From all of us here at Milkshake to all of you, we wish you the sweetest of holidays. However you're choosing to celebrate today, we hope you'll let the important things take lead.  Warmest wishes to you and yours.

Note: This piece is also running on today's global Milkshake channel, but we thought it was too good to miss, so we're sharing it here on our Kids channel as well. Enjoy, and be inspired. -The Milkshake Team

It goes without saying that the news of the Sandy Hook tragedy stopped us in our tracks late last week, and its impression is indelible. Many of us have been wondering what, alongside donating to the United Way charity set up to assist the victims' families, we could ever possibly do to help.  

True to her humanitarian roots, journalist Ann Curry was asking herself the same thing when, within that question, another arose: "What would happen if all of us committed to performing an act of kindness to honor each child lost?" Quickly taking to social media, Curry shared her idea, wondering if it might be replicated throughout the country and perhaps across the world.  

The world, it turns out, is responding in spades. 

"I donated to Autism Speaks via the CFC Campaign at work! 26 pay periods!" one person tweeted.

"Making and donating 200 free clinic patients Xmas dinner tomorrow night. Pretty excited about it," tweeted another.

"Each day I am including a card with a specific victim's name," another shared on the project's Facebook page. "Today was in honor of James. I taped money to a pop machine and a snack machine so someone could enjoy a snack."

One participant posted a photo of a card she was leaving on a windshield with a Starbucks gift card tucked inside. Elsewhere, a teacher tweeted Curry directly about her pride in her students' enthusiasm: "@AnnCurry it's spreading through our junior high school! #proudteacher."

While the campaign has been labeled with the number 26, and although the most often-used hashtag thus far has been #26acts, some participants are choosing to perform 20 acts of kindness in honor of the children of Sandy Hook Elementary, while others are committing to 28 acts to commemorate every life lost.  All details aside, the sentiment is the same; to draw upon an old proverb, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."  

It all started with a tweet: "Imagine if all of us committed to 20 mitzvahs/acts of kindness to honor each child lost in Newtown. I'm in."

Are you?

{photo: NBC News}

Everybody loves a good trunk show. The act of enjoying a carefully-curated shopping experience, taking time over sips and snacks to commiserate with friends both old and new, lends a sense of intimacy with the goods that end up coming home with us, and a memory made in the process.  A clever little brand called Noonday Collection has taken the concept of a trunk show and bumped it up to the next level, infusing it with social consciousness and seasoning it with hope, making the experience that much more delicious.

Ten percent of proceeds from every Noonday Collection trunk show is given directly to the family that hosts it in order to help them fund their adoption.  After going through the process herself in Rwanda in 2010, founder Jessica Honegger wanted to extend greater opportunities for others to fulfill their own dreams of raising children through adoption. So, she began curating jewelry, accessories and home goods and built a business model upon which artisans in the US, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Madagascar, Peru, Rwanda and Uganda are given fair opportunities to grow their own careers and curtail the cycle of poverty. All the while, their collective efforts make it easier for families longing for children to be given the chance to have them.  

From gorgeous journals, bowls and aprons to earrings, bracelets and an adorable daughter's first diamond necklace, Noonday offers a wide range of goods perfect for an evening of fun with girlfriends.  And for those so enamored with Noonday's concept that they simply have to snap something up right this moment, the collection is also available online.  Fostering friendships, helping people become parents and giving global communities a greater chance at sustaining themselves?  That's an invitation we can't turn down.  

The holiday season is a time to come together, right?  That's exactly why we've teamed up with our friends at Alignyo and Ethical Ocean to bring you a special contest.  Just sign up here to enter a chance at a $750 shopping spree with Ethical Ocean.  Simple as that!  They've got a vast collection of everything from all-natural cosmetics to handbags made from recycled inner tubes.  There, you'll find all kinds of unique gifts that give back -- we thought we'd guide you on a whirl through their sea of goods just in time for the holidays.  

It's funny how the best ideas are often the simplest ones.  That's certainly the case for We Give Books, a collaborative effort between the Penguin Group and the Pearson Foundation.  Since the former is in the business of selling books, it knows buzz is important when it comes to sustaining itself.  And what better way to create buzz than by promoting a spirit of giving while simulataneously encouraging kids to read?

