Support Heart of Haiti & Give Back With Macy's!

Heart Of Haiti is a campaign to give back to Haiti when you buy one of the unique handmade items, available at Macys.  These proceeds help those in need of better nutrition, education and health care.  An earthquake last year has left Haiti in desperate need of support, as they continue to work hard to rebuild, and strive despite tragedy.  When you purchase these beautiful products, you are helping the artisan to earn 22% of the sale.  This income has helped artisans to rebuild homes, pay for school, and provide a living for their families.

Blasé Emilien

From their website:

"Heart of Haiti also offers new opportunities for artists to collaborate with US designers, strengthening artisan associations and inspiring and energizing their communities. Men and women are working together, gaining confidence and hope for the future. Master artisans who planned to leave the country are now staying behind to train the next generation. The tradition of rich and unique Haitian art lives on... through the generosity of many like you."

Pascale

There are 27 items available at Macys in the Heart of Haiti collection. I love the bright colors and unique designs!  There are so many great items for any household! The beautiful fruit decor is perfect for the kitchen.  For the living room, they have the beautiful Heart of Haiti Candle Holder, Fire Bird Hurricane. They have photo frames, wall decor and more!   I love that each item comes with a certificate of authenticity and artisan signature.  This makes it more personal I think.  And each item is handmade, so no two will be exactly alike! You truly have a unique item!!

Isador

And best of all I love that these artisans are giving such a great opportunity to make a living.  They are combined with great companies to bring their products to us! And it gives us an excuse to do what we love most-shopping! When the hubby asks, tell him it was for a really great cause!  Its a win-win-win!! ☺

Onel Bagdais

More information on the Heart of Haiti Project and the products for purchase can be found at http://www.macys.com/heartofhaiti 

 

More information on the the Heart of Haiti founder and Fairwinds Trading CEO Willa Shalit can be found here.

I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.

10 tips for smarter holiday shopping and gifting

Do you find yourself responsible for all the holiday shopping for your entire family? Are you wishing it could all be easier and take less time? Have you ever dreamed of a one-stop shop to cover all your holiday shopping and gifting needs? Even if you haven’t thought about Office Depot before as a holiday shopping destination, you should! Did you know that you can get gifts for everyone from your toddlers to your grandpa in one easy stop? Not to mention, Office Depot carries all your gift wrapping essentials and can ship your gifts directly from the store to your entire list!

 I have been the  main shopper for my family since it started lol!! Christmas is coming faster and faster every year.  Maybe it's because my kids are growing too and life is just so hectic!! When will I find time to get all the shopping done this year? How can I make it affordable and get great gifts for everyone on my list?  Well, I am here to share with you 10 tips for smarter holiday shopping and gifting!!  This year, use my advice to make the holidays a little less stressful!!

1.  Start early.  I find things throughout the year I can stock up for the holidays.  These can be anything for anyone.  This is also great to do right after Christmas or any holiday when toys and goodies go on sale.  Stick it in a big rubbermaid box and start saving for the following year.  You will have less of a price shock in the later part of the year if you spread the buying throughout the year!

2. Get those emergency gifts!! Then if someone needs a gift for a last minute party, or you are surprised with an unexpected gift, you have something on hand and ready to go.  Have wrapping supplies or gift bags handy to save a trip to the store.

3.  Save you old gift bags!! This is the best way to recycle and saves a trip to the store last minute or not having a bag when you need it the most! Get a large flat tupperware box and fill it with bags, then slide it under the bed for storage!! Then its accessible when you need it!

4.  Don't try to buy everything on your kid's list.  I know how much we all want to fulfill the whole list, but be realistic!  Buy a few of the top items that are the ones you know they really want.  When you have as much family as I do, they get enough from everyone anyways, and chances are it will be okay as long as they did get a thing or two they REALLY wanted!

