{SMC} Awesome Gifts that Give Back

Okay, I’m still not done with my Christmas shopping and it is stressing me out. Not only am I coming uncomfortably close to maxing out the budget I set for Christmas but also I still have no idea what to get some people still left on the list. May I add, this is the first Christmas I can remember not really giving to others. So then, I got the idea to research gifts that give back that don’t suck and here is what I found:

Awesome Gifts that Give Back!

  • Shelter Pups.  Shelter Pups are custom stuffed animals that look just like your four-legged friend.  You can send in a picture of YOUR dog and they will make you a stuffed one that looks just like yours or you can adopt one that needs a home.  I was intrigued by this site, which was started by a young girl who loves dogs, because as avid dog lover who save my 2 dogs from shelter life, I loved the idea of my purchase, or adoption as they call it, coming with Rescue Points worth real money that can donated to over 5,000 authorized SPCA shelters.  Adopting a Shelter Pup is so much more than just purchasing an object. It’s a vote and a cheer for doing things differently, better, and in a way that can benefit everyone – humans and dogs alike.  Plus they are just too darn cute! 

help shelter dogsshelter pups3shelter pups4

  • TOMS.  They are cute, comfy, and with every purchase, TOMS will donate a pair to a child in need.  They give new shoes that are specifically designed for the person receiving them and are often paired with education about hygiene and healthy behavior. 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.
  • Sevenly.  Sevenly is a non-profit that creates weekly cause campaigns where people could purchase lifestyle products that benefited a partner charity, Sevenly successfully unlocked a way to not only raise major funding but huge awareness too. Every week they bring awareness to a problem and come up with a plan for a solution.  This week they are partnering with Reece’s Rainbow to help orphans with Down syndrome and other special needs become adopted by their forever family. With your support, they will provide financial grants to qualified families so adoption of these beautiful children is made possible. 
Womens V-Neck

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{Money & Relationships} 5 Money Questions You Need to Ask Your Significant Other TODAY!

Okay…so a while back I was researching ideas for the Mr.’s 30th birthday gift, when I came across an article about things couples should discuss before taking it to the next level. I read it, thought about discussing it with the Mr., and lost it. Oh well, I thought to myself, until a similar yet more thorough list came across my Pinterest feed. It’s a list of 100 questions from a book called Don’t You Dare Get Married Until You Read This! The Book of Questions for Coupless by Corey Donaldson. Let me now add the disclaimer that I get paid to design andwrite about weddings and other special event, so this type of stuff pops up in my inbox all of the time. This list, however is the most comprehensive I’ve come across, and it includes questions about MONEY. One of the major killer of marriages is MONEY and a couple’s individual and collective attitudes regarding spending, saving, and basic money management skills.  One easy example is Teresa Giudice from the New Jersey Housewives, who once famously said, “her money is her money and his money is her money”.  If you are in a serious relationship, I recommend you talk through these five questions and the others in the book, which I plan on purchasing today!

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE MONEY QUESTIONS BELOW:

1. What justifies going into debt?
2. What are all your current debts?
3. How should we prepare for a financial emergency?
4. Do you feel that lack of money is a good reason not to have children?
5. At this point in our relationship (pre-marriage), would you be comfortable transferring all of your money into my bank account?

cropped-logo-twitter2014.jpgWhat do you think about these questions?

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