A million thanks....

Many many many thanks need to be given out today.

To all the contributing authors,
Y'all are absolutely amazing. Thank you for believing in this cause. Thank you for donating your time and stories. This definitely would not have been possible without any of you! When I started this I seriously thought only lie 5 people would sign on. To have over 100 authors blew my mind! Thank you just doesn't seem enough, but I don't know have enough money to send you all flowers, candy and balloon, so it will have to suffice!

A special thank you goes out to Kathleen & Henriette for their beautiful t-shirts and to Terra and Bobby Long for sending the extremely special signed copy of "A Winter Tale." Each of you exceeded my expectations in that department as well!!! I know our winners were VERY happy!!!

To all the donators,
Each one of you is simply awesome as well. Are you ready for the grand total that YOU made happen???

$2645

OH MY WORD IS RIGHT!!! I never in my wildest dreams expected to reach that amount! So thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!! This is such a huge amount to go to a cause that doesn't get enough recognition. It is a cause that is extremely close to my heart so for this to go this far means a lot.

Thank you to each one of the women who took the time to share their stories for me to post as inspiration on the blog. It just goes to show how truly important everyone's time and effort was. The money you donated is helping women and men like this escape volatile relationships and continue on to live much happier and healthier lives!!!

Also, thank you to the ladies that helped me set this fundraiser up and supported me along the way. Especially Heather, web designer extraordinaire! She helped glam up the blog!

Thanks to all the blogs who posted information about the fundraiser on their site!! And to those who re-blogged, tweeted, facebooked, etc. A million kisses and hugs to each of you!

Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!! Without ALL of you this would have never been possible! These two words never feel like enough for me for everything everyone has done to help!!! It has been amazing!

xoxo,
b

AUCTION #2: Autographed Bobby Long "A Winter Tale" CD & Handmade shirt

Autographed Bobby Long "A Winter Tale" CD

Front of Shirt

Detail on Front

Back of Shirt

Detail on Back

AUCTION #2: Autographed Bobby Long "A Winter Tale" CD & Handmade shirt

You are bidding on an *AUTOGRAPHED* copy of

BOBBY LONG'S "A WINTER TALE"

 as well as a ONE OF A KIND, handmade Bobby Long t-shirt!

Terra (@graffiti4) was AWESOME enough to get BOBBY LONG himself to donate an autographed copy of his BRAND NEW CD "A Winter Tale" 

This beautiful shirt was handpainted and created by the lovely girls from Germany, 

Kathleen (@_kathe_) & Henriette (@girlfromthesea). It is a BLACK 100% cotton t-shirt, size LARGE painted with WHITE fabric paint. They are machine washable just like any other dark clothing (but don't dry them!)

Bidding starts at $30 and will go up in increments of $5.

Auction starts:

February 9, 2011 at 12:00am (Eastern Time)

Auction closes:

February 23, 2011 at 12:00am (Eastern Time)

To bid on this item please leave your NAME and BID AMOUNT in the comments section of this post. Please check back daily to see if you have been outbid. To place another bid, leave another comment with your NAME and BID AMOUNT.

Example bid:

Blair (@buhbeesgirl) - Bid: $35

Once the auction is closed on February 23, 2011, the winner will be announced via this blog 

and on Twitter @fansagainstDV. The winning bidder will then need to contact us via email at fandomagainstdomesticviolence@gmail.com for further details. 


DO NOT MAKE ANY DONATIONS FOR THIS AUCTION UNTIL IT HAS ENDED!

Any questions, please email me at fandomagainstdomesticviolence@gmail.com

HAPPY BIDDING!!!

AUCTION #1: One of a kind, handmade Bobby Long T-shirt

Front of Shirt

Back of shirt

Bird detail on Front of Shirt

AUCTION #1: One of a kind, handmade Bobby Long T-shirt

You are bidding on a *one of a kind, handmade*

BOBBY LONG

t-shirt!

