And then it was summer.

So today was the second day of our summer vacation.  By our I mean me and Spy.  And by vacation I mean "endless torture" because it rained and I had forgotten what it was like to have a  hyperactive 3.5 yr old at home ALL RAINY DAY and be 6 months pregnant.

We did venture out for lunch - I thought a special date at our favorite pizza place might entice him to fall asleep on the way home but I think the food actually made him more active.  When we got home I tried to get some things ready for my weekend in DC with the African Well Fund (holla) but that was almost impossible since Spy called out for me aprox. 3,215,786 times in 1 hour asking me the same question - will the blue car beat the red car in a race? None of my answers seemed to please him so he kept asking the question over and over until I caved and put in Peter Pan, and then Scooby Doo and then Thomas.  Well played, Spy, well played.

So I guess the moral of this post is that I really need to step up my project-field trip-play date planning or else it is going to be a very long, very hot, very torturtastic summer.  There may not be any survivors.  You have been warned.

A Decade of H2OPE

I am completely mortified that my last post was in November.  So many things have happened since then.  We had an impromtu Yeager Thanksgiving at our house.  Spy turned 3.  Christmas came and went. 2012 started off with a downer as D got laid off from his job.  But then we were blessed with the news of a new little bundle of joy to arrive in Sept.  Recently D got a FANTASTIC new job.  All of this proves that life moves on regardless of what the world throws our way.

So I am caught of guard when I realize that today, World Water Day, is the launching of the African Well Fund's 10th Build a Well for Bono's Birthday Fundraiser.  10 years?  Really?  Where did the time go?  I am so pleased that 10 years later...this 100% volunteer non-profit, this "Little Engine That Could" is still going strong with it's work of bringing clean water and better sanitation to people all over Africa. 

So today when you go to fill up your water bottle at the water cooler stop for one second to think about how lucky you are to have access to this water.  I beg you to take a moment today, on World Water Day, to click on the link above.  This year proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit a water, sanitation and hygiene project in Burkina Faso that will be implemented by African Well Fund partner Africare which aims to create a healthy environment for 257 schoolchildren.  Even the smallest donation will help to make a difference in these children's lives. I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart.

Got Water?

Hello my friends!  It's that time of year again.  The African Well Fund 7th Annual Got Water? Auction is underway.  We have over 40 items that have been collected and donated to us this year.  A lot of U2 stuff but some other good stuff also such as:

• an autographed copy of the Playbill for How to Succeed in Business - yes HP fans Dan Rad did touch and sign this with his magical hands.  As did John Larroquette - for all you Night Court/The Practice/Boston Legal fans (insert my picture here).
• An autographed copy of the Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook - I dare you not to love this book. You become more fabulous just looking at it.  And if you have not read The Bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer- Purcell (one of the Beekman Boys) I suggest you run out and get it now.  It is such a great read.  Laugh out loud funny and inspirational.  Trust me.
• An autographed copy of Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch and Lisa Dickey.  Sue Silvester will come to your house and beat you if you do not bid on this book.  I swear she told me herself during recess.
• An autographed copy of Bossypants by Tina Fey.  Perfect for the 30 Rock fan on your Christmas list.

For a list of all the other items we have up for auction click here.

Remember 100% of the proceeds from these auctions go to fund clean water and sanitation projects in Africa.  Some of these items will make the perfect stocking stuffers AND they help out people who are less fortunate than us.  It is a win win in my book.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported us in the past...and a THANK YOU in advance to those who will support us in the future.  We are literally nothing without  our supporters.  Happy Bidding!

I'm leaving on a jet plane

Off to the AWF Board Meeting in Los Angeles.  I CANNOT wait to fly there.  By MYSELF. In FIRST CLASS.  My Kindle is giddy with anticipation of the intimate time we will spend together WITHOUT interruptions.  Or having to be read in the bathroom with the door locked.
I am also hoping to make it out the the fantastically decked out Restoration Hardware in Beverly Hills.  I know, I know...I go all the way to LA and all I want to see is the same store I work in...but the people who have been there say it is magical.  And they serve tea.  How can anyone resist?

Have a great weekend everyone!!

You can dream, so dream out loud...

Those of you that know me well know of my involvement in the African Well Fund. I have been on the board for almost 6 years now (where did the time go!) and each year is more inspiring than the next.

We are very close to reaching our "1 million dollars raised since inception" milestone.  In fact we will probably reach it by the end of this year.  This is pretty amazing in itself, but when you stop to consider we are 100% volunteer run it makes this milestone even more extraordinary.

The AWF was born because a group of U2 fans, inspired by Bono's work in Africa, decided that it was time to be the change they wanted to see in the world.  Every year we honor Bono by holding a fundraiser for his birthday, which is May 10.  Every year people who donate to the fundraiser can sign Bono's birthday card on our website and every year Lara (a very talented board member) creates a fabulously cool card which then gets mailed to Bono.  We know he gets the card because he has let us know in the past that it is his favorite birthday present (see this post).

This year we were able to present the card to him him person before the show in Nashville. Five AWF board members were on hand to personally thank him for being our inspiration and Lara was able to hand Bono this year's card herself - for pictures and her account of the meeting click here.

