charitable causes

Weekly Therapy: 26 Weeks Left in my 30s!

- Mel

What an unfortunate typo when I first typed out this post subject! Does this mean I have officially accepted being 40? LOL So, yeah… Half-Birthdays and Stuff.

happy-half-birthday

the week:
Wooooo, four-day work week (still up by 6am today though)! From last week feeling like it was the longest.week.ever.com to this one being a short (albeit, not-so-fun) one, I’m ready to put some of this sadness (and PMS) behind me, have a little relaxation, and do some good this weekend.

I’m getting a massage this morning and FINALLY have a hair appointment this afternoon. Yep, haven’t had my hair done since February when I lived in Pittsburgh, and this shit on my head is a hot mess.

weekend:
Boyfriend and I are going to our first Iowa Wild hockey game tonight and dinner beforehand at Magnolia.

Saturday, I’m volunteering for the first time with Girls on the Run 5K as a Running Buddy. I’m so excited about this! I was looking to get involved with the organization before I left Pittsburgh, and so happy that I connected in time to participate in the fall race. Can’t wait to meet my Buddy!

And it’s back to Long Run Sundays (at least, for this weekend); I’m joining up with some Turkeys to do some trail running.

seven things, seven days:
1. Put my name in (and credit card info, eeek) for a chance at Chicago – so maybe-possibly, I be running two marathons in 2017?
2. I’m also officially registered for the Illinois Marathon I-Challenge (Half Marathon + 5K) — and running for BibRave!
3. And for your HOLY SHIT IOWA IS NOT COMPLETELY FLAT MOMENT: Check out the elevation/course map for my half marathon in December.
4. Why you can’t help but act your age — this is so fascinating!!! {via Nautilus}
5. Great post about meal plans (spoiler alert: they usually suck!), with some great suggestions on how to transform your meals for the better in small, achievable steps.
6. I feel better. {via Science of US}
7. One of my favorite topics to study in psychology (and focus of my senior research project in my undergrad) — BURNOUT (and how to beat it) {via HBR}

Weekly Therapy: Fröhlichen Geburtstag!

- Mel

the week:
It’s my birthday week! I ran a half marathon this week! This week is also payday! It’s also finals week, but… eh. I’m basically already done (and looking forward to a week off). It’s a good freaking week! Everything with exclamations!

IMG_0439
And dessert.

weekend:
Waking up early tomorrow for a BIRTHDAY MASSAGE. (And then, yes, I can stop milking this birthday week.) I have a party planned at Howl at the Moon, and I’m super-excited about one opening in downtown Pittsburgh. I am a sucker for dueling piano bars and celebrations! Then my Dad is coming into town; hopefully we can find better tickets to the baseball game on Sunday.

The irony is that it’s Mother’s Day, and I’m hanging out with my dad. Have I mentioned that I’m a Mother’s Day baby?

52 books in 52 weeks:
#14: Breaking the Fifth Wall — my boss handed me this soon after starting my new job, and since it’s related to what I do at work I could read it at my desk in between projects. Quick read, easy to understand concepts about knowing the appropriate marketing tools to reach your art audience. I enjoyed it.

seven things, seven days:
1. Uber came and picked up three huge bags of clothing donations that have been sitting in my basement for nearly three years — they partnered with Goodwill for this donation drive. OMG, this was quite possibly the best thing ever. Please deliver me burritos, kthxbai.
2. Bonus: we had a contractor haul away all the excess paint cans sitting in the basement from this house’s previous owner. You guys, I CAN WALK IN MY BASEMENT.
3. Upon forgetting to bring my charge cord to work AGAIN for my phone, purchased this cool gadget.
4. Went to a breakfast seminar, everything was gluten. #storyofmylife
5. Nerded out to Neil deGrasse Tyson last night (!!!). He talked for over three hours and is a fantastic lecturer. I can have him as my teacher?
6. Early birthday dinner at ELEVEN. Disappointed that I didn’t receive my birthday coupon this year (this has been an annual tradition since moving to Pittsburgh), but my meal and experience, as always, was wonderful.
7. Among the generational tags, I’ve never felt the categories “fit.” Oh, but this one does: The Oregon Trail Generation

Growing Up Giving: raising a generation of charitable children

- Mel

The holiday season is more than giving gifts, it’s also about giving back. I love the idea concept of teaching children about charity because instilling these values early on truly promotes a philanthropic lifestyle.

The “Growing Up Giving” guide, from partners Macy’s Heart of Haiti and the Everywhere Society, is for parents, teachers and caregivers. Full of information, memorable quotes from society members and beautiful imagery, the guide promotes ideas about how to raise a generation of charitable children.

How are you inspiring and/or raising the next generation to be conscious of charitable causes?

Every 30-something needs… some resolutions.

