Giving Without Spending: Help a fellow blogger make her dream come true

First, I'd like to apologize for missing the Random Act of Kindness Friday for Bloggers last week. I haven't been feeling well and my blogs have suffered due to this. I'll try to do better this week.

Yesterday, I received an email from Christy asking for my help and yours in the Name Your Dream Assignment contest sponsored by Lenovo and Microsoft. She wrote:

Melanie,

I had an idea a last Christmas. I wanted to give the kids in my life a Partners International or Heifer International catalog, with a gift certificate, so they could choose a cause they connected with and would get excited about helping instead of getting. I was disappointed in the catalogs, though. They were to adult and not things that would connect with kids. I decided then that I wanted to partner with different organizations and create a catalog JUST FOR KIDS.

I recently entered the "Name Your Dream Assignment" contest. If I win I will receive $50,000 to make this catalog a reality. (I won't get to keep any of the money. All of it, up to $50,000, has to be used to make the dream a reality.)

You can read more on my blog:

http://lazyperfection.com/i-need-your-vote.htm 

Christy needs over 500 votes to be in the top 20 by Friday. So head on over
to her blog, read more about her idea, and help her out. I've submitted my vote
already and it was super easy. I know she will appreciate it.

An Award!

Krissy over at Thinking of Blue has bestowed an award upon me. I feel so honored! This is Giving Without Spending's first award. Thank you Krissy!

The rules of this award are to list seven things you love and pass it on to seven bloggers you love. So here we go. :)

7 things I love:

-My family
-My friends
-Long naps
-A good movie
-Kindness
-Honesty
-Long relaxing, hot showers

7 blogs I love:

Is It Just Me?

The SAHM's Review

Tales of the Tightwad

It's Lovely, I'll Take It!

Sex Educations Perfect Example

On His Terms

HippyChick

Giving Without Spending: Plant a Tree

Help Celestial Seasonings plant 50,000 trees! For every virtual tree planted, they will plant a real tree up to 50,000. It is simple and easy to do. I've already planted mine! Click here to plant your tree now.

Random Act of Kindness Friday for Bloggers

Well, another Friday is upon us. Time for us bloggers to share the love once again. The blog I want to share with you today is The Stay at Home Mom's Review. This is a fairly new blog in which Hollie, the author, reviews different products for her readers. I'm enjoying it very much. Please pop over and say "Hi". I know she would be thrilled.

What blog would you like to share today? I always look forward to checking out new blogs!

And...if your blog was listed, feel free to grab the "Blessed by a RAOK" button on the left.

Giving Without Spending...Much: Wish Upon a Hero

Wish Upon a Hero is a website that allows registered members to place up to 3 wishes at a time. There are many wishes asking for financial assistance and although you may not be able to pay the full amount, a dollar or two would be very helpful. People also ask for clothes, birthday cards for friends and family members, and much, much more.

Click the image above to check out the site. You never know...someone may be requesting an item you want to get rid of.

Giving Without Spending Much...Help an Orphanage

Dawn, a GWS reader, sent me this email about a week ago:

This is not an organized program but just a way to help bring Christmas cheer to an orphanage in Mexico. A friend of mine knows a family of missionaries in Tijuana, Mexico (border of CA). This would be a great project for families to do together. Here is a quote from the email I received "If you have Christian Christmas cards that you rec'd in the past, can you cut the pretty fronts off and send them to us before next Christmas? I noticed this year that the kids here love to decorate with them! They have a few from somewhere that they decorated the church with and they all think they are so pretty. They also write on the back of the and give them as gifts to their teachers and friends. It's a nice way to recycle and the kids here love it. Its also good for telling the Christmas story. I would have never guessed how much joy a child could get from a recycled Christmas Card! They don't have to be religious, they can be pretty or cute or wintry, just no Santa Clause, the culture of the church here is very "anti-Santa"."

Here is the address:
Barbarita Lee
P.O. Box 530038
San Diego, CA 92153

Do you still have cards leftover from Christmas that you have no use for? Think about sending them to these children. Sounds like they will be much loved and appreciated! And thanks Dawn for sending that in.

