Seven to Ponder...

Thought I'd throw some kindness possibilities your way this week...

1. I'm a big fan of the "pay for the person behind you" in the Starbucks drive through - this also works for Tim Horton's or any drive through where you pay and pick up at the same window. But for something different...buy a gift card from 'bucks or Tim's and put it under the windshield wiper of a parked car for someone to find later. Surprise!

2. Gather all those unwanted items in your household (de-cluttering feels great) and advertise a garage sale and make everything free - how fun would this be! Free Garage Sale! Early Birds Welcome!

3. When you are cooking or baking it is often easy to just double whatever you are making - do it and share it with someone who could use a treat or a night off from cooking. That might just be everyone you know!

4. Keep extra umbrellas in your car and on a rainy day pass them out to people waiting at bus stops without umbrellas/shelter or someone walking home without one. Stock up at the dollar store to make this one a go!

5. Bring treats to your local school, preschool, daycare, firehall, care home or maternity ward for the staff - these can be busy, crazy places where the adults could use a boost. And store bought isn't cheating by the way!

6. Take coupons that you don't need and place them on the shelves of the grocery store by those products. You will surely make someone's day! I posted briefly about this here in a post about sending cool things in the mail.

7. Writing encouraging words on post it notes (I like heart ones) and post them on lockers, bathroom stalls, bus shelters, and/or wherever you feel they will make a difference. Stick it!

These were posted on two bus shelters in Vancouver - at least 8 post its! Awesome!

 I've tried to share 7 ideas that might not be your regular go to ideas when you think of random acts or purposeful acts of kindness. Please add your brilliant ideas in the comments on this post.
I'd love to hear some more!

300/1000  Two pieces of facebook post pay it forward mail going local to make it a nice round number!

Conspiracy Theory or...

Have you noticed anything strange lately? Have you noticed people acting differently? Maybe you are in on it and involving others...It feels as if that there is some kind of unofficial or unwritten theme/rule this year and it is KINDNESS - yep, Year of Kindness. At least that is what I am dubbing it. Seriously, I'm feeling the love. 

I made one of my New Year's Resolutions (yep, I make them and do my best to keep them) to do something kind everyday and sometimes it is a challenge and sometimes it isn't. Either way it's been a fun experience so far and the more I make it a part of my day/my life/my outlook, the more I see it everywhere. Kind of like how you never saw THAT car, until you bought one, and then it seemed like everyone had one. Seriously, I have never seen so many Mazda 5s in my life - where did they all come from. I can always pick mine out in the parking lot - it's the dirty one.

And I'm not saying that Kindness is something new but I'm seeing more of a movement lately. It was the official Random Acts of Kindness last week (I love anonymous and random kindness), I just read about a kindness bazaar, saw a compliment challenge on facebook, Chatelaine magazine has started a year long kindness campaign, and it seems to be prominent on recent blogs and social media. I started my January by answering and then posting this offer/challenge:

Erin Ballard Evans

January 3

2013 Creative Pay-It-Forward: The first five people to comment on this status will receive from me**, sometime in the next calendar year, a gift - perhaps a book, or a baked goods, or something crafty or handmade- a surprise*! There will likely be no warning and it will happen whenever the mood strikes me. The catch? **Those five people must make the same offer in their FB status.

16Like · 

Mail Call!

I love to send out mail and know that I might brighten someone's day...why do I think my mail will brighten someone's day you ask? Because fun, cool mail always brightens my day! If you've read the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, then you might have guessed that my main love language is gifts. If you haven't had a chance, it is a fascinating read.

Last week I was taking one of my daily trips to my mailbox (yep, daily - who knows what treasures it might hold! Not to mention that it is small and gets filled up fast) and filling up my mailbox was an amazing package from Angela!

Day Brightener!

My very own copy of The Lab Magazine! Why is it so special...because Casey Affleck is on the front...nope, but stunning photography. It's special because Angela has written two articles in this magazine and I'm so excited for her and her writing journey. Once upon a time the very talented Angela was one of my Creative Writing students and she's an amazing person - so proud!

And hopefully arriving in mailboxes near and far some sweet little Valentine's Day notes...

Piglet: How do you spell love?

Pooh: You don't spell it, you feel it!

That is one smart bear!

Happy early Valentine's Day everyone!

297/1000 - yep that's another 24...Norway (2), US (1), Ontario (1), AB (1), BC (19).

I Heart You....

Paper hearts, pipe cleaner hearts (and wands), foam hearts, crayon hearts (and random whales that like to eat spaghetti), melted bead hearts...we've been busy over here getting ready for Valentine's Day!

Handmade Valentine's Day Cards

Are you cringing at the thought of THAT day creeping ever closer? It can be a tough one for all kinds of reasons...but I've really grown to love it for all the fun it can be (if you let it). It is, in fact, the only holiday that I consistently hand make my own cards. I never quite know what I'm going to do until about two weeks before and then I rummage through my ever growing paper/craft stash. They aren't fancy or something you'd find at a store (no one would buy one) but they are made by me and that's the best part about sending them. 

Nostalgia for those elementary days is probably what spurs me on - I loved handing out my cards and receiving others in my handmade mailboxes or tucked under my math duo-tang or spelling practice (or other such important work). We decorated with doily hearts and read Valentine's Day themed books and received heart stickers on our work. There truly was love in the air for all of us in those decorated hallways, classrooms,  and desks - at least for those moments we were there. What a good feeling! What a lovely idea for teachers to share with their students - love each other. We didn't always do it but seeds were planted on those days.

