New Year's Resolution #1

In the Charlotte Observer today is a short article on the League of Women Voters' class, "Civics 101." According to the article (which you can read by clicking here), this class teaches you the ins and outs of local government here in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. It is touted as a great way to learn how to make a difference in the community. I've been meaning to take this class, so finally today I hopped online and signed up on this website. The class fills up every year, so if you are interested, don't delay!

For information on the history of this class, click here. For the schedule, click here. Finally, sign up by going to the registration information on the League of Women Voters' website, right here. The course costs $30.

To Do: Move beyond cocktail party chitchat about the community. Learn how to be a force for change.

Don't put away that cake pan!

Today, my husband, Rob, called to report on the toys the kids were mentioning in the car as he drove them with friends to the movies. I had to gently remind him that although he was just entering into the holiday spirit, us moms have been preparing for weeks and I was not changing gifts now!

Similarly, you have probably made your contributions to local charities by now. However, taking the cue from Rob, I offer a gentle reminder about the Charlotte Rescue Mission, which is serving record numbers of people this cold winter. Click here to see their "Hope for the Hungry, Hope for the Holidays" wish list. And don't forget that dessert items for Christmas dinner are both wanted and needed, delivered by 10:30 a.m. on Christmas morning. Click here for directions to Charlotte Rescue Mission.

To Do: Bake one more pie and God bless us, every one.

Be in touch

I've been busy getting stuff DONE for Christmas. Usually that is such a joyless statement--crossing responsibilities off of my to-do list. However, this year some friends and I got together and addressed our Christmas cards together, drinking coffee and catching up while getting something done. I was particularly pleased by the friends who showed up even if they had no cards to address, just to grab a cup of coffee and say hello.

Also, a good friend of mine hosts two nights of gift-wrapping at her house--she supplies the wrapping paper and ribbons and gegaws and we all bring our gifts to be wrapped. She also takes this opportunity to experiment with new mixed drinks and funky cocktail treats, although we are busy wrapping for a good 3 hours. It is (I think I am not offending her by saying this) an easy party to host and a fun way to pass the time instead of standing around with drinks in our hands (not that I don't enjoy those parties, too!). I like to think that all of my friends are just as happy with these casual occasions as they would be at a fancy-dress party. Perhaps it is the modern-day version of a quilting bee.

Think about easy ways that you can spend time with your friends over the holidays and beyond. Maybe it is just putting on a pot of coffee and having an "at home" hour once a month. Perhaps it is stuffing envelopes at church with some friends. Or maybe you and a neighbor can catch up while walking off some holiday calories!

To Do: Be a good do-bee and a good friend.

"In with the New and Recycle the Old"

Terri Bennett, formerly weatherperson with local television station WCNC, has her own website now, www.terribennett.com. On it, Terri not only offers weather reports but also focuses on environmental conservation through a section called "Do Your Part." Terri's "Do Your Part" videos are also featured on charlotte.com, the Charlotte Observer's website.

Recently Terri had a very useful report, called "In with the New and Recycle the Old," on recycling electronics while also earning some cash back. A timely topic at this time of year as you upgrade your cameras, computers, etc. To check out the whole report, click here. She suggested checking out www.econewonline.com, which offers you gift cards (to Office Depot, Sam's Club or the Navy Exchange) in return for your unwanted electronics). You enter the item you have to trade in, the site replies with the value, you print out a prepaid mailing label for the item and mail it in. Upon receipt, a gift card is mailed to you.

This week's "Do Your Part" focuses on using LED lights for the holidays. There are many other "Do Your Part" segments on the website, ranging from eco-friendly lunchboxes to the eternal question of paper versus plastic.

To Do: Check out weather veteran Terri Bennett's website and Do Your Part.

Human Beans

Today I went to the Christ Church holiday bazaar. I visited a booth staffed by 2 women who are part of "Humans Helping Humans Organization," a cool 501(c)3 nonprofit started by 7 Charlotteans. The group makes micro-loans to people in developing countries. I could go into more detail, but you are better off going directly to their web site by clicking here.

Humans Helping Humans Organization (referred to as "h3o") is selling a "beCause calendar" for $20. The calendar has 365 days (marked "day 1," "day 2," etc., so you can start it on any day--New Year's, Lent, your birthday, etc.). Each day suggests a way to "help," whether it is a green idea, a suggestion for community-building, a simple suggestion to help a neighbor... you get the idea.

