Recently, thanks to Twitter, I met a new friend. While I have not known her very long, I have learned very quickly how strong, caring and how wonderful of a person she really is. Her name is Maria.
Like me, Maria is a Police Officer. She is very active and is constantly on the go. Right now, Maria is training to run a 1/2 marathon to raise money for the Rally Childhood Cancer Foundation. She is dedicated to this run, and is doing this run in honor of her rally kid Clark. the run is scheduled for January in Disney World. How Cool!!!
Hearing her talk about what she is doing, sparked a flare in me to help her out. I thought about it and came up with an idea. I created a coupon code for her to give to her friends and I posted it on my website for others to use. With this coupon code, people can buy whatever Awareness products they want for whatevery cause they care about, and use the special code to have the 20% donation directed to Maria's fundraiser. Using the code would also allow them to get 10% off their purchase.
I thought this was a great idea and a way to help others who are doing fundraisers to get a little bit of extra assistance.
I was so happy to be able to tell Maria, that the day after her special code was set-up someone used it to make a purchase and $3.87 was set aside to be donated to her fundraising efforts!
If you would like to read more of Maria's story, you can read about it here on her fundraising page: http://www.active.com/donate/2010disneyteam/mariabaldwin
If you would like to help Maria in her fundraising by purchasing an awareness product, please visit our website at www.RibbonsforaReason.com and enter coupon code MARIACLARK.
I am honored to be able to help this amazing friend out!
Get out there and run Maria! (and don't forget your vest....lol.....)
LIVESTRONG Everyone - LIVESTRONG!!!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Where does the time go?
It has just occured to me that my last blog was June 1st. JUNE 1ST!!! It is now July. Does anyone know where June went???
My last post was so positive about the fund raiser I had just assisted with. Since that date, I feel like I opened a door someplace and time just flew right out.
June has consisted of graduations, birthday parties, poetry recitals, yard sales (where we made over $800 that was donated directly to LIVESTRONG), business, everyday work, household duties (although not much done on that front) and finally got a chance to sit back and relax on a family vacation.
As I worked this last weekend and had to write the date on something, it hit me. It is July. Before we know it, it will be October and our kids will be dressing in crazy costumes and hunting for candy.
With that said, I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. I hope to get back on the wagon here and start producing some great blogs.
My last post was so positive about the fund raiser I had just assisted with. Since that date, I feel like I opened a door someplace and time just flew right out.
June has consisted of graduations, birthday parties, poetry recitals, yard sales (where we made over $800 that was donated directly to LIVESTRONG), business, everyday work, household duties (although not much done on that front) and finally got a chance to sit back and relax on a family vacation.
As I worked this last weekend and had to write the date on something, it hit me. It is July. Before we know it, it will be October and our kids will be dressing in crazy costumes and hunting for candy.
With that said, I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. I hope to get back on the wagon here and start producing some great blogs.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Fundraiser Event
This weekend I had the pleasure to help a friend with a benefit dinner for the Komen 3-Day Walk. It was a lot of fun and they did a wonderful job.
They had an awesome 3 person acustic band, wonderful silent auction items, a donation bar and a food spread that was wonderful! They couldn't have ordered better weather for the event! Sunshine with a nice breeze and nice warm temps.
They had some great trivia questions where they gave out prizes. I am happy to say I personally won a Silent Auction basket full of Power Bars. I specifically bid on those to give to my husband as he continues his training for the LIVESTRONG Challenge in August and also the Irish Pub Tour de Shore in July.
They had some great t-shirts for sale and of course I had to have one! It was a wonderful day and the people that attened were great people and good friends!
They even had a pinata in the shape of a woman's chest. That was a treat! One of their friends painted a huge Pink Ribbon on a hill in the back of the yard and kids ran it like it was a race track!
With the help of my very good friend Amy, Ribbons for a Reason set up a booth at the event. We displayed many of our products out there for everyone to see. During the event we donated between 30%-50% of every item sold back to the Komen 3-Day and Nancy's team. We are happy to say that we were able to donate $200.00 to them!
It was a great day to relax and help raise money for a great cause. I was honored to have been asked to take part in this event. Thank you Nancy!
