MUSC Children's Hospital Gift Drive

Do you remember the lovely Sera Druelle, whose first trip out of home after recovering from surgery was to pick up supplies to donate some incredible hats to Operation Pumpkin Patch?

 

We are teaming up with her once again to spread some joy to children who will be spending the holidays in the hospital. Inspired by her generous nature, we are going to be arranging a toy drop off at MUSC Children’s Hospital, where Sera underwent surgery, and we’d like your help.

 

If you are able to make a donation, please check out the hospital’s website wishlist for ideas of what they are looking for and even a priority list of things that are more crucially needed. You are not limited to this list, so feel free to be creative! Next, please send the items to:

Charlie’s Barber Shop

126 Dominion Drive Suite 1050

Aiken, South Carolina 29803

Gifts sent there will be collected and held by Sera’s dad until December 7, when Cathy will fly out to personally deliver the items with Sera.

If you are unable to donate at this time, please consider sharing this blog entry on your own website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, or other social media website and help us spread the word.

Here are some pictures of items already collected:

Top 101 tips for totally super, awesome, magical and fantastic positivity living!

1.  Always eat breakfast.

2.  Say "Thank You" all day long, including to yourself.

3.  Make a point to smile at a stranger today.

4.  Turn off the TV and open a book.

5.  Plan to kiss your significant other 100 times in one day.  But don't tell them your plan.  See what happens!

6.  Volunteer anywhere for any length of time.  Do something outside of yourself and your regular life.

7.  Send an anonymous gift to someone.

8.  Give yourself a hug.  For real.

9.  Start walking and meditate while you walk.

10.  Bring a camera everywhere you go and take lots of pictures.

11.  Pick a Saturday and eat cold pizza for breakfast and reminisce about college.  If you didn't go to college, eat cold pizza for breakfast and reminisce about old friends!

12.  Promptly correct your mistakes whenever possible.

13.  Schedule that medical exam you've been putting off.

14.  Save your spare change, roll it up once a year and take it to the bank.  Call it your "Positivity Fund" and do something positive with it, whatever that might be.

15.  Write yourself a letter.  Seal it.  Put it in the drawer.  Then, mark your calendar to read it in one year.

16.  Recognize the times when you act judgmental and nip it in the bud.  And when you catch yourself being judgmental do your best not to judge yourself for judging them.

17.  Go skinny dipping, but don't get arrested.

18.  When you leave a tip out at dinner one night leave a note to your server that they're the best server ever!

19.  Blast your favorite tunes and dance around your kitchen when you make dinner tonight.

20.  Practice good oral hygiene; floss, brush and use mouthwash.

21.  Learn to speed read

22.  Buy yourself a blanket, call it your "blankie" and snuggle with it when you're relaxing, just like when you were little.

23.  Make a list of all the things you love about YOU!

24.  Unplug the phone, turn off the TV, turn off the computer and remain in silence for a whole day.  See what thoughts come to you!

25.  Slow down.

26.  Make up cute nicknames for people you love and call them by their nickname.

27.  Hold babies.

28.  Admit when you're wrong.

29.  Eat more green food, like kale, broccoli and spinach.

30.  Keep a houseplant.  Taking care of something creates a positive feeling.

31.  Give compliments freely and abundantly.

32.  Guzzle water all day long.

33.  Never, ever, ever, ever, under any circumstances, text while you're driving.

34.  Recognize that you're not always right and you don't always have to be right.

35.  People are more important than "things."

36.  Read your horoscope regularly.

37.  Call someone you haven't spoken to in a while.

38.  As Nike says, "Just do it."  Go for it.  Whatever it is, take that leap!

39.  Laugh regularly and often.

40.  Be creative.  Draw, paint, sing, dance...whatever creative means to you!

41.  Deal with problems when they arise.  They are sure to become worse by ignoring them.

42.  Avoid blame, and rather seek solutions.

43.  Breathe slowly.

44.  Tell yourself you are loved, by you!

45.  Resign your position as General Manager of the Universe

46.  Take a bath, not to get clean, but to relax and think.

47.  Reduce, reuse, recycle every single day for the rest of your life.

48.  Zap negative thoughts with an invisible "laser zapper" and replace them with invisible flowers and puppies and waves and sunsets.

