Posting from my bathroom for charity
May 8, 2012 Charity & Volunteering
So I’m sitting in my bathroom writing this post. No, I’m not doing that, I’m waiting for my hair dye to penetrate my gray hairs and dark roots. What would make me dye my hair on a Tuesday when I have so many other things I should be doing? The RBaby Foundation.
I first heard about this organization when Julia Beck (in that picture with me over there), founder of Forty Weeks, invited me to hear Phyllis Rabinowitz speak a few years ago. Phyllis and her husband Andrew lost their newborn because the ER they took her to wasn’t prepared to deal with an infant. They were sent home when their baby needed treatment.
They took their incredible grief and turned it into an organization that trains ERs to deal with babies, and provides the right equipment. They took the biggest tragedy of their lives and turned it around and helped others. There really are no words for people like that.
And Julia Beck has been one of their biggest supporters. She brought me into the RBaby fold, getting me to run my first race, a Mother’s Day four miler in Central Park that raised money for RBaby. (Heck, she even got me to craft for another charity – what won’t I do for this woman?) When I heard that Julia was being honored with the first ever Champion Award, and that I was being invited to a huge charity gala at the Plaza to celebrate Julia and the fifth anniversary of The RBaby Foundation, I was just thrilled.
Then I got scared. Me and high society? We don’t mix. I was the last person in NYC to get the memo that panty hose were out. I can’t walk in high-heeled shoes. And I can’t wear nice clothes and eat at the same time. I can guarantee you that tomorrow night I will say or do something to embarrass Julia, and she probably knows this, which is why I’m even more honored to be invited – she’s willing to risk public humiliation in the name of friendship. Hell, I’m already in trouble with her mother for calling her a hippie, but that’s another story. :-)
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Tags: charity, Julia Beck, NYC, RBaby Foundation
Today’s Agenda: working from bed edition
Dec 2, 2011 Today's Agenda
So I’m in bed at 11:45am, with my laptop, but I’m not sick. I’m even showered and dressed, since I was helping to sell some stuff at an open house at my kids’ school this morning and didn’t want to scare people away. But the earlier parts of this week nearly killed me, so today I decided to climb back into bed and hide from the world and just get as much work done as I can with no distractions.
The thing is, Monday-Wednesday, as packed and hectic as they were, were probably what most people’s days are like normally, every day. I think I’ve just coddled myself into needing a healthy amount of down time and relaxation, and when I can’t get it, I probably stress more than someone who isn’t used to it. I need to plan my time better, so that my days aren’t so lopsided – doing a dozen things one day, getting to work from bed the next.
But I have something cool coming up today. You’ve probably heard of the organization ONE, or if not, you’ve at least heard of its most famous co-founder, Bono. I’m chairing an initiative that’s going to give you twelve easy ways to help your family and friends be more aware of what’s going on in the world and just how lucky we are. I’ve enlisted eleven of my blogger friends to help, and I’m really looking forward to their posts. Basically, there’s a new action every day that you can take, and then hopefully talk to you family and friends about. Because ONE doesn’t ask people like you and me to write a check to help others, they only ask us to be aware and to help them get governments to write the checks.
Some of the actions are very simple, some are a little more involved, and I think a couple of the bloggers may have some unkind words for me when this is done (one of them is giving up coffee for a day – I really hope I don’t see her that particular day). But this should be an interesting project, and one that I think kids could get a lot out of too.
The first action was announced yesterday by Jyl Johnson of Mom It Forward, and it’s a fun one: to watch the World AIDS Day broadcast produced by ONE (you can find the link in Jyl’s post).
I’m handling the task for Day 2, which I’ll be posting a little later today, so check back!
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 0. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
The F Word
Oct 4, 2011 What's Going On
I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t paid a ton of attention to what’s happening in Africa. And that’s what the group ONE is trying to change. They know that nothing can really happen for the better as long as people who are comfortable remain apathetic to the famine happening halfway across the world. They’re not asking for your money (OK, not primarily), they’re asking for your attention. And they’ve got mine. I’ve always thought that a well-placed F-bomb could improve almost any argument.
From ONE co-founder Bono:
More than 30,000 children have died in just 3 months. Mothers are forced to decide who to feed and who to let die. In 2011? That’s obscene. This is complicated, no-one’s pretending it’s easy – Somalia has been without a functioning government for 20 years – but droughts don’t have to result in famine, just look at Ethiopia and Kenya who have preventative policies in place. There are things that can be done, and if we really believe the life of a child in East Africa is worth the same as the lives of our own children, we have to act.
