Saturday, November 30, 2013

Tis The Season

   Now that Thanksgiving is over, we've moved into full Christmas mode and the gift giving time of year. I've always loved to give gifts, even before my kiddos came along. There is just something that make you feel all warm and gooey inside when you give to others... come on, you know what I mean... So while doing some cleaning this afternoon the spirit of giving hit the hubby and I and we decide to give away a playstation 2 console and several games for free to anyone who wanted it. It was in great condition and just something we never use anymore. And yes, we realize this was an outdated system compared to some coming out on the market today, but it was still a steal for free. Not long after posting we had a taker and we'll deliver the goods shortly. Giving to others is a  good deed/ act of kindness where the giver gets a little something too. It's a win-win situation for all!

Friday, November 29, 2013

Kindness Reminders

   Today is one of the absolute craziest days out there and having braved the crowds before for black Friday I can tell you that kindness for your fellow man generally goes out the window today. So I wanted to today's good deed/act of kindness to somehow be entwined with black Friday and was coming up stumped for a while. Then I found a video on You Tube of some girls who went out on Black Friday to pass out hot chocolate and words of encouragement to the shoppers waiting in line and fighting the crowds. I thought it was a great reminder that if we were all just a little bit more kind and understanding, especially on days like today, Black Friday might not seem like such a crazy thing to attempt. So I followed their lead and made out several cards telling people things like "have a great day" and "you are an amazing person" but also asking them to remember other shoppers and pass on some kindness to them. Then I went out into the crowds and placed them on cars and inside stores on merchandise. I'm hoping people will enjoy hearing some kind words but also pass on some good deeds themselves by maybe letting someone have their parking spot, helping to carry items or letting someone go in front of them in line. Like I've said before, one small act can really make someone's day and that's what it's really all about.

Also, if you are interested, here is the you tube video that inspired today's act. These girls are awesome!


Thursday, November 28, 2013

Borodash For Charity

   Happy Thanksgiving everyone! For today's act of kindness/good deed I got up and raced in chilly 16 degree weather for the Borodash. This is an annual race every Thanksgiving with the proceeds going to the great organizations of Greenhouse Ministries and A Soldier's Child. These charities work to support and help the homeless community and children of soldiers who are on active duty overseas. Both are very worthy and great causes. Despite the cold it was still worth it to get up and race for and support two great organizations. I hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving and remember to be thankful not just today but every day!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Toy Giveaway

   As I've said many many many times before on this blog, my family and I have been very blessed in several areas of our lives. My kiddos have been blessed to receive many toys, enough that that they don't play with many of them anymore. So this morning we went into the playroom and I had a little chat with them. I explained as I have a few times before, that there are always kids out there that because of different circumstances and reasons have little to nothing when it comes to things to play with and enjoy. Then I asked them if they would be willing to share some of their toys with others. They were a little hesitant at first but eventually got in the spirit and were willing to give away several items. Then we packed them up and hit several places around town that were collecting items for kids like churches, day cares and donation centers. I thought they may change their minds when it came time to actually hand them over to real people, but they didn't bat an eye. They gladly shared their belongings. I'm so happy to see the kids understanding the concept of helping and doing for others, especially when it means personal sacrifice for them.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The Cure All

   Today I've got a kiddo who is a little under the weather. When my little ones are sick I tend to baby them a little and love on them even more than usual, like any parent would. But today I took it a little bit farther, well for me anyway. I've never been big on giving the kids hot chocolate, it seems to be the thing that makes them extra crazy and super bonkers. There are also a few cartoons that they like that I can't stand for one reason or another and they drive me crazy. So for my act of kindness/ good deed today I gave in and let my daughter have hot chocolate,(hoping it will ease the sore throat) and watch episodes of one of her favorites, Dragon Tales despite how I really felt about them. They both seemed to cheer her up and put her in good spirits, which is an important step on the road to recovery!

