Something Good

So, what are you doing at 8:00 tonight? Want to join me in doing Something Good? Try turning off your lights from 8:00-9:00 p.m. in you local time zone, and you can be a part of Earth Hour. This is a global movement to raise awareness about climate change.

It's also an opportunity to reconnect with your family. Perhaps you'll choose to illuminate your living room with the glow of the television as you and your loved ones gather to watch a movie. Maybe you'll light some candles and play board games instead. If you're in warmer climates, why not have a mini-campout and tell ghost stories?

Last year Earth Hour was created by the World Wildlife Fund (link takes you to their description of Earth Hour) in the city of Sydney, Australia. This year it includes cities all over the world . . .

. . . and my house.

Check out this video to learn more:

 

Photo by gothick_matt.

 

As weird as it is to think of environmentalism as a business angle, it really has become one. In some cases, businesses are simply "greenwashing," or talking about how environmentally conscious they are without really making the right changes. In other cases, companies really are doing Something Good by changing their ways. I was excited to find out that one of the television networks is supposedly rebranding itself as environmentally friendly.

The Discovery Home Channel is apparently going green. Reportedly, they've even pledged to spend $50 million to develop new programming and everything. I happened to catch a promo for some environmentally-focused shows and decided to check it out online. According to this article, they were going to rename the network and everything, but I've noticed that it's still called "Discovery Home." It makes me wonder if they're still in the transition phase or if they decided not to convert completely over to the new format.

Does anyone know what's going on with this channel? Did they change their minds, or has the change just not happened yet? I do see from their web site that they do feature several environmentally-focused shows:

• Off the Grid: "Les and his family move to 150 acres of wilderness, where they build and live in a sustainable home with solar power, rain harvesting systems, and many new technologies for living an energy-conscious and self-sustaining life for a year."

• Solar Showdown: "Planet Green follows three competitors (University of Maryland, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Colorado at Boulder) as they construct their houses and bring them to the Mall in Washington, DC."

• Living Fresh: "No longer is green living just for extremists willing to down wheat germ and have compost heaps in their back yards; today it's a way of life average Americans can embrace."

The Discovery Home Channel site seems to have a lot of good tips and hints, too, on everything from healthy eating to energy conservation.

I also noticed from watching the station today (Darling Husband Rob loves Holmes on Homes) that they have advertisements for the new Green Works cleaners from Clorox, as well as the Treehugger site (which I believe they purchased).

 

Seriously, I just think this is a funny picture.

 

The birth of Baby Dot has definitely changed my life in about a zillion different ways. I'm physically, emotionally, and mentally changed by the experience of becoming a mother. One of the most blatant changes has been to my daily schedule. I'm the kind of person who likes to have my time scheduled out in regular increments, and I have to say that those days are gone . . . for the time being, at least. That's ok, though, as I've found Something Good around nearly every corner since the baby's arrival.

As a result of the odd hours I now keep, I've discovered morning television. I've never before watched The Today Show, for example. The best discovery, though, has been Ellen. I've been a fan of her stand-up comedy since I was in high school, and I laugh my hiney off at her character of Dori in Finding Nemo. It turns out that her talk show is a ton of fun, too. My DVR now automatically records her show every day, just in case I'm not actually able to catch it.

Believe it or not, this isn't actually a post about Ellen. Well, it sort of is, I suppose. it's a post about how we can use our voices to make our thoughts known.

Last week, Ellen shared a recording of a speech by Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern, wherein she said some pretty awful things about gay people. (She managed to insult Muslims, too, by the way.) Anyway, Ellen's response was to hop on the phone and give Ms. Kern a call.

I would have never thought of that.

I would have gotten indignant. I would have told my friends about it. I would have blogged about it. (In fact, I did all three of these things.) I would not, however, have thought to just call the lady up. I wouldn't have thought to share my opinion with the very person who got me so fired up on the first place. Duh!

So, today's suggestion is to do something good by communicating your thoughts with your government representatives. You don't have to have Ellen's star power to make your voice heard. Technically, the ability to email means you don't even need to get your voice heard to get your voice heard!

If you live in the U.S., use the USA.gov site to contact your elected officials. Tell them what you do or don't like about what they're doing. Tell them what you'd like to see.

Oh, and you can find both Sally Kern's speech and Ellen's response below. Enjoy!

