Who's ready to shop???

Very important news! It's been a busy weekend!

First of all, the Stella & Dot fundraiser will still go on through the end of the month so if you didn't get a chance to attend the trunk show and want to order some fabulous jewelry, go to www.stelladot.com/leighpace and select Susan Ferguson as the host. I bought a beautiful personalized necklace with CJ's initials and her birthstone charm on a pink satin ribbon. Can't wait to show it off!

The REALLY BIG news is that we have CJSTUF merchandise for sale.

You can see more on our website (www.cjstuf.org/shop) but here's a preview. There are Bald Chicks Rock tees for kids and adults.....

There are women's cut tees featuring the CJ butterfly...

(A big thanks to our neighbor, Abby Horn, for modeling the new tees!)

PLUS we have more kids tees, featured below. These are also the t-shirts that a child will get when he or she has a Birthday Party for CJ.

You can place orders online through our website. Right now we can't accept credit cards (coming soon!) but we can accept checks for both local and long-distance orders. Information on shipping charges are found in the shopping cart. You can email me if you have questions.



Mark Your Calendars for two upcoming events:



This Saturday, 7/31 is the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Duck Walk in Downtown Richmond. We have been invited by local kids band Diggity Dudes to share their booth space and display some CJSTUF information. This is a great PR opportunity for us but we need some assistance. Email Roger if you are able to volunteer your time at this event.



Also coming up is the Wine Down Wednesday event at the Wine Loft in Short Pump. This event is August 4th from 6:30-9:30 PM. Admission is $5 and extra raffle tickets are just $1 each. There is a cash bar with great wines, free appetizers, and a great opportunity to socialize. I will be talking about CJSTUF and local authors Joni Davis and Lisa Hyatt will discuss their book Feng Shui Love. All proceeds from the admission and raffle tickest benefit CJSTUF so let's make this an amazing event!

Inching Along

I can't believe that July is almost over!

Tonight is the Stella & Dot Trunk Show at Sue Ferguson's Home. It was rescheduled from last Thursday. If you can't attend but still want to order, you can go to www.stelladot.com/leighpace any time before the end of the month and place your order. Be sure to name Susan Ferguson as the host so proceeds go to benefit CJSTUF.

You also have one more week to contact Meredith Hayes from Reflections Interior Design for a consultation. When you book, 20% of your consultation fee will go back to CJSTUF.

In other news...

Now that August is upon us, we have even more events to plan. We will send out another blog post in a few days but you can also check out all of our current events on our website. Be sure to check our Fundraisers and Events pages often for announcements. Also, I know that many of you our fans of ours on Facebook, but if for some strange reason you haven't "liked" us on Facebook yet, be sure to do so and tell all your friends. It's one of our best ways to communicate with our friends and supporters.

We are inches (and I do mean inches) away from getting our determination letter from the IRS. I had to fill out some additional paperwork a few weeks ago and a follow up call to our rep at the IRS indicated that we should get our determination letter in the next few weeks. That is good news for MANY reasons but the main reason is that we will be able to get our PayPal link fixed. I apologize to anyone who has tried to donate in the past few weeks without success. We should have the online option fixed soon.

And just in time because we have CJSTUF merchandise for sale!!!
I will post pictures, prices, and information about how to order over the weekend but I will tell you that there are four current t-shirt designs. Some are exclusively for adults, others are for kids, and some are available in youth and adult sizes. We also have CJSTUF window clings available. Again, I will work on getting all of this information online (including pictures) but you will just have to be patient.

Finally:

Now that Roger and I are each working two jobs (in addition to our CJSTUF endeavors), we are in need to seriously rally the volunteer corps. Please go to our website and click on the volunteer link. This will direct you to our Volunteer Database sign up form. We are currently in need of:
People willing to serve on committees to plan and execute events

• Individuals and small groups to help with managing CJSTUF merchandise and creating our swag bags
• Some miscellaneous office duties (database management, etc.)
• Creative and motivated folks who want to help in lots of ways

Once you enter into our volunteer database, we can have a better idea about who is available and when (and how) they can help. We may not call you tomorrow but please know that we will call you when we need you!

