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  <title>cryssteen's blog</title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.blogher.com/blog/cryssteen"/>
  <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://www.blogher.com/blog/26812/atom/feed"/>
  <id>http://www.blogher.com/blog/26812/atom/feed</id>
  <updated>2008-04-03T22:03:48-05:00</updated>
  <entry>
    <title>Fighting Cancer &amp; Watching Your Money</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.blogher.com/fighting-cancer-watching-your-money" />
    <id>http://www.blogher.com/fighting-cancer-watching-your-money</id>
    <published>2009-03-06T09:08:01-06:00</published>
    <updated>2009-03-06T09:08:01-06:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>cryssteen</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Non-profits" />
    <category term="cancer" />
    <category term="charity" />
    <category term="coupon" />
    <category term="discount" />
    <category term="leukemia" />
    <category term="special offer" />
    <category term="Frugal Living" />
    <category term="Shopping" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>In this economy, it's not always easy to think about supporting a charity, when you're trying to watch your own spending.  That's why, GAP, Inc's helping out.  They're offering a Give &amp; Get promotion where customers get <a href="http://www.gapgiveandget.com/np/lls.html">30% off purchases 3/12 to 3/15</a>, and 5% of the sales made using the coupon will go to benefit The Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society.</p>
<p>You can use these discount coupons and share them with your friends and families, at all Gap Inc stores - with 5% of your net purchases going to benefit LLS.</p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>In this economy, it's not always easy to think about supporting a charity, when you're trying to watch your own spending.  That's why, GAP, Inc's helping out.  They're offering a Give &amp; Get promotion where customers get <a href="http://www.gapgiveandget.com/np/lls.html">30% off purchases 3/12 to 3/15</a>, and 5% of the sales made using the coupon will go to benefit The Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society.</p>
<p>You can use these discount coupons and share them with your friends and families, at all Gap Inc stores - with 5% of your net purchases going to benefit LLS.</p>
<p>Gap Inc stores include: Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy. The coupons are for in-store purchases only.</p>
<p>Just print your coupon and go shopping. You can share the following link as widely as you wish, with all your friends and family. You can print more than one, if needed, to shop at a different Gap Inc store.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.gapgiveandget.com/np/lls.html">Click here</a> to receive your Give &amp; Get coupon.</p>
<p>Share the following link with your friends and family, so they can get their own! Simply copy this URL and pass it on. <a href="http://www.gapgiveandget.com/np/lls.html"></a></p>
<p>It's a great way to save a little yourself, and feel good about it since you'll be helping LLS fight blood cancers and provide patient care.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Making Fun and Games Out of Cancer</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.blogher.com/making-fun-and-games-out-cancer" />
    <id>http://www.blogher.com/making-fun-and-games-out-cancer</id>
    <published>2008-09-26T15:57:10-05:00</published>
    <updated>2008-09-26T15:58:54-05:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>cryssteen</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Entertainment &amp; Culture" />
    <category term="Non-profits" />
    <category term="Web site" />
    <category term="cancer" />
    <category term="casual gaming" />
    <category term="charity" />
    <category term="fun" />
    <category term="FUNDRAISING" />
    <category term="games" />
    <category term="leukemia" />
    <category term="nonprofit" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>I wanted to share the story behind The Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma's newest program - LLS Play2Cures, which is an online casual gaming program where users purchase tokens to play games and the proceeds go to benefit patients suffering from blood-related cancers.  The program was developed by a family right in the heart of battling leukemia.  It's really inspirational.</p>
<p>_______________________</p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>I wanted to share the story behind The Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma's newest program - LLS Play2Cures, which is an online casual gaming program where users purchase tokens to play games and the proceeds go to benefit patients suffering from blood-related cancers.  The program was developed by a family right in the heart of battling leukemia.  It's really inspirational.</p>
<p>_______________________</p>
<p>Taylor Carol was a typical 11-year-old boy, into sports and video games and all the normal activities of boys his age. But when he got hit by a pitch during a baseball game in March 2006, his world turned upside down. Follow up testing revealed something more ominous than an injured elbow – leukemia.</p>
<p>A diagnosis of Philadelphia positive acute lymphocytic leukemia, a particularly lethal form of the disease that does not respond to normal treatment, led the family to relocate to Seattle for a year so Taylor could receive a bone marrow transplant at Childrens Hospital.</p>
