Munchies, Music & Mental Health

I am not one of those people who buy birthday gifts super-early. You know the ones - they shop throughout the year and whenever they see something that is perfect for a friend or family member, they buy it and stow it away for 6 months until the actual occasion.  Nuh-uh. I clue in a couple of weeks before and look for something then.

I made an exception recently, however, because I did happen to stumble upon that perfect thing that I knew a friend of mine would love. Although I bought it for my friend, once I got it home and flipped through it, I fell in love with it for ME too, and went back and bought one for myself later.

This item is the cookbook pictured above - it's titled "Musicians, Memories & Morsels" and it was compiled by Halifax musician and music executive, Lana Grant. Not only does the book have super-cute retro graphics, yummy recipes contributed by some of the most well-known and loved Maritime musicians, but it is also a fundraiser for mental health charities.

Mental health is an issue that is close to the hearts of most, me included. I don't like to talk about it, but I struggled with depression in high school and actually attempted suicide. I still struggle with anxiety issues and people close to me also suffer from similar disorders as well as more serious ones, such as schizophrenia. I know what it's like to want help but not know how to ask for it. I know what it's like to feel alone and isolated, or like there is something "wrong" with you.

I feel like there is more and more dialogue around these issues every year and people are becoming more open to talking about it, but in general these issues do not get the attention they deserve. Many, like me, are reluctant to discuss their issues or reach out for help and even if they wish to reach out, they are unsure where to go. Overall, mental health is still considered an awkward, dark and "touchy" issue.

But this book is the opposite of that -  it is colorful, fun and creative. I like that. I applaud Lana's niece for sharing her story about living with bi-polar disorder, and I applaud Lana for putting together this book to honor that and to raise much-needed awareness and funds in a bright and open way.

I just love the names of the sections - so creative!

I haven't cooked anything from the book yet, but I hope to very soon. I can't wait! I also can't wait for my friend to open hers - I just KNOW she will love it, too!

Even if you don't care about supporting local charities, I would encourage you to run out and pick up this book as well (it's available at Chapters!!). Even if you don't care about supporting local music, you will at least appreciate the book for it's easy and tasty recipes! And, heck, even if you don't care about tasty food, it will give you something pretty to look at, and who can argue with that.

But I know none of you are so low that you don't care about helping people in your community - that's one of the great things about Halifax - people here care about each other. This book is proof of that.

Harmony & Hope

I think it's safe to say that we have all been touched by cancer in some way. Whether we have battled it ourselves or watched family and friends do so, cancer permeates our lives; infecting all of us, whether literally or figuratively.

While I myself have not lost any close friends or family to cancer, I know many people who have, and I have experienced what it is like to lose important people in my life so I do understand how heartbreaking that can be, especially when the cause is out of your control. There is no question that it changes your life and your outlook on it.

But know what else can change your life and outlook? Music. Charity. Both of these things individually and combined, not to mention the sharing of them between people can bring so much joy, healing and much-needed funds that will ensure more and more people are changed by cancer, not for the bad, but for the good and positive.

The choir that I sing with every Wednesday night - the Dalhousie Health Professions Chorale - along with the Chester Brass Band, are performing in a concert on March 3rd that is the epitome of these two elements working together. We will be performing a whole bunch of really fun and touching music, including music from Queen, amazing musicals such as Wicked and Chess, a few traditional celtic and religious pieces thrown in for good measure, and even some Michael Jackson! (there will be NO moon-walking, though. Sorry)

All the funds raised through this concert will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society, specifically directed to the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute/Cancer Research Training Program. This is a Nova Scotia program that funds students training as cancer researchers, and it currently funds a PhD candidate and an MSc student at Dalhousie University. Since I work with graduate students on a daily basis in my job at Dal, I also feel a special connection to the cause in this way. AND I understand how much time and effort goes into research like this!

However, the fact is, NO funds will be raised without the generosity of people like you! If you want to enjoy a fun and relaxing night of music and entertainment, please consider buying a ticket to the Harmony & Hope concert (I mean, if nothing else, you will get to see ME and there's nothing wrong with that!). You can even dedicate a song to someone special (Valentine's Day IS coming up)!

