Gifts That Give Back 4.0

'Twas Cyber Monday morning

And all through the house,

The only sound one heard was

The click of a mouse.

You stayed home on Thanksgiving

And slept through Black Friday craze.

The thought of fighting the crowds,

leaves you in a holi-daze.

Start with something really sweet

For the candy connoisseur 

These little chocolates provide 

relief for those in Darfur. 

A bag that's truly inspi(RED) ,

Each purchase helps those in need.

Meals and a month of treatment, 

Through the Global Fund and Feed.

Say "Cheers" to helping others,

in a most sparkling display.

Choose your cause and pop the cork,

Sauvignon or chardonnay.

For that bibliophile

Spending more on books than rent?

Score a tee, donate a book 

When you shop at Out of Print.

Don't forget to check out Better World Books
when buying your Christmas read.
Where each book you buy equals
a free book for one in need. 

Reading texts is more their speed?
Protect their device with flair,
Any St. Jude case purchased
helps kids get the very best care.

It's always a good time to give,
Even if it's fashionably late.
Buy a watch by Flex or Kors,
And they'll put food on a plate.

Some of the best gifts are free.
Your time is a gift indeed.
Volunteer or donate blood
Give wherever there's a need.

So Happy Cyber Monday
And may your Christmas be bright
When you give gifts that give back
you're doing Peace on Earth right. 




. 

Gifts that Give Back 2013

‘Twas  the night before Black Friday,

 and all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring,

just the click of my mouse.

Fighting traffic and crowds

to help Santa fill his sack?

Keep calm and surf the web

for these gifts that give back.

For the child who's wise and cute,
Keep their head warm and cozy
with a hat that's a hoot!

For that man you've loved for years,
This awesome gift from Sevenly 
will be music to his ears.

That special lady will really be floored
when she opens her watch
that feeds a hundred from Michael Kors.

Speaking of timepieces, here's one more.
A unisex watch that fights AIDS, 
courtesy of Kenneth Cole, J'adore. 

For the reader who prefers pages to Nooks,
Buy a book and they'll donate one,
Over at Better World Books.

Stocking stuffers? I have the answer,
From lotion that helps feed kids 
to jewelry that fights cancer.

What about me? What did I get?
A cool new tee-shirt
that gives back a net.

To complete the perfect holiday look,
Check out OPI's bright shade for nails
that helps victims of Sandy Hook.

And please don't forget the man in red himself.
Prepare these cookies from St. Jude 
For him and his elf. 

Remember the best gift of all
is when you help others thrive .
So start a Crowdrise fundraiser
or stop in at a blood drive. 

Avoiding the madness, no mall in sight?
Spreading joy with each purchase, 
You're doing Peace on Earth right. 

Gifts that Give Back 2012

'Twas the night of Thanksgiving,
and all through the town
people were camped out,
for prices marked down. 

"Bah, humbug" you say
to a Friday that's black,
I will shop instead 
for gifts that give back. 

For the Apple fan, a new case
from (Product) RED you can give.
Help Africa fight diseases,
so they can grow strong and live. 

For the cool rock star in your life,
SMS Audio takes the lead.
To help Feeding America
give nutritious meals to those in need.

Young reader who's hooked on her Kindle?
Give her Jessica Park's Flat-Out Love.
With Amazon, you can donate one too.
Through Worldreader, it's easy to do.*

Your bookworm prefers to turn the page?
Better World Books is all the rage.
Each book you buy, they donate one too. 
E-books now included, that's something new!

And speaking of books,
How about a do-gooder's guide?
Try Wendy Smith's Give a Little  
or Pay it Forward by Hyde. 

For guys and gals with laid back style,
Check out the tees by Sevenly.
Each week, brand new shirts help a new cause.
The fit and fabric are heavenly. 

Avoid malls and mayhem.
There's simply no reason.
Give gifts that give back
this holiday season.





*For most of December, Amazon will also donate an e-book for each Amazon Children's Publishing e-book purchased, including Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park.

