Parking Meter Quarters

As anyone who lives in or visits a city knows, parking can be difficult and keeping track of feeding the meter is an added challenge at times.  I normally park in a garage, but this week I grabbed a street space in order to run a few packages out of my place and into the car.  I dutifully put four quarters into the meter to buy myself an hour which was definitely a more than ample amount of time.  On my third trip down I found a $25 parking ticket on my windshield.  Quickly I realized that I had made an error and put my quarters into the wrong meter.  So while I had to write out a check to the city, the person behind me was spared because I unknowingly fed his meter!

This experience got me thinking about the simple kindness of feeding a meter for someone else and allowing them to spend the $25 they would have paid in a fine on something that will spread kindness and compassion forward.  As an example, I frequently volunteer at a charity that can feed an individual for one week with a $25 donation.  What an impact!

So, I have allocated $10 in quarters to paying meters for other people.  If I am walking down the street and see a meter flashing I will pop a quarter in and give the gift of 15 minutes in the hopes the recipient will in turn pay the kindness forward.

Christmas Tree Ornaments

This time of year I just love selecting and purchasing ornaments for the Christmas tree.  As a tradition I buy an ornament every year for everyone around my Thanksgiving table.  Rather than attaching the ornament to a Christmas gift, by giving the ornaments out at Thanksgiving, everyone has a chance to enjoy them on their tree for the season.  

Just this week I went out to buy ornaments for some of the children of dear friends in my life.  After I had selected a special ornament for J&T, G&D and J&E, I picked out two extra to be my next random acts of kindness.  I hope they bring a smile to the faces of the finders and spread the joy of the season!

Holiday Season Candles

The holiday season is filled with so many special gatherings and smells.  I personally love the smells of pine and holiday pies!  For my latest random act of kindness, I will be giving away three votive candles.  The scents are cinnamon & spice, apple berry spice, and vanilla icing.  I hope the three recipients enjoy the sweet smells and have a wonderful holiday season.

Minty Breath

I love to chew on gum and mints during the day.  My purse always has several packages of both along with mint flavored lip gloss.  That feeling of a fresh mouth after a morning coffee or a meal is refreshing!  I love the Altoids smalls in particular because they can be slipped into your mouth quickly before rushing into a meeting and quickly work their magic.

I picked up a couple tins of mints to be left for two separate recipients.  Hope they enjoy....have a great day....and pay the kindness forward with something as simple as a smile to a stranger.

 

Autumn Has Arrived

...and with it comes lots of school work!  As a part time graduate student I have been busy with papers and projects that have kept me from anonymous gifting and other activities I enjoy.  So before I get started on work today I am going to drop a couple gifts that remind me of doing school work.  First is a bookmark because I always need to keep my page marked to refer back to passages when writing a paper.  Second is a dog bone.  Even though I have a cat and not a dog I appreciate the company of a pet when up late working on a paper.  Hope the finders enjoy and pay a kindness forward!

Scratch Tickets

For the first time I am bringing someone else with me into the undercover world of random acts of kindness.  Since he needed a name too I have decided when he participates with me he will go by "Undercover Fox".

Since it was his first time participating I let him choose the gift - $2 scratch tickets.  After I put the tickets and notes together we set out to leave them for others as we went out about our morning activities.  Let's hope at least one recipient wins a few dollars!

  

Colorful Page Flags

So many of us spend countless hours per week in an office.  As a result small things that can brighten up an office space become very important!  There is a store near my home that has office supplies that are always catching my eye when I walk by the window displays!  Things that just make me smile and make the ordinary every day office tasks just a bit more enjoyable.  I thought someone else might enjoy some colorful page flags!

 

Mind Challenge Puzzle Book

I will be traveling for business soon which always makes me think about what books and magazines to bring along to keep me entertained through the airport waits and the flight time.  When I picked up some reading material at my local bookstore I also picked up a mind challenge puzzle book to leave for someone else.  This is perfect for a day at the beach or a flight across country!

Vending Machine Change

Who has not arrived at a vending machine and found it just will not accept your dollar or the soda you want is $1.25 and you are .25 short!  I certainly have been there many times!  So, I have prepared a few gifts for lucky recipients at a vending machine.  I have attached four quarters to the back of a note.  Hopefully the finders can enjoy a drink or snack on me!

Landings: Roses

Today I will give away a dozen roses one at a time.  The bouquet I bought contains four different color roses so I looked up the meaning of each color.

Yellow - Joy, friendship

Peach - Appreciation, gratitude

Pink - Happiness, admiration

Red - Love, respect

Hopefully each finder will either enjoy the rose or find someone else in their life to give it to thus spreading the kindness forward.

                                                                                                                                      

Ladybug Charm

This is my first post that does not involve a random act of kindness but I just had to share my excitement over my new necklace.  This ladybug charm to hang around my neck seemed made just for me!

Three years ago I was given a gift card to a jeweler that I just spent two days ago when I found this amazing charm.  Yeah!  Happiness!!

Landings: Keeping the Kindness Flowing

I am heading out of town for the weekend and thought I would prepare some Ladybug gifts to leave along the way.

If you have arrived to this blog for the first time, you should know it is dedicated to anonymous acts of kindness.  It is my hope that these simple small kindnesses with brighten the day of someone else and inspire them to to be kind to others.  If you have found a gift I would love for you to comment on a post.