49.  Tell yourself its okay not to have all the answers.

50.  De-clutter and live uncluttered.

51.  Don't be afraid to get dirty, or wet, or sweaty.

52.  Walk in a parade once per year.

53.  Have faith in something.

54.  Be open to new ideas and concepts; ask other for their advice and opinions on things and situations.

55.  Keep your advice to yourself unless you are asked ...or someone is in danger.

56.  Create an arsenal of  great conversation starters. Examples: Memorize 10 jokes. Keep up with international news.  Have interesting apps on your phone that are "share"-worthy.

57.  Expect that there will be days when you don't want to get out of bed, but get up anyway.

58.  Quit worrying about what other people think.  What matters is what YOU think!

59.  Get some sunshine; ie, Vitamin D synthesis.

60.  Don't get too much sunshine...protect your skin.

61.  Frame sentences in the positive rather than the negative.... By way of example:  "I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there." ~Mother Teresa

62.  Sing along to your favorite music.  Loud.

63.  In times of trouble, know that everything in your life is going to be okay.  It is okay.  Its always been okay. It will always be okay.

64.  Keep in mind always that no one gets to live your life but you.

65.  Practice safe sex and make sure you're also practicing loving sex.

66.  Indulge in something decadent every now and then but not always or regularly.

67.  Listen to your intuition when its screaming and also when its whispering.  It's always right.

68.  Above everything else, love people.

69.  Practice feeling genuinely happy for the achievements of others.

70.  Meditate.

71.  Engage in thinking before acting.

72.  Make the most of every day.

73.  When you're in an emotional conversation, "count to 10" before you say anything.

74.  Eat lots of fiber.  Good digestion is key to positivity.

75.  Make "Theme Days."  Examples could be:  "Resolution Day" where you make resolutions like you normally do on January 1st, but its not January 1st.   "Smiley Face Day" where you sign your name with a smiley face at the end all day.  "Forgiveness Day" where you silently forgive people in your life, including yourself, and let go of grudges you've been holding onto.

76.  Ask for help when you need it.

77.  Give help when others are in need.

78.  Speak the truth always.  Always, without fail, unless you have to lie....  JK! - practice the truth always!

79.  Be trustworthy ...Follow through with your promises.  Keep your word.  Keep the secrets of others who confide in you.

80.  Maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

81.  Get enough sleep.

82.  Trust you gut.

83.  Tell your fears to "Get lost," "Go for a hike," "Scadaddle," "Scoot," "Get outta here."  ...Phrase it how it works for you.

84.  Become a "Hugger" and if you're already a "Hugger," keep it up!  BTW--The best way to hug is heart to heart.

85.  Celebrate holidays and non-holidays.  Example:  Create a holiday called "Bubble Gum Day." Chew gum all day and give bubble gum out to everyone you see.

86.  Find the silver lining in every situation.

87.  Know when you need to put yourself in "Time Out" and do it.

88.  Live presently; don't allow yesterday to consume today or tomorrow.  Likewise, don't allow the past decade to consume this one or the next.

89.  Fortune favors the bold.  ...and the patient, and those who work for it and believe in it.

90.  Release perfectionism, unless you are a surgeon, an astronaut or a race-car driver.

91.  Love people for who they are and tell them you love them at every possible opportunity.

92.  Take vacations, and if you can't afford one, take a "Staycation," where you stay home, but relax and/or do things you normally wouldn't do unless you were on vacation.

93.  Be a cheerleader!  Encourage others to fulfill their dreams.

94.  Know when its okay to bend the rules and absolutely when its not.

95.  Always remember to ask others how they're doing and how their family is doing.

96.  Keep a gratitude journal...or a journal of quotes, or songs, or words you like, or whatever comes to mind when you sit down for "private" time with your journal.  ...Make "private time" for you and your journal.

97.  Remember that life is a teacher.

98.  Learn words and/or sentences in other languages.

99.  Let your uniqueness be apparent.

100.  Be responsible, but not uptight.

101.  Trust your crazy ideas!

Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away, so it’s time for us to start preparing! Here, our idea of preparation is thinking of those in need of some help during the holiday season. A large meal is often a burden on families who are barely able to maintain a regular food budget, and we’ve had such success in the past with helping others celebrate Thanksgiving that we’d like to do it again!

In the last two years of our Thanksgiving outreach, we have helped over forty families put a traditional meal on their tables and celebrate with their loved ones at no additional strain or cost to them. For just under $50, a family of nearly any size can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, and hopefully have some leftovers, too!

