Thanks and Giving Project Recap

This week a group of bloggers joined together to complete a week of assigned Thanksgiving tasks. Today we come together to share those experiences. Please link up your post below!

Monday we Treated a Stranger. Random acts of kindness. There was no set way to carry out this task. I decided to buy a gift card and give to someone in need. However, I never did "find" that person to gift it to. I will be sure to be on the look out through this week.

Tuesday was Handwritten Note Day. I wrote my grandmother a note. I also wrote a quick thank you to my mail man. An random act of kindness idea I got from Pinterest. I will never know how that note was received but my hope is a simple 'thank you' went a long way!  My youngest wrote his own letter too. Such a sweet heart!

Wednesday we Treated A Neighbor, friend, or co-worker. I had big plans for delivering baked goodies on the doorstep of a neighbor's house early in the morning. Didn't happen! I went with Plan B: Treat a co-worker. When I stopped for my morning coffee, I picked up two packages of chocolates. A small gift. I placed each on their desks and went on with my day. Sometimes, it's the simple gestures. The ones you don't realize will matter. My favorite part of this whole week was the responses! This week has reminded me the importance of acknowledging others.

Thursday the task was to Leave Messages of Kindness. I lacked creativity and carried out this task via Facebook. This day I switched from being a Liker to a commenter. I tend to overuse the thumbs up sign. I don't usually comment. Facebook is how I stay up to date with all my faraway friends. My thumbs up is like a check in. However, I think comments are so much more fun to receive. When you verbalize what you "Like" it becomes more personalized. I guess in my hurry or laziness, I just skip the comments. Thursday I made a point to let others know those thoughts I don't share. My little way to change the focus from me to others.

Friday ended the week with Treating Our Family. My plan was a special dinner and board games. Family Night! On a whim, we decided to ditch school and play tourist. The decision was a little easier to make because of our out-of-state visitors (Gma & Gpa). We went to LA to explore Griffith Observatory (a favorite) and Hollywood.

Five days of gratitude and giving. I loved it! It's so nice to make a point to change the focus. I feel refreshed. Ready to turn back to thinking of the holidays. Shopping. Decorating. Fighting crowds. I can barely contain my excitement!

Thank you for those who joined. I hope you will create a recap and link up with us below!

Thanks and Giving Project {Day 5 Treat Your Family}

Five days. Five days we have been spreading words of gratitude and giving to others. How did it go? Do you feel like you contributed something to the world? Did you falter a bit and not complete the whole week. That's ok! But you won't want to miss today's task.

I couldn't think of a better way to end this project and this week than spoiling my family. Today we treat our families. We act nice. We say nice. We do nice.

Yep, sometimes I need to be reminded. I need to stop and just let be. I need to smile and give the gift of whatever without holding it over anyone's head.

Tonight I get to spoil many. My normal family of 5 has multiplied to 9. My parents, sister, and her boyfriend are in town.  I haven't quite figured out how to spoil them but we will figure something out!

It's been a great week. I thank you all for joining me! I can't wait to see all your recaps! It's always fun to see how everyone completed their tasks and what reactions they received.

Thank you all for joining our group and the Thanks and Giving Project!

Here are the tasks we completed this week:

Day 1 (Nov.18):  Treat a stranger.

Day 2 (Nov.19): Send Handwritten notes.

Day 3 (Nov. 20): Treat A Neighbor.

Day 4 (Nov. 21): Leave messages of kindness.

Day 5 (Nov. 22): Treat Your Family.

Enjoy your Friday all!

Thanks And Giving Project {Day 4 Leave Messages of Kindness}

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezey! Today's Thanks and Giving Project task is to leave messages of kindness. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, voicemail. A note tucked away in a lunch box or wallet. Spoken words of gratitude as you leave... wherever you've been!

Day 1 (Nov.18):  Treat a stranger.

Day 2 (Nov.19): Send Handwritten notes.

Day 3 (Nov. 20): Treat A Neighbor.

Day 4 (Nov. 21): Leave messages of kindness.

Day 5 (Nov. 22): Treat Your Family

Today we will be kind. And observe. All the funny looks, reactions, and the kind words sent right back our way!

Facebook // Twitter // Bloglovin //

Thanks and Giving Project {Day 3 Treat A Neighbor}

Half way through the Thanks and Giving Project! Are you picking up steam? I hope you are finding joy in this project!

Neighbor is a relative term here. Today we define neighbor as someone you encounter daily. Your co-worker, a fellow parent, or maybe just your neighbor. No BFF necklaces needed. Or BFF iphone cases which is probably more relevant these days. Today we treat someone we might encounter often but don't necessarily know all that well. Today is an 'I see you' gesture. The simple act you mean to do more often but just can't find the time to initiate. 

Maybe you will bring cookies or coffee. Maybe you will pick up the newspapers piling on their driveway or drag the trash bin up to the house. Maybe you will replenish the office candy dish or bring a package of much needed office supplies. The ones you tend to deplete. There are a million things you can do. I can't wait to see what you have decided in Saturday's recap!

Day 1 (Nov.18):  Treat a stranger.

Day 2 (Nov.19): Send Handwritten notes.

Day 3 (Nov. 20): Treat A Neighbor.

Day 4 (Nov. 21): Leave messages of kindness.

