HOPE FOR A NEW LUPUS TREATMENT REVEALED

Earlier this month, the promising results of a potential new treatment for lupus -- BENLYSTA™ -- were announced. If approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), BENLYSTA would be the first new lupus treatment in more than 50 years and the first drug ever developed specifically for lupus.

Now more than ever we need your support. It is critical that we continue to fund our research program to find additional therapies needed to manage this disease, and find ways to fully restore the quality of life that people with lupus once knew.

While more research is required for FDA approval, the results are encouraging. The study provides new hope for people with lupus … the type of hope that the LFA continues to advance thanks to supporters like you.

Physicians need a complete arsenal of therapies to provide the individualized treatment that lupus requires. With your help, we can ensure that they will.
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A GIANT LEAP FOR LUPUS

astronaut It is likely that we will all remember July 20, 2009, not only as the anniversary of the first moon landing, but also when a historic breakthrough in lupus occurred. The Lupus Foundation of America is celebrating the positive results of BENLYSTA™ announced by Human Genome Sciences. Only top-line results of the first of two studies have been released thus far. Additional details of the results will be presented later this year at a major scientific meeting. In addition, we eagerly await the results of the longer-term Phase III clinical trial to be released in November when the study is completed.

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Join One of the LFA's August Walk for Lupus Now Events

The Walk for Lupus Now season continues, with monies raised from these events going to support lupus research, lupus education programs, and patient and family support services.

If you are in the San Francisco/East Bay Area, join my team in the Walk For Lupus Now event on August 30, 2009.

If you are unable to join me for this event, please visit my sponsor page and help find a treatment or a cure for this chronic and debilitating disease.

For more information on what Lupus is, or how you can help, visit www.Lupus.org

	Dear Family & Friends: I will be participating in this year's Walk for Lupus Now® to benefit the Lupus Foundation of America. Walk for Lupus Now is the signature event of the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. In more than 75 cities across America, thousands of people walk to make a difference in the lives of those affected by lupus and to raise essential funds for research, education, and support services. I am writing to ask you for your support and help me reach my fundraising goal. It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus. Lupus is an acute and chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually every organ system in the body. November 2008 marked 50 years since a drug has been approved for the treatment of lupus. There is hope on the horizon, and with your help we can find better treatments and a cure for lupus. The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus. The LFA and its nationwide network of nearly 300 chapters, branches, and support groups conduct programs of research, education, and advocacy. You can help me reach my goal by making a secure online donation. Just click on the link below and you will be taken to my personal donation page. Making a difference starts with one step. Thank you for taking this step! Click here to visit my personal page. If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://donate.lupus.org/site/TR/Walk/General?px=1694782&pg=personal&fr_id=1160&et=2_t9dHqN1YvL6knD5o-uHw..&s_tafId=1487 Click here to view the team page for Just a Little Loopy If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://donate.lupus.org/site/TR/Walk/General?team_id=6420&pg=team&fr_id=1160&et=PaMWwJ6jqUEAhc_6ITaovQ..&s_tafId=1487
The Lupus Foundation of America is the nation’s leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support and services to all people affected by lupus.

I got to babysit my grandson today. Not that that's really anything new, exactly, as I take care of him every Wednesday while his mom and dad are both at work. Damian is now three months old, but I swear - it seems like he was just born yesterday.

Each week, I see such drastic advances and changes in him. He's just growing up so fast, and each time that I see him there's something new. It's not like he learned to coo and then that's all that he does for a few months.

No. He's already rolling over, sitting up almost entirely on his own and standing on his two feet with nothing more than the support of me holding his hands. I swear, this kid is going to be driving a car even before he learns how to crawl.

Anyway, I though I would post today's video short, featuring none other than my 3 month old grandson, Damian.

I've been waiting all year for this day to finally arrive, like a wide-eyed little girl who's just been handed a really big present.

Chocolate Day is the perfect opportunity to eat you favorite chocolates in ample portions. Do you really need another excuse to over indulge with your favorite food treat?

Chocolate is America's favorite flavor. It's the flavor of choice in candies, ice cream, cakes, breakfast cereal, toppings, and a whole host of desserts. Unequaled in popularity, it certainly deserves a day in it's honor.

Did you know? Chocolate is a vegetable. It comes from the Cacao tree found in rain forests.

