it is your birthday.

 I recently read a blog written by a girl who spent her birthday completing the same number of “random acts of kindness” for the age she was turning. It sounded like a great idea...so I stole it.
Thus began my quest for 24 acts of kindness, in 24 hours, on my 24th birthday. Boom.  

That stain may be blood, or possibly chocolate. It's hard to tell.

1. Help a Stranger

I have always hated hypothetical questions regarding if you would help strangers or not. They make me feel heartless. I always am honest and admit I would not help a stranger. I simply am terrified of being stolen.

On this day, I was driving and feeling idiotic inspired when I saw a well dressed man walking away from his car on the side of the highway. Apparently his phone had died and he ran out of gas. I told the guy as long as he promised not to kill me, I would give him a ride to the gas station. He watched me pre-dial 911 into my cell phone, and off we went. Turns out this man was amazing. We ended up falling in love, and are going to be married!!
Lie. That would have been a way cooler ending though.
He did try to thank me by handing me a lot of cash...so...that's kind of like love? *Cliché alert* I told him to keep the cash and pay it forward.

 

2. Surprise Party I share an anniversary of birth with one of my very good friends. It only made sense to coerce one of our mutual friends into slipping on our ninja shoes and sneaking in to vandalize an office late at night. Bringing you the gift of tacky love, happy birthday J.

3. Letter to the Mail Carrier

Here in Kansas, we are experiencing a "Polar Vortex" of cold weather. I feel a tinge of guilt thinking of the folks who have to work out in the brutal temps. To appease my guilt spread kindness, I filled out a thank you card and placed a package of "Hot Hands" hand warmers inside the envelope. The real act of kindness here was resisting covering the envelope in inappropriate "hot hands" pick up lines. You're welcome mail man.

4. Take Flowers to a Nursing Home
I bought a bouquet of flowers and went to the front desk of the Nursing Home across the street from my apartment. I asked the woman at the front desk if she may know of any residents who are close to death could use some cheering up, because I would like to leave flowers.
She asked me how much they cost.
I smiled, and explained they were free; I just wanted to leave them for someone who will enjoy them.
She asked if I got them as a gift and did not want them anymore.
I said, "yes, that's exactly it. You caught me."
Kidding. I told her I purchased them specifically for this purpose.
She finally smiled and took the flowers saying she would be happy to pass them along.
Great. Thanks lady.

5. Movie Night!

I taped a bag of popcorn to a Redbox. It felt a lot cooler at the time.

6. Gift bag
Shockingly enough, I am a mentor for the High School Youth Group at church. There are two girls who I specifically am "assigned" to, and they are pretty cool kids. I decided to bring them in on my birthday awesome-ness, so I assembled a gift bag and delivered it to their High Schools for them to be surprised with.

7. Coffee Cake Muffins

 The school I delivered one of the gift bags to is the same High School I graduated from. There are so many people who still work there who didn't kill me were such positive influences, this felt like a good time to say "thank you." I left coffee cake muffins someone's desk. They were burnt. At least I tried.

8. Jelly Beans to Spain I have a friend who is stationed in Spain who has an affinity for tabasco sauce. I told him I heard about tabasco jelly beans, and he didn't believe me. Now I get to do something nice, and prove someone wrong. What a combo. Here ya go Danny - they should be making it to Spain soon ; )

9. Remembering a Dear Friend

An amazing woman I became friends with at Officer Basic is currently deployed in Afghanistan. Foxy Troxy know that I am thinking about you, and wanted you to be a part of my celebrations!

 10. Quick Trip Gift Card I purchased a $10 gift card at Quick Trip- attached it to a note that read, "Gas prices are going up, but don't let it get your attitude down, please enjoy this gift card." I like this one. It's way cooler than popcorn.

11. Vending Machine Madness
Two dollar bills, wrapped in a card, taped to a vending machine in a main area of the Hospital Lobby. It makes me warm inside to know a stranger is enjoying a ding dong somewhere in honor of my birth. 