 

 

In the last year and a half, we've put up nearly 200 posts here at Something Good. I'm pretty proud of that, although I wouldn't mind if the number was higher. Still, there are times when I think that many of our suggestions could stand to be revisited. I mean, if they were such good ideas the first time around, then it makes sense that they're still worth doing, right?

No, I'm not going to start reposting old entries, even though that could be kind of a nifty idea. On the other hand, there is one particular suggestion that I haven't followed through on in quite a while. Over the last few weeks, I've been thinking that I really needed to get back into keeping my gratitude journal. (The original post is "Create a Gratitude Journal.") When I look back on it, I realize that I stopped updating it just about two weeks after starting my freelance writing business. I don't think that's a coincidence at all. I got really busy, and I just let the gratitude journal slide.

Well, I pulled it down off the shelf today and added 15 items for which I'm grateful. It felt great. I highly recommend that you try it and see how it feels for you. In fact, it would be great if you would share one of your items with us in the comment section. Let's all tell each other what exactly we're grateful for today. I'll start by sharing my entire list.

Things I'm grateful for on March 16th, 2008:

1. Darling Husband Rob and Baby Dot

2. My business partner

3. Setting financial goals

4. The Scooba

5. Rob being an active parent

6. The bamboo floors we put in this summer

7. Having both of my parents back in the area

8. Dot sleeps well at night

9. Two fun parties yesterday

10. The days are getting longer

11. Maternity leave

12. Enough work to keep us busy

13. The DVR

14. Caffeine-free pop

15. Being able to work via the internet

 

For most of us in the U.S., today marks the beginning of Daylight Saving Time.  At 2:00 a.m. we were supposed to set our clocks ahead one hour (because you "spring forward" in the spring and "fall backward" in the fall). 

 

But, this isn't just a public service announcement to remind you to change your clocks if you didn’t before you went to bed last night.  I've been keeping the Something Good blog for a year and a half, and every time we've had a time change, I've forgotten to mention this idea.  Yea for me for finally remembering!

 

Remember all of those devastating fires to hit California last autumn?  None of us wants to find ourselves in the position of losing our possessions, memories, or lives to a fire.  While we can't avoid every disaster, we can help protect ourselves by taking some precautions.  One suggestion I heard a long time ago that has stuck with me is to use Daylight Saving Time as a reminder to change out the batteries in your smoke detectors.  Since it comes along twice a year, you'll be sure to always have fresh batteries. 

 

There's a good chance that the batteries you remove will still have plenty of juice left, so save them in a container marked for the purpose, and use them in your camera or the kids' toys.  You'll be doing Something Good by protecting your home and by not wasting the batteries.  If you don't happen to have any extra AAAs lying around the house, use this reminder to add them to your shopping list so you can pick them up the next time you go to the store.

 
Photo from the Green Thing wiki.

 

One of our basic ideas here at Something Good is that small changes can truly make a difference. We believe that 100 people making a small change can have as significant of an impact as one person making several big changes. It turns out that we're not the only ones who feel this way. There's a community called Green Thing that takes this idea a step farther, and they do it while being really freaking funny!

Each month, Green Thing offers one suggestion for a small change (a "Green Thing") that each of us can implement in our lives. Their manifesto states that their organization strives to be easy, creative, not-for-profit, credible, and principled. As I said, they're also pretty darned funny.

The first month that I was involved with Green Thing, the suggestion was to turn off the lights. How hard is that? They suggested going to bed an hour earlier or finding a way to (ahem) amuse yourself in the dark. This month's suggestion is to "go easy on the meat." If you're not a vegetarian or vegan, then you can help make a little impact by not eating as much meat this month, as the production of meat increases the output of greenhouse emissions and uses up tons of resources. Just eating a little less is a step in the right direction. Simple, right?

Green Thing members get pretty involved in the community, too. One of the coolest aspects is how so many members make and send in their own videos relating to that month's suggestion. There is some serious creativity to be found in the video section. People also send in photos of themselves implementing the suggestions. Actually, I think that's how it started. Now there are just a ton of really interesting photos collected there.

Because there are something like 60,000 members, Green Thing really does have the potential to make a real impact. They encourage members to report back on what they've done and are able to create some estimates on how much of a difference has been made. According to today's numbers, "1450.87 tonnes of CO2 have been saved so far by the Green Thing community."

To get involved, you need to sign up, and they'll send you a monthly newsletter with the suggestions. I've been a member for a few months now, and they haven't spammed me, so I'm pretty comfortable recommending them to Something Good readers. Not only that, but their site is really fun to peruse.

