Belinda Hamilton’s had a busy year but she flies by to share her Top 5 reads for 2013

1. Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

2. This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E Smith

3. Written in Red by Anne Bishop

4. Fragments by Dan Wells

5. Hidden by Marianne Curley

Most anticipated books for 2014

1. Secret by Brigid Kemmerer (January 2014)

2. Murder Of Crows by Anne Bishop (January 2014)

3. Hunting the Dark by Karen Mahoney (February 2014)

4. Ruins by Dan Wells (March 2014)

5. The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith (April 2014)

Viva Glam-orous and Kids Helping Kids

Do you feel like perhaps buying high-end make up isn’t really a socially acceptable thing? How about a perfect blue red lippy, but with a social conscious or a Chrissy card with heart??

The original VIVA GLAM girl is back! The fabulous RuPaul, first face of VIVA GLAM in 1994, returns with her outspoken burgundy red Lipstick – now also available as a Lipglass. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM – The Original goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

OR

For the holidays, give the gift of imagination with M•A•C’s 2013 collection of Kids Helping Kids Greeting Cards and Gift Cards. Send messages to your loved ones on these colourful cards designed by children affected by HIV/AIDS. Six Greeting Cards and/ or twelve Gift Cards, complete with envelopes. Every cent of the selling price goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Why not help someone look fabulous while you’re giving a helping hand?

Here’s VivaGlamLana and her second my life makeover to celebrate Aids Awareness day.

For more information on the Viva Glam Line

*Free shipping until December 31*

Life is like a box… of chocolates… maybe.

I actually sent one of these to a dear friend, right after hurricane Sandy. She LOVED it.

The only bugger of this one is the limit on where you can send the boxes isn’t really that big and they don’t ship to Australia as far as I know. But it’d be a great idea for someone who lives stateside.

Conscious Box is a small company with massive ideas, and the main one is being eco friendly, natural and sustainable. So every month (or how ever often you subscribe a box for your friend) they receive a box of between 10-20 sustainable, natural, and the option of gluten free or vegan, products.

It’s a great way for them to try new things and possibly get hooked on something they wouldn’t have otherwise tried.

 Here’s an unboxing video by Jillys Corner httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivISP5LnmUY

For more information on subscribing or giving a Conscious box head to

http://www.consciousbox.com/

Conscious box is affiliated with 1% for the planet http://onepercentfortheplanet.org/ 

Can you see what I see?

Fred Hollows had a vision and you can help keep it alive this Christmas.

How crazy is it that 4 out of 5 people who are blind in the developing world don’t need to be!

Routine treatment costing as little as $25 can restore sight and hope.

Virtual cards can be given at any stage up until Christmas, but you could also use the cards for birthdays, weddings or anything really.

For more information about Giving the gift of Sight Cards…

http://www.hollows.org.au/gift-sight-cards

For information on the Fred Hollows Foundation and it’s achievements…

http://www.hollows.org.au/about-us/achievements

For information on Fred Hollows himself

http://www.hollows.org.au/Fred-Hollows

Give the gift of a farm animal… even if they live in a flat.

If you’re reading this, chances are you live in a world where you want for lots but really need for very little. However there are those around the world who would live a much better life if they had just a little more.

This idea is the Oxfam Unwrapped initiative.

So the idea is you purchase a card from $10 through to $150 and you’ll be helping those in disadvantaged areas to have livestock or clean water… or even something as simple as seeds to have crops.

For more information head to https://unwrapped.oxfam.org.au/

If it’s a gift for a child maybe you’d like to add in a small animal figurine to help explain what you’re doing for others in their name. It is never too early to teach kids the value of looking after the less fortunate.

 Here’s a clip to explain more.