Reading Aloud... The Moment I've Been Waiting For

Just. Can't. Stop.

I'm a book lover - clearly - and I've been one as long as I can remember. My mom read aloud to us a lot. She would sit on the ground with her back supported by the bed and my sisters and I would lay in various positions and listen. My favorite position was hanging over the bed, reading over her shoulder... I remember her reading Little Women so clearly. I still love that book. And I learned that books can touch you so deeply to bring you to tears and give you such a true connection to characters. Beth's death. Ugh. My heart still breaks when I think about it and remember my mom crying as she read it aloud to us. It was beautiful.

Being read to, being introduced to the beauty of stories and words are some of my most vivid memories. It was such an important part of the time I spent with my mom and my sisters. To sit and listen and learn and connect. It was a gift and I can't wait to share the same moments with my own kids. It's hard to believe we're getting there.

W has already proven to be a deep lover of books as well. I've been sensing it could be the right time to pull out some classics. Like real, intense books... books that are big on words and low on pictures. I have a long list. We're in the middle of getting through Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and he loves it. He begs for more, but it's hard to find the time to get through a chapter or two. It just makes me so excited for all the books I'll get to read to him in the next few years. Because - man - this boy loves a good story.

What are your first memories of books as a child?

This post was inspired by the classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To celebrate, Penguin Young Readers Group, in partnership with Dylan’s Candy Bar, the world-famous candy emporium, and First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides books for children from low-income families, is launching a year-long international celebration.

Head over to From Left to Write to learn how you and your child can have a chance to win the Golden Ticket Sweepstakes where the grand prize is a magical trip to New York City plus much more! For every entry submitted, Penguin Young Readers Group will make a donation to First Book. Then, join From Left to Write on July 24 as we discuss Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. As a book club member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

Good Deeds 2012: Week 38 Animal Store Alphabet Book

Good Deed: Supported Kickstarter program for The Animal Store Alphabet Book by Susan Bearman and Rebecca Hamlin.

Have you heard of Kickstarter? I had, but had no idea what it really was and this is how Kickstarter is defined on the website:  "Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. Everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others. Since our launch on April 28, 2009, over $350 million has been pledged by more than 2.5 million people, funding nearly 30,000 creative projects."

Cool, huh? So, another local blogger wrote The Animal Store Alphabet Book, a children's book that needs support through Kickstarter. It's basically a way to pre-order your book (or more) and support their project. The book looks awesome and I ordered my first Christmas gift! Win/win, right?

W loves animals and thinks visiting our local pet store is an exciting way to spend an afternoon. Check out the book and get your first holiday gift. They need to raise $2,700 more in the next 14 days. I would love to get my copy, so order yours!

Good Deeds 2012: Week 33 Recycled Wire Hangers

Good Deed: Saved box of wire hangers from the landfill.

I don't reuse the wire hangers we get from the dry cleaner, but I feel terrible throwing them away to sit in a landfill forever, so I've been collecting them for a while. I wasn't sure what I would do with them, but I knew that I'd figure it out.

Three years later and I decided to ask my dry cleaner if they would like them, which they did. So, the next time I brought in clothes, I also carried in a box of hangers. And guess what? They were actually really appreciative.

I figure this counts as a good deed for the environment and my dry cleaner, which is a family owned business with a husband and wife who work 12+ hours/six days a week. If this saved them a few pennies, then I'm happy to keep doing it.

Trust me, it would be much easier to just throw the hangers away, but I'm glad I didn't.

What was your good deed this week?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 32 Donated Items to Epilepsy Foundation

Good Deed: Donated two bags of clothes, accessories, and toys to Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago.

If an organization calls asking if they can schedule a pick up for a donation of gently used clothes and household items, they will most likely get a "yes." I have some clutter bug tendencies and donating a bag of items has always been a good way of finding things that we don't really need.

Epilespy Founation of Greater Chicago called and I told them I would be happy to make a donation. The morning of the pick up, I packed up a skirt and a dress shirt of mine, t-shirts that were handed down to W and don't fit in his drawers, five stuffed animals, a few outdated belts, and a couple of books. All of the items were gently used and can be sold in their thrift store to support families impacted by epilepsy in the Chicago area.

The best part? I filled the bag, put it out before I left for work, and it was picked up before I returned home from work. Easy as can be. Learn how you can make donation here.

