Go on BID!

Spanky's school is holding a silent auction at the annual Spring Picnic. We're looking for donations like this:

1. If you work for a company or have a business that has a service or product that could be donated, please consider making a donation. Examples: Gift certificates for beauty salon, music or language lessons, hotels, jewelry, makeup, tools, lawn services, auto body work or service, car wash or detailing, clothing, electronics, household items, games.


2. If you have a family member or neighbor that works for a company or has a business that could donate a service or product, please ask them if they could donate.

3. If you have a co-worker or friend with a special skill, such as making ceramics, sewing, wood working, etc. ask them if they could make or donate something.

4. If you don't know anyone, can you ask at the businesses that you patronize, the grocery, your barber, a baker or florist, a convenience store, etc. and see if they would be willing to donate. (Corporations are less likely to donate last minute, but all businesses will ask for a letter with the school information on it.) I will provide a sample letter next week, that folks can copy and use for asking for donations.

5. If you or someone you know travels a lot and has airline vouchers, or hotel coupons, or time-share days somewhere, these also make great items to auction.

6. Maybe you got a gift for the holidays that you didn't need and have not used, re-gifting to the auction is ok if you think someone else might appreciate it!

7. Maybe you have season tickets to the symphony or theater or a sporting event, and could donate one set of tickets to the auction.

8. If you can't do any of the above, consider making or buying something to donate. Here are just a few ideas that sell well:
*Themed gift baskets (movie night, beauty day, coffee break, lotsa pasta dinner, baking time, bucket o' bbq, garden bag, camping kit, game night, travel kit, ethnic foods, sports items)
*International items (unique boutique items, hand made)
*Tools and fishing equipment
*Quilts and afghans
*toy boxes, rocking horses and other wood objects
*Montessori themed toys and works and games
*Emergency Grab and Go kit for family - necessary objects for 3 days survival

So if you have a donation you'd like to make, please email me at mishaleestrunk @ yahoo dot com

***AND***

Check out THIS blog for a really cool auction to help an amazing family go to Africa to help the people there. The bidding opens today and there are some really amazing things to bid on. Go on, get outta here...bid!

this week...

...an update to my scrapbook.com gallery. It's been too long. My scrap skills have been used for many projects, but not really for much real scrapbooking. It was fun to play making these for McKenzie, my SIL serving a mission in London:

(A Bazzill mini album full of embellies, ready for her to add pictures of some of the exciting things she's already seeing in England!)

(A Bazzil Lickety Slip page protector with 4x6 pockets to showcase the lovely people who take the time to write her letters. It's double sided and she can hang it on her walls over the next 18 months.)

...still working on knitting baby hats and soon I'll be stitching them with my new-to-me surger (thank you mommy-in-law, I'm so spoiled.) Plan to hit the DI tomorrow in search of good shirts to use for them. Check out the updates to the mama-to-mama site, they've added receiving blankets to the needs list.

...went to Spanky's Parent/Teacher Conference yesterday. My kid rocks. He's doing so well and he's just blossomed this year.....he's started reading, LOVES math and is kind and helpful to the teachers and other kids. I am truly blessed to have this kid in my life and to have found this awesome Montessori school that fits us to a tee!

...talked to the kids Tuesday about Veterans Day and I happen to have the perfect display...a shadow box of my Grandpas medals with a picure of him in his uniform (so handsome!) Spanky made him a card and drew an American flag on the front, very cute.

...started going to the new gym. Yoga Tuesday night was good, but I started crying from sheer frustration (mostly with myself)...quietly, no one could tell, because the lights were turned off, thank heaven. I really like yoga, it's good for me, but I need a slow deliberate set of movements with focus on breathing and correct positions. This was a little too fast for me and when there was something that was too difficult, there wasn't really an easier option. Like on exercise videos, when there are three people doing the same thing at different levels....yeah, I need that first level. But I have a really good beginners yoga video, so I will keep doing that and keep going to class and soon I'll be a bendy Misha pretzel! I really like the Goddess pose.......it feels so POWERFUL! I wasn't brave enough to go to Pilates last night, so Dig and I did the elliptical machines while Spanky played basketball.

That's what we're up to.......what have you been doing?

Good Stuff for a Good Cause....

SMIC's 2nd Charity Auction is closed! Thanks for bidding and helping us make a difference!

Our theme was family and our talented girls came up with beautiful layouts, mini-albums and more. The auction benefited the Rose Fund! http://www.rosefund.org/ Check it out!