Hello my lovelies...

Hello my lovely people,
How are you all? I hope you are all well!
So last you saw of my posts was that it was my birthday. I had a wonderful birthday celebration and was thoroughly spoilt! Thank you to everyone who sent messages and birthday wishes! :) It was grately appreciated.

So there are several things coming up for me, and some of them are things that I may need YOUR help with. As of this time next week I will be in hospital having surgery. And the doctors have warned me that it could take a little while to get everything back up and running. But that I should be well recovered in 6 weeks time... which is good because in 8 weeks I am leaving on my round the world trip! :)

As I am not sure I will have regular access to internet connection whilst I am jet setting about, I am actually looking for someone to keep the page on Facebook and this blog going! It would only be for a couple of months. But if anyone is interested to be a "Guest Blogger" on this page, let me know. I am looking for someone who is willing to undertake a month or two of doing a kindness everyday... like I do but in miniature. :) I am not sure yet, what this will look like or how it will work, but if you are interested... please let me know! :) You can send a private message to act_positive@hotmail.com or contact me through the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/365daysOfKindness

My round the world trip was paid off, amazingly, yesterday. So excited about all the places I will get to visit again and some that I will see for the first time! :) I leave Perth, Western Australia (my home town) on the 30th... so its all very exciting and a little nerve racking! Not long now.

So some awesome stuff has happened in the world of kindness this week with the launch of the Thankyou Waters expanding range! So those who have read last years Kindnesses (and if you could read this years ones... it is also in there), Thankyou Water is a product which is helping people all over the world! :) If you want to see what i mean, check out the video. 



The most exciting part is that they are branching out into food and body care... which will provide food and hygeine to those who need it most. One of the best bits about that is that you dont have to go out of your way to give to charity, as of this week the two major AUSTRALIAN supermarkets have agreed to provide the Thankyou Product range in their stores, which means you can buy them whilst you are doing your weekly shopping. And the lives that will change as a result is amazing! :)  It encourages me that we can make a difference in a HUGE way by doing something so very simple! 

For those of you in other countries, perhaps you could contact Thankyou.co and get information or something to start your own version in your own country. Its an idea at least?!

For those who have been hanging out for news on my Kindnesses this year (Feb to now), i'm afraid you will have to wait a little longer for them. I decided that i wanted to finish putting last years kindnesses in the album (as i have a dedicated scrap book album - like year 1 of this project). I did however have a slight glitch. Every night I write ten or more blessings about the day and then I add what I have been doing for 365days at the end. Every night I write the date and year so I can put them online at a later stage. My little glitch came when I was writing the kindnesses into my album, which is all based on 2012 and I was careful for the first ten or so entries in the album to make sure the date was right. But the next 30 days or so I completely was acting on auto pilot and wrote 2013... so i'm hoping not too many people notice as they read the books! lol!

Anyways, Thank you all for your continued love and support! I always appreciate your words of encouragement and enthusiasm.

Much love to you all,
Luv Daena x

Alive and kicking! September kindnesses...

Hey guys,
as you know I have been busy with telethon, road trips and NaNoWriMo. So its time to enter the real world again and start sharing these things before the end of the year. I cant believe its already December! I mean... when did that happen? So fast, I hear you say! Well today I put up the Christmas tree for mum and put on Christmas music, all whilst wearing a Santa hat for good measure.

I know Christmas is not everyone's favorite time of year and I understand why. I have lost family and friends around this time of year. I have witnessed family torturing each other because Christmas can bring out the best and worse in people. So this year i plan to make Christmas fun. But before i say too much more, I want you to think about what you can do to make this Christmas KIND for you and your families and friends. It is along this track that i have some things to share with you in the next few days regarding my "TOP SECRET" mission. More information to come. I will keep you posted! :) 


Anyways, here is the kindnesses for:

September 2012 

September 1: I got up early (on the day I had planned for my sleep in) to babysit my sick niece and take her to the doctor. Whilst her dad and brother were at sport and her mum was at work! I also bought my mum and niece morning tea at a gourmet Cafe. I also managed to put my niece to sleep in the afternoon (a near miracle – except when she is sick). I also put some dish washing away and helped do a quick tidy up at my sisters house.