I try to put myself in the place of these mothers, and I have a hard time. On any given day my worst dilemma is usually something along the lines of bagel or pizza, not which child to feed. It’s a huge problem that will only be solved with big, bold solutions that are much bigger than any one of us, so it’s easy to get paralyzed into inaction. But the great thing about ONE is that there are things we can all do that don’t involve hopping on a plane and delivering food to war-torn countries.
The best place to start? You can give people the facts and make them aware of just how dire the problem is. Blog it, tweet it, facebook it, share it. Remind the people in your life that we were unimaginably lucky to be born in a place at a time when our problems are petty compared to much of the world.
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 0. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Today’s Agenda: tiny bloodsuckers edition
Sep 21, 2011 Today's Agenda
I was woken up at 4:20 this morning by a mosquito buzzing my head. The same thing happened the night before. It’s like suddenly, after torturing us downstairs for four months, they’ve discovered our bedroom again. I killed two – keeping my poor husband awake when he has an early flight – and finally just gave up and got up. So here I am.
I’m finishing up the Charlie Sheen roast I recorded the other night. It’s hilarious. I actually saw an article online that asked if the roast went too far. Not sure they understand what a roast is.
Today is going to be a good day. I mean, it will start off with the usual work and treadmill (OK, not usual, but the second day in a row) and not doing laundry, but will end with an event at The Ronald McDonald House. I’ve never been involved with them before, but I know people with sick children who’ve stayed at Ronald McDonald houses near hospitals. I can’t think of a better way to support families going through something like that. Can’t wait to learn more about them.
Unfortunately I had to make one of those hard choices for tonight. I’ll be skipping my kids’ school’s PTA meeting and potluck to attend the Ronald McDonald House event. I have every single night free this week except tonight, and that’s when they schedule the PTA meeting for. Figures.
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 0. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Tags: charity, mosquitoes
In Brooklyn? Let me bake for you this weekend!
May 24, 2011 Cooking & Baking
So last night I posted about a benefit I went to that raised money for pediatric cancer research, and a great giveaway I’m running courtesy of Glad chock full of $125 worth of baking supplies. I’m also holding my own bake sale this weekend to raise money for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, and since I don’t live in a very high-traffic area I’m going to be delivering the goodies. So for your donation (100% of which will go to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer) you will get my amazing baked goods delivered right to your door! If you’re in Brooklyn you can not pass this up.
If the donation amounts look a little…generous, please remember that it’s for charity. And it’s coming right to you. Plus, Glad is matching the donations from bake sales in May (up to $225,000) so your donation could mean twice as much. Details on this charity and holding your own bake sale are in my previous post.
If you would like to buy any of the baked goods this weekend please email me. I will be taking payment through PayPal so that I’m not going to strangers’ houses laden with cash. There is a $10 minimum per order. Here’s what I’m offering, and anyone who knows me would attest to how awesome these are:
Guittard Chocolate Chip Cookies
Made with semi-sweet Guittard chocolate discs, every bite of these hearty cookies is filled with chocolaty goodness. They’re made from a Jennifer Perillo recipe, which gives you an extra assurance that they’ll be delicious.
$20/dozen
Rich & Gooey Brownies
My brownies are legendary at school bake sales. Teachers try to sneak in early to buy up a bunch before the general public. Friends request them when they come over for lunch. And I’ve been known to eat more of them than I’ll admit publicly after everyone else has gone to bed – they’re impossible to resist!
With or without walnuts, your choice.
$25/double batch size (13x9x2)
$15/single batch size (9×9)
Buttery Cinnamon Buns
I only discovered this recipe a few days ago, but thanks again to Jennifer Perillo, I now have the ultimate cinnamon bun recipe. Comes complete with a generous side of cream cheese frosting.
$20/batch (12 medium-sized buns)
Sour Cream Chive Potato Bread
My waistline really rues the day when I discovered this bread recipe from King Arthur Flour. Moist and flavorful, this bread is perfect on its own, although my husband has been known to make some pretty decadent sandwiches with it.
$9/loaf, two for $16
Rustic Sourdough Bread
I’ve been nursing my sourdough starter for about a month now and can’t get enough of this bread. Chewy and tangy, it’s from this King Arthur Flour recipe.
$8/loaf, two for $14
Banana Bread
There’s something to be said for simple, moist banana bread – no bells and whistles, just deliciousness. Walnuts optional.
