One volunteer project a month. I’ve come to realize that I need some big heaping doses of goodness. This year is one that has been full of changes and realizations and I’m taking what has at times been overwhelming emotional struggles and trying to learn.

I have a necklace that carries on it a small quote, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

And its me looking at what’s behind me and what maybe before me and I’ve realized that I share this big blue ball with all of you and I could do more to impact my neighbors and influence the few people who read this blog. And that’s where I came up with one volunteer project a month.

Last month, it was helping out at the Arizona Science Center. I was in charge of the ‘Snot Station.’ Hahahaha. You can call me Queen Snot. It was tons of fun making gooey slime with the little ones. The event was totally free and safe.

I usually find my volunteer opportunities through a special volunteer group in which I’m a member. It makes it ‘easy’ (which is code for less intimidating) to know a core group of people and go ‘make good’ together.

This month I have an opportunity to work with Homeward Bound putting together Thanksgiving baskets. In December, I’m going to work on my first Habitat for Humanity project.

If you’re surfing or inspired to see what volunteer opportunities are in your neighborhood (USA) check out the website for VolunteerMatch.

2 weeks in a row, y’all!

I had my first drawback to riding the bus to work this past Thursday; I forgot my planner at home! There’s no going back once you’re on-board, no whirling around to run back into the house, you’re stuck and in my case I had 20 minutes to obsess about it.

I also need to start considering how I’m packing and prepping for my Bus Ride Thursdays. I totally want a BuiltNY lunch bag and maybe I need a checklist, something to help me remember my house keys, purse, pants and planner.

Oh, and while browsing the Valley Metro site, I noticed a contest only for people who are registered alternative mode transportation users. For every week I use a car pool or bus, I get an entry into a contest to win $250 bucks!

Also, I’m back in town and got lots of cooking on my list for this week. Look for posts on:

• Organic Pumpkin Breakfast Muffins
• review of Niman Ranch pork
• Chorizo Empandas
• online shopping that benefits not for profits

Comfort zone. Doesn’t it feel good to get outside of it?

On Thursday, I rode the city bus to work. A bus ride for me, is usually coupled with an overseas vacation. I can honestly say that I have not been on a public bus as a matter of living my everyday life ever.The rental car shuttle bus is as close as I’ve been in the States.

Guess what! It wasn’t scary. It wasn’t dirty. It WAS quite relaxing actually. Here’s what I can tell you about my experience and what I learned on my first day:

•  Correct change! The Phoenix Metro doesn’t give change.
• iTunes books. Pick one, load it up and enjoy.
• Pull the cord. Before your stop, pull the cord by the window to let them know you need them to stop at the next station.
• Green button. This one is a little insider’s tip. The door doesn’t automatically open. You have to push the green button.

Once I got to work, I started doing a little more investigating and I talked with a colleague who also rides the bus. I was shocked at the expense; $2.50 for a round trip. That’s more expensive than it cost me to drive my good ol’ American hot rod to the office.

I want to be kind to good mama Earth, but holy cow. That will really add up.  Then, I heard of yet another benefit of working for my company. SUBSIDIZED BUS PASSES and a guarantee ride home program.

I filled out a quick form and in seconds the front desk gave me a bus pass that allows me to ride for free and because I’m now an alternative mode user, they will guarantee me a ride home if theres an emergency or reason that I can’t get home before the last bus leaves the office.

I think my schedule can handle one bus ride per week and I’m trying to arrange a car pool for another day of the week.

And, what’ a weekend without some yummy explorations. I’ve been exploring my Junior League cookbook collection and I found this southwest inspired pumpkin soup.  It was delicious and so easy to make.

What I liked most about it was, that it took traditional squash soup and knocked out the traditional nutmeg/cinnamon combination and kicked it up a notch with  chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper.

Southwest Pumpkin Soup (8700 Pumpkin Soup)
Serves 8/ Prep Time 10 minutes/ Cook Time 35 minutes

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 shallots, chopped
1/2 bunch green onions, chopped
1 t each cumin, oregano, hot chili powder, cayenne pepper
1/4 cup flour
1 quart vegetable broth, heated
1 T tomato paste
2 lbs pumpkin or any other hard yellow squash, peeled, seeded, chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro
1/4 cup milk

Melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium high heat.
Add the onions, garlic, shallots, green onions, cumin, oregano, chili powder and cayenne pepper; mix well.
Saute until the onions are soft. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables.
Cook for 12 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
Add the vegetable broth, tomato paste, pumpkin and cilantro; mix well. Simmer until the squash is tender. Transer the mixture to a blender container. Process until smooth.
Add the milk; mix well.

 I wish fixing the planet would be just as easy as casting a spell and making everything right. But it’s going to take a little more work than that. Today I rode the bus to work. I’ll give a full update tonight.

