Category Archives: Gifts

Gifts of Love

Gifts of Love

Three Valentine’s Day gift ideas

To Spread the Love :

Thistle Farms

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Love Heals Burgundy Hat

Thistle Farms was established to provide a loving community for survivors of sexual abuse, prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. By providing housing, counseling, economic development opportunities, and  community support, Thistle Farms works to help women get back on their feet. Their many products, including candles, bath and beauty products, clothing, and jewelry, all represent their mantra;

“Love is the strongest force for change in the world.”

For Book Lovers:

Book of the Month Club

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Join  as a gift to yourself  (like I did) or for the book lover in your life.

The Book of the Month Club lets you pick one new bestseller each month from the five the club has selected. When I looked at the books they have chosen in the past, there were many that I had read and loved or that were on my list to read. I knew I’d be happy with the options, all at a discounted price.

For Indulgence:

Vosges Chocolate

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Valentine’s Day Bundle

Vosges is always on my list as an indulgence for Valentine’s Day because they do an amazing job with making all of their items unique and truly special, not to mention the delicious exotic chocolates inside their incredible packaging. This year features the  ‘sacred hi-vibe Bastet Collection ” named for the Egyptian Goddess. 

With Love , Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day Gifts To Give With Love!

Valentine’s Day Gifts To Give With Love!

v-day 2019My favorite holiday is coming up! Life is about love in all of its precious forms and although it should be given generously every day, there is no better excuse to spread the love and celebrate its beauty than Valentine’s Day. Here are a few of my favorites this year for a sentimental gift, gifts that give back, or ways to up your chocolate, flower, and wine game.

#LoveIsProject

Puppy Love! How cute is our dog Leo’s new collar we gave him as an early Valentine’s Day gift?!  Every purchase of a handmade Love Is Project dog collar, or any of their other many products handmade by global artisans, provides a sustainable livelihood for women and their families. This product is made by Masaai women in rural Kenya. Read more about the  Love Is Project story on their website.

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FEED PROJECTS

Candles always make great gifts.  This one is even better because each FEED candle and card bundle purchased provides 26 school meals to children around the world. 

FEED Candle & Card

Ella Stein

Ella Stein is a new way to purchase diamond jewelry that is conflict-free, empowers the female artisans who craft the diamonds in India, and is affordably priced. Plus….we love their designs! 

Ella Stein Heart

Ella Stein

ONE HOPE WINES

Of course, I was introduced to One Hope wines by my friend and founder of World Moms Network Jennifer Burden. I was thrilled to find out that we could give back by drinking wine! One Hope has a great selection with the part of the proceeds of each wine going to a worthy cause. They always have fun holiday editions that make great gifts like their limited edition Valentine’s Day gift boxes this year.

One Hope Wines

Shutterfly

These custom photo collages by Shutterfly make beautiful and sentimental gifts, perfect for Valentine’s Day.

To The Moon and Back photo collage

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Olive & Cocoa

The gorgeous bouquets offered by Olive  & Cocoa take flower giving to a new level!

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Vosges Chocolates

Cosmic Heart Truffle Collection! Need I say more? The tag line for Vosges chocolates is “Travel the world through chocolate” and the exotic flavors in their truffle collection reflects that goal. 

Vosges

Celebrating International Women’s Day with Coca-Cola’s 5by20 Initiative

Celebrating International Women’s Day with Coca-Cola’s 5by20 Initiative

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In honor of International Women’s Day I received a box of beautiful handmade products from Coca-Cola’s 5by20 program to introduce me to a few of their artisans. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. A notecard in the box read:

“Hello, by opening this gift, you’re opening a world of possibility for women across the world.”

 

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These are a few of the gorgeous handmade items from the 5by20 collection

March 8th is International Women’s Day, and I’m happy to celebrate by supporting Coca-Cola’s 5by20 initiative to empower 5 million women entrepreneurs around the world by 2020.  #5by20 provides access to skills training, financial resources, and mentorship to women worldwide to help them rise out of poverty. Having witnessed first hand the type of impact that programs like 5by20 can have on a community I am excited to share what Coca-Cola is doing to help improve the lives of millions of women around the world. When you invest in women, through education and economic empowerment, the entire community benefits. Studies show that women reinvest 90% of their income back into their home, towards food, education for their children, and healthcare for their families.

We each have purchasing power as consumers, and as a woman, I love to support companies that exhibit corporate social responsibility and to buy from female artisans where I know that my purchase actually makes a positive impact in someone else’s life.  I love that the 5by20 program focuses significantly on female artisans as I have seen the positive impact similar programs in South Africa, Ethiopia, and most recently Haiti have had on the women and their families. The women I met all took great pride in their handcrafted products, and in being given a “hand-up” in the opportunity to develop their business in a sustainable way, rather than a one-time handout of charity. The beautiful handmade product samples that I received from the 5by20 artisans came from the countries of Brazil, Turkey, Kenya, Mexico, and the Philippines. Coca-Cola’s 5by20 program began in 2010 and has already reached 1.2 million women across 60 countries.

jocelyn

Jocelyn Pacrin, pictured above, is a mother of four, just like me. She is also supporting her children on her own while living in a squatter’s area of Manila in the Philippines. Despite facing challenges after leaving an abusive husband Jocelyn is optimistic for her family’s future. Due to the training that she received from a Coca-Cola 5by20 local partner organization, the Philippine Community Fund, she is able to build a better future for herself and her children. Jocelyn was taught how to make jewelry, handbags, and other accessories using recycled beverage packaging. The women involved in the program work together, providing a built in network and inspiring support group for each other. The income that Jocelyn now earns will help her to provide education for her children and improve their living situation as her business grows.  Mother’s around the world share the common desire to provide for their children and to see them thrive. The 5by20 initiative addresses the most common barriers that women face when entering the marketplace. By giving women like Jocelyn access to training courses, financial services and mentorship Coca-Cola’s 5by20 helps them gain the tools they need to succeed. The ripple effect of their success allows mothers to provide their children with the proper nutrition and education that they need to get ahead in life as well. 

