The Rainy Day Party

When my boys were three and five we started a rainy day party that took off remained a fun family day for many years.  We began planning our rainy day party by digging out all the old birthday party decorations we had left over and decorated the house. The decorations did not make sense where we put them.  If streamers usually went on the ceiling or high on the walls, we would put them on the floor or low on the walls.  Party hats might have been taped to the back of a chair or on a window.  Decorating was anything goes.

We made stromboli  with all our favorite pizza toppings and each one as unique as we were.  A simple press pie crust pie was prepared by little hands for dessert.  While the food was baking in the oven it was time to put our plans into action.

Throughout the decorating and baking process, laughter and music could be heard in every room of the house.  We played a bunch of games and even made up a few of our own games where the rules were thrown out the window after we made them up.  We laughed and we laughed until we could laugh no more.

Dinner was served after our scavenger hunt was completed and the boys were as worn out as us parents.  It was so much fun and wonderful memories.  But, our boys did not stay little for long.  As they grew up, playing child games was just not fun anymore.  We changed our rainy day party to a whole new level.

We now had appetizer night.  Everyone got to chose their favorite appetizers for dinner that night and a few that we all loved.  We would dig out cards, chess set, scrabble or yatzee, whatever game we were in the mood to play.  We would gather around the dining room table or sometimes the coffee table where we had more room and play, laugh and talk.  Now that was something for the record books, a tween and a teen wanting to play games with their parents.  We love those times when we are together.

It seems that food is the common theme in all our fun family times.  It is something that the boys have had instilled in them since they turned one year old.  We would begin teaching them how to cook.  Now sometimes it is heating up some mozzarella sticks or frying some battered mushrooms, other times it is making a three course meal Iron Chef style for father's day.  But food brings us together to laugh, talk, share and really connect as a family.

The boys remember the rainy day parties and the appetizer nights for reasons similar and different than mine.  But they are all good reasons.  The remember the time we spent with them teaching them when they didn't realize we were teaching.  They remember us being silly with them and they remember us wanting to spend time doing what they wanted to do.  That is how I keep my family happy.  I take time to do what they want to do, cook with them, talk with them, laugh with them and love them.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Farm Rich blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Taking care of the written word,
Dannielyn

Happy Happy Spring! Blessings from a Spring Birthday!

Yesterday was the first day of spring and it was my birthday.  I love to celebrate birthdays and I certainly love to celebrate spring.  I was not sure of how my birthday was going to be since our LL has been causing us some great stress with the constant threats (see March 19, 2011 post).  But I told my husband that we were going to have a 24 hour ban of LL talking.

At 12:02 am on March 20th, my son who is at UNC Charlotte sent the first text of my birthday wishing me a Happy Birthday.  What a wonderful boy!  I picked up my birthday gift from the boys and Mike on Wednesday, A KINDLE!!!! So, I already had my birthday present.  My younger son came out of his room (YEAH!!!) and said Happy Birthday Mom, you get a birthday hug!!!  I have two wonderful boys.  Mike was in charge of my birthday dinner, we had steak (medium-rare for me!), baked potato, cole slaw, baked beans, garlic bread and instead of birthday cake, fresh strawberries and ice cream.

The birthday card my husband was going to get me is a refurbished table I found that he and I painted and decorated with mosaics.  Now that will last much longer than a card!! It will always be on display.

I found myself smiling and counting myself very lucky throughout the day.  I felt loved by my husband and my boys.  They may not realize just how much their actions and words meant to me, but it was one of the best birthdays I can remember.  It was not because of expensive dinners and gifts.  It was because of a disgusting table and chair set I got for free and a hug and a text message.  It was the love they showed to me out of the willingness of their own hearts.

May you feel the love and joy of this spring season.

Taking Care of the Written Word,
Dannielyn

Tenant Rights in North Carolina

I have been exposed to the dark side of being a renter.  We have owned before, but when we moved down to North Carolina, we became renters.  We have never had the type of problems from a landlord in our 21 years of marriage as we have since moving in our current home.  We rented before we bought in Iowa and in North Carolina.  Our last lease lasted over five years.

