Colorfully Curated Gifts for Her, Under $50
When I’m thinking about gifts for someone close, I often think about their favorite color(s). My mom loves red and purple, my sister in law also loves red, and my friend Jessica’s favorite color is blue. So whether you are looking for a gift for a birthday, shower, Mother’s Day, or just to remind a friend you’re thinking of them, I’m sure you can find something in this colorfully curated gallery that brings someone to mind. All items are fair trade and/or sustainably made. Enjoy!
20 for 2020: Women Who Inspire Those to Go Green and Shop Ethically Part 2.
When I started my blog post about inspirational women in sustainability I had every intent of keeping it short, say maybe, 10 women. 15 max. However, there where too many badass women to name. In fact, it was hard keeping it to a list of 20! Here is part 2 of the 20 for 2020 inspirational women in sustainability series. 11. and 12. Lauren Conrad & Hannah Skvarla Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla inspire those to empower artisans by shopping fair trade home decor. The two co-founders formed the idea for their fair trade company The Little Market when on a trip to Uganda and Tanzania. While in Africa they…
20 for 2020: Women Who Inspire Those to Go Green & Shop Ethically, Part 1.
March is one of my favorite months of the year for many reasons; I love college basketball, St. Patrick’s Day, and the first day of spring is in March. Mainly I love March because it’s Women’s History Month: a time where we can pause to observe and celebrate the vital role of women in American history and appreciate the struggle women went through and continue to experience to get equal rights. Unfortunately, the Coronavius pandemic has largely overshadowed Women’s History Month this year. It is a dark and uncertain time for all. I know for many simply reading the news produces much anxiety. Let’s all take a moment to step…
Cozy and Sustainable Coats for Winter
Winter is here and it’s time to break out the coats out for the season. Luckily there are lots of great ethical options for outerwear. Companies are starting to use recycled down and other sustainable materials for coats, and many of these coats are B Corporation or Fair Trade certified. My go-to sustainable coats are a wool pea coat purchased from Amour Vert (currently on sale) and a Sherpa coat from Whimsy & Row (pictured below). I’ve included these styles and more in a short list of my favorite sustainable winter outerwear from some amazing companies who are working to inspire change in the industry. Amour Vert Amour Vert transforms…
2020: The Year of More or The Year of Less?
More or less? Which word do you find yourself using in your new year’s resolutions? While I was making goals for 2020 I realized that every goal I wanted to achieve contained the words more or less. I’ll show you what I mean: Goals for 2020: Write more blog posts. Spend more time with friends and family. Spend less time worrying about the small things that may be out of my control. Buy less altogether, but buy more green products. Travel more. Spend less time at work and doing work at home (teaching can be all consuming!) Spend less time on social media and read more. Learn more about fair…
Trades of Hope Cyber Monday!
While I chose to skip Black Friday sales this year, there is something about Cyber Monday I find hard to resist. There’s no crowds or lines- just me in my pajamas browsing my favorite sites. It’s especially rewarding when you know your purchase helps women living in poverty and/or previous sex trafficking victims have dignified jobs and provide for their families. The Fair trade company Trades of Hope is offering some of my favorite pieces for up to 70% off through December 3rd. Here are some of my favorite pieces: To view all Cyber Monday sales and shop my Trades of Hope store click here!
FALLing for Ethical Boots
Forget diamonds– shoes are a woman’s best friend. Why do we love shoes so much? My theory is that it’s because shoes are versatile and body type doesn’t matter when it comes to rocking a pair of shoes. As I’ve learned more about ethics of the garment industry I’ve especially focused on what I put on my feet. Over the years shoe companies have become exposed and known for bad labor and environmental practices. In the 90s Nike and other sports shoe brands were exposed for their use of child labor and sweatshops. However, it’s not just sneakers that are made unethically. When it comes to boots, many consumers are…
Easy Steps to Make Your Next Party More Sustainable
Every day I become more aware of the choices I make and my environmental impact. I’ve been able to change many of my daily routines to embrace a greener lifestyle. I found myself wondering, how can I make changes on less frequent occasions, like holidays and parties? First, let me say that I love hosting a party. I love a good theme and all the choices that go with hosting. What music do I play? What decorations should I get? What food should we have? This fall my husband and I threw a party to celebrate the last day of summer, with an “End of Summer Blues” theme where almost…
My First Foray Into Fair Trade Fashion
How that’s for an alliteration? Fair Trade was a term I was vaguely familiar with for years after stepping foot in a Ten Thousand Villages store in Cambridge, Massachussetts. I recognized it as goods made by artisans in other countries and were made using traditional craftsmanship of those countries. It wasn’t until I created my wedding registry in 2016 at The Little Market that I discovered the full extent of fair trade decor and how buying fair trade certified products supports artisans in other countries by providing them with fair wages and safe working conditions. My enthusiasm for fair trade grew and I started working with a fair trade jewelry…
Trades of Hope Savanna Collection
“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.” -John Hemingway Ever since I was a little girl I have dreamed about Africa, especially the animals of the African savanna. I preferred playing with figurines of cheetahs and giraffes over dolls, and my bedroom had an African safari theme. As an adult my childhood dreams of traveling to Africa came true and I was able to visit Ethiopia and Ghana. I also fell in love with the people, the traditions, the beautiful designs they incorporate into their clothing and crafts. As a first grade teacher I teach about the savanna habitat every year, and I love sharing my…