At the heart of it, We Give Books is a user-friendly website that allows visitors to create a free account in seconds and then search for books by age range, genre, author or popularity.  When a child reads a book for free online while logged into his or her account, We Give Books makes good on its name and donates a book in kind to a child in need.  As 2012 draws to a close, the special project of the moment gives hardback books to young victims in Sandy's wake.  The program takes on different projects as time goes by, focusing on various areas that need literary assistance.  

We know that knowledge is power, and the empowering effect of books is immeasurable.  Imagine the message we send our kids when we explain to them that by reading, they're not just expanding their own horizons; they're helping others expand theirs as well.  That's a storyline we'll never get tired of hearing.

After all that overindulgence last week, we're embracing opportunities to integrate simple, nutritious foods back into our daily meals.  Admittedly, we're also striving for smaller portions this week too.  And as for snacking: we've discovered a perfect palate cleanser that's kid-friendly to boot.

Peeled Snacks are just what their name implies: delicious, nutritious, dried, peeled fruits. A great source of vitamins and minerals, each individual snack contains a full serving of organic fruit (like mango, banana, apple and pineapple, to name a few) with no added sugar whatsoever.  Available in individual and family-size packs, Peeled Snacks are available online as well as Whole Foods and Starbucks locations throughout the U.S., ranging from $1 to $2 per ounce. 

The snacks themselves are delicious enough, but even more so is the fact that 10% of proceeds from the American Farmland Sampler benefit the American Farmland Trust.  Comprised of flavors like "Apple-to-the-Core," "Raisin Expectations" and "GoFigure" (figs, dates and apricots), there's something for kiddos and parental units alike, and it's all wrapped up in a tiny little pouch that gives back to the community that created its contents.  Now, doesn't that sound tasty? 

If there were an official hierarchy in the realm of creative professionals, the team of Imagineers at Disney would basically be the royal family.  So, when one of them embarks on her own solo endeavor, begins creating personally-illustrated art for kids' walls and gives portions of her proceeds to charity, the villagers tend to take notice.

Such is the case of the creator of Pop & Lolli, a former Imagineer named Mia who switched gears when her daughter was born and put her imagination to use in a new way.  From imagineering theme parks to crafting what she calls "picture poetry" for children's rooms, Mia decided to do some good in the process; that's why she partnered with I Am Changing the World to provide agricultural provisions, academic support and school supplies to kids in her own native South Africa with every purchase of her peel-and-stick art.  Available in 32 themes, the removable decals range from plant and animal themes to full casts of characters and holiday scapes, all ranging from $60 to $300.

What a wonderful way to include the munchkins in adorning their environment while teaching them an important lesson about the power of giving back to the world around them.  Surrounding them with reminders of kindness each day and involving them in the process?  That's truly beautiful indeed. 

Happy holidays from the Milkshake team!  We're grateful beyond words for the opportunity to share good news, good finds and good times with all our amazing subscribers.  This weekend, enjoy a little R&R with the ones you love the most.  Many thanks from us to you.

Cheers!

Once upon a time, lemonade stands were a way for parents to teach their kids the basic concept of how commerce works -- what makes business tick.  These days, though, they're teaching a whole new lesson altogether: one of compassion and the importance of rolling up one's sleeves in the wake of a crisis.

The Team Kids LemonAID project got its start after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast region in 2005.  Mobilizing 1,200 kids and hosting 220 homemade LemonAID stands, the group raised $11,700 for the storm's victims in New Orleans.  Since then, they've pitched in to help victims of the California wildfires and earthquakes in Haiti, and now they're banding together again to help out in the wake of Sandy's devastation of the East Coast.

To get involved right at home in own community, you can register with the TeamKids LemonAID website and host a lemonade stand, bake sale, garage sale or other fundraiser.  100 percent of all funds raised will go directly to the Red Cross.  The project runs through December 31 -- plenty of time to organize something truly sweet to aid those in need.

Last year, Oliver Shuttlesworth returned home to Austin, Texas, from a trip to rural Central America asking himself a burning question: "If an education can cost as little as $20 a year, and yet 75 million children lack access to it, what can we do to help and why aren't we doing it?"

