Lovishly

Love lavishly, give extravagantly.  That is Lovishly's motto.  Lovishly sells beautifully handcrafted necklaces with inspirational words on them.  Throughout the year, they choose different charities to donate 15% of their sales to.  Sole Hope is their current featured charity.  There is a limited edition be Courageous necklace only available during this time (through August 12).

If you have a daughter, niece or special young lady to buy for, their girls necklaces make a great gift.  Add an initial, birthstone or charm that shows their interests.  My daughter picked the love necklace, a basketball charm, the world charm and her birthstone.  A perfect expression of who she is.  I can't wait until it arrives!

Shipping was $5.95 for our order.  They've arrived.  So pretty!

Sole Hope Sandals

Sole Hope is a SUPER organization that provides relief from foot related diseases through education, medical care and shoes to children in Uganda and jobs for native Ugandans who sew the shoes.  All this equals HOPE!  So I am very excited that Sole Hope now has a sandal available for retail purchase for us here in the States!  Introducing the Nyabo sandal.

They come in black or brown (as you can see, I ordered the brown).  They are handmade with real leather right on the Sole Hope compound in Uganda.  There is one continuous strap that can be adjusted to your particular foot, making them extremely comfortable.  I was a little worried when I first received mine that my foot was too "fat" to make them work, but once I realized I could pull the straps, I was able to adjust them for the perfect fit.

There is a buckle toward the outside back but once I adjusted them the first time I have been able to just slip them on from that point forward.

Sizing is European but the conversion chart on the product page is very accurate.  I wear an 8.5-9 typically and was a little leary about ordering a size 39 but they fit perfectly.

The sandals are priced at $59.00 plus shipping (which for leather sandals is very comparable).  Those other sandals don't change lives though!  Head over to the Sole Hope store and order a pair.

Scooby loves them too!

My dear blog, it's been too long.  WAY TOO LONG!  Despite my lack of posts, the blog gets a good amount of traffic and I still feel very passionate about purposeful spending.  Time for me to put some effort in with new posts.  Going to start with a favorite cause of mine, Sole Hope.  Sole Hope is growing in wonderful ways.  They need a storage facility to store supplies, shoes, cut shoes waiting to be sewn, all those good things.  They have the opportunity to purchase a used shipping container for much cheaper than they could build or rent a storage facility but they need the funds to purchase this shipping container.  Here's where the purposeful spending opportunity comes in.  A fundraiser has been set up with Yankee Candle to benefit Sole Hope.  40% of your entire purchase goes right to Sole Hope!  Shop by clicking HERE.  Your order will be shipped directly to you.  Super easy!  Order some super smelling candles for the Spring! I'll keep the total raised updated below.

Thanks!

$61.20 of $6000 needed for the container has been raised so far through the Yankee Candle sale.

Sole Hope Happenings

There are some great new opportunities to support Sole Hope.  I've already blogged about some of those ways and they are listed here.  Here are two new LIMITED time opportunities.

The first thing is there are only a few more days to take advantage of a SUPER sale over at the Sole Hope Store.  It's Sole Hope's 3rd birthday you see, and to celebrate they are offering 33% off everything in their store with discount code HAPPYBDAY through the end of March.  They have some adorable baby shoes - which makes a great and purposeful gift.  

Second, here is any easy and fun way to donate $10 to Sole Hope. Basically, order a bottle of Cultivate Wine at Macaroni Grill or Ruby Tuesday now through April 7th.  Snap a pic of you with your bottle, then tweet it to  @CultivateWines at @MacaroniGrill / @RubyTuesday to support @SoleHope.

Sole Hope and I say thank you for all your support!

Good Little Things

It's been awhile since I featured my favorite etsy shops on the blog here.  I continue to love those shops with the addition of a new favorite, Good Little Things.  I love shopping from etsy for the one of a kind items and connections with the artists/crafters.  Those things in itself make shopping from etsy purposeful spending. 

Good Little Things sells beautifully handcrafted, one of a kind shoes and jewelry.  I never would have found this shop though had it not been for the good little things this shop is doing for Sole Hope.  For each $15 flower ring sold, $10 goes to Sole Hope (and we know what $10 means to Sole Hope, but if you don't, that means one pair of shoes to a child in need).  

I ordered two rings, one for my daughter and one for her friend.  And although the rings were custom made, they were completed and shipped to me quickly. 

Sole Hope Ring from Good Little Things.
They also offer a smaller ring,
which I think is just adorable. 
I may have to order one of those too!

Truth be told, even though I ordered this for my daughter, I have been wearing this ring a lot too!

