September 2019 Donation

Smile Train

Smile Train is one of my most favourite organisations. I love what they do and support them as often as I can. Please read below for a little info on them and their cause:

Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.

Many children with clefts around the world live in isolation, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Cleft repair surgery is safe, and the transformation is immediate. Our sustainable model provides training, funding, and resources to empower local medical professionals in 85+ countries to provide 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care in their own communities.

We use the “teach a man to fish” model focusing on training local medical professionals to perform cleft repairs in their communities. Those medical professionals then go on to train others creating a long-term, sustainable system.

Patients see their forever smile for the first time, parents cry tears of joy, lives and communities are changed forever.

As a result of our efficiency and with the support of our donors and partners around the world, Smile Train has transformed the lives of more than one million children by giving them the power of a smile.

Join us and change the world one smile at a time.

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Selfie Sunday in Wayne with Wayne

Today my brother and I met up in Wayne to gab over coffee and a hummus platter at Gryphon Café, which was pretty cool, even though it was wicked crowded and we just barely snagged a table. For the first time in a long while we had several hours (we went down the road to MOM's for dinner after wandering around Wayne) to talk about where our lives are headed and where we want them to be. Oh, and he's finally embraced facial hair and I think he's never looked better!

September 2019 Books

♥ Hank Zipzer - My Secret Life as a Ping-Pong Wizard by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

Getting the Pretty Back ¹ by Molly Ringwald - I really didn't care for the advice given in this book. Specifically, I did not like that she presented her opinion on certain things as fact; such as only skinny people should wear skinny jeans. I mean, eye roll. I guess this book was not written for plain, butch broads like myself who can't afford, nor have any desire to own, a pair of Christian Louboutin heels or a Chanel purse. Oh, and how she apparently speaks fluent French but mispronounced Givenchy's first name. That was irritating. Regardless, I still like Ms. Ringwald's acting and films, just not this book.

♥ Dropped Names ¹ by Frank Langella
♥ Demon Dentist ¹ by David Walliams
Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl ¹ by Carrie Brownstein

¹ - audiobook
² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

What I Love About Ashlee

I never would have imagined that the little baby that looked frighteningly similar to Jonathan Winters would one day become one of my closest friends and someone who knows me better than anyone. We've been true friends since she was a teenager when we would have auntie/niece times together, and we have only become closer as each year passes. This year we both made it clear that we needed to make it a point to see more of each other, at least once a month. We kept that promise (except for April when I was abroad) and have hung out 14 Friday nights and one whole day (for Pride in NYC) so far. Below is a list of just a few of the reasons why she is my second skin.

- When I need to rant she always joins in with an "are you serious?" or "what a jerk!" or "that's bullshit". She doesn't try to show me the other side of things or get all preachy because she knows that once I get it out of my system and finish my diatribe, I'll see reason and once again become calm and centered. This quality is paramount because I know I can turn to her and she will always, always, always have my back no matter what.
- She keeps me informed about all things in her life and her family's lives. Like when Avery started to play peek-a-boo, Ash sent me the video. Or when Bailey suddenly had bright green poo, or when Sean got seriously sick a couple years ago, she immediately called to let me know what was going on. This means that I am important to her and she wants to share every aspect of her life with me, from the big stuff to the little and everything in between.
- Ashlee answers my text messages in a timely fashion. If it isn't within minutes, it's within an hour or so, usually once the kids are asleep or playing and she has a moment. The times where it isn't until the next day, she immediately starts off her reply with an apology and an explanation. Is this necessary? Of course not. But it's like a thank you note. It's a nice way for her to reaffirm that she wasn't ignoring me or forgetting about me and that I matter to her.
- She is the only one of my friends who had children and continued to keep me in her life. I don't have kids or a spouse, so a lot of my once close friends and I drifted apart once they married and started a family. This, quite frankly, sucks. It means, in my world, that I was a great placeholder and friend to have only during a certain period of their lives. Now, I'm not great with babies, but I do like kids, and I like spending time with Ashlee and the girls, but I truly appreciate that Ash still makes it a point to talk to me and spend time with me. This, once again, shows that I am an integral part of her life and that she wants me in it even though I am single and childless. She recognises that I had value when she was five and eleven and sixteen and twenty and now at twenty-five. That what we have is for life and like a marriage, you work at it. You take the time to text and FaceTime and call and spend time with that person. I absolutely love this about Ashlee and I am beyond grateful to have her in my life.
- We have very little in common but we are never at a loss for words. I can't even tell you what we talk about. She doesn't watch many movies or any of the TV shows I like, she's not interested in music or the arts or reading but she and I have what the Irish call good craic.
- She is the following list of things that I also love:
crass
loyal
loving
affectionate
laughs easily
has thee world's most beautiful blue eyes
dependable
open minded
caring
compassionate
funny
warm
thoughtful
genuine
an outstanding mother
clean (her home is immaculate)
loves animals!!
follows @cheapoldhouses IG account (it's so good and we love to send messages on our fave fixer-uppers)
she's got great hair
cute as can be
good listener
fun to be with
a great travel-mate
sincere
confident
love-able
always willing to try new things (including vegan grub!)
kind
and absolutely-positutely an ideal confidante

