1890s Day in Ringgold

We had a great time at the 1890's Day Festival.  Dad met Seth's mom in Calhoun after Coosa's graduation so he got to spend most of the day Saturday with us.

The fireworks started at 9:45 and we sold our last bears at 9:43.  Everyone had on TN Vols hats and shirts, but we did not sell a single TN bear.  Mom had 12 ready to go.  We sold Michigan, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, GA/FL house divided, but no Tennessee.

Michigan...REALLY

Sharing a Bear with Addison

I was so happy to be able to share a bear with Addison today. Addison is an awesome little girl who had been fighting a childhood disease since birth. I met her as a student at Sylvan Learning.

This is what inspires me to keep selling and donating bears. You can see from the smile on Addison's face that your purchase DOES make a difference.

Youth Service America: Everyday Young Hero

YSA honors Nina Manuel, 16, of Rome, Georgia for raising money for hospitalized children through the creation of handmade stuffed teddy bears.

Nina founded Share-A-Bear in the spring of 2013 and creates teddy bears to benefit hospitalized children. Nina, who started her project to raise money for her Relay for Life team, sells her handmade bears and donates the money to charity. 

Through her desire to give back, Nina has gotten her entire family involved. Her father cuts the material and her mom sews the teddy bears together.  Her grandmother even hand sews the final stitches in the back after the bears are stuffed. She ships cut out bears to her grandma in Louisiana to sew the fronts and backs. 

Since April, Nina has sold 220 bears and raised more than $2,200. In 2013, she took 85 bears to the Arnold Palmer's Hospital for Children in Orlando.

For hand-crafting stuffed teddy bears for hospitalized children, we honor Nina Manuel as an Everyday Young Hero.

My Television Debut

It was definitely worth being at Ridge Ferry park at 6:30 Friday morning.  Even though it was just a few minutes, I was on Good Day Atlanta.

I am on the broadcast right after they BBQ guys get finished with their "trash talk"

Good Day Atlanta

Relay 2014 was Awesome

I want to say a big Thank You to everyone who supported me through my fundraising journey for this year's Relay for Life. Last year, I started Nina's Share-A-Bear by raising $285 at the 2013 Relay for Life. What a difference a year makes. 

I am pleased to announce that I exceeded my goal of $1,500. I raised $1,865. The best part of this was the happiness that I saw in the eyes of the "Survivor Kids" when they picked out one of my bears and gave it a big hug. This was their night and I was able to help them forget about cancer, medication and doctors for a few minutes.

2 new Custom Bears

I made these two custom bears for Tonya.  They turned out really cool

Athens Bound with Emerson

2:30 PM - Let's get this party started.  What an awesome team... GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!  Can't go wrong with Dawgs against Dawgs...

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Getting closer to game time:  Emerson and Athens have visited the gift shop and have had their pictures made in front of Sanford Stadium.  It will be time to go between "The Hedges" before long.  Look who we found; the legendary Vince Dooley himself.

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April 12th...9:30 AM -- Up bright and early to get ready for the game.  Emerson insists on sharing her breakfast with me.  I have to keep up my energy to get lots of pictures made with the UGA cheerleaders and football players.

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Whew, we made it to Athens, safe and sound.  In case you are wondering, my name is Athens.  Here I am with Emerson in the condo.  We are getting ready to call it a night, so we will be ready for tomorrow.

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My journey began at 11:15 AM on Friday, April 11th.  I was selected from all of Nina's awesome UGA bears to travel to Athens to attend the 2014 Georgia Bulldogs G-Day Spring football game with my new best friend Emerson.

Emerson and I will be posting pictures this weekend.

You can also purchase one of my awesome UGA bear friends from Nina's ETSY store

UGA Bears

I am donating $15 for all bears purchased before April 26th to Relay for Life on behalf of our Friends Against Cancer team.  I will also make and donate a 2nd bear to a hospitalized child.

Yes, I also have Gators, Elephants, Yellow Jackets, Razorbacks and more

Sports Fans