#GoFundMe, Helping Bring Christmas to One Family

Where do you turn to when you need a little help at Christmas time? Family, parents, church?  What if those aren't options?

Recently I found out that our close friends are struggling.  They had adopted their grandchildren years ago because their parents were unfit and gave these kids they love they needed.  Due to illness, surgery and medical bills that they had not anticipated this family may not be able to give these kids much this Christmas.

They aren't asking for much either but I went in search of an organization to help however the deadlines to join have passed.  Funny thing is, they are helping to organize a Toys for Tots event this December but they are to late to add their kids to the list.

I have only known them a few years but they are truly the most generous people I know.  They open their doors to anyone in need and if they can't help you they will find someone who can.  I am honored to know them and hope to be able to help them the only way I know how - GoFundMe.

If you are looking for a cause to donate to and want to know who the money will go to, then this is the way to do it.  Even if you don't pick this cause there are so many worthy campaigns who need help too.  If you can help them I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Hey! I'm Pulling a Plane for Special Olympics (again) and I Need you!

Yep, I will be pulling a plane (again) this summer with nineteen of my colleagues.  Think I'm kidding?  I promise you I am not and I have been involved the last three years

My fat ass is fourth from the left

This is such a brilliant and creative way to raise money for Special Olympics and I am  so proud to be part of it!

I can really use your help though!  

My goal is to raise $100, preferably before the day of the event, so if you can spare $5 go here and donate.  

I promise to post a picture of me pulling a plane so you may see that I really did it.

Thank you!

#FlippinGoodDeeds Party at Mullen's on Madison November 5, 2011

It's official, the date is set and the location is secured!  

Join Amanda from Clue into Cleveland and myself because...

We are having a party!  

And, not just any party but a party at Mullen's on Madison in Lakewood, Ohio!

Mullen's is a quaint and classy little bar in my hometown and is the perfect setting for a night out with friends (especially if they are bringing shoes for Soles4Souls).

Best part - $2 house wine and domestic draft! 

Well, okay not the best part, the best part would be the all the shoes we will collect for Soles4Souls! 

So, if you are in the North East Ohio area and are free November 5, please join us for cheap drinks and great company and if you happen to have a donation that would be great, too!

RSVP here.

Word(less) Wednesday: We Got Shoes for #FlippinGoodDeeds Challenge!

Its a start, but, we need more shoes for Flip Flop Wines Flippin' Good Deeds Challenge for Soles4Souls!

Won't you help Clue into Cleveland and I collect more shoes?

Send Us Your Shoes! #FlippinGoodDeeds Soles4Souls Challenge - Cleveland Style!

Yep, that is it.  The two boxes of shoes that I mentioned (plus the shoes in the back of the closet) when I announced last week that Amanda at Clue into Cleveland and I will be collecting shoes for the Flippin' Good Deeds blogger challenge for Soles4Souls.

Can you believe it?  TWO boxes!  Oh, shoes - how I have loved you!  Baby shoes, flat shoes, tennis shoes, Husband's shoes... but, now you will get to go to new homes.  Not only that but you, dear shoes, will be helping to cover the feet of men, women and children in need.  You could go to one of 125 countries that Soles4Souls distributes shoes to including (but not limited to): Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, Peru, Nepal and right here in the U.S.  It is so easy to give hope, simply by giving a pair of shoes.

This is the official post begging asking for your donations. 

It does not have to be just shoes, either, we will gladly accept cash. 

So, dear reader, if you do not live in the North East Ohio area but want to help the Cleveland girls win the Flippin' Good Deeds blogger challenge for Soles4Souls then go pack up your shoes, download the Blogger Donation Form and ship off your, tax deductible, shoes to a Soles4Souls warehouse.  Don't forget to include our blogger ID #024.  Since, I may be dyeing my hair blue, I won't offer you some crazy stunt for participating but you will have my undyeing gratitude and a space on my blog to promote your blog or business.

