Valentine Gifting From Companies that Give Back #ValentinesDay #Sustainable

If you want to shop sustainably this year, support small business, or like to avoid big box stores, I’ve got a shop for you. If you just like unique and high quality products at a reasonable price- this is a shop you will love. Marketplace Africa has clothing, bath and body products (and I’m in love with some of these already), purses, bags,- really, gifts for everyone on your list. Thoughtful gifts anyone would love to receive.

African body works

This website lets Africans can sell their one-of-a-kind handmade goods to the entire global market.  Anyone looking for a unique gift for the holidays can feel as good as the products they are buying, since they are purchasing directly from the source. Buying from small business owners in Africa boosts not only the store owner, but also the economy.

For more information on Marketplace Africa and to choose some fantastic gifts,  visit www.marketplaceafrica.com

Sudara creates ethically and sustainably sourced clothing for men, women, and children. This brand came about because of a desire to help women escape sex trafficking in India. 12 years ago, Sudara’s founder partnered with a sewing center in India and taught six women how to sew a pattern for pants.The year prior, she had been to India and heard story after story of women who were sold into sex slavery or were at high risk of being. The company was created to give woman the chance to have an education, a job with livable wages, and to be free.

ethical clothing

Sudara is a Certified B Corps company, which means they meet “the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, and aspire to use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems”. You know, the best of the best- the “good guys”.

The clothing is beautiful, as well. High quality, unique designs with fun colors and patterns, lots of options available. If you have not yet shopped with Sudara, I hope you take the time to give them a look now. Check them out on social media while you are at it, see what they have to offer- sudara.org  facebook  twitter  instagram

ethical clothing

Peace Frogs is a brand that encourages you to get outside, enjoy nature, and practices what they preach. They are helping to preserve the environment and giving back with purchases. Peace Frogs has been around for more then 30 years, and have “a long track record of giving back to charitable causes” while creating eco-friendly clothing and gear.  They have also  launched a #spreadthepeacecampaign that looks to bridge a divided nation. As per the company, “Today, in America, the country stands more divided than ever before, with constant fighting, name calling and general unrest, with social media and the news not doing anything to slow down the chaos. The Spread the Peace Campaign is a way for Peace Frogs to motivate people to be kind to one another and stop the hate, fighting and lack of tolerance. Peace Frogs wants to bring a sense of calm, peace and community back to a tense country that has forgotten how to love thy neighbor.”  The fun clothing, gear, stickers, and more promote joy, living in harmony, a healthy environment, and peace. For more information on Peace Frogs items or to purchase #spreadthepeace stickers, please visit: www.peacefrogs.com

ethical jewelery

Statement Peace (no relation to Peace Frogs) creates their “high vibration wooden jewelry” line designs and hand produces all of their “pieces of peace” in their South West Florida studio.  The company believes that energy is transferable, and that when you operate out of peace and love, that it is felt by all and creates a statement of peace. They want to transfer “passion, high vibrations and good juju with the intention that you feel our vibes” into the items they create. Each piece of jewelry is considered to be a work of art, and they convey this by including a custom designed wooden display stand with each item purchased. There is something special for everyone (men and women), from yoga lovers to outdoor enthusiasts. Rings, bracelets, and more are available. For every item purchased, they plant one tree.   Check out options at https://www.wearstatementpeace.com

show the love

Show the Love offers items that are each designed to showcase and inspire a specific sentiment. The jewelry is meant to inspire and to uplift the person who wears it. From feminist inspiration items to those inspiring others to speak up, to beautiful animal inspired themes, there is something everyone will love. Give a gift that is not only lovely but also inspiring and show the recipient that you are really thinking about them. Whatever they love, or perhaps would like more of in their life (happiness, calm, passion, etc) you can find something that will show your sentiment.

This company cares, and they show it not only with their designs, but also with the materials they use as well as the donations they give. Show The Love jewelry is made with recycled metals and ethically sourced stones. They also donate 25% of their proceeds, which they give to humanitarian and environmental causes. There are items for every budget, from $50 to a big splurge. These are fun, funky, unique, lovely items that your Valentine will cherish always. Visit the site at https://showthelove.com and see what you like best.

Adorable Moosh-Moosh Stuffed Toys #GiftGuide

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Do you know someone who loves soft, squishy toys? My son (and my partner) both loft pillow-like toys, especially when they are super soft on the outside. They would be great gifts this holiday season. If you know any kid (or kid at heart) who likes to collect stuffed toys, these are sure to be a hit.