Good Deeds 2012: Week 31 Humanity Helping Sudan

Good Deed: Voted for Humanity Helping Sudan for the VH1 $100,000 Do Something Award.

I received this from my sister-in-law in Richmond, so am pulling her words directly (thanks, Kim!)...

At age 3, Manyang became a refugee of the Sudanese Civil War. For 13 years he lived in refugee camps for Lost Boys, where homelessness, hunger, fear, and abuse were part of his everyday life. At age 17, Catholic Charities brought Manyang to Richmond where he learned English, finished high school and began college.

 

He started Humanity Helping Sudan Project to improve the lives of Sudanese refugees and attempt to battle the problems of an entire displaced population. Humanity Helping Sudan runs on-the-ground programs at refugee camps where they provide fishing nets, agricultural programs, and community gardens, reaching 40,000 displaced people.

Learn More About Humanity Helping Sudan and take a minute to vote for Manyang Reath for the $100,000 Do Something Award.

What was your good deed this week?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 30 MyMaryCate.org

Good Deed: Sharing information to further awareness and help fundraising for www.MyMaryCate.org.

It doesn't feel like it very often, but there is some power in having a blog. We bloggers have the power to share information, whether with five people or 10,000 people, our words can help spread information.

I was contacted about a local family and an opportunity to support them and their baby girl.

Their story:
Local Chicago mom, Kerry Lynch welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Mary Cate on December 8, 2011 and soon realized something was wrong – baby Mary Cate was the 1 child in 160,000-200,000 to be born with Apert Syndrome. This craniofacial condition causes issues in the development of the brain and skull, hands, and feet. Mary Cate has recently undergone her first of very many surgeries that she will need in her lifetime.  Kerry has started a blog to share her journey with readers.

How You Can Help:
To help support the financial struggle the family will inevitably face, a special needs trust fund has been set up in Mary Cate’s name.  Local maternity store, Belle Up has created special “Team MC” hairbows that the boutique is selling and will donate 50% of the net sales to Mary Cate’s special needs trust. 

In addition, on August 18th, from 1-6 p.m., the My Mary Cate Benefit will be held to help offset the medical and therapy costs for Mary Cate.  All money raised will be donated to the My Mary Cate trust fund.  For more information on the benefit, to donate money, or to purchase a ticket, please visit: http://www.mymarycate.org/#!benefit

When you hear about another family struggling with the health of their child things come into perspective and you hug your kids a little tighter. Maybe consider a way you can help them, too?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 29 Don't Let Big Plastic Bully Me

Good Deed: Signed petition to Illinois Governor Quinn to veto a bill that would not allow cities in Illinois to create plastic bag bans.

I'm so tired of seeing plastic bags stuck to fences, floating in the lake, blowing down the street, and I'm also tired of hearing about how bad they are for our environment. I try really, really hard not to use them. I'm not always perfect. I often forget my reusable bags, but I always choose paper when I do. But it would not affect my life if they were banned and I think that the damage they cause to the environment and water outweighs their convenience.

A 12 year-old named Abby started this petition as part of her school project to get a local ban on plastic bags. Enter big lobbyists and you can guess how the rest of the story goes. I like kids who are trying to make a difference and it's a pleasure to support their (good) efforts. If you agree, sign the bill.

What was your good deed this week?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 28 Found a Dollar, Shared a Dollar

Good Deed: Found a dollar on the ground and shared it with a homeless person.

I don't have good luck when it comes to money or winning anything... I can't recall a time when I've found money on the ground. I don't win raffles. I've won one blogging giveaway (and never received the package!?!). I've bought Lotto tickets once and obviously did not win (or else this would be a very different blog). I certainly don't gamble, because I know I would just be wasting my money.

So, imagine my surprise when I found a dollar on the floor of the train during a morning commute this week... And since it wasn't my dollar to begin with, I carried it out of the train station and placed it into the cup of a homeless woman. It felt like that dollar was in the right place.

What was your good deed this week?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 27 Hunger Avengers

Good Deed: Downloaded Hunger Avengers Activity Booklet and ConAgra Foods donated a meal to Feeding America.

It is often hard to remember the level of need in our country, especially the staggering number of children who are hungry. After spending nearly a week with Matt's family doing lots of eating and often scraping unfinished food into the garbage, I read a blog post by Tracey from Just Another Mommy Blog. And it was a humbling reminder of hunger in our country and a great opportunity she had to participate in making a difference. Go ahead and read it and then download this booklet.