Day 5 (Nov. 22): Treat Your Family

Facebook // Twitter // Bloglovin //

Thanks and Giving Project {Day 2 Send Handwritten Notes}

I don't know how much time you need to scrounge up a stamp but in this house we are gonna start early! I know I have stamps. I just don't know where those things are!

Today we are sending out handwritten letters. Throwing it way back to the days of ink and paper.

Day 1 (Nov.18):  Treat a stranger.

Day 2 (Nov.19): Send Handwritten notes.

Day 3 (Nov. 20): Treat A Neighbor.

Day 4 (Nov. 21): Leave messages of kindness.

Day 5 (Nov. 22): Treat Your Family

After we gripe a little and get to writing... think how good it feels to put those words on paper. The anticipation of the letter arriving all cozy in those mailboxes. Oh I can't wait!

Who receives my letters today? It's a hard decision. Partly because so many deserve a handwritten note. Partly because I don't have time to write many.

I know my grammy will get a letter. My grandma used to be so good at writing letters. A surprise note found in a mailbox. My mailbox. A distant relative's mailbox. A friend of a friend. My grandma always wrote letters. Things have slowly changed and letters don't come so freely anymore. I suppose it isn't so easy for her to do these days. It's my turn to write the letters.

My second note will go to a former colleague. Boy do I miss her! In my years of employment, I find it rare to come across someone who is incredibly joy-filled. Someone who loves life. Loves their job. Loves people. Let's make a pact... when in life we come across these people... let's hold them tight. Let them know how refreshing they are! And when they move on... or you move on... let them know when you miss them.

I am committing to two letters today. I suppose there could be more on a whim. But two is a good start.

Who gets your handwritten notes today? Remember to take a picture! I can't wait to see all you have done this week for our Thanks and Giving Project!

Facebook // Twitter // Bloglovin //

Thanks and Giving Project {Day 1 Treat A Stranger}

Today is the day. The start of this little thing we've put together called the Thanks and Giving Project.

This week before Thanksgiving, we want to encourage you to set aside time to complete each daily task. A task to spread some gratitude or share a gift. Today you will give to someone you don't know. Tomorrow someone you do know. And on it goes until we get to Friday when we end our week spoiling our families! Oh what fun that will be!

We signed up all last week HERE. Not a requirement. Just a great starting point for who to follow along and support this week as we delve into this project together. 

Here is the list of this week's Thanks and Giving Project, if you forgot.

Day 1 (Nov.18):  Treat a stranger.

Day 2 (Nov.19): Send Handwritten notes.

Day 3 (Nov. 20): Treat A Neighbor.

Day 4 (Nov. 21): Leave messages of kindness.

Day 5 (Nov. 22): Treat Your Family.

Today we treat a stranger. What have you decided to do? Buy a coffee for the person behind you in line? Leave flowers on a car? A box of chocolates on the counter? Perhaps you will hand off a gift card to the homeless person hanging around at that certain corner.  

There is no right way to do this task. Today is a random act of kindness. Let your heart lead you.

My guess is today will make you squirm. It will make you uncomfortable.  You might even think... I'll just skip today and do double tomorrow. I hope you push yourself. I hope you decide Today is the day I am going to show someone there is good in this world.

I hope. 

As you do your tasks this week, please take pictures. I would love us all to come together on Saturday and recap our week of the Thanks and Giving Project. I would love to see what you have all done and how you carried out each task. I want to know how you felt and how you involved your families. I really do! So as you start your week and this project... remember to take pictures. Link those pictures up on Instagram or Twitter. We will be hashtagging photos #thanksandgiving. Can't wait to see the good you're spreading!

Facebook // Twitter // Bloglovin //

Thanks And Giving Project

The Thanks and Giving Project. A week devoted to gratitude and giving. Inspired by this project.

Won’t you join us? Our group of SoCal military spouses, who just happen to be bloggers, are joining forces. Making a difference together. We want to stop and slow this month down.

Do you ever feel the same?

It’s almost Thanksgiving. Hanukkah. Kwanzaa. Christmas. The new year. Life is about to get busy. Real busy.

What if we took a whole week… well, almost a whole week… five days before Thanksgiving to give thanks and just plain, give.

Here is what we have cooked up:

Starting Monday, November 18 we will post a new Thanks and Giving task daily. A simple task. An Act of Kindness. The goal is to keep focused and complete each daily task. But if you can’t. It’s okay. I promise there are no blog police.

The Thanks and Giving Project isn’t about adding more stress to an already busy week. This project is about committing to good. Bringing joy to others. Expressing gratitude. Giving.

Let go of the countdowns and lists. Stop thinking about things and focus on people. Say ‘Thank You’. Say ‘Your Welcome’. Oh, and don’t forget to enlist the help of your kids!  They are gonna love this! And so are you!

Are you in? If yes, then link up your blog below. Join us on Instagram and Twitter with #thanksandgiving as you complete your tasks.

Here are your Thanks and Giving Week tasks:

Day 1 (Nov.18):  Treat a stranger.

Day 2 (Nov.19): Send Handwritten notes.

Day 3 (Nov. 20): Treat A Neighbor.

Day 4 (Nov. 21): Leave messages of kindness.

Day 5 (Nov. 22): Treat Your Family.