Quick Pick: 2012 Pit Bull Calendar Benefiting Animal Rescues

The Unexpected Pit Bull 2012 Calendar

Price: $18.99
(price per calendar decreases the more you buy)

Recommendation: Great holiday present for any dog-lover in your life! They'll enjoy the beautiful photos and you'll know that the gift you purchased benefits animals in need.

The Unexpected Pit Bull Calendar 2012, $18.99

I don't think I've done any dog-related posts yet, which I'm kind of amazed by, since I'm obsessed with my pit bull, Caramel (photo below). You know those parents who think their child is the most amazing being in the world just for breathing and carry around photos that they always want to show to people the minute the subject comes up? ... Yeah, that's me. But with my dog. *blush*

I started fostering for the Baltimore-based pit bull rescue Adopt a Homeless Animal Rescue in June 2006 and have be absolutely in love with the breed ever since.

There are a lot of great organizations that work to reduce the stigma surrounding pit bulls and try to show people how wonderful these dogs are. I didn't previously know about The Unexpected Pit Bull, but saw a post on Facebook advertising their 2012 calendar and had to find out more (I mean, come on - look at that face on the cover! How could anyone not click?!).

The organization revolves purely around putting out a new calendar edition every year in order to raise money for animal rescues. I'm very familiar with the first one, since they're at the forefront of pit bull advocacy, but was not as familiar with the others:

My adorable pit bull Caramel - cutest dog in the world!
"Dogs Can Smile Too," $10.00-$16.00 + $2.00 s&h

• BAD RAP (Oakland, California) - Securing the future of the American Pit Bull Terrier as a cherished family companion
• Best Friends (Kanab, Utah) - Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog Campaign
• Out of the Pits (Albany, New York) - Showcasing the true nature of the Pit Bull and its ability to perform as a therapy, sport, and working dog
• PSPCA (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Safe Humane Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) - Court Case Dog Program

Starting with this calendar, the organization is partnering with HeARTs Speak, a nonprofit made up of artists from around the world who are working to improve the lives of animals in need. Their photographs are the ones featured in this year's calendar and from those previewed on the site, I have to say these artists are obviously extremely talented!!

A great find and one that was automatically added to my wishlist.

"Honey," featured in The Unexpected Pit Bull's 2012 Calendar, $18.99

Pre-order today The Unexpected Pit Bull's 2012 Calendar, $18.99

Images come from The Unexpected Pit Bull and my Etsy Shop Eleventh Muse

Welcome to Heartsy ... and Today's Deals!

Today: Bath & Body, Jewelry, Cookies, Photography, Paper Goods

Once you go Heartsy, you'll never go back! Have you heard of Heartsy.me? If not, be prepared to fall in love and spend much more money on Etsy (while justifying it by telling yourself that you're saving a lot)!

Heartsy uses the same principal as Groupon, LivingSocial, and Deals for Deeds - except it's all for Etsy. Each day, there are several Heartsy deals, each with a different Etsy Shop and offering store credit that saves over 50% (usually 55-70%). It is unbelievable and once you start, you won't stop, lol. Enjoy today's deals (they expire at end of the day!) ...

Ophelia's Apothecary
$14 for $35 Online Store Credit - Save 60% - Deal has been extended: 14 hours left
"Ophelia's Apothecary is a two person team of oil blending fury. We are proud parents of 3 mini-doxies and have a fabulous soap-making studio about a mile away from our house. We believe in using good-for-you ingredients and create our bath and beauty products in small batches to ensure fabulously fresh products from our studio straight to your door."
v Bought it! Review to come ...

    

    

Petite Paperie
$11 for $30 Online Store Credit - Save 64% - Deal has been extended: 14 hours left
"Hi, I am Jennifer the owner of Petite Paperie. I have always enjoyed vintage images and paper products and those two passions inspired Petite Paperie, a store specializing in vintage inspired stationery and papercraft. It is so fun to see all the beautiful crafts made from the digital downloads offered in my shop and it always puts a smile on my face knowing that the stationery I create is used to send special messages to your family and friends."
v Am debating ... have bought so many recently though!

    

    

Scrumptulicious
$14 for $30 Online Store Credit - Save 54% - 14 hours left
"Kristen Timmers' business Scrumptulicious was born out of necessity. In order to make ends meet after her husband was diagnosed with a life-threatening kidney disease, Kristen began pursuing her passion in baking and created a line of organic cookies which are made using only the finest, local, organic, fair-trade, and seasonal ingredients. The cookies are handcrafted, in small batches, and made to order. Timmers' philosophy is to keep it simple, keep it sustainable, and bake it with love."
v Bought it! My Mom and I couldn't resist - review to come ...

    

    

Ballyhoo Jewelry
$18 for $55 Online Store Credit - Save 68% - 14 hours left
"Hi, I'm Amy and run this little gig here at Ballyhoo. I have many inspirations: juxtaposing sweet and evil, tattoo images, Steampunk, horror and romantic/Victorian styles. I live in the D.C. metro area and love the East Coast. I hope you enjoy my designs!"
v Have to look through, but have already bought SO many jewelry Heartsy deals recently ...

    

    

Sweet Sally's Soaps
$9 for $25 Online Store Credit - Save 64% - 14 hours left
"Hi, my name is Sarah from Sweet Sally's Soaps. I create beautiful amazing smelling soaps from organic oils. I have always loved to cook and have had an intense interest in herbs and essential oils, so soap making, just seemed a natural progression. From the start, my goal was to produce skin care products that not only smelled wonderful and looked beautiful, but they also must be made from the best skin loving, nourishing ingredients available."
v Haven't looked through the Shop yet, but my resistance threshold is pretty low, lol, so ...

    

    

dreams & visions
$18 for $50 Online Store Credit - Save 64% - 14 hours left
"Hi, I'm Tricia McKellar, artist & photographer. My dreamy photographs are inspired by the Southern landscape & a sense of wanderlust. I combine modern photography with digital painting to evoke an emotion or memory within the viewer."

    

    

All images from Heartsy.me, which were all submitted by the respective Etsy Shops