Giving to the Cause not the Pocket

With all that I have been through, I believe that giving to someone in need is a wonderful thing and a huge blessing. With the giving season upon us here are a few tid-bits that I think everyone should be aware of to make sure that your money is going towards the cause and not the pockets!

The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans' salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses

MARCH OF DIMES It is now called the March of Dimes because only a dime for every 1 dollar is given to the needy.

The United Way President Brian Gallagher receives a $375,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits.

UNICEF CEO Caryl M. Stern receives $1,200,000 per year (100k permonth) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE. Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause.

GOODWILL CEO and owner Mark Curran profits $2.3 million a year. Goodwill is a very catchy name for his business. You donate to his business and then he sells the items for PROFIT. He pays nothing for his products and pays his workers minimum wage! Nice Guy. $0.00 goes to help anyone! Stop giving to this man.

I will be honest, these facts made me sick to my stomach. Instead, think about giving your donations to any of these organizations instead and put your money where it will really do some good!

The Salvation Army Commissioner, Todd Bassett receives a small salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.	The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!	The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander receives a$0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!	The Disabled American Veterans National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!	The Military Order of Purple Hearts National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Vietnam Veterans AssociationNational Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!	Make a Wish: For children's last wishes. 100% goes to funding trips or special wishes for a terminally ill child.	St. Jude Research Hospital 100% goes towards funding and helping Children with Cancer who have no insurance and can not afford to pay.	Ronald McDonald Houses All monies go to running the houses for parents who have critical Children in the hospital. 100% goes to housing, and feeding the families.	Lions Club International 100% OF DONATIONS GO TO HELP THE BLIND,BUY HEARING AIDES, SUPPORT MEDICAL MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD. THEIR LATEST UNDERTAKING IS MEASLES VACCINATIONS (ONLY $1.00 PER SHOT).

"Almost" December

Happy "Almost" December. 'Tis the season for entertaining, family, friends and lots of sparkly things! I am so excited and thought I would just share some merry photos to get us in the jolly mood! Eeekkk! I love this time of year! xoxo

Sneak Peek: Inside My Travel Bag

So with our trip right around the corner, it is all I can think about! I am so excited to get away for an extended weekend but most of all, I am extremely excited to see my bestie! I have an inkling she is excited too as she has been reminding me daily for the past month! She even started the official countdown on Facebook last week! She is so silly but that is why I love her!
So, I thought it would be fun to share what my travel bag necessities for the plane will consist of:

1. A massive water bottle, hydration is at the tippity top of my list.
2. A pretty scarf, you know just in case you need to spruce up your look a bit.
3. Red lipstick, because it fixes everything.
4. Gum, a lady always needs to have gum on hand cause you never know. ;)
5. Hand cream… soft hands are happy hands.
6. The latest issue of VOGUE and decorating Magazine. Nothing makes you feel fancier than flipping through Vogue on a plane.
7. Hand sanitizer... no explanation required.
8. Powder for touch-ups
9. The polish of choice, for touch ups.
10. My phone to update my blog and check Facebook of course
11. Ear buds, so you can jam out to your favorite song without everyone judging you.
12. Lip gloss.
13. And of course some Twizzlers for the sweet tooth!
14. A fancy sketch book… I always get great ideas when I am forced to sit for extended amounts of time! ;).
15. A granola bar or two… I am always hungry. always.

Happy travels!

Holiday Ornament Making Party

 

 

Here are some pictures from this past week! Our house is officially "Winter Wonderland" inside & out... and I am loving every minute of it! Also, the Christmas music has not stopped since the first snowman was take out of the attic! ;)
xoxo
Have a great week everybody! It will be a short one for me as this weekend I get to see my best friend, Kati! Whooo Hooo! I am super excited! :)

Ornament Painting Party

Good Afternoon and happy Saturday to you! It is Saturday isn't it??? This whole holiday weekend thing is really throwing me off!
So, after enjoying a tasty lunch at our favorite weekend treat, Hester's, we decided to do our usual stroll through Blue Frog to see what they had up their sleeve for Christmas decorations. Last year, I got this beautiful garland that I just had to have and while it may have been a little pricey, it still remains one of my favorite decorations!
So, while looking around Blue Frog, I found myself drooling over this tree

and from this point on I knew I had to some how recreate it but on my dollar store budget. Each one of these ornaments was around $12.00 so with that kind of price tag, I knew I had no choice but to start making my own.…. And I thought “Hello! This is right up my alley!" So, what better reason to have a girls craft night than to make our own ornaments and to do it with Miss Brooke who is quite crafty herself! So, with Brooke on board, I think it’s fate… we must do this! Now, all I need to do is get to work on finding a good deal on materials and ideas!
Hope you have a lovely weekend!

bye fall, hello winter

Morning and happy Friday to you! I hope that your night was filled with good food and that your Christmas list was depleted quite a bit last night if you partook in the black Friday festivities!
I have to be honest, I was not at all prepared for different sale times and how early they started. By the time we got to a lot of the places with our top picks they had sold out. The mayhem called "black Friday" became very overwhelming but I am pretty sure I will go again next year, I just may need to skip Thanksgiving dinner to do so... haha
Today, I am excited though, it is finally the time I have been so waiting for..... The time to officially make it "Winter Wonderland" in my house. Fall stuff, down (boo) but Christmas stuff up (Overwhelming Yessssss)

Hope you have a lovely day as I will be out in the front yard with so much tinsel, garland and lights I won't know what to do with it all! Home Depot here I come.... hehe

Thanksgiving Traditions

Well, today is the day and I have a feeling that it is going to be  a good one. The smell of delicious bacon and sausage has filled our house as I sit with my out of control bed head, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Yup! It's going to be a good one!!!

