Yes, I'm a slacker but I'm still trying my best! This weekend (5+6) I'm thankful for friends- old, new and somewhere in between.
Saturday I went to a baby shower for Baby H (Melinda and Matt's little one). Melinda is an old friend from childhood- actually she started out as one of my first ever enemies :) Some young girls (and sadly some adult women) feel like they can only have one best/close friend and Melinda and I had the same one. We were pretty competitive with each other until we finally started being friends somewhere around 6th grade and middle school. Anywho, she means a lot to me and I'm really excited for her upcoming mommyhood. It was great to spend time with her and my other friends from childhood (especially my oldest friend Katie). I'm so thankful to still have connection to these gals.
Also on Saturday, I spent time with new friends from work. I had fun at a Pampered Chef party at a coworker's house. Lots of sweet women and I enjoy getting to know new people. Work has really given me some of the best new friends ever and I'm really thankful.
And of course there is my soulmate Mel. Anytime I get to spend with Mel and Chris I am happy. Especially when football is involved. I still to this day cannot believe Mel and I grew up in the same town and never crossed official paths until we went to Auburn for graduate school. For that I am REALLY thankful.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Month of Thanks- An Eye Opening Experience
This year at work I have the honor of serving on the United Way Committee at work. I've always liked to think I possess a giving heart, but today I realized there is always something more that can be done.
Today, I'm thankful for two things in particular: the home I live in and our warm running water that allows me to shower.
As part of our United Way campaign at work we had a field trip Friday. Several of us were able to board a van and travel to a few sites in the bi-city area and see where all of our money goes. And let me tell you, it's going to MANY good causes.
We went to the Open Door Community House, Homeless Resource Network and the Child Advocacy Center. It wasn't like I was naive and didn't know these conditions existed (especially the last one because it deals with a similar subject to my personal volunteer work). I've been on mission trips before, I've volunteered locally, but I guess the saying "out of sight out of mind" is very true. Today was a wake up call though.
All of these places have amazing programs. One of the most amazing is the shower program. Open Door has a building that looks like maybe a double wide trailer? Not 100% sure, but its a place with a number of showers where the homeless can come take a shower. How many of us shower daily (yeah, I thought so)- some of us may even shower twice a day. What would you do if you had no water to bathe yourself on a regular basis?
A block away there is the Homeless Resource Network which had a lot of programs also. One program they showed us was their storage. During business hours, homeless can store their possessions in a secure room. Note: if you are local they can ALWAYS use backpacks, suitcases, etc. This is incredibly helpful for someone who is homeless who is trying to get a job. If they go to a job interview with all their possessions, it's pretty much a dead giveaway. Also, it helps give some security back to those who have lost everything.
And that is what I liked MOST about both of these organizations. They aren't just curing the symptoms, they are trying to remedy the causes. They don't just give handouts, they teach people to become self-sufficient, give them skills and tools for bettering themselves.
Today I became recharged; motivated and excited. I thought about the shower project and how they appreciate a shower, something we expect to do daily. I thought about my new hobby of couponing. I want to start thinking about those coupons I don't plan on using and seeing what could I use them for? Maybe I don't use Dove soap, but I sure bet the shower program could. I may not use Gain or ALL detergent, but they could. Each Sunday I want to make a conscious effort to look for supplies that may be low-cost to me, but high impact on someone else.
It's easy to brush off donating because we see one or two "bad examples" of mismanagement so we write off the whole process together. But, truly, these organizations are making a difference. We are all having a hard time in this economy, but there is always someone else who has it worse and could use a little lifting up. Someone mentioned today, that even if we don't have the money to give, we also have the gift of time. I want to make sure I'm using both to do what I can. All of the little efforts add up.
Today, I'm thankful for two things in particular: the home I live in and our warm running water that allows me to shower.
As part of our United Way campaign at work we had a field trip Friday. Several of us were able to board a van and travel to a few sites in the bi-city area and see where all of our money goes. And let me tell you, it's going to MANY good causes.
We went to the Open Door Community House, Homeless Resource Network and the Child Advocacy Center. It wasn't like I was naive and didn't know these conditions existed (especially the last one because it deals with a similar subject to my personal volunteer work). I've been on mission trips before, I've volunteered locally, but I guess the saying "out of sight out of mind" is very true. Today was a wake up call though.
All of these places have amazing programs. One of the most amazing is the shower program. Open Door has a building that looks like maybe a double wide trailer? Not 100% sure, but its a place with a number of showers where the homeless can come take a shower. How many of us shower daily (yeah, I thought so)- some of us may even shower twice a day. What would you do if you had no water to bathe yourself on a regular basis?
A block away there is the Homeless Resource Network which had a lot of programs also. One program they showed us was their storage. During business hours, homeless can store their possessions in a secure room. Note: if you are local they can ALWAYS use backpacks, suitcases, etc. This is incredibly helpful for someone who is homeless who is trying to get a job. If they go to a job interview with all their possessions, it's pretty much a dead giveaway. Also, it helps give some security back to those who have lost everything.
And that is what I liked MOST about both of these organizations. They aren't just curing the symptoms, they are trying to remedy the causes. They don't just give handouts, they teach people to become self-sufficient, give them skills and tools for bettering themselves.
Today I became recharged; motivated and excited. I thought about the shower project and how they appreciate a shower, something we expect to do daily. I thought about my new hobby of couponing. I want to start thinking about those coupons I don't plan on using and seeing what could I use them for? Maybe I don't use Dove soap, but I sure bet the shower program could. I may not use Gain or ALL detergent, but they could. Each Sunday I want to make a conscious effort to look for supplies that may be low-cost to me, but high impact on someone else.