If you can't make it on the 3rd, you can still support the cause - I joined the fundraising team for this event and I would love it if you would donate through me! Even a couple of bucks helps, if that is all you can spare. And it is SUPER convenient because it can all be done online! Need I remind you that tax season is coming up?? (*ahem* !tax-receipts! *cough*). Visit my personal page to make a donation here. I even made a $25 donation to myself to kick-start things, so I am putting my money where my mouth is. Now it's your turn! Thank you SO much in advance!

Help me and all the wonderful singers and musicians support cancer research in Canada. The fact is, without money, there can be no research and without research there will never be a cure. Help us keep harmony and hope alive for all Canadians.

best in show

The Westminster Kennel Club has officially crowned "best in show" for 2012.

Internet - meet "Ch Palacegarden Malachy" a.k.a. "Malachy,":

Just look at that gorgeous fur. This little guy is proof that good things come in small packages (ok, I'm biased since I myself come in a small package, but that doesn't make it any less true).

I really don't know anything about dog breeding or dog shows. Heck, I don't really know much about dogs period (I'm really more of a cat person *gasp* -don't tell-). But I love this dog show!

Why? It is silly and pompous in a delightful way. I mean, that dog's name! It is just so long and weird it's hilarious. What is he - half Chinese, half Irish?! And how are you supposed to fit a name that long on a dog tag? It sounds like he should be a character in the movie Clue.

(Obviously kooky names are the norm for this show though - one of the other top dogs was a German Shepherd named Captain Crunch. I can't even explain to you how awesome that is).

And it's not only the names, but these dogs are more groomed and primped than the contestants on Toddlers and Tiaras.

Whaaaaaaat? I always knew Snooki was a dog (oh snap). That is one wicked pouf. Can dogs use Elnett?

How many times a night do you think the owner of lil' Malachy brushes his/her*fur? I am guessing they (and it) are about as vain about that mane as Marsha Brady. I mean, seriously, that is some glossy fur (I want to reach out and touch it, is that creepy?). These doggies prance around with their perfect hair and their noses in the air like an animal version of Miss America (if only the bikini-barbies on MA also didn't talk-that spectacle might actually be tolerable to watch).

I also love this show for the things it has taught me - for example, did you know that the "Toy" category (where Malachy competed) is the most competitive? Makes sense, I guess, those little dogs are always the most scrappy.

Know what else is cool? The head judge of this year's competition sits on the Board of Trustees for Take the Lead, which is a foundation that "provides direct services, support and care for people in the sport of purebred dogs who suffer the devastation of life-threatening or terminal illness."

What a cool organization! And I would have never known it existed had I not decided to write/research this blog post.

So, thank you WKC and Malachy for providing me so much amusement via your slight ridiculousness and pomposity, and most of all through your enduring love and respect for dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Dolla dolla bills, y'all

 *the WKC website lists the gender as "Dog". Very helpful, WKC, very helpful
**Oh, by the way, the WKC is on Twitter! You KNOW you wanna follow them)

Special Delivery

This past weekend, the boy and I took a little trip to Bide Awhile animal shelter. No, we didn't go to pick out a new pet (although I would love to adopt every cat in the place - alas, I can only handle one cat at this stage in my life), but to make a special delivery.

I decided, since there really isn't anything I need or want (and I don't like my friends and family feeling pressure to find something I will like/need), instead of birthday gifts I would accept donations of pet stuff this year. I got a few things from generous friends and bought a few things myself, and we took it all over to the shelter on Saturday.

A bag of cat litter, a litter pan, some toys and food may not seem like a lot but this kind of stuff is really valuable to a shelter like Bide Awhile - they depend so much not only on monetary donations, but on donations of supplies. They not only need to feed the cats and dogs and provide beds for them, they also need supplies to keep the office running, to clean and disinfect cages, and distribute much-needed medications. Most people wouldn't think of packages of paper, bleach and facecloths as important items for an animal shelter, but they are often needed just as much as the usual staples.

After we made our delivery, we stopped into the 'cat room' to get/give some cuddles and play with the kitties up for adoption. The Director of the shelter was there talking to another visitor, and pointed out something really fascinating about one of the cats - it was born a hermaphrodite! i.e. with both male and female reproductive parts! He said in 25 years it was only the 2nd he had ever seen. I thought that was so interesting, and an important lesson considering the cat looked like any other in the room, yet had its own special (hidden) characteristics. Of course, it is sort of a moot point now since he/she is both spayed and neutered, but interesting just the same!

