Good Karma is In

 

 

I love feel-good Karma stories.

 

I'd like to share my Karma story.

 

It just happened recently. Like an hour ago.

 

I was shopping at Target (yes, I'm obsessed) and when I was returning to my car, an older woman came up to me telling me her story of her daughter going into labor, she had no money for gas to get to the hospital and if I could spare any change.

 

I'm not one to give money... I'm not proud of that either. I hardly carry cash though. Today I actually got $5 from a coworker to get her a Starbucks drink (yes, we're obsessed). But something in me dug in my back pocket and pulled out what cash I had. Call it the Christmas spirit, or the fact that I really wanted this lady to try to get to her daughter, but I'll have you know that woman is $5 richer. It's not much but it's what I had.

 

It wasn't a big deal to me, but I'm glad she had a brief smile on her face as I returned to my car.

 

Skip some time and I'm shopping online for PJ's at Victoria's Secret. A couple months ago I received one of their Secret Rewards cards, and I actually remembered to use it this time! For those cards you can have a chance to have $10, $50, $100, or $500 off your next purchase at VSecret. So as I'm checking out online, I typed in my card code & pin, and what-do-you-know: I got $100 bucks off! I'm beyond stoked!

 

 



I feel extremely lucky, but more importantly: Blessed. It makes me think how many people I see begging for money or food. It makes me think twice if I could really help them. It makes me think how much I have, and how much I can give to others in need. Let's just say the Christmas spirit is all around... and should stick around all year.

Karma was good to me, and I'll try not to disappoint her anymore.

Light 'Em Up 2012

 

I came across this great website and this idea for the holidays is absolutely wonderful!

It's called Light 'Em Up! It brings out the real meaning to the season of giving, not the season of "how many [presents] are there?" (yes, that's Dudley from Harry Potter).

 

It's for parents to help teach the little ones about giving back to the community, appreciating others (especially the ones we take granted of: janitors, grocery check-out clerks, security guards, etc.), and how to give a little joy into people's hearts.

 

Lil Light o' Mine has 100 ways to "Light 'em Up!" like "Pay the toll for the car behind you", "Tape quarters to buble gum machines", "swing by your dentist or doctor's offices with treats for the whole team", and of course "hug someone". She also has great printables! Check them out!

Involve your whole family, get the friends to participate, and stay anonymous (this isn't about you remember!).

 

Never Ever Ever...

Agreed.

Work-It Wednesday: Pig + Horse = Fox

Let us get our pig and horse on ya'll!

"People, even more than things..."

I Believe...

Thanks Dr. Seuss!

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those that mind don’t matter and those that matter don’t mind.” — Dr. Seuss

Footprints That Run Deep

I saw this on my Tumblr. Thought it was pretty amazing myself, so I had to share...

70 year-old Buddhist monk Hua Chi has been praying in the same spot at his temple in Tongren, China for over 20 years. His footprints, which are up to 1.2 inches deep in some areas, are the result of performing his prayers up to 3000 times a day. Now that he is 70, he says that he has greatly reduced his quantity of prayers to 1,000 times each day.

The footprints have become a source of inspiration to younger monks at the temple. “Every day I come here and every day I look at the piece of wood, and it has inspired me to continue to make the footprints myself,” Genden Darji, a 29 year-old monk in the monastery, notes.

"The Day I Shot Cupid: Hello, My Name Is Jennifer Love Hewitt and I'm a Love-aholic" By (of course) Jennifer Love Hewitt

The Day I Shot Cupid was just what I expected... & so much more! It is charming, honest, zany, and the best part: real. Jennifer Love Hewitt draws for her many years of dating experience to teach (or remind) her readers how to tackle the game of love with grace and humor. Expect adorable sassy graphics, short light chapters, great tips (on everything from cellulite to feelings of worthlessness), and a quirky jovial tone. The Day I Shot Cupid is even peppered with some man-truths and celebrity quotes, every woman can giggle and learn from, and believe me... I giggled plenty!

I've always been a fan of JHL, and yes I watch Ghost Whisperer religiously, but I really connected with her from this book. She talks about the same self-esteem issues, the attitude adjustments, and the highs and lows of dating. Along with literally laughing out loud, I also teared up in parts that I knew reflected too much of myself, especially the W.O.R.T.H. chapter (Women Over Relationships That Hurt). But I plan to put on my "Big-Girl Pants" and "Get Over It!", I'm going to learn to love myself (for realz this time) and then maybe someone will love me (for realz this time too). I plan to do Stevie's (JHL's trainer) workout plan tiara and all, consider Jaime Kennedy's advice of my badonkadonk's size, and (#99 on the DZP) I will identify 100 things that makes me happy... I just don't think I'll be doing the vagazzaling (sorry JHL, but seriously Jenn... call me! Let's do cocktails!!)

"For any woman who has ever bought a self-help book and wondered why she bothered. (P.S. Now that I know he's just not that into me, where do I go from there? Yeah, thanks for that advice.)"

From the Book itself:
Jennifer Love Hewitt is a self-proclaimed "love-aholic" and hopeless romantic (her middle name is Love, after all!). She has been lucky and unlucky in love, and lived to tell—and she's done it all in the spotlight. Much has been written about her love life—some true, most made up to sell magazines. Now Hewitt shares the real story of what she's learned navigating the dangerous dating waters.

In The Day I Shot Cupid, Hewitt offers her hard-won wisdom and tells us how to embrace love with both feet on the ground. First, we have to shoot Cupid. We have to believe that happily-ever-after is hard work—it's not all flowers and symphonies and floating hearts.

Wise and wry and refreshingly honest, Hewitt talks about how to pick the right guy and how to know when to let the wrong ones go free, and she offers some surprising truths about the opposite sex.

From twenty things to do after a breakup, to ten things to do before a date, to the perils of text flirting (Note: You are waiting. By the phone. For his response.), Hewitt uses stories and dating secrets to illustrate the idiotic, romantic, crazy, depressing, hilarious, awkward, glorious moments we all experience in relationships. Funny, quirky, and empowering, The Day I Shot Cupid deserves a place on every woman's nightstand, bookshelf, or coffee table, or tucked inside her oversized designer handbag.

‎"Falling in love is awfully simple, but falling out of love is simply awful." - Anonymous (From The Day I Shot Cupid)

Oh! And another book down for the DZP!

It Takes Courage...

I'm Not Afraid...

Lesson from Audrey

"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it’s at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others." — Audrey Hepburn

Note from Marilyn...

The Gift of Life