Today is the day.....

If you live in blogland even a little, today is the day.

The Bloggers Give Back Project is a fundraising project specifically for the holiday season.

They choose one deserving and in-need family and all of the proceeds go to this family.

Bloggers from all over have donated items that will be auctioned off today. The items range from tax preparation, photography sessions,

interior design services,

jewelry, accessories,

books,

art,

clothing (oh how I love EmersonMade).....all sorts of goodies.

I am personally loving these!

You don't need to have a blog to participate.

Go here.

Look at all of the amazing items and leave a comment with your bid.

You MUST leave your name, email address, and bid.

You also need to have a PayPal Account.

If you don't already have one, quickly go here to set one up.

Get bidding today.

They also promised everything would be shipped in time for Christmas, so perhaps, you can finish up some last minute shopping AND support a good cause.

GO! GO! GO!

P.S. Feel free to purchase any of the above items as a gift for me. :)

Just sayin'!

all images via BloggersGiveBack

Gift for Good

Do you have someone on your list that is difficult to buy for?

It seems we all do.

Over the next while, I'll share with you a few gift ideas that give more than the generic pair of socks. 

(Although, socks are ALWAYS appreciated at a homeless shelter. Just a thought.)

Anyway,....

back to the gift idea.

Go to donatefruit.com

Purchase any of their gift boxes or fruit packages and they will donate an equal amount of fresh fruit, pound for pound, to a food bank.

Give a gift.

Check.

Help feed the hungry.

Double check.

Go here to learn more.

Happy Holidays

Make Time for Change

You can join Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner in supporting Save the Children.

You can directly help kids in need this holiday season just by clicking a button on your computer.

It's simple and fast.

Go here.

Set a virtual place at the table.

Every day you do this and register, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children to help children in need this season.

It takes just a minute and couldn't be easier.

*As a bonus, you'll be entered to win a $50 gift card and a chance at the Grand Prize -- a Frigidaire Profession freestanding gas range.

Santa's Letter and Macy's

It's that time of year already and the countdown has begun.

I'll be sharing with you throughout the season some very simple ways to make a difference and do a little good, all while celebrating one of the greatest holidays of the year.

First up, write a letter to Santa.

Some might think this a selfish act, but not when combined with Macy's and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

This year, for every stamped letter that Macy's receives in their Santa Mailboxes they will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1,000,000.

{As of the time of this post they have only received 400,000}

You can download a letter template, create one online and then print it off, or simply write one yourself.

Be sure to STAMP the envelope

Adress it to SANTA at the NORTH POLE

Deliver it to a Santa Mailbox located at Macy's.

{You just helped donate $1 to Make-A-Wish}

The letters will be delivered to the post office and the money from Macy's will go to Make-A-Wish.

Go here for all of the information and to watch a sweet short film.

If you are not familiar with Make-A-Wish go here to learn more.

Thirty Days of Kindness

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break.

I recently found this beautiful idea called "Thirty Days of Kindness" on [dandee].

This gorgeous (and talented) woman is counting down the 30 days before her 30th birthday with Thirty Days of Kindness. The ideas are simple, sweet and could easily be integrated into any of your holiday plans.

Her countdown is already almost half way over, but be sure to look back at some of her past posts and the simple ways to show kindness. She invites any and all to participate.

Today's Act of Kindness:
Read to a child as long as they want

[image via dandee -- original source]

Be sure to join her. Her blog is beautiful. Her ideas are simple.

You are sure to be inspired by her to create your own acts of kindness.

This is such a great idea and a great way to spend time leading up to your own celebration either for the holidays or any special event. 

Be sure to check it out here.

Thankful Trees

Thanksgiving is just a week away! (Can you believe it?!)

But, there is still plenty of time to put all of that gratitude to good use.

Thanks to some of my very clever and creative friends, I thought I'd share a simple idea that I really like. The whole family can even get involved.

Have you heard of a thankful tree?

My good friend Heidi does this activity with her family.

She gathers branches and cuts leaves out of cardstock.

(Of course, she also arranges the branches in a cute container and makes everything look charming.)

Then everyone takes turns writing on the leaves the different things they are thankful for.

I love this idea!

And I love that one of the things is cookie dough ice cream. So funny!

This could be a one time activity that you then display until the holiday or something the family members can add to whenever they feel like it.

Love it!

Here is another version of a thankful tree from my sweet friend Carrie.

(Again, she is very clever, very creative and everything always looks so beautiful.)

This is a similar idea with branches and paper leaves, but she also adds an activity onto each leaf that they can do to help show their gratitude.

They can then add onto the leaves the things they are thankful for.

I love this tradition. I love this idea.

I would show you pictures of one of my own thankful trees, but I haven't ever made one.

I definitely need to.

I love this idea.

Thanks Heidi and Carrie for being willing to share! You are the best!

How does your family show their gratitude?

What traditions do you have?

I'd love to hear from you.

Time to give Thanks

I think most people understand the importance of feeling and offering gratitude, but sometimes taking the time to do it becomes the tricky part.

One Thanksgiving tradition to adopt is to take the time to say "Thank you" to anyone. To everyone.

Take the time to have your family sit down and write out thank you cards.

image via susy*jack

Make it easier with this free printable (and delightfully beautiful) card from Susy Connor of Hey Susy.

You can find it here.

I love it.

Saying thanks just got easier and more beautiful.

P.S. This would even make a great print. OR they would make a great gift if you printed out a set.
Oh and heads up -- she also has a few other gorgeous free downloads -- a birthday card, a just because card. I love them all!