Thursday Thoughts - my thoughts runneth over

1. I kicked ass on Cyber Monday: 70% off at Snapfish plus good deals at Kohl's, Ulta, and Alex & Ani among others. I even got a few Christmas gifts for 50% off. Between the offerings, the free shipping, and the ebates cash back I earned, I made out. And my Christmas shopping is finished. As you might know, I'm a one for you, one for me type of shopper. I do wrap up my gifts and put them under the tree from Santa. Some of them at least. LOL

Old lady shoes, laughing Buddha charm, and a dish towel that makes me laugh

2. If you want to see a comedy of errors, be in my vet's office when I have to take more than one dog in at a time. Monday night's visit was punctuated by Gus's persistent The King is here! Look at me! Worship ME! bark and concluded with me getting wrapped up in leashes and falling out of the door. The dogs paid me no mind as I lay on the wet ground laughing like a hyena at myself. Gus was only interested in what Gus wanted to do, which was get the rock out of there, and Geege was only interested in sniffing Gus's butthole. Thanks, dogs, for your concern.

3. I had lunch at the Corner Bakery and talked lipstick with my BFF Jenn on Tuesday. I love being a lady who lunches. 

4. Tuesdays with Lola, the prettiest baby niece in the whole world. 

5. I'm always all fa fa fa Essie is the best but I have to say, this is pretty awesome for old Sally girl. In person it's a little more purple-ish. It went on great and is a good option for a new standard neutral.

6. This week in FWP: at the shore we have regular coffee pots, the $30-$40 Mr. Coffee jobbys. This week MFD and I admitted to each other that we miss brewing that type of coffee. I like the conveniece of the Keurig, but I don't think the coffee is as strong, and I like hearing the pot dripping and sizzling and percolating. So the Keurig is going to work with MFD and a Mr. Coffee is coming back to our house and basically for free because I will be returning a cardigan so it's a wash. Boom(ish).

7. This week in RWP: I can't believe we're a country of such immense wealth and we have people living on the streets. I can't believe this all the time, but when it gets cold and when it rains and when it's the holidays it just really eats at me to walk past homeless people in this city every day. I buy a coffee or a bagel, I bring some socks to pass out - it doesn't feel like enough. It hurts my heart. My home is so important to me for so many reasons, safety and security and shelter being tops on the list, that I just simply cannot imagine having to sleep on the street. If you are unable to get out to this population and physically hand out some food or blankets or care kits but would like to do something, in Philly you can check out donation and volunteer opportunities with No More Pain Inc., an organization started by a fellow Neshaminy High School alum that does outreach in the Philly area; Advocates for Homeless & Those in Need, the charity doing outreach in Lower Bucks that MFD works with to do Meals on Wheels and Code Blue to get homeless people to shelter when the temperatures dip; and Project HOME, which has opportunities to donate, advocate, volunteer, and shop. If you are in Philly and see someone on the street when it's too cold, please call 911 or the Homeless Outreach Hotline at 215-232-1984. Sometimes I think we do nothing because we think it requires a grand gesture or a lot of money. It doesn't. It just requires a kind heart, a willingness to look someone in the eye, and a dollar or two for a cup of coffee and a bagel. And a little bit of thick skin because sometimes these people are so disenfranchised and disillusioned that they push back on you. If I was them, I probably would too. Don't let that stop you from reaching your hand out. Please.

8. Thanks to my wonderful cousin Rob and the other fine folks at PUMA for sharing this. Whether you like a good deal or know of an organization who buys gifts for those in need and might be able to use this, please pass it along.

9. I have Saturday totally free this weekend. I'm beside myself with gleeful anticipation. I have a lot of purging and organizing in mind. There's nothing like having Christmas shit all over to make you ready to do some damage in those areas.

10. The next Show Us Your Books with me & Jana of Jana Says is this coming Tuesday, December 8. But wait! There's more. dun dun dun We're having a bonus edition this month. On Tuesday, December 29, we want you to link up to show us your favorite books you read in 2015. They do not have to be written or printed in 2015, just the best/favorites you came across. Are you going to join us? Grab this button and get your lists in order, my friends!

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11. I'm calling for gun control. I want serious, in depth background checks in every state. I want mental health testing included a la Japan. I want it to be harder to get a gun than it is to buy a car. In Pennsylvania you can go in and buy a gun and walk out the door with it in under 30 minutes if your check comes back clear. But it takes two to three weeks to get clearance to volunteer with non profits or work with kids, and it takes two months to go through the mortgage process. Neither of which can harm another living thing. This is crazy. I want assault weapons off the streets. I want the lobbying arm of the NRA chopped the fuck off, and I don't want to hear that it's not a gun problem. Other countries don't have this problem so don't tell me gun control can't work. It does work. In plenty of other places. We can pray for the victims all we want but until we collectively stand up and demand a change, we'll just be praying for more victims tomorrow, because there have been more mass shootings this year in the United States than there have been days. I don't want to live like this. Gunsense. We can all have it.