This beautiful shirt was handpainted and created by the lovely girls from Germany, 

Kathleen (@_kathe_) & Henriette (@girlfromthesea). It is a BLACK 100% cotton t-shirt, size LARGE painted with WHITE fabric paint. They are machine washable just like any other dark clothing (but don't dry them!)

Bidding starts at $10 and will go up in increments of $1.

Auction starts:

February 9, 2011 at 12:00am (Eastern Time)

Auction closes:

February 15, 2011 at 12:00am (Eastern Time)

To bid on this item please leave your NAME and BID AMOUNT in the comments section of this post. Please check back daily to see if you have been outbid. To place another bid, leave another comment with your NAME and BID AMOUNT.

Example bid:

Blair (@buhbeesgirl) - Bid: $11

Once the auction is closed on February 15, 2011, the winner will be announced via this blog 

and on Twitter @fansagainstDV. The winning bidder will then need to contact us via email at fandomagainstdomesticviolence@gmail.com for further details.

DO NOT MAKE ANY DONATIONS FOR THIS AUCTION UNTIL IT HAS ENDED!

Any questions, please email me at fandomagainstdomesticviolence@gmail.com

HAPPY BIDDING!!!

Auctions

I am so excited to announce TWO amazingly awesome auctions to go in conjunction with the donation drive for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence!!!!

Two of my favorite German girls, Kathleen & Henriette (aka @_kathe_ & @girlfromthesea on Twitter), who are so creative and talented handmade not one but TWO Bobby Long t-shirts. Both of these shirts are hand-painted by these wonderful ladies and are one of a kind!!! (I have my own handmade shirt from these ladies and every time I wear it, I get numerous compliments on it! It's a great conversation piece and a great way to spread the word about Bobby Long)

The second part of the auction is an AUTOGRAPHED copy of Bobby Long's first official album "A Winter Tale"!!! When I first found out that that AWESOME Terra (aka @graffiti4 on Twitter & earthprincess4 on FF.net) had actually made this happen, I could not WAIT to announce it!! At one of Bobby's recent shows, she approached him at the meet & greet after he performed and told him about FADV. She asked to buy a CD and have him sign it so we could auction it off. Bobby then gave her an autographed CD for FREE specifically for our auction!!!! (Love him!!)

So here is how things will work....

To make a bid you must leave your name (Real, penname or Twitter account works) & bid amount in the comment section of the post specifically for the auction you are participating in (either Auction #1 or Auction #2, there will be separate posts for each auction). (For example if I wanted to bid $15 on Auction #1, I would go to that post and in the comments section leave this comment "Blair (@buhbeesgirl) $15" Got it?)  

You can participate in both auctions but remember that they are separate. (For example if you bid $15 on Auction #1 & $50 on Auction #2 and win both, you will be donating at total of $65. If you only win Auction #2, you will only donate $50. Make sense?)

You must also either follow our blog and/or our Twitter account @fansagainstDV because we will be announcing the winner in both places. Once the winners are announced they will need to contact us via email at fandomagainstdomesticviolence@gmail.com, donate their winning bid amount to NCADV and forward their receipt and mailing info to us at the email above so that we can send them their prizes!!  If there are any questions, please contact me at fandomagainstdomesticviolence@gmail.com

AUCTION #1: Handmade Bobby Long T-shirt
The first auction will be for one of the handmade t-shirts made by Kathleen & Henriette. Bidding will start at $10 on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at midnight and continue until Wednesday February 16, 2011 at midnight. 

AUCTION #2: AUTOGRAPHED Bobby Long "A Winter Tale" CD & handmade Bobby Long t-shirt
 The second auction will be for an autographed copy of Bobby Long's "A Winter Tale" CD as well as the second handmade Bobby Long shirt. Bidding will start at $30 on Wednesday February 9, 2011 at midnight and continue until Wednesday February 23, 2011. 

These are the TWO awesome t-shirts that will be up for auction (one will be auctioned off with the autographed CD)!

Again, each of these auctions will have a separate post starting at midnight on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me via email at fandomagainstdomesticviolence@gmail.com or on Twitter @fansagainstDV

Thanks and HAPPY BIDDING!!!

