Kindness is Free

Friday the 13th...what's to come?

2009-11-13T07:48:00.003-05:00

Last night I was out with some friends and someone mentioned that today was going to be that creepy, superstitious day: FRIDAY the 13th! Yikes. I wonder does that set us up for looking at everything today through some third eye. Would we blame strange occurrences on a bout of bad luck if it were, Friday the 23rd?

We're getting ready to set out on a road trip today. Last night someone said, "Oh, boy. On the 13th? Good luck, you'll need it." Will I? I believe in the supernatural, the spirit world, but I do I believe that just because the calendar lands us on a date of the 13th we're in for a doozy of a day? Nope. The day is going to be what I make it out to be. If a black cat crosses my path I guess I can FREAK OUT or reach down and give the kitty a little pat on the back. I'm going to assume that goodness is going to fill my day. I'm hopeful for my Friday the 13th. You?

Be Still and Thankful

2009-11-11T09:55:00.002-05:00

4 months ago we all gathered together to celebrate our independence. We're noisy and cheering with our floats and parades. Loud fireworks fill the night air. Today I am going to find that quiet place inside and just be still. Thanking and giving respect to the generations of men and women who fought for my freedoms. I am blessed, I am free to think and feel and be. I owe these men and women a world of gratitude. Find that quiet place inside and take a moment to thank them yourself. Then, thank the divine, mother earth and yourself for all that you are and can be.

EtsyKids and Santa's Sleigh Ride Sale

2009-11-01T23:47:00.000-05:00

Santa? Who? What? It's true. He called me yesterday. The holiday shopping season has officially begun. Visit my shop to take advantage of 10% off your entire purchase. Plus, if you spend more than $40 you'll get a free Holiday Bow Head Card. Stuff your sack for wholesome, inexpensive gifts for the kids and to-die-for paperie items for the tween to adult. Then visit the rest of the super shops participating. They've got some great offers.

Go Me. Go Me. It's my birthday. It's my birthday.

2009-10-25T10:00:00.004-04:00

I told you I LUV birthdays. I really do embrace getting older. As long as I am wiser. If I'm like, "duh. uh. what did i learn today?" then I've got a BIG problem.

But this year, I've become wiser this past year for sure. I think though, I've become wiser in that I'm looking forward instead of behind. What a year this is going to be. I'm really looking forward to filling the days between now and my next birthday. I've got some goals. Always do. I'll post about those later.

::Drum roll please:: A giveaway for you from me. Happy Unbirthday to you!

Win a 24 piece set of custom photo cupcake toppers for your next birthday celebration.

Contest runs from now till Nov. 26th, midnight.

Here's how:

1. Visit me on facebook: www.facebook.com/kindlivingdesigns and become a fan. Comment here and let me know you did - that is one entry.

2. Pass the word onto your friends and have them join my page as a fan. Let me know who joined and you'll get an extra entry for the contest.

3. Visit my site or the KLD site on Etsy. Let me know what your favorite goodie is...leave it as a comment on this post. You'll get an entry.

4. Make a purchase from Kind Living Designs between now and the end of the contest (Nov. 26th) and you'll get 8 extra entries for the contest. (born on the 26 and 2+6=8, naturally). Comment here and let me know what you got and we'll keep track.

Here's to me and 2010. May we be really good friends. I hope the same
for you, too!

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

2009-10-20T23:11:00.000-04:00

I can't do it all. It is impossible. I know that. I still try. Not sure why. When I do, I know I'm going to fall behind in everything. Papers that need to go back to school with the kids, missed doctor's appointment, my missing black sharpie, my favorite scissors, that file I created a week ago...all that wrapped up into my work since it all happens at home.

It is getting to be too much to run my own site. I'm thinking my future is Etsy. Check it out. I'm adding stuff slowly. I'm rethinking, baby. Feels good to embrace a different perspective. A change-up in product line. I can feel it. Maybe it is because my birthday is around the corner. (I love birthdays. luv them.) It's coming and I'm gonna welcome it.

seriously. really. i mean it this time.

