Warm & Fuzzy Fragments

~ It's been a very good week.  At work, at home, all the way around.

~ I'm looking forward to a quiet, relaxing weekend.

~ This morning I got a call from my niece.  She was in a pinch and needed a babysitter for Hayleigh at the last minute.  I was, of course, THRILLED to help out!

H for Hayleigh

~ On the way there, driving down our dirt road, I came across a woman whose minivan was VERY stuck in the mud.  This particular mud hole is very bad and it's been raining a lot lately.  Her three kids were in the van.  So, I turned around and got Hunter, we stopped and got our neighbor, and between the two of them, they pulled her minivan out of the hole.  Hunter was COVERED in mud by the time they were done! I just love him.

She's getting so SMART.  And sassy!

~ In case you missed it - Hayleigh is going to be a big sister in August!! =)

Cheerios make her SMILE!

~ I saw this on Facebook and just LOVED the concept.  So I decided to do it here on my blog!

2013 Creative Pay-it-Forward: the first 5 people to comment on this status will receive from me, sometime in the next calendar year, a gift - perhaps a book, baked goods, a candle, or just some type of surprise!!! There will likely be no warning & it will happen whenever the mood strikes me. The catch? These 5 people must make the same offer in their Facebook status (or blog).
PS - You (obviously) have to be willing to give your mailing address too.  =)


~ Maybe all of this good stuff will help to improve my KARMA. {smirk}

~ I posted a recipe on my cooking blog, Southern Loving.  I know - it's been FOREVER!  Check it out, it's delicious.

~ My laugh of the day::::

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Now go forth and Frag!

Buggin' in my City

I do not know what kind of bug this is.

Except, a  

VERY

LARGE

 bug.

He's the size of my hand.  

For real.

He's also very vibrantly colored.

I think if I were a bug, I'd want to look like him.

Fierce.

P.S. I got home from working a 12-hour shift yesterday to find that someone had mowed my lawn!  

I don't even know who to thank, 

so I guess I'll just have to pay it forward.  

I love random acts of kindness!

Visit Unknown Mami for more Sundays in my City posts!

Random Acts of Kindness - Happy Notes

While meandering around the interwebs recently, I came across this post at 365 Days: 30+ Mommyhood. In that post, she writes about finding a note in an unexpected place, and how it made her smile.

That immediately made me think of Random Acts of Kindness. I bet we could think of a lot of places to leave little notes that a stranger could find, and maybe it would bring a smile to their face.

It could be totally random, like the one in the post above, never knowing who will find it or what effect it could have on their day.
It could be a postcard in a book, PostSecret style.
Maybe you could put one in a purse or bag that you are donating to Goodwill.

Or maybe, not quite as randomly, a note for your server, along with your tip, telling him how great of a job he's doing.

Where would you leave a Random Act of Kindness Note?
What would it say?

The Snail Mail Project

Not long ago, I posted a Random Acts of Kindness post about sending cards. I talked about how so many people don't use snail mail much any more, but a card or letter can really brighten someone's day.
Many of my readers commented that they actually send cards and letters quite often, and I was thinking, I need to get on their mailing lists, because I don't get nearly enough fun mail!
So, that got the little wheels in my little brain turning. I think it would be fun to do a Snail Mail Project!
I'm sure there are others out there, but I want to start my own, thankyouverymuch!
And I'm really hoping my awesome bloggy friends will join in with me.
All you have to do is leave a comment telling us a little bit about yourself: things you like or collect, favorite color, etc. Be sure you leave your email address! I will then match you up with your Snail Mail partner. It will be like a blog swap, only smaller and ongoing.
Also, when I get an official button made up, I will ask you to put in on the sidebar of your blog. The one on this post is a temporary.
Now, please, if you sign up for this, make sure you're going to participate. Please be willing to send at least one thing per month: nothing elaborate, just a letter or card. But please do not sign up if you don't feel that you'll be able to be a good, reliable Snail Mail partner. This should be fun for both partners! (that's what she said!) And this is one of the few inexpensive ways to have fun that we have left!
I'm going to leave the first comment myself, because I'm going to participate too; I don't want to be left out of the fun! I really hope you join in.
*ETA* If you would like to email me directly, you are welcome to do so. My email address is puttingthefunindysfunctional(at)gmail(dot)com .