With W's current Avengers obsession and my goal to make sure he is aware of what he puts in his mouth and appreciates his full plate of food at every meal. So, go ahead and download the booklet and someone will get a meal.

What was your good deed this week?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 26 Donate Life America

Good Deed: Registered as an organ, eye, and tissue donor through Donate Life America.

It took me about one minute. All I had to do was enter my driver's license number and address and now I am one of the six million adults in Illinois registered to possibly save lives. I've always been a donor on my driver's license and told everyone my wishes, but I figured this was the final step in making it official.

My uncle who was killed in an accident last year was a donor and knowing that his death made a difference to so many lives was the one comfort I could take from knowing he was killed.

Consider this: According to Donate Life America, there are more than 114,000 people nationwide waiting for lifesaving transplants, including more than 5,000 men, women, and children in Illinois. Isn't that reason enough to register?

What was your good deed this week?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 25 Amvets

Good Deed: Donated clothes to Amvets.

This week was a tough one. I was busy with an event at work and stuff at home and I just needed something to be easy. So, when Amvets called to let me know they would be in my area and wanted to see if I would have items to donate, I happily agreed.

A small bag of clothes was picked up on my door step. Easy as can be and a great opportunity for me to find ten pieces of clothing in the house that I could clean out.

What was your good deed?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 24 Crayola, Make Your Mark!

Good Deed: I signed the petition to Crayola on Change.org, which was started by Mr. Land and his “Kids Who Care” from Sun Valley School, asking Crayola to create a recycling program for their markers.

Every year, Crayola makes about half a billion markers. And when those markers have run out of ink or lose a cap they go in the garbage. Imagine how many garbage bags of markers are out there. As we're all more and more aware of the plastics getting into our environment and leeching into our lives, any opportunity to cut down on this is a good one.

How brilliant is this idea?!?! I would happily collect our used markers and send them back to Crayola and I know I am not alone. I love that a group of kids and their teacher are able to create such an amazing idea and create a campaign for real change. Sign the petition!

Good Deeds 2012: Week 23 Operation Pink Sky

Good Deed: Donated to friend's Give Forward campaign as she jumps out of a plane to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. 

My pal MJ Tam is going to jump out of a plane this week. Not only is that pretty cool, but she's going to raise money for breast cancer research while he does it.

 Help support her! I don't think I have to explain the many, many compelling reasons to support breast cancer.

Good Deeds 2012: Week 22 Gay Rights Petition to Boy Scouts of America

Good Deed: Signed petition to the Boy Scouts of America to reinstate a Cub Scout leader who was removed for being gay.

Did you hear that crap about the Cub Scout leader who was removed from her position for being gay? It's flat out discrimination, teaching bigotry to young boys, and - ultimately - convinces people like me that the Boy Scouts won't ever be a part of our family or receive any of our money.

Here is part of the petition written by Jennifer Tyrrell, the mother who was removed from her position:

"Shortly after registering my son for Cub Scouts, I was asked to assume the role of den leader and was persuaded by a platform of tolerance, acceptance and support. Throughout the year, my cubs performed volunteer service at a local soup kitchen, collected canned goods for area churches to distribute in food baskets, participated in bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, and, at the time of my removal, were working on a conservation project for a state park. My Tiger Cubs earned multiple Scout badges for service and skills, while learning and exercising the 12 Core Values of Scouting: citizenship, compassion, cooperation, courage, faith, health & fitness, honesty, perseverance, positive attitude, resourcefulness, respect, and responsibility.

The revocation of my membership came shortly after I was elected treasurer of my pack and uncovered some inconsistencies in the pack's finances. Within a week of reporting these findings to the council, I received notice that my membership had been revoked, based on my sexual orientation, citing that because I'm gay, I did "not meet the high standards of membership that the BSA seeks."

There was an outcry of support for me by the parents of my Tiger Scouts, many of whom waited for hours to voice their concerns to members of the council and the pack's charter organization, but were turned away without the opportunity to do so."

As a mother who believes in volunteering, as well as supporting and embracing your children's interests as your own, I can only imagine how heartbreaking this must be for this family.

What was your good deed this week? How about you go ahead and sign this petition?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 21 Sent Coupons to Troops

Good Deed: Mailed expired coupons to a military family stationed overseas.