Punjammies

"Fashion that takes a stand for freedom from human trafficking" - reads a caption on the home page of the International Princess Project.  Human trafficking enslaves large numbers of women and young girls in the world today, even in our own United States.  In India it is a huge problem.  I feel far removed from the issue but have a compelling desire to help in any small way possible. 

Purchasing a pair of Punjammies is a super easy way to help.  The International Princess project employs women formerly enslaved in prostitution to make Punjammies.  When you purchase a pair of Punjammies, you are doing so much more than getting a pair of pretty pajamas.  You are providing a living wage (not a sweat shop wage like those in India that have made the headlines lately) and physical and emotional after-care for women fleeing enslaved prostitution. 

So now you know why it is a good thing to purchase Punjammies, here are the technical details.  There are many wonderful and unique fabrics to choose from.  When you move your cursor over a  picture, it will say a.) what sizes they are made in and b.) how many of each size left  These aren't mass produced so don't expect unlimited supplies in every style and size.  Of course, I LOVE that. 

There are 3 styles to choose from, the Full (long length), capri and mini (shorts).  I am tall so I went with the long length. The size chart provided is excellent in deciding which size to order, as are the details about the type of fabric and if you can expect them the shrink or not.  As with ordering any clothing online, just make sure you read all the info carefully to make an educated decision about your purchase. 

Shipping was $6.93 for my order.  I ordered mine on the larger side and have washed my Punjammies in warm water and dried them and haven't noticed much shrinkage.  They are soft and beautiful and comfortable.  They even came in a drawstring bag made from the same fabric as the pjs!

The drawstring bag that is the same fabric as the PJ pants.

More information about the International Princess Project as well as links to purchasing Punjammies can be found at:  www.intlprincess.org or to go directly to the Punjammies shopping page, http://intlprincess.myshopify.com/

Please share in the comments if you have purchased Punjammies and which style you selected. 

Fair Indigo

Made in the USA.  It's a rare find these days, especially when it comes to clothing.  I am amazed that even high end expensive clothing is not Made in the USA.  If I am going to pay more, shouldn't it benefit the worker that made it not just the designer or corporation?  Well, that's how I think anyway.  And apparently, it's how the folks at Fair Indigo think too.  And also like me, they think that should be true whether it is workers here in the U.S. or workers in Peru or any other country.

I ordered a long sleeved t-shirt from Fair Indigo.  It is Made in the USA.  On their website, it is clear where the items are made so no surprises.  The shirt is sized well (no "slimfit" paper thin t-shirt) and soft organic cotton.  I was worried about it shrinking so although I washed in warm on a normal cycle, I have been hanging to dry.  There has been no shrinking and the shirt is still very soft.  I am on the taller side and was pleased that the sleeves are plenty long as well as the shirt itself (I like a longer teee and this fits the bill). 

Shipping was $6.95 for the shirt I ordered.  And although the tee was pricey, consider that maybe instead of a handful of cheaply made t-shirts, 1 quality t-shirt is a better option.

A lot of people say they wish they could buy products made in the USA.  If you really believe that then Fair Indigo is a great place to start that trend.

Sseko Sandals

It's been bitterly cold here in New England as can be expected in January.  I am dreaming of spring warmth and wearing sandals.  My feet are securely bundled under socks and slippers or boots 24/7.   Then last week Sseko, whose sandals I've been wanting to purchase for awhile now, tweeted that they were having a Pre-spring (I like that word, sounds so much more hopeful than winter) Sale and I couldn't resist.  Perfect!  That was all the motivation I needed to finally place an order. 

So what makes Sseko sandals purposeful?  They employ girls in Uganda during their 9 month break between high school and University so that they can earn money to go on to become whatever they dream of becoming, a doctor, lawyer, teacher.  Can't get much more purposeful than helping someone fulfill their dreams. 



I ordered the Allya sandals, this is how they arrive.

Tying them up is simple with the included instructions. 

The details - I ordered the Allya sandals.  The great thing about Sseko sandals is that the straps can be replaced or interchanged and tied in many different ways, the possibilities are endless.  You could even make your own straps, but Sseko has plenty of fabrics to choose from if that's not your thing.  Shipping was $5.95.  I placed my order on a Thursday and they were in my mailbox on Monday!  Now that's fast - especially since they came from California all the way to New England! 

I'll spare you the pic of my winter feet in them.  Head over to Sseko's website for professional photos, more info and some shopping.  Take your dreams of spring and help someone else's dreams come true.  www.ssekodesigns.com

Light Gives Heat

This post was meant before Christmas. I've had it mostly ready to go but then I got sick and this organization is just too good not to share, so, better late than never!  Here goes:

Charity doesn't work, work works.  That is the concept behind Light Gives Heat.  And I must say that although I hadn't heard of Light Gives Heat before I started this blog on purposeful spending that this was the concept that prompted me to change my spending habits and start sharing what I found.

