Do Good For Others, Do Good For Yourself

Hi friends! Hope things are stellar in your world today. No matter what the state of things, I know of something that can usher good in immediately!! Ready for it? Helping someone else. I know it may seem hard to even think of this if you are very busy, have limited resources, or find yourself not feeling very well. If that is the case for you, I'm sending you a BIG digital hug right now! But I assure you, that I have compiled a list of ways you can do good for someone else no matter what your situation may be. So take a look and see if anything here strikes your fancy...

Give a free mammogram with a click of your mouse

Play multiple choice crossword games online for charity

Shop online through this site & a percentage gets donated to your charity of choice. Some stores offer coupons too!

Sign up, register and volunteer in Los Angeles

Sign up, register, and find a place to volunteer in the United States

Be a video mentor to a child in Africa

Already a volunteer? Give your charity kudos and share your experience with others here

Come up with ways to give and see what transforms for you, by taking a 29 Day Giving Challenge

Doing good for others can bring immediate feelings of joy and can help to bring the blessings you wish for. For what we give, we also receive. Multiplied abundantly. I hope you liked the offerings listed above. 

Here is one more idea for giving back.... 

In a previous post, I mentioned my love for magazines. Then I got a great idea! A couple months ago while driving I noticed a Dialysis Center. I realized that the people that go there do so regularly and for extended periods of time. So I figured, I could go and drop off my magazines once I'd read them and spice up the experience a bit for people with fun and current things to read. I have been doing this once a month for the past two months and have actually compiled a small stack for January. 

I just pop in with my stack of magazines and put them in the magazine rack in the lobby. The reception is always thankful and it only takes a minute to do. 

Let's go get our give on! Cheers to giving and receiving life's treasures. xo xo xo 

29 Gifts, Day 27

"Blessed are we, engaged in this, these 29 days, where we give gifts."

You are welcome to join this challenge and the free community anytime here. Purchase the book that started this movement, here. Love to you. Thanks for reading...


29 Gifts, Day 27June 21, 2011 at 1:16am


Guess what? Guess what? The man I had been buying scratchers (lottery tickets) for this whole time finally received his gift!!:D


Today as hubby & I were making our way out I saw him cleaning the street and quickly asked my husband to stop the car so I could gift him. At first he was hesitant probably because I went up to him and said "Hey, what's your name?" It wasn't my clearest moment. I was just so happy to finally see him and be able to give him the gift I had for him this whole time. I simply introduced myself and let him know that I recently moved to the area and really love living here. I expressed how his regular cleaning of the surrounding neighborhood really makes an impact on me and my experience. I also told him that I had a gift for him. At which time I presented him with the scratchers, shook his hand, and introduced him to my husband. It was great because he seemed really surprised and told me that I made his day. He also said he would relay my message to his boss. YAY! It made me feel really good to let him know that I notice him and his work. Honestly, what he does means a lot to me. 


My other major give today was for Carriage Hope, which is the charity I am now working with regularly. I had a long, busy beginning of the day and waited too long to eat after breakfast. By mid afternoon I was starving and tired (this happen to anyone else?) Anyway, after lunch I got to it, worked on, and almost completed their entire website from scratch! I can't wait to present it to them. They have never had a website before. So this, along with the other items we are instituting are a really big deal and opportunity for their advancement. I pray it makes a huge, lasting, positive, impact. 


The last item I gave was a referral to my family specifically my Grandmother and Mother (who both were recently diagnosed with cancer) for fresh organic fruits and vegetables that would be delivered to their home inexpensively, along with recipes on how to make them. If any of you would like this information, let me know and I will provide it. Green leafy vegetables along with vegetables and fruits that are brightly colored are known to prevent, reduce, and sometimes assist in the curing of cancer. The also stave off a whole list of other diseases. 


May all of you be blessed with excellent health. Always, and forevermore. Big hugs and abundance wishes. See you tomorrow...

29 Gifts, Day 24.

I Can't Believe There's Only 5 Days Left.


29 Gifts, Day 24June 18, 2011 at 1:04am


At breakfast I got a treat in being able to meet comedian Bill Hader from SNL. I gifted him with a compliment on his great work. It was cool to shake his hand and let him know how much I appreciate his talent.


Today my giving was mostly about Carriage Hope the charity I am working with. Right now we are really building things up. They have done a lot and made good strides but they had stalled so, there's a lot of work and revamping to do. I had agreed to meet them every Friday at 10 am. I had gone to sleep at about 4 am and did not want to get up when the alarm went off. However, I made it happen! Only to realize there had been a miscommunication and the meeting was to be at 11. DOH! 


Needless to say, with some rearranging of my schedule, I got back there at 11:30 and went to work. I shared some new ideas on how we can improve the flow of the thrift store. They felt these ideas were good and agreed to implement them. In addition, I managed to find a better solution for their website in another programmer. The person we had now wasn't answering emails let alone making any progress causing concern about meeting our deadline. I met some other key people on our team too. All in all it was a great meeting. I feel really excited about all of this. There is so much help we can provide together and I plan on doing all I can to help make this a success. What I got from this was a huge surprise. They would like to make me chairman of the board. It hasn't gone through yet as everyone needs to vote and agree but the fact they are considering it is really humbling and I consider it a great gift. 


