"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. " -Helen Keller

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

SHOW AND TELL: the HaBO edition

Welcome to our weekly expedition into the land of Show and Tell. Y'all know Show and Tell is wasted on the elementary schoolers. Join us weekly to show off an item, tell a story, and get the attention of the class. In other words, this is Show and Tell 2.0.

My favorite Romance book web site, Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, has a categories of posts called HaBO or Help a Bitch Out. Welcome to the ALI HaBO edition of Show and Tell.
See that incredibly cool baby blanket above...it was made by a dear member of our ALI community, Ms. BattyNurse herself. She makes the world's cutest baby blanket. I mean, I don't even have a baby girl in my life and I still bought that one. It called my name and begged me to buy it and bring it home, so I did. My hubby had the sheer nerve to suggest I give it to one of my nieces and I flat out refused. IT IS MINE! Ms. BattyNurse is raising money to pay for her FET which is scheduled for January. Go visit her Etsy shop, Batty Nurse Creations, and buy something really cute. BTW, she has been talking about taking custom orders for blankets so ask if you are looking for something special.
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Also, other opportunities for fun and helping people out abound right now. Kym of I'm a Smart One has issued a challenge to all of us in the ALI community. Kym says

As a blogoversary gift, help me continue to help parenthood efforts by helping Parenthood for Me. Many of you know that fellow ALI blogger Erica and her husband A.J. have been working hard to get their non-profit grant program off of the ground. For those who don't know, Erica and A.J. struggled with infertility and spent thousands of dollars in unsuccessful ART procedures. After much soul-searching, they shifted gears and pursued adoption. In 2008, they adopted a son, who is now the light of their lives.

Now, Erica and A.J. are dedicated to helping others find parenthood. Through Parenthood for Me (PFM), couples and individuals can apply for grants to help assist with some of the costly expenses involved with infertility treatments and adoption such as travel fees, attorney fees, medications not covered by insurance, and homestudy fees. They began accepting applications for grants on January 2nd, and the first grants will be awarded in June 2010.

As you can imagine, a rather large endowment must be built. So far, PFM has raised several thousand dollars. In April, Erica and A.J. are hosting the first Annual Family-Building Dinner and Silent Auction in Rochester, New York on April 10. This is the largest fundraiser to date and will really give PFM the wings it needs to fly. The cost is $100 per ticket, with over 50% of the price going directly to the endowment. Sponsors can also donate for various levels of recognition, from $3,000 Gold Sponsorship to donation of an item valued at $100 for the silent auction.

I would like for us, the ALI blogging community, to pull together and raise at least enough money for a $250 Table Sponsorship. A sign representing "us" would be placed on one of the tables at the dinner. What a powerful idea it is for us to be there in spirit, knowing that our efforts would go towards accomplishing someone, possibly one of us, achieve parenthood.

My goal is that by my blogversary of January 26, we'll have raised $250 (or more!) for an ALI Blogger table. To donate using either PayPal or a credit card, click the button below:




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Now for fun, sign up for two fun events is going on right now...Sock It To Me and the 2010 Book Challenge. Check them both out and sign up. You know you want to!

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To see what everyone else in class is bringing to SHOW AND TELL, take a trip to visit the Miss Mel, Goddess of the Infertility Blogosphere.

18 comments:

Lollipop Goldstein said...

I love that you bought one of the blankets for yourself. That's the way it should be. Why should babies have all the good stuff?

Big Mama T said...

Um, I need that blanked in my life... preferably in grown-up scale, though.

Soralis said...

Love the blanket! (PFM what a great idea!)

JW Moxie said...

I'm need of a good reading blanket, and if I can buy one AND support a fellow blogger, I'm all over it! :)

Thanks for pimpin' out the bloggy projects, my thug fa life!

Delenn said...

OMG--I am going over to Batty Nurses site right now!

Quiet Dreams said...

I KNEW I recognized that blanket. :)

battynurse said...

Why thank you wonderful lady! I love the HaBO! That is too cool.
Funny thing about the blanket. It was such a big hit that I've been trying to find more of the fabric and so far I can't. You may have the absolute one and only!

The Steadfast Warrior said...

That is such an awesome blanket! Hmmm, I might have to jump over to her Etsy site...

GeekByMarriage said...

I just bought the same one! We can be blankie sisters!!!

AnotherDreamer said...

That is adorable!!! I will have to check her shop out :)

aimeemax said...

Nice HaBOing! I love the blanky and am heading over to check out the store and I wish I lived in NY so I actually go to the PFM dinner.

:o)

Alana said...

Catching up...

The Pap Smear and Prostate ads were very interesting. I'm with you---- though I applaud the "couples" for encouraging their loved ones to monitor their health, it is definitely NOT the holiday gift/love I'd be appreciative of.

LOVE the idea of donating to Parenthood for Me, and will definitely be conversing with DH to see if he is in agreement about the amount I'd like to donate. Thanks for the link to the site.

Your blanket is awesome! :)

THANK YOU for your blog support this week. Your words of encouragement were much appreciated. Hugs!

Sandy said...

MUST. HAVE. BLANKET. I will visit her Etsy shop at once!

Thank you for always bringing so many wonderful things to our attention. I truly love your blog for that reason.

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Great causes, all.

I, too, love that blanket! BattyNurse has quite a talent!

..Soo.See.. said...

Awesome blanket, and Awesome for buying it! Off to see what else BattyNurse has, and the other causes. :)

Busted Kate said...

Hello! I'm here from the Show and Tell. Congrats on your blogaversay!! And I'm going to have to check out that website :-)

Jen said...

love the blanket. I'd keep it for myself as well lol

Anonymous said...

Aww those Blankets are just to cute!..gonna have to keep an eye on that Esty site to see future creations.