Have you ever asked your mom what she wanted for her birthday, or Christmas or Mother’s Day?  If she’s anything like my mom she probably said something like, “Knowing you love me is all the present I need.”  Now while that’s a very sweet sentiment and I very much appreciate that my mom doesn’t expect a gift (and really, she can afford to buy herself whatever she needs), I would still like to show her just a small token of how much I love and admire her.  What to do?

I have found that my mom is very moved by a donation to a charity on her behalf.  I bet your mom would like that too!!  Following is a list of just a few of the charities I’ve highlighted recently and how they are helping celebrate mom this Mother’s Day!!

• WaterAid America – for a donation as low as $25, you can pay for one person in one of the world’s poorest countries to gain access to safe, clean water and sanitation for life. In addition, you can print a Mother’s Day card that includes the details of your gift.
• Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation – in honor of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s 25th anniversary this year and Mother’s Day, they want to challenge everyone to help them raise the funds that would allow 2,500 women to get tested for HIV. Your $19 donation in honor of your loved one enables one new mother to get tested, and you can send your loved one an e-card!
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Every year since I was young I have given up something or promised “to do” something for Lent.  Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter (not including Sundays), and it starts with Ash Wednesday, which this year is today, February 13th.  The purpose of giving something up is to be focused less on this world and to prepare our hearts to welcome the risen Christ.  In previous years I have committed to daily Bible reading, given up swearing (not this year, sorry), and one year I even gave up sugar.

A couple of weeks ago, at my yearly checkup, my doctor recommended I give up diet soda (not for Lent, just because it’s not good for me).  I cut back, but had not actually quit yet.  Then, yesterday I saw another blogger say that she was committing to drinking only water in order to bring attention to the plight of people throughout the world who do not have access to clean, safe water.

I felt a mental nudge on reading this, so I decided to write this blog post.  I am committing to drinking only water for Lent.  I will, however, be allowing myself one glass of iced tea a day, and a glass of wine on my birthday (which always falls during Lent) and other special occasions.  I will be collecting the money I have saved by not drinking soda and donating it to WaterAid.

Did you know that nearly 800 million people do not have access to it and 2.5 billion have nowhere safe and clean to go to the toilet?  WaterAid works with local organizations, using practical, sustainable solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education to the poorest people in developing countries.

I have estimated I will save about $25, which when donated to WaterAid, will pay for one person in one of the world’s poorest countries to gain access to safe, clean water and sanitation for life.

Update: It’s Easter Sunday and although I didn’t totally give up my diet soda, I did drink more than 8 glasses of water every day.  I made my donation of $25 today to WaterAid.

In addition, during the month of February, when you donate, WaterAid will give you the option of either printing a valentine or having one mailed to the recipient of your choice, informing them of your gift on their behalf.  What a thoughtful gift for your favorite valentine!!  Check out all the options available here.

What are you giving up/ committing to for Lent?  How can you turn your introspection outwards?  Let me know your plans in the comments below.  

The accomplishment I am most proud of, in the past 3 years, has been growing my own bookkeeping business (and more recently, this blog) in order to support my family financially.  I am gratefu

l that I had the education, experience and resources to help make my dream a reality.

What if you had the dream and the talent, but no resources?  That’s where 1000 Shillings comes in.

1000 Shillings works with impoverished women artisans around the world, giving their products an international market for limited edition, high quality products, a platform for women to tell their stories, and seed capital for women to start their own businesses.

Here is one of the lovely ladies who is being helped by the program:

Veronica is a native to Namatala, Uganda. She grew up with her nine sisters and one brother in the same compound where she lives today with her own children.

Her father owns property in Namatala and gave each of his daughters their own plot of land. Veronica was able to build on the land when she received a microfinance grant from a local nonprofit organization. She built a small house that has eight bedrooms, each about the size of a walk-in closet. She lives in the front of the house with her six children and rents the six remaining rooms at 10,000 ($4) Ugandan Shillings per month each. Though the income is small, she feels fortunate to receive this money each month.

Seven of her siblings still live in Namatala, and her mother and father live just inches away in the house next door. Most nights, you can often find them playing basic instruments and singing.

Veronica takes care of nine children, three of her own biological children; Sharon, Shariko, and Joseph. She also cares for six of her brother’s children after her brother died and her sister-in-law wasn’t able to provide for them.

Veronica was married in 1986 and was with the same man until 2007; “we didn’t rhyme” is the way Veronica describes their relationship. Veronica is being humble, as the man didn’t provide for her family and often spent time with other women. She left him and now struggles to support the children she is caring for.

Veronica dreams of being able to pay for her children’s school fees. Her children have ambitious dreams of becoming lawyers, policemen, and nurses, and she hopes to be able to support them long enough that they will be successful.

When you purchase, the beautiful necklace below, you are helping Veronica start her own business selling banana wine.

You can check out more of the beautiful jewelry at http://www.1000shillings.com.

Let’s help empower others this Christmas and give some beautiful gifts your friends and family will love!!

BeadforLife, a non-profit organization, was founded by three American women to help the women of Uganda learn skills that would allow them to earn livable wages. BeadforLife began by teaching women to make beautiful beaded jewelry out of recycled paper.

They launched a second income-generating project in northern Uganda in 2010, creating a livelihood for the extremely poor women who farm and gather Shea nuts. BeadforLife makes the Shea nuts into Shea butter products, including creams, soaps and lip balms.  The sales of

these products have the potential to empower tens of thousands of women.  Currently, BeadforLife is working with 740 women, most of whom are farmers, to educate them about how to improve the quality of their farms and bring their agricultural goods to market.

I was so excited to try the BeadforLife products because they are sold at fair trade prices so that the Ugandan women can earn a living wage.  I am not a big jewelry person, so when BeadforLife came out with their Shea butter products I knew that was right up my alley!!  I received two Peppermint Lip Balms and a Shea Butter Soap.

Here’s what they looked like in the package:

I gave one of the lip balms to Boo and kept the soap and other lip balm for myself.

The Peppermint lip balm smells so yummy!!  Boo liked it because, “it feels like lipstick, but without the lipsticky part of it.” I liked the slight tingly sensation I got when I put it on, plus it kept my lips moisturized for hours!

Here’s what the soap looks like out of the wrapper (which is made of biodegradable plastic):

Shea butter gives the soap its moisturizing properties and lemongrass and lavender make it smell amazing!!  There is a really nice lather too.  Since I left the bar in the shower, Boo tried it too.  Boo’s review: ” The barky bits make it feel like it’s exfoliating my skin.”

I highly recommend the BeadforLife Shea butter products – not just because they are helping Ugandan women to support their families, but also because they are great products!!

You can learn more about BeadforLife or purchase their products by visiting Beadforlife.org

I was provided products in return for my review.  However, my opinion is my own.

This review is brought to you by Charisma Media Network