Gifts That Give Twice With World Vision For The Holidays

December 1, 2015 by 32 Comments

Looking to give a beautiful, unique gift this year? Maybe you want to do something even better then that- maybe you want to give a gift that gives back. World Vision lets you do both- you can not only give beautiful gifts that the gift-ee will love, but when you buy, your money goes to those who need it most. World Vision is Fair Trade, and helps artisans make a living wage that they can raise their families on.

This year more than 50 percent of holiday shoppers plan to purchase holiday gifts online. Look into new gift ideas that give back with just a few clicks of the mouse from the World Vision Gift Catalog.
More than 250 items, ranging in price from $10 to $39,000, are available online and in the print catalog to help improve quality of life for women, children and families in the U.S. and around the world. Give help where it is needed most and receive handcrafted gifts that are beautiful accessories:

African Soapstone Box – New to the 2014 World Vision Gift Catalog, the hand-carved African Soapstone Box is a safe place to store necklaces and rings. Coated in light blue with an image of a giraffe, this ornate box features pretty details that will complement nearly any decor. Donations go toward the Kenyan artisans who crafted the box to help provide medical care for their families. $85

 

Royal Silk Scarf – A recent addition to the Catalog, this gorgeous silk scarf adds color to the holidays and supports the needs of children and families worldwide, including those in the community where it was crafted; the luxurious silk was woven by Vietnam’s Ma Chau villagers, who receive fair wages & sustainable income through their craft. $95
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Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, clothes and shoes, fashion, gifts, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, holidays, review Tagged With: ,

MANDUKA® COLLABORATES WITH RYAN MCGINNESS ON PRINTED PRO YOGA MAT @MandukaYoga

December 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Mat to benefit Bent on Learning – bringing yoga to children in underserved communities

LOS ANGELES (December 1, 2015) – Manduka, creators of high-performance yoga gear designed for and by yogis, revealed its first-ever artist collaboration bringing Ryan McGinness’ renowned figure drawings to its legendary PRO Mat series. The limited edition mat will be sold online only at www.manduka.com. For every Ryan McGinness PRO Mat purchased, Manduka will gift two yoga classes for children in the nonprofit organization Bent on Learning, bringing yoga into underserved public schools to support a healthier, more compassionate learning environment.

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“Yoga and art are natural partners,” said Sky Meltzer, CEO Manduka. “We are honored to provide our mat as a canvas for Ryan McGinness’ work, bringing beautiful imagery to the place so many people go to for inspiration. Together, we are sharing mindful purpose and creative expression, while supporting kids and inspiring them to practice.”

Ryan’s artwork derives from figure drawings, beginning with sketches and closing with rigid refinement to showcase his models‘ essential forms. His iconic Women Series, presented on the PRO mat, embraces an expressive representation of universal womanhood. With a classic deep blue background playing host to an abstract woman’s silhouette, the Ryan McGinness PRO Mat is equal parts beauty and function. Without compromising the signature PRO performance, this is the first printed PRO mat featuring the unparalleled density, performance grip and a Lifetime Guarantee the line has offered for nearly 20 years.

“Teaching yoga in schools gives kids the opportunity to connect to their inner lives where their imaginations and creativity can expand beyond the constraints of the classroom,” proclaimed Anne Desmond, Co-Founder and Executive Director for Bent on Learning.” Ryan McGinness’ art on the Manduka PRO is a gorgeous testament to the power of yoga on a child’s creative development, and this partnership will allow more children to receive Bent On Learning yoga classes and have a lasting impact on their education.”

To support Bent on Learning and view the new mat, please visit:

https://www.manduka.com/yoga-mats/pro/the-manduka-pro-limited-edition-print.html

For more information on Manduka visit: http://www.manduka.com. Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mandukayoga or follow us on Instagram and Twitter @MandukaYoga

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Feed the Children Offers Seven Days of Giving Through Its Holiday Gift Catalog

December 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Feed the Children is helping to create a season of hope for children and families in need at home and around the world with its annual Holiday Gift Catalog. This special edition catalog offers one-of-a-kind gifts that will send a message of hope – and life – to those without life’s essentials.

This year’s catalog is filled with Feed the Children’s most popular gifts to help children and families in need just in time for the holidays. These gifts not only help the people receiving them, but also bring them joy.

There is simply no reason for a child to suffer the pain of hunger and poverty, so the Holiday Gift Catalog features items that will help children and families fill their pantries, restore their lives and begin the holiday season with renewed hope for the future.

This year’s top seven gifts for seven days of giving offer life-changing resources all under $100.

