I don't want to write this

I don’t want to write this post. I wish I didn’t have to write it, but I do. It’s been there, bumping against that lump in my throat for 5 months. Five. Months. I can’t believe five months has gone by and I still don’t want to write this post. Please bear with me while I try. Hold my hand and wrap a friendly arm around my shoulders. This is going to hurt.

My Graduation Party

My friend Aaron isn’t so much like my friend as he is my brother. We grew up together, lived in the same house for a while during our formative years, and never strayed too far from each other.

He has been my brother’s best friend for more years than I can remember. There are so many memories tied up with Aaron, his family, and mine. In fact, I can’t remember a momentous day without remembering his contribution to it: thoughtful, kind, caring, funny. Damn funny. Aaron makes a room laugh with him, at him, but not because he’s a clown or an idiot. He knows your chuckle point, what gets your giggle going and he exploits that knowledge with discernment. And when he’s got you laughing, you’ll be privy to the smirk, the same little grin he’s carried since the forever accompanied by a twinkle of his eyes. His green eyes had the greatest twinkle.

Had. Aaron died on June 7. Five months have crawled by since my friend, my brother took his own life. I miss him every minute. I think of something I need to tell him every day, of places we should go, of food I want to cook for him, of hugs I need to give him. I pick up my phone to text or call him often. So often. I think of things I should have said, could have said that might have helped, but this isn’t about me. This is about Aaron. He was a good man, a wonderful friend, and a loving brother. I love him so much and this world is a darker place without him.

I want to point my friends and readers to some resources that can help them when they see the signs of depression in themselves or their loved ones. Post Secret routinely donates to The National Hopeline Network, which can be reached by calling 1-800-SUICIDE. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is a 24 hour resource. 1-800-273-TALK (8255) NSPH also has a Veterans line in partnership with the VA which can be reached by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Veterans press 1.

To those who feel themselves being drawn into the shadows of depression, please talk. Talk to your friends, family, coworkers, they love you! We love you! We want to help you. No subject is taboo. If you’re too shy to talk to a friend, call one of the hotlines above.

Thank you for reading along with me and for holding my hand. I love you all.

I love you, Brother.

~SmSc

Naki Family

I just wanted to pass this information on to any and all who could help.

Abby and I were in countless high school drama productions together. Her joy and energy was endless. That energy must be serving her well as she now has 6 daughters and chronicles life with them on her blog, Six Maile Chix. Two weeks ago, the Maile family unexpectedly lost their daddy. Here's some information on Naki Maile and his tragic death at the age of 32.

And here's how you can help. To make a donation to help his 6 little girls, visit: http://www.nakifamily.com/ Please keep the Maile girls in your thoughts.

Thanks so much for reading,

Sara

Poetry Publication

I normally don't talk about my writing stuff here, but I'd like to spread the word about this fantastic text.

This is the first of two poetry publications I expect to have out before the new year. One of my poems appears in this anthology along with poetry from my amazing colleagues at Absolute Write. All proceeds go toward maintenance of AW. It's a great gift for the readers in your life and very reasonably priced!

Absolute Poetry Vol. 1 by the Poets of Absolute Write: A collection of poems from the poets of the Absolute Write poetry forum.
Absolute Poetry

I'm particularly proud of this poem and extremely honored to be included in such fine company. I also can't wait for the next publication to be announced. The theme is fantastic and the poetry collection is one I'm going to read again and again.

This is me, smiling :) Thanks for reading,

Sara

Support for Sam's Kids

I'm in the middle of studying for 4 (yes, FOUR) exams this week, but this is too important to skip.

Please think about sending a couple dollars to the Cort Family. I cannot think about their situation without having my eyes bubble over with tears. Just a couple bucks. This growing family needs it.

Good v Evil

Have you seen TED? TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. The basic premise of the non-profit is "Ideas worth spreading." Their website is a collection of essays, articles and videos. The topics are so widely varied and interesting, it's really worth a look.

I want to draw your attention to one video in particular. It's going to sound silly, but after I read the book Wicked, by Gregory Maguire, I've been drawn to the idea of good and evil in modern context. Anthropologists and their students face struggles in maintaining objectivity. When you're conducting research and one of your subjects is doing something you think is "wrong" do you stop them from doing it or do you allow it to happen for the sake of research. Because, the argument goes, if you have the evidence from ONE case, you have ammunition to help the ENTIRE population. Tough choices.