Monday, November 25, 2013

The Power Of Prayer


  In the last few days, I have talked to a lot of family, friends and acquaintances who for one reason or another have asked for prayers.  Now, it's not that I wouldn't pray for them anyway, but I wanted to make this my good deed/ act of kindness today because I feel like praying for others is something that is very kind and a great way to help others when you simply don't know how to help. While it may not  be important to some, prayer is a huge driving force in my life and I feel honored to do it for anyone. It has just seemed to hit me today with so many I know needing prayers that this is one of the kindest acts I can think of to carry out. So I have been and will continue today to pray for many.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Food For Sharing

   I've had a few days this year with acts similar to this one, but in my book you can never donate food to those that are hungry too many times. It's so sad that in a country as developed as ours that there are millions out there who are in need of food. So for my good deed/ act of kindness today I donated to the Publix Food For Sharing campaign when I went to the grocery store. There are three different levels of donations that you can participate in and each help provide meals to local individuals and families who may not know where there next meal is coming from. This time of year especially, it is vital for people to have access to a warm meal. If you have the means, run on over to a Publix and help out those struggling with hunger.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Let's All Go To The Movies...

  Today I am so very thankful that my husband and I are going to get an evening to ourselves for a much needed date night. The kiddos will be spending the night with some grandparents and we're heading to see a comedy show and then a late showing of Catching Fire. It just came out this weekend and has been selling out quick so I went and purchased tickets for the movie later tonight this afternoon. After buying my tickets I thought it would be nice to treat someone else to the movies as well, so I also bought a small gift card along with my tickets. Then I went back outside and gave the gift card to a family on their way in to catch a show. I explained that I knew the gift card wouldn't cover the whole cost but should help out some or they could use it to get some yummy snacks to enjoy. They were so surprised and shocked and then the mom told me that it was her daughter's birthday and this was such a nice treat. They thanked me a few more times and headed on in to enjoy their show. Glad I could help make a birthday extra special today!

Friday, November 22, 2013

The Healing Power Of A Flower

   Last night I attended a work shop on different power tools at my local home depot. It was designed for women and very informative. Along with demonstrations there were light snacks and door prizes. I was one of the lucky ones whose name was drawn and I came home with the amaryllis plant pictured here. It is a very hands off plant that requires little water and attention but I seem to struggle when it comes to keeping any kind of plant life alive. Also, plants just really aren't my thing. But I didn't want this thoughtful gift to go to waste and knew many others would enjoy and appreciate this much more than I ever would. So for my good deed today, I took it to the local hospital and asked the staff at the front desk if they would mind giving this to a patient there who could really use a pick-me-up. They seemed confused at first that I didn't have a specific person in mind to have it delivered to, but I just explained that I was sure someone here would could use a nice unexpected surprise and would love this plant much more than I ever could. They agreed to make sure a patient would receive it and thanked me for bringing it in. I have no idea who ended up with it, but I hope it brightened their day.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

A Little Promotion

   I've always been a fan of small, local businesses and shop at them or support them when I can. I feel like they always have something unique to offer and have far better customer service. Here in Murfreesboro where I live there are several and today I took to social media to spread the word about a few that I really like and recommend that others give them a try. This great idea came from my friend Lupe and as she so importantly said " it might not sound much, but you'll be surprised how much it helps." Word of mouth is huge these days when it come to a business succeeding and no "mouth" is bigger in my opinion than Facebook and Twitter. They have become as big a marketing tool as conventional advertising. So I hope my good deed today gave them a little boost and contributes to their awesome products and services. 

And in the interest of promoting them a little more here are links to their pages which you should check out!!

 Goodness Gracious Cafe and Catering


Mudstain Sally 

The Powder Room Salon and Spa


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A Good Read

   I don't think I'm technically a bookworm, but I do enjoy reading when I get a chance. One of my favorites is John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath. I've read it several times and it's a great story about a family set during the great depression. I enjoy sharing things that I love and felt like others could benefit from reading this book like I have. I saw online today where some people will take their favorite books and leave them for strangers to find and enjoy and that's just what I did today. I attached a little note as you can see in the picture saying how each time I read this book it gives me a new perspective on life and things to be thankful for and that I hoped they found that in this book as well. I took it to a local bus stop and left it on a bench for a lucky someone to stumble across. I hope they enjoy it as much as I do!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Outreach Thrift

Today I went through our family's closets and did a purging of items that no longer fit or we didn't wear anymore. I ended up with a decent amount of clothes to donate as you can see from the picture here. So today I took them to a place called the Outreach Thrift Store. They are a local business that works with several different agencies here in Murfreesboro that refer individuals and their families  to Outreach to help them obtain clothing and household items when they are in need. They have clothing and items for both adults and children and rely on donations from the public. I had seen this place before but thought it was just your average thrift store that resold items at affordable prices. So when I learned that they worked with other community organizations to help those in need, I was very happy to give them our large clothing donation. I'm glad we can help others stay warm this winter!

