#25daysofgiving

#25daysofgiving 

I plan to celebrate the season by #payingitforward in some way each day through a gift: tangible or intangible. Who's going to join me? 


Please feel free to share your experiences in the comment section via username or anonymously: purposefully random gifting or receiving a random gift. Share on twitter or FB as well. Be the pebble that starts the ripple. 

#bethegood #leadbyexample #25daysofgiving #creatinggoodhabits

Update: 

#makingspiritsbright

The more cognizant I have been of #beingthegood and finding ways to make others feel special, the more opportunities I have seen! A HUGE thank you to the dozens of people who have given me suggestions. You guys have inspired me to give back for my birthday. #41randomactsofkindness

For those who are looking to join in, I'm listing several ideas below (most of these ideas are from creatively kind friends 😊): 

No-cost or Low-cost:

* Card or small treat for family member, co-worker, friend, public servant (mailman, policeman, fireman, nurse, teacher, 911 operator, etc...you get the picture), stranger

* Open a door for someone

* Give a compliment

* Take/send a treat to a hospital, nursing home, cancer center, soldiers, 911 center, fire/police dept

* Invite someone to dinner

* Let one (heck...let TWO) people out in traffic or in line

* Make a crockpot lunch for your coworkers

* Place coins in someone else's meter

* Pay-it-forward @ Starbucks or any other fast food drivethru

* Fill grocery store candy/toy dispensers with quarters

* Help neighbor with a chore

* Donate blood

* Call/email/tweet/FB a family member or friend telling them WHY they are important to you

*Donate books to a library, school, or 

senior center

* Pick up trash on your road. Be careful!

* Grab some friends & go caroling

* Volunteer somewhere (a local community theater, nursing home, school, animal shelter, homeless shelter)

There are dozens more, some costing more than others. My hope is that this inspires you. Now, don't be bashful. Get out there & #bethegood. I promise, you'll love it! ❤️

Time Flies

As I sat at my 5th grader's graduation today, I was reminded of how fast time flies. I remember his little diapered bottom and bare feet running down the nearly empty halls of the elementary school where I taught. I could almost hear the custodians chuckle because he's found his way into the bathroom (where, admittedly, the acoustics are phenomenal) and he's belting out "Little Green Frog".

I watched him walk in the assembly with his classmates- tall, quiet. All those memories, flooding back, are of a much younger, louder, rowdy child. Those days are gone, he has embraced his role as a 'tween-ager, acknowledging us in a cool, aloof manner (in public). My baby is growing up.

Happy, merry graduation, young man. You have made me proud this year. You have stood up for your rights, defended your position, and handled yourself with grace when presented with some difficult situations. It is my hope that you also gleaned some important knowledge about people, reactions, and interactions.

I hope as you mature, you'll remember these few pieces of advice:

• Everybody has a story that shapes their perception of the world. Be mindful of not only your own.
• Stand up for what you believe.
• Remember to temper your words with respect. 
• A filter can make all the difference. 
• Did I mention: A filter can make ALL the difference. ;)

I speak from experience.

I love you.
xoxo

Mom

Warrior Dash and Butterflies: What do they have in common?

warriordash.com

Well, I got myself into this...Connor saw the commercial on FB for the Warrior Dash a few years ago. He looked it up and noticed that he had to be 14 to sign up for the race. Well, guess what? He's 14 now.

I have no fear of running the 5K portion of the race. I'm not even worried about the mud. I like mud...as long as I'm not eating it, but I'm having extreme anxiety about completing all the challenges on the course.


I have thought of a dozen reasons why I shouldn't run:
12. My children were sick this week. Suppose my immune system has been compromised. Do I really want to subject all those runners to illness?
11. I don't have any old tennis shoes, and I don't want my new ones muddy.
10. I might break a bone. I'm awfully good at breaking bones....
9. I don't have any of that awesome blue wode that a real warrior would use to look fierce.
8. I'll have to get up early to drive the 1.75 hours to get to the race.
7. I'll be extremely tired after driving 1.75 hours to get to the race.
6. I've never run a 5K before...Oh, wait...I have, nevermind...moving on...
5. I don't know how to fix my hair like a warrior AND I need to have my hair colored. I know I read there would be pictures taken.
4. It might be hot.
3. I don't know what the obstacles look like. I'm not a big fan of the unknown....What if there are zombies?
2. I forgot to take a vitamin two days ago?
...BUT the REAL reason that I'm nervous about this race...
1. What if I can't do it? What if I embarrass my son?