Moosh-Moosh is an adorable new, marshmallow-soft, squishy stuffed animal/pillow. You can use it as either or both (we do). You can find them in the aisles of Michaels Stores or CVS,  Moosh-Moosh comes in quite a few sizes and options. More than three million cuddly characters have been sold since they first came out this year. Cuddle, snuggle, squish or stack these cuties, they are fun to collect as well. Moosh-Moosh makes the perfect December present for stocking stuffers, dreidel game prizes or an under-the-tree surprise.

You can get these soft plushies in a palm-size 4”Clip-on ($5.99) to a huggable 7” Regular ($9.99) to the ultimate 10” Large ($14.99).

Shop for over 72 styles online at Moosh-Moosh.com . You will have a hard time choosing just one, but as with all things, they are better with friends.  These have been hot sellers at neighborhood Staples, JOANN Stores, AC Moore, and Party City, as well as select Hudson News airport stores.

 

Companies that Care- GOOD DEEDS

Behind the Moosh-Moosh logo is a caring company that donates plush buddies as need arises. A Kindergarten teacher in the Washington, DC area was looking for an educator discount to buy her 28 students plushies for reading circle. Imagine her surprise when Sean Price, VP of Business Development and Marketing for parent company MMG Brands, shipped her two dozen soft friends.

A bigger shout out came from Omaha, Nebraska, home of Elliott’s Hoedown for ATCP. After learning about the A-T Children’s Project, MMG Brands donated $11,000 worth of toys! The Midwest charity creates awareness for A-T (a rare, inherited disease that affects several organs and systems, including the nervous and the immune systems) and funnels donations to Johns Hopkins’ A-T clinic in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sudara Clothing – ethically made and helps women #GiftGuide

If you are anything like me, you like to shop as ethically as possible. Most companies and stores don’t give a fig about you, me, the environment, or anything other then profit. So, when you know brands that give a darn, they are ones you tend to do your shopping with.

give back

I’ve recently discovered Sudara. This brand came about because of a desire to help women escape sex trafficking in India.  12 years ago, Sudara partnered with a sewing center in India and taught six women how to sew a pattern for pants. The previous year,  founder, Shannon Keith, had returned from a trip to India and heard story after story of women who were sold into sex slavery. She also heard stories of women who were at a high risk of being forced into the sex trade by their families or picked up off the streets by local pimps. The reasons they were at a high risk? Because they lacked an education or the resources or the skills to, truly, have a choice.

She returned home from that trip and formed a small team of family and friends. They have since made 10 sewing centers and hundreds of women have found both freedom and living wage employment.

The pants are awesome. Comfortable, easy to wash and wear, pretty, and unique. The are no sacrifice to wear, and it’s great knowing that my purchase is helping other women and supporting a company that does good in the world.

They also are ethically and sustainability made for the good of the environment as well. They are a Certified B Corps, which means they meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, and aspire to use the power of markets to solve social and environmental problems. So- you know. A good company to buy from. The good guys.

ethically made clothing

Sudara Brand Description:

  • Sudara is a lifestyle brand that creates jobs for women in India who are at the highest risk or survivors of human trafficking. They pay living wages and provide access to counseling, medical care and resources that empower women to create their own self-sustaining future.

  • Every pair of these Sudara Punjammies are made through living-wage employment by women in India who are at the highest risk or survivors of sex trafficking. Every purchase is an investment in Sudara’s freedom-filled work and empowers women who are working to forge a new life for themselves and their children.

  • Sudara offers beautiful and comfortable clothing with a freedom-filled purpose. Their women’s pajama pants, loungewear and robes are ethically-made in India through living-wage employment programs. Every purchase is helping empower women in India with the resources and skills they need to create a better life for themselves and their family.

Keep up with Sudara on social media as well- sudara.org  facebook  twitter  instagram

Back to School Shopping for @BTFE at @Costco #ad

Disclosure- I receive monetary compensation from General Mills in exchange of my endorsement of Box Tops For Education.

costco

Getting ready for back to school always requires a fairly big shop. When you have kids, so does the weekly grocery shopping trip, am I right? It’s bananas how much food these little hoovers consume. I have no idea where they put it, either. This is one of the main reasons I became a Costco member- that, and because they are often cited as one of the most ethical large companies out there. I try to shop small, shop local, and shop ethical whenever humanly possible. They tend to have higher quality products, sustainable sourced and ethically produced, as well as a fair pay for employees and a compassionate working environment. Imagine that! If only all companies acted like that. They do well for it, as well. The stores are always clean, and shopping experiences are easy and pleasant. Well, that’s not counting for the kids- but no store is responsible for that, LOL.  They almost always have “sample stations” throughout the store that you can bribe the kiddos with, however. Smart thinking, Sell more products, since we buy what we like, AND no hangry customers. Very smart.