5.  Shop online to beat the holiday lines!! Now a days online shopping can be so much cheaper than the mall, so why get all rushed and stressed trying to shop in a store with kids who are tired and hungry and a million other moms trying to get the same thing as you?? You could sit at home in your pj's and shop while you sip some cocoa!!

6.  Arrange a family gift exchange to save money.  My mother in law and I organize one every year with my husband and I, his sisters and their spouses, and my husband's parents.  Every couple gets a couple to get a gift for, with a $20 limit. We also have the kids swap and they have a $10 limit.  Then we aren't having to buy for everyone in the family, just the ones we drew from the hat.

7.  YOU CAN SAY NO TO SOME PARTIES!  I know holiday parties are fun but having to buy a gift for each exchange or a hostess gift can get pricey, so choose the ones that are most important and decline a few as well!  Then you will be able to spend a little less!

8.  Treat yourself too! While you are out getting your kids the best toy ever, or getting your hubby that amazing whatever it is that guys like, get a pedicure or grab a coffee with a friend.  Taking ME time is the best way to have a relaxing and enjoyable time getting the holiday shopping done!

9.  Get help! If you have someone hard to shop for, like your father in law or grandpa, take their spouse along to shop and help get a gift they are sure to love!  Plus its always more fun to shop with someone else (note this only works if you are best buds like me and my mother in law lol)

10.  Remember that Christmas isn't about the gifts! It is about our time together and how much we care for each other.  A thoughtful thing like a framed photo or something practical may be the best gift for people who have everything! My grandpa tells me every year he doesn't need anything but a card to say I am thinking of him.  Just shows that it is the thought that counts!!


There you have it, 10  ways to be smart about shopping and gifting this year!! Feel free to share your tips in the comments below!!

"I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Office Depot blogging program, making me eligible to get a $40 Office Depot gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

CSN Stores: Women's Fall Shoe Review!

You may have read my previous post about the excellent selection of products from CSN Stores! There are over 200 stores full of products for everyone! No matter the budget or the person you are shopping for, you will be able to find something great!  I could literally spend hours on CSN just browsing all the great stuff!  Could make it difficult to accomplish much else for the day!!

I recently purchased a great pair of Adi Designs Women's Microsuede Mid Calf Boot in Black.  These boots look so amazing with a pair of skinny jeans! And with the chilly fall weather, they are the perfect footwear for the season! The boots are also available in brown, camel and grey, so you can buy one for each outfit!  At $35 a pair, you can't go wrong! That beats the price of more expensive boots that look the same!

The boots are super comfortable and very warm! The insides are super fuzzy and so cozy!  There are lots of ways to mix them up too! You can wear them like me, with your favorite pair of skinny jeans! Or pair them with a cute dress or leggings!  No matter how you wear them, they are sure to be cute! And very popular too! I have gotten lots of compliments on the boots!

What I was really impressed with was the rapid delivery of the boots! I placed my order on Thursday and by Monday they were on my doorstep! I am sure if I had placed the order a day or two before it would have been even quicker! I was so happy to get them so quickly and of course I put them on right away! I was glad to see the boots fit well. I get nervous buying things online sometimes, because it is hard to know how it will fit, and I hate having to wait for your product to come back because the one you got didn't fit well.  These come in whole sizes only, so that can also be a bit tricky.  But luckily with socks the size 9 fit just right. I am usually a size 8 1/2, so I didn't dare go a size smaller. And I would most definitely say wear socks with these things. Nobody wants stinky shoes! These things are like an oven, they keep your feet nice and toasty!

I would also recommend getting a can of water resistant spray for the shoes, to help keep them clean and protected. I had a pair of similar boots of another brand last year, and they did get worn out and were no longer wearable. This time I want to take care of the boots so they last long!

You can purchase your own boots here!  Check out CSN Stores for women's shoes and thousands of other great products!


I was compensated with a gift certificate for this review from CSN Stores. This has in no way impacted my opinions or review of CSN Stores.  Photos from CSN Stores.