- Mel

I hate the word “resolutions” just as much as the next 30-something (I mean, it’s like settings up for failure, right?), but I do set some goals for myself for the year. We need goals — something to live for, strive for and accomplish. This is what makes our life worth a damn: purpose.

Resolutions. Or at least some intentions.
To be a better person (in more ways than one).
To be healthier.
More motivated. More generous.

The following for 2013:
Financial: Pay off my credit card debt before starting school next Fall. Pay off old school debt to get my transcripts released.
Education: Apply to an additional college (not one I was originally anticipating attending, but would be proud to “get in”.) Finish all application and registration requirements. GO BACK TO SCHOOL! (yay!)
Diet & Exercise: Make A-level travel team. Train for my relay leg in the marathon. Get stronger. Lift more. Find easy, healthy meals that I can make on my own.
Work: Better business tracking: time spent on projects, job app-to-hire percentage, all business expenses. Continue to look for work that is new and challenging. Pitch more.
Relaxation: Shut down the phone and read once per day. If I’m on my phone every day, I can have my nose in a book everyday. Even if it’s just for 20 minutes.
Home: Finish house projects. Complete paint remodel of the first level. Decorate my master bathroom.
Love: Love and support the boyfriend in all aspects of his life (including his high-stress job and travel). Stop being so bitchy and expecting to suddenly live with a mind reader (ie: tell him what’s on my mind instead of being defensive upfront). More date nights.
Friendships: Send one handwritten letter to a long-distance friend or family per month. Make the time to visit and reconnect with long-time friends in Ohio. Connect and hang out more with my team/leaguemates.
Do Good: Continue to volunteer and donate time and money to my favorite charities and causes. Be emotionally available for friends and family in need.

But then I took this whole Resolutions thing one step further. I made a list of promises for each month of the new year. Because I’m mostly crazy, but also because I really like to challenge myself. Each directly relates to my resolutions — and are tied bad habits that I’d like to break or motivation that I’d like to gain.

A Year of Promises
January: 30 days of no alcohol.
February: 30 days of WAKING UP BEFORE 8am. (I’m going on vacation this month; will be interesting)
March: 30 days of no sweets
April: 30 days of “something new”
May: 30 days of yoga
June: 30 days spending freeze
July: 30 days of NO PANTS (dresses and skirts only; save for working out)
August: 30 days of volunteering
September: 30 days without social media (this is when I intend to return to school; will be taking a month-long hiatus from both social media and blogging because I WILL NEED IT)
October: 30 days of dates!
November: 30 days of blog posts
December: 30 days of relaxing (sit back and listen to Christmas music; you’ll need it!)
*if there are 31 days in a month, consider Day 31 a “freebie”; 28 days, an “easy” goal, which… not really.

More: 5 Questions You Need to Ask Before Making Your New Year Resolutions {from Psych Central}
10-step Guide for Making Your New Year Resolutions {from PsyBlog}

Image credit: FrameAngel

Every 30-something needs… a holiday tradition.

- Mel

Do you remember banging pots n’ pans on New Year’s Eve as a kid?
And eating Strata and imbibing in early mimosas for brunch as an adult for your first visit home for Christmas?
Waiting for Mom to read The Night Before Christmas? (and that other weird story about the train and the bell that you and your siblings STILL don’t know what it’s about.)

Do you serve food to the less fortunate?
Walk dogs and petting kitties at your local shelter?
How about joining your neighbors to sing carols?
Or playing Cards Against Humanity with fellow “orphans” who have no family in town?

Or sitting in front of the wood fire stove in your first home and watching the cats go crazy with their new bouncy cardboard castle? (seriously, I’m just waiting for these felines to go nuts over this new gift.)

Or baking a special kind of cookie, that reminds you of your Hungarian grandmother.
Or eating all of the pierogies because it reminds you of your long-divorced Polish step-family.

Whether you’re on your own or partnered up, it’s important to maintain some sort of tradition that makes you smile, warms your Grinchy heart, and reminds you of what’s important. These small acts attach us to the holiday (even when you’re not feeling it), connects us to Christmas memories (present, past and future) and to one another — be that a significant other, your children or pets, or extended family.

Keep mind of the little things this holiday.
Merry Christmas, 30-somethings!

Love with Food: now with more purpose

- Mel

The Thanksgiving Box (aka: Fall Favorites) from Love with Food was curated by Amy Roloff of TLC’s “Little People, Big World.” As always, it’s such an exciting box of goodies to receive on a monthly basis.

Each box received, a meal is donated to a hungry child via food banks across America. For November and December, Love with Food is doubling its donations to help support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in the hardest hit areas of New Jersey and New York.