Waffle Fries With a Side of Bigotry

First let me start by saying Dan Cathy has the right to think and say almost anything. He can claim that the gays and those heathens that support their civil rights are "inviting God's judgement on our nation." We are free to think that Jesus would like nothing better than to bitchslap the stupid out of Mr. Cathy. He is free to give some of his company's profits to whichever organization he chooses. We are free to decide that his company will not be receiving another dollar from us to further fund what we consider hate groups. He and his supporters are free to try and justify their bigotry under the guise of religion and claim they are having their rights violated or are victims of religious persecution when people disagree with them. We are free to call utter bullshit on all the above. He is free to crow about "Biblical marriage" and the Bible's view of homosexuality and I am free to point out what that really means and why it outrages so many of us.

 "Biblical marriage"? I don't think that means what you think it does.
So Dan Cathy is concerned with keeping the Biblical definition of marriage. Does that mean he believes a rapist should be able to pay off his victim's father and take her as his bride (Deut 22:28-29)? The victim could refuse I guess, but then she would be stoned to death because she is unmarried and no longer a virgin (hey it's in the Bible so it must be okay). I'm not sure if this is the "Biblical definition" of marriage Mr. Cathy is speaking about. Perhaps we should wait and see if he decides to donate some money to an organization that supports rapists marrying their victims. Don't worry. If he does support such an organization, he'll still have some supporters in those who are too busy trying to prove Obama's birth certificate is a forgery and a certain Teletubby won't rest until your son is a Judy Garland worshipping homosexual. More likely though, Mr. Cathy is either ignorant about what the Bible says about marriage or hopes that others are so that his bigotry will be mistaken for "Christian values". It worked so well for those who banned interracial marriage on Biblical grounds for so long. They weren't racists. They really wished that an interracial couple could have the same rights as they did, but that pesky little Bible just said differently.

The Slippery Slope- dumb argument or awesome gay bar?
Along with "Biblical (or traditional) marriage" there are two more terms that keep popping up in the great marriage debate, "the gay agenda" and "slippery slope". Now believe it or not, I have actually met a gay or two during my lifetime. I have, however, never been witness to the gay agenda so I can not be certain it even exists. But if it does, I bet it's fucking fabulous and covered in glitter. Damn! I just dropped an f bomb. I bet that got rid of the last of the Christian Coupling Crusaders before I could point out the biggest fallacies in their logic. Oh well. Let's move on to the slippery slope, shall we? I am sure you have all heard the arguments that if we allow gays to marry, then we have to allow polygamy, child brides and marriage between a man and goat. Let's just take the first two right off the table. Because even if allowing one type of marriage was going to signal the okay for polygamy and child brides, it would not be the gay agenda. You want the sister wives and the not even close to legal wives, look no further than the Bible. As for the man/ goat nuptials, seriously. Okay, fine. We let Pete and James profess their love and desire to file a joint return, therefore we have to let Simon marry Mr. Buttons, his goat. Now tell me how exactly this is going to affect your marriage? Did your vows state until "death do us part or the freak next door marries a goat"? If so, I am sorry for the impending implosion of your marriage. Here's where my concern over such a union begins and ends "What the fuck do you buy a goat for a wedding gift?".

But all kidding aside, here is where the real danger in letting the Bible's view on homosexuality dictate our laws comes into play. You know that Bible verse certain Christians like to spout off regarding homosexuality being an abomination? Do you know what it states the punishment for such behavior should be? Stoning to death. That's right. Kill the gays. Think that's a slippery slope? It really isn't. You see, they are already trying to pass such a bill in Uganda. And David Bahati and Martin Ssempa who are behind such legislation have been linked to American pastors and politicians, the same politicians and pastors who speak about the horrors of gay marriage. and how does David Bahati justify such a law in the first place? The Bible, of course. Also active in the anti-gay fervor in Uganda is an organization called Exodus International, a group that Chick-Fil-A donated to. So it seems that to many denying the right to same sex unions is just the first step. A little toe dip in the pool to get people comfortable before they spring the next Bible-based violation of civil rights on them.

 Now I know that some of you may not feel comfortable hearing all of this. Some of you may even think to yourselves that the notion that gays should have the same right to marry as heterosexuals is misguided, deluded, ungodly, etc. Right or wrong- you have every right to think it. Just like Dan Cathy, you have a right to your opinion and a right to voice that opinion. And- right or wrong- we have the right to think that the belief that religion gives you the right to deny another person of their rights because of their sexual orientation is unintelligent and bigoted.

