Wordless Wednesday: Giving Month





Wordless Wednesday:  Giving Month

 

In Memory of Esa

February 14, 2007 - December 1, 2013 

The last picture I took of Esa

November 18, 2013

 

During this Giving Month, please consider giving to Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation 

where Esa was adopted from on May 5, 2007.

"The Housewife Tour 2013" - The week in review

Projects:
This week was a little more productive than last week (because hubby being sick & me not being at 100%).

• Finished going through my (walk-in) closet.  I still need to pack away some clothes that don't fit (of course I'm keeping them until I lose weight - haha) once I get one more underbed storage.  The result (this also includes Dan's clothes) -

All have been donated to The Lupus Foundation.

• I went through all of my jewelry.  I have so much old vintage jewelry that was my grandmother's and my Aunt Helen's.  Pieces that have just been siting in old jewelry boxes and I have never worn.  I am at a point in my life where I am ready to get rid of items.  They need to go to someone who will appreciate them and not just have them sitting in boxes.  I also have pieces that were gifts to me and I just never wear.  Now the next step (as with all of the items I have been going through) to sell them.
• Organized the kitchen pantry.  Amazing how much easier it is to see what we have now!

• Organized the linen closet & under the bathroom sink. Boy did I find some OLD medicine in there! LOL.
   
 

Taking Advantage Of: Real Dogs Membership

Womans Freebies had this Alpo Real Dog Membership listed in their e-mail today.

I'm always looking for freebies for the pups.  Anything that we get and don't use, gets donated to Loudoun County Animal Care & Control.

Adventures: Donating Blood

Dan made an appointment to donate blood yesterday. I didn't make an appointment because I figured they would take walk-ins. When we got there there was a wait even if you had an appointment.

Dan was almost done when I finally got in for a screening. I never know if I will be able to donate or not because sometimes my iron level is low. I was at 12.8 and you need to be 12.5.

Part of the screening they ask if you have ever donated under another name. The screener was shocked when my name came up. It was from 1996! She said that was the first time ever that happened.

The worst thing with giving blood is I ALWAYS get someone that isn't that experienced and I end up getting a BIG bruise. The tech this time had a hard time finding my vein & asked if I had any water (I guess she thought I was dehydrated). Then had to get a supervisor to start me.

Sunday bruises from the blood donation on Saturday

Adventures: Run, Walk, Wag

Esa's daycare was a sponsor of a charity walk named "Run, Walk, Wag" this last weekend (Saturday, October 27) for Northern Virginia Spay Neuter Clinic.

It was the first year ever for this event and they had a pretty good turnout - maybe about 35 people total.

We did the 1 mile walk and afterwards took part in some of the dog games and checked out the vendors.  Both of the dogs enjoyed the "hot dog game" where they had to figure out what dish the hot dog was under.  I was a little surprised that Zed did so well.  Esa, of course had no problem with it.

One of the vendors was a photographer who had a little display set up for pictures.  I'm just waiting for them to be uploaded so we can check them out.  Proceeds will be going to the clinic, so I'll probably purchase a few.  I think with the storm, they haven't been put online yet.

The Shelter was there handing out info on the CARE program.  It was a last minute thing or I would have volunteered for it!  I didn't see the table at first, but was wondering why there was a whole family with volunteer t-shirts on! 

The pups enjoyed it - as always.

UPDATE:  December 13, 2012

Finally got the pictures from the professional photographer.  She had the wrong address so it was returned.  Even with the correct address, it took almost a week and she is only 10 miles away.  It ended up in New Jersey for processing and then back down here (in VA).  Crazy.

Here they are....

Returning from the walk

Playing a game - "find the hot dog"

Adventures: Bark for Life

I have been thinking of signing up for this for I don't know how many months, but 12 days to go & I finally sign up.

I don't know how well I will do with the donations, but will do my best. ;)

Bark for Life - Team Page for Adventures of Esa & Zed

If you are able to, please donate or if you are local, please join us!  We will be walking in honor of my brother, but we have several other friends & family members who have been affected by cancer.

Adventures: Volunteering with the Shelter this Weekend

Friday night and Saturday morning, I volunteering with the Animal Shelter on the truck.  Friday night was a special adoption event at Zinga in Ashburn which was right down the road from our house.  It was a madhouse (which was great)!  Zinga is usually really busy on the weekends.  Anyway, one of the dogs that was there and available for adoption was Mocha (see below).

