The Giving Back Gift Guide
This year, I made it my intentional mission to support organizations, businesses and individuals that give back and are supporting great causes around the world. I firmly believe that where and how we spend our money matters so much, and I want my money to support what I believe in: freedom, empowerment, self-sufficiency, an end to hunger and disease, sustainability, etc.
Now, I want to share with you the best of the best that I've found and fallen in love with! With Christmas just around the corner, I'm sure you are shopping for gifts and I strongly encourage you to be intentional with your purchases. These items are unique, beautiful, well-made, and just plain good all around, and they're all under $60!
Go ahead- give back as you give gifts this Christmas!
The Giving Back Gift Guide
Women's Spread Bliss Scoop Neck Shirt- $25
This women's shirt from Braided Bliss is cute and comfortable. I have one and absolutely love it! $1 from every purchase is donated to Rewrite Beautiful, a revolution working to change how girls see themselves. Each shirt also comes with a little message in the bottle!
Harlow Shimmer necklace - $58
This necklace is one of my favorites from the new 31Bits holiday collection. Their jewelry is made from beads crafted from recycled paper by women in Uganda who are being empowered through their work to rise above poverty. I have several necklaces and a few bracelets from 31Bits and absolutely love them all!
Gold Dipped Wine Holder- $25
This wine holder from Rose & Fitzgerald is fun and funky and handmade in Uganda. It helps preserve artistic tradition and provide economic opportunity for Ugandan artisans--and who wouldn't like having this to display their vino?
Bluegrass and Juniper candle- $30
This candle made by Sydney Hale Co. smells AWESOME (I bought one for a host/hostess gift and couldn't stop sniffing it!), they are handmade in small batches by a family here in VA, and 10% of every purchase to dog rescue. Win, win, and win.
Wire Wrap Bracelet- $34
This bracelet from Miriam Designs is a great addition to any arm party (I have it and get more compliments on it than any other bracelet I wear!). All of their jewelry is created by woman in Nashville who have overcome lives of addiction. They even have a monthly subscription where you get one piece of jewelry for just $20 every month...it's one of the best things I've ever subscribed to. Love each of their pieces.
The ABLE Scarf- $48
This scarf by fashionABLE is handwoven in Ethipoia, and screen printed in Nashville with the beautiful words from women who have been empowered with jobs through this wonderful company. This scarf truly tells a story of what these women were ABLE to do when they were given the opportunity to do so-- how cool is that? I have two other scarves from fashionABLE and love them so much.
The Donner fitted beanie- $24.95
This beanie from Krochet Kids intl. would look awesome on any guy. They are handmade in Uganda through a sustainable model of empowerment and employment, and each item you purchase comes with a handwritten note from the woman who made it. Their campaign #knowwhomadeit is awesome and makes it all so personal and real. Love that.
The Giving Keys Classic Pendant- $35
These pendants from The Giving Keys can be engraved with a variety of words from fearless (that's what mine says!) to believe to courage to faith to even a word of your choice. These necklaces are made from real repurposed keys engraved by people in LA who were once homeless but now are working toward self-sufficiency. The whole idea is to embody the word on your necklace and then to pass it on to someone else who may need that word more than you do. It's all about giving, and I can't wait to pass mine on to someone who needs to find their fearlessness.
Darling Magazine Quarterly Subscription- $20
Darling Magazine is absolutely lovely in every way. The photography, the stories, the mission...it's all about the art of being a woman and each one is truly a work of art, not cheap and disposable like so many other magazines. The magazine is segmented to feature different types of women: dreamer, hostess, confidant, stylist, explorer, beautician, intellectual, and achiever. It's the perfect magazine for every woman.
Bravery Badge Tee- $24
This shirt is one of many varieties from Sevenly benefiting this week's charity, Muscular Dystrophy Association. Every seven days, Sevenly sells a new batch of products (with some products always on sale) with $7 of each purchase going to that week's charity. If this shirt sells out, browse around Sevenly-- you'll find TONS of awesome products for a variety of incredible charities. Check out their new CauseBox too-- for just $49.95 a quarter, you get a big box of socially conscious products worth over $150! I signed up the day the announced it. Too good.
Handmade Cards- Emerald/Gold Broken Chevron- $10
These cards from JOYN are handmade (even the paper!) in India and come in a 6-pack with envelopes. They helps provide employment, educational opportunities and medical care to artisans in the Himalayas and are GORGEOUS. Granted, I'm a sucker for anything that's emerald green...but these would be perfect for sending some holiday snail mail!
THE CLASSIC in Silver- $34
This necklace from Half United is made from recycled bullet casing to represent the fight against hunger, and purchasing this will provide 5 meals! I have one that's silver with an orange band-- these are great for guys OR girls. Fighting hunger with killer jewelry? Yes please.