Recently my cousin got engaged and at his engagement party he and his bride to be, in lieu of gifts for the guests, made a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  The reason behind this was a few years ago, my uncle (his father) passed away from complications following a stroke.  Apparently this is becoming more common at all types of events, even birthdays - and I thought it was a wonderfully thoughtful idea.  First of all, it saves my mantle from one more dust collecting bowl/vase/knick knack and actually, it inspired me when it came time to plan my holiday party at my yoga studio.

So here's the deal, to help celebrate, I'm doing a holiday fundraiser.   Here's what I'm doing for my "I ♥ YOGA" day:

• 1. I'm asking my students to do some fundraising, they can collect pledges the old school way with that envelope (you remember the one) from all their friends and family or we have this nifty, easy online way and they can win all sorts of prizes for being the top fundraiser.....
• 2. Wednesday December 17 all the classes at Stratusphere will be FREE with a donation (we suggest a minimum of $10 so you can get a tax receipt - which is still a deal as a single class is $18)....
• 3. And then in the evening we are having a holiday party so all the teachers and students can mingle and instead of gifts we are asking people to make a donation.....

As I planned this event with the folks from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, I learned some fascinating things that just drove me to want to do all that I can to continue to raise funds for this foundation.  First of all, heart disease is the number one killer in Canada and America and you know what, that is amazing to me because this is something that be prevented or controlled through something that I have spent my whole life promoting - healthy living.  So I apparently have a few million more to spread the word to! 

Anyhoo, I don't want to go into a bunch of facts and figures with you guys, but one thing the lady from the HSFO told me about that really resonated with me was about a drug that actually reverses the effects of a stroke and you know, it made me think - these fundraisers, like my event, or even a little bake sale - really are making a difference.

So, then I thought - and it was the combination of a couple things - first,  the high level of doubt from (me) and all you in my stratusphere and my universe - that 10, 000 + voters didn't make a difference in a certain voting poll recently ( I know, let it go), and second, lately you guys have been asking me what you should send me for Christmas - 'kay, the answer, seriously is nothing! Oh my god, I really do mean it when I say, don't send me anything - just your love - I know, it sounds cheesy, but I mean it, your support over this past almost decade (wow, totally aged myself) is a gift that will last a lifetime (okay I got chessy - but I mean it!).  So, then it got me thinking, how about we do a little experiment and see exactly how powerful our stratusphere and universe really is...

Its kind of crazy but think about this - if everyone just here donated even only $1 - we could easily raise over $3500 'just like that' (*snaps*  hey, remember that lol!) - which is crazy! But, if everyone donated the minimum of $10 that I'm asking from everyone at my studio - wow ... I'm getting goosebumps!!

Okay, I don't want to go all Sally Struthers on you (shoot, aging myself again!) but, if you are so inclined to give, whether it is for the good of the cause, 'tis the season, you need a tax write off, or in lieu of Christmas gifts or even cards (think about it a card cost $5 then you gotta send it ALL the way to Canada- let's just donate and post greetings here!) or even for my Birthday - what? Oh, did I just let that one slip - hehe! Okay, here's where you can help me reach my goal:

My Donation Page

And, by the way you are all invited to my holiday party at my yoga studio if on WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17 you happen to be up this way in ... Canada ... Ontario ... Vaughan ... my Stratusphere .... umm, but let me know, I'll have to get more finger foods probably ...

And, I thought about it, since we won't be doing a shoot for the non-win (meh!) ... maybe I'll show you mine if you show me yours - support that is!!  A photo shoot  in red, or hearts  -symbols not organs - there I go again - what's with me wanting to expose my organs to you ...man, we've gotten close!....

Let's see what the stratusphere and the universe can really do ...

Love you all!

~T....