This is kind of a Thanksgiving tradition of our's and I so thoroughly enjoy it! What traditions do you have for the Holidays???

Well, Happy Thanksgiving from the Nash's!
xoxo

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve Everyone!!! I am off to grab my apron, favorite whisk, and if you need me… I’ll be in the kitchen!
I hope you enjoy your holiday week, and don’t forget… always get seconds (or thirds!) of pumpkin pie and all the goodies!!!
I will be back on Friday after some leftovers and maybe even a nap... or two! ;)
P.S. I am SOOOOO thankful for you!

Holiday Style

I am fully aware that I have so much stuff to do around the house today but I just can't find the energy to start so in the mean time here's a little style inspiration for your (almost) holiday weekend!

White on white with a wrist full of pearls. Who could say no to that?

A red lip and little black dress fit for holiday festivities.

Girly detail on the perfect cozy white sweater.

Would you dare to wear a tutu? I think the look is cute, fun, and unexpected.

Sparkly shoes — a pair that could steal the show on a chilly night! Have a great day everyone! xx

give thanks for the beard baby!

My favorite week of the year is upon us, Thanksgiving week! We’ll be getting in the spirit of the holiday by keeping in mind some of the things, big and small, that we are thankful for. So, let's be honest, with the weather getting chillier and it becoming cuddle weather, I just can't help but be thankful for my wonderful and amazingly sexy husband, Robby!

This is the first year that Robby has decided to participate in "No Shave November" and while the first week was a little prickly and painful, I have to say that now I am really liking it! What can I say, my man, with some scruff will not be thrown out of the bed! And just in case you have a gent in your life (or are said gent) who is nervous about the ins an outs of beard ownership, GQ has a handy guide to all things scruffy.

2012 Black Friday Deals... Who's ready!?!

 

This might be the only post where no introduction is necessary! I've scoured the 2012 black friday ads for some of my favorite stores and I've picked out some great home decor, fashion, and cookware deals that I think you'll like too. (You can find the full print ad linked next to each store below as well.) Stay safe if you're headed out to the stores next Friday and happy shopping!

2012 Black Friday full print ads for IKEA, Kohls, Old Navy, Target, Macys + more below.

(please link back to this post if re-posting on your site)

Best Buy (full print ad)

Kohls (full print ad)

Macys (full print ad)  

Home: $6.99 Ralph Lauren logo pillows - 60% off Martha Stewart Collection bedding

Kitchen: $19.99 kitchen electrics   

Style:

{Women} free sweater w/ purchase of jeans - $34.99 wool peacoat - $79.99 Kenneth Cole & Nine West coats

{Men} $29.99 Kenneth Cole boots - $19.99 American Rag jeans - $17.99 American Rag button up shirt 

Etc: extra 15% off print coupon or text "CPN" to Macys (62297) - $10 off your purchase of $25 or more

Michaels (full print ad)

Home: 60% off frames - 40% off mercury glass votives - 50% off tabletop or gallery wall frames

Jewelry: 50% off entire stock of beads

Etc: Full page of 20% - 60% off coupons

Old Navy (full print ad) 

Style: {Women} $15 jeans - $19 coats - $6 basic tees - $16 mocassins 

{Men} $15 jeans - $15 classic button up shirts - $12 hoodies

Etc: $10 off your purchase of $50 or more

Overstock.com (full ad) 

Target (full print ad)

Home: $30 pre-lit Christmas tree - $35 600 thread-count egyptian cotton sheets - $2 27"x52" bath towels

Kitchen: $99 14-pc Rachel Ray cookware set 

Beauty: free $30 Target gift card with purchase of $99 Chi Air flat iron 

Style: $15 sequin mocassins - $10 sequin sweaters

Etc: free $10 Target gift card when you spend $50 on apparel, accessories, or home decor

*All ads found on TheBlackFriday

Jewel Tone Thanksgiving

I am so excited today to have a beautifully designed table to help inspire your upcoming Thanksgiving celebration! Shared by the lovely Kate Breuer, this table is a lovely marriage of rich jewel tones and gorgeous fall flowers. Mismatched chairs, an abundance of roses and dahlias, and touches of wood make it the perfect muse for your holiday celebration. The place settings are particularly pretty, with large rattan charges and rich blue linen napkins. This time of year you can find these in abundance at local stores everywhere for really reasonable prices!








Well, I hope that you have a lovely weekend and as for me I plan on starting my vacation off right... with a fancy drink in my hand.... of course! Any fun plans for you and your loved ones this weekend?