When elementary school students Carter and Olivia Ries came home from school one day in April 2010 and watched the news of the Gulf oil spill, the images of affected birds and turtles moved them to tears.  And as children often do, they asked their parents, "What can we do to fix it?"

With help from their mom and dad, they contacted the country's largest animal rescue organizations and put together a list of much-needed supplies, which they immediately set about gathering from local churches and schools.  After personally delivering the supplies to the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Center, one thing led to another and the Ries family founded their own non-profit organization.  Aptly called One More Generation (or "OMG"), they're working to ensure that all endangered species survive at least that long.  And now, they've launched a letter writing campaign to South African President Zuma in an effort to save the Rhinos -- a Big 5 endangered species that's experienced a spike in brutal poaching in recent years. Offering sweet coloring pages and children's stories, OMG's website breaks down the issue in terms kids can understand; it even offers a letter-writing template so they can reach out to President Zuma on their own.

While we adults focus on the presidential election here at home, our kids can reach out to world leaders and make their voices heard too.  An important first step in becoming an active, involved citizen of the world... what a great lesson for a day like today.

It's interesting, the things you can illustrate with a few simple numbers.  Did you know that in Tanzania, when 10 percent more girls go to school than the year prior, the economy grows by 3 percent overall?  Here's some more basic arithmetic: each year of primary school boosts a girl's future wages by 10 to 20 percent; each year of secondary school, 15 to 25.  That's no small change!

That's also why the SEGA (Secondary Education for Girls' Advancement) School is so important.  In a place where 1 in 5 people are hungry and more than 2 million children have lost their parents, child labor is prevalent, and more than one in ten girls is forced to drop out of school due to pregnancy.  SEGA, founded in 2008, offers education and promise through its curriculum, which includes business and sustainability programs.  Class sizes are kept below 30 students apiece, and solar power is used to illuminate the school's interior, reinforcing the importance of green energy.  The school's next goal is to complete a secondary boarding school for 200 girls by 2015 through grants and donations raised by Nurturing Minds, its fundraising partner.

Beating the odds through education, empowerment and environmental awareness? That's the kind of girl power we can cheer for.  Show your school spirit by visiting the Nurturing Minds website to learn more or make a donation. 

The average kid outgrows more than 1,300 pieces of clothing by the age of 17.  Crazy, right?  For those of us who feel a little guilty for consuming so many materials and leaving such a footprint -- but who still have to contend with the ever-changing trends our kids expect to keep up with -- there's a convenient solution, and in true modern fashion, it's 100% online.

It never occurs to some of us when we're young and arguing in the backseat with one of our siblings that someday, we just might be business partners.  But that's exactly what happened in the case of Jed and Marne, who founded an eponymous brand of clothing several years ago.  They're proud to report that their family ties are stronger than ever; together they're helping to make things right in a community where artisans have historically been treated and paid unfairly.  Drawing upon the talent of Guatemalan weavers, the brand provides fair wages and humane working conditions while preserving a beautiful cultural tradition.

The Jed & Marne children's line is called Neen Yo, a phonetic play on the Spanish word for "child." Its shorts and dresses are handmade in Guatemala -- carefully curated, dyed by hand and woven on foot looms.  Their intricate but breezy style is perfect for rough-and-tumble kids who put their clothing through its paces with hours of unabashed playtime.  Neen Yo's unisex shorts ($39.50) come in four prints, while dresses ($68) come in two styles with various color options.  Although it may not be evident as they're roughhousing every chance they get, maybe those kiddos of yours will grow into a brilliant partnership as adults someday too.

Some of us know the funny and flamboyant CeeLo Green because of his mega-pop hits like "Crazy" and "Forget You." Even more of us know him because of his prominent position in one of the red revolving coaches' chairs on the wildly popular music competition, NBC's "The Voice." But did you know that somewhere in his busy schedule, he's also found time to launch a foundation to help disadvantaged kids learn about taking care of the earth?

