Healing Children's Smiles

***This is a sponsored post***

I love to smile. A lot. Maybe too much...nah, no such thing. You can never smile too much. I think that a lot of people, myself included, equate smiles with happiness. I have no idea what I would do if I couldn't smile. 

Operation Smile heals children's smiles.

As an international children's medical charity, they also perform life-saving cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries in over 60 countries, with over 220,000 surgeries performed since 1982. Not only are these surgeries performed free of charge, but this organization is also strengthening healthcare systems by educating local medical professionals.

What does Operation Smile believe?

"We believe that all children deserve to live their lives with dignity. And for those suffering from cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities, dignity begins with a smile."

They also:

• Reach the unreachable- providing care in more than 60 low and middle income countries
• Work from the heart- surgeries are done by credentialed medical volunteers
• Apply Global Standards of Care- supporting the World Health Organizations "Safe Surgery Saves Lives" initiative.
• Build self-sufficiency worldwide- help move countries towards self reliance and sustainable solutions
• Lead the way- raising awareness and advocating for increased access to safe surgical care
• Continually educate and train- local surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other essential medical professionals in resource-poor environments

To learn more about Operation Smile and the work they do, go here.

I a big believer in giving back to organizations like Operation Smile, and I'm a big believer in supporting businesses that also give back. CampusBookRentals is on of those companies; they donated to Operation Smile with each textbook rented. How great is that?!

Want to know more? Watch this video:

DISCLAIMER: I was compensated to write this post, as is it being sponsored by Campusbookrentals.com. Content and opinions expressed here are my own. Please see my About Page for my full disclosure policy.

#BellLetsTalk

Mental health is something that affects us all, on different level and in different ways, but we are all affected at one time or another. Mental health issues include bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, depression and even anxiety.

Sadly, there is still a HUGE stigma around mental health issues. People are not comfortable talking about their situations or people judge others who are dealing with mental health issues. There are a lot of negative stereotypes.

Bell Let's Talk day, which is today, is trying to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, raise awareness and start a conversation. Plus, Bell will donate $0.05 for text message, mobile and long distance call made by their customers. Not a Bell customer? You can still support the campaign by tweeting #BellLetsTalk

       

In 2014, Bell Let's Talk Day had over 100 million tweets, phone calls and text message resulting in over $5.4 million raised for mental health initiatives. That's a lot of money for a REALLY great cause! 

More information can be found on the website, Bell Let's Talk, including a toolkit on how you can get the conversation started.

If nothing else, please tweet #BellLetsTalk...you can make a difference and raise awareness simply by tweeting a hashtag. 

Beautiful, Unique...GiPSY Dharma

I think that a lot of people will agree that fashion is art and designers are artists. Fashion is so beautiful and there is a lot of talent in designing pieces; especially pieces that are truly unique and one of a kind. 

I was recently introduced to GiPSY Dharma and was instantly impressed with how beautiful and original the leather boots and clothing were. Seriously, look at how gorgeous everything is:

After getting over the pure artistry and craftsmanship, my next thought was how comfortable these boots look! The leather looks really soft and supple and the soles are flexible. From natural to bold colours, and flip flops to over the knee high boots, you are sure to find the ideal pair for you.  And those skirts? Perfect for a night out or a nice spring/summer day!

There are so many designs and products to pick from, it's hard to pick one favourite from the catalog! But if I HAD to pick a favourite, I would go with these two:

Red Knee High Leather Boots

Red and Black Leather Belt Skirt

Red is my favourite colour and I love the shade of red used for the boots. I also like the fact that even though these are knee high boots, you can lace them so that they are lower then the knee, fold over the top, etc...really style them to suit your taste.

As for the skirt...I like the black and red combination! The red isn't as vivid as the boots and the black isn't super black...I like the contrast-shade- of the colours. I also like the cut of the skirt. The asymmetrical cut is just beautiful. 

Something that I really like, is that the website not only has sizing information and advice on how to order the right size, but also information on how to measure your foot, which can be found under FAQ and Sizing.