Light Gives Heat is a non-profit based in Colorado that employs local artisans in Uganda, giving them a source of income.  

Combine that with my heart for Uganda and ordering products from Light Gives Heat seemed a given.  It only became a question of what. The choice was only made difficult by the beautiful selection they offer.  I admit, I selfishly selected Christmas presents for ME, but hey it's for the blog and it helps lift families in Uganda out of poverty so it's all good right?


Love the beautiful paper beads strung at the opening of the purse -
these always catch people's eye and admiration.

I chose a purse and handed the package right to my daughter when it arrived and said "this is what you are getting me for Christmas, just confirm if it is pretty or not."  Her response, "You will love it!"  And I do.  Not just because it's pretty, but the story of the woman that made the purse is printed on the inside. I enjoy showing that to people that admire my purse!


Casual and stylish!

I also ordered the slouchy women's sweatshirt.  It is casual, comfy and I LOVE artist Patrick Maxcy's design. 



The multi-strands of this necklace are already done for you,
taking all the guesswork out of how to layer them. 

And as a Black Friday special I received a multi-strand paper bead necklace that is just gorgeous.  The necklace was in a beautiful box.  I not only love their products, I love their marketing and design style. 

So yes, Light Gives Heat, it is all good. 

Stocking Stuffers with Purpose

When it comes to filling stockings, I am definitely guilty of quantity over quality, but I'm hoping to put that behind me this year, at least a little bit.  Here are some ideas to stuff those stockings with purpose.  Maybe Santa will catch on!



Candy - look for Fair Trade chocolates and organic candy canes. Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and online at The Natural Candy Store are good places to look. Think quality over quantity. Had my first taste of an organic candy cane with no artifical dyes this season and it was SO good. 

Ginger Baby models a BeadforLife bracelet and Shea Butter Soap

• These headwraps from Tukula
• Lipbalm or soaps from The Body Shop, Purple Prairie or BeadforLife.
• Mints or gum from Project 7
• A $5 bracelet from BeadforLife made from recycled paper.

• One of these cute L.I.F.E. jackets for your coffee cup.  Pick them up at Whole Foods or order online. 

  Please chime in with your own suggestions!

The Empowerment Store

If you've read the book or watched the PBS documentary Half the Sky, then you've heard of Somaly Mam.  Somaly is a survivor of human trafficking and has worked tirelessly to help others like her survive too.  The foundation which bears her name and which she co-founded has an aptly titled  Empowerment Store with beautiful items for sale made by survivors.  And like so many of the items I like to feature, a purchase from The Empowerment Store has layers of purpose.  This is not just financial support for these survivors, it is also a statement that you stand with them and they are not alone.  It is a stand against trafficking.  Wearing the jewelry or clothing is a good conversation starter about this cause.  And lastly you will have a beautiful gift for yourself or someone else. 

I ordered the medium silk empowerment necklace.  It is $25 and shipping and handling was $8.20.   There's not a whole lot of information on the necklace in the description, such as length or a photo of a person wearing the necklace, so I was a little surprised at how long the medium is.  I imagine since these aren't mass produced that each necklace is a little different but my medium necklace can comfortably be worn as a long single strand or doubled.  You cannot select a certain color.  Some people may not like that you cannot choose a color (perhaps you could request a certain color when ordering), but I LOVED the element of surprise when opening my package, not knowing what color I would get.  I received a lovely red necklace within a few days of placing my order.  Oh and one more really nice thing, I received via e-mail a tax receipt for the portion of the purchase that is tax deductible.

So who on your nice list is getting something from The Empowerment Store this year?

Krochet Kids

The next series of posts will focus on purposeful ideas for Christmas and other holiday giving.  For a complete listing, please click on the gift ideas under labels for items I have reviewed in the past.  And as always, I welcome comments with your ideas or questions on ideas for gift giving.

So how about a pretty handmade hat from Krochet Kids?  They have hats for men and women as well as scarves and other accessories, and tees.  The crochet items are handmade in Peru or Uganda and the really cool thing is that each item is handsigned  by the crafter that made it.  This is SO special.  Not only can you see her picture and read her bio, you can actually send her a message.  LOVE THIS!  What a special gift this would make for someone to receive.

So as Krochet Kids says, "buy a hat. change a life."  Thank you Laker Florence for the beautiful hat.