Monday, November 18, 2013

What Do You Recommend?

Today I had to make a trip into Walgreens to pick up a photo and while I was waiting in line I noticed how nice and friendly the cashier was to everyone she waited on. To me this was refreshing because nowadays  many people working in retail or customer service are visibly not happy to be there and have no problem letting customers knowing it. So when it was my turn in line I asked her what her favorite candy was there at the check out or what she would recommend to someone else and she picked out the bar pictured above. She also told me she had a coupon there at the register and would scan it for me so I could get a discount. So I had her add the candy bar to my items and after I paid I thanked her and then told her the candy bar was for her. Her reaction was priceless! She looked at me and said, "Are you for real?" I told her she deserved and to have a great day. She gladly accepted it and gave me a quick thank you. Letting others know they are doing a great job is a great act of kindness and just might change their day.


Sunday, November 17, 2013

World Preemie Day

   Today is world preemie day and this is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart. Just over six years ago we welcomed our 1lb 14oz miracle into this world and it is a day I know I will never forget. That day and the ones that followed were the absolute hardest days of my life and probably the hardest physically for our daughter as well. But after 3 long months in the NICU she finally made it home and from that point one she has just taken off! Today she is a happy healthy 6 year old with more imagination and energy than you'd ever believe. So in honor of our former preemie and her success story, today I made a donation to The March of Dimes. They are a great organization that supports moms through their pregnancies, helps parents and siblings after they welcome preemies into their families and they fund research to find and cure the problems that cause premature births. I know not everyone out there with a preemies have had as good an outcome as we had, which is even more important reason that organizations like The March of dimes exists.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Winter Warmth

   Today our church is a holding a winter coat drive to distribute them out to those in the community who are in need of some warm outerwear and aren't in a position to afford any right now. We've been blessed with several coats in good condition so were taking a few in to give to others. It always kills me when I see others who may be living on the street or out of their cars and don't have coats and jackets to help keep them warm, so I'm hoping these coats will find their way to those that need them most.

Friday, November 15, 2013

So Much Goodness

   Today my daughter has amazed me again. She received a letter in the mail today from her principal recognizing her great manners and leadership at school and it also included a gift card for her to eat out. She was so excited to get this and then as soon as we read it together she says, "mom, I wanna write a letter back to the principal thanking her for sending me this special reward because that's what you do." And I replied, "What do you mean?" And then she said something that almost brought me to tears. She said, "You would be sure and thank her because that is nice and a good deed and you've been saying all along that we should always do something nice for others when we can." I know my daughter has been paying attention this year and wanting to do nice things occasionally, but to me this meant things were really sinking in and resonating with her. And that is really the whole point of this year, to spread kindness to others and hope they will do the same. So today we sat down and wrote a thank you card together and let the principal know how much we appreciate her recognizing Kaylee's efforts at school. Today was a great day for good deeds and acts of kindness.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Just Doin' Some Homework...

   Today my daughter's teacher contacted me and asked if I could help out with getting supplies ready for the kids to make some Thanksgiving crafts. I assumed this would involved some cutting, folding and sorting all of which I feel fully capable of despite my lack of craftiness. So I told her "Sure, bring it on, I'd be happy to help." Now flash forward to my daughter coming home with supplies for me and instructions to cut the items out and make hats out of them. Uh oh... I know for 99 percent of people this would be a no brainer but like I said I'm not exactly crafty. So tonight I'll be doing a little homework to help out and praying I don't screw it up and embarrass her class, lol!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Typhoon Haiyan

   Unless you live under a rock, and if you are reading this than you don't, I'm sure you have heard about the devastation that typhoon Haiyan has caused in The Philippians. The latest reports I read and have heard have said that there are over 10,000 casualties and over 9 million people who have been affected by it one way or another. People there are desperate for food, clean water and medicine. Being so far away, sometimes it's hard to understand and really grasp how dire it is over there right now and many feel like there isn't much they can do. But there are several organizations and agencies who are sending medical aid and relief as fast as they possibly can and as you can imagine, disaster relief is pretty costly. So today I donated to UNICEF to help aid their relief efforts for the Philippians. They are a globally known and trusted organization and I know my money will go straight to helping those affected by the typhoon. If you are wanting to help but not sure where to start, I found an article this morning that listed several trusted and safe agencies that you can donate to. Just click HERE, and it will take you right to it. I can't imagine what the victims must be going through right now, but my thoughts and prayers are with them for sure.  