September 2: Today I took my father out for lunch for fathers day and bought him a beer (a rare treat he really enjoys). I also took a cake to a man who is like a father to me. And I took some passion-fruit to another man who is a father, on fathers day. I also chatted happily with a store owner and with a sales assistant to make their day better.

Dad having his pasta lunch. He loves to be taken out and have a beer.

This is the cake I took for a family friend who acts like my father some times. 

 

September 3: said “Bless you” to a stranger and took rubbish to the bin for other people. I also handed out files for distribution for some colleagues.

September 4: I held the door open for several people through out the day and complimented a cook on his lovely simosa's (that he made especially for us to try). I also complimented him on his art which I accidentally came across. I also made some more crafts for dads community day. 

These are phone/card wallets made from old neck ties. They look really good

September 5: Today I sponsored “Make a Wish Foundation Australia” by purchasing products from Creative Memories an awesome scrap-booking company (that my sister is a consultant for too). Win/win right? I also held the door open for others today, put others rubbish in the bin and helped a friend out with a party.

September 6: Whilst eating dinner at a food hall I noticed the cleaner meticulously cleaning each table and the chairs too. I made the point of telling her what an awesome job she was doing. She left us at our table a lot brighter for it.

September 7: I helped a lady in the city by pointing her in the right direction when she looked a bit lost (I saw her and stopped to give her directions).

September 8: I made two quiches, tried the fruit mince pies (as learning skills & practising for the future community event). I also finished making 3 tea-towels, 2 pot mitts, and decorated 4 gratitude rocks (also for the community day at dads nursing home.

 

September 9: I shared my home made fruit mince pies with visitors. I also spent some time playing video games with my nephew and tea-party games with my niece.

September 10: I said “Bless You” to a woman on a train after she sneezed, then smiled at her when she said “thank you”. I also took “Milky Way's” into “work” to share with all the other people in the office.

September 11: I packed up 3 tables worth of poker cards by sorting them into suits, and then numerical order. I also packed up chairs at the poker tables too. I also helped mum by her photographing more blankets she has crocheted for Wheelchairs for kids.

 

September 12: I took my mum, sister and “aunt” out to lunch at a local pub and bought food for my mum and sister (I did try to pay for my aunt but she's pretty stubborn – and we love her for it).

September 13: I returned some vases for a friend after their wedding. I also bought some stuff to use at the community day at Dads nursing home. I learned and helped mum make 9 jars of jam today (also for the community day). I also received a kindness in the form of a letter, from a friend today that made me so warm on the inside.

  

 

September 14: Today I made the effort to give people compliments like

“What a beautiful dog you have there!”

“Thank you for your help and I love the smile that came along with it!”

“This food is delicious – Thank you!”

“Keep up the good work”

They are small things but they are so important to explain to people that you love and respect them.

 

Note: today I read about the use of disposable coffee/tea cups in Australia. And started the hunt for a reusable tea cup! :)

This photo was snap shot from the Maxwell & Williams Designer Home wares advertisement in a magazine. Sadly i cant remember which magazine but my guess would be Better Homes and Gardens. 

September 15: I helped babysit my niece and nephew whilst my sister and brother-in-law worked at a fund-raiser, setting it all up. I also left a card the windscreen of my next door neighbour who was going away on holiday (very early in the morning) and who was having his birthday whilst he was away.

September 16:Today I bought milk for a family friend because they were running out. I also finished off 4 of mums crochet tea towels, by ending off and attaching the button etc., all in preparation for dads community day. 

September 17: I did a load of washing, did a little gardening in our communal garden and finished off a few crafts for dads community day. I also sorted buttons for crafts. I made one of mums favourite meals and surprised her by making fruit mince pies for dessert too.

Mum loved my home made pasties - i don't make them very often but they are delicious and rather healthy (if you ignore the pastry... lol).

September 18: Today I made cups of tea for some of the craft ladies, I bought some of my fruit mince pies for them to taste and I also packed away the heavy but comfy chairs at the end of craft. I also made an effort to get to know some quieter regular players at my local Free Poker League.

September 19: Took some home-made strawberry jam to my “aunts” because she loves it. I also made the effort to catch up with a friend I hadn’t seen for a while.

