#26Acts

As I mentioned in my last post, following the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut there has been a movement involving people committing 26 random acts of kindness.  These acts are in memory of the 20 students and 6 educators murdered at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

This idea of committing random acts of kindness and spreading happiness is obviously one that is near and dear to my heart.  It also seems to be such an appropriate way to combat the evil in the world.....with kindness.  Imagine kindness being the lead story on the news!

Most people involved in the #26Acts movement are posting their acts and photos to Twitter.  The ideas are outstanding....paying for the person behind them in line at a coffee shop drive-thru, leaving money on a gas pump, baking treats for a teacher, visiting a nursing home, etc.

Even though I have been doing my random acts for some time I cannot resist participating in this movement and being a part of this wave of kindness.  So, my next acts will be #26Acts.  I am not quite sure what they all will be yet but it will be fun to think up 26 ideas in a short amount of time and do one in honor of each victim.

May all the finders pay it forward with kindness toward others and maybe at least a few will join me and continue on after #26!  

Holiday Ornaments

Last week my best friend of twenty years lost her mother.  She was a woman who delighted in the holidays with family and friends and until the end was talking about baking her Christmas cookies.  I am so glad she got to enjoy the time she had with her children and grandchildren and that I got to talk with her at many gatherings about simple things like great books to read.   

Just two days later there was the news of the tragic shooting in Connecticut that took the lives of 20 children and 6 educators and left behind so many shattered families.  Since that tragedy there has been a movement that was started by a news reporter for people to do 26 random acts of kindness as a way to combat the evil in the world with goodness.

It warms my heart to think of more people going out and being kind to strangers.  My next gifts are Christmas tree ornaments.  I have a whole bunch and hope the finders spirits are lifted and inspired to pay it forward.   

Kleenex Packets

Sometimes I just don't know where the time goes!  It has been weeks since my last post and I have been gathering up so many small gifts as I have been traveling around.  Finally I have found some time today to pull together a few items.  I have so missed leaving any gifts lately as I find being able to do so just brightens my spirit all day!

Over the past month I have been on six plane flights.  Anytime I fly I try to take precautions to avoid  the cold bugs going around this time of year.  One staple in my carry-on is a pack of tissues.  Lately I have noticed more and more fancy and decorated tissue boxes and packets.  I picked up a few packages for myself and three to give away.

Hope the finders avoid a cold but catch the spirit of being kind to others!

The Season of Gatherings

Recently I have been taking cooking and baking classes.  Each class has been just one session for four hours, and I have picked up some new skills and ideas for things I can make and take to upcoming holiday gatherings.  This interest in cooking has been building over the last couple years (I believe I have written about it in the past on this blog).  I now have a solid base of skills to build on as I learn more and more recipes and experiment with the ingredients I find in my refrigerator on any given day.

There are a couple guys close to me who are very talented cooks and constantly are giving me suggestions and recipes.  In my cookbook cabinet I now have a stack of printed e-mails with their ideas and tips.

Since sharing a meal with friends and loved ones is such a great joy in life and being able to pass down and around special recipes is a part of that experience, I thought others might enjoy some recipe cards.

I hope the finders put them to good use and either write down their own recipes to give as gifts to loved ones (I believe a handwritten recipe is a gift just like a handwritten note) or ask others to write down recipes to be given back to them.  Years ago an elderly family friend died and at her wake her daughters had printed small recipe books with her favorite recipes (she was a great cook) for anyone interested to take.  I still have that book, have used it, and think of her each and every time.  What a great way to remember a person!

P.S. - A big thank you to the finders in Florida and Maine this week who commented on the blog.  Sometimes I wonder if the gifts are found and enjoyed.  It means the world to me to hear from a finder that the gift has made it into appreciative hands who will pass the kindness on!

  

Halloween Holiday Goodies

I was in the store yesterday (October 20th) and saw the Christmas holiday decorations all around.  Thankfully I picked up any Halloween decorations I needed a while back!  I have a black cat that I adopted on Halloween two years ago so in a way this holiday fits me, and I like to put out pumpkins and decorations at home.  Of course I also wear the same costume each year when passing out candy....a ladybug of course! 

I picked up a few gifts for others including some decorative kitchen handtowels and some Halloween pencils.  I hope the finders enjoy!

Fresh Flowers in the Fall

A few years ago someone gave me a kit to grow grass in a small pot on my desk.  It sat in my drawer for almost a year before I planted it and grew a fresh pot of green grass on my desk in the middle of winter.  It was the type of grass you want to take your flip-flops off and run through in the summer.  It made me smile just to see it!

I was shopping this weekend and I saw similar kits to grow forget-me-not flowers.  I could not resist!  I picked up four.  I will keep one for myself and will leave three for anonymous finders!

Pencils

A few weeks ago I was at a small town parade and one float was passing out pencils.  Nothing fancy...just simple pencils that need to be sharpened and had pictures of balloons all over them.  It was such a small gift but I was really pleased and sharpened and began using my pencil within a day or two.  This pencil also reminded me of how exciting it was when I was a child and my mother would put small gifts into my school lunch such as pencils, stickers, erasers, etc. 

This week I noticed all the back to school sales and picked up a package of pencils.  Each will get a note for the finder and hopefully they will bring smiles whether they are added to a child's lunchbox, used with a sketch pad or simply to make grocery lists in the kitchen.