2010 gift guide - the charitable one

This is my gift guide for the friend who likes to give back. Proceeds from all of these gifts are given to a variety of charities, or directly help those in under-developed/etc. countries, and when you give [or get!] a gift that gives back, it's hard to fight the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing you've helped someone else :) . 

TOMS shoes donates a pair of shoes to a child for every pair purchased. The candles from Pottery Barn help fund St. Jude's research. The FEED bear will ensure that 5 children under the age of 5 will receive a high protein paste to help them properly develop. The clutch was created in togo by a recipient of a microfinance loan through which the female artisans build a small business so they can move out of poverty and into self-sufficiency. The headphones benefit Project(RED), which benefits the Global Fund to Fight AIDS in Africa. The lipstick is through M.A.C. cosmetics VIVA Glam fund, which supports HIV/AIDS charities. The snowglobe benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, an organization in the NY area providing support and raising awareness for HIV/AIDS families. The bracelet benefits the NOH8 Campaign, a group assisting in the fight against Prop 8, and promoting tolerance and equality. 

1. toms shoes 2. bag 3. lidded candle 4. feed bear 5. headphones 6. lipstick 7. snowglobe 8. bracelet

happy new year!

As the new year is fast approaching, the time comes for most to make resolutions. I personally try to avoid them, because I don't need more things on my to-do list that, but I do want to try to be a more socially and environmentally concious person in the way I live and the way my career choices takes me. That being said, when I was on the Domino website making sure I hadn't been missing issues, I found a project they embarked on. 

"The domino design project—the transformation of an eight-story, 40-unit apartment building in the South Bronx into beautifully furnished homes for families living with HIV/AIDS—began nearly two years ago for domino, when interior designer Sara Bengur approached us about joining forces. Bengur and seven other talented designers signed up to turn the bare apartments at the Woodycrest House into high-style homes. We solicited donations for everything from armoires to cutlery, and they rolled in at a generous level and pace: Pier 1 Imports gave the team carte blanche to shop its wares; Jonathan Adler donated all the bathroom accessories;Dyson offered up a yellow vacuum cleaner for each apartment; Benjamin Moore provided the paint for both the units and the public spaces." [domino online]

The article went on to list all the different companies and designers who donated to the project. I hope that some day wherever and whatever I'm doing in the fashion industry, I can be a part of something like this, whether its financially, or with my services. Here are some photos of the empty apartments, and the finished results. Kudos to everyone involved in this!

      

      

      

      

      

   

Also, if you're in a charitable mood this New Year, another really great charity helping families afflicted/affected by HIV/AIDS is Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. They hold really great fundraisers in the NYC area, so if you live there, I suggest checking them out some time. They hold an awesome Flea Market every fall, a Broadway Bares cabaret-type event [that is exactly what it sounds like!], and a Stars in the Alley meet & greet with Broadway celebs and soap stars, among many other things! 

Happy 2009!!!

christmas bells are ringing...

and I have been compiling my "wish list." I really don't have anything I really truly need for Christmas this year, but I still managed to come up with a few things I wouldn't mind waiting under the tree for me from Santa or someone else... :)

*This could grow, shrink and change over the next few weeks, but this is what I could think of tonight, and is in no special order...

   

l-r: "the wizard of oz" book, ipod case, nyc pillowcases, gossip girl season 1 dvd

  

l-r: wizard of oz on dvd, daniel vosovic's book, "inside out," legally blonde:the musical tour tickets

  

l-r: spring awakening tour tickets, russian matryoshka tapestry from urban outfitters, broadway cares/equity fights aids umbrella [ella, ella, eh, eh...]

 

l-r: "taking woodstock" [soon to be a motion picture featuring my future bff jonathan groff!!], spring awakening "in the flesh" companion book

aaaaaaaaand if you can't find anything else, this wouldn't be too bad smiling at me on Christmas morning ;)