Consider it your birthday gift to me! I am 37 today! =)

Random Acts of Kindness

Holy crap on a cracker, I am sofa king exhausted.
I hate moving. But I love love LOVE our new house. Serious LOVE. I might marry it. Oh wait, I'm already married. But I think John would understand.
Anyway.

I was not online at all today because our WiFi isn't hooked up, and would you believe there is no WiFi around the new house for me to steal? How rude.
So, I decided to do my Random Acts of Kindness post anyway, just a little late, because that's how I roll. I'm one of those annoying, always late kind of people.

Today's Random Acts of Kindness post is about cards. Remember those things? Greeting cards? They still sell them at many fine retailers such as Target, Walmart, drugstores, even supermarkets. But do you still send them? I don't mean for birthdays, but for other stuff....and most of all, for no occasion at all?

Today I was on Facebook (on my phone, at least I'm not totally disconnected from everything!) and I noticed that my best friend, Danielle, who had gastric bypass surgery in February, posted that she was having a rough day, just feeling down. A few minutes later I was in the supermarket and a gorgeous card caught my eye; it had a big butterfly on the front with beautiful colors on it, and the inside message was perfect. I already mailed it and I can't remember word for word, but it said something like: Just remember that every day you're growing, every day you're changing, and becoming a more beautiful and wonderful you.
Of course, I grabbed it and bought it and mailed it out immediately!

I love to send cards, most of all for no particular reason. I love to know that in a day or two, she's going to open her mailbox and receive something from me that will brighten her day. Sometimes I send her little trinkets I've picked up here or there that made me think of her.

I also am a member of a group called Spirit Jump, that sends cards and/or small gifts to lift the spirits of people suffering with cancer.
I really enjoy it, and I think it's a perfect Random Act of Kindness.
How about you?

{I'm going to attempt to put a Mcklinky in here in case you want to link up, but the last time I tried it didn't work....yeah, I'm lookin' at you, new LinkyTools site....so we will see....}

Random Acts of Kindness

I recently read this post about Complimentary Kindness, and it really made me think.

I agree with Kiki; most of us don't naturally give a lot of compliments. Even if/when we notice that someone looks particularly good, or has a new haircut, we don't always say anything. And I don't know why that is.
Years ago when I started working in child care, one of my co-workers was extremely complimentary. She was a beautiful young girl, and her sweet nature just drew me to her. I thought about how good her compliments made me feel, I vowed to start being more generous with my compliments. When I notice someone looks very nice, has a flattering new hair color, or is wearing a particularly attractive outfit, I try to make a point to mention it.

I mean...how can you go wrong with making someone's day?
{Now if I could only learn how to graciously accept a compliment, I'd be doing great!}

I think giving a compliment as a good example of a Random Act of Kindness. A little ego boost is a great kindness and can really brighten someone's day!

I'm going to try to make a point to give out at least one compliment per day.

Will you take on this challenge too?

Random Acts of Kindness

Today my husband reminded me yet again of one of the many reasons I love him.
We went to Andrew's doctor appointment and parked in the metered parking. While he was feeding our meter, he noticed that the time had expired on the meter of the car parked beside us.
So.....he fed their meter too! He said he didn't want them to get a ticket.
I love that he cares about total strangers. He is so genuinely kind.

So...how about you? Have you randomly acted kind lately, or received any kindness randomly? If so, pay it forward! And link up here.

Random Acts of Kindness

After I mentioned on here a couple of weeks ago that we were doing a 50's Party for Elayna's 9th Birthday, I got an email from a reader. She had a 50's Party herself and had downloaded music for the party. She kindly offered to burn a CD for me of 50's music! She would not allow me to reimburse her. She made the CD and sent it to me, I just got it yesterday!
Perfect example of a Random Act of Kindness. =)
Have you practiced, received, or seen any Random Acts of Kindness lately? Leave me a comment and/or Link Up!