If you are able to help donate toward providing for families in need this year, please send a donation via PayPal to cathy@cathyscreationsjewelry.com and mark it “Thanksgiving” so we know where the money goes! Don’t forget to select “gift” when sending money; this is a donation, and we don’t need PayPal to eat up your funds!

On the other hand, we need some suggestions of families who could use the help. If you know of anyone who could use the boost, please email cathy@cathyscreationsjewelry.com. We are asking that only families who need this apply or are nominated, and that if you have received help in the past, you allow others to be reached. Though we wish we could help everyone, our funds and resources are limited. We will help as many people as possible, but there are no guarantees. Please be considerate and patient with us!

All donations, nominations or requests are strictly confidential.

Operation Pumpkin Patch

When visiting a children’s hospital, we often face a jarring reminder that children who are long term patients must miss out on several joys and privileges of childhood. This fall, we realize that simple traditions and holidays become out of reach for thousands of children each year, and we’d like to do our best to remedy that.

Many children in the hospital this Halloween are unable to dress up in costumes due to IVs and various tubes and medical equipment. Understanding that this was an opportunity they were being denied, we came up with Operation Pumpkin Patch- a plan to donate handcrafted pumpkin hats to children who otherwise would not experience the joy of creative imagination on Halloween. Now people as far away as South Carolina are making and shipping hats for this project, including an amazing young woman named Sera.

 

Sera’s first trip out into public following a major surgery was to the craft store to grab some yarn and pitch in. As always, we are humbled and amazed by the people who think beyond themselves to reach out to others in their time of need and give.

If you would like to participate in Operation Pumpkin Patch, please contact us at cathy@cathyscreationsjewelry.com for a shipping address and if you need help purchasing the yarn required to create hats.

Delivery before Halloween is necessary, so please arrange shipping accordingly.

Additionally, if you are aware of any other children’s hospitals that are in need of a helping hand with donations, creative ideas, or just some love, please let us know! Lots of our time and energy has gone to Boston, since it is local, but we want to broaden our horizons and reach out wherever there is a need.

Operation Dress Up!

We see daily the difference that giving can make and the wonderful joy that accepting a gift or an act of love brings to a recipient. One of our favorite ways to give is to brighten the lives of children who are seriously ill and facing long hospital stays. For a child who wants to play, a hospital can be a difficult place to spend their time, filled with bed rest, lots of lonely hours, and of course, less opportunities to feel like their peers.

Our most recent endeavor is to donate dress up items to the Children’s Hospital in Boston. We believe every child should have an opportunity to imagine great things and to experience the joy of play- so Operation Dress Up was born! Cathy’s Creations recently ordered several tutus from Emmy’s Heart Oklahoma for “Sofia’s Angels” at the Susan G. Komen walk and was inspired to order ten multicolored tutus to donate to the hospital.

 Team Sofia's Angels at the SGK Boston walk 2013, sporting their awesome tutus that were handcrafted by Emmy's Heart Oklahoma.

To find out more about Emmy's Heart Oklahoma and what they do, please visit their Facebook page!

But we want to do more, and we’re looking for your help! We’d like to provide ten awesome capes so these kids can feel like the superheroes that they are. We can provide the material BUT- we can’t sew… So, if you or someone you know would be willing to dedicate some time and energy to help, please let us know! If you’d like to contribute and help pay for the cost of materials, please PayPal us at cathy@cathyscreationsjewelry.com. Any and all donations are helpful! Please put Children’s Hospital in the subject line, and send your donation as a gift to prevent associated fees.

Have a wonderful day!

Happy 4th of July! - Wounded Warrior Project

Happy week of the 4^th of July! We hope that you enjoy this special week with family and friends, relaxing in the summer sunshine, swimming, watching fireworks, and indulging in those amazing summer snacks!

As with all patriotic holidays, we are humbled and honored to be part of such an incredible country with so much to offer- and so thankful to those who make our freedom possible. In recognition of those who have served and specifically those who have had their lives changed forever in the line of duty, Cathy’s Creations is making a $100.00 donation to the Wounded Warrior Project.

WWP is a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Men and women of the United States armed forces who have been injured or disabled in worldwide conflicts will now have support to face the challenges of coming back into civilian life, and WWP boasts an alarmingly high success rate.

For those who have the means, we encourage you to join us in donating to this worthwhile organization. To find out more, or to show support even if you are unable to donate, you can follow them on Facebook. To donate, or learn more about the organization, success stories, future goals, and where your donation goes, please visit their website.