After I finally got to the root of my worry...I thought about the many, many times I have embarrassed him, and the opportunities will continue to present themselves, right?!?

So, out the door: hair braided, shoes laced, towels and extra clothes packed. I'm ready to get my warrior on. Thanks for the push, C...You don't even know how much you inspire your mama!

RIP, Mr. Sendak.

RIP, Mr. Sendak. 

You have inspired countless roaring of terrible roars, gnashing of terrible teeth, rolling of terrible eyes, and showing of terrible claws. You have indeed mesmerized us with your magic trick of telling stories, and I, along with thousands of Wild Things, treasure your memory. As Max would say, 'Be still.' xoxo



Click on link to see Sendak Slideshow - published by and linked from NY Times

As far as freebies go....

Okay, y'all....
I'm thinking of jumping into a craft show soon with my soon-to-be-open Little Sugar Boutique. (I know I keep rolling back the opening, but life keeps getting in the way. I promise I'm making progress and it won't be long.)

One of the stipulations in the vendor application is that a freebie should be given away at one's booth.
Two things:
1. I <3 freebies.
2. I have quirky tastes so I'm asking in all sincerity for some honest opinions.

Here's where I could use your help. :) Would you rather get a cute little button magnet as a freebie? a little hair tie? or a bottle cap magnet?

I'm open to suggestions too. Remember, I'm a 'newb' as Connor would say. lol!


Thanks!

Team Ashley: Auction Benefiting Ashley

Earlier this week, I mentioned a blog that I follow religiously- Lil Blue Boo. The author is a mom, a wife, an amazingly creative DIYer, and a business owner of a handmade clothing line- Lil Blue Boo. Ashley is in the midst of a fight against a nasty cancer (Choriocarcinoma) caused by a molar pregnancy. This discovery came after the heartbreak of her dad's untimely death and a subsequent miscarriage. While looking through her dad's things, Ashley found a slip of paper that read "choose joy." This is exactly what Ashley has done, and she encourages her friends and acquaintences to do the same.

Ashley has been through a great deal in the last few months: loss of her father, miscarriage, heartache, discovery of cancer, surgery in which she began hemorrhaging and had to have a hysterectomy, and the realization that this cancer is chemo-resistant. Through all of this, Ashley continues to 'Choose Joy'. She  starts a new round of über-aggressive chemo tomorrow and is researching alternate treatments.  My heart goes out to her as I'm certain this must be a financial strain. Friends of Ashley have formed Team Ashley. :) On February 27-29 Team Ashley will host an auction benefiting Ashley & her family. I'll post more info as it becomes available. 
*See the button posted to the side. :) It links to a PayPal account for Ashley as well. Any donation big or small will help.




***From evystree.com - Interested in donating an item to the auction? Please contact, Wendy, Team Ashley’s head of donations: rickandwendy639@sbcglobal.net. This auction has been approved by Ashley Hackshaw, Lisa Walker and the rest of the Lil Blue Boo team and is the official donation/auction deemed to raise funds for the Hackshaw family. 


As always, choosing joy...


Peace,
Ginger

via feministdisney.tumblr.com

I read this first thing this morning (of course I was perusing Pinterest...shamelessly.) What a great thought! We see so many idealistic images portrayed by the popular media that it is nice to be reminded that beauty should have a very individual definition. 

As I think about my own definition of beauty, I know that health and happiness go a long way. It's not about what color my hair is, how many tattoos I sport...it's how I feel. When I feel good about me and seek to see the beauty in everything and everyONE, that's when I exude beauty, confidence, sexiness...Watch out!

I look forward to reading a Little Blue Boo's Ashley's blog each day. She's an inspiring, amazing, beautiful woman fighting cancer. Ashley finds beauty in everyday life, defines her own sense of it...LOVE her! In fact, I must share a link to her latest rite of passage - shaving her head.

LBB Right of Passage Video

What's your definition of beauty? Share it. I'd love to hear it....Now go out there and BE BEAUTIFUL! BE CONFIDENT! BE SEXY! :)