Random Acts of Kindness Day 2024

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day!

 How cool would it be if everyone practiced RAOK's every day?  The world would be a lot friendlier and happier, don't you think? 

So, you know the drill.  Try to see how many Random Acts of Kindness you can do today.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Write that letter.
It can be a Thank You letter.  It can be just a little note telling someone that you were thinking of them.  Maybe it's someone you don't see that often.  Let them know how important they are to have in your life.

Put others first.
I always tell my children to think of others first.  This could mean letting someone ahead of you in line.  Letting someone have the first slice of pizza or even leaving the last piece of pie for the next person. 

Compliment
Dish out compliments to people.  I think everyone likes to hear positive praise.

Clean up.
Maybe it's picking up random trash on the path where you usually walk or run.  It could be as simple as taking out the garbage, run the vacuum or doing the dishes.

Send a message.
It could be a friendly text message.  An inspirational text or even a thank you text.  How about leaving notes of inspiration in random places at home or work?  You can write them on post-it notes. 

I just rattled off quite a few quick, easy RAOK's that you can do today.  If you need some more ideas, you can search Random Acts of Kindness on the blog.  There are quite a few posts with lots of great ideas.  Give one a try and let me know what happened!

Rosemary Focaccia Bread

 This summer we visited quite a few farmer's markets.  Produce, baked goods and freshly made bread.   If you've been following along for a while, you know that good bread is a priority in our house.  After purchasing some.....not so good tasting bread, I decided that I would try my hand at making it myself.  Of course, turning the oven on in the 90F heat just to goof off making bread is not my idea of fun.  So, I waited until the temperatures dropped a little.  This focaccia bread has become a family favorite and thought I would share it here.  

Here's the recipe:

Rosemary Focaccia Bread

ingredients:

1 3/4 cups warm water

1 packet dry yeast (2 1/2 tsp)

2 tsp sugar

4 1/2 cups bread flour*

1 TBSP kosher salt

1/2 cup olive oil 

For the top:

2-3 TBSP olive oil

2 tsp coarse, flaky sea salt

2 TBSP fresh rosemary 

directions:

In a small bowl combine warm water with the yeast and sugar.  Stir and let sit until foamy (about 5 minutes).

In large bowl, combine flour and salt.  Once the yeast is ready, pour into flour mixture and mix.  Slowly add the olive oil.  Once dough is combined, knead for about five minutes* until sides have pulled away.  The dough should be soft.  If the dough is still sticky, add a little more flour.

Coat a bowl with olive oil and place dough into bowl, rolling it until it is covered with the oil.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Set bowl in warm place until doubled. (about an hour)

Grab a 13x9 dish, and coat with some olive oil.  

When the dough is ready, place in this dish and press out until it reaches sides of the dish.  If the dough bounces back, then let it rest ten minutes before pressing it down.  Cover lightly with the plastic wrap and let rise for an hour.

Oven 425F.

Dimple the dough by pressing your finger tips down into the dough.  Drizzle with some olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt and top it off with the rosemary.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is a golden brown.  

Remove from the oven and drizzle a little more olive oil (optional).

Let cool for ten minutes before cutting into pieces.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*You might need a little extra flour if dough is sticky

*I mixed the dough by hand.  Feel free to use your kitchenaid with the dough hook.

If you make the Rosemary Focaccia Bread, let me know what you think in the comments below.

Enjoy!

St. Valentine

 I thought I would do a little deep dive into the history of Valentine's Day.  If you know me, then you know that I believe Valentine's Day should be a National Holiday.  I'm not talking Hallmark cards and gifts.  More like flowers, poems, homemade cards and pouring out your love for one another.

There isn't much information about St. Valentine.  What we do know is that he was a physician and a Roman priest.  He performed many marriages, thus the saint of love and marriage.  Valentine was big on spreading the word of God.  This happened to get him into trouble when he suggested to Claudius that he should become a Christian.  Valentine was sentenced to death.  He was to either renounce his faith or be clubbed to death.  Valentine refused and was executed on February 14.  A side story, that I'm not sure if it is true, Valentine, while awaiting his death sentence, sent a note to Asterius' daughter (the jailer's daughter that he healed from blindness) and signed the note, "from your Valentine."  

St. Valentine is the patron saint of love, marriage, bee keepers and people with epilepsy.

That lead me to another event that happened on this day in 1929 in Chicago, The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.  The event took place at a warehouse in Lincoln Park where seven men were lined up against the wall and shot by four unknown people (two were dressed as police officers).  These murders were a result of a struggle for control between Bugs Moran and his Irish North Siders and the Italian Chicago Outfit headed by Al Capone, during Prohibition.

