Christmas came early to my house today. (And my anniversary, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and my next birthday and pretty much every Arbor Day from now until the end of time.)

I wanted a QUALITY leather tall boot. I have a tall, pointy toe, kitten-heel pair of boots in black that are quite dressy, so with this pair I was going for a rugged-yet-awesome boot that I could easily wear with most things, would go with brown or black, and that would last for years and look better as they are worn. (AND fit my left calf, which is much larger than the other, which makes it very difficult to find boots that I can wear.)

And by jove, I found all of those qualifications with Jane “Tall” boots by Frye.

They’re pricey but I firmly believe they are worth it.

They are even prettier in person than in photos. (They look darker in person than they are showing up in these pictures.)

Plus, I can wear them tall, or fold the cuffs down.

I HEART them.

I could wear them every day.

And I probably will.

And sleep with them under my pillow.

I have to break them in, you know.

What???! You can totally break boots in by sleeping with them under your pillow.

MUST I teach you everything, people?

(Sigh.)

;)

Things have been crazy busy at the Looney Tunes Household.

Aside from the normal business of the holiday season, the magazine I work for launches in 2 weeks from today (December 1st) and the launch party for the magazine is in 23 days in New York City.

And man, THERE IS A LOT TO DO.

So, I’m sorry I’ve been a bit neglectful of this place.

However, I really wanted to share something that is very near and dear to my heart.

The “Give a hand” campaign to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities.

(And it ends in THREE DAYS!)

(I can’t apologize enough for the lateness of this.)

In June, I was privileged to be flown to McDonald’s national headquarters in Chicago with my entire family to take place in the “McDonald’s Happy Time Getaway”.

We had a blast.

For 3 days, we had activities and access to pretty much every aspect of McDonald’s from the distributers, marketing, nutrition to seeing and making food with “Chef Dan”, the head chef of McDonald’s and got to ask tough and fun questions from everyone from the President down to the person who manages their in office restaurant.

My family loved it.

Butterlump took his first steps in the corporate office with everyone cheering him on.

But by FAR, my favorite aspect of this trip was when we visited the local Ronald McDonald House.

People, this charity is so important and really, one of the more noble, practical, and WELL RUN charities out there. The ability for families to stay near their severely ill or injured children when they are in the hospital is something that you cannot put a price on.

I was invited to the Salt Lake house with other bloggers and I LOVED my time there. (Photo taken from The Motherboard as I was the idiot that forgot my camera.)

I am SO behind in helping out here, and I feel horrible.

But please…there are THREE DAYS left for this drive. Please consider contributing. $1 is something almost everyone can afford and they will stretch that dollar like you can’t believe! Anyone can contribute, you don’t have to be a McDonald’s consumer. Even a good family friend, who doesn’t eat McDonald’s food went in a bought a hand for every member of her family.  You don’t have to like McDonald’s to help out this charity. (Although, I love them and would live in a house of their fries if I could. :) )

Nobody is compensating me, nobody is making me write this. They asked and I LOVE the cause.

(And again, it ends in THREE DAYS*)

Here’s how you can help via their press release:

McHappy Day is today, November 10, and kicks-off McDonald’s annual “Give A Hand” fundraiser for RMHC. Families and your readers can go in-restaurant today through November 20 and buy a paper “Give A Hand” for $1; all proceeds are donated to RMHC.

This is something that even has something for you. $500 a DAY giveaway for getting arty and uploading a fun photo.

The new online photo sweepstakes invites customers, via McDonald’s USA Twitter handle (@McDonalds), to submit a photo of their hand with a written phrase that shows their support for RMHC. Each day, between November 10-20, one entrant will be selected at random to win $500 for themselves and McDonald’s will donate $500 for their local RMHC Chapter. (SO GO HERE AND ENTER YOUR HAND, PEEPS!)

In celebration of family togetherness, McDonald’s invites your readers to pledge their family time together to the “Make Family Time Happy Time.” online widget via Facebook. For each minute pledged, McDonald’s USA will donate one penny to RMHC with a goal of reaching 1 million minutes, up to $10,000, towards the Charity’s programs.

I really hope you can ‘give a hand’ and help RMHC to offer shelter and comfort to families of sick children in need.

Thanks for all you can do!

xo

*I mentioned it ends in THREE DAYS, right?  ;)

Are you in the NYC area?

We’d LOVE to have you join us for the launch and signing of Where Women Cook (you know, that magazine that I have been having tons of fun working for this year)!

We have so many amazing women (The Pioneer Woman, Orangette, The Farm Chicks, MaryJane Butters and SO many more) from our 1st and 2nd editions coming in to meet everyone and sign books (and the magazine, of course!), and we would LOVE it if you could come by!

(I’m so dang excited!)