Thursday, October 31, 2013

Birthday Freebies!!!

   Happy Halloween! Today is all about candy and costumes for most but it also happens to be my birthday. I've been thinking for a while now what kind of acts of kindness I wanted to do for my birthday and decided to give away my birthday freebies to a lucky few. Every year I get vouchers from several restaurants and stores for free meals or items on my birthday for signing up for their rewards club or membership etc... If you don't do this, you really should. most are free to sign up and then you get something for free on your birthday each year. The picture above is a few that I went and gave away to people today. We stopped at IHOP and gave someone a free pancake meal, went Arby's and gave someone a free shake, and we had several free ice cream vouchers to give away. The look and surprise on people's faces was great and I was glad to share some of my birthday fun with others!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Food Bank Donations

   One of the "bucket list items" on my list of good deeds this year was to donate food to a local food pantry, and that's just what I did today. Not sure why I haven't done this yet this year, but today I found many items to pass along to those in need. I bagged them up and took them over to Greenhouse Ministries where they gladly accepted them. After the government shutdown, many local pantries are very low on supplies since they had many more people coming in needing food while their support was temporarily suspended. Also since we're right on the heels of the holidays more donations will be needed as well. Glad I could help out today and if you have items just taking up space in your pantry maybe think about giving them to you local food bank.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Costume Care Package

   I was so excited when I found the skeleton costume that my daughter wanted this year for a whopping four dollars! Then a week later, we get a note from school saying that this year students are welcome to dress up as their favorite storybook character... Fail!! My friend Erin also ran into the same problem when her daughter's school said they could dress up as their favorite candy. I get it, I get it... they don't want kids wearing costumes that may scare some of the others, but having to come up with two costumes, boo to that! Well I did have an answer for Erin at least. My daughter has a big blue M&M shirt and today I took it over to Erin today so that her daughter could borrow it. Erin has also come down with strep so I took her some healing chocolate and meds to help her feel better fast!
   As for my daughter, I didn't come up with a different storybook character costume. I went and found a book about a skeleton!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Letter To Sophie

   While surfing the internet today I came across a site called Post Pals. On this website you can read about children who have chronic or fatal diseases and send them letters or emails to cheer them up. While searching around, I came across a little girl named Sophie who has a very serious malignant brain tumor. What caught my eye was the beautiful butterfly she had painted on her face in her picture. As I read about her I found out that she is the same age as my daughter and they share a love for butterflies. I chose to write to her today and try and lift her spirits. I sent some funny kid jokes, told her a bit about where we live since she lives in the UK and also included some positive and inspirational messages too. I think this website is a great idea and they make it so easy to send a little love to a child that could really use it. If you are interested, click on the link above and you'll find hundreds of kiddos that could use a smile.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

MERGE!

   Looking at this picture makes me laugh, but I have a feeling that one driver on the road today made several others make this face. Earlier today while I was driving to a get-together I came to an intersection where right after it the two lanes quickly merge into one. There are plenty of signs alerting drivers that this will happen, but instead of slowing down and blending with the other lane, the car in front of me slammed on the gas and darted over into the other lane that was quickly narrowing, to pass several cars and came close to causing an accident. After they slammed on their brakes because they had no more road to drive on, they put on their blinker and tried to inch their way back into traffic. Well needless to say the other drivers weren't happy and were not having that at all. They all passed, not allowing the car back in and sharing some choice words and gestures. As I got closer I braked and let them back onto the road. Not because I wanted to, because that driving habit infuriates me as well and most of the time I feel like those people deserve to sit there and and let everyone else go since they were so impatient and had no regard for anyone else. But I did it because it was a kind thing to do... I try and remind myself that I don't know what's going on in that persons life. Maybe they have some emergency and have to be somewhere really quick. Who knows??? I just hope they remember that kindness and pass it on... and perhaps wait their turn to merge next time too!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