I received a PCF Narrow Ring-Pull bracelet made from recycled aluminum can pull tabs from the Philippines like the ones that Jocelyn now produces.

I received a PCF Narrow Ring-Pull bracelet made from recycled aluminum can pull tabs from the Philippines like the ones that Jocelyn now produces.

 

Coca-Cola is one of the most widely recognized brands in the world with sales in over 200 countries. It is a brand name that people even in the most remote communities of the globe are familiar with, and trust. Coca-Cola is leveraging that global reach and taking corporate social responsibility to make the world a better place by establishing clean water initiatives, aiding with health care supply chain and distribution partnerships, and economic empowerment initiatives for women around the globe. The 5by20 artisans are repurposing and diverting discarded packaging from landfill sites while improving their lives. By 2020 the ripple effect of 5 million women being impacted by Coca-Cola’s 5by20 initiative will have helped to shape not only their lives, and those of their children, but also the communities in which they live.

Check out the touching video below to meet a few of the artisans as they share their hopes and dreams for the future:

To purchase any of the beautiful handmade items created by 5by20 artisans like the gorgeous Coletivo Piroquet Handbag below made from recycled PET scales in Brazil visit the 5by20 store.

 

Coletivo Piroquet Handbag made in Brazil

Coletivo Piroquet Handbag made in Brazil

Give Love: 5 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas With Heart

Give Love: 5 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas With Heart

Valentine’s Day is coming up, and this year more than ever the need to spread the love is real. Here are five Valentine’s Day gift ideas with heart.

1.Heart of Haiti

In Haiti I stocked up on heart shaped art pieces while on my recent trip to visit artisans with the Artisan Business Network who create pieces for the Macy’s Heart of Haiti line.  The art of Haiti is beautiful, and the hearts depicted everywhere throughout are part of the reason that it resonated so much with me.  Haitian art is heavily influenced by Vodou veves, or symbols, and the heart represents the goddess of love, Erzulie. These pieces make perfect Valentine’s Day gifts because when you purchase them you are helping to support Haitian artisans and their families. It is like giving twice, and you don’t have to travel to Haiti to find them since Macy’s partners with the Artisans and carries Heart of Haiti products online and in their stores.

Heart of Haiti

2. FashionAble

While in Ethiopia as an International Reporting Project New Media Fellow I had the opportunity to visit the FashionAble factory where I met women waving beautiful scarves and better lives. Since then FashionAble has branched out into leather goods and jewelry and I am in love with their new lines. Each piece gives back to those building a brighter future for themselves and their families.

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3. Roost Crate

Give your honey some honey!  My father was a bee keeper so I grew up harvesting and eating honey on everything. Honey and Honey bees have a special place in my heart so when I saw that the February Roost Crate “Farmer’s market in a box” was dedicated to honey I had to order one as a gift to myself!  A Roost Crate “you’re the Bee’s knees” box would also make a super sweet gift to your honey! If your sweetheart is a foodie you might just sign them up for one of the subscription options and keep the love flowing month after month!

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4. (RED)

(RED) always has fantastic partnerships and proceeds from (RED) products go to the fight against HIV/AIDS. My favorite this Valentine’s Day is the (RED) app! How cute are these emojis?!? A cute, simple gift to download on your Valentine’s phone.

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5. Alex & Ani

I love this local Rhode Island company that gives back globally. They have partnered with (RED) for a collection of bracelets that benefit The Global Fund. Perfect for your Valentine!

ALEX AND ANIl contributes 20% of the purchase price of each Heart of Strength Charm sold, with a minimum contribution of $25,000 between January 2017 and December 2017 to Global Fund to fight AIDS with (RED)®.

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Gifts of Hope This Holiday Season

Gifts of Hope This Holiday Season

 

“Everytime that you buy a basket, know that there are about 10 people attached to your purchase.” – Janet Nkubana

My belief that we can create positive change through our purchase choices was further reinforced recently when I saw first hand the impact that “Trade not Aid” programs have on the communities in which they operate.  Many of the gifts that I am giving this holiday season are things that I brought home from my recent trip to Haiti where I could see how much our purchases meant to the artisans supporting their families through their craft.  In interviews with several of the artisans who create pieces for the Macy’s Heart of Haiti program each mentioned the pride in their work, and in being able to provide a sustainable income to support their families. They made it clear that even in tough times, they did not want charity, what they wanted was to continue to earn an income through their art.  Giving gifts that help generate economic empowerment in communities where the need is great is really like giving twice, it becomes a gift that gives back. A gift that gives hope.  In a way my trip to Haiti actually began in Rwanda with Macy’s Rwanda Path to Peace program. Read the rest of this entry