Happy News This January on Thanknest.com

Happy 2014 🙂

Did you make a new years resolution this year? We’d love to hear about it.

I’d like to kick off 2014 with our World’s Kindest School Award – only on Thanknest.com.

1. Registrations are now open…

Your school (or preschool) could be named the world’s kindest. Simply nominate your school (or your child’s school) by clicking here and telling us your school (or preschool) name and location. We already have over 20 schools/preschools nominated, and the year has only just begun.

Get in quick as registrations close 31st March 2014. Only registered schools will be in the running to become 2014’s World’s Kindest School. Nominate your school for your kids – everyone loves a kind school.

2. Did you know…

You can now:
(1) send a quick thank you right from your status bar – it’s really quick and easy
(2) start a thank you, even if you haven’t logged in, and even if you are not a member… it’s so easy to make someone’s day

We love it when things get easier 🙂

3. New Mobile Home Page

We’re so proud to feature our Sponsors and Ambassadors on our new mobile home page. Check it out and tell us what you think…

4. We have new sponsors

We are so grateful for our new sponsors… here’s a quick look at who’s helping us grow – Small Steps Parenting Magazine & Tutti Frutti Lolly Buffets. More details to follow in the coming months. Click here to find out how you can sponsor Thanknest.com

     

5. We like you, like us too 🙂 

Like us on Facebook

What a way to start the year

I’m looking forward to sharing our upcoming news. Stay tuned 🙂

We’ve Been Featured in Our First Magazine: Small Steps Parenting Magazine

I am so excited to share our story with you via Small Steps Parenting Magazine. Here I share our personal story of how Thanknest came to life after the birth of our first child. Go and check out our story, and don’t forget to check out the next page for another feature all about Thanknest. Let us know what you think 🙂

Meet Our First Ambassador: Amber Turner – aka HippyFitMom

She’s the founder and blogger behind HippyFitMom, she’s a video blogger on YouTube & Vimeo, she’s passionate about keeping fit and healthy, she’s a little bit hippy, she’s a military spouse, and she does all this while being a mother of two young children… now tell me, what can Amber Turner not do 🙂

She is one of the most energetic, vibrant, passionate, and ambitious women I have met, and I am so proud (and honoured) that she has joined our team to become an Ambassador for Thanknest.

Amber video blogs about her lifestyle and everything in between while staying fit and healthy. She is quirky, fun, happy, and loves life. She believes it is so easy for Mums to put themselves last, and shows through her blog that it doesn’t have to be this way. Amber was inspired to create HippyFitMom to show mothers and wives, that there is hope in making time to look after yourself (I think there are many lessons I can take from Amber myself). She says,”I wanted to create a site that could be a good tool for advice and conversations for the situations and thoughts we as mothers, wives, and daughters go through”. Her new found passion for health and fitness after she had kids, has now brought her to a happier, more energetic self… and she’s never looked back.

HippyFitMom is a beautiful place, and definitely worth stopping by. Go and check out her videos on her blog HippyFitMom, follow her on Twitter, and subscribe to her YouTube Channel,

Please welcome Amber to our team, and add her as a friend on Thanknest – she’s super friendly.

Sponsor Gratitude: Please Make Welcome Our First Sponsor – SamiKata Tipi Events

I am so pleased to present to you this wonderful business – SamiKata Tipi Events – not just because they support us in our vision of spreading thanks (Thanknest.com), but because there is an amazing family behind this business (or should I say, under these Tipis!).

They are the first Kata Tipi hire company in Australia and since starting in 2010, have grown from strength to strength. In just three years they have been featured on ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ TV series; and in Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmo Bride, and the Sydney Morning Herald. Plus, they’ve worked with Sydney Children’s Hospital at their Silver Party Charity Event; Taronga Zoo; Hermes; Land Rover at Polo in the City; Camilla Franks at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2013; CBRE Sydney Corporate Rugby 7s Tournament; and with many gorgeous couples to create their stunning Tipi weddings… all of these truly unique and spectacular events. Wow, now that’s impressive.

Owners Carmen and Lee Finch first came across these Katas at the world renowned Glastonbury Music Festival in the UK. They were so inspired by the magical themed ‘The Rabbit Hole’ venue at this festival that they wanted to bring these beautiful Katas to life in Australia.

The Katas originate from the arctic indigenous people of the Nordic countries – The Sami people – and now you can experience these magnificent Katas in Australia with SamiKata Tipi Events. They are based in Sydney and service the east coast of Australia. Plus, did you know they also have Glamping available (glamorous camping in gorgeous mini Tipi style tents) to let you sleep in style after that party to remember.

I just love their Tipis. If ever we were to grow big enough to throw the World’s Biggest Thank You Party, I would want to hold it in these spectacular Katas. If you’re getting married, want a spectacular engagement party or birthday celebration, have a corporate event to organise (or maybe you can convince your boss!), then SamiKata Tipi Events can give you a most memorable occasion.

SamiKata Tipi Events support us… let’s show them some love in return – like them on Facebook, follow them on Pinterest, and check out their website. They are amazing.

Member Mentions: Dana Peck – Grandmother of Two Proves it’s Never Too Late for a Career Change!

Recently we showcased our resident go-getter and Thanknest member Dana Peck. Over the past 17 years Dana has devoted her time to being a Mum – one of the hardest and most important jobs in the world. Now that she is a Grandmother twice over (ages 3 years, and 11 months), she is in the process of a career change.

In 2013 she began studying Therapeutic Massage at the Davidson County Community College in North Carolina, United States; and hopes to specialise in the medical aspect working with cancer patients.

She successfully passed her entrance exams and is now looking forward to the year ahead. She says “I’m excited, scared, nervous, looking forward to it, and can’t wait to get started all at once!”

After 17 years as a stay-at-home Mum, her career change stems from… well, I’ll let you read her story:

“This is a very personal subject for me… On August 20, 2010 my Dad (my first love) was diagnosed with GBM, a very fast growing brain tumor. He had surgery, went through chemo and radiation therapies and fought a brave and heroic battle that ended 1 year later on August 25, 2011.

Dad was the kindest man I’ve ever known and he lived his life in service to others. He never complained, loved everyone and was loved by everyone. He had a way of making you feel important… I was fortunate enough to be able to spend his last month with him when he was sent home to hospice.

Part of his hospice program was a massage therapist that came once a week to work with him. She showed us what we could do to help with his circulation and relaxation, what oils she used and things like that. He said that it helped him better than his meds and he thought it was something I would be good at. I looked into it but I didn’t think I was ready to do it until now. I am the only girl of 5 children so of course I am a big ‘Daddy’s Girl’ – he was and still is my hero. I am doing it in his honor, I still want to make him proud.”

What a touching story Dana, and what an impact your Dad has made on you, your life, and your new chosen career path. I feel honoured that you have shared your personal story with us.

Going from being a stay-at-home Mum to a career in Therapeutic Massage – this is huge – it takes a lot of courage to get back into study and the workforce. Dana is driven, passionate, and is moving ahead with purpose – this is admirable.

We applaud you Dana for taking such a huge step… and we wish you every success.

And don’t you agree – Dana does not look old enough to be a Grandmother!

*A special thank you to Dana Peck for sharing her story with us. Image credits: (c)2012 Dana Peck