It is incredible the amount of retaliatory action she has inflicted on us. She will accuse of us damaging the property when we have been asking her to repair something that was wrong before we moved in.  Then she will threaten to evict us for demanding these repairs be fixed.  Some have taken over 90 days to be repaired and some still are not done.

She threatened eviction because I would not sign an inspection report I did not participate in.  She stood over me and shook her finger in my face demanding me to sign it.  No matter how many times I said 'no, I will not sign something I did not participate in" she still threatened eviction.  I had to print out a paper explaining that she cannot threaten eviction for demanding repairs to be done.

She has accused me of things that the video tape clearing demonstrates was not done.  She has threatened to call the police on me for talking to her.  She began the conversation with "hi Dannett".  Then accused us of not moving our cars per her email and her text messages.  Guess what?  She never sent an email or a text to move the cars to clean the yard.  But our vehicles were not in her way to clean the construction debris and garbage she has left in our yard since we moved in.  She asked for a list of repairs that I have been sending her all week long.  Then when I printed a copy and tried to give it to her I was "attacking" her.  Again, video shows that I did not do such a thing.  But she didn't seem to pay attention to it.  She had come that day to call the cops on me and she was going to do so.

She did.  He sided with us.  She has no right to enter our home without knocking.  While we are paying rent, we have the right to say who can come into the home without knocking.  A landlord who threatens eviction for everything and accuses us of doing damage to the property when she has photographs of the condition that supports our requests and not her accusations, should not be allowed in the home.  The police officer she requested be sent to the home did what he was suppose to do.  He mediated the situation and found a resolution that all could abide by.  She agreed to it.  Then she denied it even took place.

The constant emails are horrific enough, but when she was calling me in the beginning it was more than a person could possibly find reasonable.  She was upset that I would take a call from my college aged son who does not call anyone over listening to her excuses as to why she was not repairing what needed to be repaired.

It is more than just venting here.  If you are a renter, find out what the landlord can do and what the landlord cannot do.  Just because they own the property, it does not mean that the landlord can make threats, refuse repairs or harass you.  Seek restitution and justice.  NO landlord has the right to screw with you and your family in the home you are paying for to live in.

This issue is not resolved.  She emailed us yet again today telling us that we have to be out of this home by April 1, 2011 at midnight.  See, the thing is, it is not legal for her to email an eviction to us.  It has to be done by the court system.  We have the right to show our evidence that this landlord has a history of threatening us, coercion attempts with threats of eviction and other harassing measures.  We have the right to fight this in court and will do so.  No landlord will threaten me and my family because we are asking for repairs to be done.  NO landlord will try to intimidate me by emailing eviction notices to me.  If you rent, study the law.  Legal Aid society is a good place to start.  Their website has a easy to read and understand Landlord Tenant rights and responsibility pamphlet you can access online.  Your state will have a packet of information on what a landlord can and cannot do to you as a renter.  Know your rights, stand up for your rights.  It is not hard.  I have a stomach that will not stop churning, I am not able to sleep, I am running on adrenaline,  I am angry and my husband and I are screaming at each other because of her making us so mad.  But we have to hold her accountable for what she is doing no matter how ugly it may get.  She cannot do this to me and my family and your landlord should not be doing it to you.

Taking Care of the Written Word,
Dannielyn

http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByChapter/Chapter_42.pdf

Teachers, Students and Money

I have been hearing about the struggles in Wisconsin about the teachers, budgets and as a parent of a high school student I am concerned.  Our economy is pretty awful.  It has been for several years now.  We have been struggling as a nation to keep things together long enough to ride out this economic mess.  But to no avail.  There is nothing really improving for the common man.  Yes, there are more reality television shows and those stars are spending money right and left, but for you and me, our money is hard coming in and fast going out.