The aforementioned little guy...erm, girl...erm, cat

It's a cliche, but it really does feel good to help out those in need at this time of year...well, at all times of the year actually. I have decided to take a donation to the shelter twice a year if I can. I figure it's the least I can do.

Is there a particular group, charity or cause in your community that you really care about? Consider make a special delivery to them sometime. You never know - you may just make someone's day...and learn something fascinating!

Mo Money, Less Cancer

I never used to like mustaches. Or any facial hair for that matter. That was until I started dating someone with a beard and 'stache. I never thought I would date someone with facial hair honestly, but I guess people change. Finding the perfect match for you will do that to a person, I guess (cue either "aw"'s or barfing).

And if I wanna stay with my guy, I pretty much have to be ok with facial hair because he's slightly obsessed with it. I swear to god he'd walk around looking like Pancho Villa every single day if that was socially acceptable. He thinks mustaches are the coolest things ever.

I not only am a new convert to mustaches because of my man, but also because of the clever and fun Movember campaign. Now that we are officially into Movember month, I am seeing posts and hearing about guys I know growing 'staches for a good cause and that makes me happy. Not necessarily because there will be hordes of men walking around town all month looking like 70's porn stars, but because they are doing it for a good cause (or at least most of them are, I hope).

Regardless of my love-hate relationship with facial hair, I can definitely get behind a campaign that uses humour, satire and silliness to raise awareness and money for an important cause. Lets be honest - most men get all squirmy when you talk to them about their health and how they have to take care of themselves - so it's great to see so many of them getting on board for men's health. The genius of the campaign is that it gets men on the men's health bandwagon without actually making them talk about the things that make them squirmy. The squirminess is all wrapped up in a funny, competitive and hairy bow!

But what about women? What can we do? We can't grow mustaches (ok, that's debatable for some, I suppose). But we can still help the boys fight cancer, and have our own fun in the process.

Observe:

Like she says: "Cancer is a real a-hole".
It's tough sometimes, but we all have to do our part.

Give Back to Get Back

 Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote.

Found here

One of my favourite things to do in my spare time is to give back to my community. Sometimes this can be hard to fit into a busy schedule, but it is important to keep in mind that helping your community doesn't have to take a lot of time.

Also, giving back doesn't necessarily have to be done on a large scale. Most of us realistically cannot give that much, no matter how much we adjust our schedules. Something doesn't have to be big or earth-shattering to make a difference.

Do you want to get more involved in your community but are not sure where you should start? Think about these points:

1. Determine what exactly you have to give: Do you have any special skills that you could use to help some person or organization? e.g., Are you a web or IT guru? Perhaps you could offer help with web design or maintainence. Are you really great with kids or a particular subject? Think about offering babysitting or tutoring.

2. Make use of your existing network: Think about the people you interact with on a daily basis - e.g. family, friends, co-workers. Are they involved in a cause or is there a community project that is close to their hearts? Offer to help! Or maybe they know of a great project that is short on resources, or a particular person who needs some support.

3. Start small: It can be easy to bite off more than you can chew when you really want to help out. We can easily be overwhelmed by all the things that need support. But you are not Wonder Woman; you can only do so much and you can't solve every problem by yourself. Focus on one issue or one person to start, and set a "giving goal", e.g. I will commit 2 hours per week to this, or I will commit 3 hours every 2nd weekend - whatever works for you! You can always take on more later if you like, but it is unfair to commit to something only to back out later because you are overwhelmed.

I have participated in my community in many ways - I have volunteered at local events, served as the Editor of my local SPCA chapter newsletter, and I retweet/share any local causes or people that I think are doing great things. None of these things take a lot of my time, but I get back in satisfaction 10x what I put in.

When large, socially responsible companies, such as Walgreens, put time and money into giving back, it makes it easier for little ol' me to do it too.

Don't forget to help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Give a Little Bit

Have any of you seen this commercial yet?

It makes me laugh every time. The first time I laughed because of the silliness of it, especially the pregnant woman's line "I'm going to name my daughter after you". But the next couple of times I saw it, I still laughed but I was also intrigued by the website advertised at the end of the spot. I decided I had better check out Peopleforgood.ca as soon as possible to find out what it's all about.