 
This is us in our (PRODUCT) RED shirts, 
a gift from Katherine's mother.  Mine says 
INSPI(RED), and Dot's says DIAPE(RED).
Photo by Josh Smith.

While I am sort of back on the blog, I have to admit that updates to Something Good will probably be a little sporadic for awhile yet.  I am definitely still adjusting to motherhood and am trying to figure out how to balance home and work with a baby in one arm and a very strange sleep schedule! 

 

First thing’s first . . . 

Allow me to introduce Dorothy Maeja Brewer, born January 26^th at 2:14 in the afternoon.  She weighed in at six pounds, seven ounces and was nineteen and a half inches long.  We call her "Dot."

 

I haven’t forgotten about Something Good, though.  In fact, I found a couple of books with some cool ideas when I went second-hand shopping for some shirts that are suitable for nursing.  I’m looking forward to sharing some of those ideas here when I’m able to write up new posts.

 

I’m returning to work next week, so it will be interesting to see how I fit everything into my days.  I’m fortunate to have my own company and be able to work from home, but I seriously have no idea how to get everything done with a baby in the house.  My fantasies of working while she sleeps were destroyed when I discovered that she only sleeps if I’m holding her!

 

Anyway, keep an eye out for new posts.  As always, you are encouraged to send ideas in to lornadoone (at) comcast (dot) net.  We’re open to guest bloggers, as well; so if you want to write up your own idea for Something Good we can do, be my guest (literally)!

 

Dear Something Good readers,

 

First of all, you folks are amazing.  So far, our little community has donated approximately $200 to help Rocky get the surgery he needs.  It’s so beautiful that one little girl’s love has made this happen.  Way to go, Katherine!

 

Secondly, I may not be around for a little while.  I went into labor about 12 ½ hours ago and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Brewer-to-Be.  We’re still at home, as we don’t feel the contractions are close enough to go to the hospital . . . That’s us with our hippy-dippy natural childbirth ideas!

 

Anyway, I plan to be back as soon as possible, but I imagine I’ll need a little time to adjust. 

 

Sincerely,

Lorna Doone Brewer (and Darling Husband Rob)

 

Here at Something Good, we generally talk about ways that we can make the world (or our own lives) a little bit nicer.  Usually, I make a suggestion, and then I encourage each of you to find a way to apply it to your own lives.  Basically, I often try to make suggestions that can be applied in a variety of situations so that they fit for each of us.

 

Sometimes, though, I have something specific that I ask you to do as indivials or as the Something Good community.  Today is one of those days.

 

I have a niece named Katherine, and I am so incredibly proud of her right now.  At only eight years of age, she already understands the importance of doing Something Good.  This young lady has taken up a cause, and her devotion and determination to help a fellow creature is something that we grown-ups should practice more of in our own lives. 

 

As can happen to parents of adorable little girls, Katherine’s mom and dad were somehow convinced to let her get a dog.  After some consideration, they agreed to get a Golden Retriever.  Being the responsible, wonderful people that they are, however, they chose to rescue an animal rather than buy a puppy.  Fate intervened when the family came upon Adopt a Golden, Atlanta.

 

Katherine and Rocky met.  Apparently it was love at first sight on both their parts! 

 

Unfortunately, Rocky was injured in a car accident some time ago, and he needs surgery to fix his leg before he can be adopted.  With hope that she would be his new mommy, Katherine began to do everything she could to raise the $2,200 needed to get Rocky healthy enough to join his new family in his forever home.

 

This is where it gets great . . . 

Not only did Katherine donate her own allowance to Rocky’s fund, but she’s been finding other ways to raise money for his surgery.  Whether it’s meant selling baked goods, or going door-to-door collecting, this little girl has already raised nearly $500 on her own.  What an incredible way to use her young life to truly do Something Good!  Actually, I see now that more than $1,100 has been raised, and I’ll bet most, if not all, of that was Katherine’s doing.

 

So, dear readers, I’m putting out a call today.  I know that most of us don’t have much extra cash lying around, but if a few cookies and a little girl’s allowance can make this much difference, imagine what a couple of dollars from each of us can do.  I’ll be sending a $50 donation myself, but even a $2 or $5 PayPal deposit will make a difference for both Rocky and Katherine.

 

If you do decide to make a donation, it would be wonderful if you would let me know (in the comments or privately at lornadoone at comcast dot net), so that I can tell Katherine that Something Good readers raised $XX.XX to bring Rocky home to her! 