I enjoy watching the Amazing Race.  It is a game for a bunch of contestant teams to learn about the world as they travel in search of clues to win a million dollars.  I have to laugh as I watch this show and see how dumb some of these contestants are about common things.  I wonder how they made it out of school.  There is a good deal of variety in these contestants; young and old, male and female, parents and children, dating couples and married couples, friends and co-workers, hearing and deaf, famous and not famous, autistic and normal.  Surprisingly enough, the deaf and autistic show more of the common sense and intelligence than some of the others who claim to be superior than others.  For the last two weeks a man (not autistic) and his friend (Asperger's Syndrome a form of autism) have come in first.

So what does this have to do with teachers, students and money?  Many of these contestants were failed by the school systems.  It is not due to the teachers ability to teach as much as the environment of the school systems.  When a teacher does not have a class room of their own and students are not able to learn in larger classrooms we cannot expect the best education delivered or obtained.

Teachers, students and schools should be on the receiving end of a significant budget that does not decrease every year but increase.  Schools should not be falling apart around the students trying learn.  Teachers should not have to use their own money to purchase items NECESSARY to teach the variety of students in their classrooms.  Students should not have to share textbooks, pay extra fees to take Advanced Placement (AP) tests because it is not in the budget for the school to pay for them.  Teachers should not be forced to have classes in trailers, isolating the students and the teacher from the rest of the school.

Unnecessary risks are being placed on teachers and the students in order for them to give or get an education.  These risks are due to the costs of education that are not covered by the state budgets.  It is up to the states to allocate the proper money each year to support each student in each school taught be each teacher.  This is our future and our legacy.  Why are we letting others dictate what our children deserve?  Why are we letting others dictate what our futures will be without properly educated students?

Can anyone answer that?

Taking Care of the Written Word,
dannielyn

Social media Pain

I volunteer my time for a local food pantry in part as their social media specialist.  I am involved in many different aspects of social media most of which was self taught.  The one important 'thing' I have learned is that social media can be a pain.  Consider this.

My 19 year old son has a twitter account.  I found out by accident when I looked over at him and saw his computer screen and there was a twitter page up.  I asked him if he was on twitter and he did his usual act when he doesn't want to lie to me so he laughs and denies what I am asking.

Being as savvy as I am about social media it wasn't that difficult to put in my son's first name and last name and try his nickname and last name combination.  I found the right combination, recognized his incognito picture by the twitter handle he used.  I read his twitter account.

Now, I must say it was tamer than I thought it would be considering he is out on his own for the first time, but there was one tweet that went out and it upset me.

It is now that I have to mention that my love language is words of affirmation.  That means, if you really want to show me that you love me, you say something nice.  If you want to wound me, say something bluntly horrible or mean.  Well, my son said something that was rather mean in my opinion.  It is due to the fact that my feelings were hurt because of my love language that the words are not as important as much as the fact that he said and had these feelings about me.

We had been waiting for several days to get our vehicle back from the shop because it needed some wheel, cv joint and something else to keep the wheel from falling off as we drive it around town.  I had just stated that I was surprised that we hadn't gotten into a word fight as we often due now that he is so grown up.  He agreed.  He was anxious to get the vehicle back as he was looking forward to going out and seeing some friends.  I received a call that little brother and dad were going to be paying for the vehicle and picking it up later.  I didn't tell my 19 year old.  When he found out, he was surprised that I hadn't told him.

I mentioned to him that the funny thing about social media, I am pretty good at it.  I know the ins and outs of twitter.  I can also read twitter posts that talk about me.

I am hurt by his words but more than that, I am hurt by the fact that he felt that it would be ok to write about me in this manner on a post to his friends.  Not that I was mentioned by my proper name, where anyone could look it up on a search.  But, the name he called me, 'mom' made it hurt even more.

I know kids hurt parents and parents hurt kids all the time, but I had hoped that since he was in college he began to appreciate me and what I do for him.  He decided this year to go vegetarian.  This is hard for someone used to making only one meal and nearly everyone with meat.  Now, the mom in me wants to be able to make sure that this child has enough food to eat that will replace the missing animal protein.  But his attitude towards me is upsetting.  Considering all that I do for him.