For this weekend I have a few gifts.  First is another dog bone.  Pets are such comforts to so many people that who could not love a gift that is for a beloved dog!  Second, is a $5 Dunkin' Donuts gift card.  Since I will be driving late and likely stopping into a DD, I thought someone else might like a free cup from an anonymous stranger.

Third are some page clips for a book lover.  While I do have an electronic reader, there is nothing better than an actual paper book for a summer day.  

Fourth, is a Polly Pocket toy for a little girl.  This will be the hardest one to find an appropriate spot to leave for a finder!  

Fifth and finally I have another inspiring magnet that says "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!  Live the life you've imagined."  This might be found by someone at just the right moment to make a difference in their life.  

Landing: Sidewalk Fun

Summer is finally here after a rainy June and I imagine many children are telling their parents they are bored already.  My next random act of kindness is for a child.  It is a simple box of sidewalk chalk because the old simple toys are the best.

I sure hope the child that finds this treat enjoys it!

Landing: Several Gifts for a Beautiful Summer Day

It is an amazing day in my part of the world.  I woke up to a beautiful sunny day and the birds chirping and a call from my very best friend.  When life is hectic and busy and we get caught up in daily trials and tribulations a call from a true friend is a gift.  It seems the perfect day for some random acts of kindness.

I have four gifts in my bag for the day that I will leave along my travels.  My hope is that the recipients will smile and pay it forward with a kindness for someone else.

First, is a $5 Target gift card.

Second is an inspirational magnet.

Third is a bookmark.

And last but not least is another dog bone.

 

Landing: A Small Notebook

Anyone who knows me knows my love of small notebooks.  They are the perfect place to write down dreams, goals or simple to do lists.  If I was more artistic maybe I would even sketch.  I found a cute, small, lined notebook for someone.  I hope they can write down some dreams and continue to kay kindness forward.

 

Landing: A dog treat

I spent some time with a very dear friend on Friday night and he told me that he recently adopted a third dog from a shelter that rescues animals that have been abused.  He loves all of his animals and shows them kindness they might never have know had he not adopted them.  In honor of him, I thought my next anonymous kindness should benefit a pet.  I bought a few dog bones, attached a message and will be leaving them in areas I think dogs and their owners might find them.  Let's hope they make tails wag!

Landings: Starbucks Gift Card and Bookmark

I have given these gifts before, but I love them so why not give them again!  They are simple ways to make another person smile!  I hope the finders enjoy and pass on kindness to others.  Let's make the world a better place to live in!      

Landing - Inspiring Magnet

It is amazing the power a small quote can have.  I keep a paperweight on my desk with the quote "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"  This powerful message can make one think differently.

When in local stores I often see a display with magnets and cards with meaningful quotes.  I picked up two magnets the other day with the message "Peace begins with a smile."  One magnet will stay on my fridge and the other will be a gift.  I hope it inspires the finder to share with others the simple and free gift of a smile.

Landing - Recipe Cards

I have been working on improving my cooking skills lately.  Actually, I should not even say improving because that would suggest I had some to begin with!

I have picked up recipe books and magazines in the checkout line with appealing plates on the cover.  Slowly I am building a list of recipes I can cook and am enjoying the idea of finding a new recipe, shopping for the ingredients and challenging myself to make my version look like the picture.

I thought someone else might enjoy some recipe cards to make them smile and lift their spirits next time they are in the kitchen.

Landing: Note Cards

In a time of e-mails and text messages I still love the handwritten note.  Whether to tell a friend they are important, thank a parent for all they have done or simply to reach out to someone you have not spoken to in a while, a handwritten note says something about how much you care.  Over the years I have written countless notes and as I have been enjoying the spring weather I thought someone else might like to grab a chair, sit outside and write to an old friend.  I found a set of note cards, wrote a note, and am off to leave them for a lucky recipient.

Landing: Dunkin' Donuts Gift Card

Personally, I prefer Dunkin' Donuts coffee to all competition.  I have been to DD many times recently and decided to pick up two $5 gift cards to give away.  I created two identical gifts that I plan to leave for anonymous strangers soon!  

Landing: A Bookmark

I love to read so when I see bookmarks my initial reaction is to buy them.  I decided someone else might enjoy one too.  I wrote a note and attached it to a colorful bookmark.  Off to leave for a lucky finder!

Landing: Whimsical Page Flags

I found some whimsical page flags with interesting colors and designs that just made me smile so I bought them thinking they would make the perfect gift to make someone else smile!

So I attached the note and am off to figure out where to leave it for the unsuspecting recipient.  Hope the finder enjoys.

Landing : Sparkly Push Pins

As previously mentioned, I love sparkly things!  So, for my next "landing" I have sparkly push pins that will decorate someone's office or home bulletin board.  

I attached the below note and bow to the package.

Off to find the perfect place to leave this for the lucky recipient.

Landing : Starbucks Gift Card

Today I will be doing my first random act of kindness as the Undercover Ladybug.  I am super excited!!!  I have a colorful green tag with a note to the recipient and taped to the back is a $5 gift card.  Here are a couple photos.

Now off I go to drop it without being seen.  I will hopefully be able to grab another picture of where I leave it to post up later.  Yeah!  Enjoy and be kind!