A New Home

 
 Today was a fun day for my family with a few small acts of kindness here and there. We went to my daughter's girl scout fall festival and while there I was able to help some of the girls earn a pumpkin carving badge and assisted them in roasting hotdogs and s'mores. This evening was also the first service for Mercy Street United Methodist church and I helped greet people as they came in and direct people to where they needed to go. All of these are small kind things to do, but the act of kindness that I really want to share was one that was performed to me. I've been helping out the last few months as Mercy Street has been coming along and getting so excited of all the things to come. So tonight I went early to help out before the service and the pastor Charles asked if I would pass out communion tonight. Now to many this may not seem like a big deal, but to me I was so happy to do it and it was huge. I've attended several different churches as an adult and liked a few here and there but never really felt 100% comfortable or at home for one reason or another, and would have never felt comfortable enough to participate in that way. The fact that he asked my husband and I to do something like that and had the confidence that I wouldn't screw it up completely made me feel so great and so welcome. In addition to his kindness the service was great and I feel like our family has found a new church home. Today was a great day

Friday, October 25, 2013

Fall Festival

   For my good deed/act of kindness, I have volunteered to work concessions at my daughter's school fall festival this evening. It a huge event put on by the PTO to help raise funds for the school and also an evening of fun for the community. There are games, food, auctions and all kinds of goodies. If you are in the Murfreesboro area and don't mind freezing your buns off, lol, you should come out and support Blackman Elementary. I really enjoy helping the school and knowing the money raised is going to benefit so many children's education makes it even better.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Bye Bye Baby Stuff

   So this pic here is my little guy enjoying a snack in his high chair when he was somewhere between one and two years old. Seeing this makes me realize just how much and how quickly he has grown. He's gotten so big in fact that it is time to get rid of some of our BIG baby items, like the highchair pictured here. So today I put the word out that I had a pack and play and the aforementioned high chair and wanted to to find them new homes. In a matter of minutes they were snatched up by families who could put them to good use. My husband and I know all too well just how expensive baby gear can be and it adds up fast. I was more than happy to give the kiddos stuff to new families and help them save some money.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Way Of Hope

   This year I have been able to make so many donations of items to great organizations. Much of that has been in part to so many being willing to help and add items to my donations. One thing that I have gotten a lot of this year has been small travel or hotel toiletries along with people's other items. It seems everyone has some some of these lying around and wants to put them to good use, which couldn't make me happier. I've had a box that I've been slowly filling with these and today decided it was time to find them a home. I thought an organization called Way Of Hope would be a great place to take them. They are an emergency homeless shelter for women and children here in Murfreesboro. I looked up directions and headed out there with my box, but was never able to find the place. I followed the directions and GPS but ended up a someone's home instead, lol. So after that fail, I figured I would take the items to one of the other shelters in town and as I was driving through the town square, I saw one of the Way Of Hope's vans parked. I turned around and parked right next to them and waited for the driver to come out so I could give my donations to him. Someone finally did come back to the van and I explained that I had gotten lost trying to find their building but was so happy to see their van because I really wanted to donate these items to their shelter. He was very happy to accept them and I think thought that my situation was kinda funny. I guess it kinda is, but that's no matter to me. I'm just glad I was able to get some much needed items in the hands of people that need them the most.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Playground Pickup

   Today on our way home from school, my kids and I stopped at our neighborhood playground to play for a bit. It's kind small compared to some other public parks, but they love it and it's nice having something literally right down the street. While playing, I was sad to see some graffiti on a few pieces of the equipment and some litter lying around. Part of the reason I like having this place for my kids to play is because we feel safe here and it is clean. So for my good deed today I tried to keep the playground the way it should be. I picked up the trash and used the wipes I had in my stroller to scrub off the writing on the equipment. I wasn't able to get it all off, but it still looks better than it did. It's always sad to me when others don't take care of or purposefully destroy public areas. It's not fair to my kids or any others in our neighborhood. I know it will probably happen again, but I certainly hope that it won't.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Haircuts and Spa Baskets

   So today I was able give to a great cause and donate some items for a silent auction benefiting my daughter's school. This morning I took my son for a much over due hair cut at Great Clips. While there I noticed that they were doing a fundraiser for a local children's hospital. So when we were done I asked them to add a couple of dollars to our bill for the fundraiser. They will be doing this for the next few weeks I believe, so if you're thinking about getting your haircut, stop on in there and you can donate to the wonderful Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.
 


