George Mark Children's House

If you are looking for an awesome cause to get behind, look no further.

Recently, I read the story of Charles Daniel, a teenage boy who died earlier this year from cancer. CNN chronicled his last few days and featured the facility, George Mark Children's House, where Charles passed.

The co-founders of George Mark, Kathy Hull and Barbara Beach, are doctors who believe children need a place more like home and less like a hospital. It is a nonprofit and the families stay for free. I love when humanity comes before the red tape of healthcare.

After reading the stories, watching the videos, listening to the co-founders passion, I decided I wanted to donate. Navigating the George Mark website I found a cool feature: they have a wishlist. Instead of sending money, I personalized my gift and sent DVDs requested. From now on I am going to give gifts by donating in the name of my recipient. I can't imagine a better cause to give to.

If you have a minute, please check out the story of Charles Daniel and see all the amazing things George Mark is doing for these kids.

Free Weekend

As usual it was a productive weekend, thanks to my handy husband. If you follow me on Pinterest, you know the theme of the weekend as my pinning of garden shit was out of control.

My garden is getting pretty serious. I've planted tomatoes, watermelon, habanero, rosemary, and zucchini. Except for a waning tomato plant, I haven't killed a thing, yet! I have planted all of these things in much too small a place, so something will have to go.

As my gardening is going pretty well, I decided to create more garden real estate, so I pointed to a picture of a easy-peasy raised garden on the Internet and then all of the scrap wood in the garage. Then Jeff cut it all up, handed me the drill and pointed to it and made me put it together. Halfway through I started getting sweat in my eye and pouted and he finished the job.

It looks like this, except I only have one.

via anythingpretty.com

Then we took three minutes and made a compost pail. It looks like this, except mine is brown and has spray paint remnants since I use it to prop my projects.

via thehappyhousewife.com

I also made a countertop compost pail from a coffee container I was graciously gifted from my dad. I printed a list of compost dos and donts for easy reference.

My dad goes through two of these bad boys a month.

(Side note: that mason jar contains my homemade disinfectant. Chopped lemons covered with vinegar, sit for two weeks, strain and pour into spray bottle. Clean!)

The great thing is it was all free. This means we either have way too much stuff or we love to repurpose. It's a little bit of both, actually.

Best gift ever...

Instead of things, we usually ask for experiences for gifts. We get zoo memberships, karate lessons, museum memberships, and Disneyland gift cards instead of toys.

My brother got the boys a membership to the Phoenix Children's Museum for Christmas. If you live in Arizona and have never been here, it is hands-down B's favorite place.

Helping his brother look at the camera.

Thanks, Uncle Jonathan!