THON

Today I’m taking a break from cupcakes, injuries and gifts to tell you about something pretty awesome. And life-changing. It’s the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON for short - the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, which raises money for pediatric cancer. Year-long efforts to raise money for this organization culminate with a dance marathon where the dancers are required to stand on their feet and stay awake for 46 hours. My sister Christine is a student at Penn State and dedicates a huge effort to this cause.

Each year, the organization continues to break record totals. Last year they raised $7,838,054.36 and this year they are working towards breaking 8 MILLION DOLLARS! Christine has devoted so much time and heart to THON. She has spent countless hours canning for donations and taking every opportunity to spread the word about this amazing effort that has changed so many lives. I’m so proud of my baby sister that I just had to share her efforts with all of you as the event that Christine and so many students like her have worked towards over the last year is approaching in just over a week (Feb 18-20)! I’m going to turn the rest of this post over to Christine so that she can fill you in!

In my short time at Penn State University I have become highly involved in THON, a cause that has changed my life. I am a part of the independent organization ATLAS, which is the top independent organization who raises money for THON each year. We spend all year working on fundraisers and dedicate four weekends to canning to raise money where 100% of the proceeds help pay for cancer treatments for our THON children. ATLAS has single-handedly been able to raise 1 million dollars for THON in 6 years and we do not plan on stopping anytime soon.

What I find so amazing about this philanthropy is how volunteers get to know the THON children on a personal level. ATLAS has two amazing children, Victoria Smith and Claire Brobson, who we have all come to know and love. Our children are both fortunately in remission, however, this does not make us fight any less. There are tons of children that attend THON every year who are currently battling for their lives. Eli Sidler is 14 year-old boy who has been a THON child since 2005 and is now battling cancer for the fourth time! We THON for children like Eli and for all the other children, brothers, sisters, and parents who have been affected by pediatric cancer.


Of course no one can really understand the impact of THON unless you see it for yourself. I included a video to help show everyone a little bit more of how THON can affect people's lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLCticg_KWs&feature=related

There are TONS of videos online, just type THON into YouTube and feel free to browse through them all!

1. Go to the link provided below.
2. Enter your personal and financial data as requested on the form.
3. 3.Under the header “Designation Selection" check off "organizations" and click "Save and Continue"
4. Under the header “Gift Amount/Designation,” please ensure your donation is being credited to us by choosing “Atlas” from the drop-down box. Once you’ve made this selection, the drop-down box should look similar to the image shown on the right.
   • Complete the remainder of the donation form.
5. Click the “Submit My Gift” button at the bottom of the page and wait for the confirmation page to load. You’re done. Thank you!

CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO DONATE!!

One day we will dance in celebration, until then we will dance for a cure!

So there you go. I can’t help but read through this story and get all teary. I think this is an amazing cause and wanted to give my awesome baby sis a chance to spread the word even further. I’m so proud of her!

My sisters Christine, Kimberly and me before a Penn State football game in 2009

Stay tuned for an update following THON to see how it all came together! And if you do choose to donate, please be sure to mark it under the ATLAS group, which is the one that Stine Bean is a part of!

Beauty on the Go

As a city dweller with a brand spankin' new job, I'm constantly on the go...but not always as awake in the morning as I'd like to pretend. Have you ever slept in just a little too long and wondered, how is it possible to make myself not look like a natural disaster victim today? Who hasn't? I'm happy and excited present our first guest blog entry by none other than beauty blogger and makeup extraordinaire, Christine (who also happens to be my fabulous younger sister). Like what you read? Catch Christine on her own blog, On a Mission Beauty, where she shows different makeup looks, gives video tutorials on makeup application, and provides insight to the hottest and newest beauty products on the market. Think you know makeup? Think again. Check it out...and enjoy!

So we all wish we could wake up looking like Melanie Griffith circa The Working Girl, however, the women of Hollywood never have to deal with the real “Working Girl” problems.

Of course any savvy commuter may know, it’s not always easy to look beautiful while on the go but hopefully these tips will keep you looking fresh and gorgeous for the office (or even a night out on the town).

Let’s set the scene: It’s Monday morning and you’ve hit the snooze button just a few times too many and now you find yourself pressed for time. Any other girl would freak out but the Commuter Girl knows exactly how to handle this.