But I digress. The video I'm talking about is this one. It's 20 minutes long, but worth the watch. Samantha Power is talking about a renegade hero, a guy who negotiated with terrorists and dictators in order to save people. The story is compelling and Ms. Power's telling is captivating. But that's TED, compelling and captivating. As a sidebar brag, a LOT of Penn Staters have appeared in TED Talks. That's right! We can drink and be brilliant!

Thanks for reading,

Sara

Worthy Cause

They all are, aren’t they? That may be a bit overreaching, but most nonprofits seem to have good intentions. Since you can’t give to every single one out there, how do you decide which one or ones to help? Sometimes you just know. A cause will hit closer to your core and after you research it (yes, please do!) you make your donation.

Many of you know that I have an awful pair of knees. More specifically, I have a fairly aggressive case of degenerative arthritis. When I was 22, my orthopedic doctor said these broken down joints belonged to an 83 year old. He expected to replace both of my knees before I turned 35. These days, they’re pushing my magic number back to 45 or 50. And praise the god of skinny punks, because I’m about to turn 33 and ain’t nobody cutting me! But enough about me!

This brings me to my worthy cause. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, otherwise known as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. This form of Arthritis is horrible. The Arthritis Foundation is working to research treatment and cures for all forms of arthritis, setting up community support groups, and sponsoring advocacy programs for arthritis sufferers. They even offer green donations, direct through the website.

Let’s Move Together is a community arm of The Arthritis Foundation, hosting walks and runs in order to raise funds and community awareness. Take a look at their main page to find an event in your area. Most are hosted in the spring, so I’ll keep an eye out and remind you when the season ramps up.

Other causes that tug at my tired old heart strings:

Cupcakes for a cause : Are you kidding me? I can bake goodies AND help kids with cancer?!?! WINWIN!

Autism Speaks : As a sidebar, you can donate to Talk about Curing Autism (TACA) by purchasing these adorable Kauzbots.


Just as a reminder, Cheerful Givers is still doing their online Social Summer Fundraiser. Get over there and give the kids a couple bucks!

Wish List

Amazon calls it a wish list, which makes it seem so innocent but I find my wish list growing out of control. Unlike grocery shopping, I simply loathe regular shopping. The upside of this hatred is rarely spending money on my wants or wish list items. There is a downside. I usually end up with a mile long wish list before I even think about shopping. My current list? Not just via Amazon?



Tom's shoes, I love the Dickens ones. The Poe are cute, or Zola, or oh goodness! Someone just buy me every pair of literary Tom shoes! And while you're at it, get me these in all red!



Sixty-Six, by William Haskins. I'm embarrassed to say that my favorite living poet has a book out that I have not purchased. I hang my head in shame.



The Wicked Soundtrack and probably 1072 other tunes.



My Life in France, by Julia Child.



This food processor. In chrome. Oh yes, I know what I want.



The ice cream attachment for my Kitchen Aid stand mixer.



And this house but I'd settle for this one...



See? I'm out of control. Back to work!

Zen in the Supermarket

I’m being serious! I stroll the aisles, like an afternoon at an empty shoreline, searching the market for my favorite eats and delicious veggies. Pungent cheeses, ripe tomatoes, savory whole grains, I could spend an entire day lost in shopper mode. Grocery shopping mode. So many dread it, treat it like a chore, a hassle. But the thought of an hour at Wegman’s excites me! I tune on my iPod and wander. I. Love. It. When I travel, I seek out new grocery stores, looking for local goods that I can’t buy at home. Even in New Jersey. Something is wrong with me, I know.

I’ve been in love with grocery shopping since the minute I could drive. My mother didn’t love it. A busy woman with a demanding career and four kids, how could she? There was never enough time. Instead, when I was old enough to venture out on my own, she sent me. She would jot down a few essentials, give me a fistful of cash or her credit card, and send me on my way. Freedom! For an introspective 16 year old, those liberating jaunts to the grocery store were my zen. I would take hours, to the point where my mother would ask where I really spent my time. I’m still not sure if she believed me when I told her the grocery store was my only destination. Sure, there were so many places for me to get in trouble, oh and I did, but not when I had a chance to go to the grocery store. I could pick out meals for the entire family. Freedom and POWER! Woo! What a rush! My love of grocery shopping is deep, everlasting.

