It’s that delightful time of year when Chicago gals can snag $31 spa and beauty treatments while also supporting Bright Pink. That’s right…Pretty in Pink has returned! To catch you up to speed, PrettyCity.com has teamed up with local spas for the month of October to raise awarness about breast cancer while scoring some major bargains for you.
Seriously, some of these deals are unreal. $31 for teeth whitening, or a color treatment, or even a chemical peel? Unreal, in an absolutely amazing kind of way.
September is Hunger Action Month and communities across the country have spent the better part of this month working together to raise awareness about the issue in America. The USDA recently reported that 1 in 6 Americans lives in a household that is at risk of hunger. You know what that means? You may know someone in one of these households.
With that in mind, here are five facts that you should know about hunger…
According to the USDA, over 16 million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2010.
In 2010, over 48 million Americans lived in food insecure households.
30 percent of senior households served by Feeding America indicated that they have had to choose between food and medical care and 35 percent had to choose between food and paying for heat/utilities.
Although related, food insecurity and poverty are not the same. Unemployment rather than poverty is a stronger predictor of food insecurity.
In 2009, the top five states with the highest rate of food insecure children under 18 are the District of Columbia, Oregon, Arizona, Arkansas, & Texas.
There are several ways to help raise awareness about the 1 in 6 Americans facing hunger:
Like your local food bank and Feeding America on Facebook (S/O to the Greater Chicago Food Depository)
Share a hunger fact with your friends
Send a postcard to your local elected official and speak up for national nutrition programs
A couple of weeks ago, I looked up to the clouds and asked my mother this question. With the opening of one magazine, I’d experienced one of those full circle moments where everything just falls into place. Wondering what I’m talking about? See the picture below.
Yep, that’s Luvvie and I discussing the importance of getting tested for HIV/AIDS in the October issue of EBONY. “Get tested” is one of 100 tips, thoughts, and ideas designed to help Black women jump start their lives. Since we wrote the blurb and provided the picture, we obviously knew that we would be in this issue. But, there’s nothing like seeing it for yourself. When I opened that magazine and saw the words in print, I felt my life shift. I had just walked into my season. Many years ago, my Dad told me, “I think that God has already established your territory. You just need to know when to walk into your season.”
Well, I’m here. I’m in my new season and I hope that there are newsstands in heaven because I have a feeling that my Mommy will need to purchase many more magazines and newspapers in the future.
Over the weekend, celebs, not-so-celebs, and plenty of do gooders came out for the 2012 Do Something Awards, an event that honors those 25 and under who are making a huge difference in local and global communities.
The awards air on VH1 tonight but earlier today, I flipped through photos from the red carpet and was HIGHLY disappointed. I don’t know what I expected but almost every outfit made me feel “bleh.” Until I saw the amazing Keke Palmer and her classy yet simple outfit.
Chic, right?
While not nominated for an award this year, Keke is definitely a do-gooder. She’s supported various organizations, including The Boys and Girls Club of America and recently donated her birthday to Charity:Water. I love it and love her.
Me and exercise have a love-hate relationship. And, by hate, I mean that I get bored and cease all physicial activity for 2-3 months cold turkey. Obviously, this can’t be good for my body or mind. So, I’ve recently challenged myself to get back on the fitness horse. In addition to the #30for30 workout plan that I’m doing (30 workouts in 30 days), I’ve decided to *drumroll* run in my first 10K! Yes, you heard it right. I am going to willingly run 6.21 miles. Is there a hook? Well, yes.
Women’s Health is teaming up with The FEED Foundation to host “Run 10 Feed 10” races across the country this fall. Just by signing up, you will instantly provide 10 meals for people going hungry in your local and surrounding neighborhoods. There are roughly 16 million children who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. The good news is that hunger is a solvable problem and this race gives all of us a chance to do something about it.
Over the weekend, I downloaded the training app and began to plot out my method at attack. I am not a runner AT ALL, but I know that I am going to complete this race. Keyword? Complete. I’m not trying to set any records here.
The Chicago race is happening on September 23rd, but I’ll be out of town. So, I’ve signed up to run the race in Cincinnati on Saturday, 10/6. If this is your city, make sure to holler at me so I can say “Hi!”
If you’re interested in signing up for any of the 11 races, head on over to the website. You can also support my efforts by donating here.
Thanks in advance for the support and I hope to see some of you guys out there!
Oh, Beyoncé… You never cease to amaze me. As if being a superstar, mogul, wife, and mother weren’t enough, Queen Bey is now waving her humanitarian flag and joining forces with the United Nations and aid organizations to encourage people around the world to do something good for others on World Humanitarian Day (August 19).
World Humanitarian Day is a global day to celebrate humanity and the spirit of people helping people. As part of this campaign, Bey filmed a video for her powerful song “I Was Here” in the UN General Assembly Hall over the weekend. She and the songwriter Diane Warren are donating the video to the campaign.
“World Humanitarian Day celebrates humanitarian work,” said Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. “I hope everyone will pledge to complete at least one humanitarian action – however great or small – through http://www.whd-iwashere.org. Together we can create an unprecedented awareness of the plight of people affected by crises around the world.”
The campaign website provides everyone with an opportunity to unite and share his or her individual acts of good. On August 19th, the campaign aims to reach 1 billion people in a day with a single message.
If you want to support World Humanitarian Day, check out these five simple steps:
Choose to support World Humanitarian Day via Twitter, Facebook or both, and get the word out to your friends and followers
Tweet and post in the lead-up to August 19th
On August 19th, make your mark by doing something in your local community, and watch as everyone’s World Humanitarian Day messages are simultaneously shared around the world.
A couple of years ago, I posted about Nordstrom’s plans to open up a charity concept store in SoHo. This past weekend, I made it my mission to visit said store while out in NYC. Treasure & Bond is a very cool boutique stocked with various items for women, men, children, and the home. When I first got there, I was immediately attracted to the open layout, the design elements, and the little coffee bar in the back.
It’s such a hip space and the merchandise is very well-curated. I walked around and captured a few shots to mark my visit.
Front Display
Bicycles as decor
Monster bags!
Various items caught my eye but I became borderline obsessed with this houndstooth chair. It was a little definitely out of my price range, but I’m inspired to try to recreate it as a DIY project next fall.
Sitting Pretty!
Treasure & Bond chooses two non-profits to support each quarter so for the next three months, profits will support the National Dance Institute and Girls Write Now. To learn more about Treasure & Bond, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
You can also browse more photos from my trip here.
Greetings, everyone! I am currently in NYC for BlogHer (cue Empire State of Mind). I’m here with the fantastic team behind the American Cancer Society’s More Birthdays program. In case you’ve never heard me talk about More Birthdays before, let me give you my spiel. The ACS is dedicated to a world with less cancer and more birthdays. The More Birthdays campaign is a campaign that brings that to life. There are many ways that you can show your support, including sending birthday wishes from celebs, volunteering, and of course making a donation.
This weekend at BlogHer, myself and other members of their Blogger Advisory Council are asking attendees to stop by Booth #310 and light a virtual candle for someone who is fighting, who did fight, or who survived cancer. We want to know who is inspiring you to fight for a world with more birthdays.
I posted the below card as a nod to the moms of two of my closest friends. E + S, your moms inspire me in this fight.
If you’re in town for the conference, definitely come and see us! Who are you fighting for?
It’s that delightful time of year when Chicago gals can snag $31 spa and beauty treatments while also supporting Bright Pink. That’s right…Pretty in Pink has returned! To catch you up to speed, PrettyCity.com has teamed up with local spas for the month of October to raise awarness about breast cancer while scoring some major bargains for you.
