mrkt by ABL
  • mrkt
  • checkout {blog}
  • inventory {work}
  • abl
  • speak to the manager
  • mrkt
  • checkout {blog}
  • inventory {work}
  • abl
  • speak to the manager
mrkt by ABL

Checkout what's new
Things i've got my eye on

in the zone: overstock kid zone

8/14/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
I've always loved school. Back-to-school was my favorite time of year when I was a kid and I always approached the first day of school with excitement. As I prepare (physically, with school supplies, and emotionally, with tissues handy) to send my first-born to kindergarten in less than three weeks (omg), I've obviously got school on the brain. 

For all the families getting ready to go back to school or go for the first time, or maybe if you're homeschooling and need gear: Overstock has partnered with the fabulous PBS KIDS (which is on quite a bit at my house) to create the Overstock Kid Zone.

There are several categories within the shop that include products for school (supplies, desks, and watches to keep older kids on schedule), artistic expression (easels, paint supplies, and craft kits), learning through play (tablets, science activities, play kitchens, dress up clothes), and kids' rooms (beds, storage, and decor). 

The Kid Zone page also links directly to PBS KIDS videos and activities families can do together. Best of all, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of products purchased from the Kid Zone goes to support PBS KIDS and its mission of educating children.  I know as long as my daughter has access to Peg+Cat and Plum Landing for a long time to come, she'll be happy. And since some students, like my godchildren, have already started back to school: I wish learners of all ages a happy and enriching year!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture


images via overstock

Xx a
0 Comments

resolution resolve: serena & lily world repair kit

1/3/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
There are all kinds of resolutions that can be made when the calendar flips to a new year. And while trying to improve ourselves is always worthy, I think the best goals are the ones that involve helping others and making our communities or world a better place to live in. 

On Serena & Lily's website, I found the World Repair Kit.  Inside the kit is a guidebook, stamps, stickers, and a passport to track progress. It is geared for children, but also for families to work together. The kit fosters engagement with the world around us and gives children a sense of agency and lets them know that they can help to make meaningful change. Throughout the guidebook, kids are encouraged to believe in themselves and to create goals to work toward. 

The guidebook's illustrations are graphic and fun, and clearly illustrate big concepts in easy to understand ways. I love this kit because it empowers kids to take on serious issues in age-appropriate language and also offers them ways to help that play to their individual interests or talents: Issues discussed include homelessness, environmental conservation, protecting endangered species, hands-on ways to help those in need of clean water, shelter, food, education, and health care, and being a good citizen of the world. Holding a clothing drive or bake sale, creating friendship bracelets to sell, and hosting a world repair party are just some of the kid-friendly ideas suggested.

100% of the profits from the kit go to the Serena & Lily Foundation which funds youth initiatives worldwide.

Though the kit is recommended and most appropriate for kids ages 8 and up, it's never too early to teach children about the world and our place in it, and our responsibility for making it better. My non-personal goal this year is to do more volunteering because I really miss it, and I want to get my four-year-old daughter involved. My parents involved us in service projects at a young age and I have no doubt that it played a significant role in my lifelong interest in volunteering and affected my perspective on the world. 

I distinctly remember going with my parents to load bags for a food bank to deliver, my earliest memory of volunteering. Since then I've helped package meals, cook meals, serve meals, organized a toy drive, helped shop for winter necessities for families, all for various organizations, but I know I can, and should, do so much more.

Do you volunteer? Do you involve your kids? I'd love to hear about the causes that matter to you!


Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture


images via serena & lily

Xx a
0 Comments

good cookies: oxo and cookies for kids' cancer

9/3/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I wasn't originally going to take a break from posting, but then I decided to give myself the days off, especially since I was in a temporary lull from deadlines for my freelance work. I felt guilty about it, but I'm glad I did. We spent a day at the state fair, cooked out twice, swam, and had a good time. My mom even made homemade funnel cake, yum!

But school starts tomorrow and it is already jeans and long-sleeve weather here today, though I hope that doesn't last.


Most of you probably know about the brand OXO, and you probably have some of their kitchen and storage solutions in your house right now; I do. Of course, they do more, but one of the best things OXO does is partner with Cookies for Kids' Cancer, a non-profit organization founded by two of their employees, Gretchen and Larry Witt. 

