#MailCall: #ProductTrials & #Samples #NonProfits #Causes #TryB4

Looks like I'll be trying and reviewing some vitamins over the next few weeks, as I received a product trial kit yesterday via UPS. I also got an Amazon order, a coupon for a free Noosa Yogurt, some lovely (surprise) note cards from The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation along with a donation request, and some organic mesclun lettuce seeds from Tasty Bite's The Good Seed program where one is provided with free seeds to grow produce and asked to share a successful harvest with a local food bank. I participated last year, but unfortunately the seeds I received never propagated. (Although I tended to them diligently, I think the extreme drought may have been too much for squash.) Hopefully, this round will bear fruit.

I'm nearly ready to start planting my garden this year.

Engineered to #Drink: Stainless Steel Insulated #Tumblers Are Nifty #Gifts

For all of about 5 minutes, I "owned" one of those vacuum sealed stainless steel double insulated tumblers that can keep drinks cold for ~16 hours or hot for ~8 hours. (Customized with the sponsoring organization's logo, this Glacier cup was given out as an attendee gift at a Women's History Month program --- and I was handed one.) I love the idea of these things and dig the engineering that created them but of course, I couldn't keep it when I knew that it would be better served elsewhere.

Customizable Glacier Tumbler

Thus, I gave it to someone for whom being able to keep beverages at a set temperature for extended periods is more important, namely my "twin," as he is pretty much in a police car all day on patrol. When it's very hot or very cold out, I worry about him more than I normally would. Knowing that he can fill this tumbler with an appropriate beverage to stay hydrated and either cool off or warm up accordingly will help ease my mind. (It's funny when you think about it. He's the one with a gun strapped to his side, but I'm totally protective of him.) I, on the other hand, telecommute. If I need a hot or a cold beverage, I merely walk into the kitchen. A cup like that is overkill. Still neat though.

#WorldWaterDay: #H2O Is #Life! #GiveBack #Donate #BlackRanger #BuyALadyADrink #waterbaby #watersign

I'm a water baby, some would go so far as to say a nymph. They might not be wrong. (Naiad, Nereid, or Oceanid are all Greek to me. When in Ireland, I'm a seal Selkie.) I was born under a water sign, obviously. I have always been attracted to bodies of water. The first time I saw the ocean as a child, I apparently ran toward it as if greeting an old friend --- and this was merely the Atlantic. The first time I witnessed the Pacific, I nearly lost it. I danced across the beach. The feeling is mutual. Water loves me, too. Whenever I go near the Ocean he tries to splash me. I get chased by Waves. I laugh. It's a game we play.

World Water Day

I say all this as a preface to the day. Today is World Water Day. (Water nymphs everywhere celebrate!) Water is life. We all need it, must have it, and unfortunately there are still far too many people without access to potable water. We can change this. Give clean water, sustain life.

There are several great charities --- like Thirst Project and Water.org --- working to bring potable water to areas in need. Pick one ....or two or three. DONATE. VOLUNTEER. GET ON IT! (Steps down from soap box.)

A few links to check out, a mere starting point:
1. http://www.stellaartois.com/en_us/buy-a-lady-a-drink.html
2. https://www.thirstproject.org/powerrangers/

First Day of #Spring: #VernalEquinox International #DayofHappiness + @DairyQueen #FreeConeDay

At 6:28a EDT this morning, Spring will officially arrive --- though it has seemingly been visiting all Winter as temperatures were consistently 10-20 degrees above normal --- with the Vernal Equinox. While I do not look forward to the allergen explosion, I do appreciate mild weather (and gardening season). So pup and I will get out for a leisurely sojourn this afternoon, after work.

Today is also the United Nations designated International Day of Happiness. Considering it's been shown that Winter can bring on the blues and blahs, it's only appropriate that the arrival of Spring should bring happiness. Expect smiles.

And finally, today is also DQ Free Cone Day! Dairy Queen celebrates its partnership with the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals by giving away a free small soft-serve vanilla cone in exchange for a donation to CMN Hospitals. Valid at participating (non-mall) Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill locations. Limit 1 small cone per customer. Since launching the promotion in 1984, Dairy Queen has raised more than $110 million for CMN Hospitals. If you're near a DQ, pop in, donate to support a good cause and get a free ice cream. Ice cream equals happiness in my book.

