Think Bigg

If pink vacuums didn’t quite do it for you, what about pink t-shirts? (Sorry, guys, this just isn’t your week!)

Not to be outdone by their corporate friends over at Dyson, Ford Motors is partnering with Kelly Clarkson to sponsor Warriors in Pink — Ford’s custom fashion line dedicated to the cause of breast cancer awareness.

From the Ford website,

Ford is proud of its 13-year National Sponsorship of the Komen Race for the Cure. To date, Ford has dedicated more than $90 million to the cause. Our commitment runs well beyond raising funds. We know that awareness leads to early detection and early detection saves lives, so we are also working to increase breast cancer awareness–last year creating over one billion media impressions. We also encourage our employees to participate. More than 50,000 Ford employees have participated in The Race and thousands of our dealers support the race in their area.

So even if Fords aren’t necessarily your cup of tea, the cause is a good one and the fashions are fun. Kelly can even show you how to “Rock Your V-Neck” to make it customizable! (Okay, the whole Kelly Clarkson tie-in is a bit silly, but you can’t argue with the fact that 100% of the net proceeds are donated to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.)

Here are a couple of my favorites –

Heather Brown Jersey Bella Mustang Tee for $20:

White Baby Doll T-Shirt With Contrasting Pink Cap Sleeves for $20:

For information on how to sign up for the Komen Race for the Cure in your area, visit their website or call 1-888-603-RACE.

Now go rock your baby-doll T!

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It’s a good day when your impulse to do good can be simultaneously satisfied by your impulse for a new appliance!

Last weekend I picked up this beautiful pink Dyson vacuum cleaner.

Target is selling the legendary vacuum cleaner for $399, and $40 from the sale of each DC07 Pink will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation which currently funds over 100 researchers throughout the world working to prevent and cure breast cancer.

And yes, in case you’re wondering, that photo is exactly the way I look when I vacuum my house…?!

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Do you remember your favorite childhood blankey? Your softest wubbie? Chances are that by the time you finished with it, the edges were more than a little frayed and the stains never quite washed out, but for an important time, it made you feel protected.

The folks at Taggies know how important a security blanket can be — and more importantly, which features matter most!

According to their website,

Julie, a young mother, recognized that her infant was often more interested in the satin tags on toys and clothing than the object itself. An early childhood teacher, she took the idea to a new level by creating a soft security blanket with assorted tags adorning all four sides. It was the first Taggies!

Since then, the company has added the colorful satin tags to books, bedding, toys and pillows, and the result is a line of very cute, very functional baby items.

And the best part? Taggies Cares!

Next time you’re shopping on the website, just select an item you would like to donate (most items are in the $20 range) and Taggies will match it with another of the same item. Taggies will then donate both of your gifts to a children’s charity of their choice. Click here for a list — they’re all very worthy recipients. You might even get your name posted on the website as a thank you!

What better gift to give a child than a little bit of extra added security?

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In October, Brian and I are taking off for a 4-day desert camel trek in Morocco with my favorite adventure travel specialist, Mountain Travel Sobek. This two-week vacation won’t be quite as selfless as the prior trip to India, I’m afraid, but it turns out I can’t blame that on the tour company!

Mountain Travel Sobek has just published two new tours — both led by one of the original company founders — for folks who want to combine their adventure vacation with a unique opportunity to do some good.

The first is an exciting trip through Egypt:

It’s a fascinating journey exploring the Nile through the lens of Sobek (yes, our Sobek!), the crocodile god that influenced so much of dynastic Egypt, and of the crocodile itself, which through poaching, pollution, and the blockage from the Aswan Dam has disappeared from the Egyptian Nile. Traveling to temples and active dig sites not included on any other itineraries, you’ll witness the art and architecture influenced by the great god Sobek, as well as many other great icons of Egypt. And, you’ll “make a difference” by taking one of the many live poached crocodiles at Aswan and releasing it back into the waters of the Nile, where through efforts like this it might one day thrive and reclaim its place as “Lord of the Nile.”

The second trip is through the north and south islands of New Zealand:

If you’re the kind of person who likes to get the most out of your vacation, you’ll love this trip! The itinerary is very similar to the one Mountain Travel Sobek co-founder Richard Bangs designed for the PBS series Adventures with Purpose, and it’s an action-packed discovery of both the South and North Islands of New Zealand. Go canyoneering in the spectacular canyons of the Matukituki Valley; try your hand at ice climbing at the Fox Glacier; swim with dolphins; sea kayak on a vast crater lake (with volcanoes looming on the horizon); and ever so much more, including meeting a Maori elder who will share his people’s perspective on history and natural geography. And, you’ll make a difference, by spending time on volunteer community projects that benefit New Zealand’s people and their stunning environment. More than just a vacation, this is an adventure with purpose.

I traveled with a MT Sobek group a few years ago on a sea kayaking expedition in Baja California and had an amazing time. The guides were fabulous and the other people on the tour were interesting and friendly. If we weren’t already on our way to North Africa, I just might be convinced to change my plans!

Why not check out the tours and clear your calendars!

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Here’s a fun Friday quiz from the folks at National Geographic!

We all know that Jay Leno gets a lot of mileage out of the stupidity of the average American. Why not prove him wrong and try your hand at National Geographic’s geography quiz?

Even if you don’t know which city has the world’s densest population, you’ll learn an awful lot of useful trivia to impress your friends at cocktail parties!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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