Giving Gifts that Give Back

The ads for Black Friday have already come out. Since I hate crowds and am not fond of spending the money I would save at the emergency room for trampled-related injuries, I will not be heading out to them. Instead, I give you my list of 2011 Holiday Gifts that Give Back. It's like Oprah's Favorite Things list except all these gifts also help charities and I will not be giving you each one of them like she did with her studio audience (her dogs are wealthier than I am). So if you like the idea of being able to give back with each purchase and being able to shop in your pajamas without getting a lot of weird looks from other shoppers, enjoy. An added bonus- you can also give the finger to corporations like Wal-Mart who are cutting employee health benefits because of the cost while the CEO Michael Duke earns about $17,000 an hour (feel free to call 1-800-WALMART or mail them a letter at their corporate offices to let them know of your intent). Now on to the list.

For the book-lover on your list-
I suggest buying your books on-line from http://www.betterworldbooks.com/ . Not only do they fund literacy programs with each book, but they also give a book to a person in need for each one you purchase. And the service is second to none (not to mention their free shipping). The other on-line bookstores don't even come close. Speaking of books, I always choose a book with meaning to give out as holiday gifts. This year's choice is An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski. It is the true story of an 11 year old panhandler in NYC and a business executive whose chance encounter changes both of their lives. You might also want to check out Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes. In it, you will learn all about his decision to start a one-for-one company where he gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair you purchase. You'll also learn why a guy named Blake started a company named TOMS.
If the reader in your life prefers e-books to the paper version, check out the cool e-reader cover by Juicy Couture in the St. Jude Hope Gift Book  http://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/shop.do?cID=13743&pID=21401 .
They also have a matching purse available and besides being stylish, all proceeds from the Hope Gift Book help fund St. Jude in the fight against pediatric cancer.

To warm those on your list from head to toe, check out these awesome ideas.
Go to http://www.krochetkids.org/ and pick out the perfect hat for that special someone. The hats are handmade by women in areas such as Uganda and Peru, which allows them to rise above poverty. I'm kind of partial to the Riley style myself. They also make the fabulous Africa Love tee that I am so fond of wearing for those of you in warmer climates. Now to warm those toes, check out these cool boots from The Hunger Site https://www.thehungersite.com/store/item.do?item=Cozy_Classics_Peace_Sign_Sweater_Boots&itemId=42800&siteId=220&sourceClass=Category&sourceId=2616
I have an older version of this boot and practically live in them in the winter. Not only do they donate a pair through Soles4Souls for each pair purchased, they also donate 50 cups of food. For the man with cold feet, check out the new styles at www.toms.com . The Movember collection not only sports a stylish moustache on the shoe, it also helps fund programs to fight men's cancers. And as always, they give a pair to a child in need for each pair purchased.

For the sport nut or green fan on your list, try the thermos hydration bottle from http://www.charitywater.org/store/ . Not only is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic water bottles, it helps fund water projects through Charity:Water. And to keep them looking cool during their workouts, check out the cool tees and hoodies there as well. You can even make a donation in their name and feel good knowing that 100% of your donation goes directly into the building of wells to end the water crisis (overhead costs are covered by sales of Charity:Water merchandise). What other charity can say 100% of your donation goes directly to the cause?

For the little ones on your list, head back over to the Hope Gift Book at www.stjude.org and check out the awesome toys such as these adorable dolls (perfect if you have a future neurosurgeon on your list like I do).
 http://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/shop.do?cID=13744&pID=21390

For the four-legged friends on your list (or those who love them), check out the cute pet accessories like these argyle doggie sweaters. https://www.thehungersite.com/store/item.do?item=Argyle_Doggie_Sweater_Vest&itemId=38700&siteId=310&sourceClass=Category&sourceId=2832
They'll keep your canine warm and toasty and each purchase supplies 28 bowls of food for rescued animals thanks to The Animal Rescue Site (part of GreaterGood Network Stores).

Finally, if you are planning on doing on-line shopping at another site but still want to give back with each purchase, there's an easy way to do it. Simply go to  www.giveback.org and sign up. Not only can you track your donations through this site, but you can earn money for your foundation (which you then give to the charity or charities of your choice) by simply clicking on the Shop & Earn link to shop at retailers like Nordstroms, Petco or B&N.com.

Here's hoping you have an excellent holiday season and got some good gift ideas from this blog. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to add them in the comments below. And since this is the list of gifts I will be giving this season, allow me to apologize to those on my list for spoiling the surprise. Ashley, at least I'm not giving you a goat again this year.

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy/Merry (insert your holiday here) to you all!

Pax,
Pixie

Better World Books August Book Drive Day 31 The end of the drive.

For my last book of my Better World Books August book drive, I chose Finger Lickin' Dead by Riley Adams.
It is the second in her Memphis BBQ mystery series, which is centered around Aunt Pat's Restaurant on Beale Street in Memphis and the quirky, lovable characters that congregate there.

Evelyn is back with an ex-husband which delights none of her friends. It's obvious to them that he uses her for her money and is a cheater as well. When it comes out that her boyfriend is also the troublemaking food critic who uses the pen name Eppie Currian, that's just another nail in his coffin as far as they are concerned. He has damaged businesses including Aunt Pat's with his poison pen , enraging owners, chefs and patrons. Add those disgruntled people to the jilted lovers and blackmail victims and it's easy to see why he ends up murdered. Now the hard part will be figuring out whodunit.

Lulu and the gang are so lovable that, even as a vegetarian, I find myself wanting to become a regular at Aunt Pat's. This book will leave you with a yearning for Pecan pie and the desire to tour Graceland with the Graces. There's an awesome recipe for the pie in the back of the book, but the tour is up to you. If you love cozy mysteries with a restaurant setting or miss the Southern Sisters Mystery series as much as I do, this is a must read. Grab your copy at http://www.betterworldbooks.com/ and your purchase will also help fund literacy programs and put a book in the hand of someone in need.

As I stated, this is the last day of my August book drive. It all started in July when I decided to read as many books as I could in a month, blog about them and then donate them all to Better World Books. The total was 30 books read, but with the wonderful support of my friends (especially my book club and on-line buddies) that number is now well over 100. So I'd like to thank my friends for their support, the authors for the hours of enjoyment that they have given me and the wonderful staff of Better World Books. I had actually never met anyone from Better World Books before deciding to do this. I just wanted to draw a little attention to a company whose customer service and dedication to helping others I have always admired. I'm happy to report that they are as awesome as I imagined they would be.

Although it is the end of my book drive, it is not the end of my association with Better World Books. I will continue to donate the books I read to them and encourage everyone else to do the same (look for their bright green donation bins or get a free shipping label from their website). I will also continue to support a company whose customer service is superb and whose dedication to literacy projects is remarkable by making my on-line book purchases through them.

Better World Books August Book Drive Day 30

Hot off the presses! Today's choice for my Better World Books August book drive is one which was just released today.

"The day Emily Hargraves disappeared after visiting my donut shop, I had no idea that it would be the beginning of a series of seemingly unrelated events that would ultimately lead to the death of one of my dearest friends." Thus started Tragic Toppings, the fifth of the Donut Shop Mystery series by Jessica Beck. And as anyone who reads a series knows, such a sentence leaves you nervous with anticipation to see which character is getting bumped off.

Suzanne Hart owns Donut Hearts, a small shop in April Springs, North Carolina. Suzanne's day (and the story) start off strange when a regular customer orders a donut and then seemingly vanishes.  When she joins the search for Emily, she finds her ex-husband Max seems to be missing in action as well. It turns out that they are hanging together, but that body up in the tree is hanging all by himself.
Emily begs Suzanne to find out what led someone to kill the handyman the whole town seemed to adore. Never one to back away from a friend in need, Suzanne agrees to investigate and calls in her friends Grace and George (an ex-cop) and her boyfriend Jake (a police officer) to assist her.  As they get closer to the truth, the killer zeroes in on Suzanne and her friends might not be able to save her.

Love the setting of this series as well as the characters (especially Chief Martin and Momma, who are finally going to go on a date if it kills them). And there are donut recipes in each story for you to try at home. You don't even have to get up at 1:30 in the morning to make them like Suzanne does.

All in all, a sweet series and a welcome addition for any cozy mystery lovers who love small town settings and who never met a eclair they didn't like. Read them in order (beginning with Glazed Murder) and you won't be disappointed.
Look for the Donut Shop Mystery series (and all your favorite cozy series) at http://www.betterworldbooks.com/ . Each book you purchase from them not only helps fund libraries and literacy projects- it also puts a book in the hand of someone in need through their new Book For Book program.