Bake Sale

how about we pull together our kids and their friends to host an all american bake sale. yum. 

this is a fabulous site that gives you bake by bake instructions to throwing your own COOKIES FOR KIDS' CANCER sale.

it is so simple, click here to go to their site

at the very least, just go for it, put on a bake sale the way you do a lemonade stand and donate the money to them, but i like how they lay out the instructions and make you feel very much a part of something bigger and better than just you (i know, i am probably just speaking for myself).

the lesson: a delicious day of pigging out with friends can be so much more. there is information on the link above that will give you facts to use in talking with your kids about cancer. they should know the statistics and facts on medical breakthroughs (or, sadly, lack thereof).

***added bonus: more like added inches to my waist. added pounds to my scale. added cavities to my mouth.

Acme Library - It's Not What You've Got!

in teaching gratitude, graciousness and giving back, it seems like a good idea to also read this book with our kids. the subtitle is "lessons for kids on money and abundance". fantastic and simple approach to talking about "you aren't the stuff you have" or in some cases, the stuff you DON'T have. no matter where we fall on the socioeconomic food chain, subtle (or not so subtle) reminders of gratefulness and priorities can't hurt.

to buy this book, see ACME LIBRARY on the right, 

(this only works if you are on the acme sharing website)

Acme Birthdays - help kids celebrate

every kid deserves to feel special and celebrated on their birthday. to think that some parents can't provide that is just heartbreaking in the case of the child AND the parent. cheerful givers (yes, that is their name) is an organization that provides small gift bags to food pantries and shelters so that the children there can have a real birthday.

you and your kids can put together a gift bag filled with lots of small but festive items. a quiet afternoon with a short trip to target is a very do-able for all of us. who doesn't love a trip to target??? 

there is a list provided at the link, but you can pretty much use your noodle to create a bag that is appropriate for most children.

this is also a fun play date, group or even a birthday party activity.  

here is a link to cheerful givers with instructions for bags.

contact them if you'd like to send the bag directly to them or if they can put you in touch with a local shelter.

the lesson: our kids need to know that not everyone has the basics we take for granted, and if we CAN help, we SHOULD help.

Acme Holiday - Grandparent's Day

for years i have been giving my grandparents cards on grandparent's day only to find that they had never heard of it and expected nothing special (until the year i forgot). now most calendars printed in the usa include this ode to the older gen. well, it is upon us this sunday, september 7th.

another chance for your kids to be exposed to demonstrating kindness and gratitude. a hand drawn picture is nice, a framed photo is better but my favorite idea is this one:

have your child journal a day in their life. it can be photos glued into a book, or a video diary a few times throughout the day or a story that they write sharing the highs and lows of their universe. whether the grandparents live down the block or around the world, they will eat this up with a spoon.

the unconditional love of a grandparent is pretty significant, fostering this relationship is so valuable (free babysitting is also an incentive). if your child has none, there are countless lonely geriatrics living in your city. to find one click here and feel free to brighten the day of a stranger by showing any gesture of kindness (cookies, cards, a hand of go fish or just a chat).

p.s. chances are, your kids are back in school this week and another project is just not on your agenda. maybe you will get lucky and have parents with calendars printed overseas. 

Acme Library - 10 Things I Can Do...

a fun and graphic book for kids of all ages (mostly 8 and younger, in my humble opinion). touches on the basics we all know about helping the earth, but in a way that kids can get excited about - maybe because they have heard some of them before. i think it's a great gift.

to buy this book, see acme library on the right

(this only works if you are on the acme sharing website)