The rest of the day was good. I have a DJ gig tomorrow & I spent some time preparing for it today. I also enjoyed some down time with my husband. A couple of times today I felt dismayed by my hubby. What I gave in these situations is patience and as much understanding as I could muster. I do love the man after all... :P


Anyway loves, I'm off to bed. My DJ gig will have me up early to drive over, set up, and play from 10-Noon. Love to you, sweet dreams. 

29 Gifts, Days 10-12

Hello lovies! Here are days 10-12 of this life changing 29 day challenge I am on. Tomorrow will be the last long post because we'll be all caught up and then you'll be with me real time. YAY! I am doing this from my car as I await my scheduled time to come up for a callback audition and my Macbook battery is about to die so forgive the lack of links to the other 29 Gifts posts and 29 Gifts community. If you are new to this and inspired please read along my blog and you will see that info in my other blogs. Ok, love and light to you. Have an empowered blessed day!! xo


29 Gifts, Day 10. Double digits!!June 4, 2011 at 12:07am


Another great day. I noticed there have been a couple days I have not had an intention outside of the intention to give. Not sure how I feel about that. I do prefer when I have a clear cut intention but I am still grateful to be thinking of giving regularly and so I chalk it all up to goodness. Today I gave the following....


A surprise visit to one of my best friends. It was great to show up and chat for a while. 
My thoughts, prayers, and suggestions for a girlfriend I referenced in an earlier post who has been going through serious struggles lately. This felt so good as she appeared to be affected positively by this and it felt good to show her I care. 
I treated my husband to breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants.


& then there was the greatest give, the one I'm MOST excited about. The merging of my blogs and letting my people know about this community, experience, and movement here at 29 Gifts. My intention with this is to facilitate people getting into the giving spirit as I know it is a life changer and so many can benefit from this beautiful thing. The possibility of my friends and followers enlightenment, along with the growth of the 29 Gifts community and movement are just beautiful tips of the iceberg! Let alone the amazing ripple effect of things I can't even think of or imagine. Mbali and Cami started an amazing thing and if I can pass it on I'm happy to do so! I pray for goodness to rain down on all of us. :)


As for what I got? Happiness, strength, confidence, peace, excitement, purpose, energy, and feelings of love. Another audition on Monday, a bag my husband got for me while at an event today, & a brand new subscriber at my original blog. Yay!


29 Gifts, Day 11June 4, 2011 at 11:53pm


Today my giftly intention surrounded my family. Both of these gifts were premeditated. One for my son and the other for my husband.


Hubby has a big birthday coming up and his wish is to have a big party so I gave him half of the party budget. I'm so glad he accepted it. :)


The biggest one was for my son. Today is his birthday. He's 17. I wish I could say that my gift involved some great big party, family outing, shopping trip, or well wrapped goodie. Instead it was a facebook comment and a message telling him I love him along with a gift that would help him get some enlightenment and support via a free tele-seminar with some amazing spiritual teachers focused on masculinity and a message geared especially towards men. You see, my son doesn't live in my home anymore. It's been 2 months, he is my baby, and me being "o.k" with this has been HARD. Since he left we've had one phone conversation. We both expressed our love for one another but the issues that caused his departure were left untouched. Stuck between supporting detrimental behaviors and standing up for what's best for him, I chose the latter. Tough love in-deed. Now with his birthday here, I was stuck at a crossroads. I chose giving. I chose to give my love. I would do anything for my children. Today that anything involved me reaching out, forgetting even just for a moment about the problems, my worries, and the pain I have felt. He replied "thanks Mom" with a smiley face. I can only hope my gesture gave him a glimpse of the magnitude of my eternal love for him. Perhaps this is a wonder all of us parents share in raising our kids.


Introspectively, Tee


29 Gifts, Day 12June 5, 2011 at 6:50pm

Today my gifts were just for me,
Gave myself rest to be the best I could be,
Handled some work to get a jump on the week.
Showing off midriff in a cut off tee and jeans.


Today I let my mind roam,
I played with my cat,
I didn't pass judgements or let myself detract,
I allowed the experience to be what it is, 
and trusted my heart to let me receive the give.






Today I Signed Up To Work For FREE & No, I'm Not A Sucker...

On this day I decided to step out and take action on a feeling I had a couple weeks ago. It started when hubby and I went for lunch and I noticed a thrift shop. That chance encounter had me going in the place, meeting the owner, and discussing philanthropy with him. I was invited to join their team. Three weeks later, I was back and ready to speak about this opportunity further.

This meeting went nothing like I expected. To be honest this whole encounter has been unexpected and yet, that is part of it's charm. I went in there ready to present. To show. To handle sh*t. What can I say? That's how I work.... Then I discovered a laid back approach and flow that I wasn't used to. There was an openness, a trust that is lovely. I was asked questions. I was listened to. I was presented with a lot of information and not very much at all. It was a whirlwind. I feel invigorated, excited, and challenged a bit. This is something completely different for me.