It may be winter, but it's harvest time up in here.

You know, I tried not to do it.
I really would like to be one of those extremely forgiving, zen people. One of those people who does not derive pleasure from seeing Karma bite people in their butts.
But when those people have been just utterly vile and horrible to me and my family.....I can't help but be quite pleased to see them get knocked off of their high horses.
Hard.
I'm just not at that enlightened state of consciousness that would allow me to feel sorry for these people, or not giggle maniacally a little bit at their misfortune.
Because these people have been viciously nasty to me for years. They have pretended to be so very superior to me. And I knew, all along, that they were fake. I was secure in my knowledge that I was not the horrible mother or evil person they portrayed me to be. And that their day would come. I even tried to warn them.
But they did not listen. They just went on their miserable little way, doing what they did best.
And now....it's come full circle.
Oh, they won't change. They'll keep running their mouths. Pretending to be better. Wondering why life keeps kicking them in the ass. They'll never learn.


*Random Acts of Kindness was cancelled this week so that I could be b*tchy. It will return next week. I'll put some extra money in the Salvation Army bucket to make up for it, promise!*

Random Acts of Kindness

It's time again for Random Acts of Kindness!
This is just a little something I do....
My mother renews my subscription to Reader's Digest every year for Christmas. Also, she gets Guideposts magazine herself, and passes them along to me after she reads them.
So, after I read the magazines, I bring them to work and put them in the Family Waiting Room here at the ICU.
It's a very small way to hopefully distract them from whatever is going on with their loved one, and maybe even give them a little hope or inspiration.

So tell me - what's going on with you? What's your latest Random Act of Kindness?

Random Acts of Kindness

Today I'm writing about a Random Act of Kindness that I received. I haven't done a darned thing that was kind this week! Okay, well nothing worth writing about anyway.
But my husband, he has.
John is so sweet. He not only puts up with me, but he loves me exactly the way that I am.
He also spoils me.
This weekend, he brought me breakfast in bed. Now I'm not bragging or anything, but this is not the first time he's done that; in fact, he does it pretty often. He makes my favorite breakfast food, and brings it in to me and wakes me up.
But on this day, he also brought with him a very sweet note telling me what a wonderful wife that I am.
It totally made my day, and I'm still smiling about it now.

Have you given or received any Random Acts of Kindness? Link up!

Random Acts of Kindness

Photo Courtesy of Stressie Cat Art

I'm sure you've all heard of Random Acts of Kindness. There's even a foundation, with a website that gives you ideas and information. I'm pretty sure I've seen a blog carnival floating around with this theme, but I can't find it.
So, I decided to start my own!
My purpose is not to brag about doing nice things or talk about how wonderful I am. That's just a bonus. The purpose is to keep this more in the forefront of my mind, so that I do Random Acts of Kindness more often. And, to inspire others to do the same thing!
So, every Tuesday I'm going to host a Random Acts of Kindness theme, right here on my blog, and I will have McKlinky down there for anyone who wants to join in.
(I was late getting to it this week, so you're getting it Wednesday instead. Better late than never, right?)
My latest Random Act of Kindness happened yesterday. I have a co-worker who is also a good friend. Her job here is a difficult one, and can be very stressful. For some reason, on Monday night an idea popped into my head to make her morning a little brighter.
I pick up blank note cards every time I see a package of cute ones, mostly to use for Spirit Jump. So I pulled one of those out and wrote a little note to her inside, wishing her a great day. Then I left it in her office on her computer keyboard.
When she came in this morning, she had the biggest smile on her face. She thanked me and said "You have no idea how much I needed that!"
I love that I helped her, in some small way, to have a better day!
So, I challenge you to think of some Random Acts of Kindness that you can perform. There are millions of ways to do this. Start simple and go from there. And don't forget to blog about it, and link up here!