 

Here’s a little more info on this very loved dog:

 

BIO: Meet Rocky, a handsome 18 month old male who loves to talk. That's right, if you need someone to talk to Rocky is your man! He stands in front of you and wiggles all over and moans and groans and yips until you pet him--he is very expressive and very happy. He is unaware of it but he has a bum leg--he was hit by a car when he was smaller and never was taken to the vet so he has to have an operation to fix the bone but he will be as good as new after his surgery. (We need to raise $2200 for his surgery). He comes with baggage but not the bad kind. He has two bags of stuffed toys--bears and bunnies and dogs. He loves his toys and always has one in his mouth--you even have to remove them from him so he can eat! He is a happy, happy boy and gets along great with other dogs, cats and children. He is on the smallish side for a boy golden. Rocky is a real snuggler. And as a bonus, he is completely housebroken and knows some of his commands. Mostly he just wants to love you and please you. Please consider giving Rocky a forever home where he is free to speak his mind. He is cautious around cars but needs a fence so he doesn't have another run-in with one. A wonderful 8 year old girl named Katherine is raising money for Rocky by baking and selling cookies. She has already raised $479.42!! So please help her by giving to Rocky's Fund today!

It's as poignant now as it was then.  Please take a few minutes today to remember why it is that we created a whole holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  May we all follow in his footsteps in doing Something Good for our society.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

 

Photo by Spigoo.

I can’t pick which is the best way to do Something Good . . .

 

Hey there, Something Good readers!  I’m looking for your input.  As you probably know, I’m expecting a baby any day now.  Believe it or not, I still haven’t made the big decision . . .

 

What kind of diapers should Darling Husband Rob and I use?

 

For obvious reasons, I’m not a big fan of disposable diapers.

• They’re one-use.
• They’re bleached.
• They don’t biodegrade very well.

 

On the other hand:

• They’re quick to change.
• They’re easy to buy.
• They don’t have to be washed.

 

There’s always the cloth diaper option.  I seriously hate cloth diapers for the following reasons:

• They leak.
• They stay in your house for a longer period of time.
• They have to be washed.
• They’re bulky.

 

On the other hand:

• They only get manufactured once.
• You can send them out to be cleaned.
• I’m pretty sure they save money in the long run.

 

I’ve also looked at these new gDiapers.  They have some of the same advantages as both the cloth and the disposables.

• They’re reusable.
• The waste material goes to the treatment plant instead of the landfill.
• They’re non-toxic.

 

On the other hand:

• You’ve got to dispose of the waste in the toilet (I’m just thinking this might be tricky with one hand on the baby).
• They’re bulky and seem like they would leak.
• They’re more expensive than cloth.

 

So, my dear friends and readers, could you do Something Good for this morally confused mother-to-be and pipe in with your two cents’ worth?  I mean it’s time to make a decision on this topic already!

Disposable diaper photo by miguelb.
Cloth diaper photo by IngaMun.

 

1. Walk
2. Ride a bike
3. Take the bus
4. Carpool
5. Unplug phone chargers and other appliances not in use
6. Reuse containers instead of using plastic wrap
7. Recycle everything you can
8. Wash your car on the grass and find other ways to conserve water
9. Put a pitcher of water in the fridge so you don’t have to run the water to get it cold
10. Shop at thrift stores and buy less new stuff
11. Donate clothes and household goods to charity
12. Pull weeds instead of using pesticides
13. Clean glass and floors with vinegar instead of cleansers
14. Buy sturdy  boxes that you can reuse every year for holidays
15. Set the thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer
16. Change the filter in your furnace
17. Pack a lunch
18. Clean the coils on your fridge
19. Turn file folders inside out and reuse them
20. Print on the back of used sheets of paper
21. Shop at the farmers’ market
22. Make sure the tires of the car are properly inflated
23. Change incandescent bulbs to compound fluorescents
24. Start a clothing swap
25. Take your own reusable bag to the store
26. Avoid single-serving items and excess packaging at the grocery store
27. Say “no thanks” to a grocery sack if you’re only buying a couple of items
28. Support individual artists and local businesses
29. Get your books from the library
30. Learn about other people’s cultures
31. Cook from scratch
32. Purchase re-tread tires for your vehicle
33. Take a garment bag and your own hangers to the dry cleaner
34. Donate your old eyeglasses
35. Turn off the lights when you leave a room
36. Grow your own food
37. Remove your name from junk mail lists (http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist)
38. Compost your vegetable matter
39. Refill water bottles
40. Plant a tree

Want more?

