A New Diet (well, not really) - WWYED

WWYED - Pronounced "Wide"
Watch What You Eat and Drink

I was talking with a good friend, and we both struggle with our weight.  We are married, middle-aged moms who work, and have hectic lives.  Putting ourselves first is sometimes difficult, and we find sometimes the weight creeps up on us.  Losing weight (or maintaining where we are) can be hard, so we wanted to find an easy way to keep on top of things.

We know all the right things to do (we've read all the books, been to all the meetings, tried all the different diet fads).  There's no magical pill or a diet that is easy that works for everyone, unfortunately.  So we figured, all we need is a little encouragement and support to remind us to watch what we eat and drink.

We came up with a new way of approaching it when someone says, "I want to lose some weight" or, "I really need to lose some weight".  Who doesn't want to be healthier and feel and look their best? We all know how to do it (most of us have been successful in the past), so here's how we're going to do it.

It's simply the WWYED (pronounced "Wide") plan - Watch What You Eat and Drink.  Everyone can do it.  All we have to do is encourage each other to remember, WWYED.  We find that supporting each other and giving each other reminders and encouragement really helps.  It also compliments any diet regime or program you are in to help you watch your weight.  If you need a little encouragement, email me and I can include you in our WWYED group.

Cheers!

Angela G. Gentile

Key words:  weight loss, diet, lose weight

Children's Hospital Book Market - Children's Books

Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba Book Market

I had the pleasure of volunteering for the Children's Hospital Book Market this past weekend.  Over the past 3 years my station has always been in the adult fiction section.  For the first time I had my shift in the "Children's Books" section. 

I was eager to help (my job was "bagger" which is to read off the price of the book for the cash-person and bag the books for the customer) and I soon realized how different the shoppers were in the Children's section versus the adult fiction section. I'd like to give you a little snapshot of some of the shoppers I encountered during my four-hour shift.

The big spenders by far were teachers.  Teachers need books to help their students learn how to read.  Some teachers spent over $100 on books!  Some were educational books, some were for pleasure reading.  One teacher was excited to show her friend she was getting a "Magic Eye" book for her students.

The most popular shoppers were parents with children.  A young boy and his mom came by, with a stack of vintage "Archie" comic books for his sister.  She was apparently a fan of Archie, and he was proud to say that he was giving his sister these comics for a Christmas present.  He was happy to know that he had "done" his shopping for her.  He also bought a couple of books for himself.

A mother and her young son came by and purchased about 12 books her son could read.  These were small paperback novel-types.  She said he likes to read, and because she doesn't let her kids watch TV this was a good activity for him.

Another mother and her two young children came by to purchase a couple of books each.  It was a lesson in how to budget, and how to "purchase" something.  The mother instructed first her daughter, then her son to give the books to us, and once the total was given, she instructed them to get out their money and hand it to us.  It was so sweet to see these young children "learn" how to buy something.

A few grandparents were out with their grandchildren.  I mentioned to a young boy as his grandpa is paying for his books, "Grandpa's spoiling you today!".  The older man replied, "Oh, it's not spoiling when it comes to books".  I guess I should have said, "Grandpa's treating you today!".  Another teenaged girl was out with her grandmother, and I told her, "Get whatever you want, Grandma's buying!".  I looked over to the older woman and she was smiling, and it made the young girl smile.  She ended up getting about 5 books.

Some of the more popular books sold were Harry Potter, Dear Dumb Diary, Captain Underpants, and Goosebumps.  Most books were priced between around $1.00-$1.50.  Some were as low as 25 cents!

It was a great, fun-filled time and I look forward to the next sale in February.  I enjoy my volunteer work.  All proceeds go towards the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. You can "Like" them on facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/#!/childrenshospitalfoundation

Have an awesome day!

Angela G. Gentile

Life is Good

Life is good wheel cover

I was sitting in my car one day, and I noticed this wheel cover on the back of a Jeep.  It was so bright and cheerful, that it made me wonder what this "Life is good" trademark stood for.  I went to the "Life is Good" website, and I was quite impressed with their products and services.  Not only do they carry great looking merchandise, their website was full of quick, upbeat sayings like,

The Art of optimism, and

Laughter has no foreign accent.