On an emotional note:

I think that personally, I'm in a much better place emotionally than I was a few weeks ago. Still sad. Life still sucks sometimes. But I have some great friends who have been providing all kinds of emotional support to me (and Roger) in the past few weeks. Thank you so much! It seems the crying jags come in fits and spurts but I've felt a lot more stable in the last week. I did get rather teary in Target today. Of all things, I walked through the school supplies aisle. And realized that my baby would not go to Kindergarten. It made me very sad. BUT....I carry her Tinkerbell lunchbox with me to my new job at the Faison School every day. She is with me in small but meaningful ways.

That's all for now but I promise a lengthy post about upcoming August events will be coming soon!

Rachel

No rest for a busy foundation

July marches on and we have some exciting events still going on this week.

We spent an earlier post focusing on Reflections Interior Design as one of the CJSTUF Home Based Businesses for July. There is still time to schedule a consultation with her for July or August with 20% of the proceeds benefitting the Foundation.

This week we focus on Stella & Dot: an adorable jewelry line that features fun items for both women and little girls. Leigh Pace is our sales representative and Susan Ferguson is hosting a trunk show at her home this Thursday, July 15th, from 7-9 PM. You can also order online through this website. Name Susan Ferguson as the host so CJSTUF gets the credit. I should mention, however, that Sue will be raffling off her hostess gifts (average of $250 in free jewelry) for those who attend the 7/15 event so come one, come all!

Please RSVP via the trunk show link above and feel free to bring a friend. You can email me directly if you have any questions.

I want to say one more time how much Roger and I appreciate the support we have felt from our Network over the last week or so. It's definitely been a rough time lately but we are comforted by the intense love that we know this community feels for us and for our beautiful daughter. We are honored that we can keep the spirit of her life and her legacy alive through this Foundation. Thank you.

Here comes July

It's hard to believe that July is right around the corner.

The Tupperware sale went well. No final total yet but a huge thanks to Dot Heffron and Jody Harmon, Tupperware consultants, for their help in raising funds for the Foundation. Thanks to everyone who placed orders this month as well.

Our next major event will be July 4th in Ashland. We are forming a Butterfly Brigade for the traditional Ashland 4th of July parade. If you are a resident of Ashland, you know that this annual event plays host to a fun, non-motorized parade that invites groups of all kinds to form "brigades" and march in the parade. Anyone can participate. We will meet at Henry Clay Elementary in Ashland about 1 PM and march to the Hanover Arts and Activities Center (less than a mile) for the rest of the day's festivities. Please wear butterfly wings, antennae, or whatever inspires you. We do need to create a banner to lead our brigade. If anyone is crafty and wants to help, please email me ASAP.

Of course, the date on the calendar also tells us that Charlotte's 5th birthday is only two weeks away. This is probably the first birthday that Roger and I have ever "dreaded" (and Roger is OLD!) We plan to honor her birth with a small family gathering this year. Not quite sure of the details yet but I'm sure that there will be much chocolate involved (and maybe a little alcohol).

In case you're looking for upcoming events and news, here are the highlights:

We will actually have TWO Home Based Businesses working for CJSTUF in July.

Stella & Dot is a beautiful jewelry line. Leigh Pace is the consultant that will be running the show and a portion of the proceeds will go to CJSTUF. You can go HERE to check out the jewelry and place an order. Please enter Susan Ferguson as the host so the sale will be credited accordingly. We will also have a Trunk Show at Susan's home in Ashland on July 15th from 7 PM-9 PM. RSVP to me if you would like to attend. Susan will be raffling off the hostess gifts so this is a great opportunity to check out the line, make your purchases, AND get some free goodies!

Meanwhile, our very own Board member Meredith Hayes is donating a portion of her fees for any Interior Design consultation booked in July. Meredith is the talented owner of Reflections Interior Design. We will use a future blog post to highlight her background and skills but feel free to contact her directly if you are interested in changing your space to help CJSTUF!

On the horizon for August:
Wine Down Wednesday at the Wine Loft in Short Pump will benefit CJSTUF on August 4th
Mary Kay Cosmetics will be the Home Based Business of the Month
Plus...Official CJSTUF Merchandise coming soon!

Stay cool and think happy thoughts!