Category: tue Gutes und sprich darüber

just do it already · save our world · tue Gutes und sprich darüber

Happy Earth Day!

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Hey! It’s Earth Day, earthlings. What do you do to help save our world?

While I know I can do more, here are some things I regularly do:

1. I have a compost pile which I use for soil around my trees and new plants or flowers. I get such a strange satisfaction to throw in my leftover vegetables, fruits, etc and then mix it all up. It is amazing to see how rich and dark the soil is when I get around to using it. It works!

2. I recycle. Full stop. I recycle everything – plastic, paper, glass. If it can be recycled it goes in my recycling bin where once I week I take it to the bigger bins that Spain has placed everywhere around Mallorca.

3. I pick up litter. I definitely do this around my neighborhood. On my way to the trash I pick up things on the ground, in the lots nearby – here there are usually three big trash cans within a block or two away that the garbagemen come by to empty every day except Saturday. That’s right folks, even on Sunday. And I do try to do a monthly bike ride on the sole purpose of picking up trash around my town and dropping it in the recycling bins.

And then there are random things – recycling household things for teaching – toilet paper rolls to make into owls or whatever animal we are learning about, taking things to charity (clothes, furniture, appliances) and who knows what else.

I do try to be conscience on my ecological footprint. So, please, do the same! It is the only earth we’ve got!

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earth day

2012 · just do it already · new york city · tue Gutes und sprich darüber · usa

Help Frankenstorm victims

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New York has a special place in my heart. Yes it is the city that never sleeps, there are a bazillion things to do there at any time of the day or night and it has the most excellent pizza. I lived there for a year in my studio apartment the size of a toothpick. It was a time I will never forget. I had always wanted to live there and I finally made it happen. I loved every single crazy minute of it.

Unless you are living under a rock, I’m sure you know Hurricane Sandy hit the area hard last week. New York, New Jersey were hit the hardest – Homes are gone, some people are still without heat and electricity, their lives forever changed. I felt at a loss when my friends were on DAY SIX! of no power, gas a scarce commodity. I couldn’t do much from here except keeping them in my thoughts and prayers. But there are things we can do.

1. Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give a $10 donation. It is that simple! Red Cross has been on the front lines offering aid.

2. If you are a business owner you can start a disaster relief program by telling your customers you will donate a dollar, fifty cents, twenty-five cents (Anything!) every time they buy a product of yours. Or you can have your employees contribute to the program and you match their contribution.

3. Volunteer your help by joining Samaritan’s Purse. They are asking for volunteers of all skill levels to help with debris clean up and mud outs. You have to be at least 14 years old to volunteer. Visit their website to join a team.

4.  Give blood. Almost 100 blood drives were canceled due to Sandy, and the result is low blood supplies. Call the Red Cross and make an appointment to give blood.

5. Look towards your community, find an organization that is collecting supplies to send to the victims – Blankets, canned foods, clothing,etc. If there isn’t one set up for this in your community then set one up yourself!

I will be visiting the states in a few weeks and I plan on helping in every way possible. Much love to those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

2012 · stop bullying · tragic · tue Gutes und sprich darüber · tv land

Stop the bullying

GOING NINETY MILESLeave a comment

Sometimes here on the island of Mallorca I feel so distanced from the real world of the USA. Whether it’s the political drama (Go OBAMA), college football games, the right for everyone to be married, Dancing With the Stars or just the everyday life can feel a bit surreal to me.

But then, something happens and I feel like I am right there. Usually it is something tragic that drags me back, like this time. Today, a thirteen year old boy committed suicide at my old Junior High School. The place of such fond memories for me of hanging out by my locker with my friends, giggling about cute boys, hanging out in the “pit”. Of course, there are not so fond memories of feeling insecure of how I looked – very skinny with braces, I was kind of in-between groups of friends – my main group seemed to be shutting me out and I was desperate to keep myself within the “cool” group, absolutely no boys thought I was cute and I am sure the list went on and on.

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Supposedly, the boy who died was being bullied. I do not know that for a fact but I could see that being possible. Being a teen is a rough time! You want to be the coolest person ever, the greatest singer, the best athlete, the most popular cheerleader but for most of us during that time frame, it doesn’t happen. It doesn’t happen because it is practically impossible! Those teenage years are hard. You are gangly, or fat, or have acne, or crazy hair or whatever; for the most part we aren’t cool during this time. And kids can provoke. And kids can be mean. But what you need to do is stand up.

I know it’s hard. Standing up for myself is STILL hard. But if you are bullied you need to speak out – tell your teacher, tell your parents. It’s okay, this is not being a tattletale, this is sticking up for your rights, for your protection. Bullying is not cool.

And the last part of my soapbox. Be proud of who you are. You are different! Hallelujah! Different is good. Who wants to be normal? Maybe you are being bullied because you look different, because you dress different, because you act different. Who cares. You are loved. You are loved by your parents, your friends, your teachers. The world is full of acceptance, keep striving with life. It gets better! I promise. It gets better. You are not alone. Check out itgetsbetterproject.com for help, ideas, inspiration. Because we are all in this together. Do not let life go, it is such a beautiful thing.

I contemplated whether or not to add this but I feel Glee really touches on issues and this was one of my favorite songs from them. Which speaks so much to bullying. Be a loser like me. And know you are LOVED.

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tue Gutes und sprich darüber

Tue Gutes und sprich darüber

GOING NINETY MILES1 Comment

Jessica and Harper, January 2006

 Tue Gutes und sprich darüber is a popular German phrase which translates to – Do Good and Speak About It. So that is what I am going to do.

Breast cancer is something that every person will most likely deal with in their lifetime, in some way. They will know a friend, a parent, a relative or possibly themselves that will try to fight it. My mother had breast cancer and had a mastectomy. My aunt did too, both thank God, are survivors to the fight.

My beautiful, loving and AMAZING friend Jeannette is running in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Las Vegas next weekend for her friend that she lost to stage IV breast cancer. The German and I donated money to support her in the race. It felt so good to give to such a great cause. Jeannette has already reached her goal but her team is still shy of $100. If you would like to donate you can do so here.  Every little bit helps.

See Jeannette’s story of her friend below. And donate, tue Gutes un sprich darüber. Thank you, Danke, Gracias.

What am I doing?
On May 1st, 2010 I will participate in the Komen Southern Nevada Race For The Cure in honor of my dear friend Jessica Evans who lost a courageous battle against stage IV breast cancer on January 8, 2010. Jessica was the mother to a beautiful 4 year old daughter, Harper, and a wife to Matt. I want to raise money to help find a CURE so women will no longer have to suffer. Every little bit helps. Please help me reach my fundraising goal by making a tax-deductible donation today. 

Your support helps us get another step closer to a world without breast cancer.

Your breast health…
The greatest risk factors for breast cancer are being female and growing older.  Breast cancer knows no boundary, be it age, gender, socio-economic status or geographic location.  One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. That’s one in eight within your company, school and organization!

The key to survival is early detection.  Three simple steps for early detection are regular mammograms, clinical exams and breast self-exams. And, remember, breast cancer affects more than just the patient; friends and family need support too.

What does Komen do?
For more than 25 years, Komen for the Cure has played a critical role in every major advance in the fight against breast cancer transforming how the world talks about and treats this disease, and helping to turn millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors.
Over the next 25 years, an estimated 25 million women around the world will be diagnosed with breast cancer if we don’t find a cure.  Komen will not stop until we discover and deliver the cures. That’s our promise.

We Will Find the Cure!