Red Cross Red Velvet Cupcake from Sprinkles and the RSVPcalendar.com

Did you catch us on Good Morning Texas this morning?  Here is the link!  http://www.wfaa.com/good-morning-texas/Sprinkles-American-Red-Cross-Cupcakes-118778409.html

A Good Man is Hard to Find!

But...One Man Dallas is determined to find one!

Did you know that women volunteer at a rate five times that of men?  That is why the mission of One Man Dallas is to encourage more men to volunteer with charitable organizations and engage in community projects.

One Man Dallas is looking for a man who represents the best of the Metroplex Area from the perspective of community involvement, personality, intelligence and fitness.

Twenty finalists will be chosen from the applicants and nominees who must be between the ages of 24 and 44, live in the metroplex, and volunteer with a local charity.  The deadline for nominations is sneaking up on us so get in your nominations before the 18th of March.

The winner will receive a $5,000 prize that he can split with his charity of choice.  He will also win a wardrobe from J. Hilburn.

The final show will be held on Thursday May 19th at 7:30 pm and yours truly will be a judge!

I love you!

I just love the I Love You Cards sold on www.ILoveYouCards.org. They are there to bring a smile to someone's face and spread a little love.  What a simple and sweet way to make someone's day!
Doing something nice for other's is a great way to bring a little bit of sunshine into our own lives and these cards are such a simple way to do it.  For $5 you get a pack of 20 and you can place them wherever you like, in a book that someone is reading, tucked inside a lunch box, or left on a table at a coffee shop.  I am ordering mine today!  
Now, if you find one, you can pass it forward two ways!  Snap a photo or write in to www.ILoveYouCards.org and tell the world about where you were and how you felt when you found it. Then leave it around for someone else!
Help spread the love!

Gifts that Give Back

To check out my sister, Krystal's, wonderful picks for gifts that give back click here.

Partners Card: A time to support, shop, and celebrate

Partners Card is an opportunity to feel great about treating yourself while giving back to the community. It allows us to support one wonderful foundation while being thanked by the 750 stores and restaurants that grant us a 20% discount, from October 29th all the way through November 7th. The Partners Card event is a 10 day span, during which, you can purchase a card for just $60, and then 100% of the collected earnings from the cards purchased go to The Family Place. The Family Place is the largest anti- violence service provider in the Dallas area. They provide emergency shelter, crisis counseling, and perform interventions in order to improve and save the lives of children, women, and men.

I was curious to learn more about how The Family Place distributed and transformed the money earned into a beneficial experience for the thousands who sought a life without violence. I wanted to know more and dig a little deeper so I called my friend Nancy. Nancy contributes to RSVPCalendar.com blog and I thought she might be able to tell me a bit about the services that The Family Place provides. I was so excited when she got back to me with more than just a bit of information. She responded with more answers than questions asked! Then she also connected me with Melissa, the Development Director at The Family Place.

I couldn’t wait to share with all of you, the information, which these two amazing ladies compiled for me. So for those of your who have participated in Partners card for the past 17 years, here is what you have been supporting and for those of you who have not yet taken part in the amazing opportunity, here are some reasons to join in:

-One Partners Card purchased for $60 pays for one night of shelter at The Family Place.

-The shelter has services and housing for both the 30 day program and the transitional program

-When clients first come to TFP, they go through the 30 day program of counseling. Some have a place to stay. For those that don't, they can stay at the shelter.

-Clients can apply for the transitional program which is 18-24months. TFP can help them learn job skills through a community college. There is also housing at the shelter as well as throughout Dallas. They will also continue to get counseling as well as learn life skills such as budgeting, dressing for success.

-There is both a child care and elementary school through 2nd grade (soon to be 3rd) on campus.

-Other services TFP provides: Counseling for children and adults affected by family violence whether they remain at the shelter or not. Some people have places to stay.Counseling for batterers. A program for teens that teaches about dating violence, bullying.

With the increased pressure of the bad economy, there are more people than ever affected by family violence that had to be turned away b/c there wasn't any room. So Partners Card and its success is more critical than ever!

Visit a participating retailer or The Family Place website to purchase your Partners Card before October 29th!