I can't imagine wearing something from GiPSY Dharma and not feeling beautiful. In fact, just thinking about wearing one of their skirts or a pair of their boots makes me feel beautiful.

To see more of GiPSY Dharma products, check out their videos. You can also find them on Facebook.

***DISCLAIMER: I was compensated by GiPSY Dharma for this post. All content (minus photos) and opinions are my own. For my full Disclaimer Policy, please see my About page.***

January/1000 GFC Followers/Blogiversary Giveaways

Happy Thursday! Things are still super busy and hectic for me, with no signs of slowing down! This past Sunday, I had a fundraising event that raised over $30,000 for local Alzheimer services and programs.

Everyone loves giveaways and here are 3 that are going on right now:

Amber from Brunch with Amber is hosting her January Group Giveaway, which you can enter here.

Lauren from Pink on the Cheek is hosting her 1000 GFC Follower Giveaway, which you can find here.

And Lacey from Charm and Sass is having a Blogiversary Giveaway- where she's giving away something every day this week! for the prize I donated, you can eneter here. Visit Lacey's blog for all her giveaways this week!

P.S. January is Alzheimer Awareness Month. Visit www.alzheimer.ca for more information. Even though today is the last day of Awareness Month, this is a disease that should be acknowledged, researched, supported, etc year around. The services and programs offered by local Socities/Associations are so important and in high demand.

LOL & Sunday Social

I have decided that weekend pass too quickly! This might be because I was so used to working Tuesday-Friday, having a 3 day weekend, and now I work Monday-Friday. It was too cold for the beach yesterday, so I did a little DYI project, which I will feature on my blog later this month...I'm pretty excited about it! Something else I'm excited about? My social life! I barely had one when I was living in rural Ontario but living in a City (again) has changed that. 

Anyway...saw this on Facebook:

1. 5 items you can't live without on a daily basis(water, food, shelter, and clothes dont count)
Blackberry (sad, I know), Kindle, Car, Laptop and my bed! 

2. All time favorite book? Why?
I have a couple of favourite books, so I'm just going to pick one randomly:
Prep: A Novel It's just one of those books I can get lost in. It's about Lee's four years of high school, at a boarding school, where she is a scholarship student. This book addresses so many society issues (social class, racism, etc), it makes you think. Also, I loved my high school years and reading this book makes me go back to that time of my life. 

3. Something you'd like to accomplish before the end of 2012
Hmm...get settled in my apartment!  

4. If you could go back and relive any year of your life which year would it be?
I've had many great years in my life, a lot that I would love to go back and re-live. I'm going to pick my last year of high school, As mentioned, I loved my high school years and my grade 12 year was by far the best year. There was drama, of course, but the fun, good times far out way the dramatic. I have so many great memories and I had so much fun! 

5. What do you wish people knew about you without you having to tell them?
I am so much nicer, friendlier and more fun than I actually look/come across.

LOL & Sunday Social

Happy Father's Day! I hope everyone had a great weekend and go to spend sometime with their dad. I know that everyone thinks their dad is the BEST in the world...and I am no exception! My dad has always been there for me and supports me in everything I do. He wants nothing except for me to be happy and he's always willing to do what needs to be done so I can be happy. He's a great role model and does so much for the community. Without knowing who my dad is, you'll have no idea how truly great and inspiring he is.

This is also the first Father's Day without my grandpa. I think about him everyday. He always said we were simple people and it was never to be about us and what people can do for us, but instead about what we can do to serve the communities we are a part of.

In honour of Father's Day...

This week I've also decided to participate in Sunday Social.

   

Favorite movie of all time?
It is so hard to pick one! I'm not a huge movie (thank you University film courses) fan but I do have a handful of movies that I do love. I'm going to answer this question with the movie that was my first favourite: Cinderella!

Favorite movie quote?
I am horrible at remembering movie quotes! So, I can't recall any quotes at the moment. My favourite movie tagline comes from Chicago: If you can't be famous, be infamous.

