Random Acts of Kindness 2016 #3

I was thinking of my RAK as I was in the grocery today.

I've talked here on my blog a few time about my love-hate

relationship with the checkout baggers and how they seem to love

squishing your fragile items with heavy cans and jars. haha.

I usually just kindly say things like, "Here, lets not put that

heavy bag of potatoes on top of the bread", ..things like that.

Today there were two girls bagging my items and they had a second

cart between me and them, so I couldn't get close enough to

supervise!  And no, I don't think it was on purpose. haha... 

 They were new and didn't know me! 

One of them offered to push my cart out to the parking lot for me

and even though I usually decline this kind of help, I thought I'd

go ahead and let her do it so I could give her a tip for her efforts.

She even loaded most of the bags into my jeep so I surprised

her with $10 and said thank you so much for helping.

She was shocked and her big smile was my reward. :)

I had to laugh though as I was driving home and hit the

 brakes fairly hard when someone pulled out in front of me.

One of the shopping bags behind me flung against my seat

and an entire bunch of grapes flew into the front seat and

landed on the gear shift beside me.  Goodness!  At least

they had been placed on the top of the bag and didn't have the 

potatoes squishing them.  :)

If you'd like to participate in this RAK challenge,

go HERE to Manu's blog and link up!

It's lots of fun and as you do a random act of kindness,

you'll discover that the blessing is actually yours to receive.

♥

Random Act of Kindness Challenge 2016 #2

Someone asked me recently to let her know if I ever put anything

in my etsy shop that had a violet pattern on it.  Well, I just

happened to come across a few pieces and thought I'd just

surprise her by mailing this sweet little soap dish to her.

I don't know her personally but we've had a little contact 

online and I know her brother pretty well.

And fortunately, I even had her mailing address,

so that was easy!  

This little vintage piece is hand painted and signed by the artist.

I thought it was beautiful!

Here it is all packed up and ready to go!

I hope it makes her day.

I mean, who doesn't like to get surprises in the mail? 

I'm linking up with Manu for her RAK Challenge.

Click HERE to join or read more encouraging stories!

♥

Random Act Of Kindness Challenge 2016 #1

For the month of February, I'm joining in a 

Random Act of Kindness Challenge, hosted by

the lovely Manu!  The idea is that you do something

 kind for someone else....a stranger or someone you know.
It can be a gift of time, money or some kind of pay-it-forward.
Some of the best RAK's don't cost a thing....just look for 
an opportunity to encourage someone else.

Then, each Friday post about it and link to her blog.
Hopefully by posting about it, we encourage each other
to think past ourselves and spread a little love.  

Yesterday, I baked cookies to give away.

I made up a new recipe, Orange White Chocolate,

and they turned out very tasty!

I sent half  of them to work with The Mister and I took the

other have with me to an auction to pass out to people.

If you want to join in the challenge, click HERE

to go to Manu's blog!

♥

Random Thoughts

1. This window planter has become 'the penthouse' since we started our rescue cat project.  They use it as a lookout perch, a safe elevated place to nap, and a good way to look into the window.
2. My arthritis has knocked my flat on my butt the last three days! And along with it I had a 2 day migraine.  Incredible. lol...today I feel good and am back to my normal crazy, over-achieving self.  I'm also trying some new pain management ideas such as the Relief Factor.  I'm still in the trial phase of it, so we'll see if it makes a difference.  I'm too young for this! haha.  Geesh.
3. I went to my first auction last week as a customer instead of an employee.  All the fun and none of the work. haha.  One of the reasons I quit was because the registration counter was constructed way too low and I had terrible neck and back pain on auction day and the day after.  It was an ergonomic nightmare! Even after many requests (and not just be me) over 6 months to have it raised to a proper height, it was made clear that it wasn't going to be changed. So... I'm the one that had to make the change! Not my only reason for leaving, but it wasn't helping my situation.  You have to take care of yourself, right?  Anyway, the bidding was fun and I filled my Jeep with pretty things.  It's slowly being added to the shop!
4. Am I the only one that is bothered by all the advertisements on so many blogs these days?  I understand the desire to make some money on a site but the ads that pop over the photographs or follow your cursor are very annoying,...not to mention the videos that start unsolicited.  It seems that these bloggers are loosing readers instead of gaining 'clicks' on the ads.
5. Manu is taking over my RAK challenge this year!  I wasn't going to host one.  Some people were wonderful last year and some left me completely at a loss for words on how selfish some can be even when trying to do a kindness challenge!  haha...but Manu was great and she wants to host this year.  One act of kindness each week and a post about it on each Friday this month.  Her blog is here if you want to join in!  I will be!
6. I did my seasonal stocking of my glove box last week.  For winter I have a bottle of water, 2 granola bars, advil, lip balm, tissues, hand sanitizer, along with a few bandaids and antibiotic ointment.  The first day I had it filled, I used the advil and lip balm, so it's a good thing to do!
7. It's Iowa Caucus night.  You know I find politics fascinating, so I'll have the news on the tv while I do some other things tonight, just to see what happens!
8. We have brilliant blue skies today.  Lovely!

♥

Random Acts Of Kindness Adventure 2015 Week 4

Well, here we are at the end of our RAK month!

Thank you to everyone that participated!

I hope you had as much fun as I did!

At the beginning of the week I made up a stack of these cards.

I attached a Hershey's Hug to each one with double sided tape.

And since the weather is so awful with freezing rain and snow,

I slipped each into a plastic sandwich bag.  I put the stack into my

purse and everywhere I went this week, I slipped on under the

 windshield wiper of the car parked next to mine.

This was one of the ideas I shared on our inspiration post last month

and I thought it was such a simple, fun thing to do!

It took just a few minutes of planning but I got to do an RAK for 

quite a few people instead of just one big one.

If you posted about an RAK you did this week, please

link up below and thanks so much for participating!

The link will be open until Saturday, 5:00 PM EST.

And please visit the others who joined in!

♥

Random Acts Of Kindness Adventure 2015 Week 3

Well, here we are at week three already!

I sure have enjoyed reading what the other participants

have done for their RAKs and I know I've been inspired

by what has been shared!  If sharing brings some ideas

to the forefront of our minds and we can recall them

and even put them into practice in the days ahead,

 then I think this adventure has been a success! 

This week I took a meal to a friend who had surgery.
I just texted her the night before and told her dinner was 
coming the next day so she would be prepared.

I hope her family enjoyed my chicken pot pie!

I've been a recipient of a meal before, especially when

the triplets were born, so I know just how nice it is

to be on the receiving end of this act of kindness! 

I just made double what we were having for dinner,

so it was no extra work at all!

Everything went in disposable containers, so there was no

worry about getting dishes back.

Since it's so cold outside, I left it unbaked and ready to go in the

oven and delivered it early enough that they could bake it

in time for dinner.  And I didn't have to try to keep it hot

during the trip to their home.  Very easy!

I hope they felt loved and appreciated!

If you did an RAK this week, please post about it on your own blog.

Then link up here so we can all share and inspire each other.

Thanks so much for participating and don't forget to 

visit the others!

The link will be open until Saturday evening, 6:00PM EST.

Random Acts Of Kindness Adventure 2015 Week 2

First of all, thanks to everyone who thought to send prayers and

good wishes for Spencer today!  He had to go to the hospital

and under general anesthesia for a teeth cleaning.

He had some tarter build up that was under some of his

gums and he wasn't about to let anyone clean it out

at the dentist's office.  So off he and I went this morning.

It was -6F (-21C) when we left the house!

And a strong wind made it feel much colder than that!

Since the boys had a school cancellation, The Mister didn't get to

 go with me like we had planned (he works at this hospital in

executive administration) so he stayed home with Alex and Harry.

Here he is just arriving, waiting for his IV, and in recovery.

Thank goodness we brought that iPad.  It made waiting so much better!

I told The Mister when I got home, that there's nothing that makes 

your child seem so small and vulnerable as seeing them in a hospital

bed hooked up with monitors, tubes and needles.

He fought the IV and had to have some oral sedation before trying

again but ended up doing well.  He was brave and for the most

part very cooperative.  He came out with a bloody nose from

 the breathing tube and some sore gums, but sparkling clean teeth!

All of the staff that cared for Spencer was just great.

Super kind, not rushed, very helpful and so sweet to Spence.

Brian, I found another twin of yours, too.

A male RN who was with Spencer ...looked exactly like you!

He wore a black leather skull cap with his scrubs so I 

couldn't tell if he had a hawk, but I'd bet money that he did!

Spencer liked his fist bump in place of a hand shake.  He was big

and stern looking but you could just tell he had a big heart.

I was looking for someone for my RAK adventure!  I've 

 been home with the boys this week with school cancellations

and haven't been out and on my own to work on it!

Well, I found her in post-op.  Nora, Spencer's nurse in Recovery.  

She didn't just do her job well, she went above and beyond

 and chatted while we waited for Spencer to wake up. 

 She inquired about his autism, the rest of my family,

 and told me about her grown kids

that have some issues of their own.  She recommended a doctor

that we might want to see and wrote down his name and website.

She had concerns of her own but cared enough to do more

than her job with us.  I typed her name into my phone so I

wouldn't forget and I'm sending a little treat to her tomorrow

through The Mister.  I hope she's touched by a loaf of my

 Sugar Glazed Poppy Seed Bread and a note.

  She certainly deserves a special thanks!

******

If you did a RAK this week and want to share, just post about

it on your blog and link up here!

Don't forget to visit the others who participate!

And thanks for spreading a little love where you live!

Link will be open until Saturday, Feb 21st 5:00 PM EST

♥

An InLinkz Link-up

Random Acts Of Kindness Adventure 2015 Week 1

I hope you had a chance to do something random

and kind for another human being this week.

I'm excited to see who participates after quite a few

people said they were joining in!

On my weekly grocery trip this week I arrived as usual,

parked my Jeep and began walking through the parking lot

toward the store.  An older man was walking very slowly

and stopped as I walked by.  I thought maybe he was

checking his pockets like he forgot something and

went on past him.  When I was getting my cart and about

to go into the store, there he was again, walking extremely

slow and then stopping.  He looked like he

was trying to get to the mobile carts 

that have the battery powered scooter attached.

He didn't look good and seemed almost in distress.

Half a dozen people walked past him but I thought I'd check

on him.  I left my cart and went over to him and waited for him

to make eye contact.  

"Are you ok?" I asked.

"Yes, I'm ok.  I'm always like this."

"Are you sure?  I'd be happy to help."

"I think I'll be alright, really."

I was thinking he looked like he was going to drop and

I was already planning in my mind to call for help and

start CPR. haha.  My certificate has expired, but I'm 

pretty sure I could remember what to do.

But he stayed upright and I made sure he got into

his scooter cart ok.  He managed a smile and seemed

appreciative that anyone had noticed him at all.

He declined my offer to shop with him.

I didn't have any other plans that day and certainly

had the time.  But he went on his way and thanked me.

No, I didn't take his picture. haha.  

But I hope he felt like someone cared enough to stop and ask.

♥

*******

Today I spent some time in the kitchen.

I made this beautiful swirly fudge!

The recipe is on Chris' blog and you can

see it here.

I made it so The Mister, the boys and I could take it to our

respective places on Friday...work, day program and an auction.

I hope our friends and coworkers enjoy it!

It's always sweet to bring sweets, isn't it? ha.

The link will be open until Saturday evening!

And then we'll meet back here next week.

Same time, same station. 

♥

A Little Kindness Inspiration

My Random Acts of Kindness 2015 Adventure begins next

Friday, February 13th!  If you want more information click on the 

 little invitation on my sidebar.  Basically, once a week you are to 

 do a kindness for someone then post about

it on your blog on Friday and link back here so we can all

share and be inspired.  They can be little or big, cost nothing

or as much as you want.  Some will be spontaneous and some

  might take a little planning.  Here are a few ideas and photos

I found on Pinterest using RAK as a search.

1. Take a treat to take to the workers at your next appointment.
2. Tape 4 quarters to a vending machine with a note ~ "Have a drink on me.  Kindness is contagious!  Pass it on!".
3. Shovel your neighbor's driveway.
4. Help an elderly person load their groceries in their car.
5. Buy a cheap $2 umbrella to carry with you to give away to the next person you see caught in a shower.
6. Give a 100% tip next time you eat out. 
7. Choose a 'needy' family in your neighborhood who might appreciate a gift basket.  You can present it to them yourself or leave it on the porch and run!
8. Leave a little gift in your mail box for the mail man.
9. Next time you bake, make double and give half away.
10. Pay It Forward next time you go through a fast food drive-thru.
11. Run out on trash day with hot cocoa for the trash man.  Double the cup and zap it in the microwave at the last minute for extra heat and insulation.
12. Let another car merge in front of you.
13. Be grateful without complaint.
14. Buy an extra coffee to take to your coworker.
15. Make eye contact and smile.
16. Leave a dollar and a note in a library book or waiting room magazine for the next person.
17. Pay a compliment to someone.
18. Offer a couple of hours of free babysitting to someone.
19. Be a designated driver.
20. Pick up litter and throw it away.
21. Adopt a pet from a shelter.
22. In bad weather, ask an elderly neighbor if you can pick up a few things for them while you are out.
23. Buy coffee for the person behind you.
24. Next time you see a homeless person, go pick up a meal through a drive-thru and circle back and drop it off to them.
25. Leave a little bag of chocolate and a note under a stranger's windshield wiper.
26. See if your local nursing home would like a visit from you and your dog to cheer up the residents.
27. Go a full day without saying anything negative.

Are you inspired?

Do at least one RAK this coming week.

See you here next Friday for our first link up!

Also, if you want to see last year's RAK Adventure,

I've added it to my label cloud at the bottom of my blog!

♥

The Random Acts of Kindness Adventure 2015

I saw this on Pinterest almost a year ago and saved it because

I laughed out loud when I saw it!  So cute.  

I'm not planning on having a giveaway, but I am planning

 to do my Random Acts of Kindness 2015!  I had less than 12 people

  participate last year, but that's ok.  I'm really doing it for myself and 

if anyone else wants to join in, that's great!  The more the merrier!

If you don't know what Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) are,

they are simple things you do for someone else just to

let them know that someone cares.  You spread a little sunshine!

They can be anonymous (my favorite) or done for someone openly.

They can be for people you know or complete strangers!

They can cost absolutely nothing or you can put a little monetary

value on it.  It's entirely up to you.

Last year the point was brought up about doing these things to

brag about ourselves, saying "Look how great I am!"  But really,

it isn't that at all.  The acts are so simple and from the heart and I

think sharing them is a fun way to inspire each other.

This world needs more love and there is nothing wrong with

encouraging each other to spread some around.

Not only that, it's just plain fun to do!

If you want to join in, mark four Fridays on your 

 calendar starting with the 13th.  We will post one RAK that we did

each week and link back here to my blog so we can all share

together.  We will post on Feb 13, 20, 27 and March 6th.

  

This Friday, I'll post a list of ideas for some inspiration!

I hope you'll join in!

♥

Random Acts of Kindness Adventure 2014 Week 4

Well, this was the last week of the adventure!

I hope many of you made time to spread some kindness

around you.  Notice I said 'made the time', as Lydia

reminded me last week.  We have time...it's whether or

not we choose to use it!  One of my acts was planned

and the other spontaneous.  Both equally fun to do!

1.  At the beginning of January I talked about having a word

of the year instead of resolutions and chose 'healthy' as my 

word.  Someone in my little village commented on my post

on Facebook and said "Draw me a picture of it for my kitchen".

I 'liked' the comment but didn't say any more yet I knew

exactly what I wanted to do!  I did have a drawing in my

file that would fit the healthy theme and would look cute

in a kitchen!  So today I pulled it out, ran it through

my copier and packaged it up to send to her.  It will

go in the mail tomorrow.  I hope not only will it remind her

to make healthy choices, but that I like her a lot, too! :)

2.  The other one was more spontaneous! 

Remember my 'not-so-secret admirer' at the auctions?

Well, he drives 65 miles to come to the auctions and doesn't 

have heat in his truck!  He's one of those millionaires many

times over but won't spend a cent on anything!

It was only 15 F degrees yesterday morning!

When he came in half frozen (literally!) I found him in the

crowd and gave him a package of Hot Hands.  I always

have a few in my auction bag in case we are outside

during the day.  He seemed genuinely touched at the

gesture.  I hope he survived going home. ha.