Well, am I ever glad I did!

The mission of People For Good is as follows:

"And our goal is to make the world a better place, one good deed at a time. It may sound ambitious but it’s easier than you’d think. In fact, you could help make the world a better place right now. Just by doing something nice for someone. Rest assured, we’re not asking for money, we just want you to donate a little generosity." from here

You can sign up through their Facebook page and become part of the movement yourself. Not sure what you - little ol' insignificant you - can do to help someone else? Check out the Good Ideas page and you will see that it only takes one small thing to help another person feel good. To make their day even. These are things that ALL of us can do and they only take a few minutes.

Think about it - what are the things that tend to make your day? I mean, sure, big things such as getting a promotion, getting engaged, buying a home can make you feel pretty awesome. But so can the small things - the things that happen when you least expect it and (as the commercial tagline says) don't happen very often. 

It could be the smile and personal greeting from the barista at your daily morning coffee-shop (I get "Good morning, Kim" every morning at Second Cup and it really starts my day off nicely), someone holding the door open for you, or getting up to the drive-thru window to find out the person ahead of you paid for your food/drink (this actually happened to me one time at Tim Hortons and - WOW. My mom and I were so touched and surprised we still remember it to this day, years later). 

Or it could be something even smaller, such as finding that top you have been searching for for weeks, a cuddle from your cat, surprise flowers (for no reason - which I experienced just last week - lucky me :D) or a Facebook message from an old friend you haven't heard from in a while. 

I remember in Junior High a friend of mine and I were hanging around downtown Halifax and we spontaneously decided to put money in a couple of meters that were close to running out. It's not like we ever saw that person and got a thank-you from them (they probably didn't even take a second glance at the total) but we felt SO good. 

Think about what would make you feel really good and try doing that for someone else. When you are walking around, be aware - look around you at the other people and what they are doing. You never know when you going to see someone who looks lost or who drops their wallet on the ground. I think far too often too many of us walk through life with our heads down, not acknowledging our fellow human beings and that's too bad. It is especially mind-boggling that this happens when doing nice little things for people feels as good as it does. You would think more people would do it more often.

Anyway, I'm not trying to get on a high horse here - I'm just as guilty as most for being self-absorbed. But that's why I joined this movement - maybe it will give me a little boost of confidence to do more small things here and there. This is not a new idea for me anyway - as you can see, I wrote about good deeds, aka. random acts of kindness, before on this blog. All my opinions and thoughts from then still apply now! It's just time to jog my memory.

So join People for Good and do a good deed  today - just one is all it takes. 

*Update: Further to this, check out ImprovEverywhere's latest project - getting New Yorkers to Say Something Nice*

The Dog Days Are Over

As I mentioned here, I decided to participate in the Dog Days of Summer challenge, put on by Be the Change for Pets. Well I've completed the challenge so the next step is to share my experience!

When I first heard about this challenge, I was so excited and inspired by it, that I sent a notice out to some friends and family to see if I could get some extra support. My mom and sister, as well as two friends donated a whole load of supplies which increased my donation three-fold! I was blown away by how much they contributed, I really wasn't expecting it!

Check out how much I ended up with!

How awesome is that?! I realize this challenge was technically focused on food donations, but Bide Awhile is lucky in that their food is provided by Royal Canin. However, they are obviously in need of many supplies aside from food, so I still wanted to participate for that reason. We used the Wish List on the Bide Awhile website for reference. Honestly I didn't think to take "inventory" of everything before delivering it but our donation included the following supplies: cleaning products (bleach, sprays, dish soap, hand sanitizer, paper towel), food/water bowls, collars with leashes/harnesses, cat and dog toys, tennis balls, doggie doo bags, a cat condo/scratching post (thanks Maike!), garbage bags (various sizes), gloves (latex and rubber), pieces of fleece for blankets, etc. I was excited to do the donation regardless, but thanks to the help from a few people I was able to donate so much more, and I was even more excited to drop it off.

I had a little visit with the kitties (duh!) while I was there. I wanted to take like 5 of them home! This is a dangerous place for me to visit - so many beautiful kitties. Observe:

Black Spot kitty

Contortionist kitty

Contemplative kitty

Halloween kitty

Couch-hog kitty

Ballet kitty

I mean, really. How could you not want to smuggle each one into your handbag?!