-No time for blowing your hair dry? Skip washing your hair for a day! Girls, meet your new best friend: Batiste Dry Shampoo. Just spray it on greasy hair at the roots, brush it through and you’re left with voluminous, oil-free hair. Seriously it’s that easy, and the best part? Only $7.50 at any local beauty supply store.

BATISTE DRY SHAMPOO $7.50

-On to the hard part: Makeup. Actually, this happens to be my favorite part. Here’s a hassle free look that really can brighten up even the sleepiest of faces.

Step 1: Conceal those under eye circles- preferably with a salmon colored concealer because that will counteract the blueness under your eyes. This will probably already make you look 10x better. CoverGirl makes a good one.

FRESH COMPLEXION UNDER EYE CONCEALER $5:
Step 2: White Eyeliner= Holy Grail. Line your waterline (the moist strip of skin between your eye and your lower lashes) with white eyeliner and smudge a bit into the inner corners of eyes (near the tearduct). I promise it will brighten your whole face up! This is the only time I really recommend a higher end product because of the staying power. MAC makes my personal favorite.

FASCINATING EYE KOHL $14.50:
Step 3: Chapstick. In my 19 years on earth I have learned that chapstick is the best beauty product a girl could own. Every night I coat my lips with this stuff and I am constantly reapplying throughout the day (this would explain my super soft lips). This will give your lips a natural gloss without the stickiness that comes from lipgloss. My favorite one is Carmex, plus it has SPF 15 in it!

CARMEX $2.50
Finally just coat those eyelashes with your favorite mascara and your ready to go. You’ll have no need for blush because chances are your cheeks will already have that natural glow as you run out the door!

This is me before these simple steps… obviously unhappy

and this is me after!

I hope everyone gets a few tips from this post and I hope next time you’re in a bind this will help you out!
Until next time
Xoxo Christine

Do you want to be a guest blogger? We'd love to have you! Check out this article to find out how!

Manhattan-Obsessed? Tell us...

So I came to the realization that perhaps I’m not the only Manhattan-obsessed chick out there, and that there must be many others like myself hoping to share their city stories. With that in mind, It Happened Between JC and Manhattan is now looking for guest writers! Here’s the scoop…

Who:
City dwellers, suburbanites, and those in between with something interesting to share. Both chicks and dudes welcome.
What:
Since there’s a pretty broad scope of topic on the site, we are open to suggestions. Some thoughts of what may qualify:
City Tips: Tell us about tips for navigating the Big Apple. Sample titles could range from “Subway, Rickshaw, or Plain Old Sneakers? The Best Way to Get Around” and “I Refuse To Spend $12 On Lunch Each Day”. You get the gist.
Eateries: This includes, but is not limited to little gems in obscure locale, taste-tests of new cuisine, cheap-yet-delicious food finds, trendy restaurants with a reason to go (other than it's the hip new place), and anywhere you just had a great experience and feel the need to shout about it.
Events: Tell us about what’s going on around the city. And don't limit it to Manhattan...Hoboken and Jersey City have festivals almost weekly, especially in the summertime.
Budget Things: Since this does happen to be one of the most expensive cities in the country, us Manhattan chicks & dudes are always looking to save a buck in any way possible. Ideas on the subject? Don’t hold out…please share them.
Rants: While we love to rave about fab things and places, sometimes seemingly awesome things can be a real let down and cause for a necessary rant. Tell us!
Top 5, 10, 20...: Why you like/love the city and its surrounding areas, or specific things you love in it. Sample articles could include, “Top Ten Outdoor Activities in Manhattan" and "Five Ways To Negotiate For A Chinatown Prado Bag"...humor is encouraged.
Questions/Suggestions: Is there something you want to know about that we aren't currently addressing? Do you have a specific question, such as where to find great fro-yo or something of the sort? If so, please write to us!

What You Get:
A by-line, a link back to your own site (if applicable), never-ending love from betweenjcandmanhattan.com, and a contributor’s shout out. Sadly, there's no $ to give...

How to Submit:
Articles, photos, and videos are all welcome and should be at least 200 words in length.* Please submit all entries to themanhattanchick@gmail.com.

*All submissions, whether copy, photo or video, are subject to appropriateness.