Bully

My blog this week hopefully demonstrates what can happen when many people put their voices together. Everyone matters and can make a difference. I’m not sure if you have all heard of a new movie coming out called Bully. It is tackling the problem that still runs rampant throughout our schools today, bullying, and how we can help bring a stop to it. Currently, the MPAA has given Bully an R rating making it so many students, who need to see this, cannot see it as well as not being able to play it in schools nationwide. There is a petition on change.org right now that has over 400,000 signatures and they are hoping to get up to 500,000 signatures to help persuade the MPAA to change the rating to PG-13. You do have to enter some information but I just did my last initial for my name and did not put my whole address in. The fields do have to have something in them for your signature to go through. So when you are on your computer sometime this week think about helping to change the fact that over 13 million kids will be bullied this year and help make it possible for everyone to see the movie. Happy signing!

Until next week,

Annie

Petition site: http://www.change.org/petitions/mpaa-don-t-let-the-bullies-win-give-bully-a-pg-13-instead-of-an-r-rating

Movie site: http://thebullyproject.com/#

Milkshake

This week’s post is pretty cool because I am finding some of my posts through them. Milkshake is an organization that’s goal is to find the good in everything. They send out a daily e-mail and in the e-mail feature an organization, product, or cause that makes a difference. You can also check out their website that has tons you can look at. The e-mails are so useful and helpful in learning about different people, causes, and organizations because they make sure to explain why they are featuring them, what they do, and how you can help. I am not always one for getting daily e-mails but I am glad I signed up for this one. I look forward to it every day and wonder what new thing I am going to learn about and what new way I can help others. Happy searching!

Until next week,

Annie

http://www.getmilkshake.com/index.php

The World Needs More Love Letters

Hello all! My apologies for not posting last week. As I sit here watching the Oscars this week’s post actually seems quite fitting. There is an awesome woman who felt that the world needed more love letters so she created a non-profit that gives love letters to random people. Anyone can write letters and every month they send out a bundle of love letters to someone in need. In a year and a half they have sent out over 2,000 letters. Being someone who loves writing hand written letters and also getting them, I think this is an awesome idea. How cool would it be to write a letter to encourage someone that you don’t even know? So, if you have some free time in the next couple of weeks think about checking out The World Needs More Love Letters and possibly contributing by writing a letter. A few words of encouragement can go a long way. Happy Writing!

Until next week,

Annie

http://www.moreloveletters.com/

Being Green Means Happy Environment!

This week we are going to focus on helping our environment. According to Scott toilet paper Company, we throw out enough toilet paper tubes to fill the empire state building twice each year. That can easily be solved merely by throwing your toilet paper tubes in the recycling instead of the trash. Another big one is using reusable water bottles. We throw away so many plastic water bottles every year and that can be solved by getting a reusable water bottle and using that; plus you will save a lot of money. Try to buy items in bottles that are made from recycled materials to help save on energy that is used to make the bottles. I have used DoSomething.org before and am doing so again because they are helping others to make a big change in their community. They have just started the Green Your School Campaign that focuses on ways to not only green your school but also your home and other things. Check out the project ideas page to find easy ways for you to start, or continue, helping our environment. If you have a child in school or are a student yourself think about signing your school up for the campaign and not only help the environment but also have the chance to win some awesome scholarships and prizes. So when you are shopping this week or heading out to the gym, think twice before you leave bags at home that could be reused or go to buy a plastic water bottle. Happy being Green!

Until next week,

Annie

Project ideas: http://www.dosomething.org/green-your-school/project-ideas

Pura Vida Bracelets

This week you have the chance of helping many different causes that you might be interested in as well as local artisans in Costa Rica. After two guys graduated from college they went down to Costa Rica and ended up creating Pura Vida, a company that makes bracelets. They are very simple yet very cool bracelets in all different colors. By purchasing a bracelet you are helping provide jobs to local artisans in Costa Rica, the Surfrider Foundation, and if you buy a bracelet for a certain cause, $1 is donated to that cause. So as it gets closer to Valentine’s Day, or if you’re just interested in adding something new to your wrist, check out the Pura Vida bracelets.. Happy shopping!

Until next week,

Annie

http://puravidabracelets.com/

Link for the bracelets for a cause: http://puravidabracelets.com/store/charity-bracelets.html

Teens for Jeans

It’s that time of year again. For the fifth year, Do Something and Aéropostale are doing their Teens for Jeans campaign. They collect gently worn jeans to help cloth the large population of homeless teens in the U.S. and Canada. Over the past four years they have collected over 1.5 million jeans. That’s pretty awesome when you think about it because that means 1.5 million teens now have jeans and something warm to wear when it gets colder out. The campaign runs until February 12 so make sure to clean out your closet and take any gently warn jeans to any Aéropostale store near you. I’m including the website so you can look to see where the nearest store is and there is also a neat video you can watch. Happy staying warm!

Until next week,

Annie

http://www.dosomething.org/teensforjeans

An Alarm that gives back!

I apologize for my absence the past couple weeks but I’m back! I’m excited about this week’s post especially because it can be a new year’s resolution since it is doing good! Let Give is a company that is bringing technology and giving together, today in the form of a snooze button. For all of you who have an iPhone (sorry for those of you that do not), there is now an app, called Snooze. Every time the snooze button is hit, $.25 will be donated to a charity of your choice. All you have to do is sign up for an account with Let Give, download the app and then either take a nap or use as your morning alarm. It looks as if they are in the works of creating other things like this so I will try to keep you updated on the things we use every day that may be done to help others. Happy Sleeping!

Until next week,

Annie