Category / charitable

by princesshotflash

Crafty

I’ve always felt the word “crafty” was a slight on me. It was like I wasn’t good enough to be an artist. But in my old age, I’ve given it a second chance and not feeling so bad to be crafty. It allows me to make things for people. And I realize that what I craft, makes me happy and makes others happy, too. That’s what is great about being crafty.

Once in an interview, the person asked to describe myself and I said I love to make. I didn’t know how much that describes me.

I currently my craftiness has been focused on charitable projects with my knitting group and friends. Here are some of my projects that I’ve worked on.


First delivery of chemo hats (for men and women) and knockers (knitted prosthetics for breast cancer survivors) for the oncology unit at Tripler Hospital. I got 5 hats from Cathy in my knitting group. (she’s a fast knitter). I’m at 3 hats and a set of knockers (knitted prosthetics for breast cancer survivors) with 1 more to come. This is an on-going project. I’ll keep collected items till we move on to the next project or Tripler tells us to stop.

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2 hats I just finished!

The P_ssy hats project for the Women’s March on 01/19/19 was my crazy friend, Allyn’s idea and got me involved with. She has already made 50+ hats. I’m on 4.

My p_ssy hats are made with a combination donated yarn and yarn from my new favorite store–Savers.

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Hats and cowls made by my knitting group for the Seamen’s Church Photo courtsey of Karen Schmoll

The hats and cowls above are for the Christmas at Sea project from the Seamen’s Church. Knitted by the Westside Knitting Group from Aloha Knitters. I made the brown and blue hats in the middle. Yarn also from Savers.

I’m been working on gifts for friends and family. Mostly hats that I’ve got my dad to model for pictures for me.

On as side note: My dad is 90 years old and on most days, he’s going strong. And on exceptional days, he’s creating drawings and sculptures from recycled items to decorate the house. He’s also being serenading us with old Hawaiian songs he learned in school.

More craftiness to come. Making a hermit crab, octopus and pray mantis amigurumi for some science-y girls that I know.

by princesshotflash

A Little Late

Happy New Year!

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Goodluck mochi for the house

I’ve been a little busy with holiday stuff and just catching up with some last minute things before the end of the year. The last 2 years have been a whirlwind of stuff that I never thought would happen to me. I hope 2019 brings a little bit of calm for me. These are a few things that I’m trying to make that happen.

Baking

It hasn’t stopped, no matter how hot it is. Winter brings a little help but I’m still sweating. Pies are topped the list this year. It’s because my mom’s love of pies.

Apple pie in the oven
Apple pie done
Lemon meringue pre-meringue
Pre-bake
Lemon meringue done
ready for the oven
with walnut crumb
pre-bake crust holiday gifts
small pies lilikoi and calamansi filling
big pie calamansi filling
Apples and mixed berries
apple and mixed berry pie 2
lilikoi coconut pie with whipped cream

Knitting

The majority is charitable knitting, a few holiday gifts for people, a cute cat and my hipster dad modelling my hats

Swimming

I started swimming. I joined the Y and took a swimming class to make this happen. Every Sunday at 9. To my surprise, I do enjoy it. I think it’s being in the water that I enjoy the most. I’m not the best swimmer but I tell myself at least I’m trying. I hope for one day that I could do laps as gracefully as many of the other swimmers I watch.

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love swimming in the ocean

For the coming year

Got me a Fitbit to help remind me to keep moving. Added walking and may try out the C25K app to see if I like running and give me a goal. Thinking of vacation and where I want to go. San Diego in the lineup for May if all things go well. I’d like to go to Japan but not sure when or where.

Hope this is productive and fun year for all. I sure can use one of those.

by princesshotflash

NJ Sharing Network 5k Celebration of Life

I forgot to post pictures from Team Cheery Oats walk in NJ Sharing network 5k Celebration of Life on June 3. Our team raised $1230. Thanks so much for all the support and the generous contributions. The original Cheery Oat would be proud of use.

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L to R: Kate, Chris, Teddy, me, Steve, Amelia and Alia

Team Cheery Oats were seven strong on that Sunday morning. It was a coolish morning perfect for a 5k through the town of New Providence, NJ. Our t-shirts looked as goofy as I hoped it looked.

just a walking pace
our youngest team member
She was all smile at the end

Made some sweets for take away gift for my team members. Butterscotch Oatmeal cookies and blondies with chocolate and white chocolate chips. I only got the blondies right out of the oven. Hope they like them.

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by princesshotflash

Team Cheery Oats

That’s TEAM Cheery Oats to be exact.

I decided to participate NJ Sharing network 5k Celebration of Life on Sunday, June 3 in New Providence, NJ. I’m getting a team together and that’s where Team Cheery Oats comes in.

I wanted a name to play off of his name and I thought of cereal (oatmeal) and with friends from work we came up with a cereal name for our team. “Cheery” is kind of fitting for him as the customers told me how they remembered his smile and how he would greeting them with a hello.

Working on a t-shirt design for out team. I googled cereal boxes and found this as my inspiration.

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Here’s what I got so far. Still fussing with it.

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Please join our team and to walk and raise money for NJ Sharing network. Our team goal is a $1000. And you get a Team Cheery Oats shirt. Here’s the link to the team page: http://njsn.convio.net/site/TR/Events/20185k?team_id=1820&pg=team&fr_id=1091

If you can’t join us on June 3rd, please think of donating to our team to reach our goal. Here’s a link my page where you can make a donation: http://njsn.convio.net/site/TR/Events/20185k?px=1013597&pg=personal&fr_id=1091

Thank you all for the support throughout this year. It’s been tough but the support helped me take one day.  I hope to see you on June 3.

 

by princesshotflash

#GivingTuesday

Looking for an organization to give to this #GivingTuesday. There are two organizations that I’ve supported this year and like to share with you need a suggestion.

Elijah’s Promise

As a foodie and former restaurant owner, this organization is dear to my heart. They have many programs that help the community, I’ve been involved with the soup kitchen. They serve 300 meals a day which is an incredible feat with donations and volunteer help.

I volunteered one day last spring in their kitchen prepping for lunch, serving and cleaning the kitchen. And just this past weekend, with my restaurant closing, I donated as much as I could from my restaurant from fresh food to dry goods to cleaning supplies. I hope my donations help them feed at least one meal service.

Wrapped in Love/NJ Sharing network

They are very special to me. Through NJ Sharing Network, I was able to donate Oat’s corneas, tissue, and bones to help others. Wrapped in Love is a volunteer group that creates wraps, shawls, scarves, and lap blankets to send to donor families on the 2 year anniversary of their special gift. I’ve started attending their knit nights and created Oat’s knit-a-long get my friends to join Wrapped in Love efforts.

NJ Sharing Network is a really special organization. They checked in with me on Oat’s 6 month anniversary. It was such a surprise and wonderful feeling to know how much they care about their donor families to check up on me on this anniversary.

I’m going to knit night tonight and I’m delivering my sister’s lap blanket, Martha’s (the fastest knitter I know, even faster than my sister) mom’s scarf and my chunky gray lap blanket for donations. The first of Oat’s knit-a-long items.

Corinne’s lap blanket
my gray chunky

Or do you have too much crap like me

#Lupuspickup.org sent me a post card telling me they will be in my area for pick up and this spurred my cleaning cells into high gear and I collected 6 bags of clothes and shoes (mostly Oat’s) and 1 box of housewares donation. So easy to schedule an appointment and perfect timing for me to help me get rid of stuff.

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donation waiting for pickup