$8/loaf, two for $14
Zucchini Bread
Nothing smells like zucchini bread: cinnamon and nutmeg mixed with zucchini combine for one of the most drool-worthy scents of all time. Walnuts optional.
$8/loaf, two for $14
So there you have it! All of you who’ve been commenting and tweeting about how much you’d like to taste my baked goods, if you’re in Brooklyn, time to put your money where your mouth is! Email me and we’ll work out a delivery time.
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 9. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Raising money for every mother’s nightmare
May 23, 2011 Contest/Giveaway
This afternoon I took Fiona out of school early and we headed to Moomah Cafe, also known in whispered tones as the kid cafe owned by Jon Stewart’s wife. Of course, I already have a deep and meaningful relationship with Jon Stewart, so I was going to this event strictly for selfless reasons and not in the hope that Jon would show up to give his wife her forgotten cell phone or something like that.
That didn’t happen, but Fiona and I did make out like bandits at the raffle. I won a big credit on one of my favorite sites, Gaggle of Chicks (full disclosure: I’ve worked with them on occasion), which I will be putting to very good use. And Fiona won a Corolle doll and stroller (which, frankly, is nicer than anything I ever pushed my own kids around in).
The timing on this couldn’t have been better. Fiona’s old doll stroller fell victim to our renovation: it’s been lost somewhere on the disastrous parlour floor, surely covered in five years of construction dust. Just this weekend Fiona tried to fashion stroller wheels for a basket, and was confused as to why the “wheels” weren’t turning (she seemed to think more tape would solve the problem). So she’s been playing with her prizes non-stop since we got home.
Fiona’s old doll stroller:
Fiona’s new doll stroller:
Another NYC blogger, Jessica, was hosting this event to raise money for an incredibly worthy cause: pediatric cancer research. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was started when Gretchen and Larry Witt found out that their two-year-old son, Liam, had cancer. In a desperate attempt to raise money and awareness, they managed to sell 96,000 cookies in three weeks, with the help of 250 volunteers and other families going through the same thing. $400,000 was raised and a movement was born, a movement that sadly has outlasted Liam’s life: he died this past January after battling cancer for four years.
I’m going to be holding my own little bake sale over the holiday weekend, and Glad is matching not just my donation, but any bake sale donations from registered bake sales held in May (up to $225,000). So if you’re inspired and want to help, you can hold your own! Just make sure to register your bake sale on the website, which also has other helpful info for holding your bake sale. And if you don’t want to hold your own, you can purchase gourmet cookies right from the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer site. These make great gifts, and 100% of the profits go directly towards pediatric cancer research.
The Giveaway
As if the warm fuzzy feeling you’ll get helping fund pediatric cancer research isn’t enough, Glad is also giving one of my readers a very nice baking set worth $125. The set includes an OXO mixing bowl, spatulas, and cookie scoop, Williams-Sonoma cookie cutters and cooling rack, a Maxi-Aid No Touch baking sheet, and a Silpat non-stick baking mat. It’s one of those prizes that I wish I could win myself!
To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me…basically anything. Tell me how your day is going, about how cancer has touched you, talk about baking, anything.
For a second entry, you may tweet about this contest with a link back to this page. Or, you can copy and tweet the following:
Stop by @SelfishMom’s giveaway 4 a baking set worth $125 & find out why she’s spending this weekend baking for charity http://bit.ly/lLRZtN
Make sure to leave a second comment with a link to your tweet, or it won’t count (instructions on how to find and post the url of your tweet can be found here).
So, that’s a maximum of two entries per household please! This contest will close at noon-ish on Sunday, May 29th. The winner will be chosen by random.org. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter. Prizes may be shipped within the continental United States only. See my complete Giveaway Rules page for more information.
Good luck!
My Bake Sale
For anyone in Brooklyn who has been listening to me talk about how awesome my baking is, now’s your chance to sample it for a good cause. I’ll be spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this upcoming holiday weekend baking and delivering, and if you’re in Brooklyn you can get in on it. I’ll be donating all of the supplies and, of course, the labor. Details coming in the next post…
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 9. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Cheryl Hines? I can hardly Curb My Enthusiasm!
May 21, 2010 Around NYC
Yes, that terrible joke in the title is my way of saying that Cheryl Hines will be stopping by the Hebrew National Better-than-a-Picnic picnic tomorrow. Yay! I love her on Curb Your Enthusiasm. When it first started I really hated the concept of improvised dialogue. But the Enthusiasm cast ran with hit, and got really good at it. (And then of course a whole cadre of improvised shows followed and nobody else got it right.)