They even have a Life is Good radio station.

What most impressed me was their "Playmakers" program.  This is a program that is dedicated to training caregivers to teach children how to discover joy, although they may have gone through some very difficult times in their lives.  Here is a great video that you should check out so that you can see what they are doing, and that Life is Good.

You can click on the arrow above, or to to this YouTube link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yfd_Kn-SXd0

You can even enter a raffle to win $50 Life is Good online Gift Certificate for subscribing - http://www.lifeisgood.com/customer-service/monday.aspx

Have a great day, and I hope your Life is Good!

~ Angela Gentile

It's Easy To Give

Tim Horton's Smile Cookie


It's so easy to give these days.  I went to Bulk Barn, and they asked if I wanted to donate $1.00 to
Alzheimer's Society.

I said, "Yes".

I went to Shopper's Drug Mart, and they asked if I wanted to donate $2.00 to
Women's Cancer Research.  

I said "Yes".

I went to Tim Horton's, and I bought a "Smile Cookie" for $1.00.  Proceeds go to the
Children's Hospital Foundation.

Say "Yes".

It's easy to give.

Have a great day!

~Angela Gentile

Lessons from Geese

Large group of geese flying in v-formation

Lessons from Geese

Fact 1

As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow.   By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock has 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the thrust of each other.

Fact 2

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone.   It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

Lesson

If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go.   We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact 3

When the lead bird tires, it rotates back into the formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

Lesson

It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership.   As with geese, people are interdependent on each others’ skills, capabilities, and unique arrangement of gifts, talents, or resources.

Fact 4

The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson

We need to make sure our honking is encouraging.   In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater.   The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and to encourage the heart and core values of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5

When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it.   They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again.   Then, they launch out with another formation to catch up with the flock.

Lesson

If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we’re strong.

Note: Lessons from Geese was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network.   It was based on the work of Milton Olson. It circulated to Outward Bound staff throughout the United States.

There is a lot to learn from geese.  I think they've got it figured out pretty good.

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

The realities are that Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada and the USA.  An American friend recently shared her news of identity theft on Facebook, and a few of her friends responded with the news that they, too, had been a victim themselves.  I wanted to share here what I have learned and how we can protect ourselves - and what to do if we become victims.  The information below was written by Canada Post, and the original post can be found here:  http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/aboutus/corporate/security/identitytheft.jsf?

 

What is Identity Theft?

One of the fastest growing crimes in Canada, identity theft occurs when someone steals your name and other personal information with the intention of assuming your identity to gain access to your finances, make purchases and incur debts in your name, or commit other crimes. In addition to names, addresses and phone numbers, thieves steal social insurance numbers, driver's license numbers, credit card and banking information, bank cards, calling cards, birth certificates and passports. Once this information is stolen, it can be used to finance spending sprees and open new bank accounts, or to redirect your mail and apply for loans, credit cards and social benefits.
Two major credit bureaus, Equifax and Trans Union, indicate that they each receive approximately 1,400 to 1,800 Canadian identity theft complaints every month.

Fighting Identity Theft

Canada Post has long been engaged in the fight against identity theft. Canada Post Security and Investigation Services participates actively in joint investigations of identity theft with local, provincial and federal law-enforcement agencies, and liaises continually with these agencies to recommend improvements to various products and services. Additionally, experienced and knowledgeable Canada Post employees frequently prevent frauds with the assistance of customers.

How identity thieves get your personal information

Common techniques used to obtain personal information fraudulently include:

• Stealing mail, such as bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, and new cheque and tax information, before delivery.
• Stealing delivered mail by breaking into apartment, community and residential mailboxes.
• Completing a fraudulent change of address form to redirect your mail to another location.
• Searching through personal or business trash, or the public trash dumps.
• Breaking into mailboxes, delivery boxes and other Canada Post property to steal incoming or outgoing mail.