Anyways, just made me think of all the great things social media does and aware of the pain social media can cause.  I know it is not on the same degree as some of the bullying young people experience leading to their death, but it still hurts.

Taking Care of Written Word,
dannielyn

Cover Girl Celebrates 50 Years

I received a sample of the new foundation Natureluxe silk foundation.  This caught me as funny.  The more advanced life becomes, the more natural makeup becomes.  Not that I am against having natural ingredients in my make up, in fact the more natural the better.  While the sample was not the color I use, I was impressed with how it felt on my skin.  It was nice to have makeup cover the skin without that heavy feel. I think I may purchase a tube of the foundation, possibly Suede 355 or Chamois 330 and look at finding a shade of the NatureLuxe gloss balm.  With the help of these products I may not look like I am nearing my next birthday which has me eight years younger than Cover Girl.

Taking Care of the Written Word,
Dannielyn

I am a Bzzagent reviewing this product for them.  I have not received the free sample from Bzzagent but directly from Covergirl.  

What Makes Me Feel So Lucky?

Redbox is in the midst of a promotion for Lucky to Have Friends Like You.  I wanted to participate in this contest because I feel I found out what makes me feel so lucky.  By participating in this promotion, I have had time to really think of what makes me feel lucky.  I was not as surprised by my answer as I thought I would have been. 


I work as a freelance writer and felt that I needed to do something to 'get out of the house' once in a while.  I took my writing skills to a local food pantry and have been heavily involved with this organization ever since.  I have had a great deal of exposure to the most desperate individuals in Henderson County, NC.  I have given coffee and snacks to homeless individuals.  I have filled boxes for families struggling to put food on the table.  I have been working diligently updating intake processes, training volunteers and organizing the food pantry.  I have been knee-deep and up to my elbows in the food pantry business.  And I have been blessed.  


There are a number of volunteers at the food pantry that are also clients.  I have been able to build up their self-esteem because of the contributions they have shared.  I have been busy listening to their stories and offering hope, help and my heart.  I want to share why I feel I have been lucky, but my story has not been nearly as bad as one volunteer/client I have gotten to know.  


This volunteer/client has been clean for only 16 months.  She had been in a deep drug fog for many years and never really noticed some of the simplest things we take for granted.  She lives in the North Carolina mountains in a run down cabin, no electricity, no water and very little food.  She and her husband did own quite a bit of property around the cabin but it was sold to pay for her bail.  


She has been volunteering at the food pantry in order to have some contribution to society.  She has been a huge influence in the food pantry for all that she has been willing to do for us with a smile and a open heart.  Just last week we were looking through some clothing donations for some dresses for her to wear to church.  She would hold up a dress and I would tell her what I thought.  I would say simple things like 'that color looks wonderful on you'.  'Oh, that dress makes you look beautiful.'  I didn't think anything of what I was saying because it was what I would tell any friend I was 'shopping' with when they tried on a dress.  This volunteer/client started to cry.  I asked her why, and she struggled to tell me.  'I have been clean for 16 months and for the first time I had someone tell me that I was worth it.'  I needed her to explain.  No one had ever told her she was worth wearing a pretty dress.  No one had ever told her she was worth being sober.  No one had ever told her that she was worth going to church and being loved by God.  


I feel lucky that my life did not turn out like her life.  I feel lucky that I am able to go home to my warm home with running water.  But more than those general things, I am lucky I know her.  I feel lucky that I was able to see how much kind words mean to someone.  I am lucky to hear from her how much God means to her.  I am lucky to know her.  I know I said that before, but the good fortune is still there.  She has told me more about what matters in life.  She has told me what it feels like to be alone in a world where no one is able to reach.  She has told me what it means to be able to enjoy the sun and rain.  She has told me what it is like to love life.  For that, I am the luckiest person because I know her.  


