The people of Haiti need our help!

We are all saddened by the devastating affects of the earthquake in Haiti this past week. We have also been amazed by how so many people have come together already to help in any way they can. There has been a huge outpour of love, support and donations to help provide food, shelter, medical care, water, and other necessities to the people of Haiti. Unfortunately, they still desperately need our help.

We’ve gathered information to share several ways that you can help with the Haiti relief:

Send a Text Message.
Texting seems to be the most immediate way to help. Send a quick text to the numbers below and a small donation will appear on your next phone bill (about $5-$6). This donation will go towards helping the earthquake victims in Haiti. It’s easy, fast and convenient!
• Red Cross – text ‘Haiti’ to #90999
• Yele Haiti – text ‘YELE’ to #501501
**T Mobile, AT&T and Verizon have all waived their text messaging fees for Haitian relief.
**Texted donations can usually take approximately 90 days to get to their destinations. But all parties involved in this effort are working extremely hard to get the money to the charities as quickly as possible.

Donate to a cause that is specifically fundraising for the Haiti relief.
• Doctors Without Borders
• Unicef.org
• Friends of the World Food Program
• International Rescue Committee
• Partners in Health
• Clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake
• OxFamAmerica
• United Nations World Food Program
• Yéle Haiti
**If you donate by credit card, Visa, Master Card and American Express have all agreed to waive donation percentage points they would normally get off of your charge. Good for them!

If you can contribute to help fund these emergency efforts, please do.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with everyone!
~Lovebug

Help animals for free

You can help every day by clicking on the purple button at The Animal Rescue Site. When you click on the purple button, the sponsoring advertisers make a donation to feed and care for animals in shelters.

Looking to buy a something for your pet or possible searching for a great gift for your animal-loving friends? Check out The Animal Rescue Site store for an array of options! Every purchase made at The Animal Rescue Site store helps fund food for animals in shelters at no extra cost to you.

Help our lovely animals today - It’s super easy and FREE!

With warm thoughts,
~Ami

The Shift - A movie being made by a movement

Check it out!

Revitalize Your Soul

Forgive quickly. Love without boundaries or fear. Laugh without control. Never stop smiling. Be thankful for all your blessings. Live with hope and positivity. Embrace every moment.

xoxo,
Lovebug

Red Fridays - Support our troops

Wear your red on Fridays as a sign of support and love for our troops. Lets no longer be silent and voice our gratitude and warm wishes to all our brave soldiers away from home. They need to know that they are not forgotten …that we have them in our hearts and prayers.

By word of mouth, press, TV – we can all come together in making the United States a sea of red on Fridays …. much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves our troops will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know that we are all on their side more than ever.

So don’t forget to wear your reds this Friday to be a part of showing the solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect -- and continue each and every Friday until our troops all come home!

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is. "We need your support and your prayers." Please help to spread the word….

Order holiday cards + ornaments that help animals

Purchase your holiday cards and ornaments through the Humane Society of the United States to support this amazing organization and help our beautiful animals.

Choose from a beautiful array of holiday cards or fun ornaments!

Spread the word and send this link to your friends and family.

Much Love!
~Ami

Buy from Staples to help cancer research

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Staples is offering you the opportunity to help make a difference with your purchase. When you buy select Pink Ribbon products this month at Staples, a percentage will go to breast cancer research. So check out their selection and spread the word!

Help our wounded soldiers

Give back to those who've given to America by making a donation to the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation. This is a Military Heroes Fund that helps provide emergency financial support for our wounded soldiers and their families. This fund also helps pay for daycare expenses at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for children of the wounded.

Read more about the Foundation's accomplishments.

The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Pentagon Federal Credit Union pays all administrative expenses. Every penny you give goes to programs.

Much Love,
Ami

Help animals through your wedding registry :)

To all couples who are animal lovers...

Guess what? By creating a wedding registry at WeddingChannel.com, your guests can purchase gifts for you and a portion of the sales price will be donated to benefiting The Humane Society of the United States. Isn't that wonderful?!

Be a part of this awesome opportunity to help animals and visit WeddingChannel.com to create your wedding registry today.