Zach Sobiech

When I get back on land
Well I’ll never get my chance
Be ready to live and it’ll be ripped right out of my hands...

- from "Clouds"

Zach Sobiech is an eighteen year old with a loving family, an adoring girlfriend, a close-knit group of loyal friends, a talent for music, a passion for sports cars, and only days to live.

In 2009, after taking a run with his sister, Zach experienced a pain in his hip that his parents expected was a sports injury; an examination shocked the family- it was osteosarcoma, a rare cancer that is normally found in the long bones of teenage boys. Zach was treated with chemo with great success until a tumor appeared in his lungs. Aggressive treatment was administered, including chemo therapies and surgery, and there were nine blissful months where he was declared cancer-free… But it was not meant to last- a scan showed that several lesions had appeared on his lungs once more, and he experienced hip pain again. An examination revealed that massive amounts of cancer had grown in his pelvis. With these new revelations, Zach’s options became more and more grim. If he agreed to battle the tumors in his lungs and remove the cancer that had invaded his pelvis, he would have to suffer through chemo therapy, lose a leg and part of his abdomen, and never be able to sit up again. Being bedridden and in a hospital for the rest of his life and living in wait, wondering about the next blow the cancer would offer was not an option for Zach; he chose to continue to live as normally as possible and enjoy his remaining time, accepting that it would mean that doctors expected only six to twelve months. Even though he was only seventeen at the time, Zach understood that the life he wanted to experience had more to do with quality than quantity. If cancer was going to set limits, Zach was going to return the favor- he would not let the disease stop him from enjoying and experiencing the best of what life could offer, even if he had to accept that he had less time than others to do so.

Zach’s mother, painfully aware that his loss would impact so many people, suggested that he write letters to loved ones he would leave behind. Zach took his talent for writing and his vocal skills and created a song called “Clouds,” sharing his thoughts and ultimately comforting those he cared about through music. In response to the YouTube video of his song that quickly went viral, several celebrities were inspired to reach out to Zach by participating in a collaborative music video of his song.

Since his diagnosis, Zach has had the opportunity to enjoy several of the things that mean the most to him in life. He was able to borrow his dream car for a week and be behind the wheel of the vehicle he has always wanted. He asked out the girl he had his heart set on and she accepted. He has spent his time with his friends and his family- particularly his best friend and sister Grace, with whom he shares a special bond. On his difficult days, Zach dreams of a future he will never have. A career, marriage to his current girlfriend, four children (he hoped he would have two boys and two girls, the same dynamic he had growing up), the chance to be the kind of parent he had as a child… the things most of us take for granted every day.

We may expect we have the time to do all of the average things we see as part of a normal, every day future, but there are no promises of tomorrow, and no guarantees about the next decade, let alone the next week. Zach starts each morning with appreciation for having opened his eyes, and ends each day knowing it could be his last. If we all lived like Zach, if we all enjoyed our relationships with loved ones to the fullest, appreciated the small things like a picnic with our partner or driving a car with the windows down, thanked our parents for their support and sacrifice, and made the most of our obligations, we might feel more like Zach does about mortality… that a lot of time is nice, but a lot of meaning matters more.

It won’t be long now, it won’t be long now
If only I had a little bit more time
If only I had a little bit more time with you...

- from "Clouds"  

 

We have had the honor of teaming up with the Children's Cancer Research Fund, and with the blessing of Zach's mother, we are proud to announce a Zach Sobiech "Clouds" Pendant. All proceeds from the sale of this pendant will be donated in Zach's name to help fund research for osteosarcoma. To donate directly, watch a heartwarming documentary on Zach, learn more about his life, and indulge in more of his talent, visit his page.

Please consider sharing this blog to spread the word about Zach and his amazing story.

Nicole & Mallory accept your dares...

As many of you know, Cathy is participating in the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure and is now fundraising for her position in this summer's walk. Mallory and I want to help Cathy see her goal met, so we'd like to offer the only thing we can right now... our wild and crazy selves!

Here's what we want you to do:

-Suggest below in comments a dare idea for us. What crazy/wild/funny thing do you want to see us do once Cathy hits $1500.00? (Please keep it appropriate.)

-We will hand pick five dare ideas, then you vote for the final one!

-Share the link to Cathy's fundraiser page and/or this blog and encourage people to donate for this amazing cause in honor of Cathy's mother, Sofia!

