San Francisco AIDS Walk - Part 2

Last year I decided along with my best friend to participate in the San Francisco AIDS walk.  Our small team of 3 raised almost $3,000.  It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  So . . . we decided to do it again.

Cloris Leachman Kicked everything off with a laugh.  Then we started the 10K walk with a mass of people. The feeling of knowing that you and all of those around you were all working towards the same cause was overwhelming.


Along the way there was tons of entertainment.  Musicians, bands and belly dancers.  There were even snacks and a cheering section to keep you going.

There were even parts of the famous remembrance quilt to remind us all that even though this is a fun event we are fighting for something extremely important.

I would love to beat my $1,000 goal from last year.  Please take the time to check out my page and support me and Team Sparkle Pony.  Or start a team yourself.

Thank you in advance for all your support.

Travel Must Haves

I have been racking up the frequent flyer miles in the past year based on the location of loved ones.  There are a few items which I cannot travel without.  Of course they are all easily found on the internet or in stores.  Plus are light and take up very little space.

If you are like me you cannot keep your eyes open on the plane long enough to get your beverage, and are parched upon waking.   I have a great solution even though we all know that you can't bring a drink into the airport.

The vapor water bottle is one of the best purchases I have ever made.  They typically cost less than $10 for the 0.5L reusable bottle.  It stands up when full and is completely rollable when empty.  It is BPA free which is a plus.  The carabiner makes easy to clip on the outside of your bag.

Many airport now have filling stations when you get past security.  No more carrying a crusty old empty water bottle, to keep hydrated on the long flights.

I love those neck pillows that keep your head from hitting the window or ending up on other people shoulders.  The only draw back to them is they are huge and unwieldily.  Here is a cheap and smaller alternative.

Ikea has developed a travel line.  Go figure, they have everything else.  The neck pillow, Upptacka, is inflatable.  So it rolls up into a mesh bag about the size of a soda can.  The internal bladder can even be removed and the cover washed.  Since you are blowing it up you can make it as firm or soft as you like.  It is a mere $5 if you do not have an Ikea family card and $4 if you don't.  They even come in 5 colors, I have the yellow-orange.

The next two products I will admit I use everyday and not just for travel.

 I like to sleep in complete darkness and we all know that is not possible on a flight.  So an eye mask is a must.  They even provide them on red-eye international flights.  However, most are thin and don't block out enough light.  Not this one, it is actually made for migraine suffers and it the best one I have ever had.

The IMAK face mask is filled with ergonomic beads so it conforms to your face without pressure points.  You can even freeze it for cool comfort when at home.  They run about $15, and can be found at drugstore.com.

My last favorite is a new Burt's Bees invention, tinted lip balm.  I am a lipgloss junkie and hate having to stash it in my checked luggage so as not to loose it to security.  After a flight your lips are often dry from the recycled air, so lip balm is a must.  Of course you want to try and look half human when you meet people on the other side of your travel.

It comes in six sheer shades that will complement most any skin tone.  Of course it nourishes like a Burt's Bees product should.

If you have this products will leave your flight well rested, hydrated and beautiful.

Pocket Screwdriver

Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you need a screwdriver just to tighten something up.  I am constantly annoyed by a loose drawer handle or something else that is just not right.  These are the best invention I have seen in a long time.   

This little gem fits on any key ring and will not let you down. The ring can be rotated to fit flat head screws whose channel is 0.030 to 0.090 inches wide.   

The only unfortunate thing is that they only buy them by the dozen.  Then again you can be like me and give one to everyone you know could appreciate one.  The dozen is only $9.95 at Lee Valley.

Teacher Gifts Part II

Last year around this time I wrote a blog entry about teacher gifts.  Being a teacher we always receive the same things and of course we know we are hard to buy for.  We look forward to the gifts every year.  It makes us feel loved and appreciated in a profession that does not always make us feel that way.

Last year I stated some do's and don'ts which you can read from the above link.  This year I decided to do an Oprah's style favorite things.  These gifts can be used by all and are not necessarily just for teachers.

1. Personalized Stationary - I write so many letters and get just giddy about having personalized stationary. I recently ordered this pattern from Paper Culture.  The cards are on a heavy stock and come so quickly.  For every order they pledge to plant a tree.  Makes me want to order lots more.