Nowadays, though YIKES! Mom’s don’t have an endless supply of hours to roam the store. And really, there are so many other things that need to be taken care of in the course of the day. I can see why people think grocery shopping is such a chore. So, I thought I would share some of my methods to keep the zen in the supermarket. They may seem simple or basic, but here goes!


1. Make a list. I know, right? But, there have been times when I go to the store with a mental list and it’s just not the same. I forget the cheese or leave the pasta, and when I get home my stress level climbs because I realize I don’t have what it takes to make meals. Irritating! And I’m not just talking any kind of list. You don’t have to be as ridiculous as me (or my sister *coughlaurencough*) but I make 2 lists. First, I sit down with my favorite cookbooks the night before I shop and after Finn is in bed. Putting post-it notes on the recipes I plan to use for the week, I write down everything I’m going to need for each recipe. That list ends up on my fridge or in the front of the cookbook. Then, I make another list that separates everything into categories: produce, dairy, meats, bulk, frozen, grocery, and miscellaneous. This way, as I’m taking my leisurely stroll through the aisles, I’ll be sure to remember everything in that section and not have to double back to grab the peanut butter after I already passed by on my way to granola. I also make sure to put an * next to any items that might have coupons. Memory aids, good they are. I also keep a note pad attached to the fridge for staples that run out. So, be sure to consult that list before compiling your master list. Wow, my routine sounds so rigid now that I’ve tossed it into the blogosphere, but it really works for me!

2. Stock up. I don’t mean canned goods! Before I go, I grab my reusable bags, a bottle of water, and something to eat. I always, ALWAYS get hungry when I’m shopping. If I bring a cheese stick, granola bar, or piece of fruit, I’m less likely to buy 12 boxes of Oreos (and less likely to eat 6 of said boxes during my stroll.)

3. Fly solo and early. It’s the only thing I insist on being able to do on my own. Grocery stores are quieter in the early hours of the day, say between 7-10 am. That’s my aim. I love going on Monday mornings because everything is freshly stocked at my store on Sunday. There’s a better chance to cut down on return trips and less frustration. Besides, how can one attain a zen-like experience when fighting over the last head of edible red leaf?

4. Pack your bags. At this point, I’m sounding like a total control freak. But, if you know where stuff is, you’re going to have an easier time unpacking it. I put all the refrigerated items together, all the frozen stuff in the same bag, and all the produce is carefully tucked in so that I know my lettuce isn’t wilting and my nectarines aren’t turning to pulp under the weight of Yukon golds. Another benefit to packing your own bags? You know how heavy is too heavy, Teenster McStuffyourbags doesn’t.

5. Take a trip. Plan at least one meal that you haven’t tried yet, something foreign or exciting. Take your time when perusing the ethnic food section of the store and see what catches your eye. Try something new and allow yourself to experiment. On food. Sure, your family may turn up their noses, but give it a shot! Be bold! Be daring! Be brave! Get excited about new foods.

Enjoy your next trip to my Mecca and let me know how it goes!

Thanks for reading,

Sara

Chocolate!

Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!

Now I have your attention. In my last post, I mentioned the September edition of Whole Living Body + Soul. I really love that magazine, their helpful tips are actually, well, helpful. And the tone of the mag is just right for me, a nice balance between “I can really DO this,” greenie hints, and “wow, I can’t wait to be able to do THAT one day!” I’m not sure if I’m being clear, but it’s a groovy magazine and it really fits for me. So, what does that have to do with chocolate?

There was an interesting DIY suggestion in the September edition. Natural Color Booster for your hair. It’s been ages since I’ve had the time or the cash to get my hair done. One of my best friends owns an all natural Aveda Salon in Pittsburgh and after a few bad experiences, I honestly don’t trust anyone else with my hair. But, driving to Pittsburgh for a hairdo, it’s a commitment. Time, energy, money, time. These are a few of my favorite things, but they aren’t in abundance around these parts. No complaining, just trying to be more resourceful. In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m naturally dirty blond, but I dye the tresses a darker shade of brown. It’s so much less maintenance than trying to actually be blond and well, lets just say that being blond never really did me any favors. So, I gave the DIY Natural Color Booster a shot. It has a cocoa powder base. Yum. The smell alone was enough to encourage a slathering of kitchen variety mush.

Cocoa Powder, plain yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and honey. Simple. Mix it into a paste and apply it to freshly washed and towel dried hair. The instructions said to leave it on for 2 or 3 minutes, but that didn’t seem like enough for me. I went with 10. Nothing. Not one single change. Maybe because my hair is naturally lighter? My expectations weren’t high, I just thought it would ramp up the color I already had on my hair, at least give it a bit more shine and vibrancy. Nothing.

Any ideas? Pittsburgh, here I come.

Thanks for reading,

Sara

Cheerful Givers needs your help

Cheerful Givers are in the second week of the Social Summer Fundraiser. Please spread the word via Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, and MySpace.



Thanks for reading,

Sara

No Apologies!

Listen, this blogging thing? It’s not easy to keep up with! Easy? Easy is playing outside all day with Finn, getting up at 4:30 to pour coffee, growing veggies, baking brownies, reading, soaking up the sun, weeks at the beach, scheduling classes, securing money, and buying books. Warm days spent outside, splashes in the lake, conventions with the ocean, like old friends rushing to embrace, collecting shells, tossing one back as a thank you. Summer = Life. Summer = Happiness. Summer = Love.

But summer is almost over. In about 10 days, I’m going back to college full-time to finish a degree I’ve been picking away at for close to four years. My 3 year old will start full-time preschool, I’ll be working 25 hours, studying the rest; all these changes that I’m still so unsure of. My internal voice goes something like this:

It’s going to feel so great to finish my degree.

But I love having those special days with Finn.

You can still have great times together, you pick him up at 3:30 everyday.

But that means no impromptu weekday picnics at the lake, no Waffle Shop breakfast dates, no nap-time snuggles.

You can do all of those things over the weekend. Think about how amazing it will feel to FINISH school and how great of an example you’re setting for your son.

But, but, but…

*sigh*

Amidst the struggles, changes, and internal arguments, I’m concerned about our lifestyle, staying healthy while staying busy. Between classes and parking lots, I’ll be walking roughly 3 miles every day. While I’m still going to be active, I know that my time will be at a premium, but I don’t want my family to suffer by way of too much eating out or unhealthy cooking. So, I’m mentally compiling recipes, tips, and suggestions to use over the next 72 years… okay, 3… I hope.

The September issue of Whole Living Body + Soul Magazine had a list of 25 simple, healthy recipes. I plan to use the first few weeks of classes to test some of them out.

Do you have any tips, time management suggestions, good thoughts? Care to share? Please?

Thanks for reading,

Sara

And the Winner is...

... Rooster! Yay Rooster! I especially loved that you gave your son a job, to help with the recycling. What a great example! It's important to get kids involved with conserving and recycling early on. So, thank you for doing what you're doing. Send me an email with your information and I'll get your gift sent out. And what have you won!?!

A pair of books: World Tree Day and Mapping the World Tree, featuring characters from the show It’s a Big, Big World.

A HUGE thank you to EVERYONE who commented on the Earth Day post. You are ALL doing amazing things with your kids. You are wonderful parents and citizens. Thanks again!

Sara

Happy Earth Day!

It’s Earth Day! It’s also my Bloggiversary! Yay!

Today is Wednesday. Wednesday means I’m home with my munchkin and we’re celebrating nature in a big way. Our agenda is simple, but he’s pretty excited.

We’re going on a nature hike! This is one of our favorite activities, but today we’re kicking it up with our special, handmade Earth Day Book. Using some recycled drawing paper and yarn, we made a bound book. The mission is to find some items to draw or paste in our book (if it’s safe to take from the forest!) Some of the things we’re going to talk about on our hike are smells, textures, and conservation.

Gardening! Today is the day to start our garden or at least start planning it. We wont plant for another week or two, depending on the weather. But we’re heading out to a local green house to find some seeds and decide what we want to grow this summer. So far, the munchkin wants peas, sprouts, watermelon, and cherry tomatoes. We’ll see what else they might have that catches his eye. Then, we’re going to prep the garden patch. We need to rake it, pick out any stones that turn up, draw a garden sign on a little wooden plaque we found at a second hand shop. Fun!

And we’re hoping you have some cool things planned. Since it’s my bloggiversary and Earth Day, I’m doing a give-away. Use the Comment section to tell me how you’re teaching your kids about making the Earth a better place or what you did to celebrate Earth Day. I’ll pick my favorite and send you a pair of books from http://www.pbskids.org/ World Tree Day and Mapping the World Tree, featuring characters from the show It’s a Big, Big World. Can’t wait to read your comments!

Have a fabulous Earth Day and thanks for reading!

Sara

Tomorrow is Earth Day!

Tomorrow is Earth Day and The Hero Complex’s First Anniversary. To celebrate, I’m hosting a give-away!

Visit The Hero Complex on April 22, 2009 and use the Comment section to tell me how you’re teaching your kids about making the Earth a better place. I’ll pick my favorite and send you a pair of books from pbskids.org. World Tree Day and Mapping the World Tree, featuring characters from the show It’s a Big, Big World. Can’t wait to read your comments!


Thanks for reading!

Sara

April is Autism Awareness Month

Some information and links for you.

Spread the word:

John Elder Robison, writer-friend and author of Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's , will be the keynote speaker at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Seaver Autism Conference on Sunday April 19th, from 1:30 - 2:30. Please give him your support, if you're able. Here's a link to the event on Facebook.

Autism Speaks has an extensive list of events on their website. By supporting this non-profit, you will be contributing to Autism therapy, research, and resources. Please do.

My toddler was flipping through the May 2009 edition of Cookie Magazine in search for babies doing silly things when he came across a review of Kauzbots. He instantly asked for the "BRIGHT YELLOW ONE!!!" Guess what? Karthy, also known as the BRIGHT YELLOW ONE!!!, is passionate about autism awareness. 10% of his proceeds go to TACA. Take a look at all of the different bots. At $25 a piece, these make adorable, feel-good presents. Check them out!

And another thing! Earth Day is next week and I wanted to remind you of the give-away I'm hosting. Visit The Hero Complex on April 22, 2009 and use the Comment section to tell me how you’re teaching your kids about making the Earth a better place. I’ll pick my favorite and send you a pair of books from pbskids.org. World Tree Day and Mapping the World Tree, featuring characters from the show It’s a Big, Big World. Can’t wait to read your comments!

Thanks for reading,

Sara

Something Light

Figuratively and literally. My toddler has always been quite decisive about food. He knows he likes green beans. He’s positive he hates zucchini, unless I pull out my super sneaky mom skills and put it in chocolate chip bread. He loves broccoli, but only when it’s what he calls “spicy broccoli”: steamed with garlic, ginger, orange, sesame oil, and a pinch of crushed red pepper. He refuses to each potatoes when they’re mashed, but loves fries and tots. What kid doesn’t?

Lately, I’ve been searching for healthy snacks that he would love and I stumbled upon a granola bar recipe in the April Edition of Parents Magazine. This prompted me to come up with my own version of granola bars. They were a hit with the whole house, so I thought I’d share the recipe with you. You can use home made or store bought granola. I tried it both ways and liked my home made granola better, but don’t feel like you need to hippy out. The store-bought ones went over just as well. I don’t think my men noticed. Enjoy!

The Base Bar Recipe:

1 Cup of Granola
1 Cup of Rolled Oats
½ Cup Whole Wheat Flour


1 Egg
¼ Cup Honey
¼ Cup Olive Oil

1 ½ Cups of Any Combination of: Dried Chopped Apricots, Cherries, Cranberries, Blueberries, Dates, or Raisin; Chocolate Chips, Chopped Almonds, Walnuts, Sunflower Seeds, or anything else you like!

Preheat over @ 325°. Use an 8x8 pan, lined with parchment or foil, grease with oil spray. Allow an overhang on the parchment to pull the bars out later. Mix Granola, Oats, Add-ins, and Flour in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk oil, egg, and honey. [Helpful hint: Measure out oil first, then the honey wont stick to the measuring cup.] Mix into Granola mixture.

Spray your hands with some cooking oil and pat the bar mixture into the pan. Bake @ 325° for 30 minutes. Cool in pan, on baking rack. Pull bars out of the pan with the overhanging parchment or foil. Cut into 8 or 16 bars, depending on your appetite. Eat!