The list of WONDERFUL & AMAZING submissions!!!

 Here is a peek at the list of submissions!!! If you LOVE and ADORE these authors and stories like I do please DONATE (minimum of $10) starting February 1 CLICK HERE TO DONATE and forward your receipt to fandomagainstdomesticviolence@gmail.com. Feel free to post the donation page and email anywhere you like and PROMOTE this cause!!! Tweet it. Blog it. Email it. Facebook it. Let's all help raise money to help those who have dealt with or are currently dealing with domestic violence! 


Again, thanks to EVERYONE for their support of this fundraiser! 


xoxo,
Blair

Fandom Against Domestic Violence List of Contributors & Stories (alphabetical by story)

A Dance and a Kiss – 22blue

A Song for You – itsyblue1214

A Taste of Fire – pkmarita

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (Pen Pals – Edward POV Outtake) – wmr1601

According to You – beegurl13

Ain’t Life Grand (True Love Way – Chapter 29) – buhbeesgirl

Alice (Homecoming Outtake) - dontrun

All Falls Down (Outtake) - AydenMorgen

As Time Passes – MoonlightofTwilight

Awakening – A Day in Port Angeles (Summer 2005 Outtake) - bbwraven

Be There (Fate & Forgotten Secrets – Outtake 7) – snshyne

Beautiful People – pange

Bezwarunkowa miłość (Unconditional Love) – Muffy LaRue

Bloody Choices Outtake (Alice & Jasper POV) – nitareality

Breaking Free (Futureshot) – earthprincess4

Breaking the Cycle – Mummy Animal

Broil – ashma0407 & sexylexicullen

Celluloid – Mouse555

Charlie’s Journal (Family Ties & Guarding Hearts Outtake) – kas90

Closer, Cold Desert (Jackson POV) - MariahajilE

Closest to Heaven – wytchwmn

Coalescent - venisenvy

Colouring in the Dark - samrosey

Control Freak – vampiremama

Dead Flowers – IdPattThat

Edward Asks Bella to Prom (Marital Bitch Outtake) – Jillian Landers

Faithfully – Sunshinegal3

Feels Like Home – Mrs. Robward

Finding the Way – Le Crepuscule

Fire and Rain – SydneyAlice

First Night (Twisted Fate Outtake) – Kimmydonn

Foresaken In My Mind’s Past (Tanya Outtake) – WickedCurveBall74

Friends In Love (Futreshot) – AGoodWITCH

FUSS – SweetestLady2030

Heart of Glass – EdwardsIsobel

Heartbreaker – Seraphim Grace

Homecoming – PiedPiperOSIB

How Come, How Long – MariahajilE

I Am Enough – Miracle1901

I Run to You (Part 1 - Bella) – Babygirl149392

I Wanna Hold Your Hand – rebadams7

I’m Like a Bird (Sideshot) – Anadabyel

I’m Too Sexy (Outtake) - DaniaMCullen

If I Fall – JapserLuver48

In God We Trust – Roslyn89

In the End (Parachute Outtake) - KitsuShel

Just Say Yes (Imperfect Timing Futureshot)– OntheTurningAway

Kissed the Girls & Made Dad Cry (Daddy’s Little Angel Outtake) - prettykittyartist

