Kauzbots are ridiculously cute robots where 10% of the purchase price goes to help various charities. Pictured here is Karthy Kauzbot, which helps support Talk About Curing Autism, an organization providing resources to provide information, help, and support to families affected by autism. Karthy’s green sister Kale is dedicated to helping the environment, with proceeds going to help The Arbor Day Foundation. Their blue brother Kale supports Lifewater International, which helps provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education to developing countries.

The whole family is available on Amazon. Not only are these little critters extremely cute and go to help great causes, perhaps most importantly they serve as reminders to the three very important charities, who need lots of attention and your donations.

When visiting someone’s house for a dinner party this holiday season, there are few gifts that are both as practical and as meaningful as a good bottle of wine. There’s something about a bottle of wine that makes any dinner special. That 2-liter bottle of Coke doesn’t have nearly the story to tell as those grapes from far away that have been sitting in a oak barrel waiting years to be opened up and enjoyed. A good bottle of wine makes the heart happy. And when you pair the wine perfectly to the meal that’s being cooked, it just makes the evening complete.

The world seems to be split into two halves: those who know everything there is to know about wine and those who have no clue. I squarely in the latter half. I’ve been on wine tastings and I know the basics (swirl and sniff, red wine goes with red meat, and so on), but ask me what the difference between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir, and I’ll just smile and nod.

A few weeks ago, OneHOPE wine contacted me and told me about their products. They’re a company that partners with some of the best wineries in Northern California to produce their own wine label. They sell six varietals (Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir), each of which donates 50% of proceeds to a different charity (Breast cancer, AIDS, Conservation, the Troops, Autism, and Children’s Hospitals respectively).

Giving a random bottle of wine from the local Target is one thing. But when you give one of these wines, you’re not only assured a great, high-quality wine–you can also show your recipient how much you care about these importance causes, and bring awareness (and perhaps some good dinner conversation) about them.

White Wines:

1. Chardonnay: This is a California white with hints of fresh apple blossom and honeysuckle, with vibrant crisp pear and apple on your palette. This is a wine that is absolutely perfect when paired with broiled or grilled seafood, poultry dishes, and cheese. 50% of profits benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
2. Sauvignon Blanc: This light, refreshing, crisp wine has a pale, golden color. You can taste subtle flavors of pink grapefruit and bright, grassy undertones.  It’s perfect with salmon, halibut, light pasta dishes, fresh fruit, and cheese. 50% of profits benefit the American Forest Foundation, which works to protect the forests of the United States.
3. Pinot Noir: This wine comes from Force Canyon Vineyard in the Arroyo Seco Canyon, next to the cool breezes and bright sunshine of Monterrey Bay, which give it a very uniquely Californian flavor profile. It’s aged for seven months in French and American oak; sniffing the wine, you can sense aromas of raspberries, blackberries, and roses. Wonderful when paired with lean meats, dishes cooked with early flavors like truffles and mushrooms and mild, creamy cheeses such as brie and camembert.   50% of profits go to The Children’s Hospitals, which treat 17 million children each year.

Red Wines:

1. Merlot: This wine is an extremely diverse wine with a bright cherry color. It is very versatile as far as food pairings go–it goes well with poultry, pork, pastas, and salads. 50% of profits go to AIDS/Lifecycle, a bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles which brings education and awareness to fighting AIDS.
2. Zinfandel: This wine has an extremely rich red color with luscious dark flavors such as plum and black cherry. It pairs well with foods such as pizza, barbecue ribs, and lamb. 50% of profits go to Snowball Express, a great organization that supports families and children of those in the military who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
3. Cabernet Sauvignon: This is the red wine that most people think of when they say “red wine”. It has a dark, ruby red color and rich flavors that evoke lush black cherry, cassis, and a hint of tobacco. It is fantastic with roasted and grilled meat, such as roast lamb, prime rib, or porterhouse steak. 50% of profits go to ACT Today, a fine organization which helps autistic children.

Are the wines really high quality? OneHOPE sent me a bottle of Chardonnay to sample. The bottle was beautiful, with a sleek black label and a ribbon emblem tied around the neck. The wine was fantastic. It was a beautiful gold color, and true to its description, had a light fruity feel about it, which would be fantastic with lobster or grilled chicken.

Bottom line, it’s a wonderful bottle of wine that makes a fantastic gift and helps some  great causes.

Visit their online store to buy your wine gifts for this coming holiday season!

OneHOPE has been kind enough to offer one lucky reader a $50 Gift Card to their online store! This is enough to buy at least two bottles of wine. To be eligible for the drawing, just click the brand new Facebook “Like” button on the right side of this page and then post a comment here saying which wine you’d choose and why. I’ll announce a winner in a few weeks!

On October 2, 2010, Jon Stewart, Lewis Black, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, Joel McHale, John Oliver, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and many, many more will be appearing live at the Beacon Theater in New York City, in a show sponsored by Comedy Central called, aptly enough, the Night of Too Many Stars.

If you happen to have an American Express card, you can purchase tickets starting Thursday, July 29 at 10AM. You’ll have exclusive access to buy tickets until Sunday, August 1 at 10PM, before tickets go on sale to the public Monday morning. This will most definitely sell out, so get the tickets while you can!

The proceeds of the event will benefit autism education and support for families with autism who need quality services and help.

