Even Baby Ape's Love FLATOUTbears

Some time ago my father was visiting me in Los Angeles and I had signed up to do some volunteer work at the Gibbons Conservation Center and happily he came along. We spent the afternoon clearing brush away from the enclosures to keep the gorgeous singing ape's safe from any fire outbreaks.

I fell in love with the Gibbons and their gorgeous antics while there so was especially touched to see this photo which Prue (the FLATOUTbear founder) sent me!

About Gibbons

Native to the dwindling rain forests of Southeast, South, and East Asia, gibbons are arboreal and considered to be among the world's greatest acrobats. They have the ability to swing from tree to tree distances of 50 feet, at speeds of up to 35 mph, while in trees 200 feet above the ground. This mode of locomotion--swinging under branches while suspended by their hands--is called brachiating. Gibbons are one of the few monogamous primates, and whether on the ground or in the trees, they are known for their dexterity and ability to walk upright. Often referred to as the "songbirds" of the primate family and the most musical land mammal, gibbons can project their voices up to 2 miles through the dense rainforest canopy. Unfortunately, their natural habitat is being destroyed at the alarming rate of 32 acres per minute! This destruction shall guarantee the disappearance of their melodious songs as well.

For more information on Gibbons and how you can help them - visit the Gibbons Conservation Center

Additionally - if you order a FLATOUTbear from Cute-ture.com during August - we will donate 100% of the profit to the Gibbons Conversation Center!

Celebrity Inspires Charity

I was saddened this morning when I heard the Farrah Fawcett had passed away after a very challenging and public battle with cancer. She really fought to the end and her beauty both inside and out will be remembered by many.

As such I am dedicating this months profits (July 2009) from our Read, Recycle and Give program to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

READ, RECYCLE, GIVE

WHAT KIND OF BOOKS

1. We need books in good quality so that they will get bought. Any books that are damaged will not be sold on the site but will be donated to foster homes, children’s homes and homeless shelters.

The golden rule is: If you wouldn’t want them on your living room shelves, very likely nobody else will either so please help us by sending books that you would buy.

2. Cute-ture focuses on children’s lines, so the books should be for children (from 0 up to 12 years old)

3. Send the books!

Simply mail the books to:

PO Box 575
Beverly Hills, CA, 90213

Each month, we will do a random draw from those who have donated that month, and you could win a wonderful item from Cute-ture's site.

4. Check out our recycled book list regularly as each purchase will go 100% to charity!! Voila – you have helped us full cycle. This is the link - but as you will see - there is no books yet (since this is the first week) so please bookmark it and keep coming back. Read, Recycle, Give.

Weekly Give-away

Today we are giving away ONE fantastic toiletry bag from a New York Designer. All you have to do to for an entry and chance to win, is either of the following (or do both if you want to double your chances)

1. Get two friends to become FANS of Cute-ture on our Facebook and email me the names of those two friends so I can confirm they did. What's in it for them (other than all the lastest news on the cutest things ever) is that they also automatically entered.

2. OR – leave a comment on our blog about what has inspired you this week (friends, pets, shopping etc) and/or made you smile. Don't worry - your email address will not appear on the blog.

Its that simple!!

Give the Gift of a Crocodile

The holidays are fast approaching and with the economy on the slide and each of us becoming more aware of the effects of climate change, wars, poverty and hunger, there has never been a better time to buy a crocodile and can of worms as a gift.

What you ask? Okay – so if a crocodile for mom and a can of worms for your nephew are not quite your style, how about a spinning wheel or a pair of oxen.

Tracey has lost her mind I hear you say….

This year, my family are going to get some of the funkiest and fun presents I have ever sent and it will all be in the name of helping others. The incredible team at OxFam have come up with the most interesting items that will help others around the world.

Here is what a crocodile, can of worms, two oxen and spinning wheel provide - click here to visit Oxfam Unwrapped.

Raise a Crocodile:
It's not for everyone, but it's a gift that's got some bite! Help raise a crocodile in areas where the caiman population has been depleted. This resilient reptile is more than just a jaw-gnashing croc; it also provides ecological and economic benefits—as well as food!

Can of Worms:
Here's one can of worms that friends and loved ones sure won't mind opening! More than a can, our pound of worms provides farmers with an indispensable tool for cultivating their land. Not only do these squirmy creatures produce fertilizer, but they also break down organic compounds in the earth and enrich land for farming. Now that's a gift that should worm its way into anyone's affections.

The Oxen:
A mighty gift! Legend has it that Paul Bunyan's ox dug the Grand Canyon. Imagine what Paul might have accomplished with two! With a pair of oxen to cultivate their land, small farmers can increase their yields from 200 to 400 percent. And they can rent their animals at a reasonable cost to other farmers. Oxen reduce the time women spend doing manual labor—like tilling fields and hauling water—and allow families the time and space to diversify their crops. Sound like a tall tale? It's not: it's a larger-than-life gift.

Spinning Wheel:
Help women spin themselves a better future! The gift of a spinning wheel is an important way to help women make a living. Used to spin fibers for crafting baskets and rugs, this gift makes spinning more efficient and consistent, which reduces women's workloads and also means higher quality products to sell.

So get whacky and feel wonderful this Christmas for changing a life.

Its Time to Think Christmas (or other religious or non religious gift giving event....)

Its time to think Christmas (or other religious or non religious gift giving event…)

In the past I have been one of those organized people that actually likes to get my gift giving shopping out of the way 8 months ahead of Christmas. It was a combination of not liking crowded spaces and not shopping under pressure especially when our busiest season in business is December.

I love the holidays so knowing that all I had to do for Christmas was gift-wrap meant I could actually expend my energy on parties and catching up with friends. But even better than getting in any buying gifts early I have been so happy to discover the gift of charity – not only can you do this last minute, but you really feel good about it.

I suggested to my family two years ago that perhaps instead of trying to send gifts across the world in the crazy mail season, that we could forgo the gift wrap (save a tree), not need to use the excess gas (driving to the store, driving for 45 minutes trying to get a parking spot, ship it via a postal van, airline and back to postal van for arrival at our door) and instead find a charity gift for each other that truly reflects how much we love each other.

This year I sent my family the gift of Operation Smile. I figured that when I think of my family, it makes me smile, and hence it truly reflected how I felt.

Throughout the world, Operation Smile volunteers repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable healthcare systems for children and families. Together, with donations they create smiles, change lives and heal humanity. I couldn’t possibly give my family anything better than this!!

My family was all thrilled to receive this and I was thrilled to receive their gifts of charity as well. Its pretty cool knowing that the gift my little brother gave me for Christmas is providing a small remote villager in China, an annual income he can live off through the sales of the wool that the sheep in my name provides them.

Yes you heard right – my brother gave me a sheep!

I thought it was brilliant though am a little worried how he decided that it reflected his thoughts of me….

But then again the year before I got a goat!

So – get the holiday engines in gear and I challenge you to find the perfect charity gift for your family this year! I wonder where I can get a pig…..