Many blessings,
Ami

End Dogfighting Program

The End Dogfighting program through The Humane Society of the United States focuses on young men on the streets who have been involved in fighting dogs. This program gives these dogs the opportunity for a new and better life that is free from animal cruelty. They offer free pitbull training classes to these young men who can not control their lunging, snarling animals. They have the opportunity to gain pride their dog's performance and experience positive competition, which makes dogfighting much less tempting. The men begin to see their dogs as friends, not fighters -- and with these new feelings and beliefs, they realize it is no longer the way they want to treat their pets. Some men even become community representatives and help pull others out of the quicksand that is urban dogfighting.

Over the last year alone, the End Dogfighting programs have reached hundreds of at-risk youth and dogs with constructive alternatives and a message of compassion. So many cities across America are desperate for The HSUS's innovative community-based outreach programs.

This program is about change -- the kind of change that inspires. Both people and pups can make astonishing progress through The HSUS' End Dogfighting program. But they can’t continue to make a difference without our help.

If you would like to contribute to this wonderful program, Click Here to make a special gift today . This is an opportunity to reduce dogfighting on the streets and protect dogs from this horrible lifestyle and brutality.

Big Hearts for Small Bottoms - Diaper Drive

Times are tough and money is short.
Please help Orlando families cover tiny bottoms!!!!

Diapers of all sizes (sizes 2 and up are needed the most!) are
urgently needed to help struggling Orlando families who are
unable to meet this expense. Your generous donations can
be dropped off Monday through Friday, between the hours
of 8:30 am and 5:00 pm at the offices of:

A Chosen Child, Inc.,
Suite 200, 1516 East Colonial Drive,
Orlando, Florida, 32803
(407) 894-1599

Revitalize Your Soul! - Life according to Mister Rogers

A friend of Jessica's posted this on facebook and we wanted to share this wonderful message with everyone:

"If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person." Mister Rogers

Every encounter we have leaves a lasting effect; even when we don't realize. And the ripple effects are limitless. We should always present the best, most real version of who we are in all we do.

"Won't you be ....my neighbor?"

Cell Phones for Soldiers!

Got any old cell phones laying around the house? Has you or anyone you know upgraded or bought a new phone recently? What should we all do with all these old phones? ....... We have the best solution for you that's super easy AND free!

Donate your old and unwanted phones to our brave soldiers. The phones are recycled and the money is used to offer a source of communication for our troops to keep in touch with friends and family. This is a true gift from the heart and is so simple to get your donated phones shipped out...

... Just throw them in an envelope (chargers and batteries are not required, but gladly accepted). CLICK HERE and print your postage free shipping label. Stick the label to the envelope and toss it in the mail.

I've shipped out old phones twice already in the past month and I have to tell you..........It feels GREAT!

If you prefer, you can also collect old phones from friends and family (spread the word) and bring them to one of our future gatherings or donation drop off locations and we'll ship them out for you.

Well, we hope this has given you another opportunity to share your hearts and send a gift of love.

May you have a restful night's sleep and wake up feeling at peace and rejuvenated!
xoxoxo
~Lovebug

Picnic in the Park! Langford Park, Tomorrow!

We hope to see you at this year's Picnic in the Park, as the Revitalize Family continues to grow and grow! The weather should be marvelous and the friends bountiful! Plus it's also another opportunity to give donations to our brave soldiers oversees!

If you need donation ideas, check out our blog.

Care Packages for our Troops - We need your help!

Revitalize has been in contact with several units of brave soldiers that really need our help. We will be shipping care packages to them as often as possible. We would love for you to be a part of this wonderful cause and community movement. Any contribution you can offer sends a message of love and hope to these incredible courageous men and women who will not be returning home for several months. These care packages mean more to them then we could ever imagine.

One unit consists of about 70 men in the Navy that are stationed in Iraq for 8 months and have been there since April 2008.

In addition, we have connected with several units that are also stationed in Iraq, consisting of about 800 Marines (male and female). Wow! They will be on temporary camp for the next 3 months. This means sleeping in tents, no air conditioning, no showers, very limited phones access, no internet access and more.

Once again, they are extremely grateful for anything you can do - even down to the smallest gestures - writing a letter, sending positive thoughts their way or putting out a collection box at your work. If you would like their address to send them a letter directly, please let us know!