They had an awesome 3 person acustic band, wonderful silent auction items, a donation bar and a food spread that was wonderful! They couldn't have ordered better weather for the event! Sunshine with a nice breeze and nice warm temps.
They had some great trivia questions where they gave out prizes. I am happy to say I personally won a Silent Auction basket full of Power Bars. I specifically bid on those to give to my husband as he continues his training for the LIVESTRONG Challenge in August and also the Irish Pub Tour de Shore in July.
They had some great t-shirts for sale and of course I had to have one! It was a wonderful day and the people that attened were great people and good friends!
They even had a pinata in the shape of a woman's chest. That was a treat! One of their friends painted a huge Pink Ribbon on a hill in the back of the yard and kids ran it like it was a race track!
With the help of my very good friend Amy, Ribbons for a Reason set up a booth at the event. We displayed many of our products out there for everyone to see. During the event we donated between 30%-50% of every item sold back to the Komen 3-Day and Nancy's team. We are happy to say that we were able to donate $200.00 to them!
It was a great day to relax and help raise money for a great cause. I was honored to have been asked to take part in this event. Thank you Nancy!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Go Green for MCS Month!
MCS - Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
I thank Suzanne Olson for this article that was posted on examiner.com.
Go green for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month
Green ribbons signify Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and May is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Month. But you probably won’t be seeing many green ribbons around.
Like AIDS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or Environmental Illness is one condition people just don’t want to think about.
Okay, we all know someone who reacts to a particular face cream or detergent.
And there’s perfume sensitivity. A lot of people can’t be around perfume, and that’s no big deal.
But, what if our planet was so polluted that some people couldn’t tolerate chemicals at all? These people would react to perfume, detergent, dryer sheets, paint, pesticides, carpet, glues, makeup, deodorant, and pretty much everything sold in stores.
They would be so sensitive to such a long list of chemicals, they would have stay away from people just to survive.
What if prevention and the cure for this condition, was the same: Everyone had to stop shopping. Not altogether; people could still buy natural, chemical-free products, but basically 90% of the products on the market would be in the “not recommended for your health” category.
Just like any polluter, industry would say Multiple Chemical Sensitivity doesn’t exist. Companies would say their products are safe. Insurers would say MCS must be psychological.
Lawmakers would stick their heads in the sand, except to avert the occasional political disaster. They might hold a meeting about toxic trailers or lead in toys.
And people would continue to get ill from bad products.
The truth is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity does exist and is already a problem at crisis proportions. The Social Security Administration knows it. The schools know it. Employers know it.
So, buy a little piece of green ribbon and wear it. And, even more important, go green. Go green for your kids. Go green for your friends. Go green for your relatives. Go green for your employees. Go green because you are sick of getting sick, and you want to live a long and healthy life. Go green, for people with MCS.
******************
Sorry for not having posted recently, I have been very under the weather with a Upper Respiratory Infection.
See our Website to find your Green Ribbons! www.RibbonsforaReason.com
Thursday, May 7, 2009
A different kind of Drug
I think this is a great letter and wanted to share with everyone!
If you click on the newpaper picture above, it will enlarge for you to read!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Knowing about my customers
What is the difference from having a storefront and having an on-line business?
Having a storefront offers you the opportunity to see your customer, hear thier stories, get a sense of who they are and what they are about.
When you have an on-line store, it makes it much harder to know who your customers are. They come in the form of a name and a IP address. They supply you with an address and some form of payment, but you never really get to know who they are.
Do the business owners care who thier customers are? I mean more then demographics that tell us women between the ages of such and such make more impluse purchases then men. Do they want to know the stories behind why people buy what they buy? Or is it just another order, and more money in thier pocket?
Me, I want to know my customers. I love it when a customer actually sends an e-mail and asks a question. It opens the door for me to learn more about them. More about why they are interested in what they are looking at. What in thier life has lead them to find my store?
Over the last year, I have met so many people and I love having the opportunity to speak with them about why they have come looking for me. The stories they tell are heartbreaking at times, and I want to reach out to them and tell them it will be o.k. Other times the stories are great tales of survival and love!
Each and every customer that I have had the opportunity to speak with, has touched a piece of me. Left an impression on my soul. I can only hope that with the work I do, they are also feeling the affect of how someone cares about thier story, some cares about them.
