Family Fun (City Cleanup)

  A couple of weeks ago.  I gathered up those kids of mine and we spent a day out on the town!

  We grabbed some supplies.

               

Hit the streets with bags and got to cleaning!

It was an all hands on deck to make a difference!

Thankfully we didn't come across anything nasty or dangerous!  No alcohol for minors! I took care of this one! 

I didn't hear any complaints.  One child carried the bag without the need of trading it off.  All the kids worked good together, pointing out missed pieces of liter, fighting over grabbing a piece but it was a nice day.

We even walked 3 miles while we were on the cleanup hunt but they found time to pose with Mr. Peanut! After all it was volunteer it wasn't all work and no play!

I enjoy finding volunteer opportunities that allow the family to get involved.  This city clean up was arranged by the SuffolkPublicLibrary.

I hope you had a great and productive week with your family.  

Random Acts of Kindness (Volunteering)

  Working without pay is to volunteer.
Volunteer is one who gives up there time willingly to  do something.  I try to volunteer when I can and when I can take my kids I try to include them as well.

  One evening I took my daughter to assist with Compassion alongside me.  Compassion is an organization that allows you to sponsor a child in another country.  Supporting them through various parts of their life.  Donations could be for food, medical, school and more.

  We helped with The Compassion Experience.  This event is a mobile experience traveling around the world.  At these events you get the opportunity to walk into Uganda or Philippines.  You get a glimpse of poverty.  Hear through a named child's voice their daily life of how they started out and how things have gotten better due to Compassion and sponsors.

  My daughter walked through one experience but there are 3 available.  After that we were ready to work our 4 hour shift!  Our job was to pass out devices (used to listen to the experiences) clean them and retrieve them for new visitors.

  The work wasn't hard but it was helpful.  When you volunteer you allow other things to get done.  The staff, company/organization can work on more important things, they can hire less people resulting in more money used for the specific cause, it also just allows people to help and do good.

  My daughter enjoyed herself.  Understands what we were there to do and the impact we made by being there.

  This year I plan on getting my family out to volunteer in more areas, with more organizations. Helping with causes close to us and places where we are needed.

  If you would like to see the Compassion Experience checkout their website here
to see the upcoming locations.  You are also able to sponsor a child well as sign up for volunteer opportunities.

Random Acts of Kindness (sewing)

  Random Act of kindness means what to you?  Today at the library the event was for kids by kids.  My local library offers many events as I have mentioned before.  Well their latest one was to sew crayon pouches for kids.

  My kids know about volunteering and helping others but have never given physically from themselves.  Today they got that chance.

Today they sewed crayon pouches and left them there to be given away to other kids at a shelter or hospital.  The final destination was not determined yet.

  The kids are learning to sew!  They are getting better the more familiar they are getting with the concept.

The project started with a piece of red felt.  It was already pre-measured for us to use.

Tracing the heart was easy with an extra hand.

Cut out the heart for the front of the pouch. Yes, the pouch has a decoration!

Young eyes have just as much trouble threading a needle as older people.

So proud that my son likes to sew.  I don't see very well but he wants to take the class and does pretty well.

The finished project! 

The crayons slide right in and stay secure with the help of Velcro.

My kids had fun making these for unknown kids! I'm proud that they never questioned it once.  They didn't ask to make one for themselves either.  They seemed genuinely happy to make something and give it away.

Motivation Monday

  A little motivation for your week is a Monday off!

    We didn't get to a service day event but, if you did I would love to hear about it.

  Each year I set goals to volunteer.  I bring my family.  I go by myself too but, all that matters is that it gets done.

  Do you volunteer?  Alone with family a group or even your church?

  I have volunteered with organization's and for organizations and plan to continue that this year.

  I will volunteer or donate to local organizations with my family, with the kids and by myself.

Areas I plan on volunteering with in my local area are:
1. Red Cross
2. Ronald McDonald House
3. Edmarc
4. ASPCA
5. Roc Solid
6. Foodbank
7. Meals on Wheels
8. Salvation Army
9. Soup kitchen
10. Military


  Volunteering doesn't always include monetary contributions.  It also includes donations. 

 You can donate clothes, books and household items.

  You can collect hats, scarves, socks and coats!

  Assembling boxes for the military or operation shoebox.

  However don't limit yourself to staying inside the box.  Random acts of kindness are just as good.  Paying for someones coffee!  Cookies to your fire department! Or even cards to nursing home residents!

  My goal in the area of volunteering is to do something every month.

2018 Goals

  Yes, there are two types of people. Those that make resolutions and start fresh at the start of a New Year and those that don't make resolutions but still start a New Year with the rest of us.

  I have made several lists of what I want to complete or consider completing this year.  Consider completing gives me that open window of no stress but want to complete but may not make it.

  In 2018 I resolve to be more organized, to follow an order or plan, to be more precise and follow through what I start. 

  I have broken goals down in several areas because I like a challenge and each area will help me grow. 

Blogger goals: to include more collaborations, engagement hopefully attend an expo and personally meet a few bloggers to name a few.

Family goals:  to volunteer together more, roadtrips, play more games, more intentional play and interaction.

Fitness goals: continue exercising, try different classes, hydrate regularly.

Me goals:  reading, learn hairstyles for my daughter and continue with group interactions

  I haven't figured out my strong words yet but had some last year and I like reflecting on them throughout the year so I will work on narrowing that down.

  The first week is almost over.  Have you figured out your resolution or yearly goals? 
 

2017 recap

  I can't say that I have never had a year I wanted to hold onto and this was definitely not one either.

  I started 2017 out with some bad health news in my family and then problems just continued after that.  You know that saying, "When it rains it pours."  I don't want to over exaggerate my problems because there is worse out there but, I did have doubts of how much I could tolerate at one time.

  Thankfully some issues have resolved themselves and others I'm carrying with me into 2018 sadly.  I have nonetheless also accomplished some goals and had proud moments.

  In 2018 I crossed off 2 bucket list items!
Stand up Paddle Boarding and Zip line in addition to hanging out in a tree obstacle course!  Of course what I didn't get around to doing just gets rolled over and hopefully some will get crossed off again this year.

  I read a total of 40 books and went to the movies at least 16 times.

  I shared firsts with my kids like a hockey game, a carriage ride and laid wreaths.

  I had more collaborations both paid and with complimentary products compared to my previous year (this was my 2nd year blogging).  I even was selected for the Chick Fil A moms panel!

  Kudos to me for even donating blood for the first time!

I also tried aerial yoga and that wasn't even on my list! Bonus!

  So I can sit back and smile with satisfaction of my success as a blogger.  I can't wait to see how I grow in this new year.  I have a few blogging goals I would like to accomplish so amongst everything else like my bucket list and resolutions. I'll be working towards those too.

  Happy New Year everyone and I wish much success on everyone. 

Helping Hands with Edmarc

  Helping hands will be a look at how we are helping our community.  At the beginning of the year I had expressed one of my 2017 goals was to volunteer more.  Volunteering can be done by anyone and everyone.  It doesn't just involve financial support, you can donate items, assist in tasks, read books or even take a walk and visit.  You can volunteer for animals or with people, a charity or an organization with a cause.

    Today I want to share with who we helped, what we did and how we helped.

  Edmarc is a children's hospice organization.  A few years ago my older girls and I had volunteered with this group helping out during a fall festival.  We had a great time seeing all the costumes and smiles.  So when I decided to volunteer this year Edmarc was on my list to help in some way.

  Edmarc helps childen and their parents cope.  They provide support, home care and smiles.  Edmarc offers various programs for the children and their families throughout the year as well as fundraisers.  These special events offer a happy outlet and a way to celebrate the holidays that may be overlooked due to medical concerns.  It's a time and a place for the kids and their parents to unwind and relax for that moment in time.

  Shopping this weekend brought me to my donation for Edmarc.  What do kids like?  Toys, games and rides.  They like to smile, laugh and have fun.  When they are sick none of these things happen or they happen less frequently.  I choose to donate toys.  A bear or a doll to snuggle with.  Something to squeeze when they are lonely, sad or in pain.

  I recently ran across a great deal at Kohls.  The toys without the books for their Kohls Cares program were on clearance.  They were marked down from $5.00 to $1.50.

 Madeline, Curdoroy and Paddington were all there to choose from.  They made me smile so I know they would make the little people smile. I bought some and dropped them off at Edmarc for the kids!

  You are more then welcome to join with me this month and support Edmarc or a organization near you.  If not find a small way, a convenient way (for you) to make a difference.

Day 15 with Elf part 2 Be Kind

  We the children had fun if I do say so myself.   The elf not only taught them two new words but also encouraged them to be kind to each other and others.  My youngest daughter would even randomly say be kind throughout her day as if she liked the sound of it, or maybe it was a great concept.  She would remind her brother to act on it as well.

  For our be kind movement we choose different areas to act on, explore and learn from.  There should be a who, what, why in everything and end in observing how the recipient felt as well as yourself.  If you feel good you will continue (hopefully).

  We chose for our be kind mission:

1.  The firestation.  The mission bring cookies. To make them happy and know they are thought of.

2.  Toys for tots event.  The mission to donate a toy for a child to have something on Christmas.  To make a child happy with a toy.

3.  Help an animal shelter.  The mission to provide a donation to the shelter.  To provide something of use or fun to the animals.

4.  Nature.  To provide substance to the birds.  Even though the ground is not covered over providing them some food will hopefully entice them to visit us more and make them happy.

  It took us all day but it was a nice day even if busy.  We started out by making cookies.

Of course while I was in the other room the kids needed supervision so Elf was happy to help.  He was pretty strict.  Not a finger went in the bowl, muscles were however made during this stirring session .

Chocolate had to be retrieved for one batch of cookies and Elf knows about kids and chocolate so he watched very closely.  (Hint: if you bribe with chocolate nothing will get eaten)

Finished product

delivered safely.

Next stop was our toy donation. We had trouble locating a box.  I guess they were all picked up but after I sent a Facebook message I was pointed to 1 location and we headed there to drop off our toy.

The kids choose a toy yesterday for this event and it was neat to have the dialog with them.  She never once questioned why.  She picked out a gift and was happy to make another child happy.

Last stop on our day was to give some donations to the animal shelter.  There are a lot in the area but I choose one that I have gone to several times.  I looked online to see what they were looking for.  We selected peanut butter dog treats and a couple shoe boxes for the cats.

We ended our day with making bird seed ornaments.  They do need to dry so hopefully they will be ready to hang up tomorrow.

Elf antics Day 14

  The elf has been very quiet today.  No antics or displays were put on.  Instead he sat at the kids table with 2 words.

Be Kind

  His goal today was to stir up excitement and intrigue.  What does do kind mean?  How can I be kind?  How do I show it?  Have I been kind before?  Has someone been kind to me?

  We discussed the many areas we could be kind.  Whom we could be kind to and how to perform actions of being kind.

  Today we have spent time preparing to do acts of kindness tomorrow!  We may even bring elf with us to see us in action.  This topic even stirred up future ideas.  I am so excited to share them with you in my goals of 2016!

  For now I will leave you with one thought be kind.