Lots of death on a day that is supposed to be dedicated to love.  

Some interesting facts I dug up about this National Holiday:

Valentine's cards originated in England in the 1700's.  People would send cards and flowers to loved ones and sign them, "your Valentine."  

The heart symbol was something that was drawn in the middle ages to represent the actual human heart.  Since the human heart is associated with love and emotion, the heart shape became the symbol for romance.

In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's day.  Men return the favor by giving white chocolates on White Day which is March 14. 

In South Korea, single people who do not receive anything on Valentine's Day mourn their lack of love by eating black noodles on Black Day, which is celebrated on April 14.

In Denmark, there is an exchange of funny jokes and poems written on paper hearts.  Instead of signing their name, they put dots (symbol, not the word "dots").  If you guess who sent you the Valentine, you get an Easter egg later in the year.

In Guatemala the day is known as "el dia del carino" or the day of affection.  People dress up in masks and costumes and dance in the streets.  They exchange cards and gifts with loved ones, friends and coworkers.  The day is considered a celebration of love and friendship.

How do you plan on celebrating Valentine's Day this year?

Retail Problems - New Skills for my Resume

 More strange interactions with customers that I feel a need to share with everyone.

We have this 80-year-old woman that shops with us weekly.  How do I know her age?  Because she tells me every time I see her.

My first encounter with her, I noticed she was a little crabby.  She told me that's what happens when you get to be eighty years old.  She needed help getting the bags into her car.  I offered my help and asked if someone can help her when she gets home?  She replied that she has no one.  She does not have kids.  Never married and that she is an orphan (sad, I know). 

I think this 80 year old woman took a shine to me because she always comes to me to ring her out or with questions.  One day I tied her shoe for her and got her a shopping cart.  She said she is too old to bend and tie her shoes.  On another visit she asked for a pair of nail clippers.  I told her that we don't have any.  She asked for a pair of scissors.  I hand her the scissors and she tells me that she can't cut her fingernail because it's on her right hand.  So, there I am, cutting her fingernail with a Fiskars scissors.

I am taking nail appointments, let me know if you are interested.

Valentine's Day Craft Ideas

  It's finally February!  A time for love, hearts and all things red!  Oh, and it's also time for my favorite holiday, Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day, also known in our house as the National Holiday, is coming up and I thought I would put links to some crafts we have done here on A Scary Journey Inside My Life to get you ready for the big day. Some of these crafts are pretty easy and would be great to do with your Girl Scout Troop!  These are also great ideas for an indoor activity on those cold winter days.

Valentine's Placemat (children's craft)

Valentine's Day Bookmarks

Pallet (he)art

Homemade Valentine's Day cards

Felt Heart Pin or Barrette

Felt Heart Ornaments 

Valentine Photo Book

Valentine Love Picture

Valentine Love Frame

Looking for more fun things to do in February?  How about warming up the house (and some hearts) with some baking?  Check out the Recipes page to try something new!

My Weird Dog - Updates

 I think we are due for a little check in with my weird dog Pippen.

Believe it or not, the youngest child helped me load Pippen into the car so we could take him for a bath.  Normally I hose Pippen down in the driveway.  Unfortunately, the weather here does not cooperate.  It's difficult to hose him down when the temperature is 20F.  He was a good boy while he was being bathed.  He won't fight me if I'm the one giving him a bath.  It was definitely worth the trouble, though.  He smells so clean!

Pippen is now in his "vocal" era.  He likes to bark.....alot.  If you let him outside and accidentally forget about him, he will bark (non-stop) until you let him inside.  If you happen to be sitting in the family room, watching a really good movie, he will stand in front of the window, stare at you and bark.  In the morning, if I decide I want to sleep in a couple extra minutes, he will bark until I get up out of bed and go downstairs.  (yea, he's a pain!)

Pippen is starting to lose it.  If you close the door to a room in the house, he will start barking.  He thinks someone is at our front door.

It seems Pippen has selective hearing.  The other day, I brought him out front with me.  He walked across our front yard to our neighbor's house.  Then decided he was going to cross the street.  The entire time he was goofing off, I was calling him to come back.  He just ignored me.  I had to go grab him and tell him to go home.  

His little "quirks" drive us crazy, but are quite entertaining.

Missing in Action

 Sorry I haven't been posting.  I'm still alive.  It's been a little crazy with work and getting the house ready to sell.  I'll try to be better about posting some interesting stories here.