2009-10-10T21:00:00.000-04:00

It's like yelling into a hole in the ground. "Do you hear me, do you hear me....?" If no one is reading my blog, am I really writing this to anyone at all? I think that answer is yes. Because if nothing else, I'm writing this for me. It is like one of those goals you set for yourself, knowing all too well that it isn't always going to be at the top of the priority list.

I'm gonna try harder. I am. How about you?

4th Quarter Madness

2009-01-15T14:17:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! Happy Holidays! Enjoy your Turkey!

All that and more - 2009 and I haven't posted since before Thanksgiving. I hope everyone felt the love and then some throughout the holiday season.

Gonna try to post a few things that took place over 4th quarter. Have I mentioned that things got a little hectic for me?

Join me now, new posts regarding the past to follow....

Soon. I give myself permission to take at least 3 weeks. ;)

Same Stuff, Different Day

2008-11-13T16:42:00.005-05:00

Hmm...at least I'm on a roll here. Seems I loose touch every so many months with my postings and then ta-da, I'm back. It has only been a few weeks versus months this time around. Hoping to make it stay that way.

Life just seems so much of the same these days because I am busy! And I'm sure you are, too. It gets that way this time of year. In all this holiday-craziness, may you find moments of happiness and joy over the next several weeks. Your charge is to share it and pass it on please! This time of the year can be so stressful. It makes it so much easier when everyone just takes one extra step to be kind and respectful to one another. I definitely have to push myself to be more aware of how I handle the little bits of friction that enter my life. Hard to do, but I believe so important. And what can it hurt? Practicing kindness? I just keep practicing to be the better person I hope to be. In the end, I might eventually get there...

See you sooner than later...I think! Live kindly please.

You Gotta Love Mom

2008-09-19T14:56:00.004-04:00

Moms are the best. At least my Mom is...big shout out to you Mom. XO XO XO

I've been coveting these boots and throwing hints galore to my Mom. Searching Ebay, the online sales. Just had to give my Mom a big thank you and hug & kiss from afar. (We live about two hours apart.) Guess who got me my lovely, super gorgeous ultra soft boots? Mommy! Thank you Mom! Love you ;)

Say hello to my new FRYE Veronica Slouch boots.
LOVE, LOVE THEM!

PS - That Story of Stuff issue...well, no more kids means no more pregnancies, which means no more changing shoe sizes. Hooray, they're mine forever!

Stuff!?

2008-09-08T14:10:00.001-04:00

So, I thought I was doing enough. Then I watched this movie. I'm not going to even try to tell you why to watch it. JUST DO IT. Watch it. Then if you have children in the house, make them watch it with you. Send it to your family and your friends. Agree or disagree. Believe it or ask lots of questions. Either way you come at it...it is a conversation starter for sure.
More on this later...

Big Girl Bus Rider

2008-08-27T22:00:00.003-04:00

My little girl just went and grew up. Her first steps onto a school bus. Wow. And now I'm a member of the PTA. Double-Wow.

All-day kindergarten has its perks - most importantly, it has taught me how much she means to me. How quickly I wished her away when I'd hear, "Mmmmmooommmmmm - I'm booored. What now?" How much I'd give to have more time with her now.

Take the time to give everyone a hug today. I couldn't wait to see her face this afternoon. Anxiety overload waiting for the bus to pull up after a long day of wondering, what is she doing? She has taken the first of many itty-bitty steps that will eventually lead to her leaving the nest. For now, at least she's still my baby birdie. I will hold onto that more now than ever.

HOLY COW!

2008-08-24T16:02:00.001-04:00

The whole, entire summer has gone by with not one post. HOLY COW. Poor little blog. I am always thinking about you. Thinking about what to post on you, which pictures would look nice, who to give a shout out to...the summer sun washed my brain away into the salty waves and grainy sand. I DO love the beach and summer in general. Poolside is grand.

Did you get carried away this summer? My kids took me away to the days where we just play and soak up the carefree days of eternal sunshine. Eternal summer slacking...what song was that from? I tell you, Memorial Day hits next year, it will be the same thing - eternal summer slacking.