I am honored to have the customers I have. I am honored to have met the people I have.
Someday, I would love to have a storefront where I could see my customers and hear thier stories from thier mouths rather then reading about them in e-mail. Until then, I look forward to reading the next e-mail where someone needs hope, someone needs love and someone needs faith. I'll be there to give it.
Until then.... LIVESTRONG!
Having a storefront offers you the opportunity to see your customer, hear thier stories, get a sense of who they are and what they are about.
When you have an on-line store, it makes it much harder to know who your customers are. They come in the form of a name and a IP address. They supply you with an address and some form of payment, but you never really get to know who they are.
Do the business owners care who thier customers are? I mean more then demographics that tell us women between the ages of such and such make more impluse purchases then men. Do they want to know the stories behind why people buy what they buy? Or is it just another order, and more money in thier pocket?
Me, I want to know my customers. I love it when a customer actually sends an e-mail and asks a question. It opens the door for me to learn more about them. More about why they are interested in what they are looking at. What in thier life has lead them to find my store?
Over the last year, I have met so many people and I love having the opportunity to speak with them about why they have come looking for me. The stories they tell are heartbreaking at times, and I want to reach out to them and tell them it will be o.k. Other times the stories are great tales of survival and love!
Each and every customer that I have had the opportunity to speak with, has touched a piece of me. Left an impression on my soul. I can only hope that with the work I do, they are also feeling the affect of how someone cares about thier story, some cares about them.
I am honored to have the customers I have. I am honored to have met the people I have.
Someday, I would love to have a storefront where I could see my customers and hear thier stories from thier mouths rather then reading about them in e-mail. Until then, I look forward to reading the next e-mail where someone needs hope, someone needs love and someone needs faith. I'll be there to give it.
Until then.... LIVESTRONG!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Starting our Fund Raising for the LIVESTRONG Challenge
The LIVESTRONG Challenge will be here before we know it.
Just a couple of weeks ago, my husband decided to take the Challange. His intent at this time is to do the 70 mile ride in Philly on August 23rd.
I have to admit, I am very excited about this! Excited for him to do this, excited to be a part of it, and excited to be making a difference.
Our goal is to raise $3,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. We think big, and we intend to achieve our goals!
Many people have asked us if we are directly affected by cancer. Who isn't? If you are asking if we have cancer, No. Are you asking if someone in our family has cancer, No. We are concerned because Cancer is huge! Cancer kills. It makes people and families suffer. It can be cured. I want it to be before my children have to deal with it.
With my business, I hear the stories of people who are touched so deeply by Cancer. A woman not to long ago, reached out to me for help in picking out Teal Ribbon items for her sister who had just found out she not only had ovarian cancer, but cervical and uterine cancer too! Her story touched me deeply! While I do not know this person personally, her story touched me such a way that it made me want fight with her - fight for her.
I hear a lot of stories, and that is why I do what I do. That is why I want to raise funds to Cancer - For my friends, my customers, my families and all of you out there.
So for those of you who want to reach out and help someone, but you don't know who. Make a donation to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Make a donation to help find the cures for cancer. Reach out and help others.
You can visit our website for more information on our LIVESTRONG Challenge at www.RibbonsforaReason.com.
Just a couple of weeks ago, my husband decided to take the Challange. His intent at this time is to do the 70 mile ride in Philly on August 23rd.
I have to admit, I am very excited about this! Excited for him to do this, excited to be a part of it, and excited to be making a difference.
Our goal is to raise $3,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. We think big, and we intend to achieve our goals!
Many people have asked us if we are directly affected by cancer. Who isn't? If you are asking if we have cancer, No. Are you asking if someone in our family has cancer, No. We are concerned because Cancer is huge! Cancer kills. It makes people and families suffer. It can be cured. I want it to be before my children have to deal with it.
With my business, I hear the stories of people who are touched so deeply by Cancer. A woman not to long ago, reached out to me for help in picking out Teal Ribbon items for her sister who had just found out she not only had ovarian cancer, but cervical and uterine cancer too! Her story touched me deeply! While I do not know this person personally, her story touched me such a way that it made me want fight with her - fight for her.
I hear a lot of stories, and that is why I do what I do. That is why I want to raise funds to Cancer - For my friends, my customers, my families and all of you out there.