At $1500.00, you'll see us do whatever the majority chose!

BRING IT ON!

Stop the Hate! - UPDATE! WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

The winners of the t-shirt contest are: 

Rachelle Gagne
Rea Valley
Colleen Doering
Greg
Jordan Haller
Amy
Patricia
Paula McClendon
Jackie Stevens
Tina L.

To claim your prize, please email cathy@cathyscreationsjewelry.com with your address and what size shirt you would like! Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone for your participation and support!

After Matthew Bent’s son was body slammed to the floor from the shoulder of a classmate three times last week, the frustrated father decided that enough was enough. During the last year, Matthew’s son was repeatedly returning home from school with tales of torment from a group of boys who allegedly did things that ranged from stealing his personal property to calling him names, all while facing little to no consequences. Police officers went so far as to blame Matthew’s son, saying there was little they could do about the “rough housing” because he had walked “straight into the lion’s den” by willingly entering the area where the bullies were gathered. Matthew decided to post his story on Facebook, posing with his son in a photo that showcases the duo holding up a sign explaining the situation and calling attention to the lack of effective measures in place to protect Matthew’s son. Little did Matthew know that this one picture would make him an overnight Internet sensation and the new face of anti-bullying campaigns online.

  

Bullying is an epidemic of unlimited proportions. It is estimated that 1 in 4 teachers does not perceive an incident as bullying when it is; as a result, over 3.2 million students are bullied each year. Over half of all students have reported witnessing a bullying event while at school, and 1 in 10 students will drop out of school due to bullying. An alarming 90% of 4^th to 8^th graders report being victims of bullies. And, in the wake of the most violent times our nation faces, we surrender to this shocking statistic: 75% of school shooting incidents were triggered by bullying and harassment.

Matthew Bent’s son’s most recent incident was classified as “horseplay” by authorities, but Matthew disagrees. So how is bullying defined?

Bullying is:

-Verbal harassment:

Saying or writing mean things

Name-calling

Inappropriate comments, sometimes of a sexual nature

Taunting

Threats

-Social/Relational:

Excluding someone from a group or activity with the intent of isolating them

Pressuring others to behave negatively toward another person

Spreading rumors about someone

Public embarrassment

-Physical

Hitting/kicking/punching

Spitting on or at someone

Tripping/pushing

Blocking someone’s exit to continue harassment

The taking and/or breaking of someone’s items

Rude or mean gestures

One or all of the above guidelines should be considered bullying if the behavior is aggressive and characterized by an imbalance of power (physical strength, access to embarrassing information, popularity, etc.) and repetition (if the behaviors happen frequently or appear that they potentially will.) Bullying has been shown to have negative life-long effects on both the victim and the aggressor.

Supporting zero tolerance for bullying in your local school can start small. Meet with teachers and administrators and ask what their policies are. Read over the student handbook and educate yourself on the rules and punishments of your school, in case you need to demand enforcement. Most importantly, reach out to your child. Explain what bullying is, and that it’s unacceptable. Help problem solve with them the steps they will take if they or another student are being bullied. And don’t forget to check in with them frequently to make sure they are not facing issues with their peers; even children who are very open and communicative may be confused, hurt, or scared to open up. Of equal importance, if your child is bullying others, reach out for help. Work with the school, counselors, and other officials to remedy the problem, and do not give up. We owe it to ourselves and to our children to work together and set good examples to stop the issue of bullying once and for all.

Cathy’s Creations is proud to say that we have joined the battle to raise awareness about the negative effects of bullying and have teamed up with Stop the Hate, Spread the Hope to create a Stop the Hate pendant. All profits from this pendant are donated to help this wonderful 501(c)(3) approved non-profit anti-bullying awareness organization with education, outreach, support, and efforts.

In an attempt to help spread the anti-bullying message, we will be giving away ten of these wonderful t-shirts! To enter to win, comment on this blog. We will select winners randomly.

Thank you Matthew Bent (and son!), Stop the Hate, Spread the Hope, and all anti-bullying warriors for your amazing approach to this societal issue. Keep up the good work!

Mitchell's Journey - Lego Donation Drive

On March 2, 2013, a ten year old boy named Mitchell Jones passed away in his home surrounded by his family. Struggling and suffering for years with a progressive muscular degenerative disease known as Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, Mitchell fought valiantly to continue to live the life of the average child. DMD is fatal, typically in the early to mid twenties, as the disease begins to affect more and more muscles, eventually resulting in damage to the heart’s basic functions. Mitchell’s case was more unique; he faced heart problems before the rest of his body had surrendered.