If every one of us did all 40 of these things this year, how much energy, pollution, and money could we save?  Seriously, take a look at the list.  I'd say that the most difficult thing on there would be "grow your own food," but even that could mean cultivating a little herb garden in your kitchen.  There are so many small ways to do Something Good, and they really do add up.

 

So, it’s that time of the year again.  It seems like everyone is reviewing their 2007 experience and preparing for 2008.  Quite honestly, I love the time right around New Year’s Day.  If I’ve had a great year, then I get to reflect upon that and feel a sense of satisfaction.  If I’ve had a bad year, I feel like I get a chance to wipe the slate clean and start all over.  Of course, you don’t need a new year to start over, but for me the symbolism works well.  I generally stay away from particularly personal posts here at Something Good, but I’d like to go ahead and share some of the high points of my year with you all.

 

I’d say there isn’t a lot of slate wiping that I’d like to do this New Year.  I felt like 2007 was pretty good to me, as a matter of fact.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t things I wouldn’t change if I could, but all-in-all, I’m pretty excited about most of it.

 

• It was just about a year ago that Darling Husband Rob and I decided that we would start trying for a baby in May.  We expected that we might get pregnant sometime around August or October.  As it turns out, we were pregnant by about May 2^nd.  It has definitely been a hard pregnancy; it seems like nothing has gone the way it should, but that all takes such a back seat to the fact that we’ll be welcoming a new Brewer in the next few weeks!

 

• I got to work from home all summer.  Sure, there were some particularly stressful periods, and – again – everything did not go as I would have liked; but it was wonderful not to be commuting to an office while fighting morning sickness and fatigue.  I also got to call myself a “professional writer,” which is something I’ve fantasized about since I was a child.

 

• While you would think that getting laid off was a bad thing, it turned out to be one of the best things that happened in 2007.  My former co-worker and I were spurred to start our own company as a result, and things have been amazing.  We started the Freelance Parent blog, and within three months it had won a pretty big award.  We have met tons of other freelance writers who have been willing to share their ideas and expertise.  So many of the events that have transpired have helped to seriously shorten the learning curve so we could be successful.

 

I do have some thinking to do, however, about the upcoming year.  I realize that my life is going to look a lot different once the baby arrives, and I’m not entirely sure how to prepare for that.  I think that in the next couple of days I’ll definitely spend some time arranging my priorities, including this blog.  I feel that I really haven’t kept up on it the way I want, and I’d like to figure out how to remedy that.  Perhaps I'll start by reviewing what's happened here this year and build on that, as I don’t think I’m ready to just let it go.  If that’s the case, then I need to figure out how to revive it.

 

So, how about you all?  What do you see when you look back on 2007?  Are there changes you’re planning to make to improve things for the upcoming year?  I’d love to hear about it.

This time of year, many of us have turned into consumer zombies.  I admit it.  I was hoping to do much more of my shopping our Something Good Holiday Shopping Guide, but after all of the health issues, I found myself taking the “easy” route with much of my gift buying.  (Sigh.) 

 

Last week I saw this really interesting video that I think we should all probably watch repeatedly in order to help make purchasing decisions.  It’s called The Story of Stuff, and it is really informative while managing to actually be somewhat entertaining.  It’s about 20 minutes long, so get yourself a cup of (fair-trade) coffee or (organic) tea, and settle in to watch it.  When you’re done, I encourage you to send a link out to your friends and family.  Knowledge is power, after all.  We have the power to change our behaviors in a way that can benefit us all.

 

Out of the whole thing, I think the most shocking bit of information to me is that 99% of what we purchase is thrown out within a matter of months.  Ninety-nine percent!

 

Here’s a little snippet of the video to give you an idea of what it’s all about:

 

Bloggers Unite challenges bloggers everywhere, on December 17th, to do something good offline — an act of kindness — and then post about it on their blogs, using words, pictures, and/or videos to tell the story.

 

So, are you all having as crazy of a month as I am?  Work’s been going well, but we’ve had some pregnancy troubles.  Not to worry, I’m being monitored and attempting to do all the right things, so all should be well with the Brewer-to-Be.  In the meantime, let’s get back to doing Something Good around here!

