NICE News: A Shot in the Dark

I received an email the other day from fellow Philadelphian Melissa S. with a link to a news story about two of her cousins. She closed her email with, "I'll warn you, it may make you cry." She obviously knows me well because I was emotional by the time I got halfway through.

"How Drexel Hill’s Matt Steven got to the foul line with 10 seconds to go and his CYO basketball team down a single point is an interesting story."

You'll have to click here to learn why it's so interesting, since I don't want to post the entire story here. But trust me, it's worth it!

My husband, Rob, always teases me when I get emotional at sports stories. One time we were watching a baseball game when a pitcher was knocked down by a pitch. He was on the ground for a good five minutes when they had to eventually carry him off the field on a stretcher. The entire stadium stood and cheered for him and I couldn't help but cry! Sometimes sports isn't all about machismo. :)

NICE Giveaway #11: And the winner is...

Happy Friday! I hope you all had a great week and have a fun weekend planned! It's time for me to announce the winner of the my tea cups giveaway!

You guys, the haikus you sent were awesome!! Some had me moved, some had me inspired, some had me laughing hysterically! Thank you for participating in the fun! I was out last night so I didn't get a chance to do a video blog, but thanks to the handy dandy Random Integer Generator, I have a winner right here.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!

And the winning comment is:



Which turns out to be:



SONJA! Congratulations! Your haiku is so beautiful and so true. I love it! You will soon be the proud owner of this little delight from my tea cups! Just email me with your address and I'll pass that along.



I want to thank Alexis for her wonderful generosity! You are the best! And thanks to everyone who stopped by and entered. Hopefully I'll have another giveaway for you very soon!

Blog Facelift

Hi guys! Thanks to Patricia, I decided I needed to reorganize this place a little bit. So while I was doing that, I changed a few other things. I might be playing some more in the next few days, but what do you think so far?? Better? Worse? Neither?

By the way, this blog looks best in every browser OTHER THAN Internet Explorer 6.0, from what I can tell.

And don't forget! You only have until 8pm tonight to enter the giveaway, so get your haikus in now!

NICE Testimonial: Teaching Tweens to be Nice

Last week I received an email from reader Amy with a story that touched my heart! You guys are going to love this one.

I had a nice experience that I wanted to share.  I've been growing increasingly aware of the self-centeredness of my pre-teen daughter.  She's a good kid but it seems she's following the groove of society and has started to turn more inwards and is settling on her own needs and feelings instead of thinking more about others.  I'm not complaining here, just trying to set the stage and give a little more of the back story.

Wanting to give her the opportunity to turn outward and do something nice we set up an after school PAK (planned act of kindness).  She invited several of her friends over and we spent the afternoon making Hershey Kiss Rose bouquets that could be left, anonymously, for workers at their school.

As the girls gathered in my home, I introduced the idea of an act of kindness and giving without getting and then turned them loose hoping they'd stick with it to make at least 12 bouquets.  What happened instead was pretty amazing.  These girls took the idea and ran with it.  They starting working in assembly line fashion all on their own.  Some were in charge of flowers.  A few wrapped them in tissue paper and the others made the cards.  The whole time chattering with excitement about who they were going to leave them for.  In the end they made 25 bouquets and would have happily made more had time allowed.

When the bouquets were done, it was time to deliver them.  I had made arrangements with one of the night janitors to let us into the school after the teachers had all left.  So, with much excitement and giggling, the girls snuck around their school and left their treats.  With each bouquet they left a tag saying "thank you" or "have a nice day" and they signed them "The 7 Secret Sixth graders". 

Several good things came out of this activity.  The girls got to experience first hand what it felt like to do something nice without expecting anything in return.  They were focused on making someone else's day instead of worrying about themselves.  And, the teachers and workers at the school arrived to find that someone cared and was thankful for the work they were doing.  But the best part for me was what happened with the janitor.