La Dolce Vita – Miss Baby

Lila – Theresa Thomas Bohannon

Little Tommie – SweetestLady2030

Love and Lattes – rmhale

Love the Way You Lie – katiecav

Master of the House – CrimsonIceGoddess

Me and Emily – MagicalTears

Missed Connections – TXBirdie

Monster of Halloween – ammNIwriter

Moving On – unwantedone

My Surrender (Outtake) – Karen E. Teague

Never Again – Breath-of-Twilight

New Year - Frankielynn

Not Fade Away (Hood Outtake) – Yogagal

One for the Mammary Books (The Practice of Love Outtake) – belladonnacullen

One Round – HeatherDawn

Out of the Ordinary – hongkongphooey

Painted On My Heart – Sparklingwand

Persephone – badjujube

Preconceived Notions – welcome2myworldxoxo

Raw & Rosy (Futureshot) – tuesdaymidnight

Ready to Love Again - TotallyTeamCE

Remember Me – DreamsOfEdward1

Remember When It Rained – Sarita Dreaming

Riding the Fence (Outtake) – MoreThanMyself

Sacrificing a Soul to Save Another - Alice06

Save Me From Myself – Naelany & StolenxSanity

Seth’s Story (The Greatest Gift Outtake) – les16

She’s a Knockout – theraingirl

Sheltering Sky – elusivetwilight

Smiles That Cost Ten Dollars (This Time For Good Outtake) – Ms. Maroon

Survivor: Time Heals – Jacksper2010

Temporary Home – Heartfelt-Pen

That Cold Place in His Soul – GasawayAlley

The Art of Seduction or Something Like That – buff82

The Effects of Lumpy Pillows – dandiegoose

The Hunt – Lady Tazz

The Invisible Line – LittleCat358

The Promise – bmango

The Reward of Patience (Learning to Kneel Outtake) – Sneaky Snarky Subs

The Space Between Heartbeats – Just Shireen

The Traveler – u2shay

The Whole Truth – PortiaKahlo

This Side of the Rainbow (Errors & Omissions Outtake) - ohjaspermyjasper

Those Nights – katbug86

Three Days Later (Blind Intentions Outtake) – SammieLynnsMom

Trained – Miss Carissa

Untitled – mybigteddybearemmett

Up Against the Wall and Spread ‘Em – Calamity Jen

We All Fall Down – HazelEyes71790

We Were Always Meant to Say Goodbye – AnonySwan

What Should Have Been – twilightheaded23

When Emmett Met Rosalie (Elusively Yours Outtake) – GemmaH

While You Were Gone (Rosalie Outtake) – Jenny0719

Why Not – Cullen818

Buttons

The amazing and awesome MCVelvetkitten aka. maimu was so amazingly kind to contribute these beautiful "buttons" to FADV!!! If you have a website or have posted about this fundraiser feel free to borrow these buttons to post on your page!!

Resonating

This story really resonated with me. Maybe it was because it is so fresh. Like it just happened. Or perhaps it is the connection to 100 Monkeys. Music always helps get me through my darkest hours and I am so glad that this family had the joy of the crazy monkey boys to get them through theirs. Thank you SO much to J. Calamity for sharing her story. You are an amazingly strong woman!

"Three mismatched duffels, one red, one camouflage that used to carry my parents camping equipment, and one blue that was actually supposed to be a laundry bag. My carry on is a Makita tool bag that I rescued from the back of the closet because it was sturdy and fairly clean and would hopefully keep my meager electronics safe and useable. They were nothing remarkable, much like what they contained, the sum contents of my 41 years of life on this earth, my clothes, my boots, some documents proving achievement of a college degree at a second rate college, pictures of my children and family, memorabilia of my glory days, and a few books and my electronic lifeline and leashes. The rest of what most people consider their identity, had been signed over to my ex-husband just a few hours earlier as part of a deal we had hashed out that was to allow me and my eldest son and youngest daughter to escape the hell that had been life in Flagstaff over the last 10 years.

The arguments had been epic, loud and close to bloody and ashamedly, I tried to incite him to violence because I needed to prove to myself that the monster I knew lurked in him was either dead or hiding in fear of going back to prison. Much to my surprise he hadn’t risen to the bait, though I had seen the familiar signs of his desire to inflict on me the lessons in pain that he had previously taught me for such disobediences. Prison and time had worn him down, and my jibes and challenges to his abilities to manage the demands of running a household, went unanswered. He claims he could do it, and hopefully he can, but doubts remain, he has never, “manned up” in the past, and the thought of my younger sons being left to their own devices while he either naps of stares at personal ads on Craigslist, leaves me sick with fear, but I have to go, and he has, “Rights”."

Read more of J. Calamity's story over on the Personal Stories page