Conscious Christmas Gift Guide

This year we are continuing the pattern of less is more with our gift giving.  The girls will each get a few things they really want, and we will focus on giving to others - friends, family and those less fortunate than ourselves. For those gifts we're buying, I'm trying to stay local when possible, and from there find companies I can trust to make safe quality products in the USA. Anything made outside the country I want to see has been made in a way that supports the local community. In case you're looking for ideas, I thought I would share my list of favorites with you!

Ceader Hill Heirlooms is an etsy shop that provides handmade wooden toys in Minnesota. These Waldorf inspired wooden animals and nature scenes are incredibly detailed and beautiful. I get just as excited as my girls when we make a purchase from this shop, and the owner is very sweet and responsive.

Looking for more wooden toys or a beautiful doll for your little ones?  I discovered TreeHouse Kids on the recommendation of a friend, and just purchased some lovely toys there as well.  All toys are made with eco friendly or recycled materials, and the shop owner plants a tree for every purchase! You'll find colorful blocks, peg people, bean bags and adorable rag dolls and doll clothing. If I wasn't already finishing a set of Waldorf inspired dolls for the girls, I would have purchased these in a heartbeat.

If you have a little artist in the house, Kiddie Closet by GrammasShop has adorable art totes at a very reasonable price. With a huge amount of fabrics to choose from, you're sure to find a tote that suits your child's interests. My girls love to play with their art totes anywhere - they are great for entertaining around the house, in the car or airplane, or while out running errands. We've had ours for nearly a year now, and they are holding up really well. This is another etsy shop, located in Utah.

I adored Amy long before I realized she and her husband were the creators of Little Alouette. If you have younger ones in the house, these wooden teethers are just the thing.  In addition to the beautiful bird teether that Amy gave Sugar Plum when they first met, the girls also have a darling dinosaur set that Santa sent for Christmas last year. I love how these beautiful toys grow with my girls, and they are so beautiful that they will be treasured for years to come.

Want a cute shirt or tutu set for the holidays, or all year round?  I discovered Sticheroos when I wanted a personalized diaper cover for Sweetpea's first birthday party.  I have since bought the girls 2 sets of shirts.  The shop owner is willing to make custom designs to suit your needs or your child's interests, and the shirts we have purchased lasted well past the time the girls outgrew them. 

Does your little one love lovies? These darling elephant sensory lovies are just the thing, from Icing on the Cupcake.  I purchased one similar to this and a minky blanket to match.  Now that Sugar Plum is a bit old for her lovies she shares them with her dolls.  Unique, well made and adorable, they make a great gift.

In addition to the gifts mentioned above, I love giving experience gifts - memories that don't take up space in our small home!  What child wouldn't love a Membership to Zoo or Children's Museum, or an Art, Dance or Sports Class?  This kind of gift is so easy to personalize to your child's needs, and helps to support the local community as well.  Is a membership or class more than you were looking to spend?  Maybe a show or musical performance would be more your taste.  We have a fabulous children's theater that has regular child themed performances (as well as acting classes available!) that Sweetpea loves.  In our case, grandma takes her and they make an afternoon of it - she loves the special time and chance to feel like such a big kid!

One last idea, and something we do each year as part of helping the girls understand the importance of giving.  For those especially hard to buy for relatives, I have the girls help me pick out a gift from Heifer International.  There are a wonderful variety of gifts, and you can buy a relatively inexpensive "share" of an animal, up to a large gift meant to help an entire community.  I love that Heifer gifts keep on giving, because by being in the program, families agree to "pass on the gift" by giving the offspring of their gifts to others in need.  Gifts such as honeybees, rabbits, goats and more provide families with income and food to become self sufficient.  The girls love to hear about the types of gifts, how they will help a family, and make their own choice (given a fairly specific price target) as to what they want to purchase.  Then we create a card to share with the person who we are buying the gift in honor of, explaining the program, the gift, and how the girls came to choose their specific gift.

What are you buying this year?  I'd love to hear what you love to buy for your family and for others!

Chris Mann wows with Roads Album

I have been eagerly anticipating an album from Chris Mann for some time now - ever since Sweetpea and I were taken with his charm, thoughtfulness, and oh yeah - that amazing voice at BlogHer 2009.  There we were, unexpectedly together in Chicago as my babysitter had changed plans at the last minute. Sweetpea was a few months past two years old, and I was every bit of eight months pregnant.  I'm sure we made an interesting couple at the parties each evening, but we were having too much fun to care - especially at the people's party, when we were goofing off and dancing the night away with Anissa Mayhew and a few other newly aquainted friends from my online world. Chris was kind enough to invite Sweetpea up on stage and she loved every second of her time in the spotlight. I'm not sure she really remembers the experience now that several years have passed, but she still loves to hear the story, and to listen to Chris sing.

We were both excited when One2One Network sent us the new album, Roads, to review. And I'm happy to say that it was every bit what we had hoped it would be.  Showcasing Chris's fabulous voice and staying true to the sound you heard on The Voice, Roads will leave you wanting more (songs, that is). And for those of you who truly do want more, there is a Christmas Album that I'm sure is fabulous as well!

To preview four songs from Roads, follow this link.  Roads can be purchased on iTunes and Amazon.  I was supplied with a copy of the album for review.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Turnips with a twist - Love me some greens!

 

I love that we are still picking turnips from our garden in November. When cooking with the turnips, don't overlook the greens - they are a nutritional powerhouse and are very tasty when cooked up the right way! For years I've been cooking any and all greens coarsely chopped and boiled in chicken broth. Just as they finish cooking, I freshly grate some nutmeg into the mix and serve.

 

As the weather gets colder, the turnip greens are getting a little extra bite, so I added a few splashes of Nakano Natural Rice Vinegar to the chicken broth.  The added tang paired well with the stronger taste of the late season greens, and added a nice flavor without being overpowering. With no sugar, preservatives or calories, it's a great way to add flavor and feel good about it!

 

I love these greens as is, but they are also wonderful in other things like soups and casseroles.  An extra big batch means there are leftovers to sneak into other dishes... Next week I'll share my "let's keep us all healthy!" chicken and veggie soup, with turnip greens as one of the star veggies.

 

Tangy Turnip Greens

1 large batch of greens - about 4 turnips worth

Olive oil to coat your pan

1 - 2 cups of chicken or other broth

2 dashes of Nakano natural rice vinegar

dash of nutmeg, freshly grated is preferred

 

Coarsely chop your greens and rinse them well. (I find this is the best way to get rid of any dirt or grit that might have followed you in the house!) Don't worry to much about draining them thoroughly, as you're going to be boiling them anyway...toss them in the pan with a little olive oil and allow the greens to wilt for a few minutes. If necessary, add any remaining greens as the wilting begins.  Now add the broth and vinegar. Cook until tender, then grate a bit of nutmeg over the top. Serve warm, and save leftovers to add to soups, casseroles and the like!

 

 

*disclaimer* I was provided with Nakano vinegar to test in my favorite recipes and compensated for my time. As always, all opinions are my own, and I only recommend products that I use and love.