I know this man, he is a very kind, quiet man.  He goes into work just prior to when the kids leave so he doesn't interact with them, nor do they really know who he is.  He said usually the kids will pass not even noticing him.  However, when we delivered the bouquets, we also gave him some cookies and the girls made him a card to personally thank him for letting them into the school.  Since that day, when the girls pass him, they will call him by name and say "hi Mr. so-and-so."  He said being called by name is something that never happened before and has been meaningful to him. 

Overall it was a great thing for the girls to do.  They really ran with the idea and much to my surprise the girls want to get together again and do another planned act of kindness.  We just might start a PAK club.

Amy is an amazing mom, don't you think? She realizes the importance of teaching kindness, and it looks like her compassion has worn off on her daughter and her daughter's friends. Great job, Amy! My husband, who teaches 7th grade, can attest to the fact that kindness doesn't run rampant amongst his students. Every bit of encouragement to be nicer makes a huge difference, especially at such an impressionable age. When I was 13, I joined a quilting group at school where we made small quilts for babies in the local hospitals. I'll never forget the joy and excitement I felt each time I finished a quilt.

You know what would be awesome?? If the idea of a PAK club caught on and spread around the globe!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

Introducing: NICE Person of the Week!

Thanks for all your opinions on this post! Seems like a lot of you were in favor of the NICE Person of the Week idea, so now it's official!

Starting today, I'll be taking nominations for NICE People to be featured here every Tuesday. Know someone who deserves a little recognition? Maybe they always display a positive attitude. Maybe they go out of their way to help others. Maybe they did a nice deed for you years ago and you'd like to show your appreciation. It could be a family member, a coworker, even someone you've never met before!

To submit your nomination, click here to send me an email with the following:

• Your Name and Location
• Name of the Person Nominated (first name only is fine)
• Website of Person Nominated (if applicable)
• Answer the question: What makes this person so nice?
• Photo of the Person Nominated (encouraged)
• Address of the Person Nominated (encouraged)

I'm asking for the address of the nominated individual because for each person chosen to be the NICE Person of the Week, I'll mail out an official Operation NICE certificate, made out specifically to the NICE Person, as further proof of their niceness! (If you don't have their physical address, I can email the certificate to them as well.)



So, get your thinking caps on! Send your nominations my way because I won't have anything to post if you don't! And if you have any recommendations or suggestions for improving this campaign, please share!

NICE Assignment: Give Life

Good morning! I'm actually in a bit of a rush today. I have to run to the courthouse to contest my speeding ticket. Ugh. Never a fun event. But I had to get in a quick assignment for the week.

Today's Assignment: Give Life
Only 5% of eligible people in the U.S. donate blood every year, but the demand is so much greater than the supply. Have you ever done it? I haven't. Unfortunately I don't meet the weight requirements. But as soon as I can bulk up a little, I'm signing up!

Maybe in these tough economic times, reaching into your pocket and donating money isn't an option for you. Well, giving blood is free, and it could save someone's life.

Visit this website to learn more about ways you can help.

From the site:
Imagine if giving blood was part of everyone's life. Something you did on a regular basis, like eating at your favorite restaurant. What kind of difference would that make? For nearly 5 million people who receive blood transfusions every year, your donation can make the difference between life and death.

NICE Person? Thoughts?

I've been giving some thought to maybe starting up a new weekly post. NICE Person of the Week. You all could nominate someone, tell me a little bit about them, why they are nice, maybe I could even have a short questionnaire or something. And each week I'll pick a new NICE person to feature on this site.

But I wanted to know your thoughts! I want you to feel like you are a part of this site because you are...the most important part, actually. Is this something you guys would be interested in? Do you already have someone in mind? It could be someone in the blogosphere that you think does a great job of promoting kindness. Or maybe a family member that goes above and beyond the call of duty. And maybe I could whip up a NICE Certificate for them and mail it off. I'll have to work out the kinks, but if you all have any suggestions or recommendations, I'd love to hear it!