This year proceeds from the Build a Well For Bono's Birthday fundraiser went to clean water and sanitation projects that will be implemented by AWF partner Africare at four girls' schools in Benin that are supported by Angelique Kidjo's Batonga Foundation.

We are really close to fully funding this project so I am asking you to make a small donation to get us there.  It is as easy as clicking here and then clicking on the Donate Benin button on our homepage. 

Now is a good time of year to think about the value of clean drinking water.  It is hot out and we are consuming more water than ever - without it our bodies will not function - and we are so fortunate to live in countries where access to clean water is a given.  Take a moment to help change the lives of some very deserving young women in Benin by making a donation. 

And then go pour yourself a nice clean glass of water and drink it knowing that today, with the click of your mouse, you have given someone a great gift.  A great man once said, "Every generation has a chance to change the world."  Now is your chance.

What do you do when you are thirsty?

Run to your sink to grab a glass of water? Go to the water cooler at work and refill your water bottle? There are so many people in our world, specifically Africa, that do not have such a simple but important luxury.

During this time of giving thanks, I am asking my readers to become a fan of Chase Community Giving on Facebook. Once you do this you can vote for the African Well Fund - the winner receives $25,000 towards their charity. With this money the AWF can fund an entire water and sanitation project, which depending on the country, can service thousands of people in villages that have no access to clean water.




Click on the link above to become a fan and vote. It will only take a few seconds...and in doing do you can change the lives of thousands of men, women and children who lack basic yet life saving access to clean water.

Every generation has a chance to change the world

Only 10 days left to make a donation to the 7th Annual African Well Fund Build a Well for Bono's Birthday Fundraiser.

Click here to donate.

I know that times are tough financially but the next time you drink a glass of water think about how many people do not have access to such simple thing...a sad yet shocking reality for so many less fortunate than us.

As U2 says, "Every generation has a chance to change the world." Let our generation be responsible for providing clean water to those who need it.

Rock a bye

Well, 16 more days until my due date and we finally put the finishing touches on the nursery.

Yes, there is a cow theme...in my defense I figured it would be suitable for any future female children we will spawn.

My belly gets bigger and more uncomfortable. Today I noticed my first stretch marks...figures that I make it this far to get them only weeks from delivery!

Other than that things are going well. I am completely enthralled by the Twilight saga and have been reading the books non stop instead of doing work for Grad school. Sad and pathetic but true. I have been on modified bed rest for about 2 weeks now and reading has been my salvation...that and my DVR. I just cannot wait for Simon to be here so I can sleep on my belly again and at some point in the distant future get a semi-decent nights sleep!

On a different note...it is time for the African Well Fund annual ebay auction. Click here to see what goodies we have up for sale. 100% of proceeds go to clean water projects in Africa. I know that it is difficult during times of financial distress for people to donate money...charities tend to suffer around this time but take a gander and see if there is anything you might like...the holidays are right around the corner after all!

OK, I am off to bake some pizza crust with my Pampered Chef Pizza Dough kit. Hopefully I won't completely mess it up!

Never too young to make a difference!

When my beautiful niece, Princess Sofia, was born I bought her a t-shirt from my favorite charity - the African Well Fund. Here she is modelling the shirt...I cannot believe it fits her already - my how time flies. Isn't she the cutest?

You know you want to buy the little baby in your life one just like it. All proceeds go to building clean water projects in Africa so click on the link above and get yourself a shirt!

Vote for AWF!

The African Well Fund has the opportunity to win a $10,000 grant from Haines. Please follow the badge to make a donation - the amount of the donation does not matter - it is the # of donations that count -however if we do reach $10,000 Haines will match it.
So check it out!

No, thank YOU, Mr. Bono

A response from Bono regarding the 5th Annual Build a Well for Bono's b-day.

Here is what it says (for those of you who do not read Bonoese):

"Well, Well, Well, Well, Well, Well And Well done etc. I think its my favourite birthday gift every year… and this year I wanted to thank you – music is pouring out of the U2 ers at the minute and despite what’s happening out there in a wild wild world I am so happy to be alive enough to give it a good kickin.

There’s no business like shoe business"

Bono

Click here to read the post about the 5th annual build a well for Bono's b-day and see the gift we sent along with the card and the certificate acknowledging the money raised on his behalf.

Yipee!!!

Bono Birthday Update

Following on the coattails of last night's "Idol Gives Back" - you know you watched it - don't deny - just an update for those of you keeping track - the photo auction for this year's Build a Well For Bono's B-day raised over $7,700.00!!!! A huge thanks to P.R. for making this all happen - there is a huge amount of coordination and planning involved and all of us the the AWF totally appreciate your efforts.

For those of you who do not know about the African Well Fund and what we do here is a snippet of the documentary we are putting together from our board member's visit last summer. The wells in this video were built with funds from our first 2 Build a Well for Bono's B-day fundraisers. Like Bono said last night - everyone of us can make a difference in someone else's life - this video is proof of that!

Bono's Birthday Well Photo Auction

Hey peeps!

For the second year in a row we are having a photo auction in conjunction with the Bono Birthday Well fundraiser. Click here to see all the photos up for auction. We have a pretty amazing selection this year - spanning all tours. Last year we raised over $11,000. This year we are hoping to top that - so check it out and if you see something you like - bid often!!!