At such a delicate age, Mitchell was unable to experience many of the things that his family had expected he would be present for. To him, Santa was real and girls were gross. Innocent until the end of his time on earth, Mitchell inspired his family to capture and cherish the best and worst moments of their lives, to appreciate time because it stops for no one, and to share love and joy with the world.

Since the time of his diagnosis in 2005 until his passing, Mitchell’s family worked hard to provide him with as many experiences and joys of childhood as possible. Recently, as Mitchell became weaker, his family could sense the end of his life was approaching and did their best to create many wonderful final memories and smiles together. From a Nerf gun fight with Mitchell as he lay behind a man-made barricade and arranged different tactical maneuvers for his assigned team, to a trip in the last week of his life to the store to spend his chore money on toys, Mitchell lived each day physically limited by the weaknesses of his disease but thriving in spirit from the love and tenderness of a family that refused to surrender for as long as Mitchell was able to fight.

Mitchell is remembered for many things, but among them for his love of all things Lego. At the end of his life as his muscles became weaker, he was unable to build with them as he had in the past. Lego were one of the landmarks of childhood that had lasted until the final days for Mitchell, and his passion for using his imagination and creating even as he fought for basic life functions should inspire us all- we should never give up the driving force within us, never willingly surrender our passions despite knowing that every story has a final chapter. Mitchell’s ability to face head-on the things that adults even struggle to accept, and to continue to remain child-like in his love and pleasure of the world, is a humbling reminder that attitude is everything. 

In honor of Mitchell’s inspirational innocence and his love of Lego, we wish to arrange a donation drive for Lego products that will be delivered to the Children’s Hospital of Boston. We hope that other children who are struggling to enjoy their childhood despite all odds can find joy and comfort in a carefree moment of learning, creating, and imagining, and that their happiness will honor the beauty of Mitchell’s life and the love he shared with his family.

If you wish to contribute, please send a Lego set of any size or description to:

Cathy’s Creations
P.O. Box 28 
Watertown, MA 02471

Due to the nature of donating to a children’s hospital, all products intended for the hospital must be unopened and new in packaging or the donations cannot be accepted.

However, we are also accepting donations of Lego to sell by the cup at a fundraiser drive for PPMD!

Anyone who wishes to support Parent Project MD through the purchase of a Mitchell’s Journey Pendant is invited to view our listing on our website. All proceeds are donated directly.

Please also consider visiting Mitchell's Journey's Fundraiser on Facebook for other ways to donate and participate. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!

Calling All Quitters!

We often seek out ways to help people who are in need after an illness has set in or a disease has taken over. Now, we would like to take an opportunity to invite you to help us prevent sickness. We are seeking to give away three smoking cessation patch packages to individuals who are dedicated to taking their future into their own hands and breathing easier from now on!

Smoking-related diseases currently kill 1 in 10 adults worldwide, and if the current trends continue, by 2030, smoking will kill 1 in 6 people. But smoking does not only affect those who choose this habit; the smoke from a cigarette is dangerous and contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known carcinogens.

If you smoke around others, including your children, partners, or pets, they are exposed to these deadly toxins, which continue to exist on fabrics such as upholstery in cars and furniture, mattresses, clothing, and other materials. Even after the smoke has cleared, the danger exists… Additionally, children who grow up seeing their parents smoking are more likely to pick up the habit themselves.

If you are interested in quitting smoking, please email us at cathy@cathyscreationsjewelry.com and share your story of why you are dedicated to quitting and why you deserve the patch!

Easter Basket Nomination Giveaway

 
Easter is coming and we know it's been a long and expensive winter for many families. We would like to accept nominations to help up to ten children have a happy Easter morning by donating baskets of goodies to those in need.

If you know of a child whose parents could use a little help with Easter this year, please nominate them and send the following information to us at cathy@cathyscreationsjewelry.com:

-Child's name and age
-Child's gender
-The address we should send the basket to
-Any other information we should know, such as allergies or favorite colors/characters

Not all nominations will be accepted; we ask that you only suggest those who are truly in need. Please understand that our resources are limited and we will do what we can. Thank you!

Day 27...