For every 15 calendars that are sold, a woman in Kenya receives a $75 micro credit loan to start her own business. $10 also goes to h3o.

It is a great stocking stuffer or hostess gift or birthday gift or Easter basket filler... . h3o is making the calendars available for school fundraising opportunities as well. Move over, Sally Foster!

I was really inspired by the enthusiasm of these women and their passion for helping others. What a great way to celebrate the season. Visit www.h3o.org to learn more about the program. To order calendars, go to www.becausecalendars.com. Update: you can also purchase beCause Calendars at The Paper Skyscraper on East Boulevard. 

To Do: Deck the halls by "forwarding humanity, one day at a time!"

Out with the old

If you are a person who gets the warm fuzzies from donating goods, or just wants them OUT of the house, AND you happen to be in a relationship, I can almost guarantee that the other half of the relationship is someone who wants every i dotted and t crossed.

This morning a reminder popped up on my calendar--National Kidney Foundation will have a truck in the neighborhood picking up donations today! (Of course they had also called last night to remind me, but never mind about that.) I raced upstairs to the box where we toss donations--it had some stuff in it, but I knew I could do better. In a flash I was in the kids' rooms, grabbing unused toys and books. Soon I had 4 bags on my doorstep.

My husband has trained me to write down what I am blithely giving away, so we can take the tax deduction. However, I am proud to say that I have done him one better. At www.bankrate.com you can find free tax valuation worksheets for most of your goods . The values provided are based on the Salvation Army's valuation guide. Click here to look at the Bank Rate worksheets. You can also download them in .pdf format to use NEXT time you clean out a closet. For a completely comprehensive list (although not in handy worksheet form), check out this online brochure from Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut.

To Do: Preserve marital harmony AND clean out the clutter

Forget your troubles c'mon get happy

The arts community of Charlotte has fallen on some tough times recently. And you probably have, too. Here's an easy way to support local actors while cheering yourself up: attend a holiday performance at the Actor's Theater of Charlotte.

December 10-21, catch a performance of "Santaland Diaries," adapted from the story by one of my all-time favorite essayists, David Sedaris. This one-man show (starring Joe Rux) chronicles the experiences of a man working as an elf in Macy's "Santaland." "Witty and unpredictable, this comedy mercilessly cuts through the holiday spirit, revealing all the crazy things we do during this stressful time of year." "For mature elves only," says the ATC website, so don't bring your kids--bring your snarky friends instead.

After the show (once you've recovered your breath from laughing so hard), head over to Park Road Books. Among other great gifts, you can pick up a copy of "Holidays on Ice," a collection of stories by David Sedaris that includes "Santaland Diaries." Put it in a loved one's stocking. Then download "Holidays on Ice" (read by David Sedaris) from iTunes to put on your own iPod!

To do: Become a David Sedaris fan at the theater, at the bookstore, and on your iPod.

Wrap Up Your Troubles and Smile Smile Smile

(I wanted to do this in rap format, but since I don't really know what "rap format" IS, you'll have to settle for this instead!)

Charlotte Community Health Clinic (CCHC) is looking for volunteers to wrap gifts at Borders (Morrocroft) in December. People are not required to donate to CCHC when they get a gift wrapped, but many do. Last year, CCHC raised over $3,000 through this program.

If you are a decent wrapper (no bow skills required!), consider taking a 2-hour shift this holiday season to help CCHC. Contact Sashle Eslaquit at sashle.eslaquit@bankofamerica.com to sign up. The dates vary, but hours run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., so there is sure to be a time slot to suit your schedule.

Charlotte Community Health Clinic is an amazing organization. It is located on Eastway Drive right around the corner from the driver's license renewal office. Visit the CCHC website by clicking here. Its mission statement: "Charlotte Community Health Clinic provides acute medical care to uninsured, low-income, 19 and older Mecklenburg County individuals. Our services are provided through a culturally diverse, volunteer-based organization with emphasis on education, training and community outreach."

Nancy Hudson, the executive director of the clinic, was named one of Nabisco's "100 Extraordinary Women" this year. You can read about Nancy on this Nabisco website: click here.


To Do: Take a break from your own wrapping and give the gift of wrapping to Charlotte Community Health Clinic.