I officially have my first blogging award! All thanks to C over at Random Thoughts and Musings from the Island. C is my little Asian Canadian blogging buddy that I have come to love and adore. I check her blog every day to get an update on her country living and her sweet little bitty little one. Her pics are always fun to look at, her recipes and homemade foods look so delicious (and one day I might actually try one)...for now, I LOVE looking at them and drooling all over my computer.
Now, it's my turn to award this fab award to fabulous people I have met through blogging.
Here are the rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post. 2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude! 3. Be sure to link your nominees within your post. 4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. 5. Remember to link the person from whom you received your award.
For every pair of shoes you buy, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for one.
Seriously. How can anyone say no to that? I think this is one of the greatest ideas in a long time. Most people want to help others in need including the poor in other countries, but many people just don't really know how to go about it. Many people falsely believe the contribution they can make just won't or can't make a difference; but they are wrong. This is just ONE simple way of going about helping out a child in another country who has never felt the comfort of a simple shoe; something many of us think is simple and take for granted everyday.
Below is their (TOMS) story copied directly from their website. One for One TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about.
Our Story In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created a company that would match every pair of shoes sold with a pair given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers.
Since our beginning, TOMS has given over 140,000* pairs of shoes to children in need through the One for One model. Because of your support, TOMS plans to give over 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world in 2009.
Our ongoing community events and Shoe Drop Tours allow TOMS supporters and enthusiasts to be part of our One for One movement. Join us.
Why shoes? Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or just getting around, these children are at risk.
Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren't possible barefoot.
Wearing shoes prevents feet from getting cuts and sores on unsafe roads and from contaminated soil. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected. The leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites which penetrate the skin through open sores. Wearing shoes can prevent this and the risk of amputation.
Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.
There is one simple solution...SHOES.
Four of the planet's six billion people live in conditions inconceivable to many. Lets take a step towards a better tomorrow.
And below are the pair of TOMS I purchased today at a local shop in OKC. You can also easily find a pair online. Their are so many different colors and styles that you are bound to find at least one you like. I was torn between the red pair I purchased and a solid light yellow pair. I might go back and get a second pair...you know...because it's for a good cause.
The world has so much to offer us. Show us. Teach us. We just have to be willing and open to all of it's gifts.
I just thought I would brag to the world that Babalou just bought and printed her kick butt U2 tickets before they go on sale to the public this Friday. In your Face!!! It pays to know season tickets holders with passwords made of pure Gold.
You're moving some of your stuff over to your boyfriend's house and one of the first things you have to bring is your big bag of real rice from the Asian market. Just sayin.
As I was sitting at work, attempting to focus on my deadline, I was suddenly overcome with the feeling of how ridiculously happy I am in my life. I had to stop typing for a moment and just close my eyes. All theses wonderful images and thoughts just overwhelmed my already happy heart. I don’t know if I have ever really felt this sense of overwhelming happiness. I feel so lucky and grateful (not blessed) for the way my life has changed in the past year. It was all meant to happen the way it has happened. There was a path I was supposed to be on and a path I need to stay on; there always will be.
I don’t believe in being “blessed” although I was raised a Catholic and my mother is still one of the most loyal Catholics in the world…with the exception of maybe the Pope. I am not an atheist either. But, I’m not sold and not really supportive of organized religion. I’m especially against HUGE churches that make money off of people’s fear of disappointing God. I’m also against big and small churches that gain power and take advantage of the poor by instilling the fear of disappointing God. I do believe that any God is and will always be loving and he does expect his people to be kind, fair, and loving to one another. But that is just me. It seems that too many organized religions have too much judgment and hate and hypocrisy for me to support them. I’ll stick with trying to be the best person I can be to those I encounter everyday.
So much has happened in the past few weeks. It could be overwhelming, and I’ll admit, there were a few moments of tears and doubt. But today, I have no regret. I am confident with my decisions and I am overcome with love and happiness. Always follow your heart but also consider all your options. Do your best for yourself but still take others into consideration as well. Think before you act. Be confident in your decisions and never regret for a second moving forward. Live your life. Life a wonderful and happy life.
