Archives for December 2014

December 5 & Purchase With Purpose

Hi from sunny Florida!  My best friend Ashely’s birthday is tomorrow…who lives in Florida…and her kind husband Chris flew me down to celebrate with her.  It’s kind of the best!  We pick up right where we left off each time.  So Josh Kelley has been on kindness advent duty and sent me this picture yesterday.  They rocked some Sonic happy hour kindness.

Today’s advent was handmade mail.  Hudson and Solomon were not interested in this one at all.  Boys.  It was totally up Harper’s alley though.  We went with fun Christmas buntings…she chose 2 recipients and wrote cards to go along with them.  She decided she wanted them to arrive today, so we actually mailed them yesterday before I left.

And tomorrow we’re buying someone’s lunch.  Josh and the kids are doing this together at home and we’re going to spread some lunch kindness here in Florida as well.

I like to each year talk about some of our favorite companies who give back…who make our purchases count.  Here are some of my top favorites.

Always and forever Noonday Collection.  This is my go-to.  True love.  They are probably my most favorite company around.  So many awesome items to purchase made by incredible artisans…empowering woman and families around the world.  When you make a purchase choose Ashley Mills as your ambassador!  She’s my favorite as well 🙂

“Noonday Collection’s mission is to create economic opportunity for the vulnerable. We partner with artisans in the developing world, empowering them to grow sustainable businesses. By creating a marketplace for their goods, we create dignified jobs at living wages. This allows our artisans to earn more in order to support their families.”

 

Sevenly.  I am a major jeans and tee shirt kind of gal…every day.  And Sevenly tees are highly in the mix.  $7 of each purchase…they have lots of other items other than tees…goes to their weekly charity.

 

Krochet Kids.  This crazy cool non-profit provides some of my most favorite bags and hats.  Each item is hand signed by it’s maker.  Giving some bags this Christmas to some of my favorite people.

“We work with highly vulnerable women who live in poverty stricken regions of the world.  Our program empowers women with the resources to rise above poverty. Forever.  Empowered women transform their families, communities, and the developing world.”

The Root Collective.  Awesome shoes.  I can’t wait to try them out.  Who wouldn’t dig these?!?!?!

“We partner with small-scale artisan businesses in marginalized communities to promote change through dignified jobs.”

The Giving Keys.  My sweet friend Stef recently gave me my first Giving Key and I totally dig it.  I wear it almost every day.  So unique and different and pretty classic if you ask me.

“The Giving Keys exists to employ those transitioning out of homelessness to make jewelry out of repurposed keys that get sold and shared around the world.”

 

Timbali Crafts.  I have seen this company first hand in Swaziland, Africa.  One of my favorites because the hearts of these women are so real and beautiful.  How adorable is this little girl’s apron!!!!!!

“The women who create Timbali Crafts are all volunteer cooks at community based feeding centers, called Care Points*, throughout Swaziland, Africa. In this tiny nation with the highest HIV/AIDS rate, and lowest life expectancy in the world, the needs are immense. In spite of their own hardships, the Timbali women help to feed more than 2500 children each day. They are incredible! “

FashionAble.  Love their products and they have great items for the best guy in your life too.  So many awesome items.

“Your purchase of a fashionABLE product creates sustainable business in Africa.  We are committed to long-term solutions to fighting poverty, and our main focus is creating opportunities for vulnerable women.  That means that your purchase creates jobs, so that the women are not dependent upon charity, but instead are a vital part of a developing economy.”

 

Please go check out these incredible companies and make your purchase count this Christmas.  Most of these companies you can read directly about their artisans and employees on their websites.  These are real people with crazy awesome talents!

And lastly, for all you locals…Full Count’s Christmas tree lot is still up and running.  They are located in the parking lot of Foxx Pools in Hendersonville…708 Main St.  Purchases are helping young men go on mission this coming summer.  Let even your Christmas tree mean more this year.

So there’s my list.  Purchase with a purpose.  Make your money count for more.

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Friday!

December 4

Our flower delivery was a success.  I love getting flowers at Kroger and then cutting them up and putting them in random little jars we have at home.  I let the kids each choose someone to deliver to and then I chose someone as well.  They each chose their teachers which I adored.  We hit the jackpot with all 3 of our teachers this year and it completely thrills this momma’s heart.  We just love and appreciate each of them so much.  All our recipients deserve a million more flowers than we could deliver…they need to hear everyday we are grateful for them and their hearts!

Today is one of my most favorite days in our kindness advent.  We love Sonic happy hour and usually enjoy it every Friday afternoon which makes sharing it with a stranger way fun.  If we pulled up to order and a gift card was taped on the menu for us, I know I would be so excited.  So we spread the Sonic love with a simple gift card during happy hour.

And tomorrow we are sending handmade goodies in the mail.  We actually already got everything ready today so tomorrow our packages would be arriving in mailboxes.

I have so many random things I want to share with you guys, but my day is slammed, so maybe tomorrow 🙂  But I did want to go ahead and share that the last day to place orders and receive them by Christmas will be Monday, December 8th.  So if you would like to place an order just send me a message at pitterpatterart at gmail dot com

More and more orders headed out each day like these text key fob sets and this 12×12 canvas.  Incredibly thankful for your business.

Thank you as always for stopping by.  I know life is crazy and busy and I so appreciate you reading and placing orders.  You guys are the kindest!  Thank you!!!!

Happy Thursday!

December 3

We’re rolling right along with our kindness advent.  Yesterday we put handmade bookmarks in random books at the library.  This was so easy and so fun.  The kids loved it.  We will definitely be doing this one again.

