Other than the fact that I stand with the two benefactors of the foundation: those affected by gun violence and those affected by breast cancer, I met Christina Grimmie and believe that if she did live, I would have worked with her in some regard.
I created the Rock The Socks Off! collection in her honor because she was an absolute bright light musically and personally.
It was an absolute tragedy when she was gunned down during a meet and greet because those were her absolute favorite thing about performing live is that she got the chance to meet and chat with her fans afterward.
She was just such a warm and kind person, and didn’t deserve that fateful ending.
Each pair of socks gives $5 to the Christina Grimmie Foundation.
You can purchase some here and they retail for $15.99
Outside of the blatant reason of meeting Christina while working another concert, I can say that music has always played a huge part in my life. I grew up wanting to be a professional singer, I learned how to play piano and can read music, and I was a girl drummer.
I have also been told that some of my poetry could be set to music and turned into songs.
I chose Adopt A Classroom because when I was young I wanted to be a teacher. Once I didn’t go to school for it because my parents would constantly tell me how their was no money in it, they were mostly right.
Teachers are responsible for paying for a lot including the supplies needed for their own classroom and they are lucky if they make more than $40,000 a year.
I don’t think that is right so I chose this cause because I believe teachers should get help everywhere they can.
Each tote retails for $15.99 with about $3 of that benefiting the cause.
The cookie is shown sitting on her board with a book and drinking coffee.
The book proclaims the message “Reading is Rad.”
Just a further important message for our youth and can be shared to benefit and by our educators.
You can purchase one here and help benefit various types of classrooms including special needs, and classrooms affected by weather related devastation.
You all already know that I am a huge bibliophile.
Yet, you probably don’t know why I chose Bess The Book Bus as the cause behind the shirt with the main logo design.
It all started when the Sheckler Foundation granted Bess The Book Bus as one of their $10,000 Be The Change grants which they utilized to create the Boards and Books Tour.
You see, there is nothing I love more than skateboarding.
I find the sport and the athletes that participate in it to be very inspiring to me as a writer. There is almost an artistic side to the sport. Have you ever watched a guy in the skatepark flip a board and himself in the air?
That to me is the perfect combination of physics and artistry.
It’s almost like dance but with a small wooden board on wheels.
So they won and I thought it was the coolest thing. Boards For Bros. gave out skateboards to kids, and Bess The Book Bus gave out books.
They are a mobile library with books that provide reading material to kids in impoverished communities. They are Tampa based so they are local to my area.
That is why the cookie is reading and boarding at the same time. This was going toward the initiative. Yet, by the time I designed the shirt, the Books and Boards tour was over.
Now I just collect donations for Bess The Book Bus because I believe that all kids everywhere have proper access to books and the knowledge and escape they provide.
Now you know. You can purchase one here and they are available in a variety of colors.
The shirt retails at $21.99 with $6 a shirt being donated to Bess The Book Bus.
And no, the rest goes toward the printing and materials necessary for Teespring to make the shirts.
Other items within this campaign benefit the running and content creation of this site.
All items within my shop are based on the foundational belief that reading is the best activity this world has to offer and they all cater to that notion.
Bibliophiles should have a cute mug to drink their coffee out of.
Bibliophiles should have cute totes to carry their books in.
Bibliophiles should have a blanket that fits them from head to toe while they read.
Bibliophiles should have socks to wear, a beach towel to use while they read oceanside or poolside, and bibliophiles should have a backpack that carries their laptop and textbooks.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US for all ages. (CDC)
Every day, approximately 123 Americans die by suicide. (CDC)
There is one death by suicide in the US every 12 minutes. (CDC)
Depression affects 20-25% of Americans ages 18+ in a given year. (CDC)
Suicide takes the lives of over 44,965 Americans every year. (CDC)
The highest suicide rates in the US are among Whites, American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Only half of all Americans experiencing an episode of major depression receive treatment. (NAMI)
80% -90% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully using therapy and/or medication. (TADS study)
An estimated quarter million people each year become suicide survivors (AAS).
There is one suicide for every estimated 25 suicide attempts. (CDC)
There is one suicide for every estimated 4 suicide attempts in the elderly. (CDC)
I was recently diagnosed with anxiety and depression but have battled it my entire life. At the age of 12, I attempted suicide, and have had recurring episodes of suicidal thoughts since. I also battle symptoms of anxiety and have suffered multiple panic attacks. It can be crippling and you almost feel as if you can’t discuss it.
Most sick days I’ve ever called out of work have been mental health days.
Yet, it’s not yet globally accepted to use a sick day for your mental health.
One thing people don’t know about me is I suffer with social anxiety. In public places, I hate calling attention to myself. And if I have to address groups of people it makes me anxious. I believe I have always suffered this since I was young but started noticing it while in college which makes sense because I actually had a lot of people emotionally abuse me and socially reject me in some sense while I attended school there.
We should end the stigma.
Every purchase of this backpack will benefit Project Semicolon which is a great cause that uses a semi colon to show that your story has not come to an end…you can keep fighting.
We have to help people everywhere understand that help is available, mental health is vital for well-being, and suicide is never the answer.
You can purchase a backpack here and 100% of profit goes to Project Semicolon.
I am also running a Facebookfundraiser that you can donate to and all money raised will be donated by Facebook to Project Semicolon.
