10 Days of Sharing: Pay It Forward

How to give great gifts? Let me count the ways.. From now until Christmas, at random, I’ll be bringing to you “Ten Days of Sharing” here on my blog. I can’t spill the egg nog but a little elf told me there will be holiday design layouts and a one hour portrait session thrown in somewhere, so be sure to check back!

Perhaps it came from our neighboring Dallas, responding to the news of Lamar Odom/Chloe Kardashian/E!’s impending move, or it was the sudden jolt after an epiphany I had while running around the lake with my husband as I sang along to Rihanna, but let me go ahead and apologize to all of you  {and your tea cups} for the unexpected quiver yesterday. While I have certainly prepared for the holidays – shopping underway, Christmas cards mailed last week, wardrobe finally winterized – I realized 3 miles into my run that I have only donated one portrait package to an Austin non-profit in 2011 {which helps the organization raise money through a silent auction} and rudimentary math tells me that if I want to keep up with years past I better find four beneficiaries. Stat!

So to truly get in the spirit of the season and avoid the title Bad Santa than a little giveaway, one inspired by a blogger extraordinaire who happens to be a part of my Austin “Mama Mafia”. She’s a retired lawyer and a buddy of mine happens to be a detective, so if either of the two hold your entry suspect, it is grounds for elimination.

I will donate $50 to a charity of one reader’s choice, given these parameters:

  1. Leave a comment naming the charity and its mission.
  2. Charity must be a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
  3. Entries close on Sunday, December 18th at 11:59 pm CST and a winner will be selected via a True Random Number Generator.
  4. Winner will be announced on my blog Monday, December 19th.

If you decide to follow suit, let me know and I will be happy to spread the news via my blog.

And how could this entry be complete without a photo of my Royal Diva? Notice the Halloween toy which made a very inconsiderate appearance in my would’ve been Christmas card photo.

See more austin wedding photography and follow me on Facebook.

Here’s the concept – I will be making one $50 donation to the charity of one reader’s choice, in the name of whomever you designate, given the following guidelines: