Crocheting for a Cause (or two!)

Lately, I have been on a total crocheting kick.  I don't know why, but it seems to come in waves (usually when I have a specific event).  So, when I needed a gift idea, it just made sense.  The doctor that delivered my babies (the person I credit with giving me my children - LITERALLY, I would not have my children, if not for this man) is not only an incredible doctor, but he's also an amazing human being, who is extremely generous and kind.  I am always trying to think of ways to show my gratitude.  Every year, on his birthday, I show up at his office with some form of baked goods, and while he's always super appreciative, I'm certain I'm one of dozens of patients who do the same.  This year, I really wanted to do something special and meaningful, so in the spirit of putting others first, I tried to think of what is meaningful to him.  Among his many amazing qualities, he donates his time as a board member to multiple charities.  One of the charities is an organization called, "Jalen's Gift."  It is an organization that provides, among other things, care boxes to families that are dealing with infant mortality.  I decided to make two blankets, this year, to give to him for this great organization.  I actually forgot to take a picture of the blankets I made, but they were very similar to the ones I made for Project Linus this year.  See: 35 (Am I really that old?) Acts of Kindness.  Anyway, the blankets were a huge success, and I could tell that I really touched him with my gift.  He was extremely grateful, and he joked that he would have a hard time not keeping one for himself.  I told him I would be more than glad to make him his own, and I asked him what colors he would like.  He was really excited, and he told me to surprise him.  So, I took my girls to the store, the next day, and let them pick the colors (they're 5 & 2), and here is the end result...

Right now, I'm working on scarves to hand out to the homeless, with our bags of essential items.  See #9 on my 35 Acts of Kindness or #7 on my 34 Acts of Kindness.  I'll post pictures of those, when I have a few more done.

Back to School

It's that time of year again (okay, okay, so I'm a few weeks late on this one)...back to school.  This year, my oldest daughter started kindergarten (*sniff*  Where does the time go?).  Teachers work so hard and get so little appreciation that I wanted to send her with a small gift, to start the year off right, so I gave her teacher this box of supplies.

Usually, when I give a gift, I like to give something that I know the recipient will enjoy, but since I had only briefly met her teacher, it was very difficult to personalize her gift, but with a little paper, glue and creativity, I was able to give it just a little personal touch.

I used printable Scrabble letters, that I found online to spell out my daughter's name and her teacher's name, along with the words "Learn," "Teach," "Grow."  She loved it!

Kinnear's Kindness

I have been seriously lacking in my posting duties, but my husband and I were just discussing something that happened to us, a few years back, and I just had to share it.  Normally, I am not remotely interested in celebrities.  Frankly, I don't get the hype, but I do have a soft spot when I hear that one is genuinely kind.  So, when I experienced one of them being kind, first hand, I just about melted.  It all happened, a few years back, when my husband and I decided to take a trip to visit some family on the East Coast, for my daughter's first birthday.  We were lucky enough to get a direct flight, but we still arrived tired, and with a one year old in tow, we had a lot to carry (suitcases, snacks, diapers, carseat, etc.).  We made our way out to the car rental shuttle, and while we were waiting in line, I turned around and noticed a familiar face.  I mumbled, under my breath, that Greg Kinnear was standing behind us, but my husband couldn't hear me.  So, we got on the shuttle, and shortly after, Greg Kinnear got on too.  My husband was surprised to see him (as he didn't hear me), so he stuck out his hand and said, "Mr. Kinnear!"  Greg Kinnear shook his hand, but he was on the phone, so he didn't say anything.  He sat down next to us (we were on the bench at the back of the shuttle), and he sort of turned away from us.  I was a little annoyed and dismissed him as another self-absorbed celebrity, that is until he hung up the phone a few seconds later.  He began by apologizing profusely for having been on the phone, saying that it was his daughter's first day of kindergarten, and he had been talking to her about how it went.  He talked to us, the whole way to the rental car place, and when we arrived, without saying a word, he grabbed our biggest suitcase and carried it inside to the rental car counter!!  Did I mention it was POURING?!?  It was so genuinely nice that, to this day, I can't see his face without saying, "Awww," and thinking about that day.

Learn About Enviromental Issues & Earn Rewards

I have had a long time interest in issues connected to the environment. That is why I was super psyched when my blogging buddy pointed me int he direction of Recycle Bank . I have been on for a couple of weeks now, and have noticed that there is a wide variety of information, appropriate for a wide range of environmental interests.  And it is fun because you earn points and can redeem them for a wide variety of rewards. Since I am on a mission of kindness, I chose to redeem my first batch of points for a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation.  However, I look forward to choosing another reward for something personal and fun!

Posting Kindness

I found this poster online.  The creator encouraged those to print out their great work and share it, so I did!  I printed out a bunch and cut along the bottom words so that folks can tear off a little strip, if they so desire.  It has been kind of fun to find as many appropriate spots to put these up. I have mostly stuck to bathroom stalls and public bulletin boards.

Make Wishes

What to do with extra pennies in a day and age where they won't buy much?  Spread kindness!  I have to admit, I was kind of nervous about this one.  I made sure to find a fountain that already had pennies in the bottom, because I did not want to start a trend that would give the fountain caretakers extra work.  Also, I was not sure if using sidewalk chalk on public property would be considered a nuisance.  But I figured that one good rain would take it away, so the actual impact would wash away any wrong doing. 

Tab for a Cause

This is another free way to support a worthy organization.  It is along the lines of my  Goodsearch, post, but it is called Tab for a Cause

I think a lot about my privilege and know that I am very lucky to be in a financial position where I can do some of these acts of kindness. But I also think that financial situation should not dictate one's ability to be able to contribute to the greater-good, as it were. So this is one of those little things that can be integrated into daily life. I already use tabs when I am on the Internet. So why not have each one contribute something (however small) towards a positive cause?