Chivas

Natural Goat Milk Skin Care, soaps, facial cream & bath salts. All made from hand milked goats. They also make a vegan lip balm. The farm is located in Southern California, just a little south of Santa Barbara. The name of the company means goat in Spanish. They also use herbs from their garden in the products.

I heard about them when Lauren, the co-founder, came to an ABC meeting in Orange County earlier this month. We received a bar of soap as our favor. Which is in the photo below. The reason she was there was to promote favors for weddings or showers. They can custom blend scents and make a custom label for the items. They will also stamp them. Our bar was lily of the valley with a tree stamp. They do need at 60 days to make these since they are hand made, but for a unique favor or welcome basket gift, that will be used, this is a great item.

Enjoy,

National Wear Red Day

February is National Heart Month.

The Heart Truth: Heart Disease is the #1 Killer of Women

The Heart Truth is that one in four American women dies of heart disease, and most fail to make the connection between risk factors—such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol—and their personal risk of developing heart disease.

The Heart Truth Campaign: Serious Messages about Women’s Heart Health

The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Through the campaign, NHLBI leads the nation in a landmark heart health awareness movement that is being embraced by millions who share the common goal of better heart health for all women.

The Heart Truth campaign warns women about heart disease and provides tools to help them take action against its risk factors. It is primarily targeted to women ages 40 to 60, the time when a woman’s risk of heart disease begins to increase. However, it’s never too early—or too late—to take action to prevent and control risk factors since heart disease develops over time and can start at a young age—even in the teen years.

The campaign message is paired with an arresting visual—the Red Dress—designed to warn women that heart disease is their #1 killer. The Heart Truth created and introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 to deliver an urgent wake-up call to American women. The Red Dress reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action.

The Heart Truth partners include: The Office on Women's Health, DHHS; WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease; the American Heart Association; and other organizations committed to the health and well-being of women.

What’s a Red Dress Got to Do With It?

The Red Dress was designed to build awareness that women are at risk for heart disease, and motivate them to take action to reduce their risk. The creative concept of a Red Dress tested well with diverse women who cited its ability to get attention, convey the seriousness of heart disease, and change the perception that it is only a man’s issue.

The symbol links a woman’s focus on her “outer self” to the need to also focus on her “inner self,” especially her heart health. The Red Dress serves as a red alert to convey the message that “Heart Disease Doesn’t Care What You Wear—It’s the #1 Killer of Women.

So let's wear red to raise awareness about heart disease.  It can begin as early as our teens.

Happy Planning

Steph

Pink for October

Go pink! If you have a blog or website go pink for October. My sites are pink year round but if yours isn't Go Pink for October. Let's all do it to raise awareness about breast cancer.
Thank you Karol Welsh, from the Something Blue blog for sharing this first.

Beverage Monday. Her Vodka.

Today on Beverage Monday I thought I would feature a vodka that gives back. HER Vodka is an ultra-premium vodka that gives a portion of the sales of each bottle to breast cancer research and foundations. It is bottled in Oregon by Cottage Grove Distillery.

HER is not available in every state. Take a look at their distribution map to see where you can find HER.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month I have given you a couple of vodka drink recipes that are pink to get you in the mood. So look for HER Vodka and drink for the cause!

Pink Cadillac
1 oz Vodka
2 oz White Creme de Cacao
1 oz Light Cream
4 oz Cranberry Juice
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain and serve in unusually shaped glass.

Pink Lemonade Pitcher
1 (12-oz.) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
3 (12-oz.) bottles beer (not dark), chilled
3/4 cup vodka, chilled
fresh cranberries and lemon slices
Stir together first 3 ingredients. Serve over ice. Garnish with cranberries and lemons. Serves 6-8.
Recipe courtesy of My Recipes.

Cheers,

Pink Ribbon Month

We all know by now that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Here are a few places that donate a part of their sales to the cause.
has pink ribbon products on their site.

gives to the Breast Cancer Reserarch Foundation with the purchase of items to the Bonnie Marcus collection. A couple of examples.

donates 5% of their sales to the Making Memories Foundation. I wrote about them here.
Origins will donate $35,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation from sales of Peace of Mind® On-the-spot relief sold in North America. This very important contribution supports the research dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime.

Clinique offers this limited-edition Dramatically Different™ Moisturizing Lotion complete with three decorative charms: a silver Clinique “C”, a miniature 3-Step Skin Care and a Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon. $10.00 from your purchase helps support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s quest to find a cure.

There are many more places that have special offers this month. I will feature some of them during October.

Favors for Charity

fa·vor /fey-ver/1. a small gift, decorative or festive item, often distributed to guests at a party. 2. a gift bestowed as a token of goodwill, kind regard, love, etc.

In this age being socially responsible there are several different ways you can favor your guests for coming to your wedding and also help out those in need.
is a company that lets you give to the charity of your choice. They have a list of some of the most common divided by type. You place cards on the tables to let your guests know that you gave a donation to a specific charity in lieu of giving a traditional favor.
is another company that contributes to a favorite charity, but in this case you give your guests a chocolate truffle, boxed and wrapped in a ribbon color of your choice, with a card explaining your contribution. They give a portion of the cost of the truffle to your charity.

The American Cancer Society and American Diabetes Association let you make contributions directly to them and they give you scrolls or table cards for your guests. You can also make a donation to the ASPCA.

Happy Reading,

Brides Against Breast Cancer

For those of you who would like to give back.

Here's a fantastic way to do it.

Brides Against Breast Cancer works two ways. You can buy a donated gown for your wedding or you can donate your wedding dress after the wedding. Either way you are helping those afflicted with metastatic breast cancer to fufill a dream they might not be able to accomplish without help.

You can also help out by having a Pink Envelope Bridal Shower. With your shower invitations, you include their special Pink Donation Envelopes. You ask your guests to donate on behalf of your bridal shower. At your bridal shower, you gather the sealed envelopes and send them directly to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. They will then feature your bridal shower on their website posting your pictures, too.

Both of these are a part of Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. Their mission statement is-

“To provide an opportunity for metastatic breast cancer patients’ dream or wish to be fulfilled by providing a special time of 'Making Memories' together with their families, a chance that might not have become a reality without the assistance of the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation."

"To advance the awareness of breast cancer and to educate the public about the vast resources and support available to breast cancer patients and their families."

My mom had a modified-radical mastectomy in 1984 on her left breast. Thankfully, they were able to get everything. She found the lump early and didn't have to go through chemo or radiation. She lived for 21 more years before succumbing to lung cancer in May of 2005.

The photo is of the two of us on my wedding day in April 2005.