It's easy to brush off donating because we see one or two "bad examples" of mismanagement so we write off the whole process together. But, truly, these organizations are making a difference. We are all having a hard time in this economy, but there is always someone else who has it worse and could use a little lifting up. Someone mentioned today, that even if we don't have the money to give, we also have the gift of time. I want to make sure I'm using both to do what I can. All of the little efforts add up.
Month of Thanks- Day 3, ah!
I missed Day 3 yesterday so I thought I would say that as my third post I'm thankful for sleep. Sleep is why I missed blogging yesterday. After we came home and went to dinner I came home and just cuddled up on the couch and snoozed. So I am thankful for not only sleep, but the warm place I call home that provides me a place to sleep.
Which leads me to a bigger post I want to write tonight about my visit to Open Door and Homeless Resource Network.
Which leads me to a bigger post I want to write tonight about my visit to Open Door and Homeless Resource Network.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Month of Thanks- Family
Probably the most important thing in my life- family. I've got great parents and a wonderful husband. It's kind of fitting that I write about them tonight. Today wasn't a "bad day," it was just an exhausting day. I called home and told Tim I wasn't feeling up to cooking anything because I just felt completely BLAH. He volunteered to make whatever. Now, he ended up buying half of dinner and cooking potatoes just a little shorter than they needed to be...but it didn't matter. What mattered is when I came home and he was in the kitchen I just really needed a hug and there he was- ready to give me the best and biggest hug. And that is just one of the MANY things I'm thankful for when it comes to family. They love you even when you feel pretty cruddy and run down.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Month of Thanks
Preface: Sarah inspired me to attempt this month-long blog series on what I'm thankful for. All credit is due to her and her facebook :)
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday of the year. Mostly because it's the fun and food of Christmas, without the stress of gift giving. You get to focus on just being with your family and the ones you love. Thanksgivings growing up were always so much fun. We'd go to my mother's mom's home and enjoy Christmas with my mom's side of the family. I remember the house she had before she and her husband Russell moved to the cooooountry. I remember running around the outside of the house, playing with our great-grandmothers magnet collection on the fridge, attempting gymnastics off the clothesline, swinging on the swing and the constant torment of my eating habits (a biscuit and chocolate cake).
As you can imagine when I saw Sarah's facebook status tonight:
"Posting something I'm thankful for every day of November. Today I'm thankful for the way God continually blesses my family. I'm thankful for this every day, but especially today!"
I got excited. What a great idea. I know we should take time to express our thanks everyday, but I thought it might be nice to take on the challenge. So here goes- the first thing I'm thankful for is Sarah's idea. :)
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday of the year. Mostly because it's the fun and food of Christmas, without the stress of gift giving. You get to focus on just being with your family and the ones you love. Thanksgivings growing up were always so much fun. We'd go to my mother's mom's home and enjoy Christmas with my mom's side of the family. I remember the house she had before she and her husband Russell moved to the cooooountry. I remember running around the outside of the house, playing with our great-grandmothers magnet collection on the fridge, attempting gymnastics off the clothesline, swinging on the swing and the constant torment of my eating habits (a biscuit and chocolate cake).
As you can imagine when I saw Sarah's facebook status tonight:
"Posting something I'm thankful for every day of November. Today I'm thankful for the way God continually blesses my family. I'm thankful for this every day, but especially today!"
I got excited. What a great idea. I know we should take time to express our thanks everyday, but I thought it might be nice to take on the challenge. So here goes- the first thing I'm thankful for is Sarah's idea. :)
Caturday Saturday: Post Halloween Costume Edition
Yeahhh so maybe its no where near Saturday, but I had to share these of Scooby dressed in a costume that fits her personality oh so well:
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| Your soul is mine...ok maybe just your toes. |
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| I hate your face :/ |
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The Art of Couponing Returns!
Thought I'd share the free deal I found from Southern Savers this week at Publix (you still have time to cash in on this).
Right now at Publix, both the Crest toothpaste and Oral B toothbrush are $2 each. If you are like me, and you are a frequent Publix shopper, you should have received the "Savings are Stocking Up at Publix" mailer. It looks like this:
Inside this booklet there were coupons for $1 off Crest toothpaste and $1 off Oral B manual toothbrushes. Remember, these are store Qs, so you can couple them with the sale + manufacturer's Qs to get the BEST deals.
Right now you can find manufacturer's Qs for both in variations of -.50, -.75 and -$1. Luckily, I had them in the $1 value.
So, $2 sale price, minus $1 store Q and $1 manufacturer's Q = FREE.
I got lucky and we have an extra mailer that came to the house (mom also spends lots of $$ in Publix) so I'll be getting more, but this time it'll be .25 cent for the toothpaste.
Either way, the toothpaste is getting donated, but I'll keep the toothbrushes :)
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| We're free at Publix! Crest toothpaste and Oral B toothbrush! |
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| Yay! Free money at Publix! |
Right now you can find manufacturer's Qs for both in variations of -.50, -.75 and -$1. Luckily, I had them in the $1 value.
So, $2 sale price, minus $1 store Q and $1 manufacturer's Q = FREE.
I got lucky and we have an extra mailer that came to the house (mom also spends lots of $$ in Publix) so I'll be getting more, but this time it'll be .25 cent for the toothpaste.
Either way, the toothpaste is getting donated, but I'll keep the toothbrushes :)
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