How to protect yourself against identity theft

There are a number of easy precautions you can take to reduce your risk of identity theft:

• Be careful about sharing your personal information, especially over the Internet.
• Provide personal information on the phone or through the mail only when you have initiated the contact or know with whom you are dealing.
• Protect your mail; deposit outgoing mail in post office mailboxes or at your local post office, and remove mail from your mailbox promptly after delivery
• Ensure you file a Change of Address Notification with Canada Post at your local post office or online at www.canadapost.ca, and advise all your financial institutions of your change of address, before you move.
• Pay attention to billing cycles; if credit card or utility bills fail to arrive, contact companies immediately to ensure bills have not fraudulently been redirected.
• If you are going away or are unable to pick up your mail for any reason, have it collected by a trusted neighbour, or go to your local post office or online at www.canadapost.ca and file a Hold Mail Request.
• Be careful what you throw out; your recycling bin and/or your building garbage containers may be vulnerable. Shred documents that contain personal financial information, such as statements, credit card offers, and copies of credit applications, receipts and insurance forms.
• Contact Canada Post Customer Service at 1-800-267-1177 if you have not received any mail for an unusual period of time based on your normal delivery patterns.

How to know if you might be a victim of identity theft

Here are a few things to look out for that might indicate that you're a victim of identity theft:

• Your bank statement, online activity or passbook lists transactions that you haven't performed or authorized.
• A creditor informs you that an application for credit has been received with your name and address on it, which you did not fill out.
• You receive credit card statements or other bills in your name that do not belong to you.
• You no longer receive legitimate credit card or bank account statements, or you notice that not all of your mail is being delivered.
• A collection agency informs you that they are collecting for a defaulted account established in your name, but you have no knowledge of the account.

What to do if you think you might be a victim of identity theft

If you believe you may be a victim of identity theft, it is very important that you act immediately by reporting the incident to the appropriate organization.

• Notify creditors and/or financial institutions immediately if your bank cards, credit cards or identification are lost or have been stolen.
• File a report with your local police.
• Cancel credit cards, and notify utility companies and government agencies
• Check your credit file with the credit bureaus:
  • Equifax Canada: 1-800-465-7166, www.equifax.com/home/en_ca
  • Trans Union Canada: 1-877-525-3823, www.transunion.ca
• Report fraudulent activities to:
  • Reporting Economic Crime Online: www.recol.ca
  • Phonebusters*: 1-888-495-8501, www.phonebusters.com

*Phonebusters is a national anti-fraud call centre operated by law-enforce
*Phonebusters is a national anti-fraud call centre operated by law-enforcement agencies, including the RCMP. The centre collects complaints and forwards them to the appropriate law-enforcement agencies.

Canada Living has also has an article on the subject that was very informative:  http://www.canadianliving.com/life/work/how_to_prevent_identity_theft.php


For those who are in the USA, I found a video that you may find helpful as well.  You can find this video called, Nine Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft.


Keep your identity safe my friend!


~ Angela Gentile

Videojug - Get Good at Life

I found an interesting website and YouTube channel called Videojug that is full of interesting and sometimes funny How-To and Instructional videos.  I laughed at the one called, "How to Stop Farting", and found "How to Sing High Notes" interesting.  

"1000s of videos, articles, answers and people, here to help you. You can do anything and Videojug will show you how - it's all free, so get involved and get good!"

I'll share one of the more popular videos they have done (over 8 million hits) - How to Kiss Someone Passionately.  It's done in a humorous way and I thought it was a good instruction video!


Dating Humor:
How To Kiss Someone Passionately

Or try How to Wolf Whistle, How to treat a sore throat with lemon,or How to tie a tie using a full windsor knot.

Go to Videojug.com or Videojug on YouTube to see what interesting videos you can find.

There's something for everyone! Beauty and Style, Creative Culture, Family and Education, Food and Drink, Health and Wellbeing, Lifestyle and Home, Love and Dating, Money and Careers, Sports and Outdoors, Technology and Cars.