NICE Giveaway: my tea cups

Back in December I was interviewed about Operation NICE for MavenMag Philadelphia, and that's how I was lucky enough to meet sweetheart and tea-enthusiast Alexis Siemons. Alexis puts her writing talent to good use with her etsy shop my tea cups, where she inscribes beautiful haikus onto teacups.

I was so excited when Alexis contacted me about doing a giveaway! It has been a little while since I've held one here, and it's always one of my favorite things to do. So thanks to her generosity, you now have an opportunity to win this original haiku teacup!



The haiku reads:

listen to the sound
of the teapot as it sings
water leaps inside

Can't you just picture yourself sitting in your kitchen wearing a robe, reading the newspaper, and sipping a delicious tea from this cup??

You're probably wondering how to win. Well, hopefully my request is obvious, but I want you to write a haiku of your own! It can be about kindness. It can be about love. It can be about how you want to win this teacup! Just leave it in the comments right here by next Thursday, February 26 at 8pm EST and a random comment will be drawn to receive this delight!

As always, I wouldn't make you do something I wouldn't do, so here's my haiku:

Operation NICE
Brings me happiness and joy
Hopefully you too

Haha! Okay, a little corny, but you get the idea! Now it's your turn. Good luck!

By the way, if you liked my prints, then I suggest you check this out!

NICE Testimonial: Making a Sacrifice

Hi nice people! Early this morning I received an email from Lisette (I love that name!) from the Netherlands of the blog HandMaid Liset with a little testimonial.

I believe too that kindness helps the world to change to a better one. Share, take care of each other and love are key words for this world. This weekend my sister told me a story I was really touched by.

My brother-in-law works for a small company. Because of the bad economy the company has to fire 5 people (from only 10 employees). My brother-in-law asked what difference it would make if everybody should turn in their leased car. The company (the mother company is American) was completely amazed with this proposal and considered it well. If everybody turns in their car only 2 people will have to go, instead of 5. Isn’t that great! I was/am touched. And it’s going to happen. So simple… 3 jobs are saved.

I was so touched I thought I’d share this story. And as for your notes, I’m definitely going to craft some nice cards and leave them in town. As well as that, I’m going to knit some hats and mittens and put them in bags through town. I love the idea!!

Although it's sad that two people will still have to leave, Lisette's noble brother-in-law saved the jobs of three people with his selfless request and the agreement among the rest of the employees to sacrifice a luxury. That's wonderful!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

NICE Testimonial: Cards for an Acquaintance

I received a really sweet email from Kit the other day, letting me know about something sweet she does regularly. Check it out!

I thought I'd share a little thing that I do every year for the people who have "no names", but they are important in my life. Usually during the holidays I make Greeting cards for the people at the Cleaners, the Soda Shop, Flower Shop, Post Office, etc..... It's funny now because they look forward to my cards and if they don't get one, they ask me if I'm doing O.K. :) I decided to make a couple of Valentines this year because I hadn't been able to finish my cards at Christmas.


Aren't they beautiful? I'll bet that is such a treat for those people to receive an unexpected card for a holiday. What a great way to build a relationship with the people you see all the time but don't usually get to know. Great work, Kit!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

NICE Assignment: Make a Love List #4

Hi there! Did you guys have a good weekend? Do anything fun? Rob took me to see Coraline in 3-D which was an absolute feast for the eyes. And then he took me for sushi which was a feast for my tummy. I tried my best to catch up on some sleep, which it seems I've had to do the last few weekends. I really need to get my sleep schedule back on track!

Since it's Monday, that means it's time for another NICE Assignment, and I know one of your favorites (and mine) happens to be the Love Lists. We've done a love list about ourselves, a love list about people, and a general list. So this seems like the perfect next topic.

Today's Assignment: Make a Love List about Places

What places do you love? Where would you rather be right this instant? Are there some spots you've visited in your past that will always hold a special place in your heart? Go ahead! Make your list! It can be about one place or one hundred places. Post it on your blog or post it here in the comments. Or do both! Either way, really focus on places you love and I guarantee you'll feel happier afterwards.