2. Reusable Shopping Bags - I know, it sounds like Envirosax is paying me, but I can't get enough of them.  I have 3 regular sax, a sling sax, and a mini sax (I use as a lunch bag).  They weigh about an ounce and can be easily carried every where.  They are sturdy and can hold about 44 pounds, not that you want to carry that much.  I have even gotten the tiniest hole in my original bag and it is still the size of a pin point years later.  Everyone I have given one to has adored them as much as me.

3. Personalized Stamps - I was given a gift certificate to the Three Designing Women website.  I ordered the stamp featured on the side with "This Book Belongs To  ......" instead of the address.  I am actually thinking of ordering an address stamps and a monogram version to use on stationary.  This company offers interchangeable stamps and stationary that is made to have a stamp used with it.  I just love personalization.


Enjoy!

Envirosax Sling

We all know I love my Envirosax.  They are light and easy to carry with you all the time.  Plus are amazingly durable.  Well they came out with a new style.  The Envirosax sling.

This bag has two free straps that you can tie to any length, which means you can make it fit your body perfectly.  It still rolls like the original, however it is a bigger roll and does not roll as neatly.  Because of the design there is a deep pocket on the outside where the fabrics meet.  It is actually the perfect size for a bottle of wine.  If you want to seal the bag when traveling you can tie the bag closed and fit it under the seat in front of you.

I love the bag, but I don't think I will be carrying it at the bottom of my purse like the others.  I don't carry the biggest purses and this one takes up too much room.  I will only have it when I know that I will be using it.

If you are interested in buying this bag or the other bags I have reviewed go to this site.  Now through the 28th of November the original bags are 50% off.  I know they can be hard to find outside of the internet, but they are well worth it.

Kindle vs. Nook

So over the past year my family has been in possession of the Kindle 3g and the Nook Color.  Even though both companies have come out with new versions.  I feel some people may still want to know the differences between the two.

VS. 

We originally had the kindle with the 3g and keyboard.  The keyboard makes typing easy.  However, I find it hard to scroll through websites and lists since you can only use the four directional keys.  The 3g means that internet is always available, which is a plus.  I will admit that when the ink layer changes it makes me feel a little sick to my stomach.  The screen is glare free but you need to buy a light to accompany it to read at night.

I purchased the nook color not long after having the kindle in my life.  It works like a tablet computer.  You can have music, pictures, apps, books and magazines on this device.  The nook even reads children's books out loud.  I prefer the search options on the nook since I am able to see the covers of the books.  I sometime cannot remember the exact name of the book and the cover always helps me find it.  The magazine subscriptions are reasonably priced and are beautiful to look at.  Another advantage is you can download e-pub books for free from you local library and read for free.  The screen can have glare in the sun, but most people like myself will purchase a screen guard for the touch screen.  The major disadvantage is that you must be in range of internet in order to download new books.

Overall, I prefer the nook.  I cannot comment on the new versions of either, but you can look at the lists below and make the decision for yourself.

      Kindle                                                   Nook_______________________________

      Black and White                                   Color

      Keyboard                                              Touch screen keyboard

      Scrolling using directionals                   Touch scrolling

      3g wireless available                             Must be in internet range

      No glare                                                Needs screen/glare protector

      Needs light to read at night                   Back lit

      Cannot download from libraries           Free books from library

                                                                   Magazines

                                                                   Apps

                                                                   Pictures

                                                                   Music

A Dog's Purpose

I received the book A Dog's Purpose; A Novel for Humans, by W. Bruce Cameron as a birthday gift from a fellow dog lover.  

I love dogs and have owned many over my life.  My current dog started life in a not so nice household before making it to our home through the NYC ASPCA.  This book sent me on an emotional roller coaster, thinking of her former life.  

A Dog's Purpose, follows the story of one dog through many lives.  The dog learns new things through every life he/she is given.  Along the way the dog figures that there must be a purpose for all the reincarnation that is going on.  From that point on it is the dog's quest.

I will admit I almost put the book down after the first couple of chapters.  I did not realize the dog would be reincarnated and well it took all my power to keep reading and not throw the book across the room upon his first death.  Not all of the dog's lives are perfect, but there is a reason for each one. 

I promise that this is a tear jerker.  I was crying like a baby, even though there was a smile on my face when I finished the book.   Of course my dog was there to console me.  

Sasha, my proud to be adopted pup.

If you would like to donate to the NYC ASPCA where my girl is from click the link and help another dog find its purpose.