Notes of Hope for Rwanda

2008-05-12T10:59:00.010-04:00

As I mentioned in our last post, my daughter and I were going to contribute to Jen's cause (visit www.jenlemen.com) through Krystyn Heide's (www.hoperevo.com) Hope Notes project. Each little note contains an encouraging, hopeful message meant to boost young girl's self-esteem and interest in a future of possibilities. Close to my heart and my passion (girl's self-esteem or lack of and why) I was so excited to be a part of the larger whole.

We chose three of the different sayings, this one above was one of my favorites.
"Rwandanese girls, stand up and learn! Love school. School is real life!"

This one Miss E designed. This was her favorite:
"Girls, don't listen to anything that can discourage you. You can do everything!"

We also chose one other phrase, "Rwandanese girls, you are the power behind your country. Someone who learns is the one who knows best. American girls are supporting you!"

After chatting for a bit, we decided that maybe we should print up some blank ones to send to the girls with a pack of crayons. After all, shouldn't they get a chance to color their own card and perhaps pass it on?

If you'd like to learn more about Jen's trip and her hopes in helping Odette (a refugee woman who still has two girls in Rwanda) please visit: www.jenlemen.com.

A big thank you to Ms. Meghan and her two girls, Miss H and Miss A for helping us with our Hope Notes!

My First "Tag"

2008-05-09T14:20:00.001-04:00

I'm not new to the blog world as a reader. I hardly ever get to my books because I'm elbow-deep in reading my "stack" of blogs. There are so many new ideas, new theories, new friends out there. I find it all positively fascinating.

But, this is the first time I've been "tagged" as they say in the world of blogging. I'm happy to say that it was a good friend who did the tagging. I was tagged by Jan D. of Daisy Janie and Scoutie Girl and here are my rules to follow: link back to the person who tagged you, post these rules on your blog, share five unimportant things about yourself and tag three people at the end of your entry.

Things unimportant about me:
1. I love Havaiana flip-flops (slim style is the best) and Converse sneakers.
2. Originally from MD, college in SC, living in PA. I have found that I am a southern gal at heart. I will return one day (wouldn't it be glorious if I returned to live in Charleston, SC! Ah, to dream!)
3. I never turn off my cell phone for fear of never finding it. I misplace it daily and need to call it to figure out the last place I stashed it.
4. Camelot is my favorite Broadway soundtrack. Probably because if I could, I'd love to live one day during the days of knights, chivalry and dragons. (I'm not stupid, one day would probably be way more than enough! I do love some of my 20th Century modern day conveniences!)
5. My secret wish is to be in a band one day. I really would love to play bass.

My three tags - this part is hard, while I read many, I have few friends who blog, mostly my online gal-pals are from my retail life...Dawn from Pink with Sparkles, Heather from Mom In the Know and Lisa (and Bobbie) from Girl-Indie (who probably don't have the time to play this little game...we'll see!)

Little Notes, Lots of Love

2008-05-04T23:17:00.004-04:00

More info to come but I'm super excited to be a part of this:

http://www.hoperevo.com/rwanda

Late notice I know, but for anyone looking to spread a little hope - this is a no-brainer. Looking forward to getting my daughter involved. I'll post pics soon.

Now and Not When

2008-05-04T22:45:00.004-04:00

So, I was sitting in church today and our pastor made a good point. To paraphrase, he said that when you are feeling really stressed, really anxious about life, a situation, money problems, your relationship with someone else - it is generally because you are overly focused on the me, me, me part. And if we take a brief moment to reach out to someone else with no other motive than to do something caring for someone else, that ultimately, some of the blah feeling starts to go away. Not just because you're no longer focusing on the problem/issue, but truly because you are practicing self-sacrifice and doing something nice just because. Makes sense, right?