My list:
I love being in my bed, with my soft white sheets keeping me warm and safe from the outside world. I love going to my parents' house because I can relax and not worry about chores. I love The Mediterranean Grill, the cute little Italian restaurant where Rob and I went on our first date. I love the entryway of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I love Washington Square Park on a gorgeous spring day. I loved the Skyloft, the most amazing hotel suite I could have ever imagined, and having our friends and family there to celebrate our marriage made it even better. I love King of Prussia Mall. What can I say, I'm a shopaholic. I love walking around Old City Philadelphia on First Fridays during the spring/summer months. I love the memory of my grandparents' house—the backyard where we played horseshoes, the big stairway where I performed one-girl theater, the dining room where we spent every holiday meal, the spot across the street where my grandfather and I would sit, waiting for my grandmother to arrive home from work, the rec room where I ate pizza and watched Cheers every Friday night year after year. I love the Flying Dumbo ride at Disney World. I love Barnes and Noble, all that knowledge right in front of me. I love standing in front of a crowd, as nervous as it makes me. I love being in the middle of a dance floor. I love sitting at the dining table, playing board games with good friends. I loved Korea, and I hope I can visit there again in the future. I love Boston, and wonder if we'll ever move there like we had wanted. I love Philly, and I really wouldn't mind living here for the rest of my days.

Okay, you're turn!

NICE Campaign: Twestival Recap

Happy Friday! I am enjoying a day of lounging at home. I knew I'd be beat after the Twestival last night, so I requested the day off in advance. And I was right! As one of the Philly Twestival co-organizers, Gloria, had posted in a tweet today, "You know how great the party was by how much your a** is dragging the next day. Well phltwestival really rocked! And my a** is Dragging!"

I had an absolutely spectacular time! Being in one location with a bunch of other compassionate do-gooders was ideal for me. I finally got to meet people I only knew by screen name and new people who had me laughing all night, and we ended up raising over $1500 for charity: water! Amazing!

The highlight of my night was definitely performing in the Rock Band Tournament. I tore the roof off with my rendition of the Beastie Boys "So Whatcha Want", and ended up walking away with the biggest prize of the night...2 floor seats to see the 76ers play the Heat. They're $300 a ticket! Rob thinks I'm the best wife ever, and now fully supports my nerdy social networking habits. Unfortunately for me, I'll be in Arizona during the game, so I won't even get to enjoy my prize, but Rob swears he'll repay me with a grand gesture.

I was really blown away by the generosity all around last night. There were a ton of donated prizes. The event location was donated. People volunteered their time and efforts. Everybody was happy and hugging and enjoying each other's company. The positive energy was explosive! I have to give major props to Gloria and Melissa who organized the entire event. Thank you ladies! I look forward to next year!

NICE Testimonial: An Unexpected Surprise

Today's NICE Testimonial comes from yours truly! I experienced such a sweet expression of niceness yesterday that I'm blabbing to everyone I can...that means you.

As if it can't be ingrained in our brains any more, Valentine's Day is on Saturday. February 14th also marks the anniversary of the day my husband and I started dating in 2001, so it's special to us, even without the manufactured Hallmark pressure. And as much as I tell myself how I'm non-traditional, and those clichéd gestures are tired and old-fashioned, I can't deny the fact that I squeal like a sorority girl when I receive flowers.

So imagine my reaction when I arrived home last night to see a box from FTD sitting on my doorstep! *GASP!*

"Well, they aren't from Rob," I thought to myself. Rob has an issue with sending flowers ever since one incident six years ago where he visited me at work for my birthday to see a hideous basket of mums on my desk. ("THOSE are the ones I ordered??") Then I thought maybe they were from my parents, or maybe even my grandfather. I threw my purse on the floor and grabbed the nearest pair of scissors to tear open that box. What I saw were gorgeous roses, in every color! 18 of them! WOW! (See photo.)