If you do happen to live in NE Ohio the drop off box is located in the lobby of the Penton Media Building, 1300 East 9th St., Downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

Stay tuned for updates, hopefully pictures and a party!  Well, maybe, not a raging party as in old school style but one that us responsible girls have... with wine!

I would not have done this without my pal at Clue into Cleveland so go check out her post! And, follow her as well as Flip Flop Wines and Soles4Souls to keep up with the latest info!

Follow @adhicken
Follow @flipflopwines
Follow @soles4souls

And tweet, tweet, tweet for us!
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I took the #BlueBloggers Pledge - Raising Awareness to Stop Suicide

I happen to be stalking browsing my favorite bloggers today and I kept seeing #BlueBloggers all over the place - well, twitter anyway. I finally clicked on a post by Darcy at Tales from the Nursery which then lead me to Jen at Life with Levi and they took a pledge to dye their hair all blue in support of suicide prevention education and awareness. What the freak? How cool are they?

Last week during National Suicide Prevention Week, fellow blogger Cristi of Motherhood Unadorned dyed her hair blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  She's a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get blue streaks when she reached her goal. Check out photos of some of the #bluebloggers!


I recently wrote about my experience with postpartum depression and I had written about dealing with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts a few months ago - so to say this means something to me is an understatement.  I know the kinds of evil thoughts that can lurk in our minds and get through it. 

I commented (half joking) to Darcy on her blog that I wanted to sign up and she said I should.  Why not?  If I can get a red feather in my hair to get mentioned in another blog - why not dye my hair blue for a cause that is close to me heart.  So, I contacted Jen and well... here is my pledge: 

If $5,000 is raised by their Out of the Darkness Walk in Seattle on October 1st, I have have pledged to also dye my hair BLUE. So will:
Sadie of Randomosity
Jessica of Punk Rock Momma
Brooke of Untrained Hair Mom
Wendy of Super Saver Mama
Jennifer of Makobi Scribe
Becky of What You Talking Bout Willis
Amber of Thrifty Ninja
Amanda from Midwestern Moms
Jamie of Maxwell’s Mommy
Jen of Life with Levi
Darcy of Tales from the Nursery

If you’d like to see what I look like with blue hair, donate HERE to Cristi or any member of her team. (Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on any of the team members names to go to the donation page).

Over 35,000 people in the U.S. alone die each year by suicide, and worldwide, it’s estimated at one million lives lost. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide.

Your donation is 100% tax deductible and you’ll get me closer to blue! I know you want to see that.

FlipFlop Wine's Flippin' Good Deeds with Me and Clue into Cleveland

I have two boxes full of shoes that I can not wear anymore. They are nice shoes. They are nearly new shoes.  Some are even my absolute favorite shoes and I took very good care of those shoes.

But, alas, two kids and two sizes later... I will never wear those shoes again. sigh.

Last week, I wrote about Souls4Soles' Flippin Good Deeds Challenge, and to be honest - I thought I was done. I can get down with a good challenge yada yada yada... but do I really want to organize a charity shoe drive?  Collect from the community and collect enough shoes to beat other bloggers?  No, not really, until... I spoke to my friend Amanda at Clue into Cleveland.

Amanda is crazy organized, has all fingers on the pulse of Cleveland and she is a wonderful writer.  Not only did she like the idea but, Amanda wanted to partner in it.  Go figure!  So, please, head over to her blog and read her teaser about our participation in this and then stay tuned for the official announcement filled with all the details! 

BTW... It is a challenge, so for those reading who are not in Cleveland and you want to see us win donate your gently used or new shoes, never fear!  You will be able to send your shoes and we will get credit for it!

And, feel free to tweet the heck out of this and get your shoes ready to donate!!!