Fair Trade Finds

So most of the items I review I seek out online, take a chance and order them, but lately I've stumbled upon a few purposeful finds. The first are Krugers baskets.  The baskets are made from elephant grass by farmers in Ghana.  I found them for sale at a local farm stand.  Useful and beautiful, they are said to be long lasting.  I was happy to purchase a couple of baskets and encourage a retailer in offering these types of items. 

Second was a store called Ten Thousand Villages.  We were about an hour from our home out to dinner and had a few minutes to shop before having to be somewhere else and I saw this store. So disappointed that I couldn't spend more time shopping, but saw many things I really liked.  They have a store locator on their website to see if you have one near you, and hooray there is a store closer to me than the one I first visited.

Fair Trade items are out there, they may not be easy to find, but keep an eye out.. and please share with me your finds!

Y Not Help?

The idea for this post comes from my sister, a Social Worker with a big heart for kids.  If you want healthy living tips, check out her blog here.  She teaches an exercise class at her local Y and mentioned all the great things they are doing for the kids in that area.  For example, providing lunch over the summer to kids who would normally get free lunch at school but may miss that meal when school is out.  She points out, "they served grapes to the kids and some had never tasted them before and they grow right here in our county!"

If you have any experience with a Y you know what a great asset they are, not just to underprivileged kids, but to all kids and adults in the community. 

So, how about show a little love for the Y by ordering a cute Halloween tee!  They are SUPER cheap at $3.55 for white and $4.56 for colored choices.  This is a limited edition shirt and according to the Y shop's website, all orders are taken until 9/14 (that's Friday - so do it NOW) and are guaranteed to ship on 10/15.  Here is the link:  http://www.ymcastore.org/ViewCategory.aspx?det=1&cid=136

Would love to hear how the Y has benefited you or your community in the comments below.  Please share!

Non-Profit Coffee

I've talked about Fair Trade Coffee in a previous post. It is pretty easy to find in stores and online in any form.  I decided to take it a step further and give a non-profit coffee company called Three Avacados a shot.  I am a keurig user and awful at brewing my own coffee so I was a little hesitant because they do not sell k-cups.  That problem was easily solved though with a reusable k-cup that allows you to brew coffee in a keurig (that's next week's review though). 

So what's so great about Three Avacados that I broke away from the easy peasy k-cups?  Well, 100% of their net proceeds go to providing clean water in Uganda, Africa.  Clean water is something I take for granted but it has the power to save lives.  It is so simple but so impactful.  How awesome that a delicious cup of coffee can change a life. And yes, it is delicious, like I would order it even if it didn't provide clean water to people in Uganda-good, as in this one cup per day person  wants another cup cause I just hit the bottom of the mug.  The best way to describe the taste is rich and smooth. 

I ordered a bag of the ground coffee and a Three Avacados travel tumbler.  Shipping with this was free but if you order the coffee alone, shipping is $2.95.  The coffee comes in a 12 oz. bag.  It arrived in just a few days, regular mail from Missouri and they included a couple stickers.  Not only is their coffee DELISH, the travel mug worked great on a recent trip.  I filled it up each day with hotel coffee, rinsed it out and reused the next day and saved a few cups from the landfill.  Their website contains lots of great information about their coffee, their projects and their mission including the story behind their name. 

Thanks Three Avacados for a great cuppa joe and helping me be a Conscientious Consumer.

The Body Shop

I've decided to review some of the more well-known companies that promote fair trade, starting with The Body Shop.  I've always been a little intimidated by The Body Shop store in the mall, not being familiar with their products so I decided to begin with exploring The Body Shop's website.  Personally, when shopping online I can take my time and make a better decision than I would in a store.  I was happy to find information on their values and campaigns as well as many sale items.  Among other good things, The Body Shop has a commitment to responsible sourcing (their website has information about where their products are sourced and how their alliances have helped those communities) and has a campaign to end human trafficking.  Customer reviews on their products help in deciding which items to try.  They offer an extensive selection of products including make-up, men's items and products for the home.  Shipping was a reasonable $5.95 and I saved well over that amount with the sale items I chose, but had I spent $50 shipping would have been free.  I placed the order late Monday night and received the items by Thursday.  Loved the box it came in, packaged in crinkled paper confetti like a personalized gift box and well protected.  


My order from The Body Shop

Not surprisingly, I like their products too.  The coconut hand soap and shower cream I ordered smell great.   Cannot wait to use the Rain Forest Moisture Hair Care Kit on our next road trip.  The sizes are generous enough to share with the family but small enough for travel and even include a comb and a good size tub of hair butter.  That is great for me since I always need some type of leave-in for my hair and often forget to pack it!  Their roll on deoderant (I picked the cool & zesty scent) works great and has a light scent that lasts.  I am happy with all the products I chose. 