  1. Provide one chicken for $14. A chicken means fresh eggs and meat for international families to eat. The eggs and meat can also be sold to neighbors or in markets throughout each country.
  2. Provide one goat for $79. Goats are a source of meat and milk for families globally, providing much-needed nourishment, and their offspring can be sold to generate income to help a family overcome poverty.
  3. Feed a class of 50 for $79. Feed the Children serves meals to thousands of boys and girls each school day to help children thrive physically and mentally. A class of 50 children in Kenya can receive a traditional Kenyan meal of corn and beans for only 44 cents per child.
  4. Provide water purification tablets for two families for one year for $29. Even clean water can become contaminated while being carried home or stored for later use. These tablets are one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent diarrhea and other waterborne health issues greatly affecting international countries.
  5. Provide one food box, one essential box, and one holiday turkey for $57. Families in the U.S. will receive a 25-pound food box, a 10-pound box of basic essentials and a 10- to 12-pound frozen turkey to help them celebrate the holidays.
  6. Equip a child with a backpack and school supplies for $20. Some children in America don’t have the basic items they need to succeed in school. Each backpack is filled with school supplies, children’s books, hygiene items, and healthy snack food.
  7. Provide one food box and one essentials box for $38. This gift will help fight childhood hunger in America by providing much-needed food and other essentials like laundry detergent and shampoo for families in need. Each box supplements a family of four for up to a week.

“We believe that no child should go to bed hungry in a world where there is plenty of food,” said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children Interim CEO/President and COO. “But the reality is, millions of boys and girls across the globe face this hardship every day. With this catalog, our donors and supporters are able to bring help and hope to families during the holiday season.”

About Feed the Children

Feed the Children believes that it can create a world where no child goes to bed hungry. Since 1979, Feed the Children has grown into one of the largest U.S.-based charities. It is accredited by GuideStar Exchange and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, maintains a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, and is also a member of InterAction. Through its network of agencies, Feed the Children distributed more than $344 million in food, essentials, educational supplies, and medicine, impacting close to 9 million individuals in the U.S. and more than 4.9 million individuals internationally, for a total of 13.9 million individuals globally[1] in fiscal yer 2014.

Visit www.feedthechildren.org for more information.

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide 2015, holidays Tagged With:

Kohl’s Elf on the Shelf #ScoutElfReturnWeek

December 1, 2015 by 8 Comments

Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this post.  All opinions are my own and honest.

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For the uninitiated, Elf on the Shelf is the new tradition where a little stuffed elf hides around the house at night to help report to Santa on which list your little one should be on, the naughty or the nice.  For more details on the exact lore of the Elf and his various adventures, there is a book and also a new movie which you can purchase with said elf at your local Kohl’s.

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In addition to various varieties of the Elves themselves, there are also boy and girl elves.  There is also a reindeer available and a whole plethora of different clothes for the entire crew.  The clothes range from pajamas, to boots and leather jackets, and even a warm blanket for the reindeer.  My son loves having sets of things, so friends for his Elf on the Shelf are great fun for him (especially an animal friend who wears clothes).  Of course, the reindeer also comes with a book, so you can read all about them.

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Also available are various Elf on the Shelf themed clothing for both boys and girls.  Pajamas, socks, shirts, bath robes, and even ornaments for your tree.  The other favorite in our house is the huggable plush elf, who is able to hang out all year long and does not have to fly back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.  Elf on the Shelf makes the anticipation for Christmas a bit easier for children to deal with while still giving them that added incentive to behave.  Well….. at least throughout the month of December.

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Elf On the Shelf is available now at Kohl’s stores nation wide and retail anywhere from $29.99 and includes a book explaining the mythos while most clothing sets are available for $9.99.  I’ll be posting shortly with some of our “Elf-capades” as well as a fun giveaway- keep your eyes out!

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, holidays, review, toys Tagged With: , ,

Finding Neverland on Broadway @NeverlandBway

November 30, 2015 by 8 Comments

After spending most of our life hearing about the magic of Neverland, have you ever wondered what inspired Peter Pan and Neverland? That is what the play Finding Neverland brings to light. Based on the Academy Award®-winning film, that has the same name, the show tells the story of a play-wright, J.M. Barrie and he was inspired to write the stories of Neverland.

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Barrie has been lacking on his creativity and inspiration when he meets the beautiful widow Sylvia and her 4 sons, Jack, George, Michael and Peter.  (Incidentally, currently playing Barrie is Matthew Morrison, of Glee and about a million other things.  Not only were we delighted to see Matthew Morrison live, but also got to see So You Think You Can Dance season 10 winner Amy Yakima, who is as of now playing Peter Pan as well as dancing in the show.)