WHISTLE While They Work in Cleveland: WHiskey ISland To Lake Erie

I was pretty lucky growing up because I had two uncles who loved to fish and made many, many trips out on to good old Lake Erie (among other area lakes) to satisfy their addiction love of fishing. They took me and my brother out when possible and I will never forget that feeling of being out on an open lake, spending lazy days with them and fishing.

Thanks to our trips out on the lake, I feel a very special connection to Lake Erie and boating, in general. I also think that it taught us some valuable life lessons such as respect for water life, self reliance and patience. When a friend of mine sent me an email about WHISTLE Education and the WHiskey ISland To Lake Erie program I was beside myself with just how cool this initiative is and could not wait to share the details.

WHISTLE Education was founded in 2005 by Mirek Posedel with his two young daughters Stephanie and Hannah – who are now 5th and 7th graders. The WHISTLE program provides intercity kids the opportunity to build a boat and take it out on the lake - all while teaching the kids about our greatest natural resource, Lake Erie, and to inspire them to understand the importance of preserving our environment. They. get. to. build. a. boat!

Mirek is a long time sailor, President of Sterling Services of Cleveland and lives in my hometown. He gives credit to Dan Moore, of the Wendy Park Foundation, for helping to make this organization successful, as well as lending Wendy Park on Whiskey Island to the organization and to the kids so they have a place to build their boat.

Word(less) Wednesday: Plane Pull for Special Olympics

Over the weekend my colleagues and I pulled a plane for Special Olympics!  We did not come in first but we were not last either so... hooray us!

I will save you the photos of our pull and share with you some pics from the kid's plane pull that my son participated in.  The kids were divided by age and then into teams.  No idea if they actually timed them but the kids had a blast.  They had so many fun things for the kids to do while their parents pulled the plane it would be worth going to next year even if I don't pull a plane... best part - free!  Bounce houses, Euclid Beach rocket ship and the fire truck spraying water were all a big hit.  It was a great day for the kids as well as for the adults and all for Special Olympics.

Check out the video at the end of this post to see a montage of the teams pulling the plane from our local TV station.  

Plane for the kid's pull

I'm Pulling a Boeing 737 Plane for Special Olympics. Help!

My Uncle Dave is the most inspiring person I have ever known.  He was funny and supportive and he made the best macaroni & cheese from a box.

He use to help watch my little brother and I over the summers and when we would spend the night at my grandparents' house.  He would play cards and Chinese checkers with us - way past our bedtime.  He was so cool.  Uncle Dave had cerebral palsy.  He was not suppose to live past his first birthday but he was a fighter and live well into his fifties.  When he died...  Lets just say it was at a time when I thought there would always be one more day and when there was never enough time to visit.  sigh.

I wish my kids could have met him.  He was an inspiration because he was always laughing.  He never seemed to have a bad day, even when we knew he was having one.  He was a joy and I was so lucky to grow up under his watchful eye.  He did not miss a thing and though he had disabilities and he was not disabled.  It is because of him that I did the Special Olympics Plane Pull last year and it is because of him that I am doing it this year.  It also happens to be fun and I get to do it with my co-workers while the kids cheer me on.

What is a plane pull you ask?  Do you really pull a plane?  Why, yes, yes you do.  We will be pulling a Boeing 737 plane on July 9 at Hopkins International Airport.  Yes, that is right, I will be pulling a Boeing 737 plane (with 19 other people) as fast as we can, 12 feet.  That is 150,000 pounds of plane, pulled by 20 people.  Last year, we came in dead last but helped raise a lot of money. 

I am looking for sponsors/donations... If I can get 37 1/2 people to donate just $1.00, I will meet my requirement for the pull off.  Of course, my real goal is $100 but eh... every little bit helps and I hoping that I can count on 37 and 1/2 of anybody reading this in the next week.  If you can help please click here to donate.

Special Olympics is such an amazing organization and I am so very proud to participate in this event.

This post happens to fit (sort of) in this weeks Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop she also happens to be a special corespondent for the Special Olympics in Athens.  This woman is my blogging idol.