Be an Organ Donor!

I don't know if I had previously registered as an organ donor previously because my drivers license doesn't indicate that, but I just registered at my state's online registry to be certain. This site helps you find your state's registry. I can't speak to the process for other states, but Arizona's took about a minute. Yay!

It's not something that is fun to think about, but you never know when you will be in an accident or something. I take comfort in knowing that my accidental death could potentially save three peoples' lives with my organs!

Cards for Olivia

Rodriguez Designs is putting a call out to card makers. The blogger's cousin's little daughter is hospitalized for a brain tumor and would appreciate receiving tons of cards. Go to this post for details on making and sending cards.

I am not really a gifted cardmaker, but I made the following card to send to her.

Aidan's Monsters

I read a news story yesterday about a five year old boy named Aidan with Leukemia who is selling his artwork on Etsy to pay for his own cancer treatment and help his parents keep their house!

I realized that I get really happy over anything that combines good entrepreneurship with good causes, and the fact that this is done by a five year old is just really amazing. I bought three of his prints yesterday. I a sucker for causes that make me want to help them!! Below are some of my favorite drawings of Aidan's. You can also check out his family's blog, here.

Sustainable Futures

I recently went back to Idaho to visit friends and family, and my dad showed me this store/program called Sustainable Futures that really blew me away.


Sustainable Futures sells glasses, candles, vases and more made from reclaimed bottles. Restaurants, bars and individuals donate glass bottles from wine, spirits and whatever else to be used in Sustainable Futures's products. Sustainability at its best! Taking trash and making it into beautiful, functional things!!


I think the coolest part about Sustainable Futures is the futures part. Their employees are all women who would otherwise be mostly unemployable, including recent releases from prison, refugees and at-risk youth. These women are given an awesome job making glass products and even receive career training that they can use to find a better job elsewhere! The training includes life skills, career help, language skills, and a whole array of programs that would be incredibly valuable to these women. The owner, Carlyn Blake, indicated that Sustainable Futures has a 80% success rate in terms of its employees staying out of prison permanently. That's so awesome!!


I bought a matching set of three soy candles from the Sustainable Futures store while I was in Boise. They smell wonderful and look amazing. I couldn't be happier to support such a winning organization, where every part of the supply chain has such striking positive externalities!

A Shark Sanctuary!

A little tiny island country in the pacific ocean has banned commercial fishing around its shores. Palau is protecting over 130 shark and ray species. Does America have a shark sanctuary? Does Australia? Or China or any other major country? Noooo! Palau did, with an economy based partially ON fishing and a GDP of $192 million! (For reference, the US State with the smallest economy, Vermont, has a GDP over 100 times that!! Palau doesn't really have the resources to police the fishing ban, what with one boat. This Blog talks about Palau's shark sanctuary some. And here is a neat article about it. I am just so pleased that this is happening. This wonderful little country setting an example for us big, fat, complacent countries. I was hoping to find a reliable link to somewhere to donate for the Palau shark sanctuary cause, but am failing utterly. Here are some cute Etsy shark things instead. Click the links to go to the listings!