So for those of you who want to reach out and help someone, but you don't know who. Make a donation to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Make a donation to help find the cures for cancer. Reach out and help others.
You can visit our website for more information on our LIVESTRONG Challenge at www.RibbonsforaReason.com.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Fallen Law Enforcement Officers
Here is a picture of the memorial bracelet I send out to family members.
Of these officers - 15 were killed by gun fire. 13 were killed by Automobile accident mostly when responding to an emergency call. 5 were killed by Vehicular Assault. The rest were killed by other reasons (accidental, assault, Duty related illness, heart attack, motorcycle accident, struck by vehicle and pursuits).
In April 14 Officer's lost thier lives while on duty. March recorded 12 officers down. California is ranked the highest in line of duty deaths with 6 this year. Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania have all had 5 this year.
Last year, I designed a Memorial Bracelet for Law Enforcement Officer's killed in the line of Duty. Since then we have sent out 40 bracelets to the wives, mother and other family members of these officers.
Today, I sat down and made 25 of these bracelets to catch up on this years line of duty deaths. It is one of the few bracelets I do not enjoy making, because of the reason behind it.
On Monday, 27 bracelets will be sent out to the families from the recent months. While we can not take the pain away for thier loss, we can show them that thier loss was not in vain and that they were Heros.
Heros Live Forever!
Please check out our Officer's Memorial Page: http://www.ribbonsforareason.com/category_s/197.htm
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Headaches, Latex and matching ribbons!
Why headaches and the burgundy and grey rbbon? Easy - yesterday I spent the day in bed after I very quickly came down with a migraine. Luckily it was not the kind of migraine that stops you dead in your tracks - it was just enough to make my head really hurt and make me not feel well.
About half way through my afternoon, while the headache was feeling better while I laid down, my asthma flair ups started. I have not had any bad asthma flairups in a couple of years - and yesterday I they came about every 30 minutes.
I know that the flair ups were because of my exposure the day before. One thing I have not mentioned is my Latex Allergy. Diagnosed with this in September 2008. I am a both a Level 1 and a Level 4.
With Level 1 latex allergy, when you come in contact with latex, you develope skin irratations. My Level 1 is minor as I can handle latex like shoes and stuff with my hands without rashes or problems. But it will grow as time goes on.
With a Level 4 latex allergy, you can not be around airborne latex. People generally think about airborne latex as Balloons and dust off latex gloves. What they don't know is that everytime something with latex moves - it lets off latex particles. The elastic in the waist band of your underwear or your socks.
Latex allergy is a very serious allergy! Something I will go deeply into soon.
In the mean time - Since yesterday I dealt with headaches - Ashtma from Latex and other Allergen exposures - here are my ribbons for today: Burgundy, Grey and the Latex Allergy Ribbon.
The Burgundy Ribbon is known for the awareness of: Adhesions, Brain Aneurysm, HEADACHES, Disabled Adults, Hospice Care, Meningitis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Thrombophilia & Multiple Myeloma.
The Grey Ribbon is known for the awareness of: Allergies, Asthma, Brain Cancer, Brain Tumors, Diabetes and Mental Illness.
The Latex Allergy Ribbon was recently designed by myself with the help of the American Latex Allergery Awareness Association. It is Red on one leg and Pearl on the other. The red of the ribbon signifies - "NO" or in medical worlds "ALLERGY". The Pearl side of the ribbon is to show the Latex - as it is a creamy off white substance.
You can check out more of our ribbon color meanings here: www.RibbonsforaReason.com
Here is hoping to a day without tylenol or proventil!!!
About half way through my afternoon, while the headache was feeling better while I laid down, my asthma flair ups started. I have not had any bad asthma flairups in a couple of years - and yesterday I they came about every 30 minutes.
I know that the flair ups were because of my exposure the day before. One thing I have not mentioned is my Latex Allergy. Diagnosed with this in September 2008. I am a both a Level 1 and a Level 4.
With Level 1 latex allergy, when you come in contact with latex, you develope skin irratations. My Level 1 is minor as I can handle latex like shoes and stuff with my hands without rashes or problems. But it will grow as time goes on.