“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and redbox blogging program, for a $25 Walmart gift card from redbox. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” 


Taking Care of the Written Word, 
Dannielyn

Purex Complete with Zout

I am so excited.  I have just received a full size bottle of Purex Complete with Zout to try and blog about.  I am really glad to have this as I have to do a load of laundry today and I didn't want to.  Now I have motivation to start that load.  I will give it a try and then let you know more about the product, including how you can get a sample of this product.  In fact, you can click on the Purex Insider badge on my blog to find out how to become a Purex Insider!.  Don't forget to enter to win a free Purex Crystals Softener.

Volunteering

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of too many volunteering opportunities?  Opportunities is the proper word to use because there are so many of us that need something in our lives but do not feel there are any opportunities available.  There is, just look in any direction around you and you will find volunteer opportunities that you did not realize you are seeing.  Let me explain.

I am a full time freelance writer.  In between my freelance work, I care for my family and my house.  I am involved via my sons, sporting events/teams.  I do volunteer writing for agencies and I am a nearly full time volunteer for a local food pantry in my community.  But there is more.  I will break it down for you so you can also identify all that you do for others.

As a freelance writer, I am able to do blogging opportunities for several different agencies and groups.  I write blog posts for the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). I write blog posts for an Autism advocacy group. I write blog posts for Wishpot.  I write blog posts for Hendersonville, NC.  I write blog posts for various businesses.  I do not receive pay from these agencies/businesses.  I may receive thank you gifts, but not pay.  That is a volunteer opportunity that I participate in sharing information to others on behalf of agencies.  It is fully my choice to do so as a matter of public service.

I also spend a great deal of time securing samples and freebies to donate to the local food pantry.  I am donating my time to do this as a way to share information and needed items to those in need.

I voluntarily secure samples and freebies for the pregnant moms in our local church and make "Mommy Go Bags" before their due date.

I make college care packages for my son and for some of his friends in school.  While his care package does not qualify for a volunteering opportunity, his friend's packages do.

I volunteer to help raise funds for my youngest son's lacrosse team.  Since my oldest son has been on that same team, this is my fifth year accomplishing this task.  I have two more seasons after this one.

Until recently, I volunteered in the church nursery.

I volunteered to be a Buzz Mama for Mabel's Labels.  While I do receive great thank you gifts for spreading the news about Mabel's Labels, I love to share this amazing company with others.  In fact, this volunteering goes even farther as I share some of my freebies from this company with a friend whose son will be having surgery in April.  The labels will help her keep track of her son's belongings while he is in and out of the hospital for three weeks.  We are in North Carolina and his surgery is in Ohio.

I volunteer at The Storehouse the local food pantry in our community.  I started just a few hours a week and now I am there nearly for full days.  However, a good deal of 'volunteer' time takes place at home as I am responsible for social media and program development.  Quite a bit of time since The Storehouse is only open three days a week 9-2pm.

I have also been involved in a number of opportunities such as members of a variety of boards, developing and teaching a co-op preschool, hosting small groups, training classes and so much more.

So, I am sure that you are wondering when I am going to come out and demand everyone bow down to me.  Well, it won't be coming any time soon.  This is not to build my ego, it is to show you how easy it is to volunteer to help others without realizing you are volunteering.  The care packages do not feel like a volunteering opportunity but a necessity for my son's friends to have the items they need when they do not have spare money.  The Mommy Go Bags started as an idea to help a friend be prepared.  The Storehouse volunteering started as a way to get out of the house once in a while.  Freelance work can be very lonely at times.

I am sure that you volunteer a lot more than you give yourself credit. But why do I or you decide to volunteer?  What do we get out of this need to volunteer?

I received a package of Signs of Life cards from Turning Point Ministries a few weeks ago.  I looked at these cards when I first received them and thought how interesting the cards were but did little else.  I looked at them more closely later on and saw somethings that I wanted to share.

Whether you are a Christian or another faith or no faith at all, why do you volunteer?

Here's some of what I would love to have others see in my volunteering effort:
My words and actions evidence Christ's indwelling.
My faith is expressed through works.
I am a source of light in a dark world.
Every moment of my life is a living moment with God.
I am conscious of influencing those around me.
Those who witness my life see Jesus.
The imprint of my Christian life will remain for eternity.
I am willing to get my feet dusty in the streets of my community.