 

 

Super Mario 3

Oh to choose my favourite Mario incarnation...I think it's gotta be the green sleepy bag one....but the frog suit is adorable! Oh no then there's Fuzz, the flying bear-squirrel...don't make me choose!!

Baby Steps...

I was super proud that I managed to organise something this weekend and immediately shared it with the baby brother. He is excellent at providing support with oodles of humour.

 

Star's Organic Pastie Salad!

Not pasty. PAH-stee. Cuz it's pasta salad, only cuter.

Ingreeds:

Now Foods Organic Quinoa Macaroni
Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Simply Organic Garlic Powder
Eden Organic Pinto Beans
Follow Your Heart Soy Free Veganiase
organic grape tomatoes
salt and pepper
organic purple onion

The "recipe" is pretty much all "to taste" as it changes with whatever I have on hand. Sometimes I go more on the apple cider vinegar and less veganaise, or change out the pinto beans for another variety. I forgot to get tomatoes once and threw in quartered discs of zucchini, which was still pretty good.

Tea Bag Wisdom

August 2019 Donations

Bernie Sanders

I like this man. I like him a lot. I donated money to his campaign again this month because I believe in him and I want someone like him at the helm of this country. Someone that wants equal rights for everyone, believes in a woman's right to choose, healthcare and education for all, and reflects the vision I share for this country. The US needs Bernie Sanders and his ideals and ideas to make the changes we so desperately need.

(photo kidnapped from cnbc)

Bernie Sanders is a U.S. Senator from Vermont and candidate to become the next President of the United States. In 2006, he was elected to the U.S. Senate after 16 years as Vermont’s sole congressman in the House of Representatives. Bernie is now serving his third term in the U.S. Senate after winning re-election in 2018 with 67 percent of the vote. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he attended James Madison High School, Brooklyn College, and the University of Chicago. After graduating, he moved to Vermont where he worked as a carpenter and documentary filmmaker. In 1981, he was elected as mayor of Burlington, the state’s largest city, by a mere 10 votes.

As mayor, Bernie’s leadership helped transform Burlington into one of the most exciting and livable small cities in America. Under his administration, the city made major strides in affordable housing, progressive taxation, environmental protection, child care, women’s rights, youth programs and the arts.

In Congress, Bernie has fought tirelessly for working families, focusing on the shrinking middle class and growing gap between the rich and everyone else. Bernie has been called a “practical and successful legislator” and he was dubbed the “amendment king” in the House of Representatives for passing more amendments than any other member of Congress. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Bernie worked across the aisle to “bridge Washington’s toxic partisan divide and cut one of the most significant deals in years.” In 2015, Democratic leadership tapped Bernie to serve as the caucus’ ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee.
Bernie lives in Burlington, Vermont with his wife Jane. He has four children and seven grandchildren.

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Karen at the Office

When I went in to the office a few weeks back I got a chance to briefly catch up with Karen and Kristin, two of the greatest gals ever. Karen is a total sweetheart and I love that she brings all of the postcards and notes that I've mailed with her to display at her desk. I mean, how sweet is that?!

(note that the Made in Oregon coaster is the only thing not from me)

Seventy-seven

Here's a handful of some of my fave photos of the old man. 

Bodyguard

I finally got around to checking this BBC series out on Netflix and holy cannoli, it was fantastic! The lead, Richard Madden, was excellent and his boyish good looks didn't take anything away from the grit and horror of terrorist attacks. The edge-of-your-seat, oh-no-they-di'n't pacing kept me glued to every frame. I'm recommending it to all and got a chance to gab with Zach about the show the other night. (I've told him to check out Happy Valley since Sarah Lancashire is the nearest thing to perfection on earth and I think he'll really like the series.) Part of me is hoping for a second season of Bodyguard but then I think, leave a good thing as a stand alone. How can they top this, anyways?

(photo kidnapped from bbc)

Swedish Daydream

I'm a big fan of the Instagram account Cheap Old Houses. Not long ago she posted a warm and lovely home in Sweden and I had to share it with Syd.