 12. Thank You Security
I baked a second batch of coffee cake muffins to take to the security guards at the Hospital. They were also burnt. The muffins, not the security guards.

13. Vending Machine Madness (Round 2)
I taped a second set of dollar bills to a vending machine in the ICU area. Wonder what snacky snack this lucky person picked.

14. Coloring Books to Pediatrics Floor I took a couple coloring books and crayons to the hospital for the nurses to give kids on the pediatric floor. Note the beautiful décor in that office...

15. "Birth" Day Gift
To the woman who gave me life (and let me keep it) I took a bag full of goodies. Thanks Mom, I really appreciate your follow through on that.

16. Gift bag Round 2
Remember I said I had two girls I get to mentor? Well I took a gift bag to the other gal's school!

17. Lunch Date

I met back up with that amazing mother of mine to have lunch at her work. Setting aside uninterrupted time with someone is an underrated gift.

18. Afternoon SnackMy coworker complains loudly mentions everyday that she is craving a diet coke and tater tots. Today I stopped by the office to deliver her a diet coke and tater tots. Nothing says kindness like fried potato cubes.

19. Great Plains SPCA
During the holidays, my coworker and I collected supplies to donate to a pet shelter. The amount of supplies we collected was incredible, and it was not as easy to get the donations to the shelter as we predicted it would be.
We decided that my birthday would be the perfect day to finally haul everything over! We loaded the donations into the back of my car and headed to the Great Plains SPCA. They were so excited to see everything that we had brought them, it made me do that awkward "no no, really, thank YOU" thing...  

 20. "Lucky" To Know YouThe girl I stole all of this great-idea-ness from, happens to work with my step dad. I decided it was the least I could do to include her in my adventures. I wrote her a thank you note and included 5 scratch off lottery tickets. She won $5 and a free ticket. Score.

21. Olathe Animal Shelter

Sometimes, I like to pretend I don't have a soul. This task showed that I am in fact a dirty liar, and totally worthless around sad animals.
I took a $20 PetSmart gift care to the local Animal Shelter. The gift card was given to the next person who adopted an animal, so they could have some funds to make their new companion more comfortable.

This fluffy creature was so adorable it made my tiny heart crumble. He was meowing and pawing through the cage and I still walked away from him. I just want all the kitties. Responsibility ruins everything.

22. Dinner DeliveryMy grandma is turning 76 this weekend. She is old. I figured I should probably be nice to her.
I packed up a bag with some lasagna, bread, veggies and a dessert to surprise her with for dinner. It made her happy.

 

23. Flowers for a Friend

My friend Fay has put up with me through more horrifying hilarious memories than someone ever should. She has always been the more responsible one in our relationship.  Last summer she got wifed up to her handsome beau, and even let me stand by her side. I'm not entirely positive I would have made it alive this long without her...so today felt like a good day to surprise her with flowers to say thanks.

 24. Won't You Be My Neighbor?

There was a hitch with one of my planned activities, (see "Honorable Mention" below) so I had to think of something meaningful I could do at 9PM. Momma always says nothing good happens after 9 o'clock...

Recently I discovered that I have some new neighbors in my apartment complex. Meeting new people is exhausting, so I have avoided them up until this point.
They are students who just moved from California and have nothing. No microwave, no beds, no table, no silver wear, no cars...you get the idea. 
I decided to collect donations and have furniture delivered to them.
Lie. Again. I just took them a frozen burnt made with love pizza. I also took paper plates and napkins.
I tried to explain what I was doing with my day, but they were really confused. I mostly needed them to know I am probably not going to be nice enough to bring them a blackened pizza the other 364 days of the year.

HONORABLE MENTION:

I have never been able to donate blood before. I thought this was going to be the PERFECT way to give back. I drank plenty of water, ate a snack, did some calisthenics, and even called ahead. Things were going well...until they asked what countries I have traveled to.

FYI- You cannot donate blood for one year if you have been to Dominican Republic.
I went to Dominican Republic three months ago.

This is why I can't do nice things.

Truth? This was pretty dang memorable/rewarding/soul soothing birthday. Now I am ready for my nap.