A month ago I registered to adopt a military family through Coupons For Troops. I had a big bag full of expired coupons waiting for a good home. It took a few weeks, but I received an email from Brittany, who has a two year old and is stationed in England. She's 23 years old with a husband in the Air Force. (When I was 23 years old I was waiting tables and partying at Wrigley Field... how's that for perspective?)

The coupons are in a manila envelope and headed to England, where they'll be put to good use.

What was your good deed this week?

Good Deeds 2012: Week 19 National Association of Letter Carrier's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

 
Good Deed: Donating a grocery bag of non-perishable foods to National Association of Letter Carriers's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Did you hear that Saturday, May 12th will be the nation's largest single-day food drive? And you don't even have to leave your house. This is the 20th year that the National Association of Letter Carriers have held this drive and in 2011 they collected 70.2 million pounds of donated food.

To take part, leave your bag of non-perishable food at your door on Saturday. Your friendly mail person will collect the food and deliver to the local food bank or pantry.

Consider these hunger statistics from Feeding America based on their 2011 Annual Report:

• 1 in 6 Americans are facing hunger.
• 1 in 8 Americans are currently serviced by Feeding America.
• 1 in 6 Americans live at or below the poverty line.
• Nearly 49 million Americans, including more than 16 million children, are facing hunger.
• 5.7 million Americans are served by the Feeding America network everyday.

I can't imagine having to worry about feeding my children. It's something I can't even comprehend and breaks my heart. Can you? Make a difference and leave some cans out on Saturday.

Note: I am in no way affiliated with Feeding America, nor was I compensated for this post.

Good Deeds 2012: Week 18 OneSight

Good Deed: Donating an old pair of eye glasses to OneSight.

I buy new glasses about once every ten years. That time came a couple of years ago when I developed an ulcer on my cornea from over-wearing old contacts. I was grounded and had to spend two months in glasses. It was my prompt to get new specs and in that time I learned that my eyes are much more comfortable after a day in glasses and I have embraced my specs like I never imagined possible. I've even overcome astigmatism in each of my eyes (no joke!).

Anyway, so I tend to keep my old glasses as back up just in case the current pair goes down or something like that... But, seriously, my old glasses are so bad, I will never, ever wear them again. So, tomorrow I'm going to take them to LensCrafters and donate them to OneSight, a family of vision care programs dedicated to restoring and preserving clear vision to those in need through outreach, research and education, in order to hand-deliver the gift of sight to those in need worldwide.

I have very nice glasses with scratch-free, transition lenses (someone will appreciate that, right?), and are just begging to help someone regain their vision just sitting in a drawer.  It's time for them to go.

According to OneSight, 284 million children and adults suffer from poor vision because they lack access to proper eye care and eyewear. More than 2 million pairs of glasses are needed each year to support the amount of people in their Global Clinics, which give free eyewear, eye exams and the ability to live a fuller life. Makes that back-up pair of glasses in your drawer sound a little unnecessary, huh?

What was your good deed this week?

Note: I am in no way affiliated with OneSight, nor was I compensated for this post. All information was found on their website.

Good Deeds 2012: Week 17 Coupons to Troops

Good Deed: Registered to adopt a family through Coupons To Troops.

Did you know that troops stationed overseas can use coupons up to six months past their expiration date? Me neither until I saw it in a magazine (while I was giving blood - one good deed leads to another!) a couple of months ago.

I went through a very short period of trying to cut coupons and did an alright job saving money. But, it was really time consuming and I found that I was often compromising on my goals to feed my family mostly organic, unprocessed foods. That was right around the time that I learned I could send expired coupons to military families. So, I've been holding onto them and created a little stock pile of the extra coupons I didn't use and those that had expired. Last week I finally registered for a family who can use these coupons through Coupons To Troops. You can either sign up to adopt a family for a full year or for a one-time mailing.

I cut all the coupons from the newspaper inserts that I've been hanging onto, which took about an hour and will help keep the cost of shipping low. Now I'm just waiting on the name and address, so I can send off these coupons to someone who can use them. Easy, right?

What was your good deed this week?

Good Deeds 2012 Week 16: Shared My Social Media Space

Good Deed: Helped share information about Project Ladybug and their upcoming fundraiser on my Facebook page.

