One of my all time favorite ways to celebrate the love holiday is with a little bit of selfless giving. Remember my 26 random act of kindness on my 26th birthday? Well I’d love to do a take on that with you this year. For Valentines Day, I’m challenging you to put a little love in your heart (and the world, will be a better place, yeah the world, will be a better place. now you will have that song in your head too.). I’ve compiled a list of ideas and ways you can give back and share some love with those in need and less fortunate. Did I just throw down the gauntlet or what? Bring it!

1. Go Red for Women with the American Heart Association- National Wear Red Day is February 3rd (that’s Friday!), find out more [here]. You can also join the challenge by sharing your red wearing picture [here]. I am totally doing it, I’m always looking for a good reason to dawn some red.
2. Heart for Africa- Can I tell you my really BIG secret? This year I will be heading to Swaziland as a volunteer for Heart for Africa in July and August. I can’t really describe the feelings I have when I think about going.  I feel like I am not worthy for such an endeavor and entirely incompetent but I am going hell, wind or fire and I am going to serve those people day and night until they are sick of me and make me go home. I will definitely need to dedicate and entire post to how Africa became my destiny and my plans, hopes and dreams. For now if you would like to help please email me personally at becki(at)whippycake(dot)com and I will tell you how you can help me and other volunteers get there and help!
3. Adopt from your local humane society. If you don’t want a puppy you can bring it to me
4. Contact your local senior living center and see if you can pay them a visit and show them a little love. Homemade valentines or some flowers are also nice treats they will enjoy.
5. Help your kids share the love by donating toys to Andrea’s Closet, a non-profit that provides child patients at Arizona medical centers a place to choose their own toys and forget their fears. Find a location [here].
6. Help disadvantaged women and girls feel beautiful on Valentine’s by donating formal dresses you no longer wear with Donate My Dress. I love this idea!
7. Wear your heart on your feet with these Valentine’s Day Tom’s and have a pair donated to a child in need. Did I meantion I will get to hand out the donated Tom’s while I am in Africa? Sqeeaak!

[Time for a visual break. Service never looked so enticing! ]

8. start your spring cleaning early by packing up all your unused clothing and donating it to your local goodwill, big brothers big sisters, upward foundation or salvation army. If you want to go above and beyond you could even collect donations yourself and give them to a needy family you know personally.
9. Engaged or possibly getting engaged on Valentine’s day? Use your wedding to help others with a charitable wedding registry. C’mon now, how cool of a gift is that?
10. Buy Fair Trade Certified chocolates, flowers and sweet treats this Valentine’s and help support workers rights and protect the environment. For more ideas on Fair Trade, go [here].
11. Show your appreciation to those who serve you with a handmade valentine, thank you note, or mini gifts. Ideas include volunteer firemen, waste management, police officers, medical workers, gas station attendants, waiters, your favorite accessory designer… (jk
12. Treat someone you love to a box of delicious Gray and Smoked Salt Caramels and support victims of domestic abuse at the same time. Joyful Heart Foundation has a Heart Shop of more gift ideas [here].
13. Give a gift from the heart on Valentine’s, and I mean literally. Blood donations are always in need, you can find a blood drive in your area [here].
14. It just so happens Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 13-19th, pick a day or celebrate all week by sharing a little love with strangers. Find ideas [here]. I will be doing something different every day and compiling it in a post. I’d love it if you shared your RAOK’s with me so I can include them in the post also!

I feel all happy and sparkly inside just thinking about the possibilities. Most of these ideas aren’t exactly convenient but I will make you a promise that if you make an extra effort to do at least one thing from the list you will without a doubt be blessed for it and in all honestly you will always remember when did something extraordinary for someone different in 2012. Do you remember what you did last year on Valentines? I don’t and it’s because I didn’t do a darn thing for anyone else. Just sayin… let’s make it memorable and meaningful this year! Yah, yah. YAAAAH! I’m off to adopt a puppy now.