Many of us in magazines know Gretchen from her PR work for OXO. I was working at O Magazine in 2007 when her then-two-year-old son Liam was diagnosed with a rare cancer. At Traditional Home, we had just months before honored Gretchen (as a Classic Woman Award recipient for her work raising money and awareness for pediatric cancer), when Liam lost his courageous battle in January 2011. 

When starting the treatment process with their son, the Witts were surprised to learn that despite pediatric cancer being the #1 disease killer of children, there was a significant lack of funding for research and development of safer, more effective treatments. They dedicated themselves to raising money for the cause, and have done so through huge bake sales. The foundation provides the tools and support for fundraising bake sales of all sizes and their own gourmet cookies are for sale at their website. 

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and OXO is partnering with Cookies for Kids' Cancer for their annual program: for each specially-marked OXO baking product sold, 25 cents goes to Cookies for Kids' Cancer as part of its pledge to donate up to $100,000. 

Picture




look for this sticker on 
select OXO products!

Picture

The OXO Good Grips products that give back are (shown above): Cupcake Icing Knife, Cupcake Corer, Egg Beater, Cookie Press, Cookie Spatula, Cake Tester, Bent Icing Knife, 3-in-1 Egg Separator, Brownie Spatula, Plastic Measuring Spoons, Plastic Measuring Cups, Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons, Stainless Steel Measuring Cups, and the Silicone Pastry Brush

I know it's a little early to think about the holidays, but if you plan on upgrading or replacing any of your baking tools prior to cookie-baking season, please consider the specially-marked OXO Good Grips products. 

I am thankful to have two currently healthy daughters, but I know others who are, or have been, where the Witts were, including a friend of mine. I was honored to meet the unfailingly positive Liam, and his parents are a constant inspiration. Each year, in honor of my daughters' birthdays, I make a donation to Cookies for Kids' Cancer. 

Please be a "Good Cookie" and participate! Click here to buy online.


images via OXO

Xx a
0 Comments
    #checkout this blog with shop-themed puns

    archives

    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    categories

    All
    Accessories
    A La Plage
    Amalfi Coast
    Amanda Nisbet
    Anthropologie
    Architecture
    Art
    Back To School
    Baking
    Bath
    Beach
    Beauty
    Bedding
    Bell
    Bicycle
    Black Crow Studios
    Books
    Botanical Garden
    Cape Town
    Carrier And Company
    Cary Grant
    Charity
    Closet
    Color
    Consumerism
    Consumption
    Coogee Beach
    Culture
    Decorative
    Design
    Designer Collaboration
    Designer Collaboration
    Desk
    Diy Envy
    Entertaining
    Exhibit
    Fabric
    Fall
    Family
    Fashion
    Flowers
    Food/drink
    Freedom
    Freelance Work
    Fun
    Furniture
    Gift
    Gift Fair
    Giveaway
    Gray Malin
    Halloween
    Hampton Designer Showhouse
    Hamptons
    Hardware
    Holidays
    Icff
    Inexpensive
    Inspiration
    Interior Designers
    Interior-designers
    In The Details
    In-the-details
    Jewelry
    Katie Ridder
    Kelly Wearstler
    Kids
    Kips Bay Designer Showhouse
    Kitchen
    Lbls
    Lifestyle
    Lighting
    Lisbon
    Luxe
    Maison Gray
    Men
    Montreal
    Moody
    Music
    Nature
    New York State Fair
    Nonprofit
    Office
    Organic
    Organize
    Outdoors
    Paint
    Palette
    Paola Navone
    Paperless Post
    Peach
    Personal Care
    Philanthropy
    Photography
    Pillows
    Poketo
    Pool
    Popsicle
    Product
    Redbook
    Rugs
    Sales
    Season
    Showhouse
    Stationery
    Storage
    St Tropez
    Studio Four
    Summer
    Sydney
    Syracuse
    Tabletop
    Tech
    Textiles
    Tilton Fenwick
    Tom Scheerer
    Tracy Hiner
    Traditional Home
    Trays
    Trend
    Vacation
    Vintage
    Wallpaper
    Weddings
    Women

    RSS Feed

    © 2014  |  mrkt