CeeLo, both a solo artist and one-half of the musical duo Gnarls Barkley, hails from Atlanta, where he recently established a 501(c)3 organization with his sister to level the field, so to speak, when it comes to environmental education in schools.  The GreenHouse Foundation, as it's called, explains its goals succinctly: "Through our Green Garden Education Program, we are supporting schools with the tools, curriculum and resources necessary to create and maintain an outdoor “teaching” garden. With the garden as the primary focus, children will learn the fundamentals of gardening along with the health and environmental benefits of growing their own produce. Children will also learn how to start and manage their own school farmers market with proceeds of cash and/or product being distributed to other nonprofit organizations fighting hunger in their community."

A summer school, college scholarship program, school waste diversion project and career development initiative are all planned for future phases as the foundation grows; clearly, 'Green' is much more than just the man's last name -- it's also arguably part of his calling.

Not sure about you, but we can't wait for the shorter-than-average yet larger-than-life crooner to sing a duet with Kermit the Frog -- changing the lyrics, of course, to "It IS easy being green."  We'd definitely turn our chairs around for that.

Today might be an official day dedicated to ending hunger around the world, but as Rome wasn't built in a day, neither is the eradication of a global epidemic. The good news is, through the power of social media and the ease with which we can spread the word, contribute a donation or otherwise make a difference, the solution is closer than it's ever been before.

On our Milkshake Global site today, we're telling the story of World Food Day and linking readers to the observance's official site, which connects visitors to more than a dozen stellar charities working to support the formation and sustainability of rural co-ops.  Here at Milkshake Kids, we're adding yet another resource into the mix: the nation's leading domestic hunger relief charity, Feeding America.  

The math is undeniable: every $1 donated provides eight meals to a family struggling with hunger.  Although we don't often link to direct donation sites, on a day like today, we couldn't ignore the simplicity of it all: for the cost of today's latte, we each could provide anywhere from 24 to 40 meals.  Even more staggering: a dollop of whipped cream to us might mean an entire day's food to a family in need.  Today of all days, that's a trade we're more than willing to make.

When was the last time you received a hand-written card or letter in the mail? Do you remember how it made you feel? 

There's just something splendid about a personally signed and sealed piece of paper from someone familiar, whether it's a birthday card, a thank you note, a postcard or -- gasp! -- an actual letter. Amid the sea of bills, junk mail and unnecessary circulars, an envelope with cursive writing is just about the sweetest thing a person can pull out of a mailbox. In celebration of that, the Etsy Greetings Team -- more than 100 artists devoted to the art and promotion of handmade cards -- is kicking off its second annual "52 weeks of mail" project this week. It made such a splash in its first year, even the USPS is getting involved in the second.  

The challenge is simple and sweet: mail at least one letter, postcard, or note to a friend or loved one every week for a year. The 2012-13 challenge begins this week; for ideas and reminders, there's a Flickr page dedicated to documenting the project, as well as a Facebook page cheerleading participants along throughout the year.  

Want to make the folks you love smile? Team up with the kiddos, stock up on stamps and practice that penmanship; you've got 52 perfect opportunities up ahead, each of them sealed with a kiss. 

Few creatures in the animal kingdom are as gentle as a lamb.  Perhaps that's why it's the cornerstone of one of the most beloved nursery rhymes in existence. And, likewise, that might be part of the reason Lamby Lampants, the stuffed doll shown here from Love & Fleece, is so darn adorable.

Although October is Bullying Prevention Month, it's no secret that the issue can't be solved in 30 days or less.  It does, however, offer the perfect conversation opener: where can kids go online and express themselves without worrying about being called all sorts of names?

Facebook and Twitter, while fun and useful, can unfortunately be hotbeds of cruel, catty interaction, and actress/singer Zooey Deschanel is no stranger to social media (and its pitfalls) herself.  Even though her "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" duet went viral via YouTube last year much to nearly everyone's delight, she's had her fair share of haters too. 

So, while Zooey's star was rising last year as her hit show "New Girl" was about to debut, she and two friends launched a web-based community for girls, completely free of cattiness, called -- love this -- Hello Giggles.  Co-founded with producer Sophia Rossi and internet sensation Molly McAleer, the site offers a plethora of user-generated content, ranging from its uber-popular Nails of the Day feature to smart celebrity commentary written by a 13-year-old and yes, even articles on bullying.  The closely-monitored site has a zero-tolerance policy on commenter harrassment, meaning their teenage female visitors can express themselves and devour all the content they want, then log off with their confidence and self-esteem intact.  