I grabbed the card and this is what I saw:



Andi is the super-generous reader who had sent me the Heart is Hot gift back in December, and now here she was sending me flowers! I was so touched that I immediately started crying. Andi, you made me feel incredibly special, and I hope you know how fortunate I feel to be connected to so many amazing people through Operation NICE. I can't thank you enough!!!

NICE Site: I Love You Cards

You all know how much I love the idea of leaving little notes around town, so I was really excited to see this website, sent to me by reader Amanda after she saw it in Daily Candy Atlanta. (Thanks Amanda!)

The site is called I Love You Cards, and that's just what it provides! Send a message to Heidi, the brains behind the sweet operation, and receive a pack of I Love You Cards to scatter about your own town. The only stipulation? Post pictures of your endeavors to her site in return.


Spread the love!

NICE Stuff: An Operation NICE Shop?

I mentioned yesterday that I was really missing the craft world, and I was thinking about ways to incorporate my love of paper with Operation NICE. In preparation of my mini craft show last weekend, I whipped up two prints with the theme of "nice", seen below.





And then I was out to dinner with friends on Saturday when I whipped out my Thank You for the Great Service cards that I had printed on a beautiful Crane Lettra stock, and my friend asked if there was a way to buy them. Then I started wondering if there'd be any interest in an Operation NICE etsy shop.

So I guess that would be a question for you guys! Do you like the downloads? Would you prefer to just download them yourselves or is there any interest in the option of buying preprinted items? Would you like to see some nice-themed prints and cards and goodies like that? I was never successful with my shops in the past, so I'm a little wary about getting involved again, but I also really love making things. It's a conundrum.

Don't feel like you'd be offending me by saying you prefer free downloads! I would! But I also have wonderful paper and printers and cutting tools at my disposal. I'm not sure if that's true for you folks. I'd love some feedback!

NICE Testimonial: Compassionate Coworkers

I feel like the majority of my conscious life is spent at work, so getting along with your coworkers is seriously important in your daily quality of life.
It can make getting up in the morning that much easier. I love my team. They are the sweetest gals, and I am so thankful to have them near me each day. They care about my well being, and always try to keep me sane, even during the busiest of times, and just knowing that people are looking out for you makes life so much better.

Jennifer knows what I'm talking about! She sent me this email the other day, and it is so touching!

I was having an absolutely terrible day. I had dropped the ball on a few things at work, and family life was not at it's best. I sort of broke down at work, and two of my friends said, "Come on, we're going for margaritas." They took me out to lunch, made me laugh, told silly jokes and we shared a couple margaritas. It was just the thing I needed to get my mind off of my crappy day. As if that wasn't enough, when I got back to my desk, they had emailed me with a bunch of inspirational quotes, pictures of my favorite flowers, and told me how great they thought I was. A friend later on brought me my usual afternoon snack of a cup of tea and an apple (she sees me go to the kitchen everyday and get it, so she knew what I liked). I felt so fortunate to have had these great people help me out of my funk. So thanks so much to my coworkers!

True friends are the people that know when you really need that margarita!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

NICE Assignment: Give Flowers

Hello nice people! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I did a little mini craft show, and while I didn't sell a ton, I at least made enough to cover the cost of the show and parking. :) Plus it made me really miss crafting, so I think I might try to incorporate my love of crafts with Operation NICE. Stay tuned for more info!

But in the meantime, I thought crafting was great inspiration for today's assignment!

Today's Assignment: Give Flowers

I know I used the Give Flowers assignment in the past, but I thought it was appropriate for the upcoming holiday, and maybe I'd add a little twist. Okay, so Valentine's Day is this Saturday. And that means the cost of flowers is going to be ridiculous, right? So why not make some instead! I gathered up a little collection of tutorials. Maybe you could leave one on your coworker's desk or put it on your significant other's windshield or leave it in your child's lunch bag. Either way, show some love with flowers!