I am faced with the task of generating a website, marketing, online presence, and fund generation for them. I plan to do it in a week's time.

Merriam Webster defines philanthropist as "a wealthy person who gives money and time to help make life better for other people." 

This is what I see myself as. This is how I live my life. Right now my bank account disagrees with my new title. I say my bank account is a liar. Actually, I just think my bank account is taking some time to catch up to me... things move fast in my world. :D

No matter what I know I have more than enough. This notion is so powerful sometimes it's hard to believe even when it's happening right in front of me! I'm not going to say living this truth happens mindlessly for me yet but I will say that I recognize it and do my best to foster those feelings every day. It is no coincidence that blessings surround me and touch me. I had been so wrapped up in the how it recently dawned on me that I enjoy unexpected money and favor all over the place! Perhaps it's coming to me indirectly because there is something else I have to learn in the area of giving and receiving. Either way, I'm a wiling student.

Is there something you are wanting to do but taking your time on? What are some of the ways you feel you better the world?

Losing All of My Weight.

Take it.
Take it all....

I find myself saying that more and more to my previous ways of being. I've opened a Pandora's Box. I didn't realize it but it's been done and now I'm left shedding all of my extra weight. Everything.

The life I once knew, the direction I was going in, the things I deemed important. They have all been and continue to be challenged. From weight I carried in my body, to weight-y relationships. From endless lists of digital items, to material possessions I once cherished. It's all just going, going, GONE. Most of it feels natural, thank God. After all, I have chosen this. Granted I didn't know how far it would go but I have chosen this. Yet, there are moments I discover ties to things I didn't know I had and relationships fall away that I didn't intend to lose.

Last week, I donated 85% of my possessions.

As the filled truck rolled away I felt a moment of sadness. The memories of the times I had spent with my family and our stuff flashed by in my mind. Actual tears welled up in my eyes. Then with a swallow I was overjoyed. Excited. Grateful. Grateful for the opportunity to be able to do something like that. Grateful to be so blessed. Happy at the thought of what new person or family would benefit and create memories of their own with our things.

This is what housed our stuff before:

Here's the after:

I can't even begin to describe all of the benefits I have received throughout this process. It isn't over yet and there are tough moments. Not to include that would be dishonest. I wonder at times what people will think of my posts, they're all so "Eat Pray Love." I know. I get it. I worry my thoughts aren't mainstream enough to be cool and then I just keep jumping off the cliffs.

So far I have felt lighter, freer, more enlightened and connected with something much bigger and way more important than anything I've ever experienced before. I have felt strength with each passed threshold and so much more grateful for each wondrous person, place, or thing, that makes the cuts.

If you'd like to make a difference with some of your items or if you feel weighed down by stuff, people, places, situations, there is a way out. You too can release. One thing at a time. Whatever your pace and process is, it's perfect. Just take the steps when you're ready. My favorite organization to donate things to is The Salvation Army. They make it easy and really help people. Although, this last time I did want to ship things to Africa as well. I just didn't find out about a place. <--If you know of a place please let me know for future reference. :)

May you realize the blessing in you each moment. Thank you for being a part of my world. <3

Today I Step In To My Newest Title, Philanthropist.

It's sunny outside, the weather is warm, I am energized, refreshed, grateful, excited. This is after over a week of gloom and rain, metaphorically speaking it couldn't be more perfect. This week has brought about a massive amount of change. Consolidated. In your face. The kind of change that even someone like me who loves change, has to pep talk her way through it. Truthfully speaking, like all extremely hard things in my life, God got me through. I've experienced extreme lows and highs. Outpouring of support from fans, friends, and family. I will never be the same.

Amidst this process I have been enlightened to dreams I didn't know I had, to possibilities I hadn't seen before. To things that are now my new life's path. I am alive.

The first section of my life was about survival. The second section about me finding and expressing myself through the arts and my talents. This new phase is about the world.

Listen, I'm not out of the woods yet. I've had major unexpected financial things come up, (a move, parking tickets, ding in my windshield, medical & vet expenses, people I trusted and thought were on my team try to take advantage of me) some of these are still pending.. Sometimes I get scared and it hurts but I've also been extremely blessed. To be honest the only reason I am mentioning this to begin with is because I want you to know I'm a real person. A human being, making my way through this world, trying to be the best I can. Any hints of greatness come from something much higher than me, I call it God.

Please know I am not here to blog about religion, I am not religious. I am simply sharing with you this amazing wonderful metamorphosis I have experienced and the joy I have to be able to step into it TODAY. I dream of being a millionaire on the "Secret Millionaire" show. Until that day comes I will take cues from my mentors Oprah, Neale Donald Walsch, Rhonda Byrne, Robert & Kim Kiyosaki, God... and I will go out and make it happen. It started with making more donations and tonight/tomorrow night I start in deed.

If you are reading this right now, have connected with me at any of the social networks I use, thank you. I can't even begin to express how much I appreciate you. I really do carry you in my heart. This is my longest and my second most personal blog to date. I hope to continue to interest you. May you have a blessed and productive day. You are amazing.

Cheers to all of us, living out our dreams.