Shop Online and Give to National Headache Foundation

I blogged about iGive back in 2009 - check out the post here if you're curious. Since then, I've raised about $5 for the National Headache Foundation by doing my online shopping through them. I just log in and then go to the online store (usually amazon.com) through iGive's website, and it automatically gives a percentage of my purchase to the NHF. The retail stores pay for the donation, so there's no extra cost to me.

The problem is, I almost always forget to use iGive when I shop online. Luckily, I no longer need to log in because iGive has created a browser button that lets participating stores know that I use iGive and that I want the donation to go to the NHF. Below is a screen shot of my button (in Firefox). Update - I've noticed when I go on sites that are in iGive's system, the top of the page automatically lets me know that a certain percentage will go to the NHF or it will ask me to click an icon to activate the giving. This is even better because I don't have to remember to use iGive! Sweet! Having it up there should make it easier for me to remember to use it when I shop online. I can program the stores I want (amazon.com is already up there but that might just be for mine) and when I click on the button, I choose the store from the drop-down menu and it goes directly to the store's website.

If you want to give the button (they're also calling it a browser "app") a try, iGive is donating $5 to the NHF for each person who signs up and downloads the button by Cyber Monday. Just follow this link: http://www.igive.com/welcome/lp2/wr15.cfm?c=44422&m=650756.

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Random, but have any of you seen the TV commercial for mychronicmigraine.com? It's a website by Allergan that has migraine resources. What's cool is their tagline is "Don't live a Maybe life." Isn't that the best tagline for migraines? It's exactly how I feel, never sure if I actually will be able to make plans or attend events or even step outside because there's always the chance of a migraine that will keep me in bed. I know you all can relate.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

Fragrance Free Zone at Church

Earlier this year I worked with the staff and pastors of my church to establish a Fragrance Free Seating Zone at all three services. They were completely on board with it and very supportive. They asked my opinion on wording and where the zones should be located. They even put a writeup in the bulletin requesting that the congregation limit the amount of scents they wear. Here's the sign at the service I attend (the contemporary service):

Small print says: "Please sit here only if you are not wearing any fragrances -
perfumes, colognes, powders, lotions, etc."

The seating area is in the back corner of the church, a few yards behind the regular seating (as I requested), and usually has two rows of chairs. For a while the only ones who sat there were me and my (sweet, supportive) husband. Since then, another couple has joined us. I know the husband suffered from headaches until he had back surgery (pretty sure it was back surgery), so I don't know if he still gets some headaches or if he or his wife is bothered by the fragrances, or maybe they're just being supportive. Occasionally some other people will join us. There are also times when the church is so full that the section becomes overflow seating, but usually people wearing heavy fragrance avoid the area. One time when all the seats were full I went to the "cry room" where parents and babies sometimes go and can watch the service via TV, but that room has bright fluorescent lights (and can get loud, obviously) so I try to avoid it.

Overall, this is a great move for our church and I'm so happy they took me seriously. It had been common for me to develop bad headaches and even some migraines after church because of all the perfume, and this separate seating has made a huge difference. If you're thinking of getting a fragrance free zone started at your church, GO FOR IT! :)

By the way, this isn't the first sign I've managed to get posted. See the bottom of this post. Lesson: it doesn't hurt to ask!