Our review: Five stars for Zooey and friends.  Although it may be filled with giggles and general cuteness, this site's worthy of some serious kudos.

Just a quick hit of inspiration to embolden you for the rest of the day.  

Cheers from the Milkshake crew!

image credit: SkillShare

Kids are cute, plain and simple, even when they're covered in mud, screaming over a skinned knee or sheepishly admitting they just covered a bedroom wall in magic marker.  Every once in a while, though, we run across a line of clothing so adorable, we can't help but think they'd make those same little rugrats almost unbearably cute if they walked around in it.  The Tea collection is one of those lines.

Founded in San Francisco in 2002, Tea began with just a couple of sweaters and an awful lot of vision.  In the past decade, it's grown by leaps and bounds, expanding its line to include boys', girls', toddlers' and infants' clothing, all with whimsical prints and styles that draw attention but still let a kid be a kid.  The designs themselves draw inspiration from every part of the world -- in the brand's own words: "From the iconic art and architecture of Barcelona to the graphic boldness of Brazilian street graffiti, we interpret our discoveries into beautifully classic and unique styles and designs for children, ages 0-12."

Sweeter still: several times a year, Tea hosts "GFC days" during which 20% of proceeds benefit the Global Fund for Children, a foundation that provides grants to groups working with some of the world's most vulnerable children. Take a glance at the Tea collection here to see what they've got brewing.

Life sure can throw a lot of curve balls, can't it?  While it might not be realistic to expect us to prep for each and every one of them, some are definitely easier than others to fend off and even knock out of the park.  That's why the American Public Health Administration came up with Get Ready Day -- and guess what?  It's today!

Coinciding with National Preparedness Month -- the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)'s month-long event encouraging Americans to be ready in cases of natural disasters, pandemics and other emergencies -- Get Ready Day focuses on public health hazards and the ways families can deal with them together.  With flu season coming up (check out President Obama getting his flu shot in the photo above!) and hurricane season already under way, the Get Ready site links to every resource imaginable, from emergency preparedness checklists to a detailed rundown of what parents need to know about flu shots for kids.

Be smart and take advantage of these free resources so you and yours can hit a home run if you ever have to step up to the plate.

Almost every little girl loves playing with fashion in one way or another, whether it's dressing up like a princess, a pirate or a Harry Potter character.  For those with a love of all things sparkly, though, the Matooka Kids Couture line has just what every little fashionista craves: glitz, glam, feathers and fun.

The collection has become so popular since its 2009 launch, its pieces have been spotted on both celebri-tot Suri Cruise and the racks of Saks Fifth Avenue. Its sequins and sass are straight off the pages of the glossiest fashion magazines, but adapted to fit the elementary school set. An added incentive for dressing up your little fashion plate: 10 percent of the line's proceeds go to infertility research and support for families undergoing assisted reproductive treatments.  

With frills, ruffles, sparkles and lace to spare, the fall 2012 line is full of holiday outfits ready for the spotlight. Check Matooka out to pick up a piece of the runway for your pint-sized superstar.

It's amazing how kids just get it.  When seven-year-old David Holdridge learned about the TOMS buy-one-give-one business model, he immediately applied it to a product he dreamed up, combining the snuggly padding of a stuffed animal with the coverage of a security blanket.  And with that, a mini-revolution was born.  

By age nine, with help from his family, David launched "Everything Happy" -- a website selling the "Happy Blankies" that formed its foundation, as well as pillows, clothes and gift sets.  The sets are perfectly bundled into adorable boxes including a blanket, stuffed animal and onesie, and they're available in eight characters and colors, from "Chase" the dog and "Flip" the monkey to "Wiggle" the hippo and "Stomp" the frog (shown above).  Just like TOMS, each product sold equals an in-kind donation to a child in a hospital, orphanage or impoverished community.

At $50, the gift sets are a precious baby shower gift idea, sure to please a mom-to-be while giving a blanket to someone in need.  Kind of gives new meaning to the phrase "gift that keeps on giving," doesn't it?