Americans voted to elect the next president of the United States, among other local positions of government, last week. And regardless of one's political leanings, one thing I hope we can all agree on is the feel of gratitude for the poll workers giving their time to ensure accurate election results.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Week 20: Election Eats
Americans voted to elect the next president of the United States, among other local positions of government, last week. And regardless of one's political leanings, one thing I hope we can all agree on is the feel of gratitude for the poll workers giving their time to ensure accurate election results.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Week 19: Moving My Bestie On Up
Moving is one of life's biggest stressors. I know this firsthand; I have personally moved 2.5 times in the past 4 years and I've moved my daughter into a dorm and my son in and out of a dorm and in and out of his first apartment in that same period of time. All with minimal assistance.
Soooooo, when my best friend told me her move date, I adjusted my work schedule and some little things to make myself available to help.
The move was a smooth one: she did such a great job getting everything clearly boxed up and her oldest daughter packed the truck with impressive strategic ability while her boyfriend and I did some heavy lifting.Then we drove, following each other's cars like ducks in a row, across three towns, to the new digs.
After we finished getting the truck unloaded, my friend gave us a tour. Almost immediately we all vowed to make the most of the pool, hot tub, golf simulator, and more. And then we toasted with some whiskey before starting the unpacking and organizing.
It was fun configuring her couch and living room layout with her daughter, making the most of the kitchen storage for her large collection of baking supplies, running to the store for new dog dishes while she returned the moving truck and picked up her boy to bring him home, and ending the night with pizza from a place in her new town.No one loves moving, but as with everything, doing it with friends makes it, dare I say, fun?
Do you have someone in your life you could lend some time to? I'm sure they'd appreciate the help, and most definitely the company.
Many hands make light work.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Week 18: Street Corner Care Packages
I just walked in the house from completing week 20's activity and realized I hadn't yet posted week 18. Life has been busy, I have been busy, and I guess if I'm going to drop the ball on this project of mine a time or two I'm glad it's in the writing about the acts of kindness and not the doing of them. But still, I'm vowing here and now to do better.
OK, onto week 18, when I assembled care packages to keep in my car and hand out when I see someone in need.
I almost always have a few of these in my car, the contents change depending on the season. Two weeks ago (oopsie 😅) I put together packs for winter that include the following:- Winter hat
- Winter gloves
- Wool socks
- Kleenix
- Lip balm
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush and case
- Cookies
- Peanut butter and cheese crackers
- Mints and fruity hard candy
Friday, October 25, 2024
Week 17: Concession Stad Concierge
Last week's Kindness Countdown was five years in the making: I volunteered to work the concession stand at The Rivoli, the restored single-screen movie theater in my town of Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
Friday, October 18, 2024
Week 16: Meet Remarkable Mable
I started Kindness Countdown 10 years ago to do some good with my kids. I did another round five years later because 1) It was a lot of fun, and 2) I knew it was the last round before my kids started moving onto all life has in store for them post-high school.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Week 15: A Labor of Lasagna Love
My life philosophy is to remain curious, all the time. I wonder about everything, I spend time researching randomness, I keep my head and heart open to new things/places/challenges/ideas, I think quite a bit about my life, what my childhood was like to make me who I am, how I can improve myself and the world around me.
All of that has led me to know I am far from perfect. Ha! But I do know that when I'm presented with a way to help others, I figure out a way to say yes. Which leads me to last week's Kindness Countdown activity.
One day, a few months ago, I was scrolling through social media when the ever-present, powerful algorithm (is it in the cloud? 😅) introduced me to Lasagna Love. It was ❤ at first sight in my feed.
Lasagna Love is an organization located in three countries with over 56,000 volunteers who provide 3,500 lasagna meals a week to those who request them. No questions asked, except for those I routinely follow-up with:
- What date and time would be best of your delivery?
- Any specific requests/preferences? (A woman once told me her and her son loved onions so I sauteed extra, just shy of caramelized, to add with the sauce layer)
- Would you like one full pan or two half pans?
- Would you prefer I deliver the lasagna cooked or assembled with cooking instructions?
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Week 14: Like Giving Candy to a Baby
Last week Saturday, as usual, my daughter was a trooper and ran errands with me. My kids were homeschooled until high school/7th grade (for my youngest; the trooper previously referenced) and have run errands with me their whole lives. But I've been witness to a handful of meltdowns over the years by kids (and their parents) attempting to make returns or grocery shop on weekends. Last week, we aimed to help.Before Hazel and I pulled out of our driveway to pick up items we needed, make some returns, and search for the perfect picture frame for our gallery wall (more details on that to come soon on my Instagram - @gilded.living - since they turned out so good!)we decided to empty out our parking meter quarter reserves (about $15 worth) and put them to good use.
As we made our rounds through town that day, we filled every gumball/toy machine we happened across. And it's not often I get to witness these little acts of kindness in person, but I did last Saturday.
Hazel and I had just finished filling the machines above and were about to take the cover photo for social media when a little girl and her parents came out of the store, the mom saying, "Did you decide what you want to get?"
The little girl went straight to the top-left machine; the mom picked up the quarters from her hand and hovered over the machine when she saw some already in place. She looked at me questioningly and I said, "You can use those; I just filled up all of the machines to give them away."She touched her heart and said, "That's so sweet, what a great idea. Here's I'll pay it forward," and replaced my quarters with hers after her daughter secured her prize. And then, here's the best part:
The girl then looked at her mom and asked, "Can I do the rest of them?" 😂
Her mom said no, explaining that they'd make some other kids happy to see them there. But gosh, my daughter and I sure loved the girl boss on display! Between her queen energy and thoughtful parents, that girl is going places!