From Queen Martha:
Making Crepe Paper Flowers
Crepe-Paper Amaryllis
Yellow Tulip Kit (See pic above: I hope I can find this at Michael's!)

Other sites:
Paper Flowers from HowStuffWorks
Origami Flowers from Instructables
Paper Flowers from Craftzine (Love these!)

NICE Campaign: Change for Change

Good morning! IT'S FRIDAY!!!! I am so ready for a little break. It's been a busy week, and I'm pretty sleepy. However, I don't get to sleep in late tomorrow because I'll be preparing for a mini craft show in Philadelphia. I'm coming out of craft hiatus for a few hours, and since I haven't been home much this week, I'll be frantically throwing stuff together tomorrow morning!

I wanted to tell you guys about a project that one of our readers has started. Jan, otherwise known as Crazy Lady on Road 80, noticed that change was accumulating very quickly in her home. She and her family were just tossing loose coins in a jar, and when they rolled it up, they were surprised that the total reached over $100! Just from spare change! So she decided to start collecting change for, well, change! She and her family will fill a jar, or multiple jars, until June 15th (aww, my wedding anniversary!), and then they are going to give the collection to charity or a person in need.

I always have change lying around. In my pockets, in the bottom of all my bags, in my pencil cup on my desk. It's everywhere. I'm going to follow Jan's lead, bring a jar in here (or maybe a milk bottle, that'd be cute), label it "Change for Change", and start fillin'!

Read more about Jan's project here and here.

Oh by the way, for Day #6 of my Giving Challenge, I decided that maybe I could burn a cd for a friend. (Illegally copying albums is the gift that keeps on giving.) Knowing that most of my friends don't have the same taste in music, I burned a copy of Demetri Martin's comedy cd for my humor-loving pals, Justin and Alycia. (Hi Alycia!! Bet you didn't know you were part of my challenge! Hope you enjoy it!) Because really, what's better than the gift of laughter?

Have a great weekend everyone!

NICE Testimonial: Sacrificing a Discount

Yesterday I received an email from the beautiful Nikki of Washington DC, with a story about a kind gentleman she crossed paths with that reminded me of Crazy Kay's Sharing the Wealth testimonial.

The other day I was at PetSmart buying stuff for my cat. I was moving into a new apartment, so I had a whole slew of things that I needed to buy. As I was shopping, I was racking up quite a lot in my shopping cart!

When I went to check out, the man in front of me was buying dog food. His total purchase was much smaller than mine. I guess he saw that, and handed me his coupon for 25% off! He said he didn't need it...What a nice guy!

Next time I have a coupon, I'm going to do the same thing!

I go shopping a lot. And when I say "a lot", I mean a WHOLE FREAKIN' LOT. Where are all these coupon sharers?? :)

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

Day #6: 29-Day Giving Challenge

Day #6 was yesterday, but I didn't get home until really late, so I couldn't find the energy to post. I don't know if I really consider this one a very successful giving day. I was so consumed with work that I didn't even have the opportunity to think about what I could give.

After work, Rob and I went for dinner and then went to see Rent, which was wonderful. I was so thankful that Rob decided to go with me. He has this thing about musicals. Basically, he hates them. There's just something about breaking into song that really bugs the crap out of him, which I find totally ironic because Rob breaks into song at least 10 times a day. Sidenote: As an example, one day he was putting on his cologne, which is does in the most fanciful way (spray and leap through the mist), and afterwards he sang, "He's the one the call Doctor Smell-good! He's the one that really smells alllll-riiiight!" So anyway, I was planning on going to Rent alone, just to check it out, but he offered, without complaint, to go with me. So nice!

At then end of the play, I was still thinking about how I hadn't "given" anything and the day was almost over. That's when the three original cast members came out to talk about the National Marfan Foundation. Jonathan Larson, the writer and composer, had died of Marfan Syndrome back in 1996, so they were collecting donations at the doors. Unfortunately I didn't have any cash on me, but luckily Rob did, so he made a donation for us. I figure that kind of counted.

