Hockey Playoffs and a HUGE Giveaway!!

make sure to read all the way through because there is a huge giveaway at the end! :)

Hey guys! Have you all heard of the Beard-A-Thon going on with the NHL? If you are into Hockey I'm sure you have. If you aren't a hockey fan here is a rundown. Each team that's in the playoffs for the Stanley Cup have their own page where their fans can sign up to grow their beards out until there team is out of the playoffs or WIN the Stanley Cup. Also each team that is participating choices a charity or cause to support and raises money for them!! I think that's awesome don't you?

The Pittsburgh Penguins (our hometown team) are in the playoffs! Yay! So my husband decided to join the Beard-A-Thon and grow his out. (which he never does because he says it gets itchy) Here is the fun part....you can 'Pledge a Beard'. The Pen's have chosen the Mario Lemieux Foundation as their cause to support. And what a great one it is.

(copied directly from the Pen's site)

The Mario Lemieux Foundation was created in 1993 by hockey legend Mario Lemieux and is dedicated to raising funds for cancer and neonatal research as well as Austin's Playroom Project, an initiative that creates sibling playrooms in medical facilities. The Foundation’s projects include:

• $3 million gift to the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, to establish the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Diseases at the Hillman Cancer Center
• $5 million gift to the renowned University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, to establish the Mario Lemieux Centers for Patient Care and Research
• $2 million gift to the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, to establish the Lemieux Family Center
• $1.6 million gift to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, to establish the Mario Lemieux Foundation Endowment for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Research and create the Lemieux Sibling Center

Additionally, Nathalie Lemieux created Austin’s Playroom Project after the Lemieux’s personal experience while caring for their premature infant son, Austin. Austin's Playroom Project seeks to benefit families and improve the quality of a child's hospital experience whether as a visitor or patient by establishing cheerful playrooms that are safe, calming and comfortable. 21 Austin’s Playrooms have been established in western Pennsylvania with six additional playrooms scheduled to open in 2011.

On the news just the other day there was a story about how the Mario Lemieux Foundation had donated a bunch of xBox's to the Children's Hospital for the kids. Which yes I know isn't as important as making them well but getting their spirits up and giving them something to get their minds off of things for a while is always a good thing, right?

This is where the giveaway comes in. I emailed a bunch of my favorite people asking if they would donate an item to be given away and I got a great response. :) The catch is you have to go Pledge my husbands beard to enter the giveaway. NONE of the money comes to us. It doesn't even come through us. It all goes directly to the Mario Lemieux Foundation and will say that in the email you receive after pledging. We are getting nothing from this at all besides knowing that we are helping raise money for the kids! The whole 'Pledge' thing is just a fun way for the fans to feel connected and have some fun.

So to enter the giveaway you must go Pledge Chris Waldrop's Beard then come back here and leave me a comment saying you did. Easy right? I know what you are thinking, having to pay something to enter a giveaway. But seriously it's for a good cause and you could win some awesome things. The giveaway will last until the Pen's are out of the running for the Stanley cup or they WIN! So hurry up and pledge so you can enter just in case we don't make it very far. This giveaway could last days or weeks. Just depends on how well we do!

You all want some pictures of the Beard I'm sure! Here is a pic of Chris on shave day. It's the evening of shave day so it's grown just a bit but you get the point.

And here is a picture at one week of no shaving. I almost didn't believe him that this was all it has done in a week but I checked the Pen's playing schedule and sure enough it's been a week.

Kinda looks like a mug shot, no? I told him I'd be posting these so if he wanted a better picture he should have taken one!

I'll be posting pictures weekly of the growth so you all can see how it's looking.

Now onto the giveaway!!!

I have divided these into 3 groups . When you comment please make sure to say which group you would like to be entered for.

GROUP 1

$25.00 to spend at Little Lizard King. I have a few of their patterns and love them!

This Fabric Bundle from the Fabric Shoppe

Tutu and Flower Headband Set from Myah Bee Boutique

A $15.00 Store Credit to Skidz Wife Creations

GROUP 2

This FQ Bundle from Sew Fresh Fabrics

Your choice of 3 patterns from V and Co. I love the ruffled scarf :)

Polka Dot Wristlet from It's Owl Right

1 Deal From Groop Dealz that is $20.00 or less. (needs to be used within 30 days of when you are notified by me that you won!)

GROUP 3

3 Patterns of your choice from Little Birdie Secrets

1 Deal from Groop Dealz that is $20.00 or less. (needs to be used within 30 days of when you are notified by me that you won!)

1 Hello Kitty Pillowcase dress in the size you chose from 12m-6 from me :)

$30.00 Gift Certificate to Zoe Girl Designs! I'm in love with her whale onesie!!

I love everything here! I wish I could enter since I did already Pledge my hubby's beard! So come on guys...go pledge and come back here and enter.

The official rules: ;)

For every $10.00 you pledge here you get 1 entry. So if you pledge $30.00 you will get 3 entries, leave 3 comments....each one with your name you used to pledge, the giveaway group you wish to enter and your email address so I can contact you if you win

For a free entry all you have to do is comment with your favorite Hockey Team and your email address!

That's 2 ways to enter but really you could have tons of entries if you donate more $

Just make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!

And again I would like to mention that I am not getting any money or products from this in no way. We just want to raise some money for a good cause and have lots of fun doing it!!!

Oh and make sure to check out the sponsors of the Beard-A-Thon tab at the top of the page!!!! Thanks so much you guys!!