 

I know that the majority of you who read Something Good have your own blogs, either here on LiveJournal or somewhere else.  I’d like to encourage you to use that podium today to motivate yourself and others to commit an Act of Kindness and to blog about it. 

 

Think about it.  There are more than 70 million blogs on the web.  If only 10% of those people committed one Act of Kindness today, that’s 7 million ways that Something Good has happened in the world in one day!  This is part of a movement called Bloggers Unite to find ways that “normal” people can have an impact on the world.  Heck, one person committing an Act of Kindness is amazing.  Thousands—or even millions—of them doing so is mind-boggling.

 

What little thing can you do for someone else today?  Perhaps you want to head over to Kiva.org and make a microloan to a third-world entrepreneur.  Maybe you want to write (and mail) a letter to a friend saying just how much you appreciate him or her.  You could always call your grandma!  The point is to do something that will make someone else happy and then mention it on your blog.  When you’re done, you can list your blog’s URL at BlogCatalog, and you’ll even be eligible for some prizes.

 

I’ll get things started.  While I can only encourage you to commit an Act of Kindness today, I actually can help you commit another one later.  The people who do marketing for Hallmark’s contribution to (PRODUCT) RED recently sent me some goodies to share with Something Good readers.  I’m afraid it’s probably a little too late to send out the Christmas-y stuff (blame the medical problems for that one), but there are a few other really cool items that I’d like to give away.

 

• The mudcloth bag was handmade in Mali, West Africa by artisans who are supporting their families through such creations.
• The INC(RED)IBLE card reads “seriously...you really rock” on the inside, and it plays “Simply the Best” with Tina Turner singing and everything!
• The ADO(RED) card says “(that’s you)/still head over heals (that’s me)” on the inside, and it plays “Still the One.”
• The BOTHE(RED) card reads “You’ve got me hot and...” on the inside, and it plays “Let’s Get It On.” 

 

So, here’s what you do.  Leave a comment telling me who you would like to give one of these cards to and why they deserve it, and I’ll pick three different people who will each receive one.  Then, of course, it’s your job to surprise that someone special with an Act of Kindness by giving them the card “just because.”

 

One reader will also receive the mudcloth bag as a special holiday present from the Something Good blog to you!

 

Finally, don’t forget that if you want to buy mainstream gifts for the holidays (instead of purchasing locally produced products), you can buy all kinds of stuff through (PRODUCT) RED (including holiday cards by Hallmark!), and a portion of the proceeds will go to buy AIDS medications for those who can’t afford to pay for them and can’t live without them!

 

 

 

Welcome to the Something Good Holiday Shopping Guide 2008.  Based on suggestions from our readers, we’ve put together a pretty big list of artists, businesses, and charitable organizations that you might want to support with your holiday dollars this year.  During this season, we are constantly hearing about spreading goodwill, offering our time and money to others, and promoting peace and harmony in the world.  We at Something Good believe that consciously focusing on how you spend your money can allow you to do all three.

 

It’s amazing how our money really can serve two completely different and extremely valuable purposes at the same time.  There’s the obvious joy that comes from giving and receiving gifts, but there’s also a second thrill that comes from supporting someone by recognizing and acknowledging the worth of their work.  Sure, it’s a thrill for the shopper, but it’s also one heck of a thrill for the artists and organizations and the families they support.

 

So, let’s get to the shopping already!

 

Bath and Beauty Products 

• GirlyGrub.com – Not only do they make their own bath and beauty products, but they will work with you to create an assortment that fits your price range and the specific preferences of the gift recipient.  Also, they are donating all of December’s proceeds to the San Diego Humane Society to care for animals rescued during the recent Southern California wildfires.  Wow, so with this one, your money buys a gift, supports a small business, and helps rescued animals.
• Not only is it a small business but Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab donates the proceeds from their Neil Gaiman and Stardust lines of perfume to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and proceeds from their Good Omens line go half and half to the CBLDF and the Orangutan Foundation UK.

 

Fiber Arts 

• Sol Sisters Handmade Originals is run by two Las Vegas sisters who make quilted fabric purses, pouches, bags, and wall hangings.  They will even take your own artwork and incorporate it into their designs.  Check out their “under $10” section for when you have to give a little something but don’t want to go overboard.
• For fun and beautiful knitted products that are created with sacred intention, check out God’s Eye Handmade Blessings.  I’ve ordered here before, and the turn-around time is great; so there’s still time to get items for Christmas.  I got my  goddaughter one of these pumpkin hats last year, before she was even born!

