You've got to go here and here to read about my favorite giving gift so far this season. I have some of the coolest friends ever!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
I'm That Brave
Tomorrow is a big day. People to see. Places to go. Yummy things to eat. A time for family, friends, food, football and fun. I should be cooking. Or cleaning. Or packing our car. But I can't. I have a million other things to do and waning time left in which to accomplish it all. And yet, I cannot move. I am paralyzed knowing that across my city, only a few miles from my house, sits a mother whose heart is breaking.
You see, my friend Alecia leaves in 12 days for Russia. She is taking her husband and three small children and getting on a plane to bring home two angels, a 13 year old boy and a 6-8 year old girl.
But my friend Alecia may not be able to get on that plane. And only one thing is stopping her. Money. They have 12 days to raise $19,000. In order to save on costs, they went through a facilitator instead of an agency, which saved them a ton of money. But with fees, tickets, travel costs and immigration paperwork, it still adds up. This amazing family has applied for grants and loans, only to be denied because they didn't go through an agency. Does that infuriate you? It does me. And it should you.
Now, adoption is tricky and hard and a complete miracle of redemption. But it is also expensive. Emotionally, physically, and financially draining. Raising a teenager is no easy business, but signing up for a teenager, well, that's just God at work. I don't think I'm that brave. And I can't imagine sitting across town wondering about my two children across the world and wondering how tomorrow I'm going to be thankful. I know I'm not that brave. Our God is the God of miracles and tonight, while I know we all have a million things to do, re-printing this post, donating some $, getting on our knees and begging the God of heaven to come down and provide for what He favors and shouting that this Thanksgiving, we're going to be thankful that two more children have found their forever home! I AM that brave!
You can go here and read the Horner's story. You can go here to shop my Etsy store and 1/2 the proceeds will go to their adoption.
You see, my friend Alecia leaves in 12 days for Russia. She is taking her husband and three small children and getting on a plane to bring home two angels, a 13 year old boy and a 6-8 year old girl.
But my friend Alecia may not be able to get on that plane. And only one thing is stopping her. Money. They have 12 days to raise $19,000. In order to save on costs, they went through a facilitator instead of an agency, which saved them a ton of money. But with fees, tickets, travel costs and immigration paperwork, it still adds up. This amazing family has applied for grants and loans, only to be denied because they didn't go through an agency. Does that infuriate you? It does me. And it should you.
Now, adoption is tricky and hard and a complete miracle of redemption. But it is also expensive. Emotionally, physically, and financially draining. Raising a teenager is no easy business, but signing up for a teenager, well, that's just God at work. I don't think I'm that brave. And I can't imagine sitting across town wondering about my two children across the world and wondering how tomorrow I'm going to be thankful. I know I'm not that brave. Our God is the God of miracles and tonight, while I know we all have a million things to do, re-printing this post, donating some $, getting on our knees and begging the God of heaven to come down and provide for what He favors and shouting that this Thanksgiving, we're going to be thankful that two more children have found their forever home! I AM that brave!
You can go here and read the Horner's story. You can go here to shop my Etsy store and 1/2 the proceeds will go to their adoption.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Weekend Shopping & New Tee of the Week!
I had some technical difficulties this weekend, which left no opportunity to showcase the awesome finds I ran across on Friday night.
Want to be a whistle blower for peace? Check out www.fallingwhistles.com , which sells apparel and these fabulous whistle necklaces. This organization fund raises for children in the Congo which have been affected by the civil war in that area.
Also check out http://krochetkids.org which is an organization which empowers women in Uganda to use their skills to support themselves and their families. So far this organization has empowered and sustained 87 individual women in Uganda!
Want to be a whistle blower for peace? Check out www.fallingwhistles.com , which sells apparel and these fabulous whistle necklaces. This organization fund raises for children in the Congo which have been affected by the civil war in that area.
Also check out http://krochetkids.org which is an organization which empowers women in Uganda to use their skills to support themselves and their families. So far this organization has empowered and sustained 87 individual women in Uganda!
Meet the Smith family! They are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia and they are our Tee of the Week this week. They blog at http://loveiscolorblind.org/ Their blog is awesome and they have such a heart for adoption and orphan care. Go, buy, share!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Cookies & Christmas Cheer
After her son was diagnosed with childhood cancer, Gretchen set out to make a difference. She organized a bake sale and with the help of 250 volunteers, $400,000 was raised for childhood cancer research. But Gretchen saw more than just a one time miracle. She opened herself a non-profit and the rest is delicious! Cookies for Kids Cancer bakes delectable treats and mails them wrapped to everyone on your Christmas list and you get the credit and the charity donates the money to cancer research. What could be more yummy?
From amazing creations like Chocolate Almond Coconut Crunch to good ol' standbys like Peanut Butter each order is one dozen cookies of your choice, wrapped for $30. Go to www.cookiesforkidscancer.org to order or to get all the details to host your own bake sale.
