Melificent

Cuddle + Kind: The Little Collection

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Remember when I featured Cuddle + Kind way back before little Luna was born?
Well they have been able to donate over 200,000 meals to children in need since their launch, which is amazing. They are now growing their family by releasing smaller dolls, The Little Collection. These little dolls do a lot of good! All nine of the original, ethically produced, hand-knit dolls will be available in a new 13” size. Each doll is handmade by their team in Peru using premium natural cotton. The best part is, each “little” provides 10 meals to children in need- the same as a regular doll!

I think these are the perfect size for your pint-sized kiddos, much like Luna! They will make great cuddle buddies for your tiny ones, and are absolutely adorable to boot! Get your own here!

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Cuddle+Kind

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As I get ready to enter the world of mommy-dom, certain causes feel closer to me than ever. Naturally, I’ve always loved children as I work with them and their families every day but now there is another component factoring in. I’m going to have one of these little things and I will officially be part of a family. I’m sure my husband and I will do anything possible to make Luna’s life better and assure that she is happy and healthy. That’s why I was instantly drawn to Cuddle+Kind.

Cuddle + Kind dolls print

The brand was created by the parents of 3 children, Jennifer and Derek Woodgate, on a mission to feed children in need. After viewing a documentary on the devastating impact of childhood hunger on millions of children around the world, it inspired them to help. With a background in health, they recognized the crucial role nutrition plays in a child’s development and thus, Cuddle+Kind was born. For every Cuddle+Kind doll purchased, the company provides 10 meals to hungry children around the world through giving partners, World Food Program USA and Children’s Hunger Fund.

And look at those gorgeous dolls! Each is handcrafted in Peru and you can tell they are made with all the love in the world. They would add the perfect splash of color to your child’s nursery or room, and would naturally become one of their favorite cuddle buddies. Hell, they may become one of mine!

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Le Clé Jewelry

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I am so happy I found out about a company like La Clé (“the key” in French). They are a wonderful little organization based in Washington DC that wants you to focus on the positive. They provide key necklaces in different colors – each one representing something different. You are encouraged to wear your key and really hone in on those sentiments and embrace their meaning. As the color on the key fades, you will have a naked key. If you post a picture of your now naked key on social media (#nakedkey), La Clé will make a donation to the charity of your choice! How absolutely amazing is that???

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Although it was hard to choose, I ultimately went with the orange key, which symbolizes unstoppable and focused. As I’ve mentioned several times on my blog lately, I have felt so inspired to go for my dreams and make things happen. They may be baby steps right now, but I have big-time goals and I KNOW I will achieve them. Having this key around my neck will definitely be that daily reminder to continue pushing for what I want out of life. As for the charity I will choose when my key goes naked, La Clé’s donation will have to go to Autism Speaks.

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Do you want to continue the positivity train and get your own La Clé necklace? Now is your chance to do just that for FREE! I’m hosting a giveaway to get your own colored key so that you too can embrace the positive in your life while helping someone else’s.  All you have to do is:

  • Leave a comment below with which color key you would get and why

The winner will be picked at random and announced one week from today, September 22nd!  Good luck to everyone!

 

Disclosure; I was provided with a free necklace by Le Clé in return for this blog post. However, all opinions are my own.

Christmas Gift Donations

Credit: State Library of New South Wales Collection (Flickr)

For all of those that do not  know, I have a full-time job working with therapeutic foster children. These children either have a mental health diagnosis or are developmentally disabled. A lot of them have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their families and many have never received a gift, much less celebrated a holiday, in their lives.

We’d like to change the way they view the holidays by making sure their Christmas is a special one. I am asking my friends and family if they would like to participate in donating Christmas gifts to these very special children and I’d like to extend the opportunity to my readers as well.

If you are interested in donating a gift to a foster child, please comment to this post.
Thank you in advance!

Please Join Team Melificent!

Credit: Flickr User Rayoom

…I just might give you cupcakes…

As most of you know, I work with therapeutic foster children as my full-time job. However, I used to (& still occasionally) work with autistic children. My time teaching them and being a part of their lives was a very special time for me and eventually, I would love to work with the population again in some shape or form. Aside from my personal experience, I also know many brave mothers (biological and foster) of children with autism that have shown to me what unconditional love and sacrifice really are. For these reasons and many more, I dedicate almost all of my charity work to Autism Speaks and this year will not be any different.

Well, maybe a little. Rather than doing the Broward Walk, I will be participating in the Miami 2011 Walk Now for Autism Speaks event, which will take place on Sunday, February 27th in Key Biscayne. I’d love to raise as much money as possible for the cause as well as get a large group to walk with me the day of. I’ve been lucky enough to receive very generous donations in the past, but hope that the amount of walkers can compete with those donations this time around! I am planning on making team shirts for us as well if enough people show interest.

So if you are one of those interested parties, please visit my team page: Team Melificent.
On that page, you can join the team as well as make a donation.