 |  Happy 2013! December 21st has passed and we are seeing a beautiful 2013! We'd like to welcome everyone to a wonderful year and wish you all the very best for this fresh new calendar. Already in Southern California we are enjoying warm temperatures and fair weather, so I'd say January is shaping up to be a great start! To students, friends and harpists everywhere - happy 2013!  Our New Favorite Holiday
Also, to continue to fabulousness into February, we've discovered a very cool holiday - Random Acts of Kindness Week! Officially, this February 11-17 is the 14th annual commemoration of this fantastic celebration. So what does that mean? Buy coffee, lunch, or a toll payment for the person behind you in line. Tape the exact change for a soda to a vending machine. Send cards with joyful messages to strangers. Collect canned goods for a food bank. Shovel a neighbor's driveway, or babysit -- for free. Visit actsofkindness.org for hundreds of other ideas.
It's that time of year again....regulation season! See Liza's flyer below for more info, and if you'd like to set up an appointment for regulation or repair, email Liza at lizacjensen@mac.com - and as always please be sure to copy us in at carolyn@pacificharps.com as well. We look forward to seeing you and all your lovely harps soon!
 Australian harpist Carolyn Sykes has been performing in Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States for the past 30 years. She came to Los Angeles fifteen years ago to study for her Masters Degree at the California Institute of the Arts, and also has two harp showrooms - one for pedal harps and one for lever harps. Carolyn has established her private teaching and performing studio Pacific Harps, which you can see more of at www.pacificharps.com. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have or to schedule an appointment to view harps! Contacting Pacific Harps: Call: 626.791.6262 Visit: 922 N. Craig Ave. Pasadena, Ca 91104 Unique Ways to Share Love - Charitable Valentines We think of those close to us when we think of Valentine's, but why not share the love to others who could use it as well? Here are unique ways to say "I Love You" to those both inside and outside of our usual circle.  Send Love Letters. Not just to your sweetheart, but to people and organizations that are doing good things for the world. Tell them why you respect and appreciate their work, and that they really do make a difference. If you're feeling extra romantic, include a donation in the envelope. Reach Out to Those in Need. Deliver homemade Valentine's cards or heart-shaped cookies to the sick, the elderly, the homeless -- and their caregivers. Call a local children's hospital, domestic violence shelter, or nursing home and ask how you can help. Give Gifts That Give. There are dozens of charitable shopping sites and online nonprofit stores selling gifts for a good cause. Look for red Motorola phones, Gap T-shirts and iPods from Apple to support the Red Campaign, or try Henry's Hearts, Greater Good, or Shop4Charity online. Sweet deal: When you make a gift donation through Save the Children, they'll send you a free Valentine's Day scarf and card. Be a Fair-Trade Valentine. Buy certified fair-trade chocolate from companies that ensure that small-scale farmers receive higher and more stable prices for their cocoa. Try Divine, Theo, or the many gourmet organic bars at Equal Exchange cooperative. Or get a fair-trade Valentine's Day Action Kit -- complete with chocolates, cards, and more -- at Global Exchange. Love the Environment. Don't say it with flowers -- unless they're organic. Buy fresh organic blooms from your local farmer's market, or send a bunch from Organic Bouquet, which donates 10 percent to charities like CARE, the Global Fund for Women, and the American Red Cross. Say "I Do" to Charitable Weddings. If you've decided to tie the knot with that special someone, consider creating a charitable gift registry through the I Do Foundation and its many retail and nonprofit partners.
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