$110 bucks! We made it! (so I guess technically once the funds get matched that’ll be $220 dollars towards the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation). There was some break room talk about the irony of having a bake sale to raise awareness/funds towards diabetes.  I had thought about that too and I decided that for me, this is one way I could contribute and I think that anything approached in good faith and spirit will prevail.

Lots of good came out of this little bake sale too. I got a few more people to volunteer for the walk in Phoenix on November 3. They’d come in, get a cupcake, have a seat and we’d visit for a minute and I’d show them how to sign up. Not bad, right?

What put me over the mark today? M&Ms Smooshed on top Cupcakes. This whole week the chocolate cupcakes had been my quickest sellers. I put together a batch of simple chocolate cupcakes, dark chocolate frosting and I smooshed a bag of M&Ms and crumbled them on top. They were delicious.

Dear Reader:

I’ve shared a lot over this past year on my blog. I’ve oftentimes have mentioned how many of you have inspired me to do more and to contribute more to my community. On November 3, I am going to join a team of my colleagues in the Walk to Cure Diabetes benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

I will be walking with the team Go Daddy ProDev Pirates. My goal is to raise $100. I would appreciate any support you can send my way. Support comes in dollars and prayers!  And, to put a little sizzle to your donation, my company is going to match up to $100,000!

You can sponsor me on this walk by donating using this secure link.

https://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=walk.supportwalker&walkerid=86933488

To start my own fundraising today and this whole week, I’m selling cupcakes at work. Today, DollarHotDogs.com donated these guys for the cause!

Thank you and look for more bake sale posts this week!

$1 Make & Take. There’s this super cute stamp store in downtown Chandler called StampWorks and on Saturday mornings Nikki hosts a $1 Make & Take. She creates a one of a kind card and for a dollar she gives you all the supplies and the space to recreate it.

With the weather cooling off a bit in Arizona (that means that it’s below 100, but still above 90), this morning I woke up with a mission! I was going to dust off my beach cruiser, ride towards downtown Chandler, grab breakfast and make a card.

I love bike lanes. Woot!

I’ve mentioned several times (here, here and here) that I’m in an amazing volunteer group called the Junior League.

So, what does the Junior League do besides sip wine?

We volunteer and raise money. We support several charities in Phoenix with our volunteering wo-man power. Each person who joins the League is responsible for ‘clocking’ several volunteer hours. We do it all. We clean houses for terminally ill families, we work with women who are recently out of jail and help children who have been abused.

Last year several women, on their own dime, put together a trip to New Orleans to meet up with a Habitat for Humanity project.

But, what about the wine?

OK! That does happen (a little). Another great part about the League is that I’ve gotten an opportunity to build friendships with great like-minded women. We get together several times a month to plan out our next project and there are times that a little sippy-sippy happens. It’s great to blow off steam and and to share in each other’s joy.

Here is how CareCard works?

Individuals purchase a Care Card for $50.

Participating retailers offer a generous 20% discount on regular price merchandise to cardholders for the specified week of shopping, some restrictions may apply.

100% of the Care Card sales price goes directly to the Ryan House and to The Junior League of Phoenix’s community programs.

How can I order one?

This CareCard program is for Phoenix, AZ only. If you would like to purchase one, you can get here by following this link: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=123985.

Here’s where your money will go: http://ryanhouse.org/index.html

 Thank you!

Change. Some of us are better at than others. If you were to ask me four years ago if I was adaptable to change, I’d say yes. Because it’s good to welcome change, but in reality, I didn’t like it very much.

Fast-forward four years later and I think I can honestly say that I’m better at rolling with change than I ever thought possible and I’m getting where I welcome it.

Not like it, I’m just more welcoming. I guess there’s a whole faithful element to all of it too, but my brian hurts too much to contemplate that right now.

A friend recently made a huge change and moved to Minnesota for a total career change. While talking to her today, she said, “I’m having a mojito and watering the lawn.” Is there a better way to water the lawn? Seriously!

Well, I don’t have to water the lawn, but I do have to do laundry. So, I’m doing laundry and drinking a Calimocho. Ha!

I think about this a lot. My job requires me to be an effective communicator and what I’m not so effective at is giving praise and thanking people for their efforts and talents.

I get really shy.

I don’t receive compliments well and I know that I don’t give them because I’m afraid I’ll receive them. AND then I would be so freaking uncomfortable.

For example, I got busted this past week when a friend opened my glove box in my car. I had at least 10 thinking of you, get well soon cards, all composed and not mailed. I *think* about my family and friends all the time, but I don’t always demonstrate it.

That needs to change. Really.

So (my favorite transition word), this week I’m going to actually write cards for my peeps and I’m going to actually mail them. To help me get started, I got a whole book of stamps.

I’m also equipped with my new crafting goods from Stamp Works I’m ready to go.