Friday Freedom

It’s Friday people and December so far has been great But like most Fridays I am spent and ready for some down time.  The feature today is one of planning. Giving a gift with purpose is different than the run of the Mill” I ran to Target or Amazon can get it in two days, I’m off the hook” mentality.  Not downing these two great vendors, I frequent them myself but I am trying to really access want vs need.

It seems in America we have blurred those lines a lot. Our instant accessibility possibilities have left us with very little introspection of our choices.  So today your mission should you choose to accept it is to lay like broccoli and scroll through all of the fabulous ideas on Pintrest.  This app is a wealth of ideas and knowledge on thoughtful gifts to make with how to links included. So scroll, dream and pin.

 Then get realistic and pick a pretty, simple idea that reminds you of someone in your life. You can even search for “nature crafts” and it will give you a host of ideas from your own back yard ( or translated in  frugalise  “free”.  You don’t have to be Martha Stewart. You just have to think enough of someone to make a homespun effort.  Here are a few ideas we are going try. It might be a nailed it or failed it, but one thing is for sure. It’s going to be fun.

I see a frame coming out of this tree

So enjoy your license to veg tonight and couch potato on up with your yoga pants, warm blanket and your Pinterest searching device. When the kids holler for diner- tell them that God gave you an air popper for such a time as this.  

Happy Pinning, Planning and Purpose!!!

The Right Idea

Today's suggestion is simple and to the point. Order something off of Etsy for someone.  Etsy has the right idea for homemade small artists to bring their one of a kind treasures to your doorstep.  They get global with the Internet but stay small and support pockets of Cal communities and individuals. I'd write more but I am due for some local gift giving myself  . Local wine with local friends.

Happy Shopping

Double Blessing!!!

weekly basket with eggs

Today's purchase with purchase choice is outstanding.  In my very own backyard of Spanish Fort, Alabama there  is a local farm that supports CSA or Community Supported Agriculture.  Season in the Sun is a small, family-owned farm that is committed to producing and providing fresh foods, free of chemicals and preservatives. A CSA program offers customers  a healthy, convenient alternative to purchasing processed food from grocery stores. I bet you have one close to you they are popping up everywhere!!

Seasons in the Sun is offering CSA Christmas Specials, Holiday Gift Baskets, and Gift Certificates this holiday seasons! What could be a more perfect gift than fresh, local fruits and vegetables? This is a great way to support your local economy, your local farmer, stick it to the chemical food industry and give your a neighbor a gift that is not filled with ingredients that produce cancer. Even if that is only known in California. Why do they even put that label on things? As if your in Maine it is safe to completely inhale and eat things you can't pronounce?  Whatever.  Let's eat and give real food!!!

Blessings, Blessings all around!!  While your ordering your baskets check out their classes, recipes,  Farmer's Market Saturdays and Farm to Table dinner events.  I hope to see you at one!!

   

Day 2 of December.  Whew. I am no closer than yesterday to finishing Christmas gifts as today was sheet washing day as well as Pintrest craft day!!!  I made a beautiful scroll art painting that read " I procrastinate, therefor I am." 

But in the click of a mouse I am going to purchase a great gift for my girls.  I have searched high and lo for companies that deserve my dime and I want to mention a great organization that has a 40 year history of mercy and accountability.  A rare gem in today's world.   

Samaritan's Purse is a wonderful organization that provides sustainable economic solutions for individuals and communities in poverty.   What does that mean in layman's terms ?

They.  Stick.  Around. 

They don't drop off a meal, gander a nice southern " Bless your heart" and then line the administration's pockets .  They allow you and I the privilege of giving a sustainable gift of chickens, goats, mosquito nets, milk, education, skills training to a family that can continue to grow, learn and give on to others. Samaritan's Purse invests in the community and family as a whole for years. They live with the community, they eat, worship and work together. 

 For as little as $14 you can give some chicks to a family. 

Baby Chicks when grown,  can produce up to 200 eggs each year. 

 Not as pets but as food and income. Food leads to healthy families who work better , who learn more effectively in school, who are less likely to be ill.  Income leads not only money but pride and dignity to be able to provide for your family.

I will be giving the baby chicks because - well I love my 3 chicks , AKA, literally,-

Ashlyn, KK and Addie.

But you can give what speaks to you.  And you can give it in honor of one you love.  My girls are be honored with chicks and they will be gifted themselves by knowing that it's not all about them. It is not about us.

We have enough. If you have access to the Internet and our able to read this blog you have more than 75% of the world.  So check out Samaritan's Purse gift catalog and let me know what you give.

Someone needs a goat people. Get on it .

Let's Browse.

Welcome to December

The clock is ticking.  25 days until Christmas. 

At this point  no one should really be panicked . I mean it's not like we all wait around and tune in on a random Saturday waiting for the announcement of when Christmas will be.

 It's not as if  lottery balls  float up the tube in a  random pattern to set the date. 

 Can you picture that? 

Some overdressed fake blonde, with a symmetrical set of twins at her disposal, turning the number balls to the front so all can see. A cheesy male announcer with over bleached teeth and a microphone he insist on handling like a trophy cackles " The next number is ...., "as Blondie obliges.   And just like that the first number comes out.

 The crowd leans in and BAM there they go.

"A 1 and now a  2. That's 12 !" 

" Nuts that means December. And then it's 2. And a 5!!

 December 25th . Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh this is crazy. " 
Then all of America scrabbles around like its on fire . 

Really?  It's the same date  every single year people !! 

I'm not done shopping but I refuse to make panic purchases. You know the ones that are a gift for the sake of  giving a gift. Or the "I-must-get- a -gift-of-equal-or-greater-value "scenario.  That always results in heartfelt and useful item. :)

We have been trying hard over the past few years to be conscious shoppers. Support our local community,  buy creative and handmade items and purchase from companies with fair labor practices.  Yeah we are still Amazon junkies , but it's not our automatic go to.  We strive to purchase with purpose.  Purpose for the maker, the giver and the reciever.  

What exactly does that look like? Here are a few things we've done so far:

1.Bought a black and white drawing of a human heart from a nephew at an art show to give to my sister who loves weird things like that.  It promoted my nephews skills, contributed to his income, was easier on my wallet and will tickle my sister to have a one of a kind sketch.

2.My mom always gives me a cow or a goat.   Not the kind that live on my land, but one for a family in an impoverished country to make an income. She does it in my name through Heifer International and it suits me fine. The last thing  I need is another random object to dust or of course,as n actual cow in my yard.

I'm over stuff. Please just take me out to lunch some random Tuesday in June and I'm golden . I get that cows and drawings might not be your or your families thing.  I'm going to try and list some great  companies,websites and ideas with unique and purposeful gifts each day until December 24th.

But for today check out the holiday guide at Art of Simple holiday to get you going.

Happy Shopping

Pick Your Priorities

Yesterday was Small Business Saturday. A day where the country is encouraged to shop locally and support their communities.

It is a great idea. It , however needs better timing.  Small Business Saturday comes after the national day of greed otherwise known as Black Friday.( The irony rolled up in the name has just too much commentary for me to even begin). I wish it came before and we frenzied on supporting the people we do life with on a daily basis.

Black Friday entices the best of us to grab the  savings and check off  our Christmas purchases.
Hey I am not one to knock a deal. I currently stalk Hobby Lobby for sales, have a Cartwheel Target App and get FB alerts when my local thrift store has a 10 for $10 (That is an actual thing).
But when the reality of a need is superseded by the "deal" itself, we have been had. It is like when you discover that You have actually been trained by your dog to do something when all the deceived while you thought you were in control. (Some of you have just had a stunning realization- I've been there. Canines are really smart.)

I knew you would catch me

I'm here for you Lord.

 Let's face it when sacrificing sleep;
something I presently require an Act of God to interrupt
(and He has )
in order to get a bargain ,means we have been replaced as the Alpha.

You no longer have control. The sale, the deal, The Man does. 

Not only are we  sacrificing sleep, money, and priorities but our dignity as well. Here are just a few examples:  

Stock Market or Black Friday?

All Dignity Gone.

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter...

what the heck?

I can hear the groans now. That is just so negative. Its fun. I got great deals. I needed this. Okay so the day after Thanksgiving is not the National Day of Evil, but it has become a Monster people. And Monsters continue to live only when they are fed.

It has moved from the start of the Christmas giving  season to an excuse to make others work ON Thanksgiving  through the entire night and continue the madness past 24 hours of frenzy.  The only people pulling the graveyard shift should be power plants, police and emergency services. And maybe the graveyard attendants. Are those real careers?  Hmm... must be pretty quiet. I bet you could bring a book and get paid to read or better yet blog. Gotta look into that; I'm a night owl.   What? oh sorry . Did I go off on a ADD side bar ? Sorry that happens every now and then. Or as my husband likes to say " You thinking at out loud again "

Where was I? Oh yes Black Friday. The bottom line is it has turned into madness. People camp out, stay up all night, brave the elements and get this : fight each other for crap they do not need.
Yeah I went there...the  item of your desire is not needed.  

Entertainment is important when stalking deals.

It ain't bread people.
It's not a form of shelter.
It's not a vaccine, basic clothing or clean water.

It's stuff.
 I have stuff.  I like stuff.  Stuff is fun, I get it.
But when stuff becomes the center, we are no longer on point. We no longer are in control; it is in control.

That alone is enough to make me stop, collaborate and listen. 

 I am nothing if not a control freak ( if you have any amount of estrogen running thorough you I know you can relate.)  I love sticking it to the system with my 40% off plus another 20% and a gift card purchase. I justify my "it was buy one get one free so why would I just get one half off" theory.   But when I realized how effortless my "smart" ways were apply to things off priority and were more about winning the game, (which is the retail lie of all time- the house always wins).  I was kinds sick to my stomach. In a fetal position-I should nap now so I don't have to think about how weak I am- kinda way.

I just celebrated Thanksgiving with a warm bed, warm food and a warm family and now I am supposed to brave the cold weather with a cold attitude for a "hot" deal? . Oh Irony let me count the ways.

 I haven't given in to the machine for several years now  and I want to encourage others rethink  their habits.  Not criticizing just asking you to take inventory. Inventory of things where people can break in and steal and  where moth and rust will win out in the end and inventory of things stored up as intangible treasure that can't be stolen or destroyed. Which list would be longer?
I want my intangible list to be longer.

  As a Jesus chick, these are my instructions, so it matters.  I want time with my kids, snuggling with my spouse, celebrating with others, meeting others needs, a good long walk, a deep prayer and tons of hugs to flow over  my Ipad, shoes, and dare I say my Hobby Lobby basket.  But it's a Christian company right? --isn't that like shopping for Jesus? (insert eye roll and another story)

So basically it comes down to this, Black Friday demands two things of me : My time and my money. I was once told that if you want to know where your priorities lie, look where you spend your time and your money.

O-U-C-H.  Black Friday doesn't deserve either. Mine or yours.

This year I really stuck it to the system I worked and made money ( not retail) and then I came home put on my PJ's and sat on the front porch (much to the disgust of my children), eating leftovers  and playing reverse charades with my tribe Ha! Take that greed machine. My presence was undoubtedly felt. (where is my sarcasm font?).

But the bottom line is this: There will be no supply where there  is not a demand. I hope little by little (read:  by storm)  people will choose to be in control, prioritize and stay in their Pj's on the porch; if for no other reason to savor the horrified look on  their children's  faces.  

 

Now that is an intangible moment stored up that no one can steal.