How many of those do you agree with or see in your life?

Taking Care of the Written Word,
Dannielyn

My 19 Year Old is in College

My 19 year old son is almost done with his freshman year of college at UNC Charlotte.  He has done remarkably well for his first year.  I am not talking about his grades.  He has done well with his grades, better than he did in middle and high school.  But he has also done well in the rest of freshman year.  

He achieved the Freshman 15. For many that means, as a freshman you gain at least 15 pounds.  My son has lost 15 pounds.  He always did things the opposite of what he was expected to do.  It is not because he didn't receive enough food.  I make sure that he has plenty of foods to eat.  My son decided to become a vegetarian.  He has walked to plenty of classes and plays lacrosse on the school's club team.  

He has a roommate and a very small dorm.  He has kept is a lot cleaner than he had any of his rooms since he was little.  He has learned how to do college style laundry.  Only wash what really needs to be washed and wear some things more than once. Just wish he would have practiced that all those years I did his laundry.  

He has been able to rely on others instead of always thinking he needs to be in charge of everything.  When he came home for Christmas break his car died.  He is saving up for a car while in college.  Can we say how proud he is for this and so are we.  

He has made a variety of friends, hasn't partied with drugs and alcohol.  He does not smoke and he participates in dorm activities.  This is good as they are trying to get the students off on the right foot by providing substance free activities for the students.  

He has only skipped a handful of classes.  He turns in his homework.  He shares with others the bounty he has and offers his room to those who need it.  He is a great kid and a wonderful young man.  

I was afraid that he would be struggling in college as I was afraid I had done too much for him.  He is able to take care of what he needs to take care of and still needs me to help him out on a few occasions.  I have to admit that I love this about him.  He is independent but still needs his mom.  

Yesterday he found out he was accepted to transfer to another school.  Only thing was, his younger brother wants to go there without it being a school his brother went to.  He wants to be independent of his brother.  I certainly hope my youngest wins this point.  But I am not sure that I am ready for my 16 year old to be old enough to go off to college.  It was hard for the first one, it will be worse for the second one.  

Taking Care of the Written Word,

Dannielyn

 

The Storehouse Update

The Storehouse Update

Mabel's Labels Perfect for Hospital Stays

I have been lucky to receive Mabel's Labels for letting others know about these incredible stickers, tags and iron ons.  I have enjoyed picking out my cool designs, awesome colors and mail time has been a lot of fun for me.  I had an opportunity to share my Mabel's Labels with a friend whose son is about to have his 38th surgery in April.  He is an 11 year old boy that at first glance, you can hardly tell he is so ill that he needs another surgery let alone his 38th surgery.

Mom is busy getting ready to go on this three week trip to Cincinnati, Ohio.  I order some shoe labels with his name and a cute fish design as he just received a fish tank for Christmas.  I thought they could use the labels for his bag, books or games that he will be taking.  I also had the opportunity to order iron on clothing tags with the same design  for his clothes in an effort to find them in the event the clothes get set off to the side.  You never know what will happen in a hospital.

It made me think of other parents that I know that have children in the hospital for long term illnesses, surgeries and therapies.  Mabel's labels would be a great asset for keeping their belongings labeled and easy to locate.  If you have someone in your life who has a child in a medical situation such as this, consider buying some Mabel's Labels for them.  It is a wonderful idea, cute and dependable product and because it is run by mothers like us, they send their best wishes for a speedy recovery with all the products they send.  I was able to forward the email Mabel's Labels sent me to about their prayers and best wishes for this little boy to his mother.  I made her feel blessed that strangers in Canada are praying for her son.

Taking Care of the Written Word,
Dannielyn

Free $10 Gift Card to No More Rack

Hey gals and guys,
Do you want to save money and receive a $10 gift card at NO MORE RACK? It is true, you can receive a $10 gift card to apply immediately to any order.  NO MORE RACK has great deals every day!  Check it out quickly.