The prices are fair, and less since you buy in bulk as well. This also means more time between trips, hopefully! I also like that they don’t use bags- bring your own, or use boxes, or just load directly into your car. Easy.

You can get SO MANY Box Tops for your kids school while you are shopping for items you already love, like Lucky Charms, Mott’s Fruit Snacks, and Nature Valley. Because the boxes are large, you often get “bonus” Box Tops as well- more money for your child’s school. Bonus, indeed.

What’s stopping you? Head over and become a member today. You can even pick up a prepared dinner while you were there. What? Hey, it totally counts as cooking. Shhh.

Plus, they have a contest going on where you can win 100 Box Tops! Check out this site to see more.


NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  GAME OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND D.C. WHO ARE 18+ WHO ARE MEMBERS OF BOXTOPS4EDUCATION.COM AND HAVE DESIGNATED A SCHOOL TO SUPPORT AT  TIME OF ENTRY. MEMBERSHIP TO BOXTOPS4EDUCATION.COM IS FREE AND AVAILABLE AT BOXTOPS4EDUCATION.COM. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Online instant win game starts 7/16/18 at 12:00 a.m. ET & ends 9/10/18 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.CostcoBTFE.com.   Sponsor: General Mills Sales, Inc., One General Mills Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55426.

Puzzles for Differently Abled Kids 

TCG has assembled an exciting campaign to benefit Autism Speaks and Autism Speaks Canada. A leader in puzzles and games for the whole family, TCG is donating 1% of net sales on more than 80 of its puzzle products to help raise awareness and funds for research. It is a program the company initiated in 2016. Each puzzle box features the recognizable Autism Speaks puzzle piece logo.

TCG also created an Autism Speaks page on its website. The page includes more information about the company’s commitment to the charity as well as further details and stats about autism spectrum disorder, a condition that affects one in every 68 children in the U.S. and one in 66 children in Canada.

Since its founding in 1998, TCG has been dedicated to social responsibility for children and adults and the alliance with Autism Speaks is a reflection of that commitment. With the Autism Speaks’ puzzle-piece logo, which symbolizes that autism is just a piece of a person’s story, puzzles seem like a perfect fit for the partnership.

TCG’s Autism Speaks assortment includes puzzles designed for a wide range of puzzlers, from the whimsical and gorgeous renderings of fantasy artist Miharu to original TCG designs, and more. SRPs range from $3.99 for a 200-pc puzzle to $7.99 for a 1,000-pc puzzle.

In addition, TCG’s future plans include introducing a unique line of puzzles geared specifically to the autistic community that would feature images with distinct colors and contrast.

Adorable #BearsForHumanity Animal Pals

Disclosure- We received the belwo in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are our own. For more infomration, see “I Disclose”.

animal pals

If you have never heard of Bears For Humanity, you should definitely check them out. Bears For Humanity is a social commerce company that believes in 100% certified organic products, healthy children and a sustainable environment. They manufacture Teddy Bears and Animal Friends with an organic faux fur that is the closest thing to hugging a real bear (but much safer).  When a customer buys a Bear For Humanity stuffed pal, another just like it is sent to a child in need.  They also employ their workers through the “Welfare to Work” program. It’s a great program that helps at risk moms and caregivers get back to work.

We all shop, we all buy gifts, but how often do we see a company who donates one for one (buy one, donate one) to children in need?

Typically, when you purchase an item online, you are asked for your name, credit card and perhaps an option to join the mailing list. When you purchase a teddy bear from Bears For Humanity™, you get to choose which charity – Toys For Tots, Save The Children, Semper Fi Fund, OneSimpleWish.org, Lucile Packard– they will donate a bear to, because your purchase instantly doubles as a gift for a child in need.  You can also save even more by using this free shipping coupon code: FREESHIPPING4MOM which is valid through the end of August for online purchases on the Bears for Humanity website.

bears for humanity

After you order, the cuddly pal that you have helped donate is personally delivered to a veteran’s house, a children’s hospital, or an underprivileged household. It’s a win-win way to run a company! The stuffed bears come in two sizes – 16” Premium Bear and 7” Baby Bear (19.99). The many charity options and five color choices are splashed across www.BearsForHumanity.com website that opens to a philosophical question – Can A Teddy Bear Change The World?

The bears are really soft, as well.  Bears For Humanity pals are the only 100% Certified Organic Cotton/ Hemp, GOTS Certified Organic Cotton teddy bears in the world. Plus, they are naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic which gives parents the peace of mind they don’t get from polyester plush toys.

