thoughtful gift guide | buy gifts that give back

When I was planning out my year-long Happiness Project, I intentionally picked "Family" as the happiness theme for December. I knew that the holiday season would already be family focused, so it would be natural for me to focus on happiness in my family while we were all together for the holidays. I knew that I wanted one of my happiness goals for December to be centered on giving more thoughtful gifts.
Last month, I published Part 1 of my Thoughtful Gift Guide, which gave tips and tricks on how to support local business owners and artists by buying local and handmade gifts. This month, I am bringing you Part 2 which focuses on buying gifts that give back to the community, charities, and people in need. In my life, I try to be a conscious consumer. This simply means being aware of where my money goes when I buy something. As consumers, there is power in our spending and we have the choice to spend our money on products that directly benefit other people by empowering them or showing them generosity.
With this gift guide and others like it, I hope we can start changing the world by changing the way we spend our money.
Gifts That Give Back

Get Fresh

Sometimes you find a product that not only gives back, but is actually good for you! Over the years, I've been trying (TRYING) to switch over to more natural beauty products. I don't like the thought of putting so many icky things on my skin, you know? Well when the super sweet folks at Get Fresh sent me their sugar body scrub and body lotion from their new line, Warrior Princess, it seemed too good to be true. Not only is the Warrior Princess line formulated with no synthetic dyes, parabens, or sulfates, 10% of their entire sales benefit veterans of the US Military who have returned home with physical or psychological wounds. Um, how amazing is that??

Another amazing thing about Get Fresh is that the quality of their product is evident from the moment you take a whiff of the incredible Blackberry Vanilla scent. YUM. It is some of the best smelling bath product I've used in awhile. And that scrub? My skin is so smooth and soft that I don't even need to use the lotion (but what fun would that be? Plus, the lotion is SO good!). Based right here in SoCal, I'm so happy I found out about Get Fresh and I encourage you to get to know them, too!

The Giving Keys

I can't take credit for discovering this awesome company. My husband stumbled upon them last year when searching for Christmas presents for my two younger sisters (BEST big brother ever, right?). The Giving Keys employs people transitioning out of homelessness in Los Angeles by making jewelry made of recycled keys. When you buy a piece of one-of-a-kind jewelry from The Giving Keys, each engraved with their own inspirational message, you are helping to support people who really need it.
The coolest part? The company encourages people to give their keys away to someone they come across who could really use its empowering message. The key in the picture belonged to my youngest sister who took it with her when she traveled overseas for the first time to study abroad in Berlin! When she returned home, she passed the key along to her best friend who was also preparing to live overseas. Seriously, this idea blows my mind and I love everything The Giving Keys stands for.

Macy's Heart of Haiti

If you've been following the blog for a little bit, you've seen me post about Macy's Heart of Haiti collection here and here. My Heart of Haiti frame (pictured above) is currently on my mantle and I can't wait to hang my Heart of Haiti Christmas ornament on the tree this year! The idea behind the stunning and handmade home decor and jewelry is a simple one: buy something from the Heart of Haiti collection and directly support the artisan in Haiti who handcrafted that unique item. It couldn't be easier to invest in a beautiful community that is still recovering from the devastating 2010 earthquake. Each piece is a true work of art and would make a great gift for anyone on your Christmas list.

Noonday Collection

This stacked arrow necklace from Noonday Collection is so incredible that I was reluctant to part with it as I gave it to my little sister as a birthday gift. Everything that Noonday sells is drool-worthy, from jewelry to accessories to home decor. It doesn't hurt that the company is doing some major good in the world by empowering artisans around the world with a steady, fair income and financial independence. When each amazing handmade piece is delivered, it comes with the story of the artisan who made it and reminds us that we are all so connected in ways we don't stop to realize. I fight the urge to buy up the entire website for myself, so I dare you to visit the site and not want to do the same!

Additional Resources
Obviously, I could go on and on about all the really great companies out there that make sure our dollars are being put to good use. The gift ideas I've listed here are from companies that I feel comfortable personally recommending. I know there are many, many, MANY others, but this is just a small sampling of all the great gifts you can give that also give something back.
For more thoughtful gift ideas for gifts that give back, check out the following lists:
In which this is a Christmas Gift Guide to Empower Women by Sarah Bessey
Giving Well | A Holiday Gift Guide by Nikole Lim
Ethical Holiday Shopping Guide by Danielle Vermeer
Ethical Shopping Guide by The Art of Simple
Gifts that Give Back by Oh Joy
Give Generation is a site that spotlights brands that give back
With all this wonderful information out there, I don't really have an excuse to not be more thoughtful about my gift giving. Rather than feel guilty, lets feel empowered that we can make a small difference in this world that might not feel so small to someone else.
Let me know in the comments: Where is your favorite place to shop for gifts that give back?

**I received complimentary product from Get Fresh, however all thoughts and opinions are my own**