We will be organizing several upcoming events where you can join us for some fun filled times and also gives you the opportunity to drop off your donated items to include in Revitalize’s shipments.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. We are happy to hear from you!

A customized donation guide is below with a list of specific items they currently need.

With thoughts of peace,
Jess and Ami

CARE PACKAGES - DONATION GUIDE
If you would like to give a donation, please feel free to contact us at:
revitalizeorlando@gmail.com • http://www.myspace.com/revitalizeorlando
Jessica 407.399.7589 • Ami 407.694.1467

Food and Beverage:
•Lots of Snacks (crucial) – no chocolate (this will melt in the mail)
•Instant Coffee / Automatic Drip Coffee
•Creamer
•Sugar
•Energy Bars (very useful when walking all night)
•Sunflower seeds
•Beef Jerky
•Canned soups and stews (starting to get cold at night)
•Any non-perishable food items
•Powered drink mix (Propel, Crystal light, Red Bull, etc.)

Clothing:
•Socks (wool only in black or green) – you can purchase these at any military store

Toiletries:
•Baby Wipes are extremely important! Some of our troops do not have access to showers.
**Please note that the unscented are much better. Scented wipes can attract a lot of mosquitoes and bugs
•Soap
•Liquid Soap
•Hand sanitizer
•Q Tips
•Shampoo
•Deodorant
•Tampons
•Female hygiene products
•Male hygiene products

Misc. and More:
•Chap Stick
•Fly swatters
•Bug Spray
•Dryer Sheets – These are very helpful to keep clothes fresh when they can’t be washed
•Pipe Cleaners (To clean equipment)
•Batteries (AAA, AA, and D cell )
•Silly String (use to detect trip wire and also for fun  )
•Hand and Boot warmers for the cold nights
•Back Scratches
•Letters can be written for encouragement, to thank them, etc.
•Cards can be sent from you and your family for the holidays, etc.
•Pens (the locals feel that pens represent education and constantly ask the soldiers for them).

Entertainment
•Magazines – all kinds
•Movies – all kinds
•Music – all kinds
•Board games
•DVDs of recorded TV shows, any prime time sitcom, TV series, and shows from the Discovery channel, the History channel, and the Military channel are also great.
•Books – all kinds

We thank all the men and women overseas for the sacrifices that they make everyday. We're so excited to help in any way we can!

ATTENTION all animal lovers!

Disaster relief teams from The Humane Society have begun search-and-rescue operations in Texas. They desperately need our help to save animals stranded by Hurricane Ike.

Be a part of saving animals stranded by the storm and reunite them with their families.....There are many pets and other animals that are still waiting to be rescued.

The Humane Society is currently collecting emergency contributions that can help them respond to this and future crises.

Just go to this link for more information on sending a donation:
https://secure.hsus.org/01/disaster_relief_fund_2008/nYdNYr61qfJxA?source=gabhdg



From one animal lover to the next!
~Lovebug

Upcoming Revitalize Events!

Come join the Revitalize family!!!
Love, love, love,
Jess & Ami!

Revitalize Your Soul - Birthday Time!

Sooooooo, this past Friday, 8.1.08 was my birthday! Happy Birthday to me! This year I turned 29 and I feel DIVINE! As I quickly approach my fabulous thirties, I realize that my thought process and decision making continues to grow and change. This year I have felt maturity and adulthood more intensely than ever before. I have been on my own and supporting myself since I was 18 years old, I have been married AND divorced, I have had several surgeries and health issues in the past, I have traveled a decent amount and have seen, survived and enjoyed all levels of experiences (the good, the bad, the best and the rest). Yet, this is the year…..2008… that I feel the most mature.