All around, looks to be a top notch day. Carpe diem!

Enter Codes on Specially Marked #GeneralMills Products 2 #Help #FeedingAmerica #OutnumberHunger + Get a Free #Pandora Plus #Trial

If you buy General Mills products, look out for specially marked packages with a promotional code on them (products feature an on-package ad mentioning Feeding America and Thomas Rhett). 

For every code entered by January 31, 2018, General Mills will donate 45-cents ---- enough to secure 5 meals on behalf of local food banks --- to Feeding America. Maximum total donation of $700,000. (GM has already donated $500,000 and will donate up to another $200,000 based upon online code entry and other consumer actions.) To enter codes or for more information on the program, go to OutnumberHunger.com.

To thank consumers for helping, code submitters can get access to stream an exclusive mixtape from multi-platinum, singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett and some of his friends at Big Machine Label Group that's only available on Pandora streaming service. (Code submitters get an offer for a FREE Pandora Plus trial in order to stream the mixtape.)

I will update this list as I come across more participating products, but so far I've discovered codes on:

Totino's Party Pizza

I wanted to get the word out. Please if you get codes, enter them. It only takes a few moments of your time and you may help someone in need. Hunger is no joke. This is an easy way to help combat a very manageable problem. (Now, I'll step down off my soap box.)

Spreading Good #Cheer! @DrinkCheerwine #ROAK

I happened to catch a tweet the other day, wherein a fellow Tastemaker in the Cheerwine Authentic Soda Society stated that although she loved telling others about Cheerwine, she loves the soda so much she's had a difficult time sharing her coupons. This made me chuckle.

I'm lucky, however, I've got more than enough Cheerwine to share. As mentioned earlier, I ended up with 25 coupons, each one good for a Free* 12-Pack of Cheerwine, Diet Cheerwine or Cheerwine Squeeze. Yes, twenty-five free 12-Packs of soda! So far, I've redeemed 10 coupons (and have 15 left). But don't worry, I'm not drinking all that soda by myself. I've been sharing with everyone, family, friends and neighbors alike. Sometimes handing out single cans, sometimes handing over entire 12-packs --- introducing new folks to this iconic soda brand.

I enjoy spreading good cheer and good Cheerwine. In my book, these are one in the same.

*Note: The Cheerwine Free 12-Pack coupon is good for up to $4.49 value, which is apparently the going rate for a 12-pack in the Salisbury, NC area, but here in the metro Atlanta area 12-packs regularly cost $4.99+, thus one will generally end up having to pay $0.70-$1.00 difference when redeeming a coupon.

Easy #GivingBack w/ @Kroger #CommunityRewards + #AmazonSmile

If you happen to shop at Kroger (or its family of stores) or online at Amazon.com, there's an easy way to donate to charity!

Kroger has a program called Community Rewards [kroger.com/communityrewards] which donates a percentage of your purchases to the designated charity of your choice (picked from a list of charities that have registered with the program). Purchases are tracked via your Kroger Plus card, so as long as you scan it with every transaction your purchases will be credited to your tally. Any funds for which you qualify are donated quarterly. It's free to join and makes for a simple way to send automatic donations to a cause you wish to support.

Amazon has a similar program called AmazonSmile [smile.amazon.com] which also donates a percentage of your qualifying purchases to the designated charity of your choice (picked from a list of charities that have registered with the program) as long as you start every shopping session at the AmazonSmile URL above. If you shop at Amazon a lot (and I do) you can easily generate tidy little sums for a favorite cause. It's free to join, too.

I have the same charity, a local Boxer Rescue, designated on both programs. If you know me, you know that I'm a dog person. I like dogs more than people generally and I specifically support rescuing Boxers in honor of my boy, the big brother of my current doggy, who's unfortunately no longer with us. (My girl was a stray pup on the streets who followed me and my boy home from one of our daily sojourns. My boy took her in and treated her like a little princess from day one.) 

My boy was generous to a fault --- a true Great Dog, whose memory deserves every honor I can bestow upon it. My neighbors still reminisce about him. They've all got hysterical stories featuring the big lug. He was a treasure of epic proportions, literally a big dog with a giant heart. I can't thank him enough for blazing a path of light through my life during the time I was lucky enough to share with him.

There's no excuse to prevent you from signing up and supporting a cause as dear to you. No excuse!