liked their music, but what sealed the deal for me was when Matt said I was a cool mom. He now is my BFF! I don't usually have my picture taken with rock stars, but I do have my picture taken with rock stars that think I'm a cool mom just so I can pull them up and remind my kids that I'm a cool mom.


So, if you're a rock star and want your picture taken with me you now know the rule.
Now, are there any rules for how many times you can use the word "cool" in a post?

TOMS and Sanctus Real and Exteme Makeover

and...and...and...oh, sorry. I'm passing this on for Sanctus Real and TOMS.

Hey everyone,

Check out this website:
http://www. tomsshoes. com/toledofamily

How sweet is this?
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is coming to Toledo this week and as part of the festivities, Sanctus gets the
awesome opportunity to play a concert for the show! They're going to film it and there's a good chance some of it will be aired.


Here's something even more awesome and a way for you to get involved...We've hooked up with Tom's Shoes and through the end of the day (September 6th), if you click on the link above, and order a pair of Tom's, not only will they give a pair to a person in need (like always), but they'll donate $8 to the family on the show. That's not all though, if you use the promo code "sanctusreal" you'll save $5! It doesn't get any better than that. So check it out ASAP because even though you can get the discount anytime, the $8 for the family only lasts through the end of today.

Give, Get, Stttttrrrrrreeeeeetch those dollars!

40 Day Fast - TOMS and Child Slavery

Last night my oldest daughter was searching TOMS website trying to decide what pair she wanted. Today I pulled up Team One's post and found it is about TOMS. Pretty cool. If you don't know about this phenomenal company, read Brad's post. And if you do know about TOMS, read it anyway. You may learn something new and that is always good.

Child Slavery - two words that should never be used together. And yet, they are. Because child slavery is a beyond huge widespread evil. I've witnessed it with my own eyes. It rocked me to my core. Shawn has written a heart wrenching blog of how he has been rocked and what he has chosen to do to reach out to "the least of these."

Father's Day Gift Ideas

I've heard a rumor Sunday is Father's Day. It dang sure doesn't get the kind of attention Mother's Day does. But just because the commercial world doesn't put the same amount of pressure on you to buy your dad a gift doesn't mean you don't need to get him anything.

I'm here to help you out. Maybe your dad is the kind that doesn't want a lot of stuff, as in more stuff to store in his closet, garage, storage shed, etc... The following things will not pile up. In fact, they will lift people up. So, for this Father's Day I make the following suggestions.

Free The Slaves works hard at ending modern day slavery. They have an amazing website with updates on how people around the world are being rescued from this horror. Give your father the opportunity to be a modern day abolitionist.

Compassion International has so many ways to be involved with changing lives. Browse through their website for ideas. There will be the perfect gift for your father, whether it be malaria prevention kits, food crisis intervention, or sponsoring a child.

Blood:Water Mission was created buy some great guys who saw a need and decided to do something. Donate in your father's name and help give clean water to those dying from the lack of it.

Toms Shoes will give a pair of shoes to a needy child for every pair you buy your father. There are a lot of choices on their website and you can read the history of the company and how they choose to run their business.

If your father loves t-shirts then this is the place to go. JesusGreaterThan.Org has great shirts. I got my cool one before they even had a website which makes me extra cool. Just thought you should know that. And no matter where Corinn and I wear them (not at the same time - that would be too cutesy, weird for a teenage daughter and her mom to do) we have people stop us and ask about them. So, your father needs one of these t-shirts.

Now, if these suggestions don't do it for you, then go to my Mother's Day ideas. Those will work also. Except make sure you say "Happy Father's Day". Don't confuse him with your mom.

Last minute Valentine's gifts from the heart...

Okay, you are down to the wire. You need a gift, a gift from the heart, not from the tent in the Kroger parking lot. So, here are my suggestions for meaningful Valentine Day gifts.

Sponsor a child at Compassion International.
Buy a pair of shoes from Toms
Send some love through LOVE 146
Show a little heart with Operation Care
Give a drink through blood:water mission
Pick a t-shirt with a message and much more at Two-Five