shopping for a cause or supporting the local DIY mom.

So, I've gotten a little adicted to blogs lately. DIY blogs, mom blogs, cause blogs, or some combination of the three. We are moving to CO and plan to buy a home... which I get to decorate! While I'm devestated to leave my extended family, I'm so excited to create a home for my little nuclear family. And, I want it to have a fresh, loving atmosphere!
So, I've been checking all kinds of fun things on various blogs to get inspiration... and besides being inspired, I feel a little sad at my complete and utter lack of creativity. But, thankfully, there are places like Etsy.com that can help fill in the blanks. If you haven't become obsessed with esty yet, you're really missing out! So many amazing and beautiful things, most of them handmade. And to me, it seems like it's a lot of women that are either doing this as their business, or to make extra money for their families. Which, I'm very happy to support! In fact, I just got an adorable print from lilygene prints of "home is where the heart is..." With a diecut image of CA, with a heart in the LB location. I plan to proudly display this in my CO home! Because, lets be honest, I'll always have part of my heart in LB...
And, I've also discovered some amazing organizations that are empowering women from counties with great unrest, or where women have few, if any, legal rights. They provide them a business outlet by creating goods that are sold in the US.

I love to shop, and I love adorable handcrafted items. It makes me feel great to buy things I love that support a cause that provides business and life skills to women in great need. These women are talented all on their own, I'm so proud to be apart of providing them a better life.

Two of my favorites that I discovered are 31bits and punjammies by the princess project.

Learn more about www.31bits.com here: http://vimeo.com/15820393

It is handmade, recycled paper beads that create beautiful bracelets and necklaces! I love my bracelets, plan to buy a necklace this week and 31bits is becoming my favorite thing to give as a gift to my girlfriends.

I just discovered punjammies from another blog I follow, that I'm quickly becoming obsessed with. I get so excited when the email update comes in each day!

http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/

This is a mom of 4 sharing her struggles, joys and stories of motherhood and life. She and her husband have adopted two children and it is amazing to hear their stories. I love this blog! It's really funny and honest, which I appreciate! Plus, she's led me to some amazing products and causes. One of which is punjammies!

Please check out www.punjammies.com They are sari inspired pajamas! Here's what the website says...

Mother's Day Stories NEW! Sale All PUNJAMMIES™ Tops About Donate Returns and Exchanges Contact The Story of PUNJAMMIES™

Each PUNJAMMIE™ is created in an after-care facility for women who have been rescued, released or escaped from a life of forced prostitution. Their lives have been marked by a message – you are a commodity – to be used for other’s gain.

Whether sold by her own family, trafficked from another country or driven by desperation, she was a slave to this life. Each story is as unique as each woman.

I think it all started when I gave into my first pair of TOMs, thanks to my friend Kacie. I'm going to shop anyway, so I might as well support a fabulous cause in the process!

xoxo