Let’s discuss Amon in the background…on the preschool computers…luckily yesterday there were no kids already on them for him to bully and harass with his whispering in their ears…(my turn).

Today we delivered flowers.  Each kiddo picked someone and then I chose a special someone as well for Amon and I to deliver to.  Pretty flowers could surely make the world go round.

And tomorrow we are sharing Sonic happy hour!

Amon is sick today.  I am super wiped out and really tired.  Josh has been working nights.  I don’t know if it’s just because I am so tired and a bit run down, but while driving this morning I started crying thinking about the goodness of God.  When I think about it, it truly blows my mind.  Here I am…this flawed, hot-mess of a sinner who deserves nothing and yet He offers me everything.  I need Him and He wants me just as I am.  I can bring my tired, run down, sinful self…just like that…no fixing myself up beforehand…and come to Him just like I am.  And rest in Him.  Breathe easier in Him.  Feel a peace only He can give.  Find reassurance in Him when the days are long and hard and questionable.  I want to remember this every day, especially on those days that truly threaten to drown us right down to the deep.  There is this hope in Christ only He extends…this grace and love and mercy and compassion and His ability and desire to carry us through those rough waters…to command the raging seas to be still.  He is so mighty and good.  Praying today for hearts who need this hope in Jesus.  Praying we all know He wants us just as we are.

See you tomorrow.  Hope your day is great.  Hope you spread some kindness with those around you.

Happy Wednesday.

December 2

Yesterday we kicked off our 4th Annual Kindness Advent…I’m making it all profesh sounding with the 4th Annual part…and the capital letters.  First up was filling those wondrous gum and candy and trinket and ginormous bouncy ball machines when you’re leaving the stores.  My kids LOVE these and we rarely stop to do them, but when we do it’s like gold.  Needless to say they loved filling them all up for other kids to find.  And Harper left notes to lure people in.

Today we’re rocking handmade bookmarks in the books at the library.  They crafted their little hearts out last night.  Glue, hole punchers, scissors, stickers, ribbon, embellishments, paper cutters, sharpies, the crafty list could go on and on.  I didn’t buy anything…just pulled out a bunch of random supplies and let them go to town.

Amon was fully distracted by trying to hole punch a little plastic bag of heart stickers open and then when he realized it was never going to work he moved on to the scissors.  He’s still learning how to cut so this was great practice time and kept him busy.

Tomorrow we are delivering flowers to someone who could use a little pick-me-up.

In businessy news, I’ve been a working fool lately.  Lots of key fobs and name pillows heading out and today I’m starting canvas orders.  So crazy thankful for each and every order.

Also, I’m having issues again with my contact form, so if you’ve sent me a message and I have not replied it is because I did not receive your email.  It may take me a few days…4 children + life + wild inbox…but I always respond to messages…unless I don’t get them or they went to my spam box.  So if you are interested in Items Currently Available…I still have 2 canvases and some Christmas buntings left…or you want to place an order, shoot me an email at pitterpatterart at gmail dot com

That’s all I’ve got for today.  See you tomorrow and hope your Tuesday is awesome!

December 1

So how was your Thanksgiving holiday?  I hope it was just the little break you needed.  Our’s was good and fun and full.  We got in a lot of family time together and I actually got a lot of work done as well.  We ate lots of yummy food.  I put disclaimer notes on my chess pies.  One did not get touched at all…disclaimer note for the win.  The other had a few tiny pity slices taken out of it, but I took that one back home with me and shamefully ate the rest of the entire pie.  See, I just love chess pie…even when it has a weird texture and has been cooked for 5 bajillion minutes and still isn’t completely solid…I have zero shame people…the whole pie…gone…poof…like magic…except in my stomach…and I’m wearing it proudly around my muffin top now.  Sigh.

I also may have worn the exact same pair of slouchy gray sweatpants for 3 days in a row.  To stores.  And sometimes with my house shoes which I turned into out-of-the-house-house-shoes.  I decided after 3 days of wear and ummmm, only one shower in that mix that the pants needed washing…so I could wear them again today.  I may have a problem.

We watched lots of football.  The boys are glued.  Especially Amon.  This picture makes me want to snatch him up and kiss that cute little profile and those dangling feet.

We worked puzzles and played games.  We like the big 500+ piece puzzles for holidays…the ones that take all day to complete.  And Hudson, Solomon and I declared last minute Pictionary victory over Harper and Josh Kelley.  It was intense.  Josh even started hiding his drawings because I may have had wandering eyes sometimes when trying to figure out drawings like ‘cement mixer’.

Hudson had a severe asthma attack and ended his Thanksgiving night like this.

He totally crashed…mid breathing treatment.  He plays hard and cats are his arch nemesis.

I got in lots of work over the holiday.  Love crossing orders off my list and getting things packaged up ready to hit the mail.

And we also got our Kindness Advent up and ready to go.  This is something we started in 2011 after Mom died.  I really wanted something to keep us focussed on others during a really hard time for our family and this was it.  You can read about 2011 HERE, 2012 HERE and 2013 HERE.  It’s something we love more and more each year.

I will try and post each day about what we are doing and about what the following day’s event will be.  For our full month’s list GO HERE.  This is seriously one of my most favorite times of the year for this very simple reason.  Today we are starting with filling gum/trinket machines with quarters.  The Kelley kids LOVE this one.  So simple.  So fun.

Tomorrow we will be leaving bookmarks in books at the library.

I hope you’ll join in on the fun with us.  Do one every day or every week.  Skip around.  Make up your own.  You can’t mess it up…kindness is kindness and it totally matters.

Hope you enjoyed your holiday time.  Now bring on December.  I have a feeling it’s going to be good!

Happy Monday.