This special guy is Trio:

Trio is the resident cat at Bide Awhile - he only has 3 legs (hence the name) and he just turned 22! Clearly he's made of some tough stuff (either that or they just treat him like a king).  

It was so much fun to walk around and check each one out, pet them and hear info about each of their characters. When I was bent over petting the Contortionist kitty (pictured above) a grey fluffy beauty jumped right onto my back from the floor! Dug the claws right in! It caught me off guard, but ultimately I thought it was funny; she LOVES people so much, she kept trying to climb me and the girl showing me around. (Didn't get a photo though unfortunately because, well it's a bit awkward to take a photo of something on your back, plus I was sort of distracted by the claws in my flesh.)

There are two dogs there currently, but I couldn't be taken down to visit them because they are recovering and one is quite jumpy around people. Just served to highlight the important work that shelters such as Bide Awhile do every day.

Anyway, it was a great experience. I think I may put together another donation in a few months and drop it off again, perhaps for Christmas. Good excuse to drop in and pet the animals! I will be involved with their Board in the Fall though so I'm sure this isn't the last I'll see of the kitty-cats.

Thank you again to friends Maike and Beth, plus my mom and sister for contributing such awesome supplies to this donation! Nice to know there are folks you can count on to help you out whenever you need it (Maike is also watching my cat, Nutty, when I'm on vacation next week so she's extra generous).

To learn more about Bide Awhile visit http://www.bideawhile.org/ and to learn more about Be the Change for Pets visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bethechangeforpets

I am the change; and so are you.

Blog the Change for Animals

I'm not a pet blogger - I blog about many different things that I am interested in and inspired by, and animals/animal issues is just ONE of those things. Nor do I consider myself an "activist" in the traditional sense. However, there is a movement happening all over social media that I feel I have to be a part of and spread the word about: it's called 'Be the Change for Pets', and it was started by the amazing folks at BlogPaws, a pet/animal blogging network.

Yesterday, I posted on Facebook that I plan to participate in their July Challenge 'Dog Days of Summer' and document it with photos and posts on Blogger, Facebook and Twitter (as well as linking back to the rest of the participants so that they can track participation). I can't wait to tackle this!

This all fits together with Blog the Change for Animals (if you check my sidebar, you'll see I added their badge to let people know I'm taking part) and this blog posting and my participation in the BTC Challenge is my official contribution to the umbrella movement.

Through this blog, Facebook and Twitter I'm hereby inviting others in the Halifax area to join me in this challenge. My plan is to visit a chosen local shelter sometime between July 19th and 31st to donate a box of supplies and food for the animals housed there. I will be going shopping (with help from this list) sometime in the next week to pick up a few items for the box, and anyone who wishes to contribute a few more items to the box, or even a couple of bucks to put towards an item or two, please contact me through the above links, or by email at khumes186@hotmail.com. You can feel free to come with me when I go shopping, as well as to drop off the items to the shelter, or if you're strapped for time I can arrange to pick up items from you and add them to the box myself.

I would love to go on a spree and fill a gigantic truck full of supplies, but alas I'm on a tight budget and cannot afford to contribute as much as I would like. I also don't have as much time to give as I would like. However, with your help I can "flesh out" the donation a bit more, and at least spread a bit of word about this shelter and cause.

To give you all extra motivation to help me out - here is some information about the shelter I am supporting:

Bide Awhile is a No-Kill shelter, which means it is committed (as much as resources will allow) to finding homes and help for the animals it takes in while avoiding euthanasia at all costs.

Mission Statement
Rescuing and caring for unwanted and abandoned animals. Placing all our animals in suitable and caring homes. Providing an environment free from the threat of unwarranted euthanasia. Cultivating awareness, respect and appreciation for the animals whose world we share. Vigorously promoting spaying and neutering. Managing all our resources and contributions in a responsible manner.
 
Here are some of the other ways you can Help them out. I'm not one to get on a soap-box or to use this blog as a political forum, but animals and all of their issues are very close to my heart and since they don't have a voice of their own, it's up to animal-lovers like us to speak on their behalf. Please help me make my voice louder.
 

I mean, who could resist that face anyway?!

I should mention as an aside that my family has always adopted cats from this shelter, and we have had nothing but the best pets as a result! My mom's current cat, Lily, was a rescue from BA.