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Friday, May 29, 2015

New York media company Nylon surprised their employees one day with an inspiring challenge: to take $100 of the company’s money and do something good with it. They split into teams of two and hit the streets of New York City looking for opportunities to be kind.

They came up with some creative and touching ways to help their fellow New Yorkers. My favorite act of kindness was “Socks and a Slice.” Two of the workers combined their efforts, buying $100 worth of pizza and $100 worth of socks because those are “the two best things in the world.” Then they took the socks and slices to the Bowry mission and handed them out to people in need. Those brand new pairs of socks meant everything to the mission’s director — and the people he serves.

One of the side effects of kindness is how good it makes you feel. And it’s not just being kind — even watching others be kind gives people the warm fuzzies. So I’m sharing this wonderful video and I hope it makes you feel good today. Enjoy.

Your "Random Acts of Kindness" Gift Guru,
Linda

Pencil And Alphabet Knee High Socks American Flag Knee High Socks Panda, Horses, White And Orange Tiger Sublimated Socks
Posted by: Linda | 8:00 AM | permalink
Friday, May 22, 2015

May is Hamburger Month! And it’s also National Barbecue Month. Seem like a coincidence? No one seems to know. But what they do know is that the burgers hit the grill in huge numbers in the month of May.

The holiday month is sponsored by the oldest and most (in)famous hamburger chain in the U.S. — White Castle. But it’s also celebrated and supported by burger joints large and small all over the country. There will be burger tastings, cook-offs, festivals and, best of all, some places will give you a FREE burger on May 28.

But the best way to celebrate the savory sandwich is to fire up the grill and have a party of your own. There are tons of recipes to to satisfy every palate and diet. From stuffed beef patties to turkey burgers and “tofurgers” for vegans, there’s more than one way to grill up a perfect burger!

Your “Bacon Cheeseburger, Please” Gift Guru,
Linda

Stufz™ - As Seen On TV The Mountain® Giant Burger Tee Build Your Own Burger Cookbook
Posted by: Linda | 8:00 AM | permalink
Friday, May 15, 2015

Almost everyone agrees: Father’s Day is the toughest holiday of the year. Already my friends and coworkers are asking for advice about what to do for Dad next month.

Ever wonder why Father’s Day seems so hard? Me, too. So I conducted an informal and (very) unscientific poll of the fathers I know to see if I could figure out what we should do to make their big day really big. Here’s what I found out:

  • It’s unanimous: no more ties. “Ties are tired” say the dads I talked to. They have plenty of ties and — believe it or not — Dads prefer to pick out their own clothes.
  • Call, but not collect. Even today, when it seems everyone is issued a smart phone at birth, Father’s Day is still the number one day for collect calls. If you call Dad from your landline, be a sport and pick up the tab.
  • Ask what they want. This surprised me. The dads didn’t understand why kids aren’t pragmatic enough to just come out and ask what they want for Father’s Day. (I never would have thought of that!)

The dads also told me that it doesn’t really matter what we get them for Father’s Day. As long as we remember to call or drop by and spend a little time talking. Pretty simple. Something tells me we’ve been making this whole Father’s Day thing a lot harder than it has to be!

Your “Dad’s Day” Gift Guru,
Linda

Father Tribute Throw Daddy's Hand In Heart Keepsake Frame Personalized All Star Daddy Tee
Posted by: Linda | 8:00 AM | permalink
Friday, May 8, 2015
Roxy The Pit Bull
Photo Credit: Best Friends Animal Society
Roxy The Pit Bull

When Amanda Granados first met Roxy the Pit Bull, her 14-year-old autistic son Joey had never hugged or kissed her. And he’d never let his mom hug or kiss him, either.

But when Granados brought Roxy home from a Best Friends adoption event, Joey was so excited that he threw his arms around his mom and kissed her on the cheek for the first time.

Granados told TODAY, “For all those years, he wouldn’t hold my hand, he wouldn’t hug me – it was all part of the autism – but this dog has taught him how to give and show affection. He holds my hand now! He hugs me!”

Like teenagers living with Autism, Pit Bulls are also totally misunderstood — a connection Joey’s mom believes helped them bond so closely. And not only has Joey bonded with Roxy, he’s bonding with his mom and finding it easier to make friends.

Roxy hasn’t just made the Granados’ lives richer, she’s become the latest ambassador for a much maligned and misunderstood breed. Roxy shows us all that you shouldn’t judge dogs (or people) until you get to know them!

Your “Hug a Pit Bull” Gift Guru,
Linda

The Mountain Colorful Pit Bull Tee Pit Bulls Fleece Throw
Posted by: Linda | 8:00 AM | permalink
Friday, May 1, 2015

It’s almost time for summer! That means baseball games, beaches and lots of outdoor living.

In the spirit of a sizzling summer, I found a few inexpensive summertime “hacks” for backyard barbecues, parties or just hanging out with the family.

  1. Water Balloon Ice Bucket: From Lifehacker.com, this cooler keeps your refreshing drinks cold without the drenching mess. Just fill water balloons, freeze, then arrange them around your bottles and cans. It’s less expensive than bags of ice and you can re-freeze and re-use them.
  2. Nutter Butter Flip Flops: This super-easy recipe makes the cutest summer treat! Just dress up some Nutter Butter cookies with frosting for a fun and delicious snack by the pool.
  3. Watermelon Keg: Forget the punch bowl! Cut the top off of a watermelon (save it to use as a lid), hollow it out, attach a spigot kit and brew up some fresh punch for your guests.

These “hacks” are simple, inexpensive and won’t wear you out. Which is just perfect for the dog days of summer.

Your “Long Live Summer!” Gift Guru,
Linda

PS: Here’s a fourth tip: buy any 3 sizzling summer items and you’ll get the 4th one free! Just click here.

Posted by: Linda | 8:00 AM | permalink
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