 My daughter's school also has a fall festival coming up and one of the events there will be a silent action. My daughter's class was responsible for putting together a spa themed basket to auction off and so today I took in a few items to add to it. I'm glad to be able help a great school that our family really loves.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Keeping An Eye Out

   This afternoon, I took my kiddos to a local pumpkin patch that we like to visit each fall. It was lots of fun but super crowded today because the weather was so nice. Before we left we sat down to enjoy a snack and do a little people watching. While chomping away, a mom pulling her kids in a wagon pulled up in front of us and then she left them there while she went and grabbed some drinks. I was nervous for her at first because she went kinda far away, the lines were long, there were crowds walking all over and it was obvious she was gonna be gone for a bit. At any moment, someone could have snatched them up and no one would be the wiser. So I decided to keep one eye on them until the mom got back. Situations like these always make me uneasy... I'm never sure what's appropriate and what's not when it comes to other people's children and I know how I feel when someone tries to tell me how to parent my kids. So I of course didn't say anything to the mom, but I just felt like in my gut that I needed to make sure her babies were alright while she was gone. They giggled and played together and then one of them dropped her bottle out of the wagon. I bent over to pick it up for her and she smiled and then the other decided to throw the bottle out of the wagon. I again bent over and grabbed it and placed it back in the wagon. This game continued back and forth for a bit and my son joined in with helping me entertain them as well. The mom did eventually come back and kind of give me a nod and a friendly smile and then pulled the wagon and kids on their way. I'm glad I was sitting in that spot at that moment so I could help that mom out, even if she didn't know someone was helping her. It's tough these days being a parent, especially when you are doing it by yourself.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Fun With The Family

   For today's good deed, we're having a good old fashioned pizza party here and having lots of family over to enjoy and share with us. As close as we all live, we should get together more but we do enjoy when we can make it happen. We'll also be celebrating my daughter's birthday a bit more so that should add to the mix. Spending time and catching up with family is always great and makes for some irreplaceable memories and stories for the kiddos to remember later. Opening our home and having dinner for family is another act of kindness that is fun and a no brainer and is one of the ones I look forward to the most!

Friday, October 18, 2013

More Mommy Meals :)

   Today I am making dinner (actually as I type this)  for my friend Dawn and her family who recently welcomed their newest member, baby Savannah. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again... after we came home from the hospital with a new baby, having meals brought to us was AWESOME. It's just one less thing to worry about and I could focus more on the kids instead of worrying about what and how to find time to cook for dinner. My goal this year was to really  try and not repeat any good deeds if I could help it, but this is the one exception. So many friends this year have been blessed with new little ones and while it can be a happy time, it can also be stressful. So I'm happy to be able to get rid of some stress and worry if I can for some fellow moms. Congrats to the Berry family and I hope you enjoy the Lasagna!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Six for Six

Today is my daughter's sixth birthday and we've been doing little things all day today to celebrate. In honor of this special day in our family, I decided to do six small acts of kindness for random strangers today. I left a few dollar bills for people to find, left a voucher for free coffee creamer in the dairy section at the store, and left little sweet treats for people as well. I wasn't able to snap photos of each one, but here are a few...

The free coffee creamer...
Some cash in a dressing room...
 Cash hidden in the tomatoes...
 and a few goodies for the next person to grab this cart...
It's always fun to leave little surprises for unsuspecting strangers and hopefully make their day!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

WAIT! You Left Your Lights On!!!