Taking Care of the Written Word,
Dannielyn

Purex Crystals Fabric Softener

You have to try this fabric softener as soon as you can!  In fact, if you comment on this blog post you could win a free Purex Crystals Fabric Softener.  I have two freebies to give away.

You will like the fragrance of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener and you will love that it is 92% natural.  No oil based fabric softener leaving residue on your clothes and it is safer for your family and the environment.

Click this link to find out more!

Remember, leave a comment telling me you clicked the link to be eligible for the free Purex Crystals Fabric Softener.

Stockpiling Moms

I have to admit that I do love to get freebies and samples in the mail.  In fact, it is nearly an obsession of mine.  The thrill of the hunt, the magic of timing for the offers and the wait for the mail is intoxicating.  Coupons are another great thrill for me.  I love when I am able to get something for nothing or next to nothing.  But then I look at the blogs and emails I receive from freebie, samples and coupon clipping mothers.  I read some of their shopping stories and wonder, why did they need to buy all of that stuff?  What are they going to do with it?  What about the excess?

I imagine you are beginning to think that I am a hypocrite.  I am nearly obsessed with my freebies and samples and so totally taken by my couponing, how could I judge another person.  Well, judge I am not.  I simply wonder.  I know some of them save for later occasions such as next Christmas, birthdays and the like.  I know that some of them have a number of family members and that is how they do their shopping.  I know that some of them give the items away to readers.  YEAH!!! but I don't.  Here is what I do.

Mother's To Be Go Bags
I made up a bag for a friend from church who was going to be having their second child.  I got a small fabric bag from Target a long time ago.  I never used it.  It was a little bigger than a half a sheet of paper.  I put the following items in the bag: 2 bottles of water (for dad), 2 zone perfect bars I had a coupon for and only paid 50 cents for both (for dad), shampoo and conditioner for mom and dad (samples) , 2 toothbrushes (free from dentist), toothpaste (sample), men's razor (free sample), shaving cream (free sample), tissues (free sample), nail file (free sample), lotion (free sample), face cleanser (free with coupon), body wash for mom (free with coupon), body wash for dad (free sample), chap stick (free with coupon) and a small puff for the wash (free with purchase).

This mother had not made her bag at the time that I gave it to her.  It was about 3-4 weeks before she was due.  She loved it.  Best of all, she loved how it was nearly all free.  I have begun to do this for all the mom's to be at our church.  My little ministry.  I might change up a few things depending on my samples and coupons that I have available to me.  But I love to make these little bags up.  In fact, I found some cloth diapers or burp clothes that are designed for boys or girls and have folded it in half and sewn it up and put a ribbon handle on it and of course, the clothes and the ribbon was next to nothing with clearance prices and coupons.

I also love to make little college care packages.  My oldest son is in college and a high school friend lives on the floor below him.  I make him a care package and send along some of my great deals for her.  I had an opportunity to pick up a full size Nivea body wash with a smaller size attached.  I had a coupon for $3 off the full size and Target had them clearance priced at $3.50.  For 50 cents I had a large and small body wash.  Luckily I had four of those coupons and was able to get four of those great sets.  She is set for body wash for quite some time.  

Filling out the samples that a college student would love with their address is another great way to share the love of the samples and freebies.  I have sent constitution copies to my history buff son, poetry posters, texting kills rings, cheez-its, planters coupons for free nuts, Kleenex samples that he ended up giving to Julia and he loves it.  It is mail he is not expecting and it is something cool and unique.

But the best one has to be giving your samples to food pantries.  I have received diabetic coupons for free meters that I give to the food pantry where I volunteer.  So many of the clients do not have one that is easy for them to use.  They aren't always aware that they can get a new one.  Samples of formula are always needed for moms who are struggling to obtain formula and food to feed a baby.  I have gotten t-shirts that I didn't need and took them to the clothing closet.  Someone would love to have a new t-shirt to keep them warm.  I receive printed information that I donate for a resource library for staff.

I enjoy these opportunities to share the wealth. I hope you are able to sue these ideas to share the wealth with other!

Taking care of the written word,
dannielyn