We got to spend some time together Friday night - I walked her around and she was wonderful.  She let everyone pet her and was not affected by the crowds at all.  She even gave me kisses.

Saturday, I got to spend more time with her at Unleashed in Sterling where the truck is every Saturday from 9 to 11 am (which I have been faithfully volunteering at this summer).

What a WONDERFUL dog.  She is pretty good on the leash.  She did pull a little, but not crazy.  I could see her jumping the fence, but you can tell that she is just very curious.  Probably nothing much walking could resolve.  She was fine getting brushed (ton of thick, soft fur on her) and loved it when I gave her a massage.  We walked around several times during the 2 hours and she eventually just laid down and hung out.

Her pet peeves - she didn't like the cages at all in the truck.  She was just shaking away. :( She is VERY house trained.  She would not go the bathroom in her run (that has an indoor & outdoor section) at the shelter.  They have to walk her.

Today (Monday) and I went to the website to grab her profile and it says she's adopted!  WOOHOO!  On Saturday, a guy was looking at her and said he was serious about her and was going to go check with his family.

The more time I spend with her, the more I wondered if she was a chow mix and even 9 years old.  She definitely didn't seem 9 years old.  I was wondering if she was a Shibu Inu mix.

Just a wonderful, wonderful dog.  I hope she has found her forever home.

Thank you Veterans!

Last night I watched, Our America with Lisa Ling.  The episode originally aired on Sunday, but finally got around to watching it last night.

It was a special on Veterans with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disease).  Usually these type of shows don't affect me.  I'll walk away with a "WOW!  I didn't know that", and that's about it.  However, this show/episode had me in tears.  The mental torment that these soliders hold on to is extreme.  You could just see it when you looked at Peter (who they featured).  Luckily, by the end of the episode, you see he is making progress (I hope they have a followup on him).

I have not been personally affected by the current war (ie, I do not have anyone close that is in the service), but have been affected by mental illness.  Maybe that's why it affected me so.  These soliders want to have a normal life, but the events they have gone through have changed their personalities and it is so tough to return to their old lifes.

This is the 2nd time this week I have thought - "I need to help".  The first was when I was watching the Oprah's Lifeclass 1st Friday Joy episode where it featured giving.  I can do that.  Because of couponing, I can donate items that don't cost much to me, but at full price some people wouldn't be able to afford. 

Time to get a game plan and do some extreme giving.......

My reivew of "Extreme Couponing"

NOTE:  This is totally my opinion and how I saw the show.

Last night TLC had on a show called "Extreme Couponing".  I had a feeling it was going to show the "crazy" coupon people out there (or at least show them in that light) and it did.

These people are on the brink of OCD and hoarding.  My one exception is Joyce House (3rd story).  She isn't to the extreme with the trips and does pay.  Her story was the most realistic.  I can see getting papers from friends and neighbors.  I can see explaining how to use coupons to other when they ask.  I do NOT think it's right to go up to strangers and say "you better have a coupon for that" in the store.  We didn't "see" her stockpile, but I did see unorganized piles of stuff in the background - not a good sign.

The first story, Amanda, was the very extreme.  She skips time with her family to shop!!!!  Hello - the deals will still be there!  You have a whole week to get the deal at the store AND they have these things called rainchecks.  Her stockpile has taken over the house in an unorganized way.  How do you know what you have? (Granted, I don't know everything I have, but it has not taken over the house and is organized in storage bins).  Emotionally, there is something wrong.  You can tell there is a strain between her and her husband (maybe it was because of the show, but I'm sure he agreed to do the show too).  Her stockpile is too big for 2 people.

Joanie (2nd story) was OCD.  She even said that she reorganizes her stockpile and when they were putting things away "it has to be neat & facing the same way".  Her stockpile might be a little too much for her family of 4 (?), but also the fact that they lived off of their stockpile when her husband didn't work shows what a stockpile is for.  I can see the dumpster diving (questionable if it is legal or not), but why don't you just ask your neighbors for their coupons or pick up the papers that are hanging around the neighborhood  or neighborhood recycling bins (I do not agree with Joyce's going on someone's porch to take their paper unless she asks)?  I would not dumpster dive.  I have picked up the papers that I know have coupons in them when they have sat in the driveways & on the sidewalk for days or at a vacant house.  I thought about asking neighbors to let me know if they don't want their coupons and I would come by and pick them up.  However, after this show, forget it!  (Just searched for Joanie on the web.  She has her own website called The Krazy Coupon Lady.)

