Spreading Some Major Sunshine: Children's Hospital Style

It's hard to believe that a year has gone by since Lucky Girl's hospital stay last September.  While she has completely recovered from a case of viral meningitis, we still remember how traumatic the experience was, and how grateful we were for a superb staff that took great care of our little Lucky.

We were also extremely grateful for the activities that the support staff provided to keep our little 3 year old girl occupied while stuck in a hospital bed with an IV pole.  Once she was feeling better, she played Bingo with the other kids on her floor through the television and telephone.  She drew pictures for everyone.  She made a princess wood craft.  She eventually got to visit the arts and crafts room for group activities.  She ended up having a lot of fun at the hospital:).

The day we returned home, I counted my blessings and pondered how I could 'pay' our good experience forward.  I'm a deal shopper to the core, so it didn't take long for me to come up with a plan to purchase a nice selection of toys and crafts (on clearance, of course) and donate them the following September.  I tried to focus on toys that could be enjoyed from a hospital bed, and probably ended up spending about $50 overall.  The main stores that I shopped at were Target, Walmart and Fleet Farm.

This week we dropped off these goodies to the Children's Hospital:

Lucky and Charm were so excited to drop off the toys, although Charm was slightly disappointed that he didn't get to hand them out Santa style to kids in the hospital:).  Lucky and Charm definitely received a lesson on the importance of giving, and I think this donation will become an annual tradition in our household.  

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Project Sunshine: Relaxation Box

I haven't done a Project Sunshine post in awhile.  It's not because I'm not keeping up with the project, rather sometimes it feels a little strange to send someone a package and publicly announce that I'm sending a surprise. It makes it feel less genuine.  Anyway, here is a surprise that I'm happy to share since there are multiple recipients, none of whom read this blog.

Background for this Project: At my regular Yin Yoga class, we use lavender eye pillows at the end of each session.  I absolutely love the aroma.  It causes instant relaxation, and I really wanted one!  The yoga studio sells them for about $15, so I checked out Etsy where prices start at $5 plus shipping.  I figured I could make them really easily, but I'd need to make a bunch of them to make it worthwhile.  Since the school year is almost ending, I decided that it would make a great teacher's gift!

I ordered up some organic lavender from Amazon, along with some organic fabrics from Fabric.com.  I picked up some organic rice from Trader Joe's and mixed the lavender and rice in a 2:1 ratio.

Bill, Lucky and Charm filled the muslin bags that I made about half way with the lavender/rice mixture, while I sewed the bags shut.

Next, I made covers for the muslin eye pillows using various types of organic cotton fabrics.

I even made a couple extra 'mini' eye pillows for Lucky and Charm:)!:

I found some boxes at Target dollar bin section and lined them with tissue paper.  In each box, Lucky, Charm and I added a homemade organic lavender eye pillow, an organic EOS lip balm (my favorite!), and a few bags of antioxidant rich green tea.  The overall cost for each gift (box included) is just over $7.

 I used simple labels and $1 alphabet stamp set to address the presents and add little 'relax' and 'rest' reminders:):

 Inside each box:

Bill made little 'eye pillow' cards using card stock.  

Hopefully, the teachers will enjoy their gifts and get some well deserved rest and relaxation this summer!

And I did make an extra eye pillow for myself too and I LOVE it!  This gift may be my go to present for awhile, especially since I have lots of fabric and lavender left over!!

Project Sunshine: Doublemint Gum

For the past couple months, I've been making an attempt to surprise people who mean a lot to me with little gifts or notes.  It's just my way of saying that I care and appreciate someone in my life.  So far I've sent cards, a mug or two, a movie night surprise, a toy and halloween decorations.  I'm calling my efforts "Project Sunshine", and my goal is to be frugal, yet thoughtful with little gifts and letters that may have a positive impact on someone's day.  (Read my original Project Sunshine post here for more information.)

Here is my latest Sunshine Surprise:

Last week, while using up some Walgreens Rewards, I came across this tin of Doublemint Gum that has 20 packs of gum inside.  It was $2.99, but I used rewards from all the free stuff I got on Thanksgiving Day, so I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket for the gum tin making it a nice fit for our budget this month:).  I am so excited about this tin.  Doublemint Gum just makes me smile...it's one of those things that brings me back to a 'magical time' from my younger years.

(Side Note: If you don't read Amber Dusick's blog: Parenting.  Illustrated with Crappy Pictures and you have young children, I highly recommend it.  Her post about Magical Moment Memories is so sweet.  Tami, please read this post about public restroom use.  It's hilarious x 100.  Thank you, Kiki, for sharing the blog with me.)

Back to the gum.  Doublemint Gum has a special place in my heart, and here's why:  It takes me back to high school.  I don't think I would say I loved high school.  It was okay.  The coursework was challenging and sports were fun.  All the social dramas and hierarchies were something I could have done without.  Generally speaking, high school was a stressful and uncertain time in my life.  I was always working hard to get good grades, to get into the right college, and to do well in extra-curriculars.  There was one thing that made it easier for me:  my Dad's office.  He was the assistant principal at my high school, and while I'm sure that most kids would have hated that situation, I loved it!  My dad is an enthusiastic and outgoing fellow who always has my best interest in mind, and his office was ALWAYS fully stocked with a jar of Hershey Kisses and a Sam's Club sized box of Doublemint Gum.  I definitely made regular visits to stock up on some goodies.  Doublemint Gum and Hershey Kisses always remind me of my Dad.

