Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

The Shoebox Project

Dec
05
2014

A couple weeks ago I was watching the evening news and saw that they were doing coverage on the Raptor wives/girlfriends showing their support for women living in GTA shelters by helping collect gifts for The Shoebox Project:

The Shoebox Project was founded in 2011 by four sisters-in-law – Caroline Mulroney Lapham and Jessica, Vanessa and Katy Mulroney.

We were looking for a hands-on way to give back in our community. We asked our friends to fill a shoebox with little luxuries that they would enjoy, to decorate the box and drop it off to us. We delivered our gift boxes along with the hundred others we received to more women that we could have expected. Through word-of-mouth, and social media, we have grown in a big way!

YouTube Preview Image

I wish I knew about this project earlier. I would’ve totally had a “Shoebox Party” and invited all my friends to come over and fill and decorate their own shoe boxes.

I tend to shop a little too much at times, so I usually have a load of extra, unopened stuff that I can do without (lotions, shampoo, hordes of toothbrushes). What better way to but these items to good use than by giving them to someone in more need than yourself? To top off my shoe box I picked up a few other beauty items and treats. Wrapped it up, stuck on a bow, wrote a nice message on the gift tag and it was good to go. Good thing I had a big, size 12 shoe box to fit everything into!

In a single day, thousands of women are housed in shelters across Canada. This is such a worthy cause, because there are so many women who are experiencing difficult times. I’m glad to know that I’m able to help brighten the holiday season for a woman who may have experienced abuse, poverty or mental illness, by filling up a shoe box with meaningful goodies.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Inspiration | No Comments »

Merry Christmas! (Yeah, I said it)

Dec
25
2012

From everyone here at alotaboutnothing.com (which is just me), I’m wishing you a very Merry Christmas! Don’t celebrate Christmas, you say? Well then, Happy Holidays to you. Hopefully you didn’t feel ‘offended’ with my non-politically-correct post title.

I honestly miss the days when I didn’t have to second-guess myself when wishing someone happiness during the holiday season, for fear that they’d wind up offended and stalk away (trust me, I’ve seen it happen). And renaming the “Christmas tree”  for a “holiday tree” is a bit like me renaming the Jewish menorah the “holiday candle stick” or the Diwali lanterns as the “holiday lighted objects”.

YouTube Preview Image

In all honesty, as a Christian, I would not be offended if a stranger came up to me with a smile and wished me a “Happy Diwali”, “Happy Hanukkah”, or a “Happy Chinese New Year”.  Why not? Because I know that each culture’s annual celebration is grounded in positive thoughts, respect, happiness and spending time with loved ones.

I don’t want to feel ashamed about celebrating Christmas, due to all this unnecessary political correctness surrounding the holiday.Check out Conservative MP Nina Grewal’s recent statement in the House of Commons:

YouTube Preview Image

As a Sikh, I am not offended when Christians celebrate Christmas in a traditional way. Rather, I am pleased to celebrate with my Christian friends. – Nina Grewal, MP

When it comes down to it, historically Christmas (for Christians) is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Over the years traditions may have changed, including pre-Christian influences of other winter traditions (e.g. Santa Claus, Yule logs) as well as other secular aspects (e.g. gift exchange  decorations), but the message is basically the same:  spending quality time with your family and friends, peace, being thankful for what you have, Golden Rule love and ‘good will to all men’.

No matter what you celebrate over the holiday season, remember to cherish your loved ones, and be kind to others this Chrismahanukwanzakah. Merry Christmas everyone!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Holidays, Rants & Raves | No Comments »

All I Want(ed) for Christmas…

Dec
25
2010

Christmas is one of those holidays that sparks a lot of memories for each person when it comes to this time of year. Whether it’s helping out those in need, travel woes trying to make it home in time to spend with loved ones, those special moments with friends and family, shopping hassles trying to find that perfect present.

Speaking of presents, I’m sure a lot of you at one time or another have been double-checking around the Christmas tree after all your gifts were unwrapped, wondering, “That’s it?”, or have tried to keep a straight face when you open yet another ugly, knitted sweater or boxed panettone cake (“Gee… it’s what I’ve always wanted!” )

That’s made me think of some of the gifts of yesteryear that I’ve always wanted to receive for Christmas, but never got. Here’s my list (in no particular order):

  • Pogo
    Not only did this thing look like the planet Saturn, but it made you feel like you were bouncing on the moon (yes, I tried the one my friend got back in the 6th grade).

    • Pogo Ball

  • Easy Bake Oven
    I swear, if I had this growing up, I cooking and baking would’ve definitely become my profession instead of my hobby.

    • Easy Bake Oven

  • Dream Phone
    Is it too much to ask to call guys and get clues to find out which guy really likes you? “Hello, hunks!” Seriously though: is it just me, or are the guys in the commercial, like, 30-years-old?
    YouTube Preview Image
  • Tamagotchi
    I borrowed my friend’s once. I vaguely remember killing the pixel-based creature.

    • Tamagotchi

  • Girl Talk
    I’m not quite sure if I’d take the dare over the zit sticker.

    • Girl Talk board game

  • Mall Madness
    If I got this game as a gift, I would probably be more of a shop-a-holic than I am now.
    YouTube Preview Image
  • Skip-It
    This was definitely a workout. I forgot how many “skips” I clocked, but I was in the high double-digits for sure.

    • Skip-It

  • Teddy Ruxpin
    Who wouldn’t want a talking, animatronic teddy bear? Just as long as it didn’t end up like Chucky. LOL@the zombie-like response from all of the kids in the commercial after Teddy asks if they could be friends.
    YouTube Preview Image

Now of course Christmas is not all about the latest fads and gifts, so I’d like to thank Mom and Dad for the gifts they did manage to get me over the Christmases (like the Lite-Brite, She-Ra doll, Popples, Nintendo and the Star Trek paraphernalia). The holiday season is about being thankful for what you already have, spending quality time with your loved ones, and helping those less fortunate than yourself during this great season. As commercial as this holiday season has come, stemming from its humble beginnings with the miraculous birth that one silent night, I hope that everyone acknowledges the true meaning to the season and enjoys their holidays to the fullest.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Holidays, Rants & Raves | 1 Comment »

Merry Christmas… Happy Holidays!

Dec
24
2008

 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Christmas sneaked up on me again this year.  I didn’t even get a chance to bake all the yummy cakes and cookies as of yet!  Well there’s still a week left until the new year.  So to all of you out there reading this post: Merry Chrismas and Happy Holidays to you! Best wishes this season and I hope that the wonderful spirit of the holidays fills you all. :)

Tags:
Posted in Random | No Comments »