When faced with the choice of many bath stores at the mall, the purposeful choice is The Body Shop.   And since this isn't some obscure, unknown little company, it's an easy choice to make.

Tukula

I discovered Tukula when an organization I follow on twitter mentioned them.  I was SO excited to find a company that offers handmade bags from Uganda!  I love the website which introduces you to the beautiful women that make the bags and a video of how the items are made.  I purchased some clutches and wristlets as I knew I would want to have them on hand to give as gifts.  I placed the order on Friday and got confirmation that afternoon that my items had been shipped.  Oh joy, the package arrived on Monday!   These little clutches are so cute, unique and will make great gifts for tween birthday parties, especially with some lip gloss, a gift card or cash inside. 

Now to add to my enthusiasm, Tukula has announced a party feature similar to BeadforLife.  (I’m thinking this would be a great combo jewelry/purse party right before the holidays for all your friends’ holiday shopping, huh?)  Click on the Get Involved tab on their website for more information.

Over the weekend, I found myself in a highend purse store.  While I admired the beauty of the pricey bags, I could not help but think how much more joy I get from carrying a colorful Tukula clutch.  And if you are into one of a kind, you can't get more unique than these hand made items as no two are exactly alike.  Companies like Tukula make it enjoyable to be a Conscientious Consumer! 

Purposeful Reading

If you’re looking for a purposeful read, check out Half the Sky by Pulitzer prize winning authors Nicholas B. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, a husband and wife team.  Half the Sky refers to a Chinese saying that Women hold up half the sky.  The book is about the plight of women globally.  It reads a little like a college textbook, filled with statistics but they are sprinkled throughout real (and moving) stories.  It starts off a little somber, but builds you up to hope in the end.  It is an eye-opening book that will have you feeling grateful for the life you have and inspired to help others.  There is even a 2 part documentary planned for PBS this fall based on the stories in the book.

If you are looking to inspire your children (and summer reading is right around the corner), there are some great books that will help convey clearly how a seemingly small act of kindness can make a big difference.  Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier and One Hen – How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference by Katie Smith Milway are good choices.  Both have excellent illustrations too.  You can read the follow up to the true story of Beatrice and her goat here.

Read, be inspired, get motivated, make a difference.   

Purposeful Mother's Day Gift Ideas

My mom is special, so is my mom-in-law.  Finding the right gift though can be stressful and a lot of work, and as mom myself I certainly don’t need the pressure of finding a PERFECT gift.  Here are some gift suggestions as special as your mom.  Most of them have already been featured in my blog at some point, but here it is in a convenient list.

1. Think out of the BIG box.  Shop Local.  If the mom you are shopping for lives nearby and you don’t have to worry about shipping, consider shopping local, or even a gift certificate to her favorite local store or garden shop. 
2. BeadForLife Jewelry (read about them in my blog post here).
3. Find the perfect unique gift on ETSY, (see my list of favorite shops here).
4. Fair trade chocolate or coffee.  I blogged about chocolate and coffee, and some sites to check out are:   Three Avacados and Divine Chocolate.
5. A donation to her favorite charity.  Not sure?  Here is a great idea from An Orphan’s Wish, or how about Heiffer International?
6. Shop The Greater Good.  Here is my blog post about this site.

 As a mom myself, I would love ANY of the above items.  Share your ideas for purposeful Mother’s Day gifts with me, I’d love to hear them!

soleRebels

Some shoe companies offer a handout to those less fortunate when you buy a pair of their shoes, for example they will donate a free pair for each pair you purchase.  Those shoes may still be made in low wage factories in China.  soleRebels are different.  soleRebels are an Ethiopian company which offers a fair wage to their employees and are made from organic cotton and recycled tires.  We are talking about a fair trade shoe here!  That alone is exciting to me, but even better, their shoes are great looking and comfy.   

To be fair, I must confess that I am NOT a shoe hound.  I own less pairs of shoes than my husband.  I prefer to spend as little as possible on them (we are talking end-cap clearance rack of Target low) and keep them forEVER.  So for me to spend, $60 on one pair of shoes is major, but I did it and I am very happy with my new shoes. 

soleRebels are made in Ethiopia and each pair is custom made.  Sizing is easy with a chart you can print out and check your size.  The price includes shipping (all the way from Ethiopia).  From the date I ordered the shoes until I received a shipment notice was exactly 2 weeks and I received them within 3 days of the shipment notice.  I picked the TOOs xxYYY elite style shoe in Steel Blue.  They are a medium wash denim color; super soft and comfy and they fit great.  Only problem is, I want another pair now.  Maybe soleRebels will make a shoe hound out of me yet!