Are you planning to do any travel this year? Take some time to learn a new language for your trip using RosettaStone! Find the best deals for hotels and flights using GoodShop and you’ll travel knowing that your trip is benefiting Joyful Heart Foundation.

Tell us about your travel plans in the comments below.

We love the weekends here at Joyful Heart because that means it’s time for Self Care Saturday and Sunday.  As you have read on our Facebook page, Twitter and the blog – we believe self care comes in many forms.

I love taking a stroll in the park on Saturday mornings. The fresh air is so revitalizing, I love people watching and its a great way for me to clear my head.

I also enjoy group fitness, massages, eating a great meal with friends, checking out a new museum, reading a great book (or listening to one), knitting and so many other decompressing activities. I find that “Daily Deal” sites have many opportunities for self care at discounted rates, and I love a great deal!

My favorite “daily deal” site is Groupon

I have gotten some great group fitness classes from Groupon’s daily email that I never would have tried without a discount, such fun self care! I have also found spa packages, discounted books, and so much more!

Plus, every time I purchase something on Groupon, 4% of my total is donated to Joyful Heart Foundation at no cost to me! I have the GoodShop toolbar and it makes the process automatic.

What great deals for self care have you found through daily deal sites?

Have you been practicing yoga or are you interested in trying it out? Yoga can be a great form of exercise, meditation and has great health benefits.

If you are in the market for any yoga accessories, check out… Yoga Accessories!

I really enjoy these fun yoga socks! Only $15 -  plus you can find so much more AND support Joyful Heart Foundation at the same time! Every purchase on Yoga Accessories through GoodShop results in a 5% donation to Joyful Heart Foundation at no cost to you!

When did you try yoga for the first time? Tell us in the comments below!

Many of the Joyful Heart retreats involve the healing power of water. One of the most convenient bodies of water is sitting in your home! That’s right, your bathtub. A warm bath has many healing qualities; quieting the mind through relaxation, soothing aching muscles and providing an overall sense of cleansing the body.

Looking for ways to get even more out of your bath? Try dimming the lights or turning them off and lighting a candle (perhaps an aromatherapy candle), leave your phone in the other room on silent, play some soothing music and add your favorite bubble bath for a calming scent.

Our favorite bubble bath (shower gel and shampoo, too) is philosophy’s Joyful Heart peony and Heart of the Season cranberry scented bubble bath. So not only will your bath be relaxing but it will benefit Joyful Heart too. Each purchase results in a donation to JHF.

PLUS Philosophy participates with GoodShop.com, use it to buy your Joyful Heart, Heart of the Season, or any of philosophy’s other great products and 2.5% of your purchase is donated to JHF at no cost to you!

Were you inspired by last week’s People Giving Back? Are you interested in joining a organized sports team? Or are you already on one? Use GoodShop to order your equipment and make sure you are staying warm while its cold – protect yourself from the elements! I know the winter kickball league plays next to the East River, and it can get ICY out there!!

Shop online at REI (2.5%), Under Armour (3.4%) and Paragon Sports (4 – 5.5%) using GoodShop and your purchase will benefit Joyful Heart!

Tell us about your team, workout or activity in the comments below.

Monday, that’s right, Monday is Valentine’s Day. Here are some great options for giving gifts to others or yourself on this special day.

Joyful Blooms

For me, the Joyful Heart offices are always the most cheerful when we have fresh flowers around. So this may be one of my top self-care/Valentine’s Day wish list items. While I was checking out the endless options for flowers and gifts to order through GoodShop, I found a very cool online flower shop, Organic Bouquet. Not only do they have great flower arrangements, gift baskets and cookies, they also have an entire section of the site dedicated to “Flowers for Good” which allows you to choose an arrangement that supports your (second) favorite non-profit organization.

If you order through GoodShop, you can support two good causes with one purchase (6% for Joyful Heart through GoodShop and 5% for another charity through Organic Bouquet). Personally, I love the color of the Global Fund for Women’s Roses.