<p>During the long grueling months that Taylor was sequestered at the hospital fighting for his life, his father Jim Carol, CEO of Game 7 Entertainment Inc., began tinkering with an idea to match his expertise in designing software with his strong desire to help other children going through his son’s ordeal. The result was Pledgeplay, an innovative customizable online casual games and fundraising platform.</p>
<p>Today The Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society launched Play2Cures (lls.play2cures.org)<br />
which employs the Plegeplay platform and allows participants to play casual games online while donating money to help find cures for leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers.</p>
<p>It works by allowing players to purchase online tokens - $1 per token and a minimum of $10 - to play the games, such as solitaire and miniature golf. Each token purchased will help fund blood cancer research, provide critical information and support to patients and their families and help LLS advocate for issues impacting blood cancer patients. Players can play from a choice of six games. Tokens can be given to friends and family, and participants are encouraged to compete against each other for top scores.</p>
<p>Carol envisions Pledgeplay as a way for families to bond with one another while doing something positive for other families. Surveys reveal that more than 50 million U.S. adults enjoy playing family-friendly casual games online. According to a 2007 survey by Information Solutions Group, adults reported that playing online games provided an opportunity for them to bond with their children or grandchildren.</p>
<p>Carol’s son Taylor played a major role in Pledgeplay’s creation.</p>
<p>"For one year Taylor worked hard helping me start this company as our video game expert while he was hospitalized,” said Jim.  “It was an awesome distraction and motivator. He was officially our VP of game evaluation.”</p>
<p>Taylor is also the patient honoree for Play2Cures, and a video telling his story can be viewed at the site.</p>
<p>“Helping to design this program was really fun and helped me get my mind off how terrible I was feeling most of the time,” says Taylor. “Now I hope other kids and their parents and grandparents can have as much fun playing the games as I had helping to create the site, and they can feel good knowing they’re helping kids just like me.”</p>
<p>“The Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society is excited about this opportunity to offer a unique fundraising program that lets participants have a great time playing skill games online and even engaging in friendly competition with one another, while also donating to lifesaving research,” said Nancy L. Klein, Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer of LLS. “More children are impacted by leukemia than any other cancer. We’re sure that Play2Cures will appeal to parents and grandparents who are interested in helping children just like their own.”</p>
<p>___________________________</p>
<p>We're promoting this program mainly via social media like facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, along w/ game forums and some blog outreach.  I invite you to take a look at LLS Play2Cures.  My favorite game is Sudoku Save (and right now I have the high score - cryssteen)!</p>
<p>LLS Play2Cures: <a href="http://lls.play2cures.org" title="http://lls.play2cures.org">http://lls.play2cures.org</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/LLS-Play2Cures-Play-Online-Games-To-Fight-Cancer/32986219771" title="http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/LLS-Play2Cures-Play-Online-Games-To-Fight-Cancer/32986219771">http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/LLS-Play2Cures-Play-Online-Games-To-Fi...</a><br />
MySpace: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/llsplay2cures" title="http://www.myspace.com/llsplay2cures">http://www.myspace.com/llsplay2cures</a><br />
Youtube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=815BE9DF334E305D" title="http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=815BE9DF334E305D">http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=815BE9DF334E305D</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lls_play2cures" title="http://www.twitter.com/lls_play2cures">http://www.twitter.com/lls_play2cures</a><br />
lls.org: <a href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org//all_page.adp?item_id=533051" title="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org//all_page.adp?item_id=533051">http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org//all_page.adp?item_id=533051</a></p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Join the Blogging for Blood Cancers Event</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.blogher.com/join-blogging-blood-cancers-event" />
    <id>http://www.blogher.com/join-blogging-blood-cancers-event</id>
    <published>2008-08-15T13:52:24-05:00</published>
    <updated>2008-08-15T13:52:24-05:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>cryssteen</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Health &amp; Wellness" />
    <category term="Blogging &amp; Social Media" />
    <category term="Mommy &amp; Family" />
    <category term="blogging" />
    <category term="blogging for charity" />
    <category term="cancer" />
    <category term="charity" />
    <category term="leukemia" />