You can follow Bears for Humanity on social media here:

Heroic Red and Valiant White Wines Give Back To Soldiers

Heroic Red and Valiant White wines are distributed by Leer Vineyards in Byron, CA. The wines are pretty much like Tom shoes but for wine. $1.50 for each bottle of wine sold goes to purchase a mortgage and tax free home to a wounded warrior. They’ve already presented four houses to soldiers this year.

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Heroic Red shows aromas of boysenberry with hints of leather, cedar and cigar tobacco. Flavors are of raspberry jam, chocolate and black pepper, with a faint echo of blake tea on the long finish. This blend contains 58% Syrah, 29% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon.

pic5Valiant White shows aromas of peach and orange blossoms, the circus flavors are intense, peaches and tropical fruits dominate. It’s a soft and luscious mouthful with a hint of effervescence for a beautiful liveliness and a balance to the sweetness. While crisp and sweet this Moscato is a perfect pairing with spicy seafood or chicken and is amazing while paired with bleu cheese and desserts that include pears or peaches.

Cofféy is the official spokesperson for Heroic Red/Valiant White and his song Mr. Red White and Blue has garnered over 4 million views on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ds3MvMUdNk

Leer Vineyards is nestled in East Contra Costa County in the town of Byron complete with stunning views of Mount Diablo that features a tasting room and will host summer concerts as well as weddings, private parties and corporate events.  The property is a unique 44-acre parcel that boasts a softball diamond, Bocce Ball court, snack bar, and 36 acres of lush vineyards.
Leer Vineyards is a quiet, relaxing piece of property that encourages picnics, lounging, and simply hanging out with a glass of wine.
The Leers moved to Byron in September of 2013 and hand picked over 3 tons of grapes themselves. The grapes were then transported to Estate Crush, a custom crush facility in Lodi, California. Currently the Leers are working with winemakers in the Lodi area to crush, barrel and bottle current varietals. The Leers have produced several varietals of wine and have already sold out of many

Get your wines here, and know that every purchase gives back.

Share Some Goodness this Holiday! Gifts that Give Back

Looking to give gifts that not are not only great gifts, but will make the gift-ee feel better as well? Life is Good, ORGANIC INDIA and Manduka make giving feel even better- and they are fantastic, ethical companies that also give back.  These are fantastic brands with really awesome items, you will love them.

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Life is Good, lifestyle brand spreading the power of optimism, from t-shirts, self-help book, mugs to comfy pj’s, introduces  the Holiday collection ($10-78) and has something for the kids, mom, the office, and even the grinch who could use some positivity in their life. There is a lot to choose from, and the quality is top notch- nothing that will have to be quickly tossed. The clothing line lasts, and wears well.  They will have their items a long, long time. (I still have a t-shirt I got in high school!) It’s nice to be able to spread a nice message wherever you go. In addition, Life is Good donates 10% of their net proceeds to kids in need-that’s something to smile about. 
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ORGANIC INDIA’s, Tulsi Tea Line ($5.99) have become one of my son’s favorites. He especially loves the peppermint variety, (there are several to choose from) and I like that it’s completely organic. These USDA organic teas are infused with a sacred Indian herb that’s packed with goodness + deliciousness in over 20 flavors. A cup of Tulsi tea warms up the soul – lowers stress, bolsters immunity, enhances stamina and promotes a healthy metabolism. He has some health issues, so I am all for anything that will give him any kind of a boost.  These teas are not only good tasting and good for you, as well as environmentally friendly- but they are good for the people who farm them. ORGANIC INDIA works directly with marginalized farmers in India providing healthcare, education, gender equality and empowerment programs. Sipping fireside, never tasted so good! 

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Mandukaleader of yoga gear, offers the most sustainable yoga gear for the fitness fanatic in your life ($4-128). From eco-conscious eKO mats, fully recyclable LiveON Mats for kids and adults, one-mat-for-life PRO Mat, yogitoes towels made from recycled plastic bottles, hbands headbands, bags, to props, Manduka takes mindful gifting to another level.

My son likes his new mat, and so does mommy.  If it weren’t so grinchy, I’d be tempted to “borrow” it for my own class.  He also likes the color and the feel of it- he doesn’t like when his mats feel “sticky” to him, but this texture is great.  It’s also comfortable, gives enough cushion, and works well for him.  It’s easy to get into his yoga bag as well.

These are great “feel good” items for many reasons- they feel good to give, feel good to get, and are from companies who care and give back- which feels good to everyone.  This holiday season, give from the heart and support those that support others.

Happy Holidays from me and mine to you and yours!