Third Design from Bookish Merchandise Line Benefits The Christina Grimmie Foundation
May 24, 2019—-Straight from the start, every new design within this merchandise line will benefit an even bigger cause. Publicist Chelsea DeVries chose a cookie jamming out to the music playing within it’s Beats as the design to benefit the Christina Grimmie Foundation. Music was Christina’s greatest talent and something she used to reach people who were struggling with self-confidence, being different, standing out, and always spreading a message of leading with love.
Whether you are a female drummer, skateboarder, or punk rock enthusiast, socks are a staple of everyone’s wardrobe. And in the winter, they keep your feet warm. Why not rock out with these music loving socks on?! Each pair of these socks donates $5 to the Christina Grimmie so get a pair for you, your girl or guy, your mom, your dad, your uncle, your cousin, your aunt twice removed, turn up the volume on the soundtrack to your life and rock your socks off no matter what day it is. The socks retail at $15.99 (plus 3.99 s&h) and are available in bold and bright colors for all forms of expression.
Also available are active leggings to work out in or perfect for dancing around the house in. These retail at $44.99 and support the services and operation of the Smart Cookie Philes.
Being that it’s close to Memorial Day, that is the universal signal that summer is right around the corner. Beach towels are also available so you can keep it rockin’ while at the beach or the pool. They retail at $30.99 and benefit the services and operation of The Smart Cookie Philes.
My favorite weekend of the year is Tampa Pro weekend. For those unfamiliar to me or street skateboarding in general, Tampa Pro is one of the biggest professional skate contests out there, and takes place right here in Tampa at the Skatepark of Tampa.
I became a fan of street skateboarding 15 years ago but the contest celebrated it’s 25th year this year. So naturally all of the OGs of street skateboarding were there (P-Rod, Eric Koston, Sheckler, Greg Lutzka) alongside hella impressive up and comers like Jake Ilardi & Daisuke Ikeda.
As I arrived, I checked in and got my complimentary wristbands and hit up the shop to purchase a deck ( I will get to this more toward the end).
As I was paying for the board, the shop employee asked me if I wanted grip tape. I kindly declined as I don’t skate but was honored that he thought I was instantly that talented.
Once I got situated with the rest of my group, we watched as all the pros strolled (ran not walked really) into the park. They quickly tried to sweep in and head straight for the course (They had to get their last minute practice run in before the semi-finals began).
The first pro I spotted was Kelvin Hoefler. He tried to sneak right by but I wished him luck and he greeted me with a quick wave, a “hello and a thank you.”
The next one spotted was the man, the myth, the legend, the great and powerful Ryan Sheckler. I watched as he came in wearing earbuds and within seconds of walking in had to pose for a plethora of pictures, sign his name on boards and hats, and literally not even get to sneak anywhere without being noticed. I spotted him and his usual group as soon as they walked in (Felipe Gustavo, Torey Pudwill, Sheckler). Naturally, as soon as Ryan saw my family and I he greeted us with pleasant smiles and kindly signed my board and took a picture ( even while another little grom attempted at trying to skip the line to which Ryan replied, “Just a minute dude,”)
For those that don’t know, my love of skateboarding began with Sheckler. I actually was shown him skating over an electrical box in a two page magazine spread back in 2003-2004, and instantly was impressed. 15 years later, I am always honored to even get a few minutes in the same space as this legend. Without saying much more, I will always respect Sheckler for helping me ( a smart cookie writer) find a forever home within the skateboard community.
Overall, it was a great time had by all. Free shots, Free beer, and priceless fun!
You can witness just about any pro skater in the flesh only feet from you, and you can even walk up and talk to and take a selfie with any of the guys.
Thank you to the staff at SPOT who always treat me like a literal VIP. And thank you to every dude that stopped for five seconds to sign my board. Speaking of the board, I am happy to announce that I am currently running a giveaway where one lucky reader of this post will get to win this board
Signed by living legends and up and comers alike: Ryan Sheckler, Trevor McClung, Greg Lutzka, Jake Illarda, Jamie Foy, Dave Bachinsky, Chris Joslin and Tampa Am Winner Daisuke Ikeda.
To enter, you must answer a trivia question in the comments below with your name and email below.
Congrats to the winner Carlos Ribeiro!
A huge thank you to Paul Zitzer for hooking up my family and I ( and shoutout to the will call ticket guy Gabe for giving my mom and I huge props on our matching shirts).
To celebrate our third year, I am giving away my EXCLUSIVE merch line Cookies For A CAUSE and the only designs being used within the giveaway are the products that benefit various causes that matter to me and are making a difference in the lives of children with the gift of reading and education, and soon to be announced a third cause that is musically inspired but benefits both those affected by gun violence as well as those affected by breast cancer.
1 person wins a T-shirt that benefits Bess The Book Bus.
One person will win a Tote Bag that benefits Adopt A Classroom.
One person will win my BRAND NEW PRODUCT before it is launched!
And if you would like to give a gift to The Smart Cookie Philes, you can always donate here or purchase something other than the products mentioned above to benefit the betterment and maintenance of The Smart Cookie Philes.
Thank you for making my third birthday a total success and as always, please feel free to keep espresso-ing yourself however you choose!
Each pair of socks gives $5 to the Christina Grimmie Foundation.
These retail at $44.99 and support the services and operation of the Smart Cookie Philes.
1 person wins a T-shirt that benefits Bess The Book Bus.
The Smart Cookie Philes 