Gifts That Give Back :: The Foodie Edition

tea :: dips :: spoons :: chocolates :: condiment set :: bread :: onyx coasters

Happy day after Thanksgiving! Have you recovered from your food coma yet? My hubs and I are in Austin this week to spend some time with my family. I just love this town and these people. Oh, the holidays are my favorite. 

Know what else is my favorite? Gifts that give back! It's time to start thinking about Christmas shopping, so here are a few foodie gifts that you can feel good purchasing! 

    

Sweat Shop Free Outfit

Yay for another sweat shop free outfit! I'm starting to formulate my own Christmas fair trade/social good wish list. My goal is to have at least 75% of things on there that are fair trade or give back. Anyway, here's a super casual outfit - of the items that go for good. You might notice a pretty little quilt for this outfit. It's obviously not really to wear. But, these days, all I honestly want to do is curl up under a nice blanket and sip some hot tea. And, this quilt looks like just the perfect little quilt to do just that!

top :: Safe & Sound by Sevenly

lip butter :: Razz Lime by Rooted Beauty Co.

ring :: Ancient Echoes by Ten Thousand Villages 

pants :: Four-Way Stretch by American Apparel

quilt :: Modern Baby Quilt by Feather & Arrow

shoes :: Caramel Accent Loafer Bundle 

Interview with Amber from Beautiful & Beloved

Oh, I am just so excited about getting to interview Amber from Beautiful & Beloved. Her shop is lovely and her heart, gold!

Please introduce yourself! 

My name is Amber Newberry and I am a mama to four, wife to one, daughter of the king, and seeker of beauty.  I own a little boutique in Palmer Lake CO {and online} called Beautiful & Beloved where we have created a global platform for survivors of trafficking to sell their handmade products.

How long has your business been open? 

Our online shop started in March of last year and our Palmer Lake shop will celebrate one year the first week in November!

What inspired you to start it?  

In 2012 I met the founders of three organizations, all working in slavery survivor aftercare, all doing a really similar work and creating beautiful handmade goods, but none of them knew of each other, and I thought that was strange. I also believe that when God brings things to you in threes He is calling you to action.  So my husband and I prayed about what He might be asking of us, and I dreamed the boutique... a global marketplace to elevate these organizations and the work they are doing.

What challenges did you have to overcome in your boutique?  

Pretty much everything, I have absolutely no idea what I am doing.  I am always reminding myself of 2 Corinthians 12:9... " But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

What has been the most rewarding or satisfying aspect of what you're doing? 

 I have loved being able to raise awareness about trafficking.  I have really enjoyed watching these organizations grow and their influence with them.  I also love having a shop in a small town and the community that we have found.

Any advice for new business owners wanting to give back with their businesses? 

Do it!!  God will bless your giving, more than you could ever ask or imagine.  Search your heart for what breaks it, and then commit your time and talents to making a difference.  That's how we make an impact on this world.

Thank you so much, Amber! 

Make sure to check out Beautiful & Beloved's new and gorgeous site and follow her on Instagram and Facebook! 

All photos are courtesy of Beautiful & Beloved. 

3 Ways to Give Back on Halloween

Cross Stitch pattern from Red Bear Design 

I'm all about giving back here at Tabitha. It's in my small business' very DNA.  So, it makes sense to find ways to give back this Halloween season, am I right? It's easy to focus on giving back during Christmas, when everyone is all fuzzy and warm, merry and bright. There is certainly nothing wrong with that, but giving should be year-round. So, here are a few ways to give back this Halloween! 

1. Purchase fair-trade Halloween candy. 

The cocoa industry has been known to mistreat children and workers with unfair wages and unfit working conditions. You and I both squirm at the idea of enjoying someone's handiwork who was barely paid for it. Let's fight that this year with some fair trade chocolate. There are plenty of places that you can purchase them, like Serrv, Equal Exchange, Green & Black's and Theo's (who just introduced the first ever fair-trade peanut butter cups! YUM!) A lot of these places sell chocolate in big bars, but you can always break up the bars into smaller pieces. 

2. Donate your old Halloween costumes to children in need. 

Dressing up for Halloween was always a favorite for me. We lived far away from a "normal" neighborhood, so instead of trick-or-treating, we would raid my parents closet for oversized T-shirts and shoes six sizes too big. Then, clog around looking for hidden candy. It was a blast. 

But, not everyone has those kinds of experiences and dressing up is a big part of the fun. Halloween Helpers is a nonprofit that was started by a teenager who wanted to help kids in need. She collects used Halloween costumes, then sends them to kids who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford a costume. 

3. Donate left-over candy to the troops. 

Yeah, I never would have thought about this until I saw a dentist advertising that he buys back candy, then sends it to the troops overseas. Genius. Halloween Candy Buy Back is a good website for more information. It's always good to get stray candy out of the house, for fear of constant snacking (guilty). 

I'm sure there are more ways to give back. Anyone else have any? 

Sweat Shop Free Outfit

It's time for another sweat shop free outfit! In honor of fall finally arriving, I thought I would pull together a little fall outfit post featuring clothing that either is fair trade, made in the USA or donates a portion of its proceeds to those in need. I also threw in some coffee too because who wouldn't love to snuggle up in a coffee shop with a warm cup of coffee (or tea!) Links to each item are below the picture. Enjoy!

dress :: dear lucy dress by mata traders

leggings :: solid sanguine leggings by threads for thought

booties :: nomad leather bootie by sseko designs

coffee :: nicaraguan ground coffee by three avocados 

coffee mug :: wild & free by tabitha

scarf :: meseret by fashionABLE

Sweat Shop Free Outfit!

Woowoo! I think sweat shop free outfits are some of my favorite to pull together. I love combing through so many beautiful items and piecing together just the right outfit. All of these items are either fair-trade or donate a portion of their profits to fantastic causes. Links are below to each item if you want to purchase. Hope you love!

shirt // Love Africa Tee by Krochet Kids Intl. 

necklace // Havana Trim by 31 Bits

skirt // Study Abroad Skirt mint by Mata Traders

sunnies // Piper by Warby Parker

wristlet // Gold Wristlet Set by Better Life Bags

wedges // Neon Trim Burlap Wedges by Tom's

A Sweat- Shop Free Outfit {a summer outfit}

Anyone else cringe when they hear a story about a sweat shop on the news? You find out that your favorite store manufactures their clothes at that sweat shop and you look through your closet with a twinge of guilt wondering if someone got paid a menial wage so you could look cute. 

I don't know if that problem has an immediate fix, but hopefully, this new blog series will help us with that a little. Every few months, I'll post a new sweat-shop free outfit. Each piece is either made fair-trade or made in the USA and donates to a good cause. These are a few purchases that you can feel good about! 

top :: Dreamcatcher Flowy Racerback Tank by Sevenly

shorts :: Welt Pocket Shorts by American Apparel

earrings :: Savannah Earrings by Beautiful & Beloved

Purse :: Mamuye bag by fashionABLE

sandals :: Gold fringe sandal by Sseko