Paying It Forward

I believe that we all desire to do good in the world and give back in some way. 

I have exhausted myself over the past couple of years, sometimes to the detriment of my household, investing all of my extra time trying to make a difference in the world.  In an effort to strike a balance between my daily obligations and my desire to make a difference, I am consistently looking for small ways to leave my mark on this earth.  Here are a few:

Register to run/walk in a 5K.

This is a great way to give back to a worthy cause while getting physically fit. Last year I participated in the Diva Run.  I had a wonderful and exciting experience and knew that my participation meant more money was being raised to fight against breast cancer.

Have a Girls Day Out at a local Wine Festival.  

Good wine! Good Food! Good Music! What a great way to let your hair down with the girls while giving back.  Purchase a ticket to a wine festival and spend the day sampling new wines while enjoying some downtime.  Proceeds from ticket sales are given to various charities.

Donate 1 hour a month reading to children.

Schools are always looking for volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to give back without giving up a lot of time. Basically, you are giving up one lunch hour out of the month to share the joy of reading with children.

Volunteer at an animal shelter.

Animals need love too. Take some time to go down and offer your services to the local animal shelter every now and then.  If you have children, take them along. It is a wonderful way to teach children compassion for animals.

Donate a meal, or two, during the holidays.

Many times, during the holiday season, we focus on making sure our family dinner gatherings are a success by providing an abundance of food for our family to feast on. Narrow that menu down so that there is not so much waste and use the extra funds to buy a meal for a family in need. If you have extra room in your home, invite someone less fortunate, or alone, over to celebrate with you.

Add a beautiful bag to your wardrobe.

We all love to be fashion forward. So, take some time to find companies that are donating a portion of their proceeds to a worthy cause.  Purchasing a durable MAHI bag is a great way to add a fashion statement to your wardrobe and donate to a great cause($1.50 from your purchase of a MAHI BAG is donated to Frank Water, a charity dedicated to providing clean water in India).

Much Love,

Tonza