Have a fun-filled, informative day!

~ Angela Gentile

The Top Good News Stories of 2010

This time every year, I like to reflect back on the year that has just passed, and I try to think of things that were positive and good about it.  Although the BP Oil Disaster was the top news story for Canadians in 2010, I did some google-searching, and came up with some good news stories that I wanted to highlight here.

On AOL News, there is a list of the The Top Good News Stories of  2010. In their list they included the Chilean Miners Rescue and they also listed a story about an unemployed man who gave away $10 a day in Washington DC and he wrote about who he gave the money to and what they did with it.

NewsOne for Black America lists their Top Ten "Good News Stories" for 2010 and in their list they include a story about twin girls with identical grades become joint valedictorians of their high school.

Canada's MuchMusic's Top Ten Moments of 2010 include the production of the song, Wavin' Flag - Young Artists for Haiti.

The Gazette HealthWatch's Top Ten Stories of 2010 include all those intriguing findings (mostly good news) that researchers were eager to share with us, including the good news about aspirin, vitamin D and smoking bans.

Canada AM's Top Tech Stories of 2010 series includes some great news about all the technology that has enhanced our lives - like the Apple iPad, Kinect for Xbox 360 and the Kobo eReader.

My personal favourite is the story about the Large's from Nova Scotia who won $11.2 million in July and have given away almost all of it.  Check out this video from CBC news: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/11/03/video-ns-lottery-winners-update.html

My greatest stories of 2010 were that I went on a fabulous cruise with relatives, I went on a road trip to the Black Hills with my family, and I got a new job.  What are your good news stories of 2010? 

Have a wonderful day!

~ Angela Gentile

Her Next Chapter is Her OWN - What's Yours?

"Let this be the year you release your fears about what you can achieve. Know for sure what you want and be willing to give yourself what you need to get it." -- Oprah

I picked up the January 2011 issue of  "O - The Oprah Magazine"  the other day.  The title on the front page intrigued me - "What's Your Next Chapter?".  Oprah Winfrey has had a talk show for 25 years and she is moving on to a new venture.  In the interview with O Editor in Chief Susan Casey, Oprah talks about her 18-year-journey to have her own network.  She said she wrote in her journal in 1992 that her partner Stedman had said to her, "Why don't you own your own network?".  She sat with the idea and thought of the letters OWN - standing for the Oprah Winfrey Network.  That was when the seed was planted.  She goes on to say in the article how she was looking for "signs and signals" and over the next 18 years this idea grew and now is ready to sprout.  She wants OWN to do what The Oprah Winfrey Show and her O Magazine have done for years - inspire and entertain.  It will be a channel filled with creative, meaningful, and mindful programming.  January 1, 2011 marks the beginning of her new chapter - the Oprah Winfrey Network.  With programming 24/7/365 she even admits they have a lot of work ahead of them.

"I would like for people to have that space to go to. A breathing space -

where you knew that something would always be there to fill you." -- Oprah

"Everything you've ever done prepares you for all that you can do and be.  

So I move forward to start a new chapter with the lessons I've learned 

and the strength I've gained."  -- Oprah

Oprah inspires me to "live my best life".  She has touched the lives and hearts of many all over the world.  She has encouraged people to think about "What's your next chapter?" As we head into a new year, it's a really good time to look at our lives from a fresh perspective and think about how we want to live our best life. What's your next chapter?

"Once you clarify your purpose for doing something, 

the way to do it becomes clear." -- Oprah

Why Oprah decided to start her OWN Network.  See the complete article here: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Oprah-Winfrey-Network-Sneak-Preview/1

Cheers!

~ Angela Gentile

Living Large

     I recently heard and read about an older Canadian couple who won a lottery, and decided to give away 98% of it.  It is a wonderful feel-good kind of story that I love to hear.  This couple, Allen and Violet Large, live in Lower Truro, Nova Scotia.  The Larges' won a large lottery this past summer and have been very generous in giving away most of their millions to family, and other companies and organizations that request money.  So far they have given away more than $11 million.  Their generosity and charitable acts have touched the hearts of people all over the world.  This older couple state that they don't need the money, that they'd rather give it to those who need it. They are most happy to have each other (he's 75).

