Give a Little Bit

Just as I was seriously lamenting the rampant commercialization of the holiday season (4 Am shopping anyone??), I received an e-mail from Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of WHALE SONG, regarding THIS.

For those of you who don't want to click through, I will summarize by saying there's an organization called ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S ENRICHMENT, or ACE for short, whose mission is to help less fortunate families. Each year they compile a list of of names, ages, and holiday gift wishes of children who live at poverty level, and apparently, the hardest category to fill is teens, many of whom will receive no gifts to open.

I'm already a supporter of several different charities, but what really struck me about this particular list is that these teens weren't asking for the latest iPhone or Juicy Couture handbag, they were asking for things like school supplies, and books! A few of them even asked for my books! And it tugged at my heart so much, I wasted no time in contacting the charity, to see how I could help.

I ended up sponsoring two different teens, and the joy I received while wrapping and sending those gifts--- was a gift in itself.

Year of the Cat, Dog, Horse, Rabbitt, Bird, etc.

I'm blogging over HERE today, talking about my favorite childhood pets, so why not stop by and tell me all about yours??

Blue Monday

This is a picture of the BEST SAXOPHONIST EVER!!! Seriously. This guy is amazing and I was lucky enough to see him play last Saturday night with the also amazing Johnny V. And, of course, as usual for me, I forgot his name mere seconds after learning it. . .but I think it's Walter. . .at any rate, he truly rocks, and if you get a chance to see them, don't hesitate, just GO!!

Also, I wanted to give thanks to everyone who showed up and volunteered for the Young Women's Health Conference on December 1, it was an amazing event, and all 140 participants went home with an autographed copy of SAVING ZOE!

Okay, back to work for me-- Have a good week everyone!

Young Women's Health Conference

Hey Everyone--
Just wanted you to know that tomorrow I'll be HERE.

So, if you're in the area, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Have a good weekend!

Alyson

Basket of Cheer!

Back by popular demand, one of the coolest contests ever:
The Teenreads.com Basket of Cheer contest!

Five winners each will receive a basket that includes the 12 books pictured above --- THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie; GUYAHOLIC by Carolyn Mackler; HERO by Perry Moore; I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU by Ally Carter; INCANTATION by Alice Hoffman; THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen; MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC by Gabrielle Zevin; PERFECT: Pretty Little Liars #3 by Sara Shepard; THE RED QUEEN’S DAUGHTER by Jacqueline Kolosov; RETURN TO ATLANTIS by R.A. Montgomery; SAVING ZOE by Alyson Noel; and WICKED LOVELY by Melissa Marr.

Along with the books, winners will find their basket stocked with the hottest holiday goodies --- a kit to make a gingerbread house, Ghirardelli Rich Dark Hot Chocolate mix, gourmet vanilla marshmallows, sweet-smelling cinnamon sticks, delicious Chewy Peps peppermint candies, adorable winter-themed cookies, an Illuminations Cranberry Orange jar candle, very cute reindeer socks, Junior Mints Peppermint Crunch candy, a marshmallow Christmas tree pop, and holiday-colored bath confetti.

To enter Click here

Best of Luck!!