Today's act of kindness was quick and simple... While out running errands this morning with family, one of the places we stopped was the grocery. When we were leaving the parking lot, another car pulled in across from us and as the gentleman got out he left his lights on. I was pulling out when I realized that he had left them on, so I stopped and we yelled and flagged him down. He came over and we told him his lights were still on and he breathed a sigh of relief that we noticed. He thanked us a couple times and then ran over to turn them off. It was an older pick up truck, so depending on how long he was in the store, his battery may have died before he came back out. So glad we caught it for him and saved him a big hassle later.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Dinner For Ronald Mcdonald House

   Today is part two of my act of kindness for the Ronald McDonald house. About a month ago, thanks to so many generous participants, we were able to make a pretty sizable donation of items needed for the house and it's residents. Tonight, my family and I are going to serve a dinner we prepared for the house. We've done this a few times before and we always love getting to help this great organization. Tonight's dinner is honor of our daughter's birthday in a few days. When she was born 3 months early, the RMH was a bigger help then we could ever imagine when we were going through one of the toughest moments of our lives. We will always feel so grateful to them and are excited to help them and give back whenever we can.
We're all pretty excited about tonight and I'll update later with pictures from the dinner. Until then, I better get back in the kitchen.


*****************************UPDATE*********************************

Here are a few pics from the Ronald McDonald House tonight. It turned out really well and we had a great time serving them a chili dinner....

 Here is the front entry way with an awesome quilt that was made for the house.
 Here is there awesome playroom that the kiddos staying there get to use...
And my dad putting the finishing touches on the chili dinner.
Tonight was great getting to serve others. I'm always glad when I get an opportunity like this.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Ice Cream For Cancer

I had been planning today's good deed for a while... I got an email about a month ago from Marble Slab Creamery telling me that proceeds from their ice cream sales were going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society and I kept it thinking we'd go one night to support a great cause. Well we finally went tonight thinking we'd be able to donate along with getting a nice after dinner treat. When we got there I found out that the donations ended last week (insert sad music here), lol. Well we went ahead and got our ice cream as you can from the picture... and then after we got home I went online and donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Like I said before, it's a great cause and just because Marble Slab's campaign is over doesn't mean I still can't give. So in the end we still enjoyed some good ice cream and gave to great cause.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Sweet Endings

   My mother-in-law is in town this week to visit and celebrate for a bit and like me she loves coffee and a few sweets at the end of the day. Yesterday and today have been  long long long days... and she's been looking forward to coffee but I didn't have decaf, which is what she drinks. So I made another trip to the store tonight to grab her kinda coffee and while I was there I grabbed a bag of some of the biscotti that I know she likes too just for another special treat. She's been a big help already just in the last two days and I know that will continue the rest of the week as well so I'm happy to get her a little something to sweeten the end of the day.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

RUN RUN RUN!


   This morning was the Murfreesboro Middle Half Marathon and I headed out bright and early to cheer on all the runners who have worked so hard for the past few months. I ran it last year and it truly was the most friendly marathon I have ever done. There were so many people all along the way clapping, cheering, playing music and holding great signs of support. So I thought this year I would return the favor and I took the sign shown here out on the course this morning. It went over really well and got a ton of laughs and high fives! I figured a smile and laugh would greatly be appreciated to help them keep their mind off the distance. But I also wanted to go out and cheer today because my friend Aimee was running her first half and I was so proud of her. She has adamantly hated running and refused to do so for most of her life but recently has taken it up and decided to complete this race. She trained really hard this summer and I couldn't wait to get out there and surprise her.
So I had a sign just for her as well and cheered her on at two points on the course. It brought a smile to my face to see her working so hard and completing this task. Again, I'm really proud of her for doing this because I know she still hated running, lol.
Great job to all the runners out there today... and like I shouted from the sidelines about a million times this morning.... YOU ALL ARE AWESOME!


Friday, October 11, 2013

Coming Through In The Clutch

   Shortly after my husband left for work this morning, I got a phone call from him asking if his wallet was still in my purse after we went out last night. I checked and sure enough, there it sat. So yup... he drove to work with no license this morning and he had no money for lunch. So I did what any good wife would do and threw the kids in the car and headed out to his work to deliver it to him.
So why does this count as a good deed since it's something I should have done anyway?? Well our family is about to embark on a crazy couple of weeks starting with several guests this weekend and I am in full on cleaning mode all day today. I've got a list a mile long of tasks that seem impossible to finish today, but I know how important a wallet is, so we squeezed in a few extra minutes to return it.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Good Deeds At Kroger