Our 26 Acts of Kindness for Sandy Hook project has been an emotional roller coaster that has more than proved itself to be worth the time, energy, funds and effort. In giving to others, we have seen complete strangers and close friends be inspired to pay it forward or share what they can offer, and in honoring the victims, we have felt a sense of closure knowing they will not be forgotten.

Hopefully this project has inspired people all around the world to do what they can, when they can, to make a positive change. Whether what you have to offer is financial, material, or as simple as a smile, you have the power to make a difference.

On day 27, as we reflect not only on the lives lost that day but on the powerful implications of the choices we make every day, we have chosen to make one final and anonymous donation to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. We have included no letter of explanation, and we have chosen not to dedicate it to this project or to any of the lives lost that day. Rather, we make this donation with the hope that those who are in crisis or who feel that someone they love is facing difficulties will make the choice to connect themselves with the appropriate resources to prevent a loss of life. This donation is for the future, and not the past.

If you or someone you know needs help, do not hesitate to act.

For 24-hour crisis support, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Jack Pinto

Our twenty-sixth random act of kindness for the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy honors the memory of Jack Pinto, age 6, who was known for his extreme love for the New York Giants. Jack was an athletic child who loved playing sports and admired Victor Cruz.

The Giants participate in several community activities, including Read Across America, sponsored by the NEA. In honor of Jack's love of the Giants, we have donated to contribute to this program so that other children can appreciate the joy of learning along with their their favorite sports team.

(Find out more about what we're doing and why)

Mary Sherlach

Our twenty-fifth random act of kindness for the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy honors the memory of Mary Sherlach, age 56, a school psychologist known for her love of helping students and families overcome difficulties. Her entire career was dedicated to helping others, and Mary planned to retire at the end of this school year to spend more time with loved ones. Mary is credited with attempting to charge the gunman, running toward him in an attempt to save others; she lost her life for her brave and heroic choice.

Mary was a member of Trumbull Community Women, an organization dedicated to community service. For over a decade, Trumbull Community Women have hosted a Relay for Life annual walk. In Mary's honor, we have donated to the local Connecticut chapter of Relay for Life.

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Jesse Lewis

Our twenty-fourth random act of kindness for the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy honors the memory of Jesse Lewis, age 6, who loved pretending to be a farmer and tending to a toy horse on his lawn. He played soccer and enjoyed sports; his father describes him as a brave, loving boy and says that young Jesse was credited by authorities with trying to lead other children out of the school building.

In Jesse's honor, we are donating a set of toy horses to the Speech Language Pathology department at All Children's Hospital in Florida. This was lovingly suggested to us by our friend Dana, whose mother also had a passion for horses and whose son underwent therapy in this facility. Dana noted that there was a need for more toys in these offices to help children. Thank you, Dana, for helping us find a great home for these toys to honor Jesse.

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Avielle Richman

Our twenty-third random act of kindness for the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy honors the memory of Avielle Richman, age 6, who loved riding and tending horses, the color red and the Harry Potter books. After watching the Disney movie “Brave,” she was inspired to try archery. Her father kept a blog about her daily life in the family and noted everything from her birthday and the joys of being Avielle's father, to such quirky and cute things as her love for minivans.

In memory of Avielle and her favorite book series, we donated the complete set of Harry Potter books to a local library. It is our hope that this donation will allow more children to experience something that brought joy to Avielle's life.

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Victoria Soto

Our twenty-second random act of kindness for the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy honors the memory of Victoria Soto, age 27, a first grade teacher who died trying to protect her students. Her quick and selfless response is credited with saving some of the lives in her classroom. Family and friends remember her as a loving teacher who lit up in the presence of her students and who thought and spoke of them fondly, calling them her "angels" and always striving to do more for them.

In remembrance of Victoria Soto's dedication to her students and her passion and love for them, Cathy made a special donation of needed classroom supplies to her local elementary school to a first grade teacher whose impact on students was close to her own heart:

"Patti Torchio was my son's Kindergarten and first grade teacher. George was an extremely shy and introverted child. By the first grade, Ms. Torchio had brought him out of his shell and he became a social butterfly with no shyness in sight. She cares for her children as if they were her own and not a day goes by that you don't see the distinctive "Patti Smile;" her whole face lights up.

Thank YOU, Patti, for all that you have done for George and the many children whose lives you have changed and enriched throughout the years." - Cathy

 Cathy and her son George, presenting the supplies and flowers to Ms. Torchio (center)

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