If you know of any programs or charities that fall into the Giving Without Spending/Much category, please let me know. Just click on the envelope in the left column to contact me.

Giving Without Spending: Answer Trivia to Feed Dogs and Cats

I saw this over at Tales of the Tighwad and had to share.

Click the buttons below to answer a dog and cat trivia question and freekibble.com will donate 10 pieces of kibble for each. You can only answer one question per day. It's easy and fun, so click below to help feed our furry friends!

Giving Without Spending: Pray for Jonah

I've seen many "pray for" buttons on blogs recently and decided that I'll be adding them to the Giving Without Spending sidebar as I feature each one. After all, prayer is powerful and its FREE. Since this blog is all about giving, I want it to be a vessel for these families in need of support and love.

Now on to baby Jonah. First I just have to say that he is so beautiful! What a sweet little angel. Little Jonah was born with a very rare genetic skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa. He is currently in Brenner Children's Hospital, "fighting for his life." He turned 2 weeks old today. He seems like quite the little fighter and you can tell he is extremely loved by his mom and dad. Click on the button above to visit with Jonah, see pictures and read updates on his progress. And most importantly, keep this little guy in your prayers.

RAOK Friday for Bloggers

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It's Friday...time to share a blog! This week I'm featuring Full Bellies, Happy Kids. Sandra is an air force wife with 2 kiddos. She cooks wonderful meals for her family. I'm trying to expand my menu so I love checking out her recipes. The pictures make my mouth water. Go check out her blog and say hello. :)

Share a blog with us. Don't forget to let them know you featured them too. It makes peeps feel good to get some recognition!

And if you're a featured blog, feel free to grab the "blessed by a raok" button in the left column.

Giving Without Spending: Become an Organ Donor

Did you know:

-Almost 100,000 men, women and children currently need life-saving organ transplants?

-Every 12 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list?

-An average of 18 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant?

-90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor?

If you're not already an organ donor, or want to make sure you are registered as one, go here to get started. Another great site to get information from is Donate Life America. Just look at organ donation as recycling your body parts. :)

GIVEAWAY IS OVER

I'm so glad you've stopped by to enter my giveaway! I hope you'll also check out my blog and find out inexpensive ways you can help those in need. :)

If you've never heard of SITS. Click the button below, visit their site and consider joining the SITStahood!



Now on to the good stuff. I'm giving away a Blockbuster Night Card that includes 2 movie rentals, 2 twenty ounce coca-cola beverages, and 1 tub of popcorn. Perfect for a "stay at home date night" for you and the hubs! To enter, just leave a comment.

Random Act of Kindness Friday for Bloggers

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If you'd like to participate, read this to get started. It's simple and easy.

The blog I'm choosing for today is Monkeybox authored by the "Junkreator". Why do I like reading her blog? Well, she collects all kinds of things. I collect nothing. So maybe I'm living vicariously through her. hehe I enjoy reading about her shopping trips and viewing pictures of what she has bought to add to her collections. Head over and say hello. Check out her sidebar too. She has lots of pictures of items she has acquired.

If your blog was featured today, grab the "blessed by a RAOK" button for your blog.

Your turn! Share a blog with us. :)

Giving Without Spending...Much: Operation PAL

Operation PAL "provides support to injured or ill Marines and Sailors who have previously served in combat zones through prayers and letters from the general public and to encourage support of our wounded military personnel in communities throughout the United States."

You can find a list of names here along with instructions on where to send your cards/letters. At the least, just say a prayer for these brave soldiers.

Giving Without Spending...Much: Sewing for Charity

I really wish I could sew. However, with 2 small children, I don't think my brain could hold any extra information right now and that includes learning how to just thread the sewing machine. Pitiful, I know.

I'm always amazed to read craft blogs and see what sewing folks can produce! I've seen some cute stuff. Well, if you can sew, there are many charities that could use your talent. Go here for an awesome list of them.