Best movie to watch for a girls night in?

Something funny and lighthearted, like Mean Girls or Legally Blonde or Bridesmaids. Now and Then is also a good girls night in movie. 

Best breakup movie?
Zoolander! It's so funny that it makes you forget about the breakup for a bit. This movie is guaranteed to make you laugh and laughing after a breakup is key. 

Favorite celeb eye candy?
Taylor Pyatt...not really a celebrity, but a professional athlete (NHL). 

But...wow. *sigh*

Which movie stars closet would you want to raid?

Reese Witherspoon!  

i & i

i(nspiration) 

&

i(dea)

May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. I found this out by reading JessyLit's Blog, Country Bumpkin (which I found via Jennifer at Southern Living: Preppy Style, one of favourite blogs and bloggers!). Know what else I found at JessyLit's Blog? This weeks idea!

Gilead Sciences will donate $15 for every person who takes this quiz on CF, up to $15,000. The money will be split evenly between 3 foundations, including research. What a great and easy way to support CF! It's only 10 questions and will take you a few minutes. So go on, take the quiz. Your $15 will make a huge difference in the life of someone with CF and may even be the $15 that helps reach a ground breaking discovery in CF.

Interwebz

This is the last Saturday of January and January is Alzheimer Awareness Month. So, in honour of this month and with Alzheimer Society of Canada launching a new website, I thought that it would be fitting for today's website to be Alzheimer Society's new website.

From this site, you can easily access the provincial and local chapter sites. It not only has information about dementia- explaining different dementias and Alzheimer's disease, information on getting a diagnosis, understanding behaviour, etc- but also information on living with the disease- for both people living with the disease and caregivers, information of safety, treatment and advance care planning and more.

You can find out how the Society can help you. This can be education, information and training. Provincial and local chapters also offer support groups, volunteer companion programs, music and pet therapy programs and valuable resources. The website also has information on how you can get involved via fundraising, donating and volunteering. And of course, information on the latest research.

I really like the Brain Booster part of the website. This has:

• Information on fitness- was that you can easily build fitness into your daily routine and lifestyle. There are even specific sections for everyone from children to older adults.
• Puzzles- a variety of puzzles to do that will keep your brain active and healthy.
• Recipes- easy and healthy.

This site has tons of information and with the new design is easy to navigate. Definitely go take a look!

Hey! It's Ok

This idea was taken from Whispering Writer.

It's ok...

To think Chelsea Handler is funny. Chelsea Lately, After Lately, her books and even her new show on NBC ('Are You There Chelsea?')...it's ok to enjoy all of these things and laugh.

To be sad that this week is my co-workers last week at work before her mat leave. I really am going to miss her. I realize how lucky I've been to be able to go to work and see (and work with) one of my best friends. It's also ok to be a little bit scared that once her baby is born, she'll be too busy being a hot mama to worry about her friends, thus leaving me with one less best friend. Sad.

To spend the night looking at your high school yearbook. Sometimes you just need to be reminded of things; like your youth, Friday night Ski Club trips, or the cute guy who sat next to you in English. If you realize you graduated 10 years ago and instantly feel old, that's ok too.

To spend time browsing the ads on Craigslist as a source of entertainment. You never know what you might find...like a once used yoga mat for sale.

To not know whether or not you like something you've just tried, like a food or drink. Sometimes you need to try things a few times before making up your mind.

Book, Song, Body

BOOK- I have owned a copy of The Help for months but never read it. A co-worker also owned a copy of the book and it was passed between my co-workers with all of them loving it and telling me I HAD to read it. Last Thursday, I FINALLY picked up my copy and I finished it on Monday. Not only did I read this 500-ish page book in a matter of days (rare for me, I consider myself a slow reader) but I was left asking myself "Why did it take so long to read this book???"

If you have yet to read this book, I suggest you do!