It's usually a great fail-proof idea to stock a few bottles of wine as last minute "oh crap we forgot them and they are standing at our door" gifts. But what could be better than a bottle of wine whose ENTIRE profits benefit local charities of your choosing? Well that a spirit with THE spirit! Check out www.humanitaswines.org to learn more about what they do and how they do it!
Do you know of a fundraising family who is adopting and has a great blog/tee/product for sale? Email me so that we can consider them for upcoming Tees of the Week and for an upcoming giveaway!
From amazing creations like Chocolate Almond Coconut Crunch to good ol' standbys like Peanut Butter each order is one dozen cookies of your choice, wrapped for $30. Go to www.cookiesforkidscancer.org to order or to get all the details to host your own bake sale.
It's usually a great fail-proof idea to stock a few bottles of wine as last minute "oh crap we forgot them and they are standing at our door" gifts. But what could be better than a bottle of wine whose ENTIRE profits benefit local charities of your choosing? Well that a spirit with THE spirit! Check out www.humanitaswines.org to learn more about what they do and how they do it!
Don't forget that our Tee of the Week this week is the Boulton Family! Their tees and their blog is amazing and while you're reading their amazing story of commitment, dedication and sacrifice that God is writing through them, grab up a tee for only $22 including shipping!
Do you know of a fundraising family who is adopting and has a great blog/tee/product for sale? Email me so that we can consider them for upcoming Tees of the Week and for an upcoming giveaway!Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Bundle Up and Look Great!
I've had several people email this week with a link, asking me to check out http://livefashionable.com/ and look at their amazing scarves. Well since I love ALL things Ethiopia, I popped right over, read about the organization and fell in love. FashionABLE is a division of Mocha Club. If you don't know about Mocha Club, go here and educate yourself about their projects and who they are.
But back to shopping.
These ROCK Awesome scarves are handmade and provide an opportunity for women who have been rescued from prostitution in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and teaching them a trade. Each of the scarves are $22 and include shipping. And my FAV thing is that each scarf design is named after a woman who has benefited from the program.
Here's a video about the program:
Now look at these cool scarves:
Remember that the Tee of the Week this week is the Boulton Family, whom I have grown to adore because they are fundraising to bring their HIV+ Ethiopian princess home. These shirts are fantastic and would look great under your new scarf. Go here to order.Your $22 includes a ROCKIN' tee and shipping!
I've had several people send me a link this week inviting me to check out these scarves. So I did some research and fell in love. FashionABLE is a division of Mocha Club, which if you don't know about Mocha Club, go here and educate yourself. It is one of the organizations that hubby and I have been contributing to the longest.
Come across some other Gets That Give that I should know about? Know a possibility for Tee for the Week? Email me and let's turn giving into getting for someone who you may never meet until we get to Heaven.
But back to shopping.
These ROCK Awesome scarves are handmade and provide an opportunity for women who have been rescued from prostitution in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and teaching them a trade. Each of the scarves are $22 and include shipping. And my FAV thing is that each scarf design is named after a woman who has benefited from the program.
Here's a video about the program:
Now look at these cool scarves:
Remember that the Tee of the Week this week is the Boulton Family, whom I have grown to adore because they are fundraising to bring their HIV+ Ethiopian princess home. These shirts are fantastic and would look great under your new scarf. Go here to order.Your $22 includes a ROCKIN' tee and shipping!
I've had several people send me a link this week inviting me to check out these scarves. So I did some research and fell in love. FashionABLE is a division of Mocha Club, which if you don't know about Mocha Club, go here and educate yourself. It is one of the organizations that hubby and I have been contributing to the longest.
Come across some other Gets That Give that I should know about? Know a possibility for Tee for the Week? Email me and let's turn giving into getting for someone who you may never meet until we get to Heaven.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Baby Gift Anyone?
Need a great baby gift? Want to help a woman in Uganda earn a sustainable wage? Can you do both for $12? YEP! Here you go! Lifted Uganda offers individual artisans and craftsman the opportunity to display and sell their wares while offering them a great wage for their crafts.
These baby bibs are all handmade and are $12 and that includes shipping. But you better hurry because this is a limited shipment and there are only 15 left.
Check them out here:
http://www.theborcherts.blogspot.com
Also, don't forget the Tee of the Week this week is from the Boulton Family who are fundraising to bring their Ethiopian princess home. Each tee is $22 and that includes shipping. Go here, and grab them up!
These baby bibs are all handmade and are $12 and that includes shipping. But you better hurry because this is a limited shipment and there are only 15 left.
Check them out here:
http://www.theborcherts.blogspot.com
Also, don't forget the Tee of the Week this week is from the Boulton Family who are fundraising to bring their Ethiopian princess home. Each tee is $22 and that includes shipping. Go here, and grab them up!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Coffee & Tee of the Week
Well, since you are all comfy in your Punjammies, your going to need something to warm you up.
One of my favorite parts of each morning is a great cup of coffee. The hubby and I love trying different flavors, from different regions and from different regions. We only have one requirement: giving back must be part of their business model.
