Power of a Purse

I love purses. In fact I love them more than shoes. Although shoes are a very close second. But I love myself a good handbag - and I have a few, ok a lot too many. Since having Ace though there are many that I just can't use. Sure I could break them out for the one afternoon I get a little freedom without the boy. Sure I could carry my cute purse and a diaper bag. Sure I could save them until I am through with the diaper carrying phase of life (and for a select few dozen, I am.) However, for 9 of my bags, it's time for them to find a new home. Last year I sold at least a dozen when I had a yard sale - and planned to do a similar purge again this summer at another yard sale - and then upon one of my strolls through the internet I happened across Mother's & More.

Every year they have a campain - Power of a Purse. According to their website:

The Power of a Purse Mother’s Day Campaign is designed to raise awareness of mothers’ economic issues through the act of collecting new or gently used purses for mothers in need. The purse symbolizes a woman's economic power, something we wish for all women, especially mothers in need. No matter where a mother is on the social ladder, there is “power in her purse” having money of her own to control, to buy things and provide for herself and her children. Mothers & More’s goal is to collect 10,000 purses for mothers in need this Mother’s Day.

Mothers & More chapters around the country are organizing Power of a Purse campaigns in their communities. Each chapter is collecting new or gently used purses this Mother’s Day season. Our chapters have partnered with organizations that directly impact the daily lives of mothers in need to receive the collected purses and, in some cases, items to go into those purses and events to celebrate the power of those purses.

And I thought what a great cause - my purses certainly can be loved by someone else less fortunate than me, and I don't need to recoop $1 at a yard sale for them because of it. Unfortunataly there is only one location in the Northwest, but it was worth the trek to deliver the bags. The bags that are donated for this campaign from this chapter will be going to benefit a center for battered women.

If you are interested in donating some of your purses to this cause, click here to find a chapter of Mother's & More near you.

Bye bye, purses! You will be missed!

Hair Donating

Today I cut my hair in order to donate it to cancer patients. For the last several years I have wanted to do it. However, I didn't realize that it needed to be dye free so the last time I grew it out it wasn't able to be donate. Well I've been dye free for several years now and my hair has grown the distance necessary to donate and summer is almost here! So what better time than to start the summer off with a new short cut. Truthfully I am not a huge fan of short hair on myself. I like the ease of being about to tie it up in a knot and go. (Even before I was a mom I enjoyed this luxury.) However, I've always wanted to donate my hair.

Why? To be honest I haven't been so introspective to give you a detailed answer other than I feel it is important to do. Like most people in this world my life has been touched by cancer. Not personally mind you. I have never had a cancer scare. My grandfather had liver cancer and he ultimately passed in part because of it - he lived a full life and wasn't nearly as afflicted by it as some people are. A friend of mine from college, her mother is battling a relapse of cancer right now. You can follow her story here. Overall, I think that I just want to help someone feel good about themselves during this time. Now for some that doesn't mean a wig, but for some it truly does and for that person I'm happy to be able to do what I can.

So after measuring, researching where to donate, and discussing with the husband the best post-donation hair-do; I made my appointment and headed to the salon with my son and friend Stacy to make the cut. Ace did very well only fussing toward the end - he was content with Stacy holding him. When I was all done and ready to go I went to hold Ace and he wouldn't come to me - he clung to Stacy and his little mouth pouted and his eyes started to well up, he didn't recognize his mommy. It only took a moment or two for him to adjust, and he seems to be more than fine now.