Set in the 1960's, this book focuses on race issues (the book cover has a quote praising this book as a modern day To Kill A Mocking Bird), specifically the relationship between black maid and their white ladies aka employers. The story is told from the point of view of Abileen and Minny (two maids) and Miss Skeeter (a white woman). Miss Skeeter decides to write a book, a collection of interviews from black maids about what it's like to work for white families.

This book is a captivating read. If you haven't read it, what are you waiting for?!?!?

The 60's weren't that long ago...It's amazing to see and think how far our society has come.

***SPOILER ALERT*** While there was a lot I loved about this book, I really loved that the girl didn't get the guy. While this was a very minor story line, it was still refreshing ***SPOILER ALERT***


SONG-There is so much great music, and songs, out there that it's always hard for me to pick just one from week to week. This week, I decided to go with a band from my hometown. The band is Street Pharmacy and they have a ton of great songs- hard to pick one. I decided to go with a song that was used for their first music video- Welcome To Tha Street Pharmacy. Street Pharmacy's sound is hard to describe or compare to anything else out there in the musical world. So just listen to the song...And then look up more of their stuff (youtube, itunes, myspace, etc)

BODY- Lounge wear, especially from LaSenza. There is little better then coming home from a long day of work, slipping out of your uncomfortable work clothes and into a super comfy pair of lounge pants and just relaxing. And sometimes, you just need to show your body some love by hanging out in comfy clothes all day. Give your body a break from uncomfortable and/or restricting clothing.


This idea taken from Brittany at happybrittany.com.

Interwebz

January is Alzheimer Awareness Month so I feel that I should recommend the official website for the 2012 Awareness Campaign: Let's Face It.

On the site you can find information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementia's and how to contact your local Alzheimer Society, who will help you through the services and programs that they offer- most of them free of charge. Your local Society will also be able to help answer any questions you way and navigate life after an Alzheimer's disease or dementia diagnosis for either you or a loved one.

The site also has the results of a survey done by over 950 caregivers, with a focus on the respondents knowledge of warning signs and their willingness to get an early diagnosis. 44% of respondents waited a year before seeing a doctor for a diagnosis and 75% wish they had gotten a diagnosis sooner.

The focus of this years campaign is early diagnosis and the importance of it. You can get information on getting a diagnosis as well as information on brain health and how to prepare for a doctor's visit. You will also get personal stories for people with the disease, caregivers and family members.

Tons of useful information... so, go over to the site and take a look.

Book, Song, Body

This idea taken from Brittany at  happybrittany.com.

Book- The Great Gatsby is a book I recently read. I felt that it was one of those classic books that I should read, so I did. and I loved it. LOVED IT! I highly recommend this book and after reading it, I can see why it's considered a classic. Set in the 1920's (an era I am interested in and possibly was a part of in a past life) and told by Nick, who lives next door to Jay Gatsby who is in love with Nick's cousin Daisy. Daisy is married but her husband has a mistress. Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy- rising to wealth and buying a house near Daisy's, throwing lavish parties hoping that either Daisy will show up or someone who knows Daisy will appear and reunite them.This is a love story, and a well written, engaging one at that.  (You can buy this book for $0.99 on Kindle!)

Song-Let's go with something fun...Your Man by Down With Webster. This song is one of those songs I turn up and sing along with every time it's on the radio/my ipod. If I'm at home (and alone) it's one of those songs I get up and dance to. You can see the music video here and download the song from itunes.

Body- Coriander and Olive Tree Hand Wash from Fruits & Passion. I have been using this hand wash for years. I keep it in the kitchen. Years ago, I bought my mom some stuff from Fruits & Passion. Because I spent over a specified limit, I got a bottle of this hand wash for free. I went through the bottle and have bought refill after refill for it. My parents loved it too and bought a bottle for their house. My grandma, after spending a few days with me, loved it as well and asked for a bottle last year for Christmas (which we got her). Why do I love this? Not only does it get my hands clean and smell good (but not girly, so even guys will love it) but it leaves my skin feeling sooo good. Really soft, smooth and not at all dried out.