 So today the kids and I ventured into my most dreaded grocery store for a few items. We usually do our shopping at a different grocery store but I had a voucher for something at Kroger so we went there instead. While my shopping experience was about how it usually is there (kinda crappy), I'm still glad we went. For breast cancer awareness month they are collecting funds for the Susan G. Komen foundation and I was happy to be able to give a little for that great cause. I've know several women afflicted with this terrible cancer. But along with supporting breast cancer awareness, the kids and I also let a sweet older lady go ahead of us in the store and then returned another lady's cart for her. As much as I really dislike this store, I'm happy we ended up there today and were able to help out others.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Rallying Around A Great Man

  Sadly today's good deed comes from someone else's tragedy. My husband and I recently learned about a the home of a former teacher of ours burning down. He got out with only minor burns thank goodness, but as far as his home goes, he is going to be starting from scratch. He's gonna need everything from clothes to all your basic household items. Mr. Bass was and still is such an awesome educator and beloved by so many students at our old high school. Every class that has graduated from MLK has fond memories and life lessons because of him. Because he's touched the lives of so many, we've been able to come together and start raising funds to help him out. So today my husband and I of course donated and I'm also going to go through our home to see if I can find household items for him as well. I hate that something like this happened to such a great man, but I am glad to see so many rally around him.

For those of you that read this and are MLK alum here are some details of how you can help straight from the fundraising page...

Also, the MLK PTSA page has some info about other ways you can help:

1) Mr. Bass will need to replace everything! If you have items in your home that you were thinking of donating to someplace, items like dishes, pot / pans, and other household items; furniture and / or linens it would be great if you could hold on to these items until we found out where Mr. Bass is going to rebuild his life. He will be indeed of all of these items, and much, much more.

2) For immediate needs, there has been a collection started at the school. There will be someone at the school 8am – 3pm this week if you would like to stop by and make a monetary contribution.

3) It would also be very appropriate to leave a card or letter at the school for Mr. Bass. I’m sure it will be a comfort to know people are thinking about him.

4) Our link: http://tilt.tc/jCWQ

5) It looks as if a large dumpster / container will be brought to house on Friday. Help will be needed on Saturday to discard what can’t be saved. If you are wanting to help, please wear old clothes and very stable shoes (like work boots or hiking boots) as there will be debris. Once these plans are firmed up, another email will go out with more details.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

ChapStick For Those That Need It Most

Today's good deed came about because of a generous donation from another fellow mom Amy Bachman. She had recently held a fundraiser and gave out the chapsticks pictured here to the participants. Well she ended up with tons left over and contacted me to see if I knew of anyone in need of them. Immediately I thought of the homeless shelters in town and how now that the weather is getting cold, items like these will be in high demand because so many are out in the elements most of the day. She was so happy to find a place where they would go to good use, and so this morning I took them into the shelter I volunteer at. The coordinator was so excited to get them because they are always low on items like these. In all there were a little over 90 chapsticks that will get handed out to help those that need them the most. Thanks again to Amy for contacting me and in the future if any of you out there have extra toiletries on hand that you are looking to get rid of they are always appreciated at shelters.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Snacks On Hand

Today I've decided it would be a good idea to have a few things like the protein bar pictured here in the car to hand out to homeless or others that I see out asking for help. Sadly in our community I see many each time I'm out and while I can't afford to give everyone I pass money I can give them a little something to eat to get them through. I figure if they really are hungry they'll take it. And sure enough, I saw some who were in need of something to eat so I gave them the snacks I had to help them until they find their next meal. Keeping a few snacks on hand is easy and something I'm more than happy to do when so many out there aren't sure when they may eat next...

Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Big Thank You

   Today my daughter and I wrote letters of thanks for soldiers who are currently deployed overseas and will be during Thanksgiving as a part of a program called "The Big Thank You". The aim of this program is to get a letter of appreciation to every single man and woman deployed for Thanksgiving. It's a great campaign that a syndicated radio show has been doing for a few years now. You can find out more about it by clicking HERE.
I've mentioned before this year that supporting the military and their families is very important to me, so when I found out about this I was more than happy to contribute. I feel like they can never hear how much we are thankful for all that they do too many times. I was also really happy that my daughter was willing to send a letter as well. If you are interested in sending one yourself, click on the link above to find out what you need to do, the deadline is Nov. 1st. It's just another small gesture that will go a long way.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Scavenging For Good Deeds!

  Today my husband and I competed in an urban scavenger hunt, which basically means a hunt that happens in a downtown area of a large city. We've done a few of these in Nashville before and we always have such a good time. Today was another fun one that had us racing all over the city and doing some good deeds while we were at it. One of the clues was actually an act of kindness itself. It was was to fill one of the many charity meters around the city. But along with that task we did a few other things like leaving left over change at convenience store counters and even helping competing teams accomplish some of the tasks required to finish the hunt. We didn't win, but we had a great time and got to perform a few acts of kindness along the way.

The random pic above is of one of the tasks we had to complete... find a prepackaged snack made in the state of TN and then find this ginormous map of the state and get a pic of someone on the team standing next to the city where it was made. So here I am chomping on a moon pie next to the city of Chattanooga! Fun times!

Friday, October 4, 2013

Couple Inspires Kindess For The A21 Campaign Through Generous Act

  Today I came across one of the sweetest stories and videos I've seen online. It was about a young couple who got engaged and married all on the same day. The groom had been planning it for almost a year and secretly viewing all the wedding ideas that his bride had been pinning on pinterest for what she wanted for her own wedding. He not only used all her ideas but got all of her family and friends in on it and flew them down to Miami to be a part of it all. You can read the full story by clicking HERE. But the reason I'm telling you about all this is because of their very generous act. This couple decided that in lieu of wedding gifts, they would ask their guests to donate to an organization that is very important to them called the A21 campaign. The A21 Campaign is an organization that fights to end human trafficking through educating the public and raising awareness, prosecuting violators and providing shelter and homes  to victims so they can transition back into society. You can read more about this organization and see some of the very real and very scary stats at their website, thea21campaign.org.
I was inspired by this couples willingness to forgo wedding gifts and money so that A21 could benefit and because of that, today I also made a donation to the organization. I hope you'll read up a little bit about human trafficking and sadly, how prevalent it is today. Maybe you will be moved to do something as well.

I also wanted to share the sweet, sweet video that got this whole ball rolling today... Enjoy!




Thursday, October 3, 2013

Snacks On Me

   Today was a small act but still an act that counts and was a nice surprise... I've been having terrible trouble with my eyes and have spent several days over the last two weeks at the eye doctor, including today. Being there for long stretches of time has caused me to miss some meals and have to get snacks from a vending machine. So for my good deed/act of kindness I decided to leave my left over change from my purchase in the return slot for the next person. I did this a couple of times since I've enjoyed more that one "meal" while waiting around. Some lucky folks were able to enjoy their snack on me and I hope the unexpected surprise made their day... or at least their eyes feel better.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Anonymous Greeting

  One of the things I like best about 365 days so far has been the acts that I get to do anonymously. I love getting to do things and leave surprises for strangers. Today was another one of those random surprises for a stranger. For my good deed/act of kindness I sent a nice greeting card to a stranger that I picked from the phone book. I simply wished them a great day and week and let them know that someone out there was thinking about them. Who doesn't like getting a nice surprise card in the mail, right??? I hope it perks up their day and that they get inspired to do something nice for someone else. 

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

National Night Out Against Crime

   Today for my act of kindness/good deed, I'll be volunteering at some booths at the National Night Out in Smyrna.  Night out is an event that offers citizens an opportunity to talk with police officers and other emergency workers about crime prevention and what they can do to make themselves safer. Everyone can learn tons of safety tips and this a great place for kiddos and younger ones to learn what to do in emergency situations. The Night Out is also a great place to get to know other people and other organizations in your community. There are always lots of vendors and food as well so it can be a lot of fun for the whole family. Glad to be lending a hand to a great cause tonight!