One last reminder: While we may try to promote green living every day, April 22 is Earth Day. Since it’s my bloggiversary and Earth Day, I’m doing a give-away. Visit The Hero Complex on April 22, 2009 and use the Comment section to tell me how you’re teaching your kids about making the Earth a better place. I’ll pick my favorite and send you a pair of books from pbskids.org. World Tree Day and Mapping the World Tree, featuring characters from the show It’s a Big, Big World. Can’t wait to read your comments!


Thanks for reading,

Sara

Autism Speaks 5K

Today is the 4th Annual PSU Autism Awareness Race in State College. I’ll be participating as a runner this year with a few friends and some family. Please come down to join the walk or race; or support the runners, walkers, and race organizers by making a donation or volunteering to do clean up or set up. The entry fee is just $15 and the entire amount is a donation toward Penn State’s fund for Autism Speaks.

Also, April is Autism Awareness Month. I’ll be back a couple times during April with information and updates. Please let me know if you have any great links. I’ll include them in a future post.

One last reminder: While we may try to promote green living every day, April 22 is Earth Day. Since it’s my bloggiversary and Earth Day, I’m doing a give-away. Visit The Hero Complex on April 22, 2009 and use the Comment section to tell me how you’re teaching your kids about making the Earth a better place. I’ll pick my favorite and send you a pair of books from pbskids.org. World Tree Day and Mapping the World Tree, featuring characters from the show It’s a Big, Big World. Can’t wait to read your comments!

Thanks for reading,

Sara

I'm ANGRY!

Anger has been on my mind this week. I interviewed for a new position and they required a personality evaluation. The work is customer service based and you can see why they would carefully screen for those with anger issues. Lines of questioning lead me to the understanding that I am not at all prone to personal anger. I rarely feel outraged or upset on my own behalf and I don't tend to be mad at individuals. I don't want to dive into the psychoanalysis of what that may mean about me and my hero complex. Instead, I started to think about what DOES make me angry. Of course, I'm not going to list everything. Who has time for that? But, get ready. You're about to find out what's got me cranked this week!

Slavery: The UN estimates over 27 million people are enslaved worldwide. Are you kidding me?!?! Americans may think the days of plantations, Uncle Tom, and Benito Cereno are long gone, but they're not. Even on our own soil, slavery continues. Disgusting. Some examples of outrage-worthy cases. Anti-Slavery International can use your help.

Human Trafficking: Again, woah! Just look at this article. This inflames me.

Melanie: No, my friend Melanie doesn't make me angry. But man! Get her out of Mexico!

See? So, maybe I can't find anger for myself, but I can be angry for you! Let me know if you need an extra indignant citizen enrolled in your cause. I'll be happy to help. Or angry.

Talk to you again next week. Carbon footprint, anyone?

Thanks for reading,

Sara

Reminders

Of all things, a status update on Facebook reminded me to remind you of some things. My friend Janna, who is doing her part to raise 2 adorable, intelligent, caring girls, said that they spent some time emptying closets to reorganize and allocate items for donation. This got me thinking (thanks, Janna!) It's a new year. What sorts of things do you do to get ready for the coming year? And how can you help out others with those efforts?

Janna started in a great place. Why not sort through your clothes or your toys? Ask your family to donate something to a worthy cause. A game, a toy, a gently used sweater or coat. These things can make a huge difference in someone's life. Did you know that you can ask organizations like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or even your local church for a receipt on items received? It's a tax deduction and there's a standard rate for each item donated. It can add up, believe me!

Have you tried calling local soup kitchens to volunteer some time? It's cold in my neck of the woods and a hot meal might be just what someone needs to maintain their strength or to keep up a job search.

Also, I just received our copy of The Giving Book. It is FABULOUS. It's filled with ways to get kids thinking about others, how they can help and how they've personally been helped and encouraged. Ellen Sabin writes in a way that kids can understand. She doesn't scare them about big social issues, but makes them aware of the need for help. I'm trying to get my hands on a couple more copies. When I do, I'm going to host a few contests this year, and use these little gems as give-aways. Stay tuned.

Lastly, please take a look at some of the sites I've linked to in today's post. They are well worth the visit!

Janna's Blog

The Salvation Army

Goodwill

Soup Kitchen & Shelter DirectoryThe Volunteer Family

Ellen Sabin, Author

Watering Can Press

.
.

Be well and thanks for reading!

.

.

Sara