Monthly Random Acts of Kindness - March

Here I am again with an update on my goal for the year.  My monthly Random Acts of Kindness.

As I said in my January post, it's pretty easy to reach a goal of one random act of kindness a month.  Especially if you look at all of the little things that you do.  This is my summary of some of the kind things that I have done this month.


Let person get ahead of me in line
Sat and listened to someone tell me their problems
Gave someone a spontaneous gift
Help a person find something in a store

Donated a bottle of lotion (long story)

Hold door open for someone
Leant an ear to someone


How did your list for Random Acts of Kindness look this month?

Looking for ideas for Random Acts of Kindness?  Check out this post here.

Family

Family.

You can't live with them.  Can't shoot 'em.

I'm sure we all have our problems with our families.  Maybe its the little things they do that irritate you.  Or, maybe there are bigger issues that bug you.

RT's family has the moving problem.  I've known the guy for 24 years and during that time, someone in his family has moved once every year.  If someone doesn't move this year, then next year there will be two people moving.  I mentioned this 5 or 10 years ago and RT didn't believe me.  We actually went through - year by year - and figured out that this was scary  true.  One year, his brother moved twice.  Yes, twice.  In the SAME WEEK!

I learned.  Every address is written in pencil in my address book.  < well, that probably started with my friend, Patti, but, that's another story.

My family does not move.  Ever.  We like to stay in the same house forever and ever.  You know right where to find us AND you don't have to get a new address book.  We do have our quirks, tho.  Like not telling people things.  I thought I wasn't told things because I'm "the baby."  You know how it goes,

"Don't tell the baby or you'll worry her."

"She doesn't need to know about ________."

Needless to say, there are times that I must look like an idiot because I didn't know about something that everyone else knows (and has known for years).

I'm finding out that my family doesn't share events/things with other members of the family.   It's not like we have these HUGE secrets we have to keep, like the recipe for Coca Cola (I can't tell you the recipe....I'm bound by the secrets of my family).

Sometimes what is being hidden is so small (and stupid) that I wonder why the person thought it was a good idea to hide it in the first place?  "Hey, don't tell anyone that we switched brands of toilet paper."  "Don't tell anyone that I got a haircut."

 RT and I joke that if someone in my family moved, no one would ever find out.

Moving problems?  Secrets?  What are some of the crazy things that go on in your family?

Lemon Water

I drink a lot of water.  Sometimes I think it would be fun if the water tasted a little different.  You know, a little fruity instead of just plain water.  So, I decided to try putting lemons in my water.

This is a very difficult recipe.  Try to follow along.

Glass container filled with water.
Add a couple of slices of lemon.

Refrigerate.

(wipes sweat from brow) and....

Voila!  Lemon Water!

I find this Lemon Water refreshing.  RT thinks I'm crazy.  He doesn't know why I'm making such a big deal about it.  He says it's just water with some lemons.  I searched around and found this article on the benefits of lemon water.

Gives my immune system a boost?  OK.  I'll take that.
Gives me an energy boost?
Fights viral infections?   Cheers to that!

I found out that the kids are drinking the Lemon water.   In fact, they finished the pitcher of water and asked me to make more.

I hope I remember the recipe.

American Girl

There is this total craze among young girls to get an American Girl doll.  I have tried to shield my daughter from this craze.  There is an American Girl store downtown Chicago that many mom's frequent with their little girls.  I have been told that it's such a fun experience for all.  I have also been told that you do not end up walking out of the store empty handed.  The dolls are not cheap.  They each have their own story or background.  You can get a doll that looks like you and you can even dress like the doll.

We do get the catalog at Christmas time.  Bella got a hold of it right before Christmas and was looking at it.  Surprisingly, she didn't ask for anything in the catalog.  She has told me that some of her friends have dolls.

I was talking to RT about this whole craze and that I was trying to avoid it.  He laughed and said that we wouldn't be able to afford an American Girl Doll.  We would have to get the Immigrant girl.  It would cost a lot less.

My view on my walk this morning. Gotta love Chicago weather!  Good thing I like snow.  

DIY Wrapping Paper

I had to wrap some birthday gifts and didn't have any wrapping paper so I decided to make my own.  There are so many fun things you can do to personalize your paper.  Add some ribbon.  Tie your paper with twine.  Have your kids draw pictures on the paper.  Use stamps or stickers.  

Supplies needed:

Plain paper (I had some brown Kraft paper, shipping paper will work, too)

Paint, markers, stamps, ink, crayons, washi tape, stickers, etc. 

Ribbon, twine, string

Your imagination 

I don't think you need a step by step on this project.  Just let yourself go and have fun.  

For my paper I used a foam sun stamp and mixed orange and yellow paint.  I brushed the paint onto the sponge using a foam brush.  It took a few minutes to decorate the paper and a few minutes to dry.  So easy!

How will you decorate your wrapping paper?

My view on my walk this morning. Last Monday it was 70F. Today it's snowing. Gotta love Chicago weather.