After hearing the young boys tell stories of magical escapades in the world of Neverland, Barrie write a play that most of the high-society theatergoers in London have ever seen. Despite taking a giant risk, Barrie wrote the play and discovered, just like in his play, When you believe, you can fly.

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Finding Neverland, directed by Tony® winner Diane Paulus, also known for Pippin, Hair, features an original score by composer Gary Barlow and Grammy® winner Eliot Kennedy, with a book by celebrated playwright James Graham and choreography by three-time Emmy® winner Mia Michaels.

This is a great play to see with your family. Packed with beautiful visuals, lots of laughs and songs that will stick with you, this timeless story will remind you that you never really grow up.  The staging was really fun and quite something to see- the ending was really sad but amazing and beautiful, but I don’t want to ruin it for you .

Many people (including yours truly) have enjoyed Finding Neverland, including Mary Poppins herself, Julie Andrews, who absolutely loved it. Ms. Andrews came with her daughter and grandchildren. And, after the show, they all took pictures with the cast and gushed over how much they enjoyed it.

The cast was ecstatic. Check out this photo taken backstage of Julie Andrews and Finding Neverland star Laura Michelle Kelly (who, coincidentally, originated the role of Mary Poppins in the stage version both in London and on Broadway).

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Below are links to Instagram photos of the cast members and Julie Andrews if you’d like to see some more.

https://instagram.com/p/7l92ItI4E3/
https://instagram.com/p/7lmUghAo48/

https://instagram.com/p/7l80wbv_K4/

https://instagram.com/p/7l7XzEgtt9/

Finding Neverland plays at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater (205 West 46th Street). The schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7:30pm, Wednesday at 2pm & 7:30pm, Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, Sunday at 3pm. Tickets can be arranged online at www.FindingNeverlandTheMusical.com, by calling Ticketmaster at (877) 250-2929 or in person at the Lunt-Fontanne box office, located at 205 West 46th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenues.  For more information, please visit www.FindingNeverlandTheMusical.com.

Follow the magic on Twitter and Instagram: @NeverlandBway

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, review, theater Tagged With: ,

The Benefits of Quitting Smoking and the E-Cigarette

November 30, 2015 by 1 Comment
Images by Centophobia used under the Creative Commons license

Images by Centophobia used under the Creative Commons license

It’s been well documented for many years now that smoking causes a number of terrible diseases in both smokers and those who suffer from second hand smoke, and while many people try each year to kick the habit, it is no easy feat. Luckily, there have been some serious medical and technological developments in the way smokers can fight their urges, the most recent being the creation of the electronic cigarette. So why is now the best time for you to quit smoking? Well, here are just a few important reasons.

Your Health

The ultimate thing you’re saving when you quit smoking is your health, and while some might believe the positive effects will not be seen until far in the future, they actually begin a mere 20 minutes after you finish your final cigarette. 20 minutes after you stop smoking your pulse, blood pressure, and temperature in your hands and feet return to normal, and a mere 12 hours later your blood-oxygen level and your carbon monoxide levels have also returned to normal. The long-term positive effects are by far the most important ones, however, as 5-15 years down the line your risk of stroke has returned to that of a non-smoker, and 15 years later your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as that of a person who has never smoked.

The Health of Those Around You

While you might be okay accepting the consequences of your own actions, the negative impact that smoking has on those around you should be a major motivator to quit. Second hand smoke, or passive smoking, has been shown to increase a person’s chance of lung cancer by a quarter, meaning that family and friends who inhale your second hand smoke are 25% more likely to end-up with lung cancer.

Lose the Smoker’s Smell and Look

For non-smokers it is never hard to spot a smoker, as the scent of tobacco is always present in their hair or clothes, and their teeth and fingers tend to have a jaundiced look to them. Because smokers live with this smell and the slightly yellowish look, they tend not to notice it, but after quitting you’ll quickly find that others will look at you in a new light.

 

Filed Under: health Tagged With:

Fun Activities to Do with Kids During Vacation

November 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

There are hundreds of activities you can do during a holiday but if you are traveling with kids, you need to think about their safety and wellness. Long walks and commute can bore your children, they also hate staying for too long in one travel destination. The surge of tourist crowd can also be an issue to their safety.

Despite the difficulty, family vacation can be as fun as traveling with friends. You and your children can enjoy plenty of activities without sacrificing the security of your children. Here are some of them:

Build a Sand Castle

Are you planning to visit the beach? Aside from swimming and playing volleyball, you can opt to play in the sand. Help your kids build the grandest and biggest sand castle you can make. Aside from sparking their imagination, this activity also keeps them busy while you bask under the sun.

