Things that make me happy

OK...now the obvious is my family and friends...but I decided to mention some things...that just bring me simple and fun...joy.
Here just a few things..
1) The Boston Red Sox and Spring Training
2) 2 1/2 Men...LOVE this show!
3) Dunkin Donuts Coffee..Light 2 sugars
4) American Idol
5) Getting a complement at work
6) Facebook-
7) Crocheting...and finishing a project I've been working on for a while
8) A good book and time to read it
9) Ring Dings
10) Great chicken salad...
11) Lobster
12) Cold Lemonade
13) Walking on a beautiful day
14) New Clothes
15) Tresor...when I can afford it...Timeless from Avon, all the time
16) Kind people
17) Funny people
18) The Celtics and Bruins
19) Spring
20) Winning a sweepstakes
21) Project Linus and the great work they do
22) GOOD news on the news
23) Lots of blankets and fluffy pillows
24) Early morning quiet when everyone is still asleep
25) my 40's and soon to be my 50's...getting older has been wonderful...I care more about what I should care about and very seldom 'sweat the small stuff"


GO SOX!

Spring is a comin!-well, almost...but the signs are here!

My favorite season is on it's way. There is still lots of snow on the ground here in New England...and it is not 'officially' spring for several weeks...BUT...I still 'feel it'...
Here's some of the 'signs' for me

Valentine's Day is this week
Mardi Gras is around the corner
The kids have February Vacation...and we start signing up for spring activities,
My beloved Red Sox start SPRING training this week!!!
Football is over
The Final Four is coming up
The stores have the Easter and Passover things up for sale
You can buy t-shirts, sandals, bathing suits and flip flops in some stores
Did I mention the Red Sox start SPRING training this week...lol
And just that great feeling that spring is - right around the corner.
AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Please Wear Red Tomorrow: Friday February 6th :-)

Tomorrow is "National Wear Red Day."
Celebrate the choices we have to beat heart disease - the nation's No. 1 killer of women - by wearing red on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 6.

Show your support by visiting GoRedForWomen.org to share your story heart disease or choices you've made to beat it, and to sign up and recieve your free red dress pin.

Everyone once in a while...I simply want to share things that I simply feel are so important...and this is one of them...I encourage you all to do something so simple to show your support...and wear red....
Have a great day!

Project Linus/Jeans for Teens/Giving Blood or Platelets/Bone Marrow Donor/Food Pantry

I am a firm believer in 'giving back' and that if you give, you receive-what do you receive...an incredible feeling that you have done something for someone...most of the time--that you don't even know...
Now I grew up in a home where there was a can on top of the fridge. Whenever my parents had spare change, it went right into the can. When the can was full...it went right to their favorite charity.
Times are a bit tougher right now...and $ is hard to save...but there are so many other ways to give.
I am sharing with you my 5 favorite...but would always love to hear about more. It is impossible to do everything but if we all did A LITTLE...it adds up to A LOT!
Project Linus...here is a quote from their national site
The Project Linus Mission
***Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter all work together to help us achieve our mission statement, which states:

First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Together we have distributed over two million blankets to children in need since our inception in 1995.
I live in the Boston area and crochet...there is a big need for all blankets...but I focus on ones for teens...my husband and I will deliver batches of blankets when needed...

***Jeans for Teens-found out about this wonderful 'fundraiser' via an email I got from Aeropostle
Here is link

http://www.dosomething.org/teensforjeans/home?cm_mmc=EMAIL-_-090122_T4J-_-Mt-_-MT
Here is quote from their site


Teens for Jeans is a national campaign, launched by Aéropostale and Do Something, empowering YOU to collect jeans for homeless teens.

Just drop off any pair of your gently worn jeans to any Aéropostale store between January 26th and February 22nd and we'll make sure they get donated to a local homeless shelter or charity. To say thanks, Aéropostale will give you an additional 25% off your next pair of jeans.

Last year you helped us collect over 125,000 pairs. This year we're looking to help twice as many teens.

*** Giving blood or platelets...there is ALWAYS a need to do this. And it is a gift you can give that is priceless...need I say more. Call your local Red Cross, Hospital, etc...or check out your paper...there is an ongoing need for this...

***Bone Marrow Donor...call your local hospital. Here in MA is is done through Dana Farber. This is another gift that is priceless. If you qualify (there are several things in terms of your own health), you will be sent a simple swab kit to do at home and then send to the hospital, clinic, etc...if they then need you...they will tell you what they will need you for...and you can save a life!!!
There is a small fee...BUT...many insurance companies cover it...and if you cannot afford it...they will NOT turn you down, as there is funding for people who want to give and who either cannot afford it (I believe it was only $25.00...but don't quote me...lol)...they must do this because of the tremendous costs...but again...noone will be turned down...this is something badly needed...and takes very little of your time.
And lastly...your local food pantry. Find out where your drop off is (ours is at our local library)...and bring food when you can. Hunger is a problem in our world that simply should NOT exist.....there is enough food to go around...we just have to give it...whenever you are shopping pick up one can of something...anything...so often there are great sales...put a small bag in corner of your kitchen.,..and put in what you have...when the bag is full...take the kids to drop it off...
And there are SO many more things...
Life is too short not to be kind...and we must teach our kids by example.
And the best part...is everyone feels good about it...the recipient, you, your family...
Life Is Good!