This month’s box included:
Truffle Piglet from Hagensborg Chocolates
Inka Corn from Inka Crops
Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Skeeter Snacks
Mango Pear Pineapple from Fruit.o
Mini Crunch from Mrs. May’s (LOVE!!!)
Turkey Bak Kiva Jerky from Little Red Dot Kitchen (um, boyfriend ate this immediately)
Original Mulling Spices Blend from Aspen Mulling Co.
Pumpkin Spice Tea from Stash Tea Company

Check out last month’s box here.

Disclaimer: this post includes referral links, to which I earn “cash back” for all new subscriptions. I donate these funds back to Love with Food to help the organization feed more hungry children.

Weekend Therapy: Rain, Rain, Go Away!

- Mel

the week:
It’s finally stopped raining. Yesterday, we were on six straight days of rain. This kind of weather is so depressing — even a pair Wellies wasn’t enough to make me enjoy the puddles. Alas, I’ve been pretty much living in my new sweatshirt and fleece pants for the entire week because everything is all… blah.

And drinking hot chocolate.

Thankfully, our area was free of damage from the storms, but I had buckets at the ready for any leaks. It was sad to see on the news some of the places of my previous vacation locations underwater and experiencing the devastating destruction of Sandy. My heart goes out to the East Coast (and some friends in Cleveland, who seemingly got the midwest brunt of the storm, and are still without power).

weekend:
I was excited when I didn’t see anything on my schedule for the weekend — it would be an opportunity to relax, catch up on housework, put away all the Halloween stuff… wash my gear. But that “freedom” didn’t last long: Halloween was rescheduled to Saturday evening because of this week’s storms; since I was without a car for an entire week those overdue errands need crossed off the to-do list FOR SERIOUS (I’m also sans car for tomorrow when I was hoping to DO all of this stuff *sigh*); my brothers’ band is touring through town; and I have marketing responsibilities to task for derby.

{deep breath}

I need some yoga therapy, but spinning will probably be more my speed for the next three days.

I’ll also try to squeeze in some time to watch roller derby. CHAMPIONSHIPS!

Oh, look, an extra hour!

If you’re around Pittsburgh, check out the Three Rivers Film Festival (runs through November 17) and Saturday’s Ti Kanaval Cocktail Party (um,did somebody say “UNLIMITED DESSERT BAR”?!).

seven things, seven days:
1. Consider making a donation to the Humane Society or the Red Cross to help with relief work for those people and animals affected by Sandy.
2. This post from J’s Everyday Fashion is a great read: the anatomy of a trend. Are you an early adopter?
3. Currently on a Spending Strike for November. More on that later…
4. Seriously, I made three more batches of this Apple Pie dip — first, for our bowling league last weekend (and another separate just for me because, well…) and another for the boyfriend’s work/food party. EVERYBODY LOVES IT!
5. Speaking of bowling, I had my best game last Friday and totally screwed up my average (95) in the process. Hooray, 121!
6. Back to home team practices next week! As much as I enjoyed personal leave and NOTHING TO DO, I’m ready to be back in my skates.
7. Twelve ready-to-style Fall outfits: time to shop my closet.

Post #2 complete.

LoveWithFood: continuing your love of monthly subscription boxes

- Mel

Group Therapy Time: Let’s talk a little about these monthly subscription boxes.
I. Am. Addicted.

Monthly beauty boxes.
Samplers of nail polishes.
A personal stylist who ships me a package of designer clothes so I can “shop” at home.
A box full of healthy, organic snacks from small, independent companies.
A box full of snacks that contributes to a GOOD CAUSE.

That last one? Let’s welcome to the group: Love With Food. I mean, who doesn’t love food, right?!

Love With Food - Discover Great Food for a Great Cause

Every month, Love With Food subscribers receive a curated box of unique tasty bites based on seasonal themes. For your $12/month (or $120/year) membership, you get to sample different products each month, earn points by leaving feedback on your shipped products and enjoy exclusive discounts to full-sized products featured in your monthly box. Points can be used to buy products for FREE, and there’s a wonderful online community to discover great recipes and connect with other food enthusiasts.

My box this month included these samples:
Organic tea from Pu-erh Tea
Honey straws from Nature’s Kick
Cranberry Orange cookies from Natasha’s Health Nut Cookies
Mountain Mambo Mix from Enjoy Life Foods
Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries from Snikiddy
Applesauce from GoGo Squeez
Acai Sesame Strips from Mrs. May’s Naturals

Even better? Love With Food helps more than 16 million children in the U.S. who are at risk of hunger. For every box sold, the organization donates a meal to various food banks, such as the Feeding America Network and Share Our Strength – No Kid Hungry.

Snack time feels good, doesn’t it?

Disclosure: Affiliate link used throughout post. Subscribers receive monetary compensation for referrals, to which I donate back to Love With Food for them to continue the Good Work.