This got me thinking…..why after all these years of living an adult life am I finally feeling the most “grown up”? I am really not sure what the answer is, but I will tell you this….It feels Incredible!!! I have gone through so many phases of self discovery in the past 29 years and I feel very accomplished and content with where my life currently stands. There are so many pressures out there as to where we should all be by a certain age. The fact is that no one has the right to tell us who we should be, where we should be and how we should live our lives (especially not according to our age). If I had followed the “guidelines” and “timelines” of this world, I probably would have never gotten a divorce and stayed in an unhappy marriage OR would already be married again, I definitely would already have children, own a house, have my degree and be set in my career. I can definitely admit that these all can be wonderful accomplishments. However, I do not have any of them right now, yet there are so many things I have done in my life that I am most proud of. Things that I chose over everything else and I still have so much to look forward to. I refuse to feel that time is running out. We have been gifted the blessing of life and our sole purpose is to cherish and enjoy all the beauty it has to offer….at free will and on our own terms. I am blessed to have an amazing bond with my mom and brother, I am surrounded by the comfort and support of true friendships, I have a magical connection with the love of my life, I am co-owner of a business that specializes in Wedding Design (the celebration of Love!), I run a charity organization with my best friend, I try to focus on living each day filled with gratefulness, peace, love, balance and bliss that extends itself to all those who are the closest to me and to anyone that comes in contact with me. I am content, proud and at peace with who I am, where I stand and how I live my life. The best part is that I still have the opportunity to live and accomplish so much more. I can marry the man of my dreams (after waiting very patiently for him), I can be a mom at a time that I feel I know myself the best and can give the most, I can see my business grow into a success that becomes my livelihood, I can see Revitalize grow into a huge community the glows with positivity, encouragement and the unending act of giving, sharing and coming together to extend our love to the world.….

….My life is in my hands and I choose to be guided by my faith, spirituality and heart.

Big warm hugs to all!
~Lovebug

Revitalize is BACK!

....We've missed you and the entire community! Ami & Jess have returned to spread love and joy!!

We are so happy to say that our adopted platoon from Afghanistan has returned to the USA. They are grateful for the love and support that Orlando gave them!! Recently, we have hooked up with another group of soldiers in the Navy and they are in need of all of our help! Look out for donation events and drop off locations (info to be posted soon!).

In the meanwhile, check out this site to donate your old cell phones to the troops: www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

In local community news, be on the lookout for our future events and charity projects...Picnic in the Park part 2 and our next gleaning adventure (what will it be this time...corn, fruit...???)!

We cannot wait to reconnect with everyone (and anyone)!
Much love,
Ami & Jess

Supporting our soldiers...

Revitalize has adopted three Platoons consisting of about 100 soldiers. They are currently stationed in Afghanistan and Revitalize will be shipping care packages to them as often as possible. We would love for you to be a part of this wonderful cause and community movement. Any contribution you can offer sends a message of love and hope to these brave men who will not be returning home for several months. These care packages mean more to them then we could ever imagine.

With thoughts of peace,
Jess and Ami
myspace.com/revitalizeorlando

Pictures and Donation details are below....



Drop off Locations for January 2008 TBA:
If you would like to give a donation, please feel free to contact us at revitalizeorlando@gmail.com or 407.399.7589

Donation Guide (a list of items recently requested):

Food and Beverage:

Lots of Snacks (crucial) – no chocolate (this will melt in the mail)

Instant Coffee (Automatic Drip)

Creamer

Sugar

Energy Bars (come in useful when walking all night)

Beef Jerky

Canned soups and stews (starting to get really cold)

Powered drink mix (Propel, Crystal light, Red Bull, etc.)

Clothing:

Socks (wool only in black or green) – Army Navy Store

Toiletries:

Soap

Liquid Soap

Baby Wipes (they use these a lot)

Hand sanitizer

Q Tips

Shampoo

Deodorant

Hygiene products (all kinds)

Misc. and More:

Chap Stick

Fly swatters

Pipe Cleaners (To clean equipment)

Batteries (AAA, AA, and D cell )

Silly String (use to detect trip wire and also for fun J )

Hand and Boot warmers (Winters in Afghanistan are very cold)

Back Scratches

Letters can be written for encouragement, to thank them, etc.

Cards can be sent from you and your family for the holidays, etc.

Pens (the locals feel that pens represent education and constantly ask the soldiers for them)

Entertainment

Magazines – all kinds

Movies – all kinds

Music – all kinds

Board games

DVDs of recorded TV shows (haven't seen a T.V show in 8 months) – any prime time sitcom, especially "Lost" and shows from the Discovery channel, History channel and the Military channel are also great.

Books - all kinds