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Can I Get You A cup Of Coffee?

   If you are one of the locals here in Tennessee, than you know how bitterly cold today has been. Not exactly a day you want to be outside because even in the sunshine, it's freezing! But our quarterly pest control inspection was this morning and that involves a lot of work all around the outside of our home. When he came to the door, his cheeks and nose were so red and I could see he was super cold. So I invited him in to do the inside work first and give him a chance to warm up a bit. While he was doing his inspection and treatment I made him a tall cup of coffee in a to-go cup so he'd something to help keep him warm while he braved the chilly winds. He was so thankful and his eyes just lit up when I handed it to him. He's such a thoughtful guy and always been great all the times I've called him out to the house so I'm glad today I could return a bit of the favor.
Oh and this pic obviously isn't the coffee I gave him, I just thought it was funny and went well with today's post.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Happy Veterans Day

   Today we pause to thank all those who have bravely served our country and those who continue to today. As I have said before they make a huge sacrifice for our everyday freedoms that we can tend to take for granted sometimes. And it's not just them, but military families who are contributing and sacrificing for us as well. I hope all of you out there got the opportunity to thank a past or current service member for their duty today, but if you didn't you can do what I did today. Walter Reed Army medical center treats many of our soldiers who have been hurt in active duty or are receiving some kind of therapy and there are plenty of soldiers that could use some encouragement. So today I sent a few thank you and holiday cards addressed to "any recovering American soldier" to let them know they are greatly appreciated and that their service didn't go unnoticed. I read about this a while back and thought it was a great idea. if you are interested in sending a card to a soldier there the address is:
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001
Happy Veterans day to all you VETS out there and thank you again so much for all you do!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

My Favorite VET

   Like I mentioned yesterday, my good deeds/acts of kindness this weekend will revolve around Veterans Day. So today I called up my favorite VET, my grandpa Fritts. I told him how thankful I am for his service and sacrifice for our country and also how proud I am of him for all his accomplishments. He served in the army in Germany, Italy and France during World War II. As long as I've known him he's actually spoken about his experiences only a very few times because as you can imagine, the things he saw and went through were absolutely horrific. He was the only one from his platoon that made it back home. I can't even begin to wrap my mind around some of the things he has told me about the war. He is such a great man and a hero to our family. I know there are many out there today with similar stories to my grandpa's, so if you know them, thank them for their service and make sure they know their efforts weren't in vain.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Fisher House Foundation

  Veterans Day is quickly approaching this Monday so for the next few days I am dedicating my good deeds/acts of kindness to the great heroes that have served our country. Today I learned about a great organization called the Fisher House. They build homes for soldiers and their families on military or VA grounds. The purpose of these homes is to provide a place for them to stay while a service member has hospitalization or rehabilitation. Those can be difficult and stressful times and having family so close by for support can speed up recovery. Fisher house also provides stays in these homes free of charge. You can find out more about this great organization by clicking on the link above. So for today's act of kindness I donated to them so that they may continue to provide this service free of charge to so many worthy and deserving military members and their families.  

Friday, November 8, 2013

Some Good Advice

     Today I have been trying to catch up on household stuff that that has gone by the wayside and haven't really been feeling that inspired honestly. So when I went to pick up my daughter from school this afternoon, I asked if she had any ideas of something nice we could do for someone else. Then she gave me some great advice... she said, "mom, it doesn't matter if it's something you've done for someone before, a good deed is a good deed no matter what." I thought about that for a minute and then said, "You're right, it really doesn't matter." So I figured a repeat wasn't that big of a deal, I have done a few repeats with a little twist already this year. Then I decided that since my daughter gave me such sound advice and my family has been a huge support during this journey, it was time to do an act of kindness for them again. So I'm making one of their favorite dishes for dinner and we'll have family movie night. I always say it doesn't have to be complicated or some huge gesture, that an act of kindness can be very simple. But it took hearing that from my daughter today for it to really sink in!!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

A Little Yard Work

   Today was another beautiful fall day here and our yard is full of colorful leaves. So I decided it was time to get out and clean some of them up. While doing the raking, I decided it would be kind to rake some of my neighbor's leaves as well and I did just that. Nothing fancy or complicated, just lending a hand to the folks next door. While it was my good deed today, it also benefited me too. My house has been full of sick people and I really just wanted to get outside for a bit while they were napping and get some fresh air for myself. Normally I don't look forward to yard work, but this week has been a whole different story. Either way, just glad to help a bit today and thankful that I'm not sick and able to.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Coats For Kids