September 20: I bottled a whole lot of pickled onions so mum didn't have to do it (and in typical Daena fashion I managed to burn my hand). I also decorated the strawberry jam jars for the community day. I also did some house work so, when mum came home from a meeting, it was one less thing she had to worry about. PHOTO

 September 21: Today I spent the afternoon making hair pins for my dads community day.

I also took mum out for a coffee break after she learned about the death of a man and doctor who had saved her life on 3 separate occasions. Rest in Peace, Doc and thank you for my mum because without your help and skills I wouldn't be here! 

I made a whole bunch more but the photos of those ones weren't nearly as good as these!

September 22: Today I made a cup of tea for mum to wake up to. Mum and I also dropped into dads to catch up with and give a small gratitude gift to a carer at dads nursing home, who had gone above and beyond the call of duty. I also paid for two friends to see HOTEL TRANSILVANIA with me, using my birthday gift cards.

September 23: I painted several rocks ready for dads community day. I also did a couple of hours gardening in the backyard to restore it and prepare it for a possible makeover in the future (for mum?)

 

September 24: today I did some gardening in the community garden. I also spent some time cuddling and playing with the next door neighbours cat. I also photographed all the crochet topped tea towels and all the rocks. I also helped mum finish the last lolly wreaths for the community day. 

September 25: I helped a little boy who got separated from his mum in a shop, get back to her. I also made cups of tea for the craft ladies. I also acted with generosity of spirit at poker and thanked everyone I had played against – even those who beat me! :)

September 26: I helped a friend out with her uni assignment by participating in an interview about sustainability and architecture. I didn't really understand it but she needed people to answer questions about the public perspective of what she was studying, so I worked well for her. (She also used some of my answers in her university assignment). I also spoke to people I normally wouldn’t talk to.

September 27:I made the special effort to catch up with a sick biological aunt who was in hospital down south. I caught 2 buses, 4 trains, plus a car ride to see her. I also paid for morning tea with my aunt and my sister. I also paid for lunch for my sister and I on our trip back to the train station for me.

September 28: Today I made the extra effort to go to my niece and nephews end of term assembly. I also entertained 2 sets of twin boys, ages 2 and a half and three. I also safely stopped on the road to let some ducks cross the road. They were really cute!

September 29: I called doctors and tried to organise for mum to have a locum doctor because she had vertigo, nausea and passed out when she stood up. I also made mum a special dinner for her birthday today, even though she wasn’t feeling well. I also acted as mums secretary because she couldn’t answer the phone. Concentration = nausea.

September 30: today I took a special trip to the chemist to pick up the medication mum needed but had run out of. Also did washing, cooking and cleaning without being asked!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading these. I do these to remind people how simple it is to do kind things. They can be things you do everyday or only once in a lifetime, but every little bit makes the biggest difference!

Have a wonderful day,
luv Daena

P.s. If you are crafty yourself and want to have instructions or be guided to any links to help you make the things i have made, please feel free to ask. :) I love to help! :)

Thankyou Water... TV Commercial! AWESOME!!!!

Hey everyone,
for those that follow the Facebook page of 365 Days of Kindness this wont be a surprise for you but for those of you who don't, on October 2, I was shopping at the local shopping center and discovered that in the post office they were selling Thankyou Water. I posted about it as a kindness idea the next day becuase its awesome! :)

Now for those of you who don't know about this amazing product, let me give you the low down.

Thank you water ..."is a social enterprise. We exist because in developing nations almost 900 million people don't have access to safe water. But with your help we can change this. Visit www.thankyouwater.org to see the projects you are funding by choosing this water. Thank you". (this was on the back of the bottle of water i bought! :) 

  I love this water because every bottle you buy goes to provide one months worth of safe water to someone in need!

Why I am bringing this up now is because they have just released their first TV commercial, and its gorgeous. Film makers from around Australia donated their time and effort to creating this master piece. If that isn't kindness i don't know what is! So you can see it here... because I had to share! :) 

 Currently I think it's only in Australia but you never know! So if you see it... thankyou water is the way to go! And do a kindness for people who need clean water! :)

Enjoy! Luv D x