Go back to three days ago. I was having a really tough day. I was having communication issues with my husband, my children were driving me insane, I wasn't getting half of what I wanted to get accomplished done around the house, with my business. I was feeling isolated from my friends, feeling like no one was reaching out to me. That it was always me calling to say hi, calling to make plans. And I got it. I knew it was my own issues making me feel this way. I knew that it had more to do with me than them. I also knew that the sun would rise again. But I never thought really to call myself selfish. I never really took the time to label myself that way. But you know - I was! I was so into my own little world and asking, who's doing for me!? what about me?!

And so the next day I woke up and decided to call some people I didn't ever really reach out to and just have a nice conversation. I wanted to connect. People who might have found themselves in my shoes - Kristie never really calls me. I'm always calling her. I felt better. I started to breathe and realize that my family was healthy & happy. My husband (for all that I wanted to kill him) loved me deeply and I likewise. I had great friends who after one phone call with me saying, "um, hi. I'm feeling lonely. Will you reach out to me...?" gave me big hugs and reassuring love ya's. It all started to fall into place when I stopped thinking about what I was going to get and focused on what I was going to give.

It doesn't happen often, but now I know that those blah feelings are really just me not fully realizing my now and all too much wrapped up into my should be, could be, why isn't it. Here's to now.

Celebrate Mommy Earth!

2008-04-22T15:54:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone found their own way to celebrate Mommy Earth today! E found her own way to celebrate. We're going to post her beautiful banner at home in the hallway as a constant reminder to be good to our planet.

I work part-time at our local Planetarium. How many people get to a) say that they have a local planetarium and b) get the chance to operate one? I never found Science to be that interesting as a child - I was an English major. Biology who? But, I took astronomy in college and now as an adult with small children I watch the star shows in awe. We have a lovely planet. Please let's take care of her. But most importantly, let's TEACH our children to take care of her. After all, it belongs to them now, right?

I was doing some work for an eco-friendly online boutique that will soon start to sell my stationery (yeah!) and found a quote to use that I've just fallen in love with:

Take Nothing But Pictures.
Leave Nothing But Footprints.
Kill Nothing But Time.

Grand in theory, I know. But if you just try to put a little of that into practice each day - imagine what we can accomplish!

A Shout Out to Sugar Momma!

2008-04-10T14:33:00.000-04:00

A giant THANK YOU to my girlfriend and baker gal, Davina, My Sugar Shoppes, LLC, Head Sugar Momma! I have had soooo many comments about E's bday cake. All her sweets were delicious. Her triple chocolate (shown here in the big cupcake cake) and her Peanut Butter Monster cookies are my favs. If you are local in the Reading, PA area - just drop me a line and I'll send you her info. You won't regret it!

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea

2008-04-07T23:44:00.009-04:00

Hey, check it out...I'm getting better at this posting thing. Or at least it hasn't been over a month since my last ramblings!

My little sweet pea turned five this past week and seems like the whole family is on a sugar-high. I am an adult who still LOVES birthdays. I love the whole lightness of the heart, the smiles, the special moments that take place on a birthday. I totally believe in birthday weeks, even birthday months. And as long as I can look back and know that I am not only one year older, but one year wiser, then bring them on!

My daughter is ga-ga for Alice in Wonderland which is fun, because I, too, am a huge fan. We had ourselves a grand 'ol Mad Hatter Unbirthday-Birthday Tea Party. So, so fun!

She decided this year that she didn't want boys at her party. Isn't 5 a little young to decide that? I was a little sad. She has so many good friends that are boys - I kept trying to coax her into it. But, I was told that, "boys don't like to sit still and talk and drink tea." Hmmm... 14 little girls together for 2 hours - sitting still and talking? What do you think?!

We had such a great time decorating and I could make all my favorite little favors for them! What was really cool was the fact that I got to work with my daughter. Usually she's watching me create for someone else. This time, it was all for her and that made me so happy.

I am so lucky to have the opportunity to experience motherhood. I am so lucky to have a little girl that every day challenges me to be a better person. I have to work really hard at patience and sometimes I think it is her teaching me instead of the other way around.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET PEA! I ADORE YOU!

how do they do it?

