Show & Tell Tuesday: Service

Linking up today for Show & Tell Tuesday with Momfessionals!

I love reading the Show & Tell Tuesdays posts from some of the blogs I follow, and today's topic is something I am really passionate about so I thought I would join in!

If you have ever followed my Philanthropy & Penrose tab then you know about my passion for the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte.  My love for this charity was planted while in college when I joined the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and has since continued to blossom into a passion of mine.  I have been a committee member for two annual fundraising events at the house, Storybook Ball and Girls' Night Out.  

RMH Charlotte Storybook Ball 2015

RMH Charlotte Girls' Night Out 2015

This coming year, I am so excited to be co-chairing Girls' Night Out 2016!!  This event is like no other.  It will make you smile, laugh, cry, dance, and leave with such a full heart.  If you are a woman in the Charlotte area, I highly recommend attending this Spring event!


Other philanthropic causes that we support each year are some through our church.

We always pick at least two names off of our church Angel Tree.  We have a lot of teachers in low-income areas who submit the information and I love that the little angels we help are from our local community.  

We also love stuffing at least two Operation Christmas Child boxes each year!  This year we are gifting to a 5-9 year old girl and 2-4 year old boy.  

P.A.T.H. is a local food bank ministry that helps families in our county.  We donate to them periodically throughout the year, as well as through our Annual Fall Festival where entry is canned goods instead of money.  The past two years, we have raised close to 1000 cans and $600 from the event.  Pretty good for our little country church AND getting rained out both years!



Two other things that have been on my heart are Christmas giving traditions.  The first, is that I have always wanted to skip the 'normal' Christmas day stuff and volunteer at a big soup kitchen.  I think once we have older kids, this is something I want to do at least once and who knows--maybe it will become our yearly tradition then.

The other is--now that Ryleigh is old enough to start learning and experiencing Christmas (last year she was still too young to understand), I feel like it's important to have the foundation of the Reason for the Season.  Yes, we are definitely having all the Santa fun and next year we will probably get a visit from a pesky little Elf on a shelf, but I want to tie it all back to Jesus.  I've heard ideas from friends that since the Wise Men brought 3 gifts, they give their children 3 gifts from Santa.  I really like that idea. Also, I'm thinking of doing three special charitable gifts each year--something like Heifer Project.  Each year sponsor three different animals or gifts.  As our kids get older they can help choose what we do, which will make it special for them and also open their eyes to life outside of our little world.

Last year -- Christmas 2014

I can't wait to read everyone else's ideas in the link-up :)

Products of Penrose: Fireplace Focus

If you follow me on instagram then you saw this recent house udpate...

Let's focus on that top left picture of our new fireplace!

The fireplace was one of my non-negotiables when building this house and Jake was completely on board with it! I love, love, love how cozy a fireplace makes a house feel.  We opted for the gas fireplace and we went with the larger size of 42".  What can I say, we really like fireplaces.  We also chose to do an upgraded mantle so it is really a focal point in the room.  The builder puts in directional lighting in the ceiling to highlight the wall over the fireplace, and we did a black granite surround.  I also added an electrical outlet over the mantle so that I can plug in lighted garlands and holiday decorations. I am so, so excited for this!

I got an email today from TOMS that they were having a Surprise Sale, and decided to check out what they had to offer.  Sadly none of their Classics were on sale in gray--something I've been wanting for this fall, but....Their Christmas stockings, which I have had my eye on for a while, were on sale for $8.10/each, down from $27!  Pom-poms & paisley make my heart go pitter-patter :)

I purchased them immediately, one of each of the above.  They have a teal version of the diamond pattern one (far right) but I decided to go with all red.  I love how they work together but aren't too matchy-matchy.  I can't wait to see them up on that mantle in a few months!

I also picked up this Pumpkin & Black pocket tee, which  I think will be a great fall transition tee for casual weekends.  It was on sale half off at $17.

I can't wait for these purchases to arrive.  All at a great deal, and also guilt-free since we helped empower women & children in Uganda and the Himalayas through TOMS One-For-One movement.

Happy September! Who else is ready for the holiday season?!