Lent gifting day 13

I got to talk to my best friend today who has recently moved interstate. It was so lovely spending some time catching up via Skype. 

One of the things I found in my recent dejunk Session was about 200 postcards from around the world that I've bought and never used. I think I've mentioned them before. I've started sending them to my best friend. Every couple days I've written one to send which is fun and I hope makes her feel special. 

I love the way that receiving snail mail makes me feel better. It is a pretty simple kindness to do too. Sending an encouraging letter or postcard to someone makes them know you have been thinking of them. Plus in my case, it used postcards that would other wise go to waste. In Australia it costs $1 to send a postcard anywhere inside Australia. Of course it cost more to send stuff internationally but I often like to send nice bits and pieces to my friends overseas. 

Kindness doesn't have to be expensive. A one off postcard (you can make your own) to a friend or family member and the cost of postage can mean the world to someone. Getting a card to know you care can be something that lightens a day. 

Back to the Lent challenge. 

 

I recently wore this dress out as part of a Tinkerbell costume. To a Disney themed night at a city nightclub... it was so much fun!!!! I danced for hours and hours. So good. And I'm so glad I had flat shoes not heels like my friend in the picture next to the green legs (which happened to be my green legs). 

 

My friend, who is the other set of legs in this picture, went as the fantastically Mad Hatter! We also had Megara from Hercules, Esmeralda from the Hunchback Of Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid (dressed as Ariel when she was voiceless and on two feet) and her prince, Eric! So much fun to sing loudly and dance to Disney Music. We also danced to other 90s music, a fun reminder of my childhood! :) 

Anyway... the dress. A friend had given me the dress a few months ago as part of a group of things to be gone through and then donated to charity. I pulled this out to keep in our costume box. Then I decided to do the Lent giving and I knew I was going to be donating this dress because I really didn't need to dress up as Tinkerbell any time soon... or so I thought. 

Then the Disney themed night club night happened so I decided to actually get one wear out of this before I would pass it on to someone who needs it. This one isn't actually going to go in the charity bag today but be given to a friend who needs it for another fairy themed event. I'm going to give it to her to keep if she wants or donate on to someone else who needs it in the future. It's a pretty good quality dress that was once longer and had been a bridesmaids dress. It makes a fantastic Tinkerbell costume. 

It was awesome giving this dress a last hurrah, for me at least. I will also have lots of fond memories to pass along with the dress. I won't forget the memories but I don't need to worry about keeping the dress. Plus someone gets something they need FOR FREE! Winning on all fronts! :) 

Here are some words on my favourite subject kindness... "My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who you are, to astonish a mean world with your kindness!" Maya Angelou. 

I hope you think of a whole range of simple kindness ideas you can do to astonish this world with Kindness. 

Love to you all, 

Daena x

Whats new pussycat? Christmas is coming!

Hi everyone, 
Apart from singing Tom Jones loudly to myself ("What's new pussycat... whoa whoa whoaoh whoa"),
I just thought I would check in and see how you are all going?

Just a quick reminder if you are looking for kindness ideas there are a huge range to check out in my Pinterest page Kindness Ideas (follow the link).

Some ideas are so simple to brighten up someone else's day. Like this one from "The Larson Lingo" on their 26 acts of kindness blog post.

There are some awesome ideas in the lead up to Christmas too. I know.... none of us really want to think about Christmas yet, but it is now less than three months left until Christmas! Sorry to be the barer of bad news. But Christmas is the perfect time of year for kindness. If you are in the USA and celebrate Thanksgiving, that is also a wonderful time for Kindness.

Here is another idea of thanking the Mail Person in your area. Check out the blog of 35 kindness ideas from this awesome link came from: Tickles to Giggles

I have also seen some amazing people do Kindness events for their birthdays. So depending how old you are turning, depends on how many kindnesses you do! :) I love this idea.

Or you could pick a month and do an intentional kindness every day of the month.

This picture is from 30 Handmade Days and is 30 kindness ideas with added printable's to make the whole thing a whole lot simpler.

There are literally hundreds of ideas of how to live kindness everyday! I am but one such resource! :) I really love pinterest so that is also a huge asset to the kindness way of life. I am constantly adding things and making the file of Kindness Ideas bigger.

And dont forget...

Let me know what you are up to, because i love to hear from you! :)


I hope this finds you all well!
much love,
Daena xx

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Twenty Two

Hey my dear friends,

Today is the International Day of Peace.

"Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All” which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace. The work of the United Nations would not be possible without the initial partnerships that were active in its creation and the thousands of partnerships each year between governments, civil society, the private sector, faith-based groups and other non-governmental organizations that are needed to support the Organization in achieving its future goals." (United Nations 2015)

I love that International Day of Peace is also a day focussed on Kindness to all. No matter what race, colour, creed, religion, sexual preference, or status in a country, a person deserves a safe place to live without the treat of death. I hope that no matter where you are, you are safe. You are free and you are living in peace.

Now back to Sustainable September and kindness to the environment. How did you go with the bulk buying/waste less purchases? Did you find a new place near you that will sell to you waste free?

I will be heading there again to the Wasteless Pantry because it is just so awesome! :) The staff there was just so lovely.

Today's sustainable September idea is about Reusing.

Page 19 from the book: Zero Waste Home

September 22: Mend something you already own.

Instead of replacing it, fixing it is more environmentally friendly. A large part of the problem with environmental issues in this beautiful world of ours is the obsession with replacing instead of repairing. 
We are a consumer society that buys instead of fixes. We buy one time use items instead of spending more for good quality. It seriously takes time to think about what we buy. I still have to think about what i buy and why!? I mean often I buy stuff no because I want it but because others have that item. Not because it is something I love or need, but because it is something I broke and cant be bothered to fix it. I have done this lots of times, all of which contribute to landfill and damage to the environment. So even though i have done this in the past I will endeavour to do something different. If we can reuse the same items again and again, even repair them, then we can protect the environment little by little.

KINDNESS IDEA: take time to smile at strangers today. Be at peace and be kind for the International Day of Peace. 

I hope this finds you all well.
Love Daena xx

Storytellers for Good

One of the things i started watching today are some videos from the "Storytellers For Good" and this one really made me smile. Its people my own age doing little things that don't cost them anything but make someone else feel better! :)


Random Acts of Kindness Foundation: Kindness 101 from Storytellers For Good on Vimeo.

Made me smile! :)
Enjoy!
Daena xx