Giving Tuesday 2013

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You've heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but do you know there is a Giving Tuesday? Today is the 2nd annual "Giving Tuesday" What better time to give back than now? With our tummies full and our trees going up, I hope that we remember to think of those that may need a little help before we empty our wallets on one too many candy canes. 

Giving Tuesday was started last year and here is what I found on what it is:

Question: What is #GivingTuesday™?

Answer: #GivingTuesday™ (#GT) is a movement to create a national day of giving to kick off the giving season added to the calendar on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The second annual GivingTuesday is on December 3, 2013. In the same way that retail stores take part in Black Friday, we want the giving community to come together for #GivingTuesday. We ask that partners create and commit to a project for/on #GivingTuesday and then help spread the word to their networks. 

Are you participating in Giving Tuesday? Maybe you are donating to a global cause? Or maybe you are keeping it local. It can be something as simple as buying that guy that you always pass on the way home from work that sits there with the sign a quick meal or maybe dropping a few coins into the Salvation Army bucket on your way in the door to get groceries. Maybe you have a neighbor who has been out of a job for weeks/months/years and can't seem to find work, do you have a handyman job that he'd be perfect for around the house? A $50 job could help his family out.  If you have kids there are plenty of ways to get them involved! It doesn't have to be monetary. Here are a few child friendly Giving Tuesday ideas:

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-Have them go through their toys and pick a few to donate.  -Encourage them to donate their allowance this week (if they have one) to a cause/charity. -Have them help a neighbor.  -Go shopping for an Angel Tree kid (or your local program). -Write a solider a letter or color a picture to mail to them. -Have them go with you while you donate blood. They can't yet donate but seeing your example will encourage them. -Raid your panty for canned goods you could donate to your local food bank. 

Comment and let me know if you are participating in Giving Tuesday!
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Thankful Thursday

Christmas gifts have always been big news in my family. My sister and I (okay maybe it was just me) would wake up silly early (like 4am) on Christmas morning. We simply couldn't wait any longer, there were presents waiting to be opened!

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Our gifts would be overflowing from under the tree. In fact, on Christmas morning, when we arrive at my parent's house, it is STILL like this - maybe even more so now that there are grandkids. Yes, of course getting lots of stuff was fun as a kid, but more than that, it was the anticipation of opening each gift knowing there were more to come. It didn't really matter what was beneath the wrapping paper. Santa knew this as typically items that could have been wrapped together were wrapped separately. Why put 3 nail polish bottles in a box when it can be made into 3 individual presents to unwrap?!
So first off, I'm thankful for the fun Christmas morning memories I have as a child. Second off, I'm thankful that while sure, there are things I'd love to get our kids for Christmas that we simply can't - for the most part we are able to provide them with plenty of gifts. Not only that but we will be donating a few gifts this year as well. 
As you are doing your holiday shopping this year, please keep families in mind that may be unable to provide gifts for their children. If you are able to, please help provide their children with an exciting morning. I know the parents would be forever grateful. It would be tough to wake up on Christmas morning and not have a gift for my child. That thought alone is enough motivation for me to drop a toy in the donation bin next time I'm at the store. 


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