Giveaway reminder!

Hi everyone! For those of you on the east coast of the U.S., I hope everything went okay with Hurricane Irene this weekend. We were lucky and didn't lose power. Phew! But I know there are hundreds of thousands of people who weren't as lucky. Hopefully you all were safe!

So I just wanted to post a little heads up. Did you know there's a giveaway going on right now? And it ends tonight! I only ask because I've only received three entries. They were three awesome entries, but I thought there might be a few more people out there who'd like to contribute.

Just as a reminder, here's what I was looking for:

• Photos of NICE Notes that you placed around your town/city
• A NICE Testimonial of how someone's kindness brightened your day
• A video of you telling us the story of the nicest thing someone's done for you
• The details of something NICE you've done for someone this week in honor of Operation NICE

The winner will get a box of NICE stuff like notes, buttons, prints, and some fantastic gifts from NICE friends like Red Wheel/Weiser and Compendium. I hope that the lack of entries isn't because no one's stopping by here anymore. Or because no one has been experiencing anything nice lately! Maybe you've all just been busy. Yeah, I'm sure that's it. Believe me, I know how that is.

So you should enter because with only three entries right now, the odds are in your favor! Also, it would mean a lot to me. All you have to do is send me an email with "NICE Birthday Gift" in the subject line any time before midnight and I'll choose one submission randomly tomorrow!

NICE Video: Say Something NICE

Yesterday, Heidi K. and Emily C. forwarded me this link, and I know when more than one person sends me something "nice," it must be good. :) Oh, and it is!!

My favorite masters of surprise over a Improv Everwhere set up a lectern with a megaphone in New York City. On the lectern was a plaque that read, "Say Something Nice." Watch the video to see what came out of it!



How cute was the little boy with the Buzz Lightyear doll? ;) Also, I'd like to be friends with the lady that compliments the woman with the blue umbrella. She seems so happy and positive! My kinda people. Click here to read some fun behind the scenes notes on this project, including some people who didn't follow the plaques directions.

So I'm curious, if you saw this lectern as you were walking down the street, what would you say? I'd probably go with something like, "You all look beautiful today!" or "Thank you for being so special!"

Also, don't forget about the NICE Birthday Request Giveaway this week! You could win some fun goodies by sharing/spreading kindness.

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

NICE Assignment: A Birthday Request (and Giveaway)

Hi everyone! Oh my gosh, I had the most amazing weekend! On Friday night, I went to the first annual Philadelphia Geek Awards, and it was such a fantastic event! It reinforced my love for this city. There are so many great people in Philly doing some amazing things, and I really need to become more involved in it all. And to top it all off, Rob and I were crowned Prom King and Queen! I was so stunned and I couldn't stop shaking! It's so great to know that while being a geek in high school wasn't appreciated, being a geek now couldn't be cooler!

So guess what. I turn 31 next Monday. I have one week left of being 30. Then I'll be into my 30's. I was wondering if I could use my birthday to encourage some kindness out there amongst you all. Not that any of you need encouragement!

Today's Assignment: A Birthday Request

You know what I love more than anything in the world? Reading/hearing nice stories from all of you! And it would make it a super special birthday if it could be filled with tales of kindness! And because I don't want to make a request without giving something back, I'm going to create a special Operation NICE gift set with goodies like NICE Notes, NICE Prints, NICE buttons, some books from Red Wheel/Weiser, treats from Compendium, and whatever else I can find lying around my office to give away to one of you. :)

So here's what I'm looking for.

• Photos of NICE Notes that you placed around your town/city
• A NICE Testimonial of how someone's kindness brightened your day
• A video of you telling us the story of the nicest thing someone's done for you
• The details of something NICE you've done for someone this week in honor of Operation NICE

To enter, send me an email with "NICE Birthday Gift" in the subject line any time before August 29th at midnight and I'll choose one submission randomly on Tuesday, August 30th! I'll also share the stories/videos/photos on my site over the next few weeks, so I'm not just hoarding your submissions for my own happiness. :)

I really hope you'll participate in this assignment! It would make it the best birthday ever! Thanks so much everyone!

NICE Testimonial: Tech Support Hero

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I just got back from a wonderful mini vacation. Some friends of mine and I took a short cruise to the Bahamas! I was joking that it could have been the S.S. Estrogen. :) I swear, I don't think I've ever laughed so much in a four day period! And lounging by the pool with a frosty beverage was just what I needed. Back to reality!

Today's testimonial comes from Karen H., who owns a yarn shop in Providence, RI. As someone who has been tempted to throw my own keyboard out my 17th floor window, I can really appreciate this story!

We love our neighborhood and we have such great customers! To keep business running smoothly - we utilize computers - but as we all know they can on occasion "do their own thing!" Such was the case this past Saturday, actually Friday evening as Becky (pictured at right with husband Mark) was closing the shop, the keyboard just stopped working, with an error message the wireless keyboard battery had died. Funny thing, our keyboard is not wireless, all the same not working. Becky was able to close out the day using the computer in our back office, but now we had Saturday coming and who could possibly know what was wrong.

I got up early Saturday and started in to the shop to try and figure out the problem and on my way Becky texted me with a note that her husband, Mark, had gotten the keyboard to work! I continued in so I could review the computer and Becky was teaching a class. All was well with the keyboard, but then our cash drawer and receipt printer just didn't work at all. After Becky finished her class, she called Mark to help pack up her monitor (used for the class). Once he arrived we told him about the latest problem and voila - he fixed that as well, but he didn't just fix the problem, he taught us how to fix it as well!!!!

Hats off to Mark Brosnan - truly a nice person (and genius to boot). We really appreciate his assistance and taking the time out his day to help and teach us!!!

Nothing is more frustrating that when technology is against you, especially when you need it to run your business. Thank goodness Karen had a tech hero handy! And how awesome is it that he taught her how to fix it herself so she can be her own hero!

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

NICE Testimonial: McKindness

Hi all! How's your week going? Mine has been AWESOME! I actually won tickets to see the amazing Bon Iver last night. Are you a fan? Such a great show! I am totally wiped today though. I just need to get through a few more hours and then it'll be manis/pedis with a friend tonight! LML! :)

I received this story recently from the adorable Hana after she read this testimonial a few weeks ago.

This story reminds me of something that happened to me a LONG time ago (eleven years) but still brings a smile to my face.

During the July of 2000, my boyfriend (now husband) and I were taking our very first overseas trip together to the United States (we are from New Zealand). We had spent a couple of weeks with family from Missouri and were spending a week together in Los Angeles before returning home.

About 3 days before we were due to return home my husband had his wallet taken - it had both our credit cards, all our cash etc in it and we were left with just a handful of coins I had in my handbag. A frantic and tear-filled call home later we had money wired to a credit union and all we needed to do was get there to pick it up. We were staying in Anaheim and the nearest credit union was about 7km away, so we set off by foot.

About half way there we were super-hungry and thirsty as it was a long walk and a really hot day and we stopped at a McDonalds. I think we worked out we had enough money for a cheeseburger each and a drink to share, so we ordered it, and were busily counting out our coins when the man behind us just handed over a few dollar bills and paid for our meal. It can't have cost him more than $5 but it was just the nicest thing. We were so far from home, young and inexperienced, and losing our wallet had really shaken us both. This kind gesture restored our faith in the simple goodness of people, and I love recounting this story to people as it just goes to show that the smallest of gestures on your part (that man has probably long forgotten what he did for us) can have the greatest impact on the recipient.

So true! Those little acts can make such a huge difference! And when you take the initiative to spread a little kindness, you might really be saving someone's day.

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