How cool would a Joyful Blooms arrangement be?

Un-bear-ably Huggable

Looking for something to squeeze this Valentine’s Day? Snuggle up with a teddy bear from Vermont Teddy Bear. This shop offers very cute themed bears as well as pajama/teddy bear sets! My favorite is the combo with the Footy Pajamas for adults. Too cool and COZY! Use GoodShop and your purchase will result in a 4 – 5% donation to Joyful Heart with no additional cost to you!

Vintage Styles and Sweets

My style is retro/vintage all the way. I was thrilled to see that RetroPlanet works with GoodShop too! Get your Valentine something groovy. While I don’t encourage consuming massive amounts of candy, it can be a once-in-a-while self-care treat! Check out their collection of “Old School” candy. They donate 5 – 6.5% of your total to Joyful Heart.

A Heartwarming Laugh

Nothing relaxes me like a good hearty laughing fit. Check out JibJab to create personalized, email-able, and hilarious Valentines! I love these quick and easy ways to let someone know I am thinking about them. I signed up for JibJab and 25% of my total benefited Joyful Heart! (JibJab has many free options too).

No matter your favorite self care option or who your Valentine is, you can find the perfect something using GoodShop. Tell us your favorite finds in the comments below.

Were you inspired by Sew Honeybee’s story and beautiful creations? We will have a section dedicated to volunteering your time and talent in the new get involved section of the Joyful Heart website.

As a self proclaimed crafter (knitting, crochet, card making, sewing and pretty much anything else I can get my hands on) I am always interested in what other people are creating and I am VERY interested in a good DEAL!

You can shop for yarn, quilting supplies and fabric, scrapbook supplies and much more at Joann Fabrics using GoodShop and 4 – 5% of your total can benefit JHF if you select us as your beneficiary. You can also use GoodSearch to search for free projects and patterns, each time you search 1 cent will be donated to the Foundation. Those pennies add up! We’ve already earned over $1,600 thanks to GoodSearchers like you!

And in addition to a percentage of your purchase being donated to Joyful Heart, GoodShop also has coupons and discount codes you can use to save money. When I last visited, GoodShop was offering 40% off one item and free shipping for purchases over $50.

Knitting, crochet and other rhythmic needlework is said to have many health benefits including preventing and managing stress, pain and depression and lowering blood pressure and heart rate, all which strengthen the body’s immune system. The repetitive movements are said to activate the same areas of the brain as meditation and yoga. So crafting is good for your mind, body and spirit!

If you follow Joyful Heart on Facebook (and I hope you all do!) you’ve probably noticed repeated posts about GoodSearch and GoodShop. You’ve also probably noticed you’ve been encouraged to download the toolbar (you can download it here)

Here is why we are so excited about this tool: It allows you to support us financially–at no cost to you! You simply conduct your electronic searches and online shopping through the GoodSearch/Shop website or through the toolbar, and each time you do, we receive a donation. The beauty of the toolbar, is that it will let you know when you have come across a participating online store. It also provides you with coupons!

Personally, I did all my holiday shopping using GoodShop and thanks to all of you December was our most successful month ever!

We thought we would dedicate a post to a “GoodShop Shop of the Week” to let you know how we are using the toolbar, as well as to let you know about some of our favorite GoodShop participating stores.

This weeks GoodShop of the week is Barnes & Noble.

I find very little more relaxing than reading a good book. You can find pretty much any book, magazine or song on bn.com. Have you read Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burk, or Note to Self by JHF Board Member, Andrea Buchanan? Maybe you got a nook for the holidays? Or you want one?! Buy your nook and nook books through GoodShop! Working on a New Years resolution to practice self care? You can find these books, books about many self-care subjects like meditation and journaling and so much more on bn.com.

4% of your total purchase will be donated to Joyful Heart Foundation when you GoodShop for Joyful Heart!

Are you using GoodSearch/Shop? Comment below and let us know your favorite online stores that are involved.