Giving is Important. Helping is Important. Being Kind is the Most Important.

It's the time of the year that people are always saying that they love to "give back" but what I want to see is action. I'm not asking you to volunteer for hours (though that would be great) but do you actively seek out ways to make small differences? That's what I want to do. I may not always have grand plans of volunteering or helping to organize fundraisers (though I do sometimes do that) but I know that there are small things I can do in my every day that will either uplift people or help make someone's life even a tiny bit better.

I am taking part in Wayfair's Blog it Forward campaign. There is nothing in it for me, I promise, except to try to help a cause that is close to our family and encourage others to do the same in their lives. I received an email a week or so ago from our daycare's director. One of the families from our daycare is currently bringing their toddler in for treatment for leukemia at Boston Children's Hospital. Can you even imagine that? I can't. It's heartbreaking to think about. But what can we even do? Well, let me tell you. Lauren (daycare director) organized a Bags of Hope resource room drive for the center that "our" family is receiving treatment at. What did the kids need? Arts and Crafts supplies, hats and gloves, toddler toys, dvds and games... the things that kids would entertain themselves with in or out of the hospital. We're not just talking babies but they treat children all the way up to 21. It's something that I thought was an important yet realistic (for my crazy life) cause to take part in. I drummed up some support from fellow bloggers and we came up with a nice selection to bring in for Bags of Hope.

Shout outs to Lani of Mon Petit Chou Chou, Susan of Lifestyle of a Fashionista, Alex of Literally-Everything and Natalie of Chic Boston Mama for contributing to to our drive! You are all so generous and it truly means the world to me that you took this opportunity to pitch in! Now how will you make a contribution to your family, your community, your environment? It can be ANYTHING! I challenge you to do something today, add a little bit of kindness to an email or smile at a stranger. C'mon, you can do this!