Good News In The News!!! And a REAL Hero and other HEROS

When the Miracle on the Hudson was on every news station...and continues to be...I felt such joy that we were actually, as a country, able to continue to watch good news on TV and to see what a REAL Hero is...who actually saved SO many lives...this amazing pilot...AND his crew...deserve this attention and more...
And on Tuesday, there will be an amazing celebration of hope in this country...as I have stated before, I am a short term nanny and can pick up work when I want to...I am not working on Tuesday...I will be glued to my TV watching this entire event.
This week, watching TV , I am touched and excited.
Here in Massachusetts, we lost one of our beloved Boston firefighters to a horrible crash...thousands of firefighters came to his funeral. As SO very sad this was...to see on the news another hero being honored and talked about so much touched me.
We need to talk more about the good and to honor the true heros in our country more...
There are tons of them...and of all ages.
And we need to spend more time on the good news...and know that life truly has much more good than bad...with some amazing people and amazing stories.,..and that heros and miracles deserve much more attention,,,because there is so much more good in this world that bad.
On that..I will end this post...knowing that it has been a few weeks since writing...
With wishing everyone a wonderful 2009...and a year of hope and great feelings

THE NEW YEAR-Committments and Goals

I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE THE MOST WONDERFUL NEW YEAR EVER...THIS YEAR I WILL BE 49, MY HUSBAND WILL BE 65. MY KIDS ARE GREAT. WE ARE ALL HEALTHY. I AM WORKING...MY HUSBAND IS 'ALMOST' RETIRED (WORKS A DAY OR 2/WEEK AT LOCAL HARDWARE STORE).
INSTEAD OF RESOLUTIONS, I AM MAKING COMMITTMENTS THIS YEAR

ALTHOUGH THE ECONOMY IS TOUGH...AND WE ARE EATING MORE PASTA THAN STEAK...WE ARE LUCKY TO BE WARM, NEVER HUNGRY, SURROUNDED BY GOOD PEOPLE AND GOOD THINGS. I AM COMMITTED TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THIS ALWAYS

I AM COMMITTING THIS YEAR TO PUT MORE $ IN THE BANK, WALK MORE, GIVE MORE TIME TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRULY NEED IT

I AM COMMITTED TO STAND UP FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN


I AM COMMITTED TO SPENDING MORE QUALITY TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

I AM COMMITTED TO TAKING GOOD CARE OF MY HEALTH AND MAKING SURE MY FAMILY DOES AS WELL

I AM COMMITTED TO FINDING MORE TIME WITH FRIENDS...

I AM COMMITTED TO LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME

MY GOALS-loose 5 more pounds and KEEP it off-- do the Walk for Hunger here in Boston and make the whole walk-- make more blankets for Project Linus and find others who want to as well--put away more $ for my kids future--use my crockpot more--treat myself to a 'day of beauty' with a facial, new hair cut, manicure and pedicure--travel more--get to Atlanta to see my sister and take my husband to Memphis to see Graceland--go to the Kiss 108 Concert with my daughter--help get my son a new car--

AND THERE ARE MORE THINGS...JUST HAVEN'T COME UP WITH THEM YET :)
FOR NOW...HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!
THING PEACE

This year....hope and happiness

This is a busy time of year for most...it is hard to not feel a bit crazy...especially if you have kids...I'm not sure about yours, but my teens are STILL convinced that there is this giant money tree in the back yard...but that's OK...they're kids...when they gave us their "yearly list" we asked them to number it...in order of what they wanted...and we then saw what we could afford...and "knocked it down"...the UGG boots...got em. The IPOD- check...
The DVD that will be on cable soon...did not get...
But what I do feel this year is a sense of peace...even with the hustle and bustle.
As a nanny...who works for families who need one at the last minute (a "short term nanny), I work it hotels when people come in from out of town, for people whose full time nanny is sick or off, for parents who just need a night out and do not have someone to watch the kids. I love it. I have also met so many wonderful and interesting people.
I have seen that this is a huge world with ALL sorts of people.
This year, I was very sick for 2 weeks..lost 2 weeks pay...and was surrounded with love (and food)...and it turned out to be one of the best times ever because I felt so blessed.
This year I felt hope for the first time in a long time, that our country would be OK...as I watched the most amazing election I have even watched and been a part of.
This year, I have seen my 16 year old son go from not caring about much to getting a job, doing well in school, even having his first girl friend.
I have seen my 14 year old daughter get honors in school, get back together with her old boyfriend (some may say this is young...but these 2 are very special together...something really wonderful!)
I have seen the news and people stepping up more than ever to help others in hard times.
It was an emotional year...but a good one and one of learning and loving.
When things aren't going the way we want...I have seen people proact, not react...and good things happen.
This year I feel that the future brings much hope and much happiness...
And it is what I wish for everyone.