     Cemeteries, hospitals, fire departments and churches have all benefitted from the Large's generosity.

     Imagine winning millions, and then decided a week before you pick up your winnings that you are going to give most of it away.  That must be a great feeling.  If only there were more people like this in the world.

     I hope that more people in the world can "Live Large" and start being more generous with their winnings.  The Larges' certainly make the world a better place.

     To see the full article, go to this link: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/885762--lotto-winners-generosity-touches-hearts-at-home-and-abroad

Have a happy day!

~ Angela Gentile

Master Jackson, Puppy Extraordinare

"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies." -- Gene Hill

It actually looked like we had a toddler in the house again; little toys scattered all over the living room floor. Soft ones, squeaky ones and a big comfy pillow to sleep on.

We have had the pleasure of dog-sitting a special little black Havanese puppy called "Jackson".  He is also affectionately known as "Jack", or "Jackie Chan".  He is 10 weeks old and he is really cute.  I forgot what it's like to have a puppy around.  His playfulness, combined with his good looks and small stature makes him really easy to love.  Jackson is an active little puppy when he's awake.  He likes to play tug-o-war, and he is learning the commands, "sit" and "lay down".  He is also being housetrained, and is doing pretty good with that, too.  Our dog Rocky, at five-years-old, seems amused with Jackson's energy and enthusiasm.  Jackson wouldn't touch his puppy food if it was in his own bowl.  As soon as we put it into Rocky's bowl, he chowed down.  He also whined until we put a few pieces of Rocky's kibble into his bowl. 

Everyone loves friendly little Jackson, and he has a beautiful silky black coat.  His little tail curls up and around his rump when he walks.  His eyes are big and brown and he follows little butterflies and birds when they catch his eye.  He hops along when he runs.  He licks your toes under the table.  He reminds me of my little cockapoo I had many years ago.  Her name was Bunny. 

Here's a picture of my daughter and her cousin, holding this sweet little puppy, Jackson.  For more on the Havanese breed, visit this site: http://www.akc.org/breeds/havanese/

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile

Wonderful Finds at the Farmers' Market

This past weekend my husband and I went to the St. Norbert Farmers' Market.  I really enjoy these events as it encourages me to get outside in the fresh air and it also gives me an appreciation for all the great local vendors that provide vegetables, baking, plants and other crafts such as jewellery and hand-made purses. 

We got up early as that is the best time to go.  The vendors have their stands full of colourful vegetables and flowers, and it is quite a sight to see.  This particular weekend was very busy, and we enjoyed looking at everything.

It is also a good idea to buy local, as this cuts down on the toxic emissions that come from all the trucks that transport vegetables and other items from far away places.  It's good to support the locals and it gives me a great sense of community.  There were kids, dogs and all kinds of  people out this past weekend.

I took some pictures and wanted to share them here so that you could get a feel for the event.  We ended up buying three strawberry plants (that are now planted in our garden with promise to multiply and bear many fruits for years to come) and a loaf of "Six-Seed Eight-Grain Bread" made with spelt (similar to wheat).  We were happy with our purchases and felt it was a nice outing.

If you get a chance, check out your local farmer's market.  You'll be glad you did!

To check out St. Norbert Farmers' Market, go to this link:  http://www.stnorbertfarmersmarket.ca/.  Where they make it, bake it and grow it for you.

Cheers!

~ Angela Gentile

Taking Care of Ourselves

Do you take care of yourself the way you take care of others?  It wasn't until  university when I started learning the concepts of self-esteem and self-image.  It was in my course work that I learned the importance of self-care.  There is a fine balance between being selfish or egotistical, and being able to take care of one's self in a healthy way. 