The following list is our favorites and ones that we have personally tried:
1.) 963 Coffee
Located at http://963missions.com/coffee/
This organization is committed to helping provide a fair wage for the coffee grower and aiding organizations as a fundraising opportunity for mission trips and other fundraising initiatives. This Cinnamon Creme Brulee blend is on its way to my door as I type. Yum!
2.) Saint's Coffee: http://www.saintscoffee.com/
This organization is near and dear to my heart. My first cup of Ethiopian Sidamo was ordered from Saint's Coffee. The hubby's newest obsession is the Pumpkin Spice blend in whole bean. We actually race each other to the coffee pot in the morning. Your purchase of each bag feeds an orphan for a month.
3.) Just Love Coffee http://www.justlovecoffee.com/
I just love this organization. It is a coffee roaster that aids families in the adoption process a way to creatively fund raise. Each fundraising family gets to hand pick the products that they sell and are designed a page with their offered products which is t-shirts, hats and bumper stickers are for sale in addition to coffee.
Meet the Webb family. They are currently in the process of adopting from Ethiopia and have a Just Love Coffee page. You can buy coffee (Just Love has added a Fa la la la brew...just sounds great!) and support bringing an orphan into a family. www.justlovecoffee.com/webbadoption
4.) Land of A Thousand Hills http://drinkcoffeedogood.com Our friends gave us a bag of A Thousand Hills for Christmas yesterday and we were hooked. They even have a Chocolate Mint brew for the holidays. Chocolate + Mint + Coffee+ Buying with a Conscience = AWESOMENESS!
Coffee with 100% of the profits to benefit orphan care across the globe. Simple. Beautiful. Tasty and always a staple at the Andrews house. Gotta love it.
One of my favorite parts of each morning is a great cup of coffee. The hubby and I love trying different flavors, from different regions and from different regions. We only have one requirement: giving back must be part of their business model.
The following list is our favorites and ones that we have personally tried:
1.) 963 Coffee
Located at http://963missions.com/coffee/
This organization is committed to helping provide a fair wage for the coffee grower and aiding organizations as a fundraising opportunity for mission trips and other fundraising initiatives. This Cinnamon Creme Brulee blend is on its way to my door as I type. Yum!
2.) Saint's Coffee: http://www.saintscoffee.com/
This organization is near and dear to my heart. My first cup of Ethiopian Sidamo was ordered from Saint's Coffee. The hubby's newest obsession is the Pumpkin Spice blend in whole bean. We actually race each other to the coffee pot in the morning. Your purchase of each bag feeds an orphan for a month.
3.) Just Love Coffee http://www.justlovecoffee.com/
I just love this organization. It is a coffee roaster that aids families in the adoption process a way to creatively fund raise. Each fundraising family gets to hand pick the products that they sell and are designed a page with their offered products which is t-shirts, hats and bumper stickers are for sale in addition to coffee.
Meet the Webb family. They are currently in the process of adopting from Ethiopia and have a Just Love Coffee page. You can buy coffee (Just Love has added a Fa la la la brew...just sounds great!) and support bringing an orphan into a family. www.justlovecoffee.com/webbadoption
4.) Land of A Thousand Hills http://drinkcoffeedogood.com Our friends gave us a bag of A Thousand Hills for Christmas yesterday and we were hooked. They even have a Chocolate Mint brew for the holidays. Chocolate + Mint + Coffee+ Buying with a Conscience = AWESOMENESS!
5.) Gobena www.gobena.org
Coffee with 100% of the profits to benefit orphan care across the globe. Simple. Beautiful. Tasty and always a staple at the Andrews house. Gotta love it.
It is no secret I LOVE t-shirts and our t-shirt sales were such a fun way to fund raise for our adoption. So each week, I will scower the Internet, take suggestions and free samples to be bribed :) for the T-shirt of the week.
This week meet the Boulton Family. I chose their t-shirt because I LOVE green and this shirt popped out to me. The Boulton's are fundraising to bring home a toddler, an Ethiopian princess who is HIV+. Each tee is $22 and includes the price of shipping. You can purchase and read more about their incredible journey here
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Change Into Some PJ's & Join Me
I started this blog because I want a forum to do Christmas differently. I want a place to encourage others and to display items that give back and encourage us to spend more time with the story behind the gift and actually giving instead of being choked of the joy of a season that is about the ultimate gift. And I want to hear from others who have ideas and traditions about putting more justice in our stockings instead of obligatory packages we'll forget in a year.
So in order to get started you are going to need something very comfortable. Check these out:
So in order to get started you are going to need something very comfortable. Check these out:
These are called Punjammies. The pj's are made by women who have been rescued from sex trafficking in India and are being taught a trade. My first pair came about two weeks ago and I ADORE them. They are soft, washable and run true to size. There are two different lengths; the full length and capri length. Each pair comes in its own individual bag made from the same fabric as the pj's you order. They are reasonably priced and provide an income to a woman in need.
There are only a certain amount of each fabric that are made, so get yours before they are gone. Go to www.punjammies.com and order your pair today!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
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