May your holiday season be filled with rest and renewal. Memories and belonging. Joy and hope. Generosity and compassion. Celebrate traditions. Create new memories. Let's slow down and savour these days. May we create space for the things that matter most.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
With Christmas coming and all, I gotta tell you about one of my favourite websites. The information on this site is changing the way that I shop. The truth is that we vote with our wallets. If you're anything like me, I want to be more and more a part of the solution and less and less a part of the problem.
BETTER WORLD SHOPPER is a site dedicated to providing people with a comprehensive, up-to-date, reliable account of the social and environmental responsibility of every company on the planet AND making it available in practical forms that individuals can use in their everyday lives. Coming out of more than 5 years of intensive research, this work is based on a comprehensive database of over 1000 companies and utilizes 25+ reliable sources of data to cover everything from the environment to human rights, community development to animal protection (taken from website).
Companies and Products are given a grade, based on the following 5 areas of criteria:
Check out the website at www.betterworldshopper.com. The website is so informative. There is also an app you can download to your phone or a book that you order through the website. I just got my hands on the book. Really great stuff!
Last Christmas, I tasted these delicious treats and found out they were called Buckeye's. I googled the recipe and this year I decided to try making them. They were soooo easy and so yummy. Like the kind of yummy that is hard to share, if you can relate. If you're looking for another recipe this Christmas season, this one is so worth checking out:)
Buckeyes By: Tammy Winters
"This recipe is so good that I double it whenever I make it. Since it is peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate it is almost like candy. Real buckeyes are nuts that grow on trees and are related to the horse chestnut."
Directions In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar. The dough will look dry. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (to be used later as the handle for dipping) and chill in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until smooth. Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.
Kristal and Krista. Congratulations! I'll be in touch to get those to you asap:)
Kristal -This Bible looks great! We were planning on buying Maja a Bible for Christmas, but haven't gotten it yet! And of course, Callie would enjoy hearing stories with her big sister :)
Krista - This book looks beautiful! I was just at the Christian book store the other night looking for a bible for Lauren as a Christmas gift. This one looks perfect. Thanks for mentioning it :)
I used www.random.org to choose the winners, which was just as well, because after I read all of the comments, I wanted to give allof you a bible:)
If you didn't win and would still love to own a copy or purchase one as a gift, you can do so here. It would make a great Christmas gift :)
And don't worry! If you didn't win this time, I've got another giveaway planned for the New Year - from Dr. Ellis Jones at Better World Shopper. Fun!
I've had my eye on a pair of TOMS for some time (pretty much since I heard Blake Mycoskie speak at the 2010 Global Leadership Summit). Everyone is chatting about how comfy and stylish they are. The best part is that when you buy a pair of TOMS, you actually purchase 2 pairs of shoes. One pair for yourself and one pair is given to a child in need in the developing world.
Here's what is written on TOMS website:
One for One Movement
In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.
Why Shoes?
Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:
•A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
•Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
•Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.
Check out this short video about the One for One Movement:
If you have Christmas presents to buy, a pair of TOMS would be so great. You can buy them for men, women, kids and even toddlers. Or there's always a TOMS gift card :)
As you can see, I am in love. Check out www.TOMS.ca