 

 

Jewelry

• Lucky Starshine offers a variety of bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry through her LiveJournal blog. 
• Flutterby Design – An independent business that offers hand-crafted beaded jewelry online and at craft fairs.  There’s also a LiveJournal community at http://community.livejournal.com/flutterbydesign/.
• Luckylibra Designs – Her work is nice, and the prices are great!  If you know someone who is into Wicked, you have to check out these earrings.
• PhoenixFire Designs - Jewelry, Dollhouse Miniatures, Wearable Costume Horns, Penguins and more.  They gladly take custom orders and ship anywhere in the world!  This business also offers gift certificates, so if you just can’t quite decide, let the recipient do it.
• Three Paws Design - she describes her shop as "eclectic offerings for family and friends.”  There’s more than just jewelry here, too.
• The Crafty Celts - very nice handmade jewelry and other accessories in silver, copper or bronze.  These items are well-made and substantial.
  
  

Graphic Art

• Not that Jaded Designs – She has some beautiful photographs that can be made into art prints or note cards, depending on your needs.  Really pretty stuff!
• Noah J Orr Photography - Noah has some gorgeous photography, mostly from the beautiful islands of Hawai'i.
• Sea Dream Art – Prints, paintings, collage, cards and more using collage to create gorgeous nature-inspired pieces. She also donates 10% of her sales to American Forests.org.

 

Recycled Gifts

• The Green Attempt – Be an environmental hero by shopping second-hand for the holidays.  Cut down on consumer waste by purchasing “new to you” instead of just plain “new.”  She also suggests swapping out your old tomes for something you can give away at Book Mooch.

 

Stuff that Is Hard to Categorize

• Miscellaneous Oddiments – Fantasy art that includes masks, wands, and labyrinths.
• The Women's Center for Spiritual Renewal offers Spiritual Renewal Packages, retreats, workshops, gatherings, etc in the greater Chicagoland area.  A great way to help a friend start the new year with a little relaxation and positive energy.

 

Charitable Causes

• The Hunger Site – Don’t forget to click the button every morning to donate food for free.  Since the site is paid for by advertisers, take some time to shop around and support the businesses that make this site (along with the Breast Cancer Site, the Rainforest Site, the Animal Rescue Site, etc.) such a success.  Shopping through the sites can result in even more financial contributions, too.
• Heifer International – Honor your gift recipient by purchasing life-changing supplies for someone struggling for independence in their name.
• Kiva.org – One of my personal favorites.  Purchase a gift certificate to make a microloan to a hard-working entrepreneur.  Once the loan has been repaid, the recipient has the option to reinvest it year after year!
• SPCA of Anne Arundel County, Maryland – Recommended by a Something Good reader who tells us, “I got my fabulous dog from them so I feel compelled to point them out.”
• American Diabetes Association – The same reader shares, “My grandfather has diabetes and I donated there last year for Christmas in his name, so I again feel compelled to point them out.”
• America’s Second Harvest – My friend Naomi is offering all of her Amazon affiliate sales to support a non-specified charity, as the Amazon TOS says she can’t reveal it to her audience in order to get them to click through.  Whatever. (I’m making a very educated guess on the charity that will receive the funds.)  Every day she shares a new item, but anything you buy through the link will go toward helping this mostly-unnamed charity.
• The Women’s Bean Project – (I got this one from Naomi, too.)  A nonprofit organization that teaches women real-life work skills in their gourmet business.  Great gifts for people who just don’t need more “stuff.”

 

All right.  So that gives us a start.  Obviously, there are tons of other worthy causes out there to support with your holiday dollars.  With all of these amazing options, who needs to shop at the mall this year?

Just put in your zip code at Petfinder.com, and they'll show you animals
available in your area.  This is Essay, a four-year-old kitty up for adoption
in Spokane.  I can't believe someone gave this guy away!

First of all, I want to take a second to greet our new Something Good readers.  Several of the lovely folks from the Livejournal community Full Moon Swaps have found our little blog and decided to stick around.  I hope you all enjoy what we do here and that you will feel like jumping right in with comments and suggestions.  You are always free to contact me directly, too, at lornadoone (at) comcast (dot) net if you have any thoughts you want to share privately.

 

As for today’s suggestion, well, I was just perusing the one and only gossip blog I read (ecorazzi) and discovered that it is Puppy Mill Action Week.  This is a time of year when a whole l