When we got home, so exhausted from a long day, I still had the urge to give, so I wrote up a little card and put 2 Hershey kisses next to Rob's side of the bed to say "thank you for doing something I know you didn't want to do." It was a Bratz valentine, actually. Awesome, right?

So here it is, day #7. Anyone have any other suggestions of unique ways to give?

NICE Testimonial: The Courage for Kindness

Hi everyone! Well, we halfway made it through the week. My husband, Rob, was spoiled with another snow day, but this time he was kind enough to go scrape the snow off my car. Thanks sweetie! And at least I have something to look forward to as I work today. We're going to see Rent tonight! Should be a good time!

I realized that I haven't posted a testimonial in a while. I actually haven't been receiving them as often as I used to, so if you happen to have one, email me!

I received an email with this story the other day, and I'm just noticing now that the person didn't leave her name. I'm wondering if she wanted to remain anonymous due to the, ehem, flirtatious content of the story. :)

Hi, I have noticed Operation nice for a bit now and I always thought it was a wonderful concept and I couldn't wait to get the chance to really try and make someone's day. I finally found a way!

It started out fairly selfish because I first noticed a cute face in my college night class and wanted to get to know him. A few weeks passed and I noticed he was sick for all of them. All week I had thought about nice things I could do for people and he came to mind. Up until the second I actually did it, I was terrified. I didn't know if he would see it as a nice thing and make his day or find it terribly creepy to recieve a random letter. I ripped a corner off of my note book and simply put a little something that would make me smile if I had gotten it. I went into stealth mode to slip it where he sat, making sure no one saw me and then left the room.

A bit later, I came back in and tried to not make anything super obvious or weird. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary so I figured he thought it was creepy. I have to admit, I was bummed out. As soon as class was over, I noticed him getting up and leaving it on the table as I had left it for him. Thinking it was just probably something he couldn't have cared less about.

Giving it a chance, I made sure to be the last one out of class to grabbed it and stuff it in my pocket. I quickly noticed that he had written back on it! Nothing profound by any means but it was absolutely something that took me off guard. I'm not completely sure if it made his day, but I think my gesture ended up making my own day.

There is a huge possibility that I am rambling trying to pour every thought out in this letter meanwhile making zero sense. Getting out of class, I had to rush to a computer and send this to you guys before I forgot any detail.

Ending this ramble, here is the note. :)


I truly never realized that attempting to make someone smile, it in turn put the biggest one on my face.

I love it! I'm glad her desire to be nice pushed her into being a little more outgoing. So cute!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

Day #5: 29-Day Giving Challenge

I spent Sunday evening scanning some old photos that I had in a box in my office. If you want to see the hilarity of me as a child, they are right here.

So today I go to check my mail and I see a thick envelope. "Oooh, a treat!" I think to myself. I see it's from my grandfather, who occasionally sends me old postcards. Well, when I open the envelope, I see a stack of old photos from my childhood! Such a strange coincidence!

I grew up very close to my grandparents. Losing my grandmother was probably one of the worst things to ever happen to me. And yet I'm still a bad granddaughter that doesn't call or visit her grandfather half as often as she should. And then last October, my grandfather moved from New Jersey (an hour away from me) to Kentucky. I've only spoken to him twice since then, and once was on Christmas. I blame phone-phobia. I really just hate being on the telephone. It makes me instantly anxious.

But I decided that my gift today would be a phone call to my grandfather, which in reality, is a gift to myself. He sounded surprised to hear from me, and I don't want that reputation. I think it's time for me to step it up and give my time to the few relatives I have. The call today reminded me of my childhood when my grandfather would call me every single week day at 5pm to ask how school was and what I ate for lunch (usually a bologna sandwich). I miss those days sometimes, minus the bologna.

NICE Campaign: The Bright Side Project

If you guys liked my little download yesterday, you are gonna LOVE this!

