Posts Tagged: "donate"

Money Savvy Piggy Bank | Educational Toy

Princess Diana - November 7, 2017 - Kids

Earn more money so you can buy more stuff.

I used to believe that about money, but I don’t anymore. Now, I see money as freedom to do what I want with my time.

I learned most of my personal finance skills as an adult from reading articles on The Simple Dollar website. Like many children, I didn’t receive money lessons at home that I needed to become a money savvy adult.

Schools don’t make it a priority to teach personal finance skills, so it’s something that must be taught by parents and family members to children–from an early age.

My son, Aiden, recently turned five years old, and he received cash from three different people for his birthday that added up to almost $100. Bingo! This is the perfect time to start teaching him some simple money lessons and smart money habits.

BlankieGrams Send Hugs & Healing Wishes

Queen Darlene - September 30, 2016 - Condolence, Get Well

Don’t know what to say or do when friends and family are going through long serious illnesses, injury, or loss of loved ones? Wrap them in hugs, love and healing wishes by sending a BlankieGram.

blankiegrams-hugs-love-caring-thoughtful-gift-idea BlankieGrams are soft cozy blankets printed with loving and supportive words to describe how much you care and that you are thinking of them.

Words like hugs, bear hugs, strength, lots of hugs, healing wishes, good thoughts and positive attitude.

I love the idea of wrapping them up in a warm blanket, like a hug, especially if you cannot be there.

I experienced this first-hand as our sister-in-law made a blanket for my brother during his lengthy stay in the hospital. It featured his favorite basketball team logo – the Oklahoma City Thunder!

He loved her thoughtful gift and wrapped up in the warmth of the blanket every single day. Continue Reading

Pay It Forward Baby Shower

Princess Diana - May 31, 2016 - Baby Shower

With your first baby, you feel like you need every baby gear that exists. You’ll register for anything that could make your life and baby’s life easier. Baby wipe warmer. Check!

As you prepare for your second baby’s arrival, you may realize you don’t need many baby items, especially if you’re having your second boy or second girl. You may not even need diapers if you cloth diapered your first child.

You may opt for a baby sprinkle, a smaller version of a baby shower, or decide you don’t need even that.

But what if a friend, family or co-worker insists on throwing you a baby shower to celebrate your second (or third or fourth) baby’s arrival and you’re not in need of baby items?

The answer is a Pay It Forward Baby Shower.

This type of baby shower honors you and your baby but the gifts people bring benefit an expectant mother in need.

The baby gifts could be donated to a low-income mom, a single mom, a teen mom, or a local non-profit organization dedicated to providing babies with life’s basic necessities.

Teddy Bears for Kids Involved in Domestic Violence

Queen Darlene - September 18, 2014 - $20 or Less, Catch All, Kids

My BFF, Linda, decided to donate a big box of her never-been-used teddy bears she used to have displayed in her office. Yes, she was a collector. She did not start out that way but through the years friends and family started giving her bears for birthdays, Christmases and celebrations.

These teddy bears will be used by law enforcement to comfort children involved in domestic violence so they’ll have a best friend to hug and to hold.

Linda enjoyed her stuffed animals but thought of a much better use for them. Children who could use their own BFF – best friend forever.

That’s where my husband, Randy, comes into this story. He volunteers as a deputy for the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. He gives his time to assist fellow officers patrol the 750 square miles here in Logan County, and he loves it! Continue Reading

25 Ways to Pay It Forward| Random Acts of Kindness

Princess Diana - April 1, 2014 - Birthday, Experiences

The idea behind “pay it forward” is that everyone can make a difference in the life of someone else. When you pay it forward, you make an effort to positively impact a person’s life through a random act of kindness and love.

Leave a container of laundry detergent at a laundromat with a note saying, “Feel free to use!”

Last week, I wrote about my friend Erin who wanted to inspire 34 pay it forward random acts of kindness in celebration of her 34th birthday. In case you were inspired to do the same thing, I thought I’d share with you some ideas of what you could do.

Buy a movie ticket for the person behind you in line
Send a card to someone in the military overseas
Put something you no longer need on Craigslist.org for free
Tape a bag of microwaveable popcorn to a Redbox machine with a note saying “Enjoy some popcorn with your movie!”
Drop off a toy or game at a children’s hospital
Buy a lottery ticket and give it to a stranger
Continue Reading