Tag: birthday

32 Good Deeds

IMG_20130928_080306 There’s always room for progress, and although I think birthdays are your special day and should be a celebration of your life, I decided to make sure I spend the rest of the year celebrating life through service. During my very normal and addictive ritual of morning scanning through Facebook, I came across a 22 year old who decided to spend the month of her birthday completing 22 acts of giving back. I was inspired to do the same!

Unfortunately but fortunately, next year I will be 32, beyond the days of our average calendar month, so I decided to do it a little differently. I tweaked the list a little…well changed it, and with the help of friends, “Lee” and “CT” personalized it. Each year I will spent the week of my birthday celebrating “me”…me, me, me lol… then my superego will kick in for the rest of the year with my acts of service/giving back coinciding with whatever age I turn. (at minimum) Got it?! So here’s the list we came up with from now until the week of my birthday.

1. Collect books, and donate them to a local elementary/middle school.
2. Call older family members to see if they need anything.
3. Hand out study guides to students (knowledge is power)
4. Volunteer with A.D.A.C. (local after school program)
5. Give a small bag of groceries to a homeless person.
6. Donate clothes to a shelter.
7. Send cards to friends I haven’t seen in a while.
8. Bring in a continental breakfast for co workers.
9. Pay for someone’s groceries in a store. (make sure it’s a pay week)
10. Offer a free hair do to a family member/friend.
11. Tip a grocery store bagger.
12. Compliment at least 5 people.
13. Repost promotions for friends/ family on social media.
14. Volunteer at a hospital.
15. Volunteer at a shelter.
16. Assist an elderly person/ volunteer at a nursing home.
17. Donate to charity.
18. Pick up trash….somewhere
19. Plant a tree.
20. Catch public transportation or carpool to work.
21. Take a home cooked meal to family.
22. Volunteer for charity walk.
23. Make a gift of appreciation for the administrative staff at work.
24. Take photos at an event and donate them to the organizer.
25. Mentor a young child or young adult.
26. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
27. Offer to baby-sit a friend or family member’s child.
28. Cheer up a sick friend.
29. Collect and Donate toys to child welfare agency.
30. Collect unused toiletries/ clothing to a center for abused women.
31. Collect aluminum cans/bottles and donate the money to a needy friend/ family member.
32. Volunteer for habitat for humanity.

I’ll give an update during the week of my birthday, until then, “Praise is the way we say thanks” Love that song…

With Icing on Top :)

me2

You only turn 25 once, well 6 times for me. I love birthdays, or in my case, birth weeks. it’s a celebration of life, milestones and reflection. This year I took a week off work to celebrate, and decided to have a lil “staycation”. I wanted to make sure I had time to do what I love to do. As a foodie and a lover of friends and family, it was a given that I spent everyday indulging in both.

I think I ate out for five days straight. Everything from snow crab legs at Chickie and Pete’s to cobb salad at Chili’s, and everything in between. The highlight of my dining came from someone who unexpectedly  sparked my interest. She effortlessly whizzed me around town and to a roof top bar on 5th and Chestnut, where we shared a couple drinks, laughs, and flirts. We ended up at an upscale restaurant on 2nd and Walnut. It had been years since I had been so impressed, her style, her confidence, her words, her taste….in everything…She was a good different, I like different, but…

Anywho, I celebrated a “free” day. I had collected the gift cards and coupons from companies that I picked cotton for all year long anyways. It was my birthday, so I scanned my email and stalked my mailbox for reparations. I happily picked up my free undies and perfume from Victoria Secret and I got to pick out a free bottle of lotion from Aveda’s new aroma therapy line. My dear friend Cicely laced me with a  free car wash and I think I had the best Qdoba ever, but it was because it was free too.  “Free” magnifies good x 10.

My ex, who is now one of my very close friends and might I add, still one of THEE best gifters ever, sent me a voucher to a really relaxing spa on the square, among other things.  If I had the monetary option to get a massage daily, ok, weekly, I would. Even with the surprise buttocks massage, leaving me feeling happily violated  (if there is a such thing) I tend to fall asleep, like drool sleep, when the massage is good.   I just know things went well if I can feel my blood rushing through my body, and I have what seems to be an uncontrollable smile.

I buy a gift for myself every year, why not? This year I had been plotting on a new computer. I found one better than what I was looking for and saved hundreds of dollars. To top things off , my cousin baked my favorite strawberry cake! Happy birthday to me!

I cleaned! What a gift right? Cleaning makes me feel good though…for some reason. Its one of my best coping mechanisms for managing stress and anger too. I cant function or think straight when my surroundings are a mess!

I am still blessed with all my senses, I checked. I enjoyed the sun, people watching and letting the homeless stick  me up for money all day. 31 doesn’t get much better…or does it?

P.S. Thanks G-Bare for the pic! 🙂