Now that I've bored you all with chocolate facts that I'm sure you already knew, here are some of my favorite chocolate pieces by extremely talented artists at Art Fire. You can click on the photos to take you directly to their Art Fire Stores.

How about these delicious looking Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies from Laura Lees Tasty Treats? OMG! I'm drooling already!














And how cute is this? Miniature Triple Layer Chocolate Cake from Kawaii Doll House Miniatures Shop:




















If only my daughters were still little (my youngest is now 23)!
Hootibee's has the absolute cutest bows, hats, and everything to make your your youngsters look dashing! I love this Chocolate Polka Dot Curly Q Bow!



















Wouldn't it be nice to have a chocolate in every room?
Well now you can, and you won't even gain a ounce! These Chocolate Chip Cookie Round Light Switches are for the serious chocolate lover! Decorate your whole house in chocolate!




















Mmmmm...how delectable! Chocolate Cake with Pink Frosting bracelet from Risky Beads. This bracelet is to die for! Love the vintage pink "frosting" beads!




















Ya know, Veterinarians will tell you that you should never give chocolate to a dog. I'm no vet, but I certainly have to disagree with that statement! I think every dog should be given chocolate. Specially when it's a Chocolate & Blue Floral Dog Harness from Spoiled Bratzwear Canine Couture!















Hey! No fair keeping all the chocolate to yourself! C'mon! Share it with a friend! It's easy to do with this "ChocoCult" Set of 5 Yummy Envelopes and Cards!




















I don't need to tell you what to do to celebrate this day, do I?

Eat (and buy) Chocolate! And don't forget to share it with your very best friend!


Uh... I was talking about me.

Today is Compliment Your Mirror Day (really!).

Now, here is what you need to do.........

Stand in front of your mirror with your eyes closed. Put a big smile on your face.... a BIG smile. Now, open your eyes. Isn't the picture of the person in your mirror absolutely stunning!? The person in your mirror is beautiful (or handsome).

So, compliment your mirror for displaying this beautiful person.

If you don't have a mirror, then let me introduce you to some wonderful artists at Art Fire, who can assist you with seeing the beautiful person that you are (Pictures of these items are below).

1.) BIG HELMET HEAD has several pocket mirrors to choose from! This one is my personal favorite (the mirror part is on the back side)

2.) How about a nice table top mirror? This lovely piece of mosaic art is from Crystal Diamond Designs

3.) There's beautiful handheld mirrors from Bark Up A Tree Woodworks (love the Zebra wood!)

4.) Maybe something in a "beachy decor" is more your style? Beautiful seashell mirrors by Beach Grass Cottage

5.) Speaking of hand mirrors, check out this one from jimt2099

6.) And on the softer side, this hand painted mirror by A Stroke of Jeanne-ius is gorgeous!

7.) And if you have no place for a mirror, there's always this wonderful artwork by NEW Prints

Whatever you do, realize that you are unique, one of a kind and a truly beautiful person.

Click on any of the pictures below to view these wonderful pieces.

















Coming Up Next: Chocolate Day (July 7th)

We had an awesome response to our newsletter sign-up in June, as one lucky winner of our Monthly Giveaway was set to receive a "Summer Cha-Cha" bracelet, filled with pastel colored glass pearls on a silver plated chain. 871 (yes..that's eight hundred and seventy one!) people signed up to receive our monthly newsletter, registering for their chance at winning the bracelet.

The lucky winner this month is Janie L. from Arkansas!

To enter our monthly giveaway, simply visit www.Fo-Shizzle.com and click on the "Win FREE Jewelry" link on the left side of any page.

If you have previously entered one of our giveaways and are a current subscriber to our newsletter, you are AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED into the drawing, however you may increase your chances of obtaining free jewelry from the Fo-Shizzle Design Studios by having your friends and family sign up for our newsletter! Simply ask them to place your first and last name and your e-mail address in the "referred by" area of the form. The person who refers the MOST people during the month of June will receive a custom one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry from the Fo-Shizzle Design Studios!

So, sign-up for our newsletter, tell all your friends and family to do the same...and good luck!

~ Mzz Thang

He's chatting up a storm these days!
The two clips are from my daughters camera phone, so they're kinda digitized.