If you did any acts of kindness you'd like to share,

please link up your blog post below.  I know I'd love

to hear about them and be inspired by you, too!
Link up will be open until Friday the 28th, 9:00PM EST.

An InLinkz Link-up

And thanks to everyone who joined in this month!

I hope we'll continue to do things and share them even

though the adventure is officially over!

♥

Random Acts of Kindness Adventure Week 3

Ever since I saw the idea of giving an extra generous tip

to a waitress or waiter, I've wanted to do it!

There are those huge tips, $1-5K, that hit the news

that are always amazing to hear about.  I'm not able

to do something that huge, but I did like the idea of 

tipping the same amount as the bill!

Today I got to do that!

So much fun! 

 I was eating lunch out today because I invited

  my elderly neighbor lady to go with me.
I went to college with one of her sons

we've been neighbors for 26 years! 

 Her granddaughter and Taylor were friends in school.

She lost her husband last year due to Parkinson's Disease

after caring for him for a long 14 years!

I suppose asking her to lunch was a RAK, but she's done

RAKs for me over the years, too.  She used to invite

Taylor over to play when she babysat her granddaughter.

With three babies at home, that was much appreciated by me!

 Taylor knew if for some reason I wasn't home when

he got off the school bus, he could always run over to

Lydia's and stay there until I got home.

We had a nice lunch and chatted a couple of hours away

about our families, parents, kids and life's experiences.

We talked about random acts of kindnesses, too, because

she does read my blog! (Hi, Lydia! ha.)  She shared some very

sweet things that she's done lately.  But I wasn't surprised.

I've always known her to be a caring and giving person.

We stressed how important it is to make time.

Everyone is busy and uses it as an excuse for why

we cannot do things for others.  But it really comes down

to whether we want to make the time or not.

I'm glad we both made time to have lunch today!

And as far as the waiter... we still happened to be there

when he picked the bill from our table and he came

back to say thank you and that he would be passing

along the kindness to someone else!

So fun.

If you did a random act of kindness this week that you

want to share, please link up your post below so we

can read about it and be inspired, too!

The link will be open until tomorrow, 8:00PM EST.

An InLinkz Link-up

Some Random Acts of Kindness Inspiration

I saw this on the news today and thought it was the sweetest

thing!  This little boy with autism LOVES garbage trucks and

waits every Monday for the truck to come.  Inside, he lines

his stuffed animals in the window so they can watch, too!

He watches and waives to the garbage man each time.

His mom records the visits on her phone so he can

watch them again during the week!

Then one day, he gets a surprise!

Don't you love it?

The garbage man does the RAK!!

So sweet.

I'm inspired!

What will you do this week?

Come back Friday and share!

♥

Around Here, Lately....

We got covered in a layer of ice and strong winds Monday evening!

The power went out for a couple of hours,

but the internet connect never came back up.
Did you miss me? :) 
It had been quite a while since we had to light candles
and do without electricity!  The boys did relatively well,
and I was thankful it was nearly bedtime for them anyway.

A tech guy had to come out this morning to give us a 

new router box.  Turns out he went to school with

my nephew and I know his dad.  ha.  Small world.

 

I've been enjoying my coffee in this mug and nibbling

on Cardamom Snaps, thanks to a sweet package that was 

in the mail the other day.  Yes, I was the 'victim' of Martha's

random act of kindness for our adventure this month!

Have to say, it's really fun to be on the receiving end!

Thanks, Martha.  The cookies are delish!

Before the ice we had more beautiful snow!

Took this though the window as I sat at my desk and

watched the big flakes fall down.  Lovely!

There were cute and cuddly, grey and white

fur balls to snuggle with inside....

And not-so-cute and cuddly, grey and white 

fur balls outside!

Without the internet, I had more time to 

photograph my favorite crush, Mr. Cardinal!

He was flattered to get the extra attention. :)

 

And I baked Linda's lemon blueberry breakfast cake again.

This time I used blackberries.  yum!

Today is blue sky and 40F degrees.

Heat wave!

I have gingerbread in the oven as part of my

Winter Fun To Do List.

I cannot tell you how wonderful the house smells!

Please join me for the Random Acts of Kindness Adventure!

Be ready to link up on Friday right here!

♥