12. E-card of the week...Word.

Signing off with a gift that's been in my head. May it not live as long in yours. 

mama-say mama-sa mama-koo-sa, 

The heart that gives, gathers - Tao Te Ching

Every January I pick the charities I'm going to focus on that year so I can look for volunteer events and set our charity budget. Charitable donations of all kinds are very important to me and MFD. We believe in helping others and that life is not complete unless we're doing that. We believed that when we were young and struggling, hoping we could pay all the bills that month and eating noodles for dinner, and we believe it now. Even when you have no money, you have time, and time is much needed.

While I do give to help others, I also give because giving makes me feel good. There's something intrinsically, instinctively human in seeing a need and doing whatever small thing you can to fill it without wanting anything in return. I'm a reflection of my community and what does it say about me if I ignore situations in front of me that could use my help?

I wanted to share this year's choices with you not to be all look what I do but to spread the word about the charities I've chosen and tell you why I've chosen them. You might find one here that resonates with you, or it might inspire you to think about the impact you want to have in your community this year. The giving spirit can spread like a virus - when I hear of others helping, I want to help too. Let's spread the giving sickness like wildfire.

Project HOME
Their mission is quite simple: none of us are home until all of us are home. Project HOME works to empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable all of us to attain our fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society. I like that this organization is close to my office and helps the homeless people I pass on the streets and in the train station every day. Philly friends, the homeless outreach hotline is 215-232-1984. If it's freezing or if you see someone struggling on the streets, give them a call.

Closer to our home and his office in Bucks County, MFD volunteers with Advocates for Homeless and Those in Need, an interfaith nonprofit providing temporary help to the homeless and those in need by offering emergency shelter, food, clothing, and other related services with dignity and compassion. He works on Wheels to Meals year round and Code Blue overnights during the colder months.

Rosa's Fresh Pizza
I first mentioned Rosa's here, and have since shared updates on my FB page as they got facetime from the local Philadelphia media as well as Ellen and People Mag.  I am crazy about this guy's business model. He wants to serve me hot, fresh, delicious pizza for $1 and also give me the opportunity to feed someone else in a dignified manner that day? SOLD. You can also purchase t-shirts and sweatshirts to help the cause. When I can't make it down there, I simply buy Little Rosas online and I can feed one, two, five, 10 people with the click of a button. It reminds me of Mother Teresa. Do what you can. Rosa's gives you the opportunity to help someone with just a dollar.

Bark For Life
This is the first year in I don't even know how long that I will not be at a Relay For Life event. I love Relay because it honors those with all types of cancer, and unfortunately we know many people who have or had all types of cancer. Both Relays local to me are on the same day, a little later in the month than usual, and occur when I'm away on vacation. Since I can't physically be there, I'll be donating to a friend's team and forcing my dogs and two additional lucky handlers to participate in Bark For Life in May. Bark money goes to the American Cancer Society as well and supports their research, patient advocacy, and patient programs.  I'm also looking for a Pancreatic Cancer Walk in the Philadelphia area that my family can do in memory of my Grandmom. Please let me know if you know or hear of any.

Bucks County Housing Group Food Pantry
Aside from not having a home, nothing makes me sadder than thinking of people going hungry or being unable to afford to feed their families. This program is independently operated and funded. MFD passes by one of the food pantries frequently so he can drop off our donations. It's important to remember that they need food donations all year - not just at the holidays.

At Christmas we'll be adopting a family through the workplace of our friend Jack. I always want to do this and forget and end up spending most of my budgeted charity money with Toys for Tots. We'll still do some for that, but the majority will be for this to address specific needs of kids.

We'll also support charitable causes/activities/races of family and friends (usually Charity: Water, Lupus Foundation, Wounded Warrior, Juvenile Diabetes, National Multiple Sclerosis Society) as we typically do throughout the year, but these five above are where my attention will be focused: I want to keep it local this year. MFD has a few of his own to add to the list as well, I'm sure.

What about you? What types of causes speak to you? How do you give back?

Do you guys read Karen at Book Delight? Fellow readers, you should follow her. You'll enjoy her posts. Anyway, I'm over on her blog today talking about my five favorite books. If you know me, you know that was an impossible list to make. Click here to see it. Thanks for the invite Karen!

I have something special for you tomorrow! A super simple, healthy, and quick breakfast recipe from Nicole Marica. See you in the a.m.

 

Linking up with Amanda for Friday Favorites.