2008-03-27T23:13:00.004-04:00

It has been a long time since I last left a post. A long time. Maybe a month. I've visited the page maybe twice, maybe three times at most and sort of sat with it. Then within an instant the phone would ring, the kids would walk in or mostly late at night, I just was too tired. I'm not sure how the people who I check visit with everyday (take a look at some of my links to the right) do it. Are they just not reading anyone else's blog? Is that it? But that is my fun time. It is sort of like reading the novel I'm never able to get to. I get to glimpse into all kinds of people who fascinate me, make me laugh, make me think, make me cry.

Are they not watching tv? Because I'm a tv girl when it comes to certain shows. I'll always be doing something - usually making product for my shop, sometimes doing laundry...but I can't miss them. I can get absolutely glued to the tv.

And yet, I have so many things I want to start, move forward on, finish. But I don't want to hurry through these things. My little ideas, little projects. I want to do them right the first time. Not really a perfectionist, if on the first go around, something doesn't work that is ok. It is more about wanting to think it through and look at it from all angles that keeps everything at arms length. I just gotta' dig in. I just gotta' get up and go.

So, I'm hoping from this point forward that I get up and go with this blog and the little ideas behind it. No one is even reading this blog yet - I think maybe 3 people have seen it (family that I said you must take a look!) but it is a promise to myself. ;)

From my craziness to yours, I hope everyone is well. Or well enough as can be. Isn't that in the end, all we can ask?

*By the way, I was able to make this post because LOST was a rerun tonight.

a little bit of me...

2008-02-25T20:59:00.004-05:00

From time to time you'll get a little bit of me, my family, my friends, my work. Maybe you'll see something you like, hear something you like, maybe not. Either way, feel free to let me know.

My daughter's turning five soon. That means kindergarten. That means that I'll miss all the moments I take for granted now. So, I'm trying hard to love my little blessing. I'm a high-functioning individual, I guess that means that I tend to juggle quite a lot of things at one time? In my day-to-day craziness I sometimes loose sight of what matters most. Her i-must-wear-my-brown-with-pink-flowers-bathing-suit-like-Anna and pretend to be at the beach!! tantrums get the best of me. Trying to run a business with two small children at home is insane. It just is. But - it is my choice, right? What do I do in those moments where I have two phone calls, 3 product updates and 5 orders to get out in the mail days and the tantrum hits? Some days, I'm really good, I love her, listen to her and help her spend her day on a sandy beach. Other days, well, that's when I call my girlfriend and confess that I am no longer in the running for the Mom of the Year award. It happens.

To remind me of what is most important in life and so close to my heart I found this:

A little wall art for my office. Check out Allison Strine's other fun stuff available in cards, prints, pendants and more here.

Baby Steps

2008-02-20T09:32:00.001-05:00

Big dreams, big plans...they all start from something very small. Being kind to people - that is a tall order. So challenging in today's world. I'm not sure where I got this kindness bug. Maybe it was because I was teased growing up, but who wasn't? But you know, I didn't turn around and tease someone else. I learned pretty early that teasing other people didn't make me feel any better. And I learned that forgiving someone can be absolutely freeing, for yourself, not necessarily for them. That I didn't have to worry about what Jenny L. was going to say to me in the locker room in 7th grade - if I just forgave her for anything that came out of her mouth, it didn't hold so much weight.

So my big dream, passing the karma 'round, is going to start out small. In my own tiny way I hope I can create a bit of happiness for someone else. I hope too, that it will help me to stay on track. I find that I am able to pass out kindness easily to strangers, but to my husband who might come home grumpy or my children who, bless them, might just whine MOMMY! one too many times, kindness can be fleeting. I am past reaching for it and for a moment, I forget how much I love them. For me this site will serve to be a reminder that I must practice what I preach, that I am a model for my children. If I want them to grow up as kind and considerate individuals, then I must somehow show them the way.

I hope you join me in this venture....oh yeah, and please excuse my self-promotion. Maybe you'll like my shop of goodies, buy something for someone you know and in the end, make them smile. :)