Something to think about – Cake Angels

13/08/201515/08/20154 Comments

While most of the time we know we should eat well, healthy, low sugar, real food, especially our children. We also know, there is a time for cake! Especially when your a kid, and being diagnosed with a serious illness should never get in the way of cake eating on your birthday!!

Enter – Australian Cake Angels! A non-for-profit group who make amazing cakes for sick kids, on their birthdays and other special days.

Cake Angels Network – join the Angels to brighten a sick kids birthday!

The Cake Angel originally started up almost by accident in Melbourne donating the cakes to Ronald McDonald House, by April 2012 they were in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane and they now work with many charities all over Australia.

“Cake Angels is run completely by volunteers, some are hobbyists and some run their own cake decorating business. All have not only a love of baking cakes, but also the desire to support a deserving cause and to make a difference, by bringing a smile to a seriously ill child when we can.”

If you can bake, decorate or (wo)man a cake stall, Have a think about becoming a Cake Angel, surely the best kind of Angel! Check out their Facebook page or Instagram for more information.

Something to think about – Do you KIVA?

17/07/201517/07/20152 Comments

Currently I am very patiently waiting for my monthly KIVA repayments to come in (they start arriving from the 17th of each month), so I can re-loan them to micro loans, in other countries to people I’ve never met… This is a bit different to donating money, time or crochet/knitwear. KIVA is a place where you (in the words of KIVA) “connect millions of people through lending to alleviate poverty”.

KIVA – Loans that change lives

How It Works

1 Choose a borrower
2 Make a loan
3 Get repaid
4 Repeat!

What I really like about KIVA is how it does really help you see that small amounts of money can really make a lot of difference. And while there is a risk of losing your money, through either defaulting borrowers or currency loss, I feel as long as you accept this from the beginning, that’s OK. After all, I’m only going to re-loan the money.

How KIVA works

There is lots of information on the site, KIVA blog or the Teams.

So if you’re interested, have a look at the KIVA Video.

Heres a few tips from me and my KIVA team – especially for those who already have the KIVA bug:

Tip 1: I use keep my Etsy Sales payments in my paypal account for repayment day, to top up any shortfalls or when I have clown my KIVA budget but really want to loan to someone…

Tip 2: KIVA gift cards make great gifts!

Tip 3: You can set up transfers to your KIVA account to coincide with your payday to help you keep to your KIVA budget.

Tip 4: Transfer $25 (or whatever you budget for) into your KIVA account on credit day (17th of the month) so your KIVA credits can build up before you loan them out again. One Loaner called this his “early-credit-repayment-bonus”.

Tip 5: KIVA Credits are return in Field partners alphabetical order. That is Credits with field partners beginning with “A” are returned first.

Tip 6: I’ve learnt most of my KIVA knowledge from my team. Join a team – I’m in three – and get on the message board to learn all the ins and outs of KIVA. You can attribute you loans to a team, which fuels my competitive streak nicely… here’s my team, feel free to join, they’ve very helpful and know much stuff!

Tip 7: Try cleaning the fridge or writing a blog post when waiting for your monthly KIVA credits… its great to see your balance go up a few dollars whenever you go back and refresh the page!

Tip 8: Enjoy the community! Find a group that suits you, join the KIVA page, they also often have facebook pages and blogs. Its a great place to be with like minded people.

What are your tips for managing waiting for KIVA credits? Or sticking to your KIVA budget?

Beautiful People

Well my patiences is paying off, Credits have started coming in, so I’m off to work on step 1. Thanks for helping me entertain myself!

Crochet and Footy..?!

05/05/201507/07/20154 Comments

A friend has been knitting neurons…

OK Vicki, you’re not making sense!!

Last year a group called “Neural Knitworks” made a whole stack of neurons with yarn, 1665 in fact, they then hung them up in an exhibition, which looked amazing!! But why..?

“Neural Knitworks is based on the principle that yarn craft with its mental challenges, social connection, and mindfulness, helps keep our brains healthy and active.

Neural Knitworks events are based on the principle that yarn craft with its mental challenges, social connection, and mindfulness, helps keep our brains and minds sharp, engaged and healthy.
Have fun as you
• design your own woolly neurons, or get inspired by our scientifically-informed knitting, crotchet or knot patterns
• natter with neuroscientists and teach them a few of your crafty tricks
• contribute to a travelling textile brain exhibition
• increase your attention span and test your memory.
Calm your mind and craft your own brain health as you
• forge friendships
• solve creative and mental challenges
• practice mindfulness and relaxation
• teach and learn
• develop eye-hand coordination and fine motor dexterity.”

Sounds pretty good!

So this year, to raise awareness of brain injury in sport, in particular rugby league, my friend is knitting footy neurons!

Today she asked me to join in, and I thought, why not, it’s just a little neuron… turns out they are a bit bigger then the pictures looked, about the size of my hand. But I hunted around and just happen to have the right colours, so here is my #FootyNeuron

Manly Footy Neuron

Other’s heard the call as well!

Footy Neurons

The First two pictures are wrapped/woven, which is perfect if you don’t knit or crochet or if you just want to try something different.

EDIT:

Manly VS Penrith

Floating Yarn Neurons

So if you would like to have a look and find out more, please visit the facebook page – Neural Knitworks or the science week site where you can download the free pattern book. Don’t forget to hastag #FootyNeurons to help spread the word.