With a Level 4 latex allergy, you can not be around airborne latex. People generally think about airborne latex as Balloons and dust off latex gloves. What they don't know is that everytime something with latex moves - it lets off latex particles. The elastic in the waist band of your underwear or your socks.
Latex allergy is a very serious allergy! Something I will go deeply into soon.
In the mean time - Since yesterday I dealt with headaches - Ashtma from Latex and other Allergen exposures - here are my ribbons for today: Burgundy, Grey and the Latex Allergy Ribbon.
The Burgundy Ribbon is known for the awareness of: Adhesions, Brain Aneurysm, HEADACHES, Disabled Adults, Hospice Care, Meningitis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Thrombophilia & Multiple Myeloma.
The Grey Ribbon is known for the awareness of: Allergies, Asthma, Brain Cancer, Brain Tumors, Diabetes and Mental Illness.
The Latex Allergy Ribbon was recently designed by myself with the help of the American Latex Allergery Awareness Association. It is Red on one leg and Pearl on the other. The red of the ribbon signifies - "NO" or in medical worlds "ALLERGY". The Pearl side of the ribbon is to show the Latex - as it is a creamy off white substance.
You can check out more of our ribbon color meanings here: www.RibbonsforaReason.com
Here is hoping to a day without tylenol or proventil!!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Why Ribbons for a Reason?
In 2006, I started making hand crafted jewelry. At that time, my business started under the name "Sparkle by Sammie". Shortly after that, I found a desire from others to make awareness jewelry.
I soon began searching for good qualitiy Awareness Ribbons, and the meanings beind them all. WOW! Are there a lot of ribbons out there!!! Finding good quality ribbons at good prices, became very hard! I soon started searching for a manufacturer to make the ribbons for me. From there the inventory of colors started to grow. It was not long before we had over 40 different colored awareness ribbon charms to choose from.
Seeing that people were so interested in getting the awareness out, and how much people appreciated being able to find such a variety of colored ribbons, we decided to move our business in a different direction. We soon got rid of the basic hand crafted and fine jewelry we had started with, and moved exclusively to Awareness jewelry, gifts and finding ways to get the awareness out!
In January 2009, we officially changed our business name over to "Ribbons for a Reason". Since then, our on-line business has taken off. We now have two different kinds of ribbon charms, silver plated and 100% pewter. We offer the largest selection of awareness ribbons for hundred's of reasons.
The best part, we now donate 20% from EVERY sale to a cause of the Ribbon! That has been very exciting to us as we have watched our sales grow, and know that we are not only helping you to get the word out, but we are making a difference by donating!
Our store also carries fine awareness jewelry, inspriational gifts, handcrafted awareness jewelry and so much more. Thanks for visiting us and stay in touch so you can hear the wonderful updates of our company!
Click on the link below to view our Color Meaning list!
http://www.ribbonsforareason.com/category_s/96.htm
I soon began searching for good qualitiy Awareness Ribbons, and the meanings beind them all. WOW! Are there a lot of ribbons out there!!! Finding good quality ribbons at good prices, became very hard! I soon started searching for a manufacturer to make the ribbons for me. From there the inventory of colors started to grow. It was not long before we had over 40 different colored awareness ribbon charms to choose from.
Seeing that people were so interested in getting the awareness out, and how much people appreciated being able to find such a variety of colored ribbons, we decided to move our business in a different direction. We soon got rid of the basic hand crafted and fine jewelry we had started with, and moved exclusively to Awareness jewelry, gifts and finding ways to get the awareness out!
In January 2009, we officially changed our business name over to "Ribbons for a Reason". Since then, our on-line business has taken off. We now have two different kinds of ribbon charms, silver plated and 100% pewter. We offer the largest selection of awareness ribbons for hundred's of reasons.
The best part, we now donate 20% from EVERY sale to a cause of the Ribbon! That has been very exciting to us as we have watched our sales grow, and know that we are not only helping you to get the word out, but we are making a difference by donating!
Our store also carries fine awareness jewelry, inspriational gifts, handcrafted awareness jewelry and so much more. Thanks for visiting us and stay in touch so you can hear the wonderful updates of our company!
Click on the link below to view our Color Meaning list!
http://www.ribbonsforareason.com/category_s/96.htm
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