Nathan (story 4), was a hoarder.  He has some emotional issues.  How is "every man's dream" a 2 car garage full of stockpile?  And then the extreme of it - how many salad dressings, deordorants & toothbrushes can 2 people use.  I found out today that he has his own website similar to the one I use that is called We Use Coupons and that Amanda is also on that website.  Also, he has videos on Youtube.

Two of the people PAY for coupons.  No way - be creative and get them free.
The show only showed one person who donates, yet he had a HUGE stockpile for 2 people - that is wrong.  You will NEVER use all of those salad dressings by the expiration date even if you ate salad every single day and used a bottle on each salad!  I hope they all donate. 

Which leads me to: Extreme Couponing for Charity.  This is what extreme couponing is for.  Yes, get your stockpile for your household (a reasonable amount and not hoarding), but DONATE to the less fortunate plus you get a tax deduction.  If I can get a good deal on something we don't use or don't need, we donate it to Loudoun Interfaith.  We also donate to Loudoun Animal Shelter.  Items not used at the shelter are used as part of the CARE program.

Intereted in what other people thought of the show?  Check out Hot Coupon World's forum on the show or just do a search for "Extreme Couponing" show.

So long to the visitor, giving blood & halloween

Thursday night was another evening with the nephew - we met up with SB & MS for dinner again at Cheeburger, Cheeburger.  Where VJ proceeded to eat the 1lb burger (I knew he'd be able to), got his picture taken for the wall, and got the promo pack of a t-shirt & extra picture.

He left about 10 pm for home.  It was a short visit, but worth every minute.  Even though we didn't do much together, it was so worth it.

Saturday morning was the Capitals blood drive at Kettler Ice Arena.  Something about either the Caps blood drives or having Dan with me is a bad omen for me.  The girl who poked me with the needle didn't get it in there correctly and the blood did NOT flow AND it was hurting!  I've NEVER had issue giving blood (either for tests or donations).  Needless to say, I basically immediately bruised up and boy is it big now.  I've never had a bruise this big from blood being drawn.  Dan was the man though - he gave double blood cells!  I had never heard of that before.  It took a little bit longer and he was FREEZING afterwards (the blood gets put back in the body cold) and a little light-headed.  Then yesterday he was exhausted - not sure if it was from the blood donation or not.

Halloween went well.  We handed out all of the candy - probably a little too fast - but we handed out for 2 hours.  Kids were still coming to the door after we turned off the light.  It was cold out and Dan was trying to get dinner for us, but it wasn't done before the doorbell started ringing.  We sat outside for awhile with the pups (Zed was shivering, he was so cold).  Esa had on her bat collar and Zed had on his wizard costume.  We just weren't really into halloween this year (my reason is because of the job being in limbo).

Yesterday, I took Zed up to visit the shelter.  One of the employees, who fell for Zed as much as I did, hadn't seen him since we took him home.  She was so impressed on how good he looked.

Work is still in limbo.  The new company, Marketplace Development, and the Airport Authority are working towards bringing in the new company.  Everyday, I feel the contract coming to an end and it's hard to stay motivated and positive.  I have sent in my resume to Marketplace, but have yet to hear from them to set up an appointment.  I did get an email saying that they would like to speak with me, but nothing else.  In the meantime, I'm sticking with Westfield until the end.

My New Year's Resolution - Donating Food

So with saving all of this money with groceries, I thought I would take it to the next step as suggested by Coupon Mom. I've always donated items to the animal shelter (usually clearance items), but never food unless it was the usual food bank donations that the local boy scouts do or something.

Today was our first donation shopping trip (done while I did our grocery shopping). Today's donation total is $9.19 ($28.32 before savings) for the following items

• 4 boxes of Cocoa Puffs
• 4 cans of Campbell Soups
• 4 cans of Progresso Soup

Next step will be to go through our stockpile and pull items that we know we have too much of or are pretty sure we won't use.

Donations are going to Loudoun Interfaith Relief and The Good Shepherd Alliance.