Maybe, Valentine's Day hasn't been big on your list in the past but why not give it a try this year. Write a heartfelt note to someone who is struggling and needs encouragement (could be the best Valentine ever to send), bake some heart cookies with or for your favourite kiddos (yours or others), dot your i's with hearts (hahahaha) all day long just for fun, or buy yourself some pink and red wrapped chocolate treats (you deserve it). 

Love!

When you feel like love is hard to find...look for it in small things...an unexpected hug, a door held open, a perfect cup of tea/coffee...A few weeks ago we took a little family trip into Vancouver and went to a great little store called The Regional Assembly of Text - paper, journals, typewriters, zines galore! We stopped to make buttons (among other purchases) and when I asked my daughter (who is almost 4) what she wanted her button to say, she didn't miss a beat. Pure love right there.

Check out my past Valentine's Day posts: Valentine's Day 2011 and  Valentine's Day 2010 for more.

One special package going out to someone up North as a Pay It Forward experiment :) Handmade! More to come about that soon...

273/1000 - one special package!

Thanks for Your Patience!

Oh...hello there...good friend. I've missed you.

You look fantastic by the way!

...just breaking the ice :)

I've had my blog window open on my computer for over a week now...wondering if I can just sneak in a new post...you know, like I've been doing it regularly for the last (eep!) two years.

I kind of took a sabbatical, went on hiatus, got lost in the desert and by that I mean wow, life is crazy amazing and just swept me away, as only it can do. And guess what? I didn't stop sending out mail, I just didn't blog about it. I thought a lot about blogging every time I let an envelope gather speed and fly through the mail. I'm probably pretty close to my goal or at least halfway but really it would be easy to just say that wouldn't it and to be honest I didn't keep track. So I'm going to start from January 1st...I actually started writing them down...must have known that blogging was in my future once again.

And what was I doing while I was gone you ask?

Well among other things...I was watching my beautiful baby Piper turn into an amazing little girl who I love more and more everyday! And wow, she is almost 4! And rumour has it, she would like a rainbow cake for her birthday (at least that is the latest intel-I'll ask again in 5 minutes).

9 days old

And last year we went from a family of 3 to a family of 4 when we welcomed our sweet little Sam(uel) into our lives.

6 months

He is growing super fast and keeping us on our toes!

10 months

And here he is now - my sweet, smiling, baby boy Sam (who is almost one already)





Thank you to Candice Wong at Candice Wong Photography who took these beautiful photos of my Sam. She has an amazing gift.

So I guess a little "Thanks for your patience" is in order :) And now back to our regularly scheduled program...1000 pieces of mail here I come, and off they go.

Running the numbers: Norway (2), California (1), AB (2) and BC (14). That'll be 19 (it's a start...again).

272/1000

Handmade and Heartfelt

I received a Valentine's Day card today and it was handmade with construction paper, foamy lips, chocolates for eyes and a paper doily - as precious as the girls who made it! This is Valentine's Day to a "T" isn't it? Paper, scissors, glue and of course, a little chocolate (optional but very much appreciated in our house).

A lot of people get stressed about Valentine's Day and what to get or do. Others feel left out because of their relationship status. And still others are downright angry. Hmm. I wish I could send everyone a handmade and heartfelt Valentine's Day card to say - You are awesome all by yourself, you are great - don't change a thing, your authenticity and kindness are such gifts, have faith that good things are out there for you...and other wonderful sentiments that I'd send out all day long.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Surprise someone with a Valentine's Day card - Who isn't expecting one? Who deserves one? Who could really use one? It's not too late for hand delivery - isn't that how all the kids will do it on Monday when they trade them all around with icing laden fingers.

I sent some of my own out this morning. I know they won't all make it in time but many of them are local and definitely will (I know the recipients will forgive my tardiness - it is the thought that counts after all).


Counting on my fingers and toes: Delta (8), Surrey (6), Richmond (1), Osoyoos (1), & South Korea (1) - add another 17 to the count...

253/1000

Today's Forecast: Crazy Busy

We're getting close to the big day now and you know if you've been out there at the mall or just the mall parking lot - it is crazy busy. Which often means people are sharing anger, frustration, and impatience instead of love, joy and peace. It's easy to get caught up in the negativity of the season. Sooo...next time you get a grumpy sales clerk (who spends all day at the mall for very little pay) or get stuck behind those slow mall walkers (meanderers, wanderers...you know the ones) or someone takes "your" spot - try to let it go and remember what this hustle and bustle is all about.

And when you do encounter someone who absolutely made your day or went out of their way to give you a hand - say thanks, Merry Christmas, buy them a coffee, or if it is a clerk (maybe write up a compliment card). I noticed a couple of weeks ago that my local grocery store has them right at the front and even a desk to fill them out at with drop slot included. I filled one out for a lovely cashier but waited till I got home and had a moment to think(then dropped it in the mail - surprise, surprise right?) Also, my mail carrier received a card with a coffee on me - he does work hard and it's a simple thing. What I love is that he wouldn't have been expecting it.

Thanks to all of you for the mail that make my trip to the mailbox a happy journey.

Adding three to the mix: Surrey x 2, Norway x1

236/1000