Lee Jofa and de la Renta together at last...

Oscar de la Renta’s collections are filled with timeless pieces and the structure of each garment is simply unparalleled by most high fashion designers’. When you wear his creations, from his sunglasses and accessories to his ball gowns and outerwear, de la Renta allows his clients, followers, and admirers to feel powerful and luxurious. With that said, when I heard that Oscar was partnering with Lee Jofa to launch Oscar de la Renta Home, my heart rate must have jumped to dangerous levels. On top of that exciting news came something truly thrilling! The skirts, which were designed exclusively for Lee Jofa’s announcement regarding the release of the new Home collection, are going to be auctioned off for charity until November 30, 2010. The proceeds from the auction will go to Casa del Nino, a wonderful charity completely benefiting children of the Dominican Republic.
The skirts are all handmade by Oscar, himself, and the make- up of each designer size 4 skirt is a combination of linen and silk fabrics, accented with intricate beading and embroidery, accompanied by velvet and linen stripes. Extraordinary creations complimented by a philanthropic twist. What could be more beautiful?

Trend- set & Treat with FEED bag and Candy Catchers

Halloween is just around the corner but it's not too late to add a few extra touches onto your costume! You and your kids can trick-or-treat in style with these fashion friendly bags.

For the kids:

Pottery Barn has introduced an extensive assortment of candy bags for our kids to enjoy! They are both festive and fun, but best of all they are reusable!  Kick up your kid-o's costume's flare factor and walk the streets with one of these Halloween treat totes or candy bags starting at only $12.

These precious Trick or Treat Bags by lilandkalle are so cute!  They are personalized and feature either a girl or boy ghost!  Adorable at $24 and found on Etsy.com.

For you (and your kids):

Can we really combined fashion, charity, and candy? FEED, HSN, and UNICEF have done it and I can barely put my excitement into words! In honor the the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, and to mark the partnership between these three fantastic organizations, FEED has created a fashionable bag for the Halloween season. This bag is perfect for trick-or-treating or even to use as a carryall tote for the whole month of October.100% of the profit, which HSN will receive from the Trick-or-Treat bags, will be donated to UNICEF's nutrition programs. We can look like trend setters while supporting one of the largest charities in the world for only $13.20! What a bargain.

Win Wednesday - A Charitable Child and His Happy Blankie

Children are often selfless, yes, but very rarely can that translate into changing and improving another child's life in another state or even on the other side of the world. David Holdridge was just seven- years- old when he came up with Happy Blankie, a concept that expanded into a remarkable mission.

In 2008 David decided that he wanted to combine his little sister’s two favorite things, which were obviously her stuffed animal and her blankie. With some help and encouragement from his mother, Emily, the comfy half stuffed animal- half blankie evolved into a charitable cause that not only warms our hearts, but also, the bodies and homes of children in need.

For every blankie sold, David, Emily, and the rest of the Happy Blankie family donate a blankie to wherever you choose for it to go in the world. Therein lies the message behind their motto, “One to love. One to give.” Such a beautiful idea that sparked in the mind of a compassionate seven- year- old boy.

Happy Blankie was kind enough to donate one small and one large blankie as giveaways for two lucky readers! Here is how you can enter to win:

- Follow our blog

-Follow us on Facebook

-Follow us on Twitter

- or comment on this blog entry!

If you participate in all four then you will be entered four times to win an adorable Happy Blankie! Our winner will be announced here on Friday.

Great Shopping for a Great Cause!

Donate the Sweet Way!

Give to the American Heart Association  in a Sweet Way!

 

April 5 - 9, Sprinkles Cupcakes will donate 100% of proceeds from all "Red Heart" Red Velevet cupcakes sold to the American Heart Association!

 

The Original Cupcake Bakery has partnered with the 3rd Annual Neiman Marcus Stiletto Strut to create awareness and support for the organization that works to builder healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Join the fight for good health today, because when the deal is this sweet, we all win! And don't forget to treat yourself, your friends and the whole office!

 

Order today:

Sprinkles Cupcakes - The Plaza at Preston Center
4020 Villanova Drive, Dallas, Texas 75225

214.369.0004  www.sprinkles.com