It's funny to think back now, because in reality I'm not the biggest fan of chocolate and never have been.  Also, Doublemint Gum is okay, but is not my personal favorite either.  I wonder if my Pa knows that even though I said I was just stopping by to get some chocolate or gum,  I really just wanted to say 'hi' to him and chat for a bit.  I treasure the memories of stopping by his office mid-day to touch base.  I really love that guy.  I know he passed his work ethic and core values on to me, and I'm forever grateful for that.  I'm so proud to be his daughter, and I'm so happy my kids have such a great Opa (Grandpa)!

So this Doublemint Tin is en route to Florida.  I hope my Pa enjoys the gum and then finds a fun use for the tin...maybe it will end up on his new desk in his man cave.  Maybe he'll even save a pack for me next time I go to visit:)!  Regardless, I'm really glad I stumbled across this silly gum tin!  I love you, Dad!

Project Sunshine: Movie Night

What do you get when you combine a box of theater candy and a package of microwave popcorn:

....with a DVD:

Movie Night!  

I'm sending this one out to my horror movie loving BIL.  I've done similar gifts for teachers (with more appropriate movie selections, of course:)) and they make super gifts on the cheap!

Here's the cost breakdown:

The Others Blu Ray on sale for $4.75 at Target a few weeks ago - $3 Manufacturer Coupon = $1.75.  Read about the deal here.  (Target and Walmart routinely sell DVD's for $5 each, and Black Friday is a good time to stock up on $2-$3 DVD's as well!)

Whoppers Theater Candy Box: $0.98 from Walmart

Microwave Popcorn: Free-ish (I just grabbed a bag from the pantry...but you can use coupons and purchase popcorn on sale and get it for less than 50 cents per bag)

Total: $2.73...not too shabby! Here's hoping my BIL enjoys it:).

Read more about Project Sunshine here and here.  And if you have any inexpensive gift ideas, I'd love to hear about them.

Project Sunshine Gift Idea: West Elm Alphabet Mugs

Earlier this week, I mentioned my new project.  Part of that project includes finding or creating fun gifts on the cheap.  When I find a gift idea, I'll do my best to pass the information along in a timely manner so that you might be able to take advantage of sales and coupons too!
Here is one idea:

via

West Elm Alphabet Mugs

$4 each on sale, with FREE shipping!

I can personally attest to the fact that these mugs are awesome!  When I found them last spring for $4 each, I picked up several important family letters, and we have been enjoying them ever since!  They are large mugs...perfect for a nice cup of coffee or to warm up the kids' milk in the morning.  They are also nice when we have company over because everyone claims a letter and there's no question about which mug belongs to which person!

I have planned for awhile now to add to our alphabet collection (I even picked up a discounted West Elm gift card from Plastic Jungle several months ago.), but I've been waiting for them to go back on sale!  Yesterday, I noticed they were back to $4/mug, and I ordered several more to add to our collection!  We've even picked up a couple of them for presents in the past, and I ordered an extra 'N' mug this time for a family helper who could use some sunshine cheer!  I love that this gift is personalized and inexpensive.  Add a $1 bin mini-bag of coffee and you're good to go!  It'd be a perfect host gift or teacher gift as well!  Come to think of it, I'm off to place a second order for some coffee loving preschool teachers! 

Feel free to send any inexpensive gift ideas my way by adding a comment to the post.  I heart comments:)!!

Have a wonderful fall weekend!

Spreading Some Sunshine

Happy November!  I can hardly believe that the holiday season is upon us.  This year continues to fly by.  It's been an interesting year for me and my family.  There have been sorrowful times and joyful times and introspective times.  At the end of each day, I can't help but feel so grateful for a wonderful family and wonderful friends who fill my life with love and happiness.

I recently came across this quotation by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (American Author, Poet and Psychologist) that was brought to my attention by a friend's blog and the book, The Gift of An Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison:

"Anything you do from the soulful self will help lighten the burdens of the world. Anything. You have no idea what the smallest word, the tiniest generosity can cause to be set in motion. Be outrageous in forgiving. Be dramatic in reconciling. Mistakes? Back up and make them as right as you can, then move on. Be off the charts in kindness. In whatever you are called to, strive to be devoted to it in all aspects large and small. Fall short? Try again. Mastery is made in increments, not in leaps. Be brave, be fierce, be visionary. Mend the parts of the world that are within your reach. To strive to live this way is the most dramatic gift you can ever give to the world."  

Life is journey, and we're on all this journey together.  It's amazing to think what an impact a short note or a small gift might have on anothers day.  I love surprises, but what I love more is giving surprises!  If I can make someones day with a handwritten note or a small gift, I want to do it!!  So with that in mind, I'd like to initiate a challenge of sorts to begin in this month that focuses on giving thanks for all that we have and all that we hold dear.  At least once a week, I want to take a moment and 'Spread the Sunshine' outside of my immediate family.  It may be a phone call or short note.  It may be a small surprise gift.  It doesn't matter what 'it' is.  I truly cherish every 'ordinary day' that I live, but what better way to make an ordinary day extraordinary than to give onto others!

Aside from calls and notes, here are a couple surprise examples from last month:

Dollar Store Decor for a Family Member who liked my crows:)

Nemo Swimming Toy on super clearance (from Target:)) for a friend's Nemo Loving Daughter

I love that I can use my deal shopping skills to benefit others!  Also, I'll be on the constant look out for thrifty and thoughtful gifts!  (It's a perfect time of year to have inexpensive, yet thoughtful gifts on the mind!)  If you have any ideas you'd like to pass my way, leave a comment!

As for my self challenge, I plan to write monthly posts about 'Project Sunshine" as I go...stay tuned!