Visit a Water park

As a safer alternative, you can visit a water park instead of the beach. Normally you cannot build sand castles on water parks but there are other exciting activities that you can do with your kids. You can join them in water slides or learn surfing. There are also rafting, water spa, and plenty of other water activities. Water parks can be crowded at times though, so talk with your kids on where to go in case they get lost. Also know, where the emergency canter is in case an accident happens.

Check out the Zoo

Turn your vacation into an educational trip by visiting the zoo. Kids love animals so despite the long walk around the zoo, they can still enjoy this activity. Plenty of zoos today are interactive, so you can let the kids feed the animals or watch them perform. There are other activities that would make your kids entertained. In Bronx Zoo for example, there are 4D theater and bug carousel, which your children would definitely love. Aside from zoos, you can also visit aquariums or ocean parks to teach your kids about life under the sea.

Ride a bike

A visit to a park is a fun substitute to crowded tourist destinations. You can set up a picnic and bring some fun games like ball and flying disc. For a more memorable experience you can buy bikes online or rent from local shops to bike around the park. The Androscoggin River Bike Path in Maine or the Springwater Corridor in Oregon are just some of the many kid-friendly bike paths in America. Biking is a great activity for kids because they get to appreciate nature while instilling the importance of good health.

Discover Local Food

Many parents are careful with food when they are on a holiday, especially when out of the country. They don’t want a visit to the hospital spoil the family adventure. However, local foods are great way to teach your kids about culture and diversity. They’ll be more open-minded and acceptable towards people of different race if they learn to appreciate foods like these. You just have to carefully choose where you eat, either in the street or a restaurant. You’ll be surprised at how tasty local dishes can be.

As a parent you can find happiness when your kids are happy. Do these activities together and prepare your camera to capture fun-filled moments.

Filed Under: kids Tagged With:

Six Melbourne Road Trips

November 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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A driving vacation is the perfect option for anyone that wants the freedom to create their own agenda rather than being tied to a specific routine. All you need is your belongings and a hire car and you’re be ready to go, and you’ll be in control of the sites you see. In this article, you’ll find six road trips in Melbourne that will offer you an unbelievable experience.

1. Sydney-Melbourne Coastal Drive

The Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive will take you through Batesmen Bay, Phillip Island, and a number of other seaside towns. As well as the spectacular views, there are plenty of visitor attractions and landmarks along the way. Highlights include the Croajingolong National Park, Jervis Bay, the local beaches, and the birds and wildlife. It is also a great region for seafood.

2. The Great Ocean Road Route

The route measures 243 km and is an excellent opportunity to experience the south eastern coast of Australia; it will take you through several major cities and settlements such as Apollo Bay, Anglesey and Rye River.

It is considered one of the Australia’s most picturesque drives and it highlights include The Otways and its rainforests, Bell’s Beach, the 12 Apostles and the waterfalls. You will also have plenty of opportunity to experience the wildlife, and if you love surfing and water-based activities, you’ll find plenty of beaches to explore.

3. The Great Alpine Road

The road measures approximately 211 miles. It has a varied terrain and it will take you through some of the most stunning views in Victoria. As well as the local vineyards, you’ll have the chance to experience the Gippsland Lakes, striking valleys and the forest views.

The Great Alpine Road runs between Wangaratta and Metung and provides plenty of opportunity to explore the beaches, mountains and lakes along the way. Highlights of this route include the Alpine National Park and the Rutherglen Wine Region.

4. Yarra Valley

This is one of Victoria’s most spectacular regions. It is known for its gardens and villages, and numerous vineyards. It is also famed for its restaurants, which makes Yarra Valley an ideal location for food and drink lovers; there’s plenty of green scenery to enjoy along the way as well. With so much to do and see you might not get to experience it all in one day, so consider making your trip a little longer if you want to make the best of it.

A hire car will be essential to take you between each tourist attraction and destination; it’s a good idea to research car rentals in Australia before you go, Budget Rent a Car is a good place to start.

5. The South Gippsland Circuit

This circuit is famed for its striking beauty and for its many tourism spots. It is a great area for people who enjoy the outdoors lifestyle, while also taking in some of the world’s most magnificent views. If you are driving this route, you’ll find plenty of reasons to take a detour along the way. First, you’ll want to visit the local beaches and the Gippsland Lakes, and the Wilsons Promontory National Park is another attraction that isn’t to be missed.

6. Sydney-Melbourne Heritage Drive

You’ll need to be prepared to travel, but with so much to enjoy this drive is worth the effort.

The Sydney-Melbourne Heritage Drive is steeped in history and there are plenty of modern day attractions, too. Highlights of this route include The Murray River with its beaches and forests; it’s rich in local vineyards and produce as well.

Filed Under: evergreen, traveling Tagged With: