October's greenVALENTINE challenge!

...consider buying your loved one's gifts that are consumable or that give back to someone or something else! 

This year (for Christmas & birthdays) we're trying to give gifts that express our love but also make less of an impact on landfills and clutter in our homes. Yes, some people find this impersonal, and I get that, but let's be honest...how many gifts do we get every year that just fill up our home with more stuff? Not that stuff is bad but I for one really do not need more of it (with the exception of a few things here or there)! 

Check out my ideas:

*Consumable Gift Ideas*

*CERTIFICATE for TIME SPENT 

*CERTIFICATE for A HOMEMADE MEAL 

*CERTIFICATE for a SPECIAL TRIP

*HOMEMADE FOOD (such as jams, breads, nuts, cookies)

*CERTIFICATE for a SPECIAL CLASS (such as cooking, sewing, dance class or swim lessons)
*GIFT CARDS (for meals, clothing stores, grocery stores, movies, spa treatments, shows, events or even flowers)

*GOURMET GIFT BASKETS (chocolate treats for a chocoholic or for a friend with a special diet like celiac you could group together specialty gluten-free products)

*For KIDS: Bubbles, Chalk, Art Supplies, Stickers (one can rarely have enough of these things)

... 

*Giving Back Gift Ideas*

*Have you heard about Operation Christmas Child from Samaritans Purse? Click on the link to check it out and look-up how it works and where you can drop off your box this year! Hurry because the deadline to drop off your box is in a few weeks. Our MOPS group is doing it this year as a fun way to give back and get our kids involved.  Maybe even consider giving a box in place of a gift for a family you know and on Christmas present them with a description of why you have a box in their name and a picture of what you put in the box and where it went.

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*Do you know about LOVE146 yet? Their mission is to END CHILD SEX SLAVERY AND EXPLOITATION.  I learned about this organization at Blog Sugar and have not been able to get it off my mind. I'm going to purchase a few items in their store as gifts (most of the money goes back to their organization).  Check it out and be prepared to grab a tissue or two or twenty for this one.

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*And of course there are two ways to give to Compassion right now. Year Round: Compassion is an organization that allows you to sponsor children all over the world in order to help them with basic physical (and spiritual) needs. You pay a monthly fee and are able to write letters back and forth and give extra money for their birthday's and Christmas if you can.  We have really enjoyed doing this and wanted to spread the word!  Check them out if you are considering a new way to give-back this year!  Right Now: Check out their Christmas Catalog (this video shows HOW IT WORKS):

 

And one more thought...if you have a baby or small child and are not sure what to get them for Christmas (because after all they are a baby and have no idea what is going on) consider looking up a Compassion child to sponsor by the birthday and gender of your child.  We did this for both the kids for their "Baby's 1st Christmas" gift and it has been fun watching other children grow up with their birthdays (even though they are not their age)! It's a nice way to have something in common with these beautiful children all over the world. Just something to consider as you make your lists!