If you’re especially generous, you can get VIP Tickets for $500 and $1,250 which includes attendance at the Post-Show Party (to obtain these tickets, email nightoftoomanystars@eventassociatesinc.com).

Should be a fun evening for a great cause!

If you’re having trouble finding Troparocka in your local store, you can try Amazon or eBay.

Congratulations to Bret Michaels for being the 2010 Celebrity Apprentice. Last week while walking through Manhattan, I saw the first crates of Snapple the Bret Michaels and Holly Robinson Peete created being rolled into a local Duane Reade drugstore. After tonight’s show, they’ll no doubt be flying off the shelves, so grab yours while you can. The drinks will bring awareness to the American Diabetes Association and the HollyRod Foundation to help kids with autism.

Diet Trop-A-Rocka™ Tea

Bret Michaels: “My new tea is taste bud tested and rocker approved. I chose to create a Diet Snapple because I am a lifelong type-1 diabetic and I know together we can find a cure for diabetes. And just like being a diabetic doesn’t mean I have to sacrifice having a rockin’ good time, Diet Snapple doesn’t sacrifice great taste. My Snapple-osophy is simple: awesome taste, the best ingredients and low calories. And now The Best Stuff on Earth is better for me.”

Compassionberry™ Tea

Holly Robinson Peete: “Did you know autism is a global epidemic affecting 67 million people worldwide? The HollyRod foundation helps families in the autism community access affordable treatment and compassionate care, and our mission is what inspired my new Snapple flavor. Compassionberry Tea combines passionfruit and strawberry with The Best Stuff on Earth, making the best stuff even better…and more compassionate.”

So the question is…who really won based on taste? Well, as luck would have it, I commute every morning through Penn Station in New York City, and this morning there was a Snapple truck and a whole army of Snapple employees in purple T-Shirts giving away free samples.

I took one of each and when I got home I put them in the refrigerator. They are chilled and I can give you my unbiased take. I learned all about wine tasting in a trip to Napa a few years ago, so I used the same principles to taste test the tea (swirl it to release the oxygen, sniff the bouquet, and swish).

First of all, they’re both the same color–a clear brown color, like iced tea should be. From watching the TV show, I’d forgotten that both of these were iced tea flavors–I’d assumed all along they were fruit beverages.

Compassionberry Tea: The tea definitely smelled like berries, like a fruity shampoo or soap set. The taste is definitely powerfully sweet and fruity. Curtis Stone’s influence is definitely there–the blending of the flavors is excellent, and the drink is definitely light and summery. As with any flavored ice tea, you can taste the subtle aftertaste of the tea leaves, but the very delicious fruity blend of passion fruit and strawberries on top of it makes it a delight to drink.

Troparocka Tea: I was really looking forward to trying this one. The vanilla aroma is definitely very strong, along with the smell of peaches and pears. When I tasted it, it definitely did not go down as smooth as the Compassionberry tea–can’t tell if it’s because it’s diet or because of the combination of the flavors. The overall taste was a little watery, and the aftertaste was a bit odd–the initial aftertaste is not that pleasant, but wait a few seconds you end up with a lingering kick of peach and cinnamon that’s actually quite pleasant.

The verdict? Well, it’s kind of funny, but if you were to run a blind taste test, Compassionberry would probably be the winner hands-down. But after seeing the process that Holly Robinson Peete and Bret Michaels went through to design the flavors, I think I had more of an appreciation for Michaels’ Troparocka. In fact, after my own little taste test, it’s the one I went back to and drank more of. Troparocka definitely had the more unique and intriguing taste, whereas Compassionberry tasted good probably because it was familiar and more traditional.

I enlisted my coworker Sandy, who has a much more refined palate than mine, to do a taste test. Here were her conclusions:

Compassionberry: Much too sweet. No spiciness or “edge” to it. Just a sweet, fruity drink. The sweetness is so overpowering you don’t taste the tea.

Troparocka: A little shocking at first. Definitely more flavors. The cinnamon is overpowering, and the pear and mango are very strong flavors. There’s a more lingering taste afterwards of pear and cinnamon. I prefer it; I can taste the “bitterness” of the tea that I like.

It’s funny how the drinks ultimately reflected the celebrities’ personalities. Bret Michael’s presentation and commercial also took a lot more chances while Holly Robinson Peete seemed to play it safe. At the end, Michaels won because he put it all on the line, literally, for his cause.

At the end of the day, both celebrities were winners. And of course, the most important thing is that it brought awareness to the American Diabetes Association (http://www.diabetes.org/) and the Holly Rod Foundation for Autism (http://www.hollyrod.org/). As much as Snapple donated to them, their donation was only a drop in the bucket to curing these devastating illnesses. It’s the continuing support of you that will make the difference. Please visit their Web sites to donate and to show your appreciate to these celebrities.

If you’re having trouble finding Troparocka in your local store, you can try Amazon or eBay.

This beautiful blue quartz necklace is crafted in sterling silver and 18k gold.

It’s designed by famed luxury jewelry designer Judith Ripka, and features a center blue quartz gemstone suspended within .o4 carats of dazzling diamonds. The clasp on the back is a finely crafted logo of the organization Autism Speaks, a puzzle piece symbol.

All net proceeds benefit Autism Speaks, and organization that helps those with autism and their families with treatment and therapy programs. Sending someone this necklace is a generous but fantastic way to support those in need and to build awareness for the need for help.