If Yo Yo Ma and Dr. Seuss were to make a baby...

It may grow up to do something along the lines of THIS:

KING FM, the Seattle Classical music station is doing a drive for new or gently used Children's books and Classical Music CD's.

(maybe) Unlike you, I don't have a ton of used Children's Books or Classical Music CD's laying around (if they do a drive for washed up one-hit-wonders, that'd be awesome), but you know who does? Half Priced Books and they run anywhere between $1.50-$3.00/book. And the best part about this entire Book/CD Drive (errr, besides playing a role in expanding the creative horizons of children who may not have otherwise had this opportunity?) - the drop of location. You can drop your book or CD at any Cafe Ladro Locations. And when you do, have a soy latte and GIANT peanut butter cookie for me (they are the nearest thing to heaven we have in this city)



Half Priced Books Locations:

Greenwood: 9241 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle - (206) 297-6820
UDist: 4709 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle - (206) 547-7859
Capitol Hill: 115 Belmont Ave E, Seattle - (206) 267-7777

Sole Searching

Seattle,
We have a really exciting giving back opportunity in front of us. The wonderfully brilliant ladies over at Girl Power Hour have asked me to put the word out about Soles 4 Souls. It's a world wide organization that was organized in the wake of the Asian Tusnami. They also lend a hand after Katrina. And since becoming a real non-profit they distributed product to people in need in over 40 countries on 5 continents, including the U.S., Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Swaziland, Sudan, Uganda, Romania, Iraq, Peru, Thailand, and Nepal.

Next Thursday, February 21st, the ladies at GPH will be collecting shoes for Soles 4 Souls.

Here is where you come in...

THIS Sunday, February 17th, I'll be driving around collecting your donations, should you have any. Soles 4 Souls collects gently used mens, womens, and children's shoes. If you have donations, please email me at amanda.akin@gmail.com.

Or should you feel obliged, come and join myself, Darnell, and a whole host of other ladies at TWIST (2313 First Ave, Seattle, WA 98121) in BellTown from 630-830pm.

Come on Climb the Stairs! Climb Them!

Woot Woot! (sorry, I've been bombarded by bad 90's one-hit-wonders lately)

Seattle, We're Climbing! Stay tuned for GBNB details, fundraiser's and fashion forward climbing attire.

It's going to be a good time, promise.

High-fives and Sweat Bands,
GBNB

Serving Food is the Disco Dancing

Seattle,

We had so much fun on Wednesday. There were laughs, high-fives, and lots of stories. The Gentlemen were extremely greatful for a change in cuisine (we had tacos from Taco del Mar severed to order, salad, fruit, vitamin water, and apple and cherry pie).

Nine Lives Willy was there, along with all the other familiar faces. Next time we serve, you should come. We all decided we'd rather be serving on any-given-Wednesday than anywhere in Bell Town on a Friday Night, promise.

Taco's and Ay Ay Ay's,
GBNB

To Climb or To Dash

Hi All!

I hope this finds you and your 2008 full of fun events and all sorts of good things :)

We've got a Giving Back Dilemma...The St. Patrick's Day Dash and The Stair Climb for Leukemia are on the same day (Sunday March 16th, 2008). I am sure you are with me when you think, "how do I have the MOST fun and make the biggest impact?" Right?

So, here I am testing the waters - What do you all have in mind? I had planned on forming a team for the Climb and doing a fundraising event close to the date of The Climb. And we all know The Dash can be loads of fun and I could create a fundraising event around it.

Have any of you signed up for either? I'd love to have your feed back so together, we can make the biggest impact and have the most fun!

Running Shoes and Sweat Bands,
Amanda

Going Down for Something Good.

Vertical Express helps benefit the Heuga Center for MS (Multiple Sclerosis) located in Colorado. I know this isn't a local effort, however, we have to wait until September to give big to our Local MS Chapter. And, as most know there is something in what ever we have here in the Pacific Northwest that makes me and you and you over there in the East Side more susceptible to MS (for more info go HERE)

I know LOTS of you head out to Crystal Mountain every weekend. Why not gather 2 other ppl, click here, and let your co-workers know you'll be hitting the slopes for a good cause.

Heck, if you create a team and a profile, I'll donate money myself. Just send me your link at amanda.akin@gmail.com.

For Complete info on Vertical Express at Crystal Mountain go HERE

Serving Opportunity January 30th

Hi All!

I hope at least one of your was out an about in the AMAZING weather we had today. How much do you love this city when the sun is shining? I have a feeling I ran into one or more of you at the Ballard Farmers Market, thanks for saying "hi" :)

On January 30 I'll be spear heading a dinner at the First United Methodist Church on 5th and Columbia. For you non-denomination folks -this church simply lends their basement to the people who run the house, it's got nothing to do with God, but a whole lot to do with love. So, if you like love but stay away form God, this is a good opportunity for you!

We'll be serving food to 45-50 men at 5:30 in the evening. We've got Taco Del Mar doing the catering, so well need at least 6 sets of hands to serve the food. We'll also be putting together snack bags for the men to take to work the next day which will require participation before the 30th. So if you want to take part, but can't make the 30th, you should volunteer for snack bags :)

I have all the supplies that we need. I just need you, and you, and you.

I've had more fun hanging out with these guys on any given Wednesday than I've had on a busy Friday night in Bell Town. If you're in, let me know @ amanda.akin@gmail.com.

ps- You'll have the chance to meet Nine-Lives-Willy