A few of you have asked if I’d ever consider putting together a gift guide…well here it is!
If you’re anything like me, you probably get an extra dose of satisfaction from knowing a gift has more purpose than just being a gift! Right? I love to buy products that are ethical, sustainable, and purposeful - and sharing them so others can too, is even better! So, I decided it could be a great idea to share ideas with you that support communities around the world, help conserve our environment, or have a social or purposeful flair.
Most of these items I’ve used myself, with a few being new to even me! I’m not an affiliate of these companies and am not receiving compensation (with exception of Amazon). I simply wanted to share a few gift ideas that are unique and have meaning behind them. It’s wonderful to be able to support good causes while also making someone’s day, isn’t it?
I’m not sure I want to become an affiliate for products yet, perhaps one day! For the few products that are linked to Amazon, I became an Amazon Associate simply so that I could easily share impactful resources with you in a more tangible way. These are truly those resources!
*I connected with these companies and received permission to share these products/photos.*
1.) Fashion & Compassion Jewelry + Decor
You’ve probably heard me talk about Fashion & Compassion in the past. I’ve written a whole blog post on their mission, and have many pieces of their jewelry myself! The organization was founded to create a space for women to work who are healing from addiction, incarceration, generational poverty, human trafficking, and more.
Each item is made in a different country (including many pieces in their US flagship location), fostered by partnerships in those countries! That’s why you’ll see such a variety of items on their website - making it the perfect place to find unique gifts that are ethically sustainable too!
Fashion & Compassion women gather around a table and make jewelry together as a source of part-time work and personal development, spiritual growth, and fellowship. It’s a place for them to share in each other’s hardships and joys alike. Each woman also creates a development plan tailored entirely to her future goals, leading to reconciliation and stability. The experience is a wonderful mix of learning soft skills needed in the workforce, while restoring dignity and relationships - all while making BEAUTIFUL fashion!
And yes, proceeds from the jewelry go to pay the women for their artisan work - Ethical fashion at it’s finest!
2.) Val Marie Paper Prayer Journal
Have you ever said you’d pray for someone and then forgot? I admit, that’s happened to me. 😳 This prayer journal is my solution to ensuring I pray for all the things that are truly on heart…I used VMP Rhythms Prayer Journal in 2020 and decided to try my own hand at something similar in 2021. It just wasn’t the same, so I ordered another one for the coming year!
This journal creates space for adoration, scripture, and prayer intentions for each month. It includes space starting with high-level intentions for our world and nation all the way down to our personal needs and goals. It even has a place for answered prayers, so you can see how God is working in your life and praise Him for all the blessings around you! Bonus: It’s a gorgeous journal too!
3.) Imagine Heaven Book
This book. Wow. If you’re not sick of me talking about it yet, hear me out. 😉
Imagine Heaven by John Burke compares over 100 near-death experiences to scripture and finds themes among them to give an idea of what Heaven could be like. WHAT?! Seriously, it is SO incredibly interesting, and left me with an eagerness for Heaven. I found it to be a book that truly is impacting my life already.
It helped me see, understand, and imagine Heaven in a way that I never have before. It sounds crazy that a book could do this, but it literally has changed my perspective about life and what's to come. Scripture in the Bible seems to have come alive - I understand God's love + light in a way that I never have before.
And I want this for you too! I became an Amazon Associate so I could share impactful resources with you in a more tangible way - this is truly one of those resources!
If someone you know has a curiosity about Heaven, or even doubts, this is the PERFECT book to gift! 💗
I'm an Amazon Associate, which means I earn from qualifying purchases.
4.) Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee
Putting together a cozy coffee gift basket? Why not make sure it’s an ethically sustainable one? I’ve been to Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee around Atlanta multiple times and they have the best coffee + the sweetest mission!
Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee began in Rwanda with the intent of creating employment opportunities and bringing people together after the Rwandan Civil War. Through what they call, “Collaborative Trade”, they co-labor with Rwandan farmers to grow and sell coffee at dignified prices and support development initiatives in their communities!
One bag of coffee equals a full day’s wages for a farmer, and their beans rank in the top 5% of specialty coffee in the world! This business model is a beautiful way to “help without hurting”. I’m so impressed, and I know you will be too!
5.) John’s Crazy Socks
These socks aren’t just any old pair of socks for Christmas. They’re John’s Crazy Socks! “John’s Crazy Socks is a father-son social enterprise inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colorful and fun socks, or what he calls his ‘crazy socks.’”
Their mission is to spread happiness, because John loves making people smile! Beyond brining happiness through fun and unique socks, their business is interwoven with commitment to social impact too! 5% of their overall earnings are donated to Special Olympics, over half of their employees have a differing ability, and they have various awareness themes of socks that also donate back to those specific causes! The mission itself just makes me smile. 😄 I bet it does you too!
Growing up with a brother who has Down Syndrome, I can attest to the happiness part! I’m convinced many people with Down Syndrome are earth-angels. They have something extra that we don’t quite have - it’s hard to put into words, but their joy, love, simplicity of life is so pure. It’s a joy to see John and his father carrying out such a beautiful mission! And I’m sure whoever you gift these to will cherish them for much more than just socks! Because they’re John’s Crazy Socks!
6.) Deed of Land in the Rainforest
If you know someone who loves the outdoors, travel, conservation, or the rainforest, this is a neat gift idea! You can purchase a piece of the rainforest in Costa Rica! They’ll receive a deed to 100 square inches of land, and they can even visit with access to the whole property that their peice is part of.
I'm an Amazon Associate, which means I earn from qualifying purchases.
7.) ABLE Bag
I have this Rachel Zip Tote and it’s one of my most favorite bags! Not only do I love it because of the style and quality, I love it because of the mission behind their lifestyle brand!
Many mass production clothing companies distort women around the world by paying them measly wages, often in difficult working conditions. Able invests in women through providing jobs with a dignified, livable wage. They also partner with local community leaders and evaluate manufacturing partners with an accountability program they created themselves. Together, these approaches create for an environment that allows women to earn a wage that empowers her family and community - allowing them to be a critical part of eradicating poverty!
Able is a popular brand and many women love their products! Is there a woman on your list that would love this bag? I bet so!
There's currently a 20% off sale too with code FROSTY!
8.) Living Forward Book
Have anyone in your life that loves to plan, organize, and think of the future? Living Forward by Michael Hyatt & Daniel Harkavy is anything but fluffy stuff you’ve heard before. It’s a book that walks you through cultivating intention and meaning in your life. It helps you create a life plan that digs into the core of who you are, while allowing for flexibility as you change and grow.
I’d been creating a life plan for 9 years by the time I came across this book, and it truly revolutionized how I go about life planning and leading a purposeful life! In a very real way, it changed my life. Shortly after going through this book and the exercises within, I left my job at Korn Ferry and started this online space. I knew I wanted to become immersed in the social impact world, but I was unsure about how, when, or where to make it happen. This book gave me clarity and instilled conviction that I didn’t have time to waste, because I had a calling from God that I needed to pursue! That’s part of my testimony of how impactful this book is…I wonder what yours will be? Or your spouse’s, friend’s, or neighbor’s?
BTW - If you do purchase this book for yourself or someone else, be sure to read this blog post: Living Your Best Life Through Life Planning. I share my experience with life planning, this book, and seasoned tips that will help you find success in creating your plan!
I'm an Amazon Associate, which means I earn from qualifying purchases.
9.) Made Trade Candles
Made Trade is a company that sells ethical and sustainable products! A candle is always a safe and welcomed gift choice - maybe to even be paired in a basket with Land of a Thousand Hills coffee? ☺️ Their Ritual and Fancy candles are made from clean-burning, vegan soy wax and scented with aromatherapy essential oils. They have wood wicks that crackle, and they’re decorated with flower pedals too! They also come in all kinds of warm scents, perfect for the holidays!
To top it off, the candles are made with sustainable materials, and are created by companies who are women + BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person(s) of Color) owned. These candles are are the perfect gift for that friend who loves social, ethical, and sustainable buys!
In full transparency, I haven’t yet tried these candles as I just came across them. They sounded too good not to share…I think I’m talking myself into buying one! 😅
10.) Beam Paints
Beam Paints is an Indigenous-owned, sustainable paint company for artists and those who love color. The owner of the company states she was “taught from a young age how to harvest hematite pigment in the LaCloche mountain range near our home in M'Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island.” So cool, right?
Their paints are made from lightfast pigments, tree sap, gum arabic, and Manitoulin honey. All packaging is plastic free and the paints are packaged in beeswax canvas or on cedar palettes made from reclaimed wood pieces from an Indigenous sustainable Forestry Operation.
The paints themselves are plant-based and non-toxic. Not to mention, the mica they use for the paints is ethically sourced too! (I didn’t realize this, but children are often trafficked to mine mica and it’s one of the most dangerous forms of mining.)
I haven’t tried these paints yet either, but I know someone who’d happily accept this as a gift! 😉 Ha!
There you have it! A holiday gift guide full of ethical, sustainable, and purposeful ideas for those you love! What do you think? Did you find a few ideas you'd love to gift?
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