One of my earlier NICE Assignments involved a delightful freebie provided by the ever-so-talented and generous Tristan of Bella Bella Co. and one of the most hilarious Blahgs I've ever read.

Tristan is responding to the struggle we're all feeling each day (whether it's stress about money or our jobs or our relationships or what have you) by telling us all to "look on the bright side!"

In order to help us do that, she has enlisted the help of 28 insanely talented artists to create The Bright Side Project. Each day throughout the month of February, Tristan will be hosting a giveaway for you. (Yes! You!) And why? Well, in her own words, "All this just to make you smile-- because life is beautiful."

Say it with me now...awwwwwww.

I know that all of you reading have phenomenal taste, you know, in blogs, in blog authors, and also in STUFF. So go ahead! Visit Tristan's Blahg and participate! We could all use a little more Bright Side in our lives!

(Image, ehem, stolen from Tristan.)

Day #4: 29-Day Giving Challenge

I decided that for my 4th day of the challenge, I'd give you guys a gift! It's not a Starbucks beverage or a milkshake or a box of Girl Scout cookies, but hopefully you'll like it anyway.

I made up this download for small thank you cards. I was thinking about the nice waitress we had the other day and how I'd love to include a little note with the check, but I never seem to have any paper handy that isn't a crumpled mess or wrapped around a chewed up piece of gum. So I made up these business card size thank you notes, perfect for leaving at restaurants or passing along to your barista! Carry a few in your wallet for when you happen to come across some great service!

You can click the "Thank You for the Great Service" link in the Downloads section to the left, or just click the image below to open the pdf.


I hope you enjoy them!

NICE Assignment: Write a Letter

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Did you watch the Superbowl? I was able to avoid it and get some work done, so I really only saw the last two minutes. Did I miss any good commercials?

So, if you've visited Operation NICE in the last few days, you'll see that I began the 29-Day Giving Challenge on Friday. And yesterday I posted a question about free opportunities to give. I got some great responses! (If you have any of your own, please feel free to comment.) I love Carrie's idea about reading to kids. I wish I could skip out of work here and there because that would be so fun! And Aimee's suggestion about giving blood is brilliant. Unfortunately I just miss out on the weight requirement. Yeah, I'm scrawny.

Brooke had one recommendation that I thought was so great that I'm going to use it at this week's NICE Assignment! She mentioned how money can be tight at times, so she's always figuring out creative ways to be generous without the need to spend money. She writes, "One good way to do this would be sending a complimentary letter to someone regarding their excellent customer service."

NICE Assignment: Write a Letter
Do you ever come across someone, maybe in a retail setting, who always seems to go out of their way to be extra helpful or friendly? Maybe you remember Laurie's story about the K-mart check out girl or Nicole's story about the Walgreen's employee that tracked down her moisturizer in his spare time? Well, why not write to their manager to tell them!

The other day Rob and I went out to dinner at a popular chain restaurant, and we had the sweetest little waitress. She was 18 years old, ready to go off to college. We ended up chatting with her for a little bit about her plans for her future. She's already tri-lingual and is hoping to learn at least two more languages in college while studying International Business. Impressive! She was so friendly and came to check on us numerous times throughout our meal. So I'm going to write up a little note to the restaurant manager, letting him or her know what a delightful young lady he or she has on staff!

Who would your letter go to?

Day #3: 29-Day Giving Challenge

I took the easy way out today. Two of my friends came over for a visit and we stopped by Friendly's for some milkshakes, so I treated them and Rob. I know it didn't require too much effort, but if the speed at which they inhaled their milkshakes was any indication, they enjoyed them quite a bit!

I need to work on giving my time and my energy. It's always been easier for me to just give my money. Make a donation here, buy someone a treat there. It's always been more difficult for me to take 30 minutes of my day to call someone or write a long overdue email. I need to amp that up during my next 27 days.

Do any of you have similar struggles or maybe some tips for overcoming that sort of thing?