Reading for a Cause: Celebrities Share the First Book That Got Them Hooked

Written by guest blogger Melissa Long

It’s back to school season! Normally it’s around this time that you’re thinking: pencils, erasers, lunch boxes, books. So along with shopping for school supplies, make a stop by FirstBook.org and tell them what book got you hooked on reading and vote on which state you would like to receive 50,000 new books for low income youth.

First Book, an organization that provides books to children in need, has delivered more than 65 million books across the continent since its inception over 20 years ago. By giving books to underprivileged children, First Book is helping address the concern of illiteracy in our nation.

For this campaign, First Book asks the question: What book got you hooked on reading? They ask that you share this beloved memory with them and then vote on which state you would like to receive 50,000 new books for low income children, allowing them to get hooked on reading, too. Past winners include Oklahoma and Kansas, and the top five states for this year’s campaign are currently made up of: Oklahoma, West Virginia, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Massachusetts, so if you would like to see your state win the prize, tell your friends and vote until September 30.

You can also see what books hooked numerous celebrities like: Morgan Freeman, David Duchovny, Patti LaBelle, Selena Gomez, Bow Wow, Edward Asher, Neil Patrick Harris, John Krasinski, Steve Colbert, and Scarlett Johansson.

Be sure to go to http://www.firstbook.org/, share what book hooked you, and vote! “Because there are some stories no child should grow up without”.

To purchase books that give back to charity, go to the book page of Uptown Liz.

Shop for a Cause: Trash Turns into Treasure with TerraCycle

Written by guest blogger Melissa Long

They say “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”; is it ever with TerraCycle, where your trash can be upcycled into useful products. Upcycling (the opposite of recycling) is the process of using waste to create new products. Thanks to one of the top 100 most innovative companies, we can decrease landfill and have super stylish gear that will be sure to turn heads.

TerraCycle takes your garbage and turns it into useful products. Currently the company is collecting drink pouches, Flavia Freshpacks, Kashi packages, energy bar wrappers, toasted chip boxes, Bear Naked bags, cell phones, cork from wine* (link to UL wine products) bottles, and yogurt containers. Once these are received, TerraCycle will donate 2 cents to your favorite charity (and 25 cents for cell phones). So grab all of your friends and neighbors and start collecting trash! TerraCycle even sends you the packages to ship your items so you don’t have to pay extra. This is such a great way to give back to your favorite charity and it doesn’t cost you a penny.

Well it does , of course, if you purchase some of TerraCycle’s amazing products. Currently you can buy lawn and garden care products, household cleaners, office and school supplies, bags, and winter and holiday merchandise. I am rather fond of the wine cork board ($20) and CD-ROM Christmas ornaments ($8). Just go to http://www.shoponlygreen.com/ and check them out for yourself. You won’t regret it!

To find out more details about upcycling and the TerraCycle brigades visit: http://www.terracycle.net/brigades/.

Celebrities for a Cause: Angelina Jolie Visits Walter Reed Military Hospital

Written by guest blogger Melissa Long

Angelina Jolie is always full of surprises! Earlier this summer, the actress and humanitarian paid a visit to our troops in DC while volunteering with the USO. But that's not what surprised us - it's that no one knew about it! The only pictures taken of the actress that day were from other volunteers and the soldiers; how she managed to slip past the media, we may never know.

The passionate humanitarian decided to spend her charitable day at Walter Reed Military Hospital, where she leisurely spent time with the injured soldiers and their families. Wearing her USO shirt, Jolie gave out gift bags to show her appreciation that included a one thousand dollar gift card to Best Buy!

Jolie's philanthropic life began after filming "Laura Croft: Tomb Raider" in Cambodia, where she witnessed the need for aid. Since then, she has become a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations and also founded the Maddox Jolie Pitt Foundation. She also plans to finance future philantropic efforts with one-third of her income from her salary. Jolie has proven that even when she's not in the spotlight, she stays dedicated to the causes close to her heart.

If you or someone in your family is in the military, Lisa Hoffman, a skin care company, offers 50% off any items purchased through her Web site. And don't forget to check out the military page of Uptown Liz for other ways to help the Armed Forces.

Shop for a Cause: Leonardo DiCaprio Partners with TAG Heuer to Help the Environment

Written by guest blogger Melissa Long

It seems that ever since Jack Dawson's encounter with an iceberg in "Titanic", actor Leonardo DiCaprio realized the importance of caring for the environment. Now serving as an environmental activist, DiCaprio has joined forces with the internationally recognized watch brand TAG Heuer to aid environmental, nonprofit organizations.

All royalties from this partnership, which will last three years, will go to aid the National Resource Defense Council, a nonprofit organization focused on protecting all of Earth's life and the elements that sustain it, and Green Cross International which focuses on improving humanity's relationship with nature.

The partnership between DiCaprio and TAG Heuer could not be a better match; both are driven and both are determined to make a difference. DiCaprio has gone a step further by committing to donating an additional multi-million dollars to support these environmental charities. Now that's putting your money where your mouth is!

To shop for more products that support the environment, go to Uptown Liz.

Eat for a Cause: Be a Hero on Miracle Treat Day at Your Local Dairy Queen

Article written by guest blogger Melissa Long

This Thursday only, Dairy Queen is hosting their annual Miracle Treat Day! On August 13, you can make a difference in the life of a child in your local community just by enjoying one of summer's best desserts from one of America's favorite ice cream shops.

For every blizzard purchased on this day, $1 will go to fund your local Children's Miracle Network hospital. Just last year, Miracle Treat Day raised $5.7 million nationwide and has collected a total of $77 million since the first Miracle Treat Day in 1984.

They say one person can't make a difference, but $77 million is nothing to overlook! So grab your family and friends for one last celebration before summer ends and school begins. Find your participating DQ and learn more about Miracle Treat Day and The Children's Miracle Network at www.miracletreatday.com.

Becky Lavelle of Jenny’s Light Interview (Part 4)

To read parts 1, 2 and 3 of the interview, click here.

RR: Because Jenny had such a severe case of postpartum depression, do you worry about having a baby?
BL: I do a little, but I am obviously much more aware of what can happen and will have a very heightened sense of awareness, as will my family and friends.

RR: The grieving process is very complicated. What surprised you most about grief?
BL: The second year has been harder than the first. Last year seemed almost surreal, now the reality is setting in a little more.

RR: How have you changed since Jenny’s and Graham’s deaths? How has your family changed?
BL: I am definitely more emotional with many things, but also more open and more grateful for the things I have and the life I am living. I’ve learned to not take anything for granted, to truly “live” each day, and not be afraid to be happy. I sometimes say to myself, “What would Jenny do?” and I try to honor her by doing things she and I both loved to do, or going out of my way to help out a stranger, or smiling at a random person on the street, petting a stray cat, buying something because “I like it”, etc. I think my family has become closer, we talk on the phone more often, I try to see them as much as I can and they come out to California as much as they can. We all grieve in different ways and it’s sometimes hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, but we all try to be understanding and lean on each other.

RR: What do you miss most about Jenny and Graham?
BL: Jenny’s laugh, her smile, talking to her every day, sharing my day-to-day activities with her, and just knowing that she’s always there for me. She still is now, but in spirit, and I know she will always be looking out for me. Graham was such an adorable little thing; he made the cutest little noises and was just so sweet.

RR: What do you want people to know about Jenny?
BL: She had such a big heart and a big smile and she was the most genuine person I know.

For more information on Jenny's Light, go to http://www.jennyslight.org/.

Photo caption: (From left) Becky Lavelle, Brian Lavelle, Chip Bankston and Jenny Gibbs Bankston.

Becky Lavelle of Jenny’s Light Interview (Part 3)

To read parts 1 and 2 of the interview, click here.

RR: How did you get into triathlons?
BL: I swam competitively since I was 10, got a scholarship to swim at LSU and knew I was done swimming after college but still wanted to compete and stay fit, so triathlon was the perfect thing. My brother Randy signed me up for a local race in 1995 and I never looked back from that!

RR: What do you like most about triathlons?
BL: I love being fit, traveling all over the world to compete, and I love the challenge of it; it’s always evolving and I’m always finding things I can work on or improve. And the fact that my husband also trains and races professionally makes it that much more enjoyable.

RR: What is an average day like for you when you’re training?
BL: Up at 5:20am, swim from 6-7:30am, breakfast, work on the computer for a few hours doing e-mails, Jenny’s Light, booking travel, keeping in touch with sponsors, updating my Web site, etc.. Then 1-1.5 hour run midday (or a 2-3 hour ride in the late afternoon with a 3 mile run off the bike), lunch, sneak a 30 min nap in if I can, run errands (groceries, plan meals, etc.), cook dinner (I love to cook!), do some more computer work, watch a little TV with Brian or read a magazine and pass out!

RR: You had one of your best racing years last year. How is that possible after going through such a horrific tragedy?
BL: I have to attribute much of my strength to Jenny and the fact that I wanted to make her proud. She would have wanted me to go on and be successful (and especially make the Olympic Team!). I also felt like I was racing for a greater cause; I knew success would also help the foundation and in turn help spread awareness of PPD and hopefully help save lives.

RR: How do you find balance between competing, Jenny’s Light and your personal life?
BL: It’s tough and I struggle with it from time to time, feeling like I’m overwhelmed with too much on my plate! But thank God I have Brian; he is so great at making me feel better and putting things in perspective. He’s my rock. I sometimes have to take a deep breath, step back, and remember the most important things in life are your health and your family.

Stay tuned for part 4 of the interview.

Photo caption: Becky doing a triathlon in Alcatraz in 2008.

Becky Lavelle of Jenny’s Light Interview (Part 2)

To read part 1 of the interview, click here.

RR: Why did your family want to start a nonprofit?
BL: We were so shocked by our loss and realized later how little we knew about PPD; there was just not enough awareness about it and it made us think that there had to be thousands of other people who were in the same boat. We did not want this type of tragedy to happen to anyone else.

RR: You started Jenny’s Light not long after Jenny’s death. How were you able to do that so quickly?
BL: I think it helped in our grieving, and it gave us something to focus our energy on and helped us make something positive out of something so devastating. It was nice to know we were helping people and saving lives.

RR: Jenny’s Light is one of the fastest growing nonprofits that I’ve seen. What do you attribute to the success of it?
BL: A big part of the success of Jenny’s Light is a direct reflection of the impact Jenny made on so many people; it just shows how many people she touched and how many people loved and cared about her. Our Board of Directors has also worked hard to make it a success - especially my brother Randy who spearheaded a lot of the efforts in getting the Web site up and running, full of content, and always up to date. I think my presence in the triathlon community and the success I had racing last year made it possible to reach a much broader audience and really positively impacted the foundation. Facebook has also been a great vehicle to get people involved in our cause; we have over 5,000 members and have raised over $10,000 through our fan page!

Stay tuned for Part 3 of the interview.

Photo caption: Becky (left) with Jenny and Graham in 2007.

Becky Lavelle of Jenny’s Light Interview (Part 1)

I first read about Jenny’s Light, an organization whose mission it is to improve and save lives by increasing awareness of all perinatal mood disorders including postpartum depression, from an article in the October 2008 issue of Glamour Magazine. The nonprofit was started (and named for) in the memory of Jennifer Gibbs Bankston, who after giving birth to her son Graham, suffered from postpartum depression, took her seven week old son’s life and then her own just days before Christmas in 2007.

I was surprised to find how much I had in common with Jenny’s twin sister (and one of the founders of the organization) Becky Lavelle. Becky and I are both runners (she’s a professional triathlete and 2008 Olympic Games alternate with the body to show for it, and I run marathons as a hobby when I feel like it), we were born 21 days apart (December babies), have mothers named Sandy, both live in Northern California, were married a year apart and tragically lost our sisters a year apart.

I know how helpful it has been for me to talk to others that have lost siblings and to share my sister’s story, so I contacted Becky and asked if she would be willing to share hers.

Ramona Russell: What was it like growing up as a twin?
Becky Lavelle: It was always like having a best friend. We did everything together, dressed alike most of the time (at least until junior high), had the same friends, did the same sports and activities, etc.

RR: How were you and Jenny alike and how were you different?
BL: We never thought we looked much alike but people had a hard time telling us apart when we were young. Our voices sounded almost identical, but our personalities were quite different. Jenny was always the more outgoing, extroverted, type-A one (although I usually did the planning, talking on the phone with our friends), she seemed to make people laugh a lot more than I did, she had this uniqueness about her unlike anyone I will probably ever know. Our family and friends always used to say “That’s just Jenny!” For example, if the whole family is up playing games at the cabin and it’s about 9pm and she’s tired, she just goes to bed! She was never afraid to do her own thing and was never really concerned about what other people might think. I was the more introverted, shy one (even though I was 16 minutes older too), laid back and mellow you could say, but more competitive in nature.

RR: Describe Jenny.
BL: Beautiful, caring, funny, charismatic, athletic, creative, intelligent, kind…she had a way of making people always feel comfortable around her and like they had known her forever. She also loved animals and always walked up to pet other dogs and talk to their owners. She LOVED to shop… it was truly her passion! I would shop with her but let her go through all the racks and she could always pick out the really cute stuff for us. She had such a great sense of style. And she loved home decor… she always wanted to be an interior designer and she would have been an amazing one! She was also very artistic and made numerous watercolors and canvas paintings, pillows, lamp shades… she was just always full of great creative ideas! She helped many of her friends with flower arrangements for their weddings and decorating rooms in their homes. She was always fun to be around, could light up a room, and just her presence drew attention and admiration. I was also always amazed at how friendly she was to random people, store clerks, waitresses, etc. She had so much patience with them and wasn’t afraid to strike up conversation with them.

RR: What signs did you see (if any) regarding Jenny’s postpartum depression?
BL: Jenny never spoke to us about how she really felt. The only outward signs we saw, looking back, were more frequent crying, trouble breast feeding (which can contribute to PPD), lack of sleep (she was definitely a sleeper and loved to take naps), she also did seem to lose the baby weight really quickly (she has always been thin though). We thought all of these things were part of being a new mom and adjusting to motherhood and having to care for a baby.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the interview.

Photo caption: Becky (left) and Jenny at Thanksgiving in 2006.

Kiehl’s Offers Free Products for Green Behavior

Article written by guest blogger Melissa Long

Since its inception in1851, Kiehl’s has made it a priority to serve the world we live in and the people that inhabit it. Kiehl’s has made giving back such an important aspect of their business that they have gained recognition by the National Resources Defense Council as one of the Nation’s Most Environmental Activist. Over the past 150 years, Kiehl’s has even reduced their packaging by 99%. Now that’s going green!

Kiehl’s newest venture to save the world is their Recycle and Be Rewarded Program. For every empty Kiehl’s container you bring to your local store, you will be given a stamping card. Once you collect a certain number of stamps, you start earning free products: bring in three bottles and get lip balm #1, bring in five bottles and get a 2.5 oz travel collection product, or if you are really dedicated to saving the world, bring in 10 bottles and get any full size product of your choice ($25 value). I can’t think of a better combination - saving the world and free beauty products!

Prefer to moisturize to help the environment? You can check out Kiehl’s latest philanthropic effort, the limited edition Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion. Not only does this lotion hydrate skin, but it helps improve skin’s resilience and texture, enrich skin’s moisture barrier and leaves skin looking healthy. You know Kiehl’s is committed to serving the greater good because even the argan oil used in this lotion is fairly traded.

To promote this unique lotion, Kiehl’s has teamed up with professional surfer Kelly Slater, actor Adrian Grenier, musician Erykah Badu, and Parsons the New School of Design, and promised to donate 100% of all proceeds sold from this lotion ( up to $100,000). The generous donation will support Waterkeeper Alliance; a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by Robert Kennedy Jr. to find solutions to the world’s clean water problems.

Be on the lookout, because Kiehl’s is always creating new ways to help our planet. You can learn more about Kiehl’s and their efforts to better our world by checking out www.kiehlsgivesback.com.

For more products that support the environment, go to Uptown Liz.