Products with Purpose

The only thing I LOVE more than a great buy (aka a sale!) is a product that does good. With Breast Cancer Awareness Month heading on the out, we’ve all noticed, and perhaps participate in, purchasing PINK for a purpose.

KitchenAid has a whole selection of products, all in pink!

Perhaps I’d cook more in a pink-accessorized kitchen (hear that hubs?)

Don’t like to cook? No problem there are a ton of other products that donate proceeds to breast cancer research or awareness. A few years back I bought a pair of this pair of New Balances:

They have multiple pairs this year (along with other accessories), but I sort of like this:

I'm not a runner, so I will not be paying $144 for a pair of gymmies, but this products has two good causes: breast cancer awareness (5% of the retail price goes to Komen for the Cure) AND the product is MADE IN THE USA! (They are actually the ONLY major shoe manufacturer still domestically producing products ... sad, huh?) They also offer free shipping for any Lace Up for the Cure purchase.

Sephora also has a whole bunch of cosmetic goodness; in more ways than one. Each participating brand will donate a portion of the proceeds to organzations that raise awareness for and find a cure.

Only $14?! Yes please!

Sephora also has The Sephora Project which lists specific products and their causes.

Even the NFL is getting in on the action.

What better way to sport your favorite team, a good cause, while still looking like a girl in sports gear?

Other products:

Essie Limited-Edition Polish, $8

AnnTaylor.com, $58

70% of the proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Fund

e.l.f., $3

They are donating 100% of all profits from the sale of the Glitter Gloss in Twinkle Pink and Glossy Gloss in Wild Watermelon to the Breast Cancer Research Fund.

13 Nights of Halloween

Last night was suppose to kick off ABC Family’s 13 Nights of Halloween. It started with a Pretty Little Liars marathon. I've never watched the show until yesterday, and I have to say I may have been drawn in and I may or may not be watching the new season come 2012. ...

However, tonight begins the movies. While I probably won’t be changing my plans to be home to watch every movie, I like the fact that if I want to watch a Halloween-themed/scary movie, there is one on TV. (I’m even worse with Christmas-themed movies.)

Some of my faves:

Hocus Pocus. (Once a SJP fan, always a SJP fan)

Beetle Juice

The Nightmare before Christmas

Others listed: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the original is actually a bit too creepy for me ... and of course I prefer anything with Johnny Depp), and Monsters, Inc.

I know since it's on the Family Channel, real scary movies (Blair Witch, The Ring, Paranormal Activity, Scream, The Haunting in Connecticut, The Exorist, etc.) aren't included. But I'm not about to go out and rent these, as I feel I only have enough guts to watch some of the above with commercial breaks to still be able to sleep soundly.

For a full line up (you’ll thank me when you are channel surfing with nothing to watch) go here

Also, in the theme of Halloween, I was perusing through Pinterest (both the best thing that has happened to my creative mind and the worst thing to happen to my time management skills) and picked out some of my favorite Halloween décor:

I would LOVE to do this.

Beautiful for an entryway. And I LOVE the bats!

Again with skulls. (This is homemade too).

How cute!

And of course, since I live in Florida

Skull Candy

I’ve been a bad blogger lately as I’ve been consumed with post-show exhaustion.

But it’s almost mid-October, and I am counting down the days until one of my favorite holidays: Halloween!

Any holiday that makes it mandatory to receive and eat candy without repercussions is good in my book. (All the diet commercials start after the Thanksgiving and Christmas indulging Halloween is still in the safe zone). Besides eating candy and dressing up, I love Halloween because of the decorations.

Many of you are unaware of my slight obsession with skulls.

Even Martini-Dog isn't immune from the obsession.

The day after Halloween is All Souls Day here in the States, but it’s also the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) in Mexico,

where there is a celebration, parades and, the root of my love-affair, decorated sugar skulls:

For some reason I have an obsession with this holiday, and when I found out a woman in my class is from Mexico, I was just short of attacking her with questions about the holiday.

Okay, back to skulls. I was at Target a few weeks ago while all the Halloween décor was still being set up. I walked down the aisle and found this:

It lights up!

I totally would have registered for this stuff.

I practically had a heart attack. I didn’t buy anything as I have a strict policy not to buy decoration until the month of the holiday. But now it’s October, I might have to go back.

A grey skull cookie jar goes with the neutral costal décor of our apartment, right?

And salt and pepper shakers ... a bit much?

Honestly, I really want a Day of the Dead tattoo:

Don't worry mom, since I’m not Mexican, I don't feel right getting one.

But maybe a tribute to Martini-dog?

Adopt A Pet Month

Happy October y'all! I’m been super busy with school and this week is the final week of my competition prep!

We all know that October is the month to save the ta-tas, but it’s also Adopt-A-Pet Month. So allow me a bit of a PSA.

This is a cause very dear to my heart as two of my lovelies are rescues:

Martini-Dog

Morgan

While shelter dogs get the spotlight, there are other types of shelter animals as well including cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, etc.

If you are thinking of getting a pet, please check out your local shelters, rescues and even Craigslist as it often has pets for adoption or highlights animals on “death row.” (If you are meeting a private owner, have someone go with you to meet the pet if you choose this route).

Not into pavement specials? While there are local pedigree rescues, due to the economic downturn local shelters may also have owner-surrendered purebred breeds. (Actually, 25 to 30 percent of dogs in shelters are purebred!)

Obviously adopting a pet is a big commitment, and the worst thing would be to adopt a pet and have to bring it back to the shelter because it was too much to handle. Sometimes being a responsible pet owner means not owning a pet. So make sure you have the time and resources if you are thinking of this option.

But there are other ways to help:

Donate to your local shelter. Not only do they need money, but food donations, toys, towels, etc. Call and find out specifics needs. Also volunteer time: to socialize, to exercise, to walk and to clean out the temporary homes of the animals.

Donate to an animal. You may not have the ability to adopt a pet. There are plenty of shelter animals that have special needs or are in need of surgery or other expensive medical treatments to help make them adoptable. This cost money. Sometimes local shelters or petfinder.com will have specific animals that you can donate to their medical needs.

Foster. Local shelters and rescues need foster parents; both “families” that have pets (socialize) and those that have no other pets (special needs). This is a lot of work, but temporary and can be flexible (if you are taking a vacation, sometimes the organization will make arrangements for the animal rather than you having to worry about it).

You can also foster military pets when their pet-parents are deployed (anywhere from three to 13 months). Organizations like Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet offer this option. Don’t you want to be a apart of this:

Support. Support local pet adoption events. Many times shelters and rescues have walks, runs, festivals, etc. You don’t have to have a pet to participate. Call a friend who does or brave it yourself. Earlier this year the hubs and I spent a Saturday morning at a one-mile dog walk and festival. It was fun being around so many pet lovers and just a good change up to the usual Saturday morning routine. And I think the dogs had fun.

The big event

new friend

The hubs with the pups

Water break

If you have a pet, there are a great number programs to help promote pet ownership such as therapy dog programs (in hospitals and/or schools) and volunteering your time and your rescued pet at adoption events.

Pets bring a lot of benefits such as lower blood pressure, lower stress levels, lower chance of depression (or help with treatment) as well as increase physical activity and socialization.

... And don't forget to microchip and spayed and neuter your animals :)