    <category term="lymphoma" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>Thanks to our friend Lois over at <a href="http://www.goodiesformom.com/" class="jive-link-external">Goodies for Mom</a> for telling us about the Blogging for Blood Cancers event that she’s organizing in conjunction with <a href="http://www.friendsofheroes.org/" class="jive-link-external">Friends of Heroes national Light The Night Team</a>!<br />
Together, they have started week-long blogging initiative where<br />
bloggers across the web will join together and blog about The Leukemia<br />
&amp; Lymphoma Society. </p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>Thanks to our friend Lois over at <a href="http://www.goodiesformom.com/" class="jive-link-external">Goodies for Mom</a> for telling us about the Blogging for Blood Cancers event that she’s organizing in conjunction with <a href="http://www.friendsofheroes.org/" class="jive-link-external">Friends of Heroes national Light The Night Team</a>!<br />
Together, they have started week-long blogging initiative where<br />
bloggers across the web will join together and blog about The Leukemia<br />
&amp; Lymphoma Society. </p>
<p>The inaugural <a href="http://goodiesformom.blogspot.com/2008/07/blogging-for-blood-cancer-event.html" class="jive-link-external">Blogging for Blood Cancers</a>event,<br />
taking place during the week of August 11th, is a great way to raise<br />
awareness about the fight against blood cancers and to share your<br />
story. If you write or contribute to a blog, you can be a part of it<br />
too, and be entered to win some great prizes. </p>
<p><a href="http://register.lightthenight.org/LTNRegistration/app?page=TeamView&amp;service=page&amp;urlKey=friendsofheroes" class="jive-link-external">Friends of Heroes</a>(which Lois is also a member of) is a national Light the Night <a href="http://www.lightthenight.org/site/c.itJZJ7MOIwE/b.2534609/k.8699/Why_Form_A_Team.htm" class="jive-link-external">Friends and Family Team</a>.<br />
It is comprised of moms, dads, families and friends compelled to help<br />
find a cure for blood cancers. Friends of Heroes is the largest team of<br />
this type in the country and, this year, hopes to reach the $1 million<br />
mark in donations for this year’s Light The Night Walk.</p>
<p>Visit the <a href="http://goodiesformom.blogspot.com/2008/07/blogging-for-blood-cancer-event.html" class="jive-link-external">event post</a> for more information, banners for the event, and a list of prizes.  And start blogging!</p>
<p><em>This post is from The Leikemia &amp; Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Blog http://community.lls.org/blogs/ltn</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>blogless at blogher</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.blogher.com/blogless-blogher" />
    <id>http://www.blogher.com/blogless-blogher</id>
    <published>2008-04-03T22:03:48-05:00</published>
    <updated>2008-04-03T22:03:48-05:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>cryssteen</name>
    </author>
    <category term="BlogHer Conferences" />
    <category term="BlogHer Business 2008" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>So. Today was the first time I really felt out of place online. I'm 26 and work in the nonprofit world. (Translation: professionally, I'm seen as &quot;techy&quot; and as a &quot;digital native.&quot;)</p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>So. Today was the first time I really felt out of place online. I'm 26 and work in the nonprofit world. (Translation: professionally, I'm seen as &quot;techy&quot; and as a &quot;digital native.&quot;)</p>
<p>Well, that changed the second I stepped into the blogher business conference this morning. You see, I didn't have a blog. Not a personal one anyway. I've been reading and &quot;lurking&quot; for years. I comment. I subscribe. I enjoy. I belong. But, apparently, my lack of commitment to actually joining the community renders me a little out of the loop.</p>
<p>So, I've sucked it up and I'm going to start to rant with the best of them. I mean, believe you me, I've never been considered a silent party in any aspect of my life. I'm extremely opinionated and totally in need of my own soap box. I just always thought of a blog in terms of readership and reach and scope and acceptance. But, being among so many talented, intelligent, professional women who embrace the power of personal blogging, I finally feel empowered.</p>
<p>Really, if I don't write every day, who cares? Maybe its my (Gen X) generation label talking, but I'm so fickle. When was the last time I'm stuck to anything new? How many diets have I started? My scale can't tell the difference. Gees, I can't even commit to flossing every day. But, we'll see.</p>
<p>Blogher is brilliant. I don't know if you're aware. But, it absolutely is. In my professional career, I find myself fighting for the benefits of social media day in and day out. I have to justify my interests, and measure my outcomes. Which, by all traditional business metrics, makes complete sense. But, even for just two days, it's amazing to be in an environment where women of all career levels get together to talk about it. To discuss the difficulties they have faced and the successes they can show for it. Women who just get it.</p>
<p>While it's not a rah rah session.. I'm a cheerleader in my own head. Thank God and Allah and Zeus and all of the other deities, I'm really happy to be a part of this now.</p>
<p>So, please welcome me and my blog of the blogless, for tomorrow at 8:30, when I enter that ball room for day two of blogher business, I will no longer be blogless.</p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
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