Look on each day like it's a canvas...

Be positive.

It's that easy. Okay, maybe it's not transforming someone's life or changing the world-- but it can make a huge difference. If you have a positive outlook on how your day is going to go, your positive energy will be contagious. I promise. Try it. Take the example of Jessica...







"My whole house is great. I can do anything good. I like my school. I like anything. I like my dad. I like my cousins. I like my aunts. I like my Allisons. I like my moms. I like my sisters. ... I like my hair. I like my haircuts. I like my pajamas. I like my stuff. I like my room. I like my whole house. My whole house is great. I can do anything good. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I can do anything good, better than anyone!" --Jessica




Everyone has bad days. But if you can look on the bright side of things and inspire yourself to see the good things in life, people will feed off your energy. Whether it's telling your roommate they look good, smiling at the bus driver or calling someone and letting them know you appreciate them, you have the power to make yourself and others feel great about life.


Wake up tomorrow and face the day with a positive outlook. Tell me how it goes! I want to know how people react to you or how much better your day went!

E-Cards

Thank goodness it is Friday. Wow, what a week. With midterms, work, volunteering and interning, I barely had time to sit down and breathe.

Something I received in an email this week, however, made me smile and got me through the chaos of what were a hectic five days: an e-card. One of my very good friends, who I had not talked in a few weeks, sent me an e-card telling me she was thinking of me. The message was not long at all, but the thought behind the message really made a difference:

"Amey, I miss you and just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you. Good luck with everything! Love you!"

This got me thinking. How hard it is to fill out a small message and send off an e-card to someone you love? Whether it's their birthday, a holiday or just a random Wednesday, it doesn't take more than five minutes to send wonderful thoughts someone's way.

Right here in Boston, there are several places, like non-profits and museums that offer e-cards to send to your family, friends, boss or anyone else I haven't mentioned. 

Museum of Fine Arts has beautiful e-cards you can send to people. Some of them display beautiful paintings, while others show off some of the beautiful sculptures. I love the MFA and if you haven't been, you should definitely visit. (For those Boston University students, like me, admission is free for you-- so you should definitely consider visiting!)

I intern at The Home for Little Wanderers, the nation's largest child and family service agency whose administrative office is headquartered in Boston. This organization has adorable e-cards creatively designed by the kids in their programs. The Home helps thousands of children and families each year. By sending an e-card, not only will you be brightening someone's day, but you will be spreading awareness about The Home's mission.

Children's Hospital Boston also offers e-cards, two for this holiday season. By making a donation, you can send these e-cards to anyone you'd like and wish them a happy holiday season. They are so cute and by sending them will benefit Children's Hospital of Boston.

Okay, this may not be a place in Boston (but look at that face!). You can send Boston Terrier e-cards. They are so adorable and very Boston-y!

Here is a list of cool sites that offer free e-cards:

E-Cards from American Greetings

E-Greetings.com: Make Their Day

Care2.com E-Cards

I plan on sending one back to my friend and some people I've been neglecting to talk to due to my busy schedule. I want them to know I haven't forgotten them!

Have you received an e-card recently? Tell me about why it made your day.

Birthday Wishes

Since my birthday is in just a few days, I have had birthday on the brain.Growing up, almost every year, I had a birthday party of some sort and last year, I was even lucky enough to have my friends throw me a surprise party. Fortunately, I have great friends and family, who I know no matter what will celebrate with me on my special day.


But for the more than 3,000 homeless children staying in publicly-funded homeless shelters in Massachusetts, their birthdays often go without celebration. For the over 96,000 homeless children in Massachusetts, a birthday party is something a homeless child can only dream of.




Every child deserves to celebrate their birthday. This is where Birthday Wishes comes in.

The mission of Birthday Wishes is to bring birthday parties to homeless children. Birthday Wishes recognizes the importance of a birthday in a child's life and believes that the gift of a birthday celebration provides normalcy, joy and hope in these children's otherwise unsettled lives. The Birthday Wishes main office is located right in Newton Centre, MA, but have several other offices in Massachusetts, as well as other states.

There are many ways you can help out Birthday Wishes' cause:


1. Donate money, in-kind donations, or your time. Many of the wanted items include:

• Gifts for children 3 and under    
• $20 Stop & Shop gift cards 
• $35 gift cards for Gap, Dick's Sporting Goods, Old Navy, Target or Foot Locker
• Juice boxes
• Gifts for boys ages 8-13 (Red Sox/Patriots gear, basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, etc.) 
• Party supplies: birthday-themed gift-wrap and birthday-themed paper table covers
• Monetary donations
• Large birthday-themed gift bags
• Caran d'Ache face paints
• Batteries - AA and AAA
• Bulk supplies for Arts & Crafts projects

You can even look at the party schedule and see who the party will be for and what specific donations or number of volunteers are needed for that particular celebration.

2. Volunteer your time by:

-Volunteering your services at a Birthday Wishes party as a facepainter, cake-decorator, or magician. Any special talent you have could brighten someone's day. :)

-Becoming an office volunteer. Assist with day-to-day office tasks such as data entry, mailings, answering phones, receiving donations, and organizing files as well as putting together birthday boxes. 

-Volunteer at a party. Birthday Wishes parties require anywhere from 2-6 volunteers to help set up, engage the kids with crafts & games, serve cake and ensure a great time for everyone.

3. Throw a Birthday Wishes Themed Birthday Party! An impressively growing number of young people are choosing to support Birthday Wishes as the "theme" of their birthday parties. They provide a template invitation, which invites all attendees to bring an item for Birthday Wishes to the party (this is done either in lieu of or in addition to gifts for the birthday child – its up to you). When you bring in your items from the party to Birthday Wishes, they will take a picture of the birthday child with their donations for the newsletter.

Support Birthday Wishes on November 7th, 2010 at 5pm in its first annual Luminary Night. Simply light the luminaries on your front walks or driveways. Birthday Wishes Luminary Night is a special way to bring light and joy into the dark days of winter, while benefiting Birthday Wishes and the children the organization serves. Luminary Kits, can be purchased from Birthday Wishes, and will be dropped off at your home on Saturday, November 6. Each kit contains everything you will need for a dozen luminaries.

Birthdays should be special-- for everyone. Help the Birthday Wishes Cause. I think organizations like this need to be in every community. 

Have you ever donated or volunteered for Birthday Wishes or a similar cause? Share your story. I'd love to hear what impact you made.