Paying attention to your diet, exercising, avoiding addictive behaviours and spending pleasurable time with others is a recipe for a healthy sense of self.  We get all kinds of messages from the media about what a healthy diet is and the main thing I want to say here, is "everything in moderation".  I have a book called, "Healthy Pleasures" by Robert Ornstein and David Sobel (1989), and the authors state there are things we can do for pleasure that are healthy.  "The key is the Pleasure Principle.  Nature's way of alerting us that what we enjoy is likely to be good for us." Feel good activities like a hug, watching your favourite sports team play well, or a touching movie or video clip can have a positive effect on our ability to ward of disease.  The authors state that "healthy" pleasures can help us to be healthier in the long run.

Taking care of ourselves also means taking care of others.  Helping others, taking care of our environment or joining a worthy cause makes us feel responsible, and helps us live a life of purpose.  What good is a life with no purpose?  Our lives are actually lengthened by engaging in philanthropy (active effort to promote human welfare).  What do you do to help others feel good?

Take care of yourself as best you can.  You are the owner and operator of a magnificient miracle - you.  You are awesome!

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile

Shop and Give

I saw a story on CNN the other day, that inspired me to write about companies that are generous and help others in need.  The shoe company, TOMS, sells shoes and boots for men, women and youth.  They sell "Tiny Toms" for young children, every day shoes, and they even have "wedding" shoes.  For every pair of shoes they sell, they will donate a pair of shoes to a child who is in need.  Their most recent project is in Haiti.  They have an online store, and I was browsing through their website, and I felt a good feeling as I looked at the pictures of people who wear the shoes and send in their photos and stories.  For the consumer who buys TOMS shoes, they are helping a child in need as well.  TOMS calls it their "One for One" program.  I am sure there are many other companies out there that do good for those less fortunate, and I felt that TOMS is a noteworthy company that should be recognized as such.  So far, they have given over 600,000 shoes to children in need.

One of the giant corporate contributors to our society in Canada is Wal-Mart.  Believe it or not, Wal-Mart donated and raised a record $25 million in 2009.  "At Walmart Canada, corporate social responsibility is part of our DNA," said David Cheesewright, President and CEO of Walmart Canada. "We are committed to making a positive difference in the communities where we do business."  When I shop at Wal-Mart, I can be assured that my purchases are also helping those in need, right here in Canada.

A big boquet goes out to those companies that help their local communities and the world.  Keep up the good work!

Have a wonderful day!
~Angela

Lost, Found and Rewarded

Have you ever lost something and then have someone return it to you?  Have you ever found something and been able to return it to someone?  My husband rides his bike to work most days, and he often finds things in his travels.  His most recent finding was a cell phone.  He looked in the contacts, and tried to call the "home" number, but there was no answer.  Shortly after, the cell phone rang, and it turned out it was the owner.  He arranged to return the phone to its rightful owner, and he was pleasantly surprised with a $20 reward.  It is so nice to get a reward for helping someone get something back that they thought they may have lost for good.

Last year, I saw a dog running across the street in our neighbourhood.  Being a dog-owner myself, I could only imagine the worst, if this dog was not brought back home to safety.  I stopped my car, assessed that this dog was friendly, and enticed this large, happy, dog into my back seat.  Fortunately this dog had on a name tag with his home address.  I was able to drive this dog back to his home, and ensure he was safe again.  That evening, I had a knock on my front door, and the owners gave me a gift of a bottle of wine.  That was an unexpected reward and very much appreciated.

If you have lost or found something, there are great websites you can go to to find out if you can locate your item or return the item to its rightful owner.

A big boquet goes out to anyone who has ever found something and returned it, and to those who have offered rewards or gifts/letters/words of appreciation to those who have returned their lost items.  It makes the world we live in a happier one.