You can see her below on Good Day NY talking about the upcoming season, which is filming in NYC (yay!) as well as the picnic and the charity Hebrew National is partnering with to make this “better than a picnic.”
Cheryl will be at the picnic until noon. We’ll be participating in a service project for a charity that’s near and dear to her heart, the Magic Summer Lunchbox Program (from Feeding America), making reusable lunch bags for kids who get free school lunch during the school year but are often left hungry in the summer. Did you know that you can feed one child for the whole summer for $36? You can donate to Feeding America here.
UPDATE: Just wanted to add that the local partner for the Magic Summer Lunchbox Program is the Food Bank for New York City.
I’ve also got some more specific directions for anyone driving to the picnic. I’m told that Randall’s Island is not very big and there will be signs throughout the island directing us to the picnic location, but the last thing I want to do is get lost on the way. There are directions to the island itself here, and then once you’re on the island:
Please follow signs heading south for the Wards’ Island/Ward’s Meadows Fields.
Pass Field 74 (left) and 63 (right) and park in the Parking Lot just past Field 63.
The Hebrew National BBQ will be at the north end of the Parking Lot on your right.
Remember, you can see what’s going on with the picnic here, and keep up-to-date on Hebrew National happenings on their Facebook page. And if all that isn’t enough great info for you, follow the fun on Twitter with the hashtag #HebrewNational. The picnic runs from 11:30-3:30pm, and is free to the public. There will be a live band, a mechanical bull, giant puzzles, lots of hot dogs, the service project, and of course lots of hot dogs! And beautiful Randall’s Island, which I’m very excited to see. Can’t wait!
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has Compensation Levels of 5 & 6. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information. Amy also blogs at Filming In Brooklyn, Behind the Screen, and the NYC Moms Blog.
Tags: charity, Cheryl Hines, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Join me for a Hebrew National picnic on May 22nd
May 13, 2010 Around NYC
What are you doing on May 22nd? How about spending the afternoon on beautiful Randall’s Island with me, a bunch of my friends, an AirStream full of Hebrew National hot dogs, a community service activity, fun games, and more?
At 11:30am on May 22nd I – along with some other great NYC and Philly-area bloggers – will be hosting Hebrew National’s Better-Than-A-Picnic Picnic. Why is it better than a regular old picnic? Because aside from the great food, drinks, games and activities, and a band, we’ll also be chipping in to help out a local charity (more info to come on that). There will also be a special celebrity guest! I’ll tell you who as soon as I’m allowed to. No arm twisting, I can keep a secret like nobody’s business.
The picnic is absolutely free to attend, we want as many people to come out and have a good time as possible. But you do have to RSVP. If you would like to attend, please email me at Amy@SelfishMom.com with your full name, cell phone #, and how many will be attending in your party. The picnic goes from 11:30am until about 3:30pm.
You can see what’s going on with the picnic here, and keep up-to-date on Hebrew National happenings on their Facebook page. And if all that isn’t enough great info for you, follow the fun on Twitter with the hashtag #HebrewNational.
Not in the NYC area? You can find the dates and locations for all nine of the Hebrew National Better Than A Picnic picnics here.
My other amazing co-hosts for this event? I’m always humbled to be included in a list a fabulous as this (updated to add a few more great hosts):
Jen, Next Kid Thing
Suzanne, Mom Confessionals
Anna, Mommy Poppins
Carol, NY City Mama
Amy P., Long Island Parent Source
Kimberly, Mom in the City
Lisa, New York Chica
Kelsey, Naptime Chef
Jo-Lynne, Musings of a Housewife
Whitney, Mommies with Style
Melissa, GirlyMama
Cecily, Upper Case Woman
Emily, The Motherhood
Isabel, Alpha Mom
For those of you who know me, there’s one last nagging detail to take care of, because you’re probably asking yourself why a vegetarian is co-hosting a hot-dog-based picnic. Simple. My kids aren’t vegetarian. My husband is most definitely not vegetarian. And Hebrew National is the hot dog I buy and cook for them.
Hope to see you on the 22nd!
UPDATE: I posted a link to directions and a map here.
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has Compensation Levels of 5 & 6. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information. Amy also blogs at Filming In Brooklyn, Behind the Screen, and the NYC Moms Blog.
Tags: charity, Hebrew National, Randall's Island
