Child Survival Program in Ethiopia through Compassion International
avatar by on December 7, 2012   •   26 Comments Live With Purpose You

Holiday shopping? Wait just one second.

So as I mentioned earlier this week, SLM is partnering with Compassion to sponsor a Child Survival Program in Ethiopia. So. very. excited. about this prospect. All of us as a community, passionate about living simply, helping mamas in Africa so they can simply live? It’s just too much wonderful.

This CSP needs $25,000 per year to operate. As a blog network, we get well over one million unique visitors monthly. If everyone who visited our sites gave a dollar? Holla. These women and babies would be well-served for years to come.

But right now? I’m going to show you some stuff I bought the other day at Target and Home Depot, because it affects these mamas in Africa. Yes, this is the same post. I’m not rabbit-trailing—follow me and I’ll show you my point.

[Read more...]

avatar by on December 5, 2012   •   57 Comments Live With Purpose You

Let’s bless some mamas, shall we?

This might be one of the most exciting posts I’ve ever written here. I’ve started and stopped it so many times because I want it to be just right, and yet the words aren’t stringing them together quite the way I want.

But you all are great, so I’m just going to plow on through already and get on with it. Ready?

There’s a village in small-town Ethiopia with our name on it. And by that, I mean WE, as a community of people who read and write the Simple Living blogs, have the chance to specifically and extraordinarily bless another community of mamas and babies who need a bit of our help.

Seriously. It’s amazing and humbling and everything in between.

We are officially partnering with Compassion International to sponsor a Child Survival Program in Woliso, Ethiopia, which is not too far outside Addis Ababa. And we can all play a part in a seriously cool way.

[Read more...]

avatar by on November 27, 2012   •   11 Comments Live With Purpose You

Buy ethically through Trade as One

Fair trade, buying ethically, sustainable goods… all these are good things; you’ve heard of these terms. But it’s hard to know what they mean or where to go to. At least I think so.

Today we’re sharing six of our favorite charities, and I’m excited to tell you about a new (to me) organization: Trade as One.

Trade as One’s mission is to use Fair Trade to promote sustainable business and break cycles of poverty and dependency in the developing world. We all have a conscience—they want to make sure people get the chance to use it when they shop.

We in the developed world have a problem: consumerism. Many people in the developing world have another problem: poverty. Both hurt our souls. Trade as One believes that Fair Trade is a way to alleviate both.

[Read more...]

Ideas for saving Christmas cards
avatar by on November 14, 2012   •   28 Comments Live With Purpose You

Christmas cards: ideas for sending them and saving them

Written by DIY contributor Katie Clemons of Making This Home.

In one week, the holiday chaos begins. Christmas markets are being set up in Germany. Women are playing a little Christmas music when they think no one is around.

We’re pinning holiday ideas onto Pinterest. And I’m getting pretty excited about my mailbox, just like Tsh mentioned on Monday. It’s Christmas card season!

Svetlana Alliluveya (aka Lana Peters) described our tradition perfectly when she said:

“One good thing about not seeing you is that I can write you letters.”

I’ve got some ideas for sending Christmas cards that I want to share with you. I also have some tips for what to do with all those holiday cards when January rolls into town.

[Read more...]

avatar by on November 2, 2012   •   10 Comments Live With Purpose You

One bite at a time together: Give. (project 31)

Written by Jeannett Gibson of Life Rearranged.

If you’ve been following along with this series where I am working my way through Tsh’s ebook One Bite at a Time, you know that I’ve constantly encouraged you to join in at any time.  The projects don’t have to be done in any order, and you don’t have to feel like you are way behind…because there is no such thing. You can buy the book here for just $5!

Well, I’m taking my own advice this month and skipping ahead a little bit.

Normally, I should be on Project 29: Switch to gentle, eco-friendly hair care.  But, I knew that with a hospital stay this month, and all the prep, coordination and general stress it would bring with it, I wouldn’t be able to truly give that project the time and energy it deserved.  My plan was to take before/during/after selfies of the process.  But I just knew it wasn’t going to happen this month.

That, and I’m secretly terrified to wash my hair with vinegar.  Not gonna lie.

When I skipped ahead a couple of chapters, I was delighted to see that “Give” was right around the corner.

If you’ve ever been to my blog, you know that giving and philanthropy is kinda my thing.  In fact, my tagline is “Life doesn’t always go as planned.  Help others anyway.”
[Read more...]