Cheers!
~Angela

Volunteering Makes a Difference

I am a volunteer for the Children's Hospital Book Market and I volunteered for their big sale recently.  I've been able to combine my love of books with my desire to help my community.  My job is to ensure that the donated books are arranged attractively on the tables, spine-up, so that potential buyers can easily browse and choose what books they would like to buy. As the books are sold, I replenish them with books that are kept in boxes under the tables.  I also spot those avid readers who need more room than just their arms to carry their books - they need a shopping basket!  A lot of the serious book-lovers bring their lists of books that they've read and/or need so that they know exactly what they are looking for.  I try to head them in the right direction.  I even recommended a book that I enjoyed to a young woman and she bought it (LittleWhite Lies, by Gemma Townley).   All ages come to the Book Market, and I enjoy helping each and every person.

Each time someone buys a book, they are donating money to a great cause - to help children in need.    I feel good when I volunteer, and I enjoy being out with the public.  It's so much different than my regular day job.

"Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something." ~Author Unknown

Have a wonderful, useful, productive day!

~Angela

Practice Random Acts of Kindness

The other day, when I was at our local movie theatre, I realized I had an extra coupon that entitled the bearer to a 75 cent admission.  To get in for a movie for 75 cents seems pretty reasonable, I'd think.  The coupon was going to expire, and I didn't need it.  I had an extra, and what I decided to do was to give it to someone waiting in line that was about to purchase their movie ticket. 

A little girl, about 4 or 5 years old caught my eye.  She was with a man, who appeared to be her father.  I approached the man, and offered him the coupon, telling him that I didn't need it, and hoped that he could make good use of it.  He looked at me in surprise, and looked down at the coupon, smiled and thanked me.  I'm not generally one to toot my own horn, but I just wanted to make a point about Random Acts of Kindness.  I felt happy about my good deed for the day, and know that my kindness and thoughtfulness made someone's day a little brighter.

You can find more stories about Random Acts of Kindness in the Winnipeg Free Press Online edition.  I have read through a few of the stories, and it helps me see that there are lots of kind people out there, and if we all take turns, it will make our day a little brighter.  Some even choose to Pay it Forward. 

Check it out:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/kindness/Random_acts_of_kindness.html

With Kindness,
~Angela

Two very kind words, Thank you.

 

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
-- Marcel Proust

How many times did you say "Thank you" today?  How many times did you hear "Thank you" today?  These are two very powerful, kind words that express gratitude and happiness. 
 
As my daughter leaves her friends house after a great time, she always says, "Thanks for having me over".  Whenever I go to my mother-in-laws for supper, I always say thanks so much for the great meal.  When I buy my husband a little treat, he says "Thanks Honey".  When I drop my son off at school in the morning, he says, "Thanks for the ride".   Whenever my dog gets a treat, I can see the thankfulness in his tail as it wags.  
 
When we are appreciated and someone expresses their gratitude, it makes us feel good.  What are you thankful for?
 
Thanks for reading my blog, I hope you enjoy it. 
 
~Angela

Declutter and Donate at the Same Time

To keep order in my home, I like to remove as much clutter as possible.  As I find items I/we no longer need, I place them in a plastic bag in my front closet.  There are two companies that call us on a regular basis to see if we have any unwanted, reusable articles of clothing or household items.  I often have three or four bags that are ready to go by the time I get the call.  All I have to do then, is simply place the bags outside on my front doorstep, label them for donation, and away the clutter goes!  I feel good because I am helping in way of a donation and I also get rid of unwanted items in our home.

Another tip I have learned, is if I buy a new article of clothing, I have to get rid of one or two items that I no longer enjoy or wear. 

A decluttered home makes me happy.  It's the simplicity and order that I crave.  What makes you happy?

Cheers!
~Angela

A Big Bear Hug

Have you hugged yourself today?

Next time you get out of the pool, lake, ocean (or shower!) make sure you give yourself a big bear hug.  Put the big bath towel behind your back, and grasp both ends and wrap it around your shoulders.  Then take your arms, and cross them over your chest and make it really snug.  Take a moment and feel the sensation of a big bear hug.  Take a deep breath and smile!

“You must love yourself before you love another.

By accepting yourself and fully being what you are,

your simple presence can make others happy.”

Have a wonderful day!
~Angela