I think I've mentioned before that I'm a bit of a coffee addict. I drink it all throughout the day some days. Well, while enjoying a cup this morning and doing a little reading I found out the the coffee creamer brand International Delight has partnered with the Coats For Kids Foundation and for every purchase you register at www.ShareYourDelight.com, they will donate fifty cents to the foundation and have pledged to donate a minimum of $25,000. I knew I had a couple bottles in the fridge so I grabbed them and entered the UPC code and just like that, money was donated to a deserving cause. Later I found out that if you have or are going to purchase Silk, Horizon or Land'o Lakes brand items they are also a part of this campaign. So I was really able to enter a lot of codes. So just for buying certain products I was able to have money donated to a great charity. I hate that there is such a huge need for something like this but also glad I was able to help, even if it was just a little. If you have any of these products please visit the website and enter the UPC codes to help keep kiddos warm this winter.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Crossing Guard Kindness

Everyday when I take my daughter to school we pass a couple of very friendly crossing guards. One in particular is an older lady and we see her in the afternoons. She is so kind and friendly with all the kids and the parents as well. She's constantly smiling and always seems to be in a good mood, even when some of the drivers are clearly frustrated with the speed and rules she's enforcing. I think she does a great job and today I stopped to take a second to thank her and say hello. I let her know that we appreciate her hard work and feel safer with her on the job.  She was of course very gracious and smiled and waved at the kids. I think it's a great act of kindness that she takes such pride in her job and she is setting a great example for us all.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Candy Candy Candy!!

   This year my kids got HOOKED UP when it came to candy On Halloween. They got enough to last until year, and I'm not even exaggerating. I love candy as much as the kiddos do but even I knew there was no way we could keep the entire stash. So for my act of kindness/good deed today I took it to local dentist offices who send it overseas to soldiers and give it away to local charites as well. They gladly took it all off my hands and assured me it would be put to good use. I'm glad we were able to share with so many others today because we had more than we could ever want or need... well maybe just more than we could ever need, haha!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

A Little Loveless Pie

   Tonight my family and I went out for one last little birthday celebration. They took me to one of my favorites and a Nashville classic... The Loveless CafĂ©. Despite the long wait, the food especially the biscuits are AWESOME! After I finished my meal I was stuffed and as much as I wanted some, I had no room for dessert. But when the waitress came back and mentioned dessert, I asked her I we could buy a couple pieces of pie and have her take them to another table anonymously. She thought it was a sweet idea and gladly agreed to deliver the pie to a couple lucky recipients.  We didn't stick around to see who got the pieces of pie but I'm sure it was quite a sweet surprise.

Oh and the picture here is of the hubby and kids posing as we waited for our table tonight. I know it doesn't show today's act of kindness but I thought it was funny and you might get a little laugh... you're Welcome!!

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Lunch Delivery

  My mom is pretty talented and crafty, and really great at making floral arrangements and holiday decor. So today she put her stuff in a local craft fair to sell some of her creations. My dad came along to help and to kinda be the pack mule hauling items and moving tables, lol. It was an all day day affair, so we decided to go out an visit them for a bit, give them a little company. I knew that they wouldn't be able to leave the booth so my husband and thought it would be nice to bring them some lunch. They were very appreciative for a little break and bite to eat. Well I think they were most happy to see their grand kids. Not sure how much they sold today, but at least they were able to do it on full bellies!!!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Sick Day Surveys

   All this year I've tried to keep a few good deeds tucked away that are very simple and something that can be done from home. Well today I have a sick kiddo home and it doesn't look like I'll be going anywhere anytime soon, so I decided to do one of the stashed away ideas. My husband told me a while back about a company called Survey Monkey Contribute. Basically it's a website that conducts surveys and research for for several organizations and brands and when you fill out surveys for them they donate to a charity that you designate. So I hopped online today and filled out some questionnaires about my preferences and then had money donated to The Boys and Girls Club of America.
Life can get busy and hectic and emergencies arise, but if you look carefully there is usually something nice that you can do for someone else that literally only takes a moment of your time. If you're interested check out the link above and start raising some money for good causes!