I received a message from someone I went to high school with asking if I would share my social media space on Tuesday to help spread the word about Project Ladybug and their upcoming fundraiser. Their goal was to blow up social media and rely on free marketing through contacts to help with marketing. I wish I could have done more, but I was in the office on Tuesday and really busy. So, I shared it on my Facebook page. And I'm also sharing it here.

Sharing your social media space may not seem like much, but I can't tell you how many new organizations I've learned about through the social media posts of others. The reality is there are many very worthy organizations doing great work with no budget for marketing. Like in any business, word of mouth, reputation, and brand identity are incredibly important in fundraising. Think about what organizations you might help promote with your own social media network.


What was your good deed this week?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Project Ladybug, nor was I compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

Good Deeds 2012 Week 15: When It Gets Complicated

Good Deed: Met young man selling magazines, purchased a subscription, then did homework and canceled, am now full of guilt.

I work from home on Wednesdays, so I was there when a young man rang my doorbell around 5:00. I was there with the two boys and our maniac dog that barks at anything that moves. I opened the door to find a nice kid, who explained to me that he was 19 years old, from New Orleans, was chosen for a program that would give him interpersonal and sales skills for his future. He explained to me that just because you come from nothing doesn't mean you'll be nothing. I nodded my head in agreement.

He asked if he could ask me a few questions that were helpful to his learning:

Q. What was your first job?
A. I worked at the GAP in high school. I started when I was 15.

Q. Did you like it?
A. It was OK. It was really just a job. My friends worked there and I got a good discount on clothes.

Q. What is your job today?
A. I work in fundraising. I raise money for diabetes research.

Q. What trials and tribulations have you had to overcome to get to where you are today?
A. (Silence......) Ummmm, I don't know. I guess being a woman can put me at a disadvantage in some cases. Being a working mom isn't easy.

Q. What keeps you focused on attaining your goals?
A. My two boys.

He asked me to sign something to prove that he was there and rate our interaction. He did a great job. I was happy to help. And then he mentioned the magazines he was selling and the points he could earn to get a $1,000 bonus. I told him we didn't need any. But, then my ability to say no snuck up on me and I found myself saying "OK, let me take a look..."

It agreed to a two-year subscription to Natural Health. I pulled out my checkbook and he asked me to make the check out for more than I would have liked to spend... But, I did. I was happy to help and really thought we would enjoy the magazine. I believe in giving everyone a chance. I believe that this kid deserves an opportunity. I thought about the question of trials and tribulations... I can't think of any door that I've wanted to get through that has been closed to me. I have opportunity in the world to be anything I want. I know that is not the case for everyone. Let's be honest... An African-American from a poor family in New Orleans and a limited education doesn't have the opportunities that I had at his age. However, we're a dual income family with a high mortgage. We have kids to send to college and retirement to fund and a lot of bills. So, I'm careful about how we spend our money.

Two years ago a similar young man came to our door, selling the same magazines. I purchased a golf magazine that I had sent to my brother-in-law, Tristan, who was just starting to get into golf. They never received the magazine. Matt couldn't believe I would fall for a con. I truly believed it was a fluke and insisted that it wasn't a con, but insisted I wouldn't do it again... Evidently I was wrong.

So, last night I did my google research. And I found some concerning information about how these kids are treated, the little they receive, and that basically my magazine purchase is only lining the wallet of an organization that takes advantage of the kids who are selling their magazines. I went back and forth... And I finally decided to cancel my check. Then this morning I called the company and asked them to cancel my subscription. I expected to wait on hold for hours, get the run around, have it be impossible. But, the customer service rep answered my call on the second ring. She was professional and pleasant and I started to feel like maybe this was a good organization and questioned my decision. But, I still canceled.

I stand by my decision to cancel, but I wish I had done things differently. Now I wish I would have given that kid my business card. He lit up when I told him I worked in fundraising, that I believed that there is good in everyone and we just have to tap into that, that people do not have to be a product of their environment if they're given opportunity. I wish I had given him the opportunity to learn from a professional, to have someone to help him as a resource. I hate that he will learn today that the one sale he made yesterday was canceled. I feel like a coward.

I guess that's part of this whole good deeds thing, right? Not all philanthropic endeavors are always the right ones. Sometimes thinking with your heart instead of your brain complicates things. I still feel like I did a good deed by spending time with someone who is trying to better his life. I signed his sheet, rated him as excellent, and recommended a nice neighbor who would open her door to him. That counts, right?

What was your good deed this week? Have you ever done a good deed that you regretted or had to undo?