Movember: mustache glory for good

It's Movember, the month when boys become men to "change the face of men's health." To raise awareness for men's health issues, they grow out their whiskers for 30 days with hopes and dreams of mustache glory.

My own Movember glory (thanks to Urban Outfitters).I admit, I'm not a fan of facial hair on men. Don't get me wrong, all you mustache lovers out there, I respect you and think you look great. It's just my personal preference not to kiss it.

Soup strainers and crumb catchers aside, here are some facts about men's health from the Movember foundation:

• The average life expectancy for men is five years less than women (presently 77 compared to 82).
• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime (1 in 3 women will be).
• 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
• Men commit suicide four times as often as women.
• An estimated 8.7 million adult men over the age of 20 in the US have diabetes -- a third do not know it.
• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 34.

If you'd like to contribute to the Movember foundation, my friend Kevin Strange is collecting donations on behalf of his workplace team, Mo-ForRent (they work at ForRent.com). So far, they've raised $400 with 15 days to go. As a random act of kindness, consider making a contribution and spread the word about men's health.

And for even more mustachio fun, check out this mustache barware from Urban Outfitters. I picked these pint glasses up when I was shopping in Las Vegas last month. This worked out great because the week before, I had an unlucky (or clumsy) streak and had broken a few glasses at my house. I picked these up thinking my roommate, Brian, would appreciate them.

Mustache barware from Urban Outfitters.

Enjoy the rest of Movember, and in all your mustache mischief, don't forget to spread awareness and support a men's health cause.

Help celebrate Social Good Day!

Today, we’re celebrating Social Good Day, and it's going to be big! Especially if you spread the word. Mashable.com and (Red) joined forces to encourage ideas for using social media for social good. My idea was to use this blog and partner with my favorite bloggers to make a difference for helping to fight AIDS in Africa.

Here's the exciting news! For every comment left on this blog post today, I'll donate a dollar to the (Red) cause, up to $40! This means YOU get to take part in making a difference. Want to go a step further? Let my donation inspire you, and donate at Join Red’s donation page. Let me know if you do so we can include your contribution when we add up the results of this social media effort. And, if you want to see even more money go to this cause, you can visit and comment on these blogs partnering with me in the effort (tell your friends too):

My Aim Is True – the creative, crafty DIY blog of my good friend, Amber Karnes.

Bake It Pretty – the absolute cutest cupcake site on the Web. I LOVE this blog. It will change your baking life.

Powerful Learning Practice – teachers, this is your resource for using social media in the classroom.

Patches of Sand – the posterous blog of OBX Design Works, all about Web design.

Jase Digital Media - a blog on social media marketing.

Reina Communications' Social Surf – my business blog about social media.

Ping! Loyalty Science in Practice – ODU professor Yuping Liu's blog about marketing, social media and customer loyalty.

UPDATE: @limoncello, who I met via Twitter today, got inspired by our posts and raised $1150 teaming up with Romance authors, readers and reviewers on her blog The Good, the bad and the unread. 

Here are some reasons you should feel good about helping the (Red) cause today:

• 33 million people in the world have HIV, 22 million live in Africa.
• 67 percent of people with HIV live in Africa, yet the continent is home to just 10 percent of the world's population.
• The disease is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa with approximately 3,800 people dying every day from AIDS.
• It costs around 40 cents a day for the 2 antiretroviral pills needed to help keep someone living with HIV alive and healthy.
• More than 70% of people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than $2 a day.
• 2 ARV pills a day that cost about 40 cents each, can keep someone living with HIV alive & healthy.

What is 40 cents a day to you?

Check out this 30-minute HBO Documentary "The Lazarus Effect" for more about AIDs in Africa.

Don't forget to leave a comment and spread the word! Thanks!

Finding opportunities for kindness

Being kind doesn't cost much, if anything, and it is relatively easy to do. Sometimes we forget that. We find it's easier to keep to ourselves, or maybe we are too wrapped up in our own lives to think of others. Whether it's holding the door for someone, helping an elderly person or complimenting another girl on her outfit, kindness may take little on your part while totally making someone else's day. I'm challenging myself to find more opportunities for kindness, and I hope you will be inspired to do the same. Crazy that something so easy to do could be looked at as a challenge. 

I saw that the Gap and Join Red was offering 30%
 off purchases all weekend. I love the (Red) campaign, you simply buy (Red) products at places like Starbucks, Hallmark, Apple and The Gap, and a portion of your purchase is donated to fight AIDs in Africa through The Global Fund. So when I saw the coupon for 30% off at The Gap, in which 5% of the purchase would go Red's efforts, I thought it was worth a trip to my local Gap Outlet for some cooler weather clothes. I e-mailed the coupon to some friends, and a friend and I went shopping last night. I found a pair of jeans and used my coupon to save $15. Afterward, the clerk handed me back the coupon, since it was valid all weekend. I was on my way out of the store rushing to do whatever was next on my busy agenda, when I realized this was a chance to help someone else out. So, I found other shoppers in the store and handed them my coupon. My friend did the same. We made three Gap shoppers very happy. I also asked them to simply pass on the coupon after they were done to someone else. That's a pretty easy random act of kindness, and there's the double benefit of a portion of their purchases going to the (Red) campaign as well. 

If you are shopping at The Gap, Banana Republic or Old Navy today, be sure you print out the coupon. And maybe print a few extras out for the other shoppers.