Icon: February 2009

2.10.2009

Jessica & Aaron Archer have invited you to join Kiva!

My good friends Jennifer and Brendan gave Aaron and me a $100 gift certificate to Kiva for our wedding last year. Read all about it below. I did some research and have presented on the topic of microcredit in the developing world, so it was a wonderfully appropriate gift (but that's Jennifer for you, incredibly thoughtful).

The bottom line is that small loans make a HUGE difference, my friends. The best part is that it's ongoing. That $100 will be paid back by those to whom I've lent it, and I can then reinvest it indefinitely. I can't wait until Annika is old enough to participate.

Hello!

I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Humay Mammadova in Azerbaijan. They still need another $1,000.00 to complete their loan request of $1,200.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this entrepreneur off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Humay Mammadova too:

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=87976

It's finally easy to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it for. And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build a

sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.

Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time.

Thanks!

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What others are saying about www.Kiva.org:

'Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.'

-- BBC

'If you've got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you've now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.'

-- CNN Money

'Smaller investors can make loans of as little as $25 to specific individual entrepreneurs through a service launched last fall by Kiva.org.'

-- The Wall Street Journal

'An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity...All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.'

-- Entrepreneur Magazine
Check it out!
https://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=register&_isc=1c04974c-48d7-102c-a153-8bf428e815af

2.09.2009

Warming his Cockles

Warming his Cockles, originally uploaded by jessica_beagan.

Ichiban has this thing about straddling the baseboards to warm up. We call it "warming his cockles."

Annika dressed up at 3 months

Annika dressed up at 3 months, originally uploaded by jessica_beagan.

We had company today, so I dressed Annika up in a denim jumper, white sweater, and Babylegs legwarmers with skulls & crossbones. I added the bib as she's been spitting up for 2 days now.

I like how this personalized bib both coordinates with her outfit and looks like a mugshot ID card, given the look on her face.

Little Lebowski Urban Achiever

Little Lebowski Urban Achiever, originally uploaded by jessica_beagan.

When I ordered the "Achiever" T-shirts for Aaron and me to wear to our wedding rehearsal bowling party, I included this onesie for Annika.

For those not familiar, "Achievers" are fans of the movie "The Big
Lebowski". Aaron & I totally bonded over the movie, both being Achievers, and were thus inspired to throw a bowling party the night before our wedding.

The Paganos took some wonderful pictures at Old Mountain Lanes that night, as well as at our wedding at the Village Inn the next day. We plan to have the albums, and some digital files to share online and with the Achiever community, before our first anniversary on June 7.

2.03.2009

Discipline

I get on kicks with things. When I'm doing something, I'm all in it. But then I'll leave it off. Photography is one of those things. It's easy to leave it off, but when I get into it, I find myself getting immersed.

Such was the case this afternoon. I uploaded several photos from my phone to both Flickr and this blog, all in one shot. I also took some pictures of Annika with her mohawk, of the house (film AND digital), and of the neighborhood from out the living room windows.

I find that having Annika prompts me to take more photos. She's growing and changing so much, and people are always asking to see recent photos. So perhaps this is where I'll find some discipline.

It was fun shooting with my old film camera today, and a rickety 70-300 mm lens. I have a frightening amount of expired film in my basement, waiting for me to do something with it. And a whole Hasselblad camera rig with which I've done nothing. . . .