Seed Packets

Spring and summer bring flowers, gardens and open air farmers' markets in the city.  I love fresh produce and getting to talk to the individuals responsible for growing the food I plan to eat.  Since there are some things I can grow on my own kitchen counter, I thought someone else might also like to grow a fresh item to add to their summer meals.

I have a few packets of rosemary, thyme, parsley, etc.  I hope the finders either have a home garden or a friend to pass along these gifts to.

Kitten Page Clips

We had a few days last week that were a preview of spring weather.  How nice to leave my coat at home and see so many other people out walking, sitting in the park on a blanket or enjoying outside restaurant seating.  On a beautiful day it can be such a pleasure to have a leisurely afternoon reading a book or a magazine at an outdoor table watching people pass by.  I have a package of four magnetic page clips to mark a page in your favorite reading material.  I hope the finder can enjoy them soon on a spring day.

Wine Bottle Stopper

We all experience stressful days when there seems nothing better than coming home and pouring yourself a glass of wine and just taking in a deep breath.  It is in that moment that the day melts away.  I have a ladybug bottle stopper that I love for obvious reasons.  I thought someone else might also love a stopper that makes one smile more than the plain cork that comes with a bottle.

Heart Magnets

During the month of February heart decorations and love related gifts are everywhere as people celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Celebrating love and the relationships that are important in each of our lives is a wonderful ritual.  Love comes in so many forms…the love between…

• A parent and child
• Siblings – if you have a sibling the relationship will likely be the longest of your life
•  Best friends who share confidences and support each other through the joys and challenges of the journey of life
•  Boyfriends and girlfriends and husbands and wives
•  Grandparents and grandchildren

My favorite movie of all time is Love Actually because it is about the many different forms of love that are in the human experience.  It shows the positive and negative associated with the emotion.  Each and every one of us is loved and loves, and it is important to remember all the relationships that are important in our lives. 

My next gift is